Sometimes it seems you all live such interesting lives! Is there something about you, your family, family history, the area you live in that is fascinating? Tell us all about it.

One interesting tid-bit from my family history is that I am related to the outlaw Jesse James!! My Mom has the details, but I think my great-great grandmother and his mother were cousins! Explains a LOT about some of my family! HA,HA

On the other side of the family (Riley) my great grandparents came over from Ireland during times of finacial distress. They were originally O'Riley but Americanized the name by dropping the 'O'.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 04, 2002

Answers

Melissa, your post reminded me of my great grandmother who came over from Ireland all by herself when she was 16. She had a brother Tom Houlihan who belonged to a liberation group, pre-IRA, he was captured by the British and deported to Australia. So I guess I have some long lost kin in Australia somewhere!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), February 04, 2002.

I, too, am related to Jesse James...so I guess that makes us long lost cousins, Melissa! My grandmother was a James from Graves County KY and her father used to tell about Jesse and Frank stopping in. She was the youngest of 14 children. Her middle initial was B. Her daddy always said that it stood for baby and that she always would be his baby.

-- Debbie in S IL (dc1253@hcis.net), February 04, 2002.

Hi, Melissa, when you said you were kin to Jesse James, it reminded me that my paternal grandfather was named after Cole Younger(the Younger Brothers). I don't know the whole story, but my grandfather was born in Marquez, Texas, and his folks used to let the Youngers hide out there. On the flip side, I've always been told my maternal great-grandfather knew Belle Starr, and was a regular visitor to Robber's Cave in Oklahoma. Again, I don't know the whole story. My great-great-great-great grandfather was a McKee, and McKeesport,PA is named for him (or so I've been told).

-- Gina NM (inhock@pvtnetworks.net), February 04, 2002.

Since we're bragging about heritage;), I'm a sixth generation Texan. My Great-Great-Great Grandfather was farming in Nacogdoches County in 1860. It's really bothering me alot to be away from Texas. I told my hubby that my big concern is that we get back there before the boys start marrying out here. When I was a kid, we sang songs about Texas on every family trip, and my Dad loved to extol the virtues of our home state, telling us anything we wanted, we could find without leaving her borders. Case y'all can't tell, it's cold here, and I'm homesick.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), February 04, 2002.

I'm only 47, and my paternal grandfather fought in the War Between the States. He was only 13 at the time, and fathered my dad when he was 67, and my dad fathered me at age 47. Stretched out a couple of generations.

-- Rose in Texas (open_rose@hotmail.com), February 04, 2002.

Well, A male memeber of my family has fought in every american war from the begining to now, My greatX5 granmother was Belle star, The land we live on, ( only found this out 3 years ago) was once an indian burial ground, ( DONT YELL AT ME, the land has been in hubbys family for 100 years)...ANd at the back of the property there are to graves, with headstones, no names or dates though, makes for an interesting hay ride though.

-- Kristean Thompson (pigalena_babe@yahoo.com), February 05, 2002.

Gina,

Belle Starr was buried on the property where my Mom went to school as a young girl. It was a one room school house at Younger's Bend, near Porum, Oklahoma.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), February 05, 2002.

Hey Debbie, I think this woman was a James as well. My grandmothers family lived and still does in Jackson County, Ohio and her father originally came from Kentucky. One of my Mom's cousins is researching all of the family history, I hope we can get a copy from him eventually. It is very interesting I think.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 05, 2002.

Show and tell time?!! My great grand mother is a neice of Billy Osceola of the Seminole Nation, the only Native Americans whom did not ever sign a treaty with the government.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), February 05, 2002.

I can't think of anything earthshattering, except that when I was a kid, a car ran over my leg and my leg didn't break. I slipped in the street when the car was going by; it ran over my rear leg. I watched it. And my parents didn't believe me!

-- Cat (catcrazy@somewhere.com), February 05, 2002.

My father always told me that when they cleaned out Newgate Prison in the 1700's our family was shipped overhere:) I'm a native Texan, distantly related to the Comanche leader Quanah Parker. English, Irish and Comanche make an interesting mix. I too miss TX, but love Vermont too! Terran

-- Terran in VT (homefire@sover.net), February 05, 2002.

I'm the "keeper of the cat" whilst Lil Dumplin is gone. old hoot, calvins keeper, gibson. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), February 05, 2002.

The only well known person that we're related to and have never met and never will because he's dead is Thomas Heggen, the guy that wrote the book Mr. Roberts.

The only other interesting thing I can think of is our children are 7th generation to live in our house. It was built in 1881 by a great great great grandfather. A sidenote here, we're more homesteaders than fancy so this is just a big old drafty farm house.....nothing romantic about it. LOL

-- Anna in Iowa (countryanna54@hotmail.com), February 05, 2002.

I have done a lot of family history research. My great,great grandfather, Isaiah Crone was in the Civil War, Michigan's 7th Calvary. His commanding officer was, of course, Custar. One of my 7th greatgrandfathers was Jacob Gottschalk. He immigrated in 1702 to Pennsylvania, was the first Mennonite bishop in America, and the Towamencin Mennonite Church and cemetary is on what was his farm. There is a memorial to him there.

I have two, 5th great grandfathers who were in the Revolutionary War. George Buzzard was in the Bucks County 5th militia and was a renowned gunsmith. John Meyer belonged to a militia from Maryland.

Another ancestor was the govenor of the province of Dauphin, France. He was on the Council of Paris, the Ambassodor (sp?) to Spain, and had over 3,000 merchant ships. He and his wife were also Huggenots. And so the king ordered their execution. (He really wanted their ships) They got word of this and escaped over the mountains into Switzerland.

I have uncovered many other details of family history which are fascinating to me. If you haven't done family ancestor research yet, it can be addicting and a lot of fun.

-- vicki in NW OH (thga76@aol.com), February 05, 2002.

Well I guess the fact that I am related to Lady Diana is interesting. My Maiden name is Spencer. I cried like a baby when she died! The Spencer brothers came to america before the mayflower! My Grandpa Spencer was born in 1863. He was also 76 when my dad (the youngest of 13 kids) was born.

-- Buffy in Dallas (buffyannjones@hotmail.com), February 05, 2002.

I don't reckon I'm related to any of the James boys though they did pass through this way, stopping to rob the bank in Columbia, in Adair County-one county over from here. I have relatives that fought on both sides of the Civil war. I have relatives that fought in the Revolution-they were given a land grant in Tenneessee for payment. I love Archeology and history and folklore, and we have a very suspicious looking mound on our property, I got some books over the weekend, and just yesterday went to the Historical society to look up some stuff about this area.

I once crashed into Peggy Fleming while ice skating-I fell over, she didn't though. She was very nice and let my friend take her picture.

-- Kelly (KY) (homearts2002@yahoo.com), February 05, 2002.

I don'tr know whether it is extroadinary or not, but I think I have had the most complete life one could ask for...First I spent 16 years in a orphanage and then joined the military.Served in Korea but in the four year time span of my Navy career I took a world cruise, was in 4 movies..(Sailor Beware with Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin) while I went through basic training in San Diego..THE CAINE MUTINY, BRIDGES OF TOKO RI, and THE ETERNAL SEA with sTERLING HAYDEN, BEN COOPER AND SEVERAL OTHERS...Also I had the privilege of meeting quite a few famous people, like General Changki Shek and his wife, Cardinal Spellman of New York, Also while being stationed in England for three years I went to the London Paliadium and saw the Beatles and also had a drink in a Pub with Tom Jones and went to many concerts with the Rolling Stones Hermans Hermits and other great English groups and also saw the Queen and went to Winston Churchills funeral..Then unfortunately my next set of orders read Vietnam which like Mitch I never thought I would return..But while in Vietnam I met Robert Michum,Nancy Sinatra and went to the Bob Hope Show...After Vietnam I was given orders to go to the North Pole and help operate a Weather site...On my 6month morale leave I went AWOL and went to Woodstock which was well worth the risk..After that I was stationed in Texas, Louisianna, Indiana and then retired and returned back to my home town in SE Ohio..I have raised two boys ages 44 and 39 and have two bueatifull grandchidren...I feel I have lived a very usefull like and truly thank God for letting me live this long even though the war took its toll on me...I hope I didn't bore you to death.....

-- Bob (snuffy@1st.net), February 06, 2002.

My husband, Adrian and I met rowing at Eton Excellsior Rowing Club, next to Windsor Bridge, in England. A few years ago we had Steve Redgrave name a boat at the club. It was horrible weather, but he still insisted on the first crew taking it out with him. Adrian was in this crew and I was the cox. It was a privelage to meet him. He is a truely nice man.

You do know who Steve Redgrave is don't you?

Alison

-- Alison Homa (alisonhoma@hotmail.com), February 06, 2002.

Add me to the list of being related to Jesse James's family. His son, Jesse Edward married Stella McGowen, whose great-great grandfather was Daniel Boone. My 6th great grandmother was a sister to Daniel Boone. Had a great-great grandfather who fought in the Civil War, and another 4th great grandfather who fought in the war of 1812, and another who fought in the Mexican War. Another ancestor was a scout for George Washington. Another came over on the Mayflower. Another great-great grandfather travelled west with the Donner Party. He left them right before they headed into the mountains where they would become trapped. He was last seen on his horse standing on a hill waving. He left behind his wife and children. Later we learned he had married an Indian woman and had more children. In the 1960's a great uncle was able to track down the grandchildren and we were able to learn more.

While not related to them, I grew up just 1 mile from where the police had a shoot out with Bonnie and Clyde. His brother Buck and wife, Blanche were with them and while they got away, Buck sustained fatal injuries and Blanche lost her sight in an eye. Of course, this all took place about 23 years before I was born. The place where it happened wasn't torn down until the late 60's and I used to go in the motel after it was abandoned to look at all the bullet holes, as they never fixed them.

And of course, in the next county over was the James Boys. When I was in grade school we got to go on a field trip to the James Farm. And then they took us to St. Joe to the house where he was killed, as well. Jesse is buried in Kearney, MO the town nearest the farm and I passed it all the time as a girlfriend lived near Kearney.

And if I can add my husband in here, he has ancestors who were at the Alamo. A.J. Sowell was a courier who left so close to the battle they thought he was dead. One monument had his name on it. He was sent out to get supplies from nearby farmers. His family also help found the town of Seguin, TX. A cousin of A.J. Sowell's , Marcus Sewell, was killed in the Alamo. An uncle of A.J. Sowell's also named A.J. Sowell, later became a Texas Ranger and became an author of several books, which recorded the early history of that area of TX. " Texas Indian Fighters " is his most famous book. Also the A.J. stands for Andrew Jackson, as in President Andrew Jackson. The wife of the President named the 1st child, as they were neighbors before the Sowells went to TX.

Isn't history fascinating? Have many more fun tales but I will save them for another time.

-- Billie in W. CO (bbsowell@earthlink.net), February 06, 2002.

Hello Melissa,

My families roots extend all the way back to Frankfort, Germany in the 1500s. Being wealthy landowners in those days was rare and our family manage to hold own to their land until they sold it and moved to America in 1847. Kaiser Wilheim was related to one of my ancestors as a cousin. They came to America through New Orleans and eventually settled in Nebraska. There my great grandfather and great grand mother sired three children. The oldest was my grandfather, Rudoph. Farmer until the depression and then moved to St. Louis. Sired 11 children. My dad, (Ernest) was the middle child. My dad had not experienced country living and it was not until I moved to Southern Missouri that any of us had been back to the country. I broke the chain of city dwellers by moving to the Ozarks after seventy years of our family living in cities. And am now a landowner, and a homesteader just like my original ancestors!

Sincerely,

Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), February 06, 2002.

Terran,

I went to school in Ralls, Texas with two girls, Becky and Scarlet, who were descendants of Quanah Parker. Are you related?

-- Gina NM (inhock@pvtnetworks.net), February 06, 2002.

15 minutes of fame eh?

Victoria Principal was my classmate when I was in the 7th grade at Ramey A.F.B. Puerto Rico. I have a species of plant named after me (it has a big red flower). Once I was among a group of indians in far southern deep-woods Venezuela where the women wore no shirts but did wear bras given to them by the Jesuits - but they wore them on their backs to carry things in! I have an apartment on the 8th floor of a building at the northern tip of the Andes mountains. Once spent the night in a tent in the middle of nothing savannah where tigres (large mountain lions) rubbed up againts the tent, panted, and purred loudly as they paced around the tent all during the night. Ancestry: my great grandfather came from Prussia. He left home at 15 to avoid being sent to a military academy in Kiev. After landing in New York he was paid to join the Union army as substitute service for a wealthy New Yorker. 6 months later he was captured and held in prison for about a year. When released, the Union charged the value of his canteen, clothes, and captured weapon against his meager accumulation of Federal pay while in prison. One of his sons, my grandfather, married a descendant of John Wilkes Booth.

-- charles (cr@dixienet.com), February 06, 2002.

On my mother's side, she has a long-ago relative (1600's, I think), Hannah Dustin, that a statue was erected in her honor (she was the 1st woman in the U.S. to have a statue). Reason for it (now, remember, this was 400 years ago, give or take 50) was that she was taken prisoner by Indians, and managed to mastermind an escape for herself and 2 other prisoners. It's a long, involved story, but let's just say that the PC police would frown on it. (that's politically correct, not personal computer ;-)) Anyhow, the Native Americans killed her baby when she was first taken captive, and after a lengthy travel on foot, the escape plan involved waiting until the tribe was drunk before dispatching them...not the nicest story, but life back then was rather rough...

-- Judi (ddecaro@snet.net), February 06, 2002.