Family Secrets

Family "Table Talk" Genealogy Stories

Family Secrets, How Are They Uncovered?

Family secrets are well, just hard.  Instead of telling the secrets that have come to light in my family, like my family that suddenly appeared when my father always said he thought his father was adopted, or the story about DNA relatives connections, I decided to write about what it's like when family historians are like nosy neighbors. 

Secrets Told By The Family Historian Can  Be Equal To 

 "The Nosy Neighbors of the Past (and Skeptical Cousins of the Present)"

Have you ever met that one neighbor who knows everything about everyone? The one who mysteriously knows that the Smiths painted their kitchen blue last summer, that the Johnsons' dog actually belongs to their cousin, and that the Millers' eldest son was born just a little too soon after the wedding?

Well, that’s basically us, the family historians—except our gossip is 100 years old, and instead of peeking over fences, we’re digging through census records, obituaries, and DNA results like investigative journalists on a mission.

While your average nosy neighbor might say, “I heard from Linda at the post office that Bob’s been working late a lot…”we say, “According to the 1900 Census, great-grandpa claimed to be born in Kentucky, but in 1910, he said Indiana. Suspicious.”

But here’s the thing—sometimes the real detective work isn’t just sifting through dusty records. Sometimes, it’s sitting at the holiday table, during what I dubbed "table talk" trying to untangle the web of current family stories that don’t quite add up.

Like when Uncle Charley insists that great-grandma was “full-blooded Cherokee,” even though DNA testing suggests otherwise (and the only Native connection you can find is that she once had a dreamcatcher in her kitchen). Or when cousin Linda claims that grandpa definitely played professional baseball, but a quick search only turns up his name in the local bowling league.

And don’t even get me started on the mystical family fortune that’s always just about to be found. “Great-aunt Betty swore we had an inheritance waiting in England!” Sure, sure—right next to the missing crown jewels and a long-lost title of nobility, I’m sure.

Family history isn’t just about uncovering big secrets—it’s about sorting fact from fiction, peeling back the layers of well-meaning embellishments, and gently (or not-so-gently) correcting cousin Bob when he insists that great-grandpa came over on the Mayflower. (No, Bob, he was born in Cleveland.)

Of course, some secrets are real, and genealogy has a way of shaking them loose. And as the saying goes, the living are due respect, the dead deserve the truth. So we keep digging—through archives, through oral histories, and through Uncle Jerry’s latest revisionist take on our ancestry—because every family has a story.

It’s just our job to make sure it’s the right one. 

Or at least as right as reasonable exhaustive research proves.  

"And That's a Wrap

Keeping our family story alive one 

thread at a time."

Barbara 

Until next week, week 10 prompt: Siblings

 

Migration

Depiction of The National Road Migration Trail (now I-40) West From Kentucky

The Journey Begins (Kentucky to Nebraska 1878-1880s)

        One little boy, Jethro Fueston (1874-1939), shared memories of migration 

which left an impression on his family about his experience migrating with his family from Kentucky to Nebraska. The impression was deep enough that his family dedicated space in his obituary reminiscint about what he experienced as a small boy of about 4-5 years old. 

            Jethro's obituary gives us a clue about what the family must have endured and for a young boy this must have been an adventurous, unforgettable and a grueling experience for he and his family.

A section of Jethro Fueston's Obiturary 

   What is known is that prior to migrating Jethro's father, Ezekiel Fueston (1835-1890) was arrested and sentenced to pay a fine and serve time with 9 others for illegal distilling in Kentucky. He was sentenced in 1877. He was given a Presidential Pardon from the President Rutherford B. Hayes administration in March of 1878 because he could not pay his fine. 

    Once released from prison, the question is why did the couple decide to pack up their 10 children and head west? Was it for the homestead opportunity in Nebraska or something else?

Traveling from Kentucky to Nebraska between 1877-1881 would have meant months on rough rutted dirt roads. They were likely following along a well-established migration route such as the National Road or other trails such as the Chicago Road, which was another pioneer trail, as they headed westward. 

    The road conditions at that time were rough, dusty in dry seasons, and muddy when it rained. River crossings could be dangerous if encountered and would have required wagons to be floated across them. Jethro indicated they "stopped in Greensburg, Indiana and near Champlain Illinois for the winters". These stops were likely for rest and replenishing supplies and maybe even working for money before continuing west. They would need a lot of supplies for the 10 kids traveling together with their parents. His siblings ranged in age from newborn to 21 years old. He had one sister among the family, she was 17 and no doubt helped out with the younger ones. None of his siblings had married yet. In Indiana they may have stayed at a relative's home. One of the 10 kids traveling with them had been born in Indiana, years prior in 1863, which supports the idea that family may have lived in Indiana prompting a stopover before proceeding.

 

    It can be surmised that this family of 12 migrated with more than one wagon and with the older boys traveling with them, they could have easily managed a wagon or two themselves. Together they would have had daily chores including things like gathering wood, helping with any livestock they had, fetching water and assisting with cooking. Their wagons were probably much like a portable pantry carrying flour, beans, salted pork, dried fruits and coffee. They would have supplemented their meals with wild game and fresh food from settlements along the way. They more than likely cooked over open fires. 

Their family's story mirrors the broader American pioneer experience filled with hope, hardship (for which this family will come to know all too intimately soon enough), and in the long run survival.

Building a New Life (Homesteading in Nebraska, 1880s-1890's)

        It is not known how much was lost in Kentucky after the arrest of Ezekiel, however it is known that the family began the process of successfully migrating towards homesteading Nebraska beginning in 1885 with final approvals granted in the early 1890s. Ezekiel's brother James W already lived in Dakota, Nebraska. Dakota Nebraska was the families first stop and where Ezekiel's first grandson, James Porter Fueston (1881-1957) was born, and may in fact be when they arrived in Nebraska. 

     However, James Porter is not enumerated on the Dakota County, Nebraska Federal census of 1885 with his father Robert. Also noted is daughter Sarah Fueston Francis is not in the home as her parents but is on the Nebraska census with her husband James Marshall Francis and children. These two census sheets confirm all 10 children are together with their parents, at least during the early days when the state census collection in Nebraska was taking place in 1885.  See Census records below. 

 

 The opportunity, this writer believes, that prompted the westward migration was solely related to the Homestead Act of 1862 which the government offered and granted 160 acres to settlers who promised the land would be lived on and improved. This would be the perfect opportunity for a new start for the family. Which is exactly what happened based on the Perkins, County land records. 

 Requirements to apply for a homestead included: must be a US citizen, or had intention to be a citizen, 21 years of age or head of household, must have never borne arms against the United States (ie Confederate in the Civil War) and they must live on the land for 5 years and improve the land by building a house and cultivating the land before applying for title.

    It is known that 5 of the 10 children who migrated together along with Ezekiel Fueston were granted homesteads in Nebraska in and around the 1890s. Beginning in 1885 land improvements were granted to Fueston's --John William, Robert Clemmons, Sarah Fueston-Francis, Charles Lafayette, James Wallace, Ezekiel and after his untimely death, his wife Ursley. Together they improved and lived on about 1,000 acres of land. 

    The struggle was real to proving a homestead. The harsh winters, droughts, and the act of simply doing the hard work of farming were all encountered while the family and adult children worked to secure land. Unfortunately tragedy strikes, more than once for this family unit. First off one of John's children dies, it is unknown how or exactly when, just that she was exhumed and reburied with her family in 1890. 

    The 1890's came in like a bang. Ezekiel dies from results of stroke, a few short months later his son John, John's wife and their baby died from a tragic train accident in Big Springs, Nebraska where their wagon was struck by a train leaving all of them to die. And finally another of John's daughters is killed when her clothes catch fire as she reaches across the stove while cooking. They are all buried together on Ezekiel's homesteaded property in Perkins County, Nebraska. It's no wonder they migrate away from Nebraska and head to Missouri, my guess is for a new--fresh start.

Wedding Bells and The Downward Spiral (Missouri, 1895-early 1900's)

    Wedding bells rang for 6 of Ezekiel's 10 children in Missouri! Robert is the first to marry setting off wedding bell bliss for the next 5 brothers to marry. One wedding was in 1898, followed by 1899, 1900, 1901 and two weddings one day apart in 1895. Six weddings to plan in 8 years! I wonder if they re-used wedding decorations. 

But...there's trouble in them there hills.

    Several of the brothers, and brothers-in-law are arrested for many things including stealing horses, pistol whipping a man, and one was accused and acquitted of rape. There was no rest for their mother who migrated with them. By the time the family migrates to Missouri, Henry, the 4th son who had married in Indiana, is not seen in Missouri or Washington state -->more research needs to be done. At one point the sheriff's arrived to arrest Ezekiel and Ursley's sons for a crime they had committed. This mother chose to protect her sons during their troubled phase by informing the sheriffs that her boys had "long gone" when they heard they were coming for them. I can confirm there were lots of groves of trees that exist today that could be hiding places. Alas the boys are arrested in Georgia and returned to Missouri to stand trial. 

A Last Attempt at Redemption (Washington State, Early 1900's)

    Many if not all immediate family members leave Missouri, after the "likes of them were not wanted in Missouri" and head to Washington State in and around 1902-1903. There is no evidence of how they traveled but perhaps by train since the rail system was in full swing. There is hope for a fresh start for this family.

...but trouble finds them in Washington too.

    Ursley, the mother of the brood, finds herself defender of her son' and grandson who are accused of murder, there are numerous other grandchildren who get into serious trouble in Washington as well over the years. 

    This migration story was launched based on the clues from a boy's memory captured in his obituary indicating that his family was part of the last major wave of westward migration before the closing of the frontier in 1890. Their journey was long, and difficult. It's no wonder a small boy would remember the experience, as a child this would have been some of his early informative years which were built on resilience, endurance and a deep connection to the land. The family was on the move to seek out opportunities at every turn and had unanticipated tragedy at most every turn. 

    In the end, the matriarch of the family while enduring all the hardships of her family is a hero in my book in the art of resilience, survival and tragedy. 

    She and several of her children and grandchildren are laid to rest in Washington State, many very close to each other. A bookend to her husband who is buried with their son and grandchildren in Nebraska. I pray she found peace and love in the end. 

And that is a wrap

week #8

52 ancestors in 52 weeks

Until Next Time...

Keep Family Stories Alive!

Barbara

The Christmas Card

The Power of a Christmas Card 

A Genealogist’s Breadcrumb

The Cornerstone

Genealogists are always searching for breadcrumbs—tiny clues left behind in records, letters, and photos that help connect the past to the present. Sometimes, those clues come in unexpected forms, like a simple Christmas card.

In my case, one Christmas card changed everything.

It was addressed to my grandfather and his wife, "Mr. and Mrs. Fueston," and signed from "The Kids." What seemed like a typical holiday greeting held more significance than anyone realized at the time. The sender? My grandmother, writing on behalf of the children. The recipient? My grandfather, who had been married multiple times—six, to be exact, and his third wife.

At some point, one of his later wives (number three or four, but who’s counting?) decided that old photos and keepsakes weren’t worth keeping. She threw an entire box of photos into the garbage in San Francisco. Among them was that Christmas card addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. Fueston.”

But fate has a way of intervening. Someone found that discarded box. Twenty years later, a promise made good to a friend, who was the finder of the box of photos—to find a Fueston from San Francisco was completed. That single card, that one breadcrumb, led to the discovery of family I never knew I had.

Because of that Christmas card, many more family connections have been uncovered. Photographs, stories, and histories long thought lost and or nonexistent were pieced back together.   Since receiving the photos and Christmas card in the mail I’ve met cousins, built lasting relationships, and  developed a branch of my tree that was otherwise  a stripped down branch. 

Previous stories written about another photo that was included in the box  has led to the discovery of The Fueston Family Burial site in Nebraska.  An earlier story is written and can be read here  Wide Open Space. Also as a result the Fueston Family homesteads in Nebraska have been uncovered and the Nebraska Genealogy Society has taken on the task of publishing that story in the very near future.  

It serves as a reminder that sometimes, the smallest things—a scribbled note, an envelope, even a holiday greeting—can be the missing link in a genealogical puzzle. And can and did connect family and cousins never even heard of. 

So the next time you come across an old letter, a hastily signed greeting card, or even a name jotted down in the margin of a book, don’t dismiss it. It might just be the breadcrumb that leads to something incredible.

I appreciate our family stories they are full of heart, history, and a little bit of mystery—it’s a joy to help bring them to life. I love how finding these little breadcrumbs add emotion into genealogy work, making it feel like an adventure rather than just research. Can’t wait for the next story to develop! 

Have you ever had a small clue open big doors in your family history research? Share your story in the comments!

And that's a wrap!   Keeping family stories alive.

52 Ancestors 52 weeks, week 7 

prompt: Letters and Diaries

Family Historian

Barbara 

Big Surprise

 My Family Tree Welcomes 

Elvis Presley, Nicolas Cage and Michael Jackson!

When Famous People Become Collaterals ...
Big Surprises Happen

Imagine My Surprise Last Week

Genealogy research can lead to some pretty wild discoveries. You start out looking for great-grandma’s maiden name, and suddenly, you’re brushing elbows with celebrities—well, at least on paper.

I listened to a youTube video this week presented by Connie Knox on Find A Grave.  The video can be found here: Find A Grave  During the presentation Connie demonstrated how to make virtual cemeteries.  For me this was a great exercise as I will be visiting a few cemeteries this coming spring and wanted to group together ancestors in the same cemetery.  Virtual cemeteries was a perfect solution for me.  

This past week while putting together the virtual cemeteries for my ancestors, I stumbled upon a surprising addition to the family tree. Turns out, I needed to add Anna Lillian Iversen to a virtual cemetery that I'd be visiting—who, besides being my second cousin once removed, also happens to be the ex-mother-in-law of none other than Elvis Presley.

Yep. That Elvis. The King of Rock and Roll.

Anna Lillian’s daughter, Priscilla Beaulieu, eventually became Priscilla Presley, which means, by extension, Elvis himself just waltzed into my family tree like a sequined jumpsuit-wearing surprise guest at a wedding.

And the plot thickens. Because, of course, if Priscilla is in the tree, so is Lisa Marie Presley—my third cousin once removed. Which also means her famous ex-husbands, Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage, get a side note in this genealogical adventure. Talk about unexpected in-laws!

But here’s the kicker: One of my bloodline ancestors is Louisa W. Jackson, my 2x great-grandmother. And no, despite the name, she’s not from the Michael Jackson branch of the Jacksons. Just a funny coincidence to keep things interesting.

Genealogy is like a box of chocolates—you never know when you’ll find a rock star, a Hollywood actor, or a King buried in the branches. The next time someone asks about my family tree, I’ll have a hard time not leading with, “Well, let me tell you about my cousin's Elvis, Michael and Nicolas...”

So, who’s the most surprising person you’ve found in your family tree?

"And That's a Wrap

Keeping our family story alive one 

thread at a time."

Barbara 

52 ancestors in 52 weeks, week 6 Surprise