My great-grandfather’s brother Phillip immigrated to America at 15, apprenticed as a fresco painter, joined a wagon train heading west, and spent years wandering through mining towns and lumber camps before returning to New York by way of Panama. I envy his wanderlust.
Genealogy Archives
The home of my genealogy research. It's all about sharing the story and the work. If you're related to Johann Karl Müller, Matthew Kreisle, Carl Louis Diefenbach, George Walter Singleback, or other people in my family tree, this is one place to learn what I know about them.
I Missed That The First Time
Sometimes you can read the same family history a dozen times before a detail finally clicks. A passing reference to my grandmother’s Chicago days led me to a piano teacher, two music schools, and questions about her musical talent that I wish I’d asked my dad.
Putting Flesh On The Bones
Genealogy isn’t just collecting names, dates, and documents. It’s about discovering the people behind the facts, imagining their choices and struggles, and understanding how their decisions shaped the lives of those who came after them—including me.
Genealogy Updates for September 2026
A list of updates to my family tree on http://genealogy.ravensbeak.com for September 2026.
Counting Dogs And Broken Films
Athena apparently knows exactly how many treats she’s supposed to get, while my dad’s old home movies proved a little less cooperative. Between updating my genealogy site and repairing a broken 8mm film, it was a surprisingly busy quiet week.