The Ancestral Pen

  Hi everyone! I'm writing to you from my favorite spot—my chaise lounge by the big window, looking out at beautiful fall colors. It's too foggy to see much today, but a few days ago I caught a glimpse of snow on Switzer Mountain peaks. Winter is just around the corner! The seasonal preserving is mostly done (all those apples are finally put up!), though I still need to grab some pumpkins for holiday cooking since I didn't grow any this year. And speaking of having more time, my husband and I finally finished restoring the Hummer H2 we've been working on! I got to drive it for the first time a few weeks ago when I picked up apples from my mom's. It's such a beast of a vehicle—I love it, though parking is... an adventure. Definitely not a tight-spaces kind of ride! On the writing front, I'm deep into outlining Book 2 of the Pack Saddle Ranch series,  The Outlaw's Redemption . For the first time, I'm using AutoCrit to help with the outlining process. I...

  Born August 24, 1862, in Warren County, Kentucky Died September 15, 1909, in Bradley, Grady County, Oklahoma Helen Fannie Burnett's life embodied the restless spirit of late 19th-century America, when families packed their belongings into wagons and chased opportunities across an expanding frontier. Born during the Civil War in the rolling hills of Kentucky, she would die nearly half a century later in the red dirt of Oklahoma Territory, her journey marking the path of a nation pushing ever westward. Kentucky Roots Helen entered the world on August 24, 1862, as the daughter of John Burnett and Mary Jane Tygrett in Warren County, Kentucky. She was part of a large family that would eventually include siblings James Wood, Charlie Cooper, Augustus, Charlotte, Lulie, Warner Thomas, Phillip (who died young), Blanch, and Shelly. Growing up in the post-Civil War South, Helen experienced the challenges of Reconstruction firsthand. By 1880, at age 17, Helen was still living as a sing...

"It started like a spark — hot, irresistible, impossible to ignore. But sparks burn out fast… and the ashes leave scars." When I wrote  His Greatest Regret , I wanted to explore what happens when grief and longing push two people together — not because they’re ready, but because they’re lonely, human, and aching to feel alive again. Richard and Charlotte’s love was never meant to last. It began as a spark: a widow and a widower, each carrying their own grief, finding an unexpected comfort in one another. What started as warmth grew into a fire that neither of them could control — and that fire left behind ashes that scarred everyone it touched. Most of all, it scarred William — the child born of that spark — who would carry the weight of Richard’s choices for the rest of his life. (William’s story comes next month — but you’ll need to catch up on what came before.) 🔥 Excerpt: Charlotte stood before the shop, her arms wrapped around an enormous flour sack that threatened to s...

Photo shared by Glenda Owen on Ancestry.com My fourth great-grandfather,  Tillman Williamson "T.W." Graham  (1817-1893), was a man perpetually in motion, chasing opportunity across three states during one of America's most transformative periods. But his story also serves as a perfect reminder of why careful record analysis matters in genealogy, because sometimes those convenient Ancestry leaf hints can lead us astray if we're not paying attention. From Tennessee Roots to Texas Dreams Born on May 15, 1817, near Nunnley in Hickman County, Tennessee, T.W. started life in the established settlements of middle Tennessee. By 1841, he had married Jency Jane Williams in Perry County, and their first son, Charles Granville, arrived in 1843. But Tennessee couldn't hold this restless pioneer for long. By 1846, the young family had packed up and headed for the promise of Texas, settling first in Cass County. This wasn't just a casual move—T.W. was investing in land, ...

  July 4th Parade As I've mentioned before, I'm a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I have many patriot ancestors, two of whom are on my Woolsey line. Daniel Woolsey was the great-grandfather of Richard Woolsey from my book "His Greatest Regret," and Daniel's father Henry—both served together side by side in the American Revolution. You'll learn a bit more about this in the next book about Richard's son, William. Families are messy. Richard was the broken link in this family line. He descended from two amazing men who were patriots, then Richard somehow avoided the Civil War, even though he was of the optimal age to serve, likely in the Union since he lived in Indiana. He left behind a son he never knew. However, when you go back beyond Richard, you have men who were patriots, well-established family men, and so on. Someday I will write about Daniel and Henry Woolsey as well, but I'm still in the process of gathering information about...

  It was last Sunday. I was feeling pretty good about all I had accomplished for the week with social media and blog posts for both The Ancestral Pen and the DAR. My book proof had arrived on Saturday and I was pleased, so I hit the publish button on it Sunday morning. I still had a couple more blog posts to write but knew I would be on track, and then all hell broke loose. I'm sitting here in my lounge, a blanket over my legs because it's still a bit cool here on spring mornings. My laptop on my lap and my fingers clicking away making my words come to life. I hear my son fire up his truck to go do a side job with his brother, but otherwise the house is still quiet. It's my quiet writing time, and then it wasn't. I hear a pitiful squawk from a chicken and then I hear it again, only that time I knew by its abrupt end that it wasn't good. I also knew that it was coming from the other side of the yard where there was not supposed to be a chicken. Before I could get my ...

Dear Readers, I'm thrilled to share some exciting news - I've finally hit the "publish" button on the digital version of "His Greatest Regret"! After months of waiting, Richard Woolsey's story is ready for you to explore. This has been a 20-year journey - countless hours of research, collaboration with my cousins, and even a DNA test to piece together Richard's fascinating life. The print version proof copy should arrive this week, and barring any issues, I'll be publishing that version too. Richard Woolsey was quite the character - a smooth-talking man whose paper trail has always fascinated me. I won't sugar coat it - he was not a good father to his youngest child, though by all accounts, he was devoted to his first six children. It's one of the mysteries I've pondered throughout this project. In "His Greatest Regret," you'll follow Richard's adventures across late 19th century America - from Indiana to Kansas...

  As some of you may see starting at the very top of this weeks newsletter there are a great many changes going on. I thought why the heck not reinvent my business, join the Daughters of the American Revolution and go into overdrive with that, take on some genealogy research for a couple young ladies, potentially future DAR's, and continue writing all at the same time. Oh and don't forget I'm still not retired, so I work full time too. Sure why not. I got this! Actually, believe it or not with today's technology, calendaring, scheduling social media, Ai assistance, and all the other fun technology out there, I really do have this, but yes I do have moments where I hear the words my grandfather once said, "Be careful what you ask for. It just might come true." But of course he didn't have a crystal ball to see all the fun stuff I could use to help me do it all. So here is a little of what is going on and some of it is for you my dear readers. The Great Rebr...