If you have not read part one, you can find it here. Isle of Skye For the next few days, our home base was The Cluanie Inn Hotel. It was our favorite hotel of the trip. Calling it “remote” does
Scotland Trip Report, Part One of Two
For those like me who enjoy ancestry research as a hobby and who can trace some of their ancestors to Scotland, a trip there is a frequent bucket list item. My wife and I just returned from two weeks in
Tsgt Aaron S. Castallaw: Spirit, Courage and Devotion to Duty
When I was a young boy, my paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Castellaw Williams, took me to the cemeteries around Haywood County, Tenn. where she shared stories of our ancestors as we roamed around checking out their headstones. Aaron Sammy Castellaw’s headstone
Rare Map of the Chickamauga Battlefield Found in Lynn Shaw Collection
I recently purchased a collection of books and a few other things from an online auction of the estate of Lynn Shaw. Shaw was the Haywood County, Tenn. historian for many years and once showed me around the museum of
My New Book About ‘Davy’ Crockett Explores His Rise to Fame and Relationship with West Tennessee
I’m excited to share that “The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee’s David Crockett” is now available on Amazon. The book focuses on the Tennessee congressman’s journey from frontier to fame to international icon. Also included are stories of many of the colorful characters in Crockett’s life from Tennessee’s early history including James K. Polk, Sam Houston, Marcus Winchester and Andrew Jackson. Crockett and Jackson were bitter enemies, and Jackson contributed to Crockett’s eventual congressional defeat.
Nathan Washington Parlow’s Clock
Although this West Tennessee couple is not directly in my family line, I saw this photo shared recently on Facebook by Leanne Braddock and got curious about who they were. I love that he was so proud of his clock
2020 Opinion Survey
One of the few things I think we can all agree on is that someday those who come after us will look back on this time with a great deal of fascination. There will be chapters in history books—and entire
Ancestry Research Materials for Zion and Holly Grove Baptist Churches
It’s easier to find the names and dates of ancestors than it is to find the actual stories. Obituaries help a little, when you can find them, but they still usually include only the smallest amount of information. So when
April 4, 1920: 100 Years Ago Today in Haywood County, Tenn.
Whenever I am living through a period like this one that I know people will someday look back on as “history,” it makes me even more curious about my ancestors and their experiences in a world we look back on
Posting Old Idaho Photos
Special thanks to the men and women of yesterday who cared enough about family history to save old family photos and make notes identifying the subjects. Michelle’s sister recently shared an envelope of photos she found among their mother’s belongings.