Exploring Mike's Family History in San Francisco
In which I describe Mike’s and my “family heritage trek” through San Francisco on Dec. 29, 2025, visiting three different houses where his grandparents and great grandparents lived, as well as the cemetery in which his great grandparents (and various other family members) are buried in Colma, CA.
Love is Building a House Together: A Tribute to My Parents, Part II
In which I continue describing the process of building our house on Minta Lane; this section focuses on moving into the old house that was in front of it in April 1980; completing construction to the point we could finally move in (though there was still work to do), and demolishing the old house.
Love is Building a House Together: A Tribute to My Parents, Part I
In which I begin describing the process of our family building a house together from 1979-1981. In this first part, I discuss purchasing the property on Minta Lane in Antioch, the early design stages (which involved a passive solar design), preparing the construction site, and building the foundation.
A Historic Trek: The Amazing Honeymoon of W.F. Traughber and Nora Petree Traughber in 1905, Part VII
In which I describe the visit my great-grandparents made to Welch Big Tree Grove in Santa Cruz on their honeymoon in August 1905, as well as my own more recent visit to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (which includes the old Welch Big Tree Grove)
Standing on a Quaker Burial Ground in Philadelphia that Contains my 8th Great-Grandmother's Bones
In which I discuss my recent visit to the Arch Street (Quaker) Meeting House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where my 8th great-grandmother, Katherine Lightfoot Miller, is buried; and I share some details about the Meeting House as well as Quaker beliefs and history.
My Dad: Master of Sea and Sail ... and Winner of the Single Handed Sailing Society's 1996 Transpac Race from San Francisco to Kauai's Hanalei Bay
In which I celebrate my father, Douglas William Graham, for Father’s Day, and describe some of his many sailing adventures - including his victory in the Single-Handed Sailing Society’s 1996 Transpac Race from San Francisco to Kauai’s Hanalei Bay.
Chasing History: Exploring My Ancestral Roots
Follow along as I explore my family history, travel to important historical sites, share photos, and conduct research for my various writing projects. These blog posts tells stories from various branches of my family tree, including Colonial Americans, Indian Captives, Scottish Presbyterians, Irish Quakers, Pioneers on the Oregon and Mormon Trails, Civil War Veterans, Early Californians, and Ellis Island Immigrants, as well as my more immediate family.
I actually began this blog April 30, 2022, but I am working on migrating my previous blog posts to this website from blogspot.com, making this a work in progress. I hope you’ll follow along!
Exploring Mike's Family History in Oregon City
In which I discuss some McQuade family history and describe our visit to Oregon City, where we visited Railroad Avenue (where his grandfather, Thomas Victor McQuade, was born), the Pioneer Cemetery (where his great-great grandfather Aaron Walker is buried), and the “End of the Trail” Museum.
My Dad: Master Builder Extraordinaire
In which I describe some of my father’s building projects, including various wall units, cabinets, tables, vanities, decks, play houses, and real houses, as well as how he has nurtured Mike’s building skills and added to his tool collection.
My Mother: Seamstress and Craftswoman Extraordinaire
In which I discuss my mother’s amazing sewing and crafting productions, including matching outfits, Bicentennial clothing, Halloween and Drama costumes, Wedding favors, Paintings, Embroidery and Crochet projects, and more.
Countdown to Book Launch on February 1!
In which I do a ten-day countdown to the book launch of A State Divided: The Civil War Letters of James Calaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of Andrew County, Missouri, 1862-65, and share photos and book excerpts along the way.
Exciting News ... "A State Divided: The Civil War Letters of James Callaway Hale and Benjamin Petree of Andrew County, Missouri" is Coming Soon!
In which I announce that my book A State Divided will launch on February 1 and that I will begin a 10-day countdown leading up to the big day; and I share “Poetic Thoughts on Missouri in the Civil War.”
My Mother: The One Who Taught Me to Love the Holidays
In which I discuss the many ways my mother taught me to enjoy and celebrate Christmas - including hand-crafted ornaments, Christmas cards, nativity sets, ornaments to commemorate special vacations and events, hand-sewn stockings and pillows, homemade cookies and pies, and so much more; and I share lots of photos.
Exploring Family Connections to the 1758 Fort Sebert Massacre, Col. Henry Bouquet’s 1764 Treaty, and The Light in the Forest
In which I discuss how my 7th GGP’s were killed in the Seybert Massacre in Augusta County, Virginia, in April 1758, and their three children taken captive by the Shawnee (including my 6th GGM Barbara Reager); how Barbara and her sister were returned along with more than 200 other captives in November 1764 to Col. Henry Bouquet along the Muskingum River in Ohio when the tribes had to return their white captives as part of a treaty agreement; and how this relates to the novel The Light in the Forest, which I have taught to my juniors for many years.
My Scots Irish Ancestors Immigrated to Pennsylvania, then Virginia ... and Some Got Taken Captive by the Shawnee!
In which I discuss some ancestors of my great grandmother Fleeta Jackson Brandt - the Archers and Renicks - who were part of the Ulster Presbyterians discussed in my previous post; explain how they immigrated from Ireland to Pennsylvania, then later Virginia; and relate the story of my 6th GGM’s sister, Elizabeth Archer Renick, who was taken captive by the Shawnee along with her seven children in 1757 after her husband was killed and scalped.
Tracing my "Ulster Presbyterian" Roots from Ireland to Pennsylvania
In which I explain how so many English and Scottish Presbyterians (including some of my ancestors) ended up living in various counties in Ulster in Northern Ireland, the reasons they immigrated and reasons the left, and why so many moved to Pennsylvania
The Veteran Reserve Corps in the Civil War
In which I describe some of the military records I recently acquired related to my GGG GF James Calaway Hale, including a letter he wrote in Jan 1865 to Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, as well as share what I learned about his service in the Veteran Reserve Corps, aka. the Invalid Corps.
Still Writing ... and Getting Closer!
In which I describe the writing process, which includes lots of research, drafting, editing, feedback, and revisions; and provide some examples of the assistance I am receiving on my book A State Divided from Andrew County Genealogist Kathy Ridge.
Telling My Story to Los Gatos Rotary
In which I describe the presentation I gave to Los Gatos Rotary in November 2022 about my book projects and share photos as well.