Many of you know that I really enjoy genealogy. I've spent the last several years working on my family tree and my husband's family tree. Of course the "Kellogg" line is quite easy. I already knew Scott's relationship to W. K. Kellogg of Battlecreek Michigan. I had that line of the his tree done in about 20 minutes!!!
My father's side of the tree was also quite easy. Everything lined up just as my grandmother had told me years and years ago. My father's great grandfather owned a butcher shop in Chicago across the street from the O'Leary's (where the great Chicago fire started in 1871). Supposedly, my great, great grandfather butchered the cow that knocked over the lantern that started the fire in the O'Leary's barn.
I recently found an article in the Chicago Tribune where my great, great grandfather insisted that the story was fact despite many theories to the contrary.
My mom's maternal side of the family was very easy too. Her grandparents came from Baden Germany. My great grandfather worked for Brach's Candy Company in Chicago and he traveled by train to New York regularly. It was all there and easy to document.
My mother's paternal side of the family was a different matter. Mom knew very little beyond her grandparents. I searched and searched and dug and scraped and read until I couldn't see straight! And I'm still digging. Actually, I'm taking a break a moment because I was getting so aggravated constantly coming up with zilch!
I made to my 3rd great grandparents and just can't seem to get through the brick wall! Thompson Daniels and Jane Sherman, both born in Fulton County New York around 1825. Thompson's parents were supposedly born in Ireland but I'm not convinced on that one.
Jane Sherman was a cousin to General William T. Sherman and Senator John Sherman. After several years of research, I still can't find the connection.
There is however, one person on my mom's side that was so much fun to research and that is my great grandfather Ernest Joseph Moore. He was a famous magician.
Several months ago, while searching for photos of him, I came across a magician's blog. Gary Brown had recently posted an article on my great grandfather so I took a chance and left him a message telling him who I was. We got to talking and I offered to write my great grandfather's biography for him to use on his blog.
Click here if you would like to read the well-documented
Biography of E.J. Moore The Magician.
E. J. Moore The Magician
Special thanks go out to Gary Brown for helping to keep the memory of my great grandfather alive!!!