Category Archives: Surname Projects
Inga Maria “Mary” (Person) Krafve (1866-1905)
She crossed an ocean and left almost no trace — at least not at first glance. But look carefully, and Maria Person Krafve steps forward: a Swedish immigrant who built a family on two frontiers, bore seven children, and died at thirty-eight, far from
the forests of Värmland where she was born. Continue reading
Ancestor Sketch – Catherine Justin (1854-1949)
Ancestor sketch of Catherine Frances “Kate” (Justin) Raidt, born 1854 in Wisconsin, later of Minneapolis. A life of family, resilience, and Midwestern tradition. Continue reading
Biography of Frank H. Raidt (1851-1931)
Frank H. Raidt (1871–1933), was born in Watertown, Wisconsin. A carpenter who moved to Minneapolis, MN, he became a building contractor, raised a family and contributed to his community. His life shows the migration of Midwestern families in the late 1800s. He rests today in a Minneapolis cemetery. Continue reading
Montran Monday – A Watch Lost and Found in Pasadena, 1922
By Don Taylor As part of my ongoing “Montran Monday” series[i], I search historical newspapers for any mention of individuals bearing the Montran surname. Each small discovery helps me piece together the broader story of my maternal grandmother’s elusive father. … Continue reading
Mary Eliza (Lyons) Daly (1862-1940)
Welch ProjectWelch-Daly-Lyons LineAncestor #19 SketchBy Don Taylor Mary Eliza Lyons was born in County Cork, Ireland, likely between April 16 and May 10, 1865. She immigrated to the United States in 1884 or 1885. She married Timothy Daly on November … Continue reading