Welcome to the Family Archives

A Daily Journey Into Our Roots

I’ve decided to start this Substack as a way to share the incredible (and sometimes messy) history of our family.

For the past several months, I’ve been deep in the trenches of census records, old land deeds, and migration maps. I’ve found stories of pioneers, mysterious name changes, and even a few “phantom ancestors” who turned out to be cases of mistaken identity.

Modernizing the Search

While there was research done on the Wolk and Burgdorf branches several years ago, I’m now taking a fresh look at everything to make sure our history is as accurate as possible. To do this, I am currently waiting on DNA results from Ancestry.com. The goal is to use science to verify the paper trail. It’s one thing to see a name in a book; it’s another to see the biological proof that we are connected.

The Challenges: Missing Names & Phantoms

Genealogy isn’t always a clear path. We are currently tracking several “phantom ancestors”—people like Nancy Reed—where the records are thin or names are simply missing from the official ledgers. My goal is to use this DNA testing to finally turn these phantoms into real people and see where they truly fit.

The Branches I’m Tracing

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be exploring:

• The Wolk, Burgdorf & Devalley Lines: A fascinating trail of French heritage and the mystery involving the names Bayer and Boyer.
• The Powell & Patterson Line: Tracing our deep roots through Missouri and Illinois, uncovering the stories of the people who built the lives we have today.

What I need from you

As you read these daily updates:

• Check your memories: If a name like Nancy Reed or Henry Boyer rings a bell, or if you have an old family Bible or photos, let me know.
• Share the journey: If you have a DNA match on Ancestry that you don’t recognize, tell me! It might be the key to a missing branch we are all looking for.

I’m so excited to finally get this out of my research files and into your hands.

Tomorrow’s first official entry: The Case of the Phantom Ancestor (and why I had to prune the tree before we could grow it).

See you in your inbox tomorrow morning!

Disclaimer This blog is a personal project and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as a definitive legal or historical record for anyone other than myself.