Family History

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When Friends Become Family: The Elissavitis Siblings of Kokkari

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When Friends Become Family: The Elissavitis Siblings of Kokkari

The deep friendship between the Elissavitis and Halvangis families that began in Kokkari in Samos, Greece spanned two countries and many decades. Here is the story of how from friends they became family.

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From Samos, Greece to Detroit By Way of The Themistocles: Constantinos "Gust" Halvangis (1886-1928)

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From Samos, Greece to Detroit By Way of The Themistocles: Constantinos "Gust" Halvangis (1886-1928)

The story of my 2nd great uncle, what little I know, from Samos, Greece to Detroit. He travelled on The Themistocles in 1915. Can you help me find the rest of his story?

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A War Ends and a Mother Dies as a Life Begins: Thomas Bernard Costlow (1865-1943)

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A War Ends and a Mother Dies as a Life Begins: Thomas Bernard Costlow (1865-1943)

"Uncle Tom Costlow" was born in turbulent times. He was born the day before the U.S. Civil War ended. His mother died two weeks later. This is his story.

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Making Kuchen, Bread, and Wickelklöße With a Smile: Martha Zenner Muenzel (1868-1960)

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Making Kuchen, Bread, and Wickelklöße With a Smile: Martha Zenner Muenzel (1868-1960)

By all accounts Martha Zenner Muenzel (1868-1960) was a wonderful German cook. Some of her specialities were Kucken and Wickelklöße. She was likely my 1st cousin 4x removed. The is her story.   

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Three Year Old Franciszka Pawlowska (1913-1915) Dies of Diphtheria in Detroit

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Three Year Old Franciszka Pawlowska (1913-1915) Dies of Diphtheria in Detroit

Franciszka Pawlowska (1913-1915) was the 5th of 10 children by my great grandparents, Adam Pawlowski (1879-1959) and Marianna Grzeskowiak Pawlowski (1879-1941). She died of diphtheria in 1915. This is his story. 

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From Pew to Bar and Back Again: John "Jack" Hanley (1885-1946)

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From Pew to Bar and Back Again: John "Jack" Hanley (1885-1946)

Whether praying in the pews or tending the family bar, John "Jack" Hanley (1885-1946) was a man of faith and familial duty. This is his story.  

 

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Paraskevi Tsardoulias (1925-1945) and the "Εθνική Οργάνωσις Νεολαίας" of Greece

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Paraskevi Tsardoulias (1925-1945) and the "Εθνική Οργάνωσις Νεολαίας" of Greece

This is Paraskevi Tsardoulias (Παρασκευή Τσαρδούλιας). She is my 1st cousin 2x removed. She was a member of the Εθνική Οργάνωσις Νεολαίας, a National Youth Organization of Greece. This is what I know of her story.  

 

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"Girl, 4, Is Witness to Murder" - Dolores Urkowski (1930-1978)

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"Girl, 4, Is Witness to Murder" - Dolores Urkowski (1930-1978)

Dolores Urkowski is my 2nd cousin once removed. Tragically, she witnessed the murder of her 20 year old nursemaid, Jennie Zablocki, in 1933. This is what I know of the story.

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Stanley Puchalski (1914-1992) Bowls Perfect 300 Game in 1951: Solves Genealogy Mystery

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Stanley Puchalski (1914-1992) Bowls Perfect 300 Game in 1951: Solves Genealogy Mystery

On December 26th, 1951 Stanley Puchalski (1914-1951), my 1st cousin 2x removed, bowled a perfect 300 game in Detroit, MI. Learn how this discovery connected me to a new branch of my family tree. 

 

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Adoptive Fathers in Your Family Tree - John Alfred Sears (1860-1951)

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Adoptive Fathers in Your Family Tree - John Alfred Sears (1860-1951)

Learning about the adoptive fathers in your family tree can help you tell your ancestral story. Here is the story of an adoptive father in my tree, John Alfred Sears (1860-1951).

 

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"Fatally Mangled By Train" - James Hanley (1888-1908)

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"Fatally Mangled By Train" - James Hanley (1888-1908)

Though likely not THE train that killed my 2nd great uncle, James Hanley (1888-1909), one like it from the same railroad company probably did. This is his story.

 

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The Valentine's Day Death of Edward Pawlowski (1905-1907)

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The Valentine's Day Death of Edward Pawlowski (1905-1907)

My first cousin twice removed, Edward Pawlowski (1905-1907), died on Valentine's Day in 1907. He was one year, four months, and nine days old. This is his story. 

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"Tall Man Dead" - Patrick Miles (1834-1903)

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"Tall Man Dead" - Patrick Miles (1834-1903)

My 3rd great grandfather, Patrick Miles, was a tall man. Apparently he was one of the tallest in his county at the time of his death in 1903. He stood six feet and six inches "in his stocking feet." This is his story.

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"The Quietest One of All" - Patrick Hanley (1887-1937)

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"The Quietest One of All" - Patrick Hanley (1887-1937)

Patrick Hanley (1887-1937) is my 2nd great uncle. By all accounts he was a quiet and well liked man. This is his story, with a first hand audio account from people who knew him. 

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The Missing Decades of "Dear Aunt" Agnes Grzeskowiak (1898-1970)

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The Missing Decades of "Dear Aunt" Agnes Grzeskowiak (1898-1970)

Agnes E. Grzeskowiak (pronounced gresh-KO-viyak) is my 2nd great aunt. She never married and had no children. Information about her during the three decades between 1940 and her death in 1970 remains elusive. Here is her story.

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Amanda Rhoads Hubert (1864-1903) - Our Lesser Known Ancestors

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Amanda Rhoads Hubert (1864-1903) - Our Lesser Known Ancestors

Amanda (Rhoads) Hubert (1864-1903) is my 3rd great aunt. I only know of her because of a few census entries and the photo above. She married late, died early, and had no children to tell her story. Here is what I found about one of my lesser known ancestors.

Ellen Amelia (George) Malzi (1866-1961) - Stories of Tragedy and Strength

Ellen Amelia (George) Malzi (1866-1961) - Stories of Tragedy and Strength

Ellen Amelia (George) Malzi (1866-1961) married John August Malzi (1865-1899) in 1891. She was widowed young, two months before their last child was born. Pictured here is Ellen, husbandless, with her 4 surviving fatherless children. Here are her stories of tragedy and strength.  

The Voice of the Detroit River, Frank Zuzek (1904-1981)

The Voice of the Detroit River, Frank Zuzek (1904-1981)

Frank Zuzek (1904-1981), Voice of the Detroit River - "Listeners always sat spellbound when Frank Zuzek recounted the tales of the Great Lakes freighters on the Detroit River. No one was better qualified to tell the stories."

 

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A 109 Year Old Postcard Finds Its Home

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A 109 Year Old Postcard Finds Its Home

In 1908 Ida Jordan wrote this postcard to her brother announcing the birth of their niece. This is the story of how that postcard was returned to descendants of the Jordan family.  

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The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#47)

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The Psychogenealogist Pic of the Week (#47)

John Edward Campbell (1892-1959) and Maryann Rukamp. "Uncle Ed" was the husband of my 2nd great aunt Amanda Alice (Rhoads) Campbell (1895-1988). She was the sister of my great grandmother.

 

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