A collapsed tree, a misdated ancestor, and a man wrongfully imprisoned—this week’s stories all circle truth, loss, and what gets buried, whether in the backyard, family records, or a broken justice system.
Life
Genealogy Updates for July 2025
A list of updates to my family tree for July 2025.
The Ghosts of West Virginia
At our family reunion, we stood where our ancestors once fought, fled, and fell at Fort Seybert. I shared Rebecca’s story, traced our Mallow line, and felt the weight of history settle in. These are more than names—they’re echoes we carry.
Family Reunion
This weekend marks the 70th reunion of Albert Campbell Smith and Mary Susan Mallow’s descendants in West Virginia. I take a nostalgic trip through familiar places, reflecting on family history and memories. I also wonder about my grandmother’s estrangement from her relatives.
If You Give a Writer a Weather Station…
New toy. Tree fall down go boom. And a road trip next week.