The families described on these pages are descended from forthright and courageous individuals, most of whom had humble beginnings.  Our ancestors took one bold step after another to reach North America to forge a new beginning for themselves and a future home for us.  Each decision they made was in the spirit of hope, adventure, and co-operation. Indeed, these people were visionaries and achievers whose determination laid the groundwork for other families to follow.  Our early ancestors nurtured their families and created traditions while they cleared land, built homes, formed businesses, and created communities.

Our families connected and now we are their legacy.  I hope their tradition of hard work and bold thinking has endured and will be our guiding light.  Like them, I trust that we all can cherish the good that comes our way and I pray that we find the strength to endure the sad or truly unfortunate periods of our lives.

My tribute to our ancestors is within these pages.  I don't think their lives should ever be overlooked or forgotten, because they had a recipe for loving, living and surviving. I hope you will think about their passion for living and their spirit of adventure as you read their stories, study the family tree and enjoy the photo albums.

I hope you will accept that besides all the happiness or success that our families enjoyed some members experienced truly sorrowful times due to tragic events, poor choices or life simply happening.  So while this web site is going to record births, marriages, divorces and deaths, I also want to include anecdotes, explanations, happy or notable moments and some sad memories that some of us may need to know about or visit once in a while. So, if for any reason you are skittish about the facts of what has happened in our families please exit out of this web site immediately, because where it was possible I have tried to include how a person made a living, what caused their untimely death, where they lived, and in some instances I opened a few closet doors to let the skeletons out.

Unlike typical family trees where they record only marriages that are sanctioned by the governing bodies or churches, I have recorded common-in-law relationships that endured for at least three years, especially if children were involved.  I believe that everyone that lived within our homes had an impact on our lives, and I cannot ignore them. Our lives are shaped not by the stamp of approval given by some authority, but by the seal of alliance and the assurance of love, loyalty, and forgiveness from our parents, siblings, spouses, partners, and children.   I have also included extended families because I know that each person has touched our lives. In fact, I see where the paths of families crossed more than once and maybe went unnoticed.

Please help me expand this family tree to make it current by providing additional information. I may have omissions and errors on these pages. If you have better information or documentation, please contact me so that I can change or update the family tree to make it more complete and accurate.
   
My notes are mine and they are based on credible sources,  scattered information gathered from other sources or my recollection of the past.  I leave the notes here and try to verify everything and provide the verification or copies of verification on these pages as I do so.  Yes, many of these notes are also incomplete.  Some are included as  reminders for me to expand upon them in the future or to do additional research to get the information verified, or to spur you to provide information or documentation to complete the research. 

My main objective was to record as much information as I could while I could still do so.  That way family would have a basis to continue the project if they so choose.

I trust that you will view this site with an open mind and an open heart.

              To look at the road we traveled to reach this - the hour of our happiness.    
              It stretches behind us, even as the future lies ahead.
              A long and winding road, whose every turn means discovery.    
              Old hopes, new laughter, shared fears.  
              The adventure has just begun.