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Welcome! This website was created on Sep 07 2008 and last updated on Jan 31 2024. The family trees on this site contain 742 relatives and 796 photos. If you have any questions or comments you may send a message to the Administrator of this site.
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About Yours Truly, Hannibal Trout !
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This website focuses on the descendants of Samuel Stoner and Sarah Lina Norris Stoner. It also  features information on their ancestors.  The webmaster, Ed Stoner, is one of their many great  grand children.

By now, you have probably noticed that the name of this site is "Yours Truly, Hannibal Trout!" As  it turns out, however, we do not have a relative by the name of Hannibal Trout.  He is, however, a  Ladoga Legend.

According to family lore, there was a politician in Montgomery County, Indiana, by the name of  Hannibal Trout.  While he may have been a good politician, he was not much of a church goer.   This, however, did not stop him from seeking the votes of strict members of the Church of the  Brethren like Samuel and Lina Stoner.

One day, Hannibal Trout was talking to potential voters around Ladoga and found himself being  welcomed at the Stoner farm at dinner time. They gave Mr. Trout the honor of asking the blessing.

Now, praying was not something that Hannibal Trout had experienced much in his lifetime.  But,  pray he did.  He thanked God for Everything, and at length.  But, when he got to the end, he did  not know how to end the prayer.  So, he paused.  He took a deep breath.  And, he started all over  again! He repeated the whole prayer. He even thanked God for a few items he had overlooked in his  first rendition.  But then the end of the prayer arrived again.  Once again, Hannibal Trout did  not know how to end the prayer.

He paused.  He took a deep breath.  Just about when everyone was afraid he would start the prayer  all over for a third time, he came up with his own ending, saying to the Lord, "Yours Truly,  Hannibal Trout!"

I do not know if he got any votes that day! The story about how Hannibal Trout finally ended his  prayer, however, became one of Samuel Stoner's favorites.

Whenever he did not know what to do next, he would laugh and say, "Yours Truly, Hannibal Trout!"

It is, we say, a "Ladoga Legend."

Many other stories are reflected in the family histories written by Sarah Lina Norris Stoner  ("Songs of Home")(1945), Vera Barnhart Stoner ("Our Stoner Family")(1965) and Norris Eugene Stoner  ("Our Stoner Family 1732-1991")(1992). There is even a book, published at www.blurb.com,  called "Ladoga Legends" with even more such stories from Norris Eugene Stoner.  This website, we  hope, will spur your interest!

Or, at least, when you think of the name of our website, it will make you smile!

Yours Truly, Hannibal Trout!
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Getting Around
There are several ways to browse the family tree. The Tree View graphically shows the relationship of selected person to their kin. The Family View shows the person you have selected in the center, with his/her photo on the left and notes on the right. Above are the father and mother and below are the children. The Ancestor Chart shows the person you have selected in the left, with the photograph above and children below. On the right are the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. The Descendant Chart shows the person you have selected in the left, with the photograph and parents below. On the right are the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Do you know who your second cousins are? Try the Kinship Relationships Tool. Your site can generate various Reports for each name in your family tree. You can select a name from the list on the top-right menu bar.

In addition to the charts and reports you have Photo Albums, the Events list and the Relationships tool. Family photographs are organized in the Photo Index. Each Album's photographs are accompanied by a caption. To enlarge a photograph just click on it. Keep up with the family birthdays and anniversaries in the Events list. Birthdays and Anniversaries of living persons are listed by month. Want to know how you are related to anybody ? Check out the Relationships tool.

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