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Missing, Found & Everything In Between
Welcome to our little corner of history, where family stories, forgotten artifacts, and the past all come together.
Each story begins with an antique photograph, letter, family Bible, document, or heirloom that somehow became separated from the family it once belonged to. Our mission is to research the people behind these artifacts, share their stories, and—whenever possible—find their direct descendants so these pieces of family history can find their way home.
Along the way, you'll discover the lives of the people featured here, the world they lived in, and the history that shaped their journeys. Some of these stories end with a happy family reunion. Others are still waiting for the right person to come along.
If you recognize a familiar face, surname, hometown, or family story—or if you believe one of these artifacts belongs to your family—we'd love to hear from you. Every message brings us one step closer to reuniting another piece of history with the family it was meant to find.
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A single baby photo with a name, date, and a name, William Bernard O'Neill, seemed nearly impossible to reunite with his family. Found and Returned!
Typically, when I acquire personal items like photos, there are several that come together. This provides clues to begin my research. In this case, William Bernard O'Neill's baby picture was the only item. Fortunately, someone had the foresight to write his name, the date, and his age on the back. When I took a closer look at the photo, I realized it was taken in New York in 1922. So, I started researching the name William Bernard O'Neill for births around 1920 in New York an
Amy
Apr 101 min read
Hiding in a box full of old photos. The Reding and McFarland family of Indiana with ties to my home state of Michigan. Found and Returned!
Anytime a box full of photos comes up at auction, I admit that I can't resist. Especially when they are piled up and I have no idea what's inside. The first thing I do is unpack the box and start looking for clues to the faces in photos. Fortunately, many of the pictures were marked with names and locations, making the research a lot easier. I also look at the condition of the photos. In this lot, a few have water damage but most are in good condition. I have an interest in w
Amy
Dec 27, 20243 min read
Pendleton, Patterson, and Pattershall - An Old Family Album Full of Mystery - Found and Returned!
One of my favorite artifacts to discover are family photo albums. Most likely, it's because a photo album of my own family started my interest in genealogy and the history of families. I recently acquired a very full family album which was gift to Eva A Pendleton from her husband in 1884 on her birthday. The album contains family photos and a receipt from the City of Belfast, ME dated 12 Aug 1902 for state, county, and city taxes. A little bit about the family; Eva A Patterso
Amy
Oct 19, 20242 min read
Dr. Aaron Moore - Lasting legacy in Durham, NC - Found and Returned!
Dr. Aaron McDuffie Moore was a man who made an impact on his community. Born: 6 Sep 1863 in North Carolina Died: 29 Apr 1923 in Durham, North Carolina Dr. Moore was born to free parents in 1863 and worked on the family farm in his early life. He graduated from Shaw University's Leonard Medical School and became first black physician in 1888. Dr. Moore, along with other prominent black men, also founded North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company in 1898. With an endowment from Wa
Amy
Oct 19, 20242 min read
60 Years and 2k Miles. The Luis Alberni Trunk - Found and Returned!
Check out the article about our work and this trunk's journey in the the Tennessean: The trunk told a tale of Hollywood scandal. Could a...
Amy
Aug 8, 20242 min read
Mark Twain and the Darnall-Watson Feud. W. M. and H. M. Darnall - Found and Returned!
Just when I thought I had hit a brick wall with finding information on this original land deed from 1878, I noticed the front of the document identifies the page number where it's recorded in the Lake County, Tennessee Land Deed Book. After an exhaustive search, I found an online copy of the Land Deed book, went to Page 620, and there it was. I was surprised to find on Page 620, there was another Deed transfer from W. M. to Virginia Darnall. I had so many questions and no ide
Amy
Jul 18, 20244 min read
An early photographer and a moving picture theater proprietor from New York who promised his theater would be as clean physically as it would be morally. Frank L. Weller - Found and Returned!
Frank Lake Weller was born on 22 Nov 1852 in Holley, New York and it seems he raised his family and spent his entire life in the area. He was an early photographer with a studio on Albion Street in Holley, NY. From my research, he was in a trolley accident in October of 1908. During heavy fog, a work train collided with the trolley he was on. Although it was a serious accident, out of the five men injured, he walked away with a sprained ankle. He's identified as the official
Amy
May 25, 20241 min read
Pay the tax man and harvest the crop. A tobacco farmer from Middle Tennessee. Joe A. Hill - Found and Returned
If you've ever seen a Middle Tennessee tobacco farm, it's an impressive site. Fields of large, green leaves in the Spring and barns full of drying tobacco in the Autumn. When Joseph (Joe) A. Hill was a tobacco farmer in the late 1800's and early 1900's, it was a manual process. Clear the land, plant seedlings in the spring, weeding fields, removing buds and insects by hand, harvesting leaves in the middle of Summer, hanging the leaves with tobacco sticks in the barn, curing t
Amy
May 20, 20241 min read
Brothers who loved their community. One is still giving back 50+ years after his death, Leonard L. and Allen A. Andres - Found and Returned!
Leonard L Andres was a generous man. One could argue he still is. Before his passing in 1972, Leonard established The Andres Memorial Trust. In it, he designated his trust funds be used for the benefit of the Charles City, Iowa community. He was specific in how the funds should be allocated but a quick search online will reveal that the Trust still exists today. In a pile of old paperwork I recently purchased, there was an envelope with several facsimile copies of his will, d
Amy
May 19, 20242 min read
1901 Marriage Certificate of Maurice Baker and Maud Hyatt - Found and Returned!
Antique marriage certificates are somewhat of a fascination for me. They represent a monumental (and hopefully happy) time in two people's lives. Long ago, they used to be beautifully made and were meant to be framed. I admit that I wish they were still as lovely. While on the 127 Yard Sale last year, I discovered the marriage certification of Maud A Hyatt and Maurice W Baker. It's dated 4 Apr 1901 (Happy 123rd Anniversary you two!). The frame appears to be original and it's
Amy
Apr 6, 20241 min read
Found and Returned! A Box Full of Family History, Truman Marion Butts of Iowa - Found and Returned!
This cigar box from 1957 holds a lot of memories. It's full of newspaper articles, calling cards, military orders, and a very special journal. Corporal Truman Marion Butts served in Cuba when President William Taft declared a Provisional Government in Cuba and declared himself the Provisional Governor. Truman documented his travels from his home state of Iowa to Cuba and sent letters home which were published in the local papers. His small, black journal somehow survived 116
Amy
Mar 16, 20242 min read
Marriage Certificate of Daniel Klingler & Nancy J Swick - Found and Returned!
Marriage Licenses & Certificates seem to find me. I'm fascinated with how beautiful they used to be and how so many have survived through the years. _________________________________ If you know of or are a direct descendent of Daniel Klingler or Nancy Swick, please reach out. At no cost to you, I would like to reunite this personal artifact to the family. _________________________________ My research so far: Married on 23 July 1870 Daniel Klingler BIRTH 10 MAY 1842 • Perry C
Amy
Mar 16, 20241 min read
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