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Marvin Gregoire in the CCC

A recruiting poster for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Marvin Gregoire (photo left) grew into manhood during the worst economic downturn of the industrialized world, The Great Depression, which began in 1929, when he was 14, and lasted into the late 1930s. As the younger son of a Marshall, Minnesota farmer, Marvin was not likely to have the opportunity to take over his father Joseph’s business, so he left home at the age of 18 to follow a different path...

Claude “Bus” Stierwalt: WWII Letter from the Front

Claude Stierwalt, known as “Bus”, was born in Oklahoma in 1920 to Claude and Nina (Sequichie) Stierwalt. In July of 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps, serving as a Staff Sergeant throughout World War II. Family Photos Before the War Before Claude left for service the family gathered to take photos. Letter from Italy 1944 In 1944, while stationed in Italy, Bus wrote a holiday letter home to the family. His sadness at missing out on the holidays is...

The Boudreau (Boudrot) Family: Our Acadian Roots

Expulsion of the Acadians by George Craig This is the forest primeval; but where are the hearts that beneath itLeaped like the roe, when he hears in the woodland the voice of the huntsman?Where is the thatch-roofed village, the home of Acadian farmers,—Men whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands,Darkened by shadows of earth, but reflecting an image of heaven?Waste are those pleasant farms, and the farmers forever departed!Scattered like dust and leaves, when the mighty blasts...

Quick Blog Update…Stay Tuned for More.

  • July 31, 2019
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Since I haven’t had time to update the blog lately, I thought I would post a quick update…so you don’t think I have lost interest in family research. It is actually quite the opposite. I have been working on an intense 15-week online Boston University Genealogy Certificate class all summer. The coursework has not left time for personal research or writing. I will be back with new stories this fall, in addition to a few surprises. Stay tuned!...

Tales of House Stark Part I: Stark Lineage

House Stark Sigil by Bruno Alberto In honor of the Game of Thrones final season, the month of May will be dedicated to tales about our own House Stark. This Stark line, who our Stookey ancestors descend from, arrived in the American Colonies during the same generation as the Pilgrims. These Starks were pioneers, warriors, and scoundrels—some more in line with the worst of House Targaryen. This family begins with Aaron Stark, one of the grittiest characters in our family...

Madison “Mat” Bibbins: A legacy of rising above oppression

There is in this world no such force as the force of a person determined to rise. The human soul cannot be permanently chained.-W. E. B. Du Bois Madison “Mat” Bibbins grew up during one of the most turbulent periods in U.S. history. Born in 1853 to Dan and Harriet Bibbins, Mat likely began life on one of the cotton plantations in the Old Natchez District located along the Mississippi River. With more than 340 planters in this district who...

Marguerite Lamain: Our pioneer ancestor on TV

To watch the full episode of “Finding Your Roots” on PBS click here More than a year ago I wrote a story about the Filles du Roi, Our French Canadian Matriarchs. Recently one of the Filles du Roi in the Gregoire/Granpre family tree, Marguerite Lamain, was featured in an episode of “Finding Your Roots” on PBS. During the show, actress, fashionista, and model, Chloë Sevigny, discovered that her French Canadian roots run deep in Quebec. Chloë’s 8th great grandmother, Marguerite...

Jung/Young family roots: Washday wine and food

While researching the life of Philip Conrad Jung I was immediately drawn to the beauty and culture of his home in Hahnheim, in the heart of the Rheinhessen wine region. Then I discovered this traditional recipe for potatoes and pork belly and had to share. The Tuesday Backesgrumbeere According to an old Rheinhessen tradition, every Tuesday while the women did laundry they prepared Backesgrumbeere (or potatoes with pork belly). This slow cook dish, featuring the local wine, was their version of...