Note: This is a repost + edit of an older blog post I wrote in a previous incarnation of my blogging life in June of 2011, only about two months before my late Grandmother passed away. How many times have you seen a death certificate or vital record that lists the deceased individual had died... Continue Reading →
Today we will be sharing part three of the Biography of Susan Elizabeth Wall (nee Bench), a woman with a bigamist past who we have featured here and here, as well as in the narrative story. Learn more about Susan and her first marriage to polygamist Francis George Wall in today's post. In 1886, Aunt... Continue Reading →
It's that dreaded P-word, polygamy. A word that many genealogists groan at and those of particular persuasions try to pretend it didn't happen. But it did. Polygamy (in the United States) was practiced by early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) from 1852 to 1890 when it was officially discontinued... Continue Reading →
A couple of weeks ago, we bought Part 1 of the biography of Susan Elizabeth Bench. Today we are feature part two of her biography, written by her own hand. We last left off when Susan's mother, Maria Watson Kirby had passed away. In this section of her biography, we learn more about her father's... Continue Reading →
Every time I start a new family tree for a client, I marvel at the variety of names and dates before me. Each one of those individuals was an actual person and lived a life. Some of the names are familiar, and others are a bit more unique (like Seattleton). In this post series, I'd... Continue Reading →
A couple of weeks ago, I shared the story of Susan Elizabeth Bench, the polygamist who escaped to Mexico after being arrested for the crime of bigamy. Today, we bring you more from Susan, but instead of a first-person narrative story written by myself, we bring you the words of Susan herself, taken from her... Continue Reading →
Author's Note: This is not an actual letter from Susan Elizabeth Bench to her grandchildren but a historical narrative based off facts from Susan's life as noted in her biography. My Dearest Grandchildren, I write you this letter to clarify some of my life as you have asked. The stories of my life I would... Continue Reading →
Note:Ruby Walker Smith did not actually write this letter, but I am presenting the information in a way that lends itself to storytelling. My Dear Readers, I wanted to take this precious time I have been given in my short life to tell you a little bit about what trials and tribulations I went through... Continue Reading →
The core of my genealogical research is transcription, and I've even built a business around it (Life Stories Transcription Services). So when I get to see images of original handwriting or journals my historian senses get to tingling and I just have to share with my readers. Today's images come from the statement of Hyrum... Continue Reading →
Author's Note: This information is as accurate as found in my current research. Some men had one wife, others 56. Elias Gardner (son of William and Ann Gardner of Massachusetts)  landed somewhere in the middle. He had nine wives -- Harriet, Amy, Betsy, Diantha, Ruth, Ellen, Ann, Emily + Martha.  This is their story. Wife #1:... Continue Reading →
The Hipster Historian 