James Seals Jr and Sarah (Brown) Seals: Struggles of a Pennsylvania Pioneer Family

“It’s usual to see some undaunted men boldly encounter the most frightful of deaths, both in battles and in dangerous voyages…Yet it’s to be acknowledg’d [sic] that if they took a serious view before hand, of the perils they’re about to encounter, and consider’d [sic] ’em in cold blood, they would perhaps find difficulty to persuade themselves into such resolute thoughts; at least, they would not form their designs after such a daring and fearless manner.” Written by Louis Hennepin,...

Bump’s Thanksgiving Dressing

One of my favorite Thanksgiving memories is Grandpa Gregoire’s (Bumps) famous Thanksgiving dressing. (He would correct you if you called is stuffing…it is only stuffing if it goes in the turkey.) Mom helped me write the recipe down to share with everyone: Bumpa’s Turkey Dressing Ingredients Turkey Gizzards processed through a meat grinder crouton bread, through the meat grinder after the gizzards 1 onion, grated boiled potatoes, riced celery salt turkey stock salt and pepper Make a day ahead. Saute...

George James Conlin: “Gorgeous George”

Great-grandpa Conlin always had a twinkle in his eye and a handful of candy or fig newtons. Once, I asked Great-grandma Conlin why she kept a giant bowl of butterscotch candies on the table and she responded: “I need the candies to keep Grandpa sweet.” George James Conlin, who the family playfully referred to as “Gorgeous George”, was born, on April 24, 1892,in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. When his parents sold the family farm in Todd County, Minnesota in September of l912,...

Gregoire-Conlin Wedding 1938

Agnes Conlin, M. Gregoire to be married I was excited to discover the wedding announcement for Marvin and Agnes (Conlin) Gregoire. They were married in Poplar, Montana on September 5, 1938. Marvin and Agnes went on to have four children and were happily married until Agnes’ death in 2004. After the wedding, the couple settled into the Leland Apartments in Great Falls, Montana. You can still rent a place in the Leland Apartments today!   Click on the Ancestry links...

The Eby Migration: A Quest for Religious Freedom

We ask you Holy Father, to show your grace and mercy to us all, throughout the whole wide world. Graciously draw us together with your blessing, care, and protection. Do not let division and disunity come among us. -Excerpt from Die Ernst­hafte Christien­pflicht (Prayer Book for Earnest Christians), translated by Leonard Gross Theodorus “Durst” eby Durst Eby sat in prayerful contemplation. The year was 1704 and he was mourning the recent death of his lovely wife, Margaret. A peaceful man, Durst’s only desire was...

Growing Up Gregoire, Part 2: Brother’s Shenanigans

SMOKING IN THE BARN BY VIRGIL GREGOIRE I think I was about 7-8 when there were men at our farm tiling the fields to drain the flooding low land into the dredge ditch. It’s the ditch north of the farm. Some of the men smoked and Marvin and I watched them, fascinated. We decided to try smoking, too. The tilers slept in the barn and laid their cigarette papers and other belongings on a crate or box thing. We snuck...

Growing Up Gregoire, Part 1: Minnesota Farm Life

Cover Photo: Four Generations, Virgil (Marvin aka Bumpa’s brother) and Father Robert in back with Grandpa Joseph Gregoire and Virgil’s oldest son Dennis. the runaway cart Story by Virgil Gregoire and Rita (Gregoire) Mockel (Siblings of Marvin Gregoire) We had a Shetland pony named Spot.  She didn’t like to be hooked up to a cart and got skittish and tickly if we did.  We also had a dog named Chummie.  Marvin, Rita, and Virgil were always the three getting into...

Jennie Powell Sequichie: Surviving the Trail of Tears

“We walk across the frozen earth. Nothing seems right anymore. The cold seeps through my clothes. I wish I had my blanket. I remember last winter I had a blanket when I was warm. I don’t feel like I’ll ever be warm again. I remember my father’s smile. It seems like so long ago.” – Samuel Cloud (9 years old on the Trail of Tears) as told by his great-great grandson, Michael Rutledge, in his paper “Forgiveness in the Age...

The Ove Family Tintypes

These Tintype photos were passed down from our Ove relatives. Initially, we only recognized Jacob Ove (in the furry hat above), but using DNA relatives on the Ancestry.com site I connected with a cousin who helped us identify Anna and Peter. If anyone has ideas about the people in other photos, I would appreciate your assistance in identifying them. Jacob Ove moved to the US from Norway as a small boy and married Marn (Mary) Larson Haselhaugen in 1888. For more information...