Welcome to my family tree site! I created this page as a resource for myself, for distant relatives I have yet to meet, and for any others engaged in family research. I am glad you came by for a visit.
This project was born in about third or fourth grade when I was assigned to bring in some basic information about my ancestors. I was most disappointed to learn that my parents knew nothing about their ancestry beyond my mother's great-grandmother and my father's grandparents. The summer after sixth grade, I decided to make an effort to expand this knowledge. I've been working on the family tree ever since, mostly in the summers. I received my bachelor's degree in May and am currently in the first year of my graduate
studies.
I've tried my best to be accurate in all respects by utilizing vital records, family stories and Bible records,
cemeteries, other genealogical sites, and general logic. I've cross-referenced other family trees as much as possible in an attempt to validate my information. Dates, spellings of names, and places of birth may not always be precise, but I have done my best to make sure that they are. If you see any glaring errors, please e-mail me at ejriippa@umich.edu.
A few years back, I made some updates concerning people I believe to be distant relatives and ancestors, but cannot precisely connect in the tree. These people were indicated with a + sign following their names. After unsuccessful efforts to connect them to my verified relatives, I removed these entries. If you should find one that I missed, please let me know.
Thank you for visiting! I eagerly welcome comments, questions, and additional information.