John Jacob Huffer

On this day, 31 December 1868, John Jacob Huffer, my 4th great-grandfather, passed away.

Born 16 March 1806, in Washington County, Maryland to parents Rev. John Huffer and Elizabeth Line, John Jacob Huffer joined elder brother Joseph L. Huffer, born 6 October 1800, and elder sisters Susanna Huffer, born 28 August 1802, and Nancy Huffer, born 5 April 1804.

Jane (Shook) Ardinger

On this day, 14 December 1886, Jane (Shook) Ardinger (my 4th great-grandmother) passed away.

Jane Shook (Shuck) was born on 31 August 1819, in Berkeley County, Virginia (which is in modern-day West Virginia). Her parents were John Shuck and Rachel Keesecker, who were married on 3 February 1817, in Berkeley County, Virginia.

Jacob Dilatush

On this day, 13 December 1852, Jacob Dilatush, my 5th great-grandfather, passed away.

Born on 24 March 1781, in Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, Jacob was the son of Henry Dilatush and Geradina Van Wickle. He joined older sisters Syche “Sophie” Dilatush, born on 25 March 1779, and Anne Dilatush, born in 1780.

Book Review: Something Worth Doing

One hundred years ago, American women were granted the right to vote. However, this right was not won quickly or easily.

In 1848, the women’s movement was launched at The Seneca Falls Convention with women’s suffrage being the primary demand. The movement gathered momentum through the 1850s; however, with the onset of the Civil War in 1861, women’s suffrage lost its steam. Four years later, with the end of the war, the suffrage movement began again. Unfortunately, it took 55 more years before American women were granted the right to vote.