Unsolved Mystery: The Woman in the Window
Old family photos are some of the most treasured records in a family history, capturing fleeting moments in an ancestor’s life. I’m fortunate to have…
Hi. I’m Desiree.
Welcome to my blog where I record the details of my family history and my efforts to trace my ancestors. Some of the surnames I am researching are Hendrickson, McKnight, Ewart and, Knowles. If you think we might be related contact me.
Read MoreUnsolved Mystery: The Woman in the Window
Clarkson V. Hendrickson vs. the United States
My great-great-grandfather Clarkson V. Hendrickson, Sr., and Jasper Chisholm, a coworker, filed a claim against the United States in 1912 for payment of overtime work…
On the Hunt for that Holiday Spirit
Now that the holidays are here, it’s hard to shake the feeling that something’s missing. I’m sitting on my patio in sunny Florida, everything’s green,…
Love Me Two Times: Carl and Dot
My paternal grandparents, affectionately known as Grandpa Carl and Grandma Dot, proved that sometimes lightning strikes twice—they married each other in 1939 and again in…
Citizen Alfred Knowles
It’s unclear when most of my ancestors became American citizens. Some immigrated to the U.S. before the American Revolution, while others arrived as late as…
Harold Ewart’s Passport to Nowhere
Growing up I remember my mom carrying around her father’s seaman passport photo. It was one of only a few she had of him. He…
Y-DNA Mystery: Hendrickson or Henderson?
One mystery that has plagued me over the years is trying to unearth our Hendrickson family origins. Faced with the challenge of tracing our direct…
Love and Victory: Photo of the McKnight Family
About the photo: The first thing that caught my eye in this photo of my great-grandmother Matilda (Goettisheim) McKnight and the first five of her…
John Ewart’s Golden Opportunity
Lured by the excitement of gold discoveries in America, Australia, and in the newly settled colony of New Zealand, my 4x great-uncle, John Ewart, and…
Behind the Scenes: Preserving Family Heirlooms
A few years ago, my mother entrusted me with our family heirlooms. It included documents, photos, and various artifacts such as my grandfather’s military medals, his…