Pages

The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

New, No Old House in Concord, Massachusetts


Caesar Robbins House, Concord, Massachusetts
This lovely house is situated in a most unusual location. Practically in a parking lot, not any parking lot, but one that belongs to the National Park Service at the site of the Old North Bridge in Concord. For the better part of 2012-2013, I wondered what this was going to be, perhaps a visitor's center at the entrance to the Bridge. Last year, I finally noticed a sign, so my husband and I walked to it and around the house. When it opens this year, in late spring, I will take a tour, and post new photos here.
The Caesar Robbins House
Concord's African American and Abolitionist History Center
The below information about Caesar Robbins and the house came from the DrinkingGourdProject.

"The Robbins House is a home built by the son of slavery survivor and Revolutionary War veteran Caesar Robbins in the early 1800s. This house was originally located on a small farm at the edge of Concord’s Great Meadows, in an area where a handful of self-emancipated Africans and their families established their homes. The last African American occupants left the house in the 1860s, and in the winter of 1870-71 the building was moved to Bedford St. In 2011 the Drinking Gourd Project moved the house to land adjacent to the North Bridge parking lot, where it is prominently displayed for Concord visitors. It will serve as an interpretive center for Concord’s early African history."


What I saw, peeking into a window (above and below).

The house, taken from the parking lot, a few days ago.
 Article with photos of the house being moved.
 Some good pictures of the old house, before and after, thanks to Google Images.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Mr. and Mrs. Fiske of Lowell, Massachusetts -- Tombstone Tuesday

William O. Fiske
BVT Brigadier General
U. S. V.

June 4, 1838
Feb. 2, 1886

Mary Augusta
Wife of
William O. Fiske.
Died Apr. 19, 1876
Aged 27 Yrs.

They were buried in the Lowell Cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts

Monday, January 27, 2014

Watertown, Massachusetts -- World War II Memorial


To These Gallant Heroes of
World War II
This Memorial is Reverently Dedicated

Leonard Almeda
George H. Elms
Douglas C. Kenney
Felix T. Murphy
George Andreotes
John A. Fantasia
Paul L. Kenney
George M. Natale
Joseph F. Arone
Jessie J. Farese
Armand Keshishian
Paul Nugent
Haig G. Barmakain
Romeo A. Farese
Bruce S. Kindred
Joseph M. O’Callaghan Jr.
Lloyd E. Beckwith
Ernest B. Ford
Robert A. Krancer
Michael  C. Papadopulos
John A. Bedrossian
Robert M. Ford
William H. Kremin
George A. Perkins
Raymond W. Braffitt
Arthur O. Furfey
Walter F. LaFort
Alfred W. Pezzella
Gerald C. Breen
Louis W. Gahran Jr.
John M. Lambert
Ralph A. Piteri
Thomas P. Brennan
George M. Gaitanis
Joseph F. Lennon
Clarence D. Powell
Thomas J. Cannalonga
Leopold W. Gierwiatowski
Minas L. Loisou
Robert F. Prest
Richard A. Carmchael
Joseph H. Gilfoil Jr.
Robert E. Looney
Vincent J. Ranucci
Lawrence L. Cashin
Charles E. Griffith
Charles J. Mackin
Lawrence N. Rice
Louis K. Chaberlain
George F. Harris
Gordon G. MacKennan
John A. Richards
Harry A. Chapanian
Robert E. Hartenstein
John J. Maloney
Henry H. Roberts
Carl I. Christianson
Charles R. Hasekian
William F. Mann
Edward T. Roche Jr.
Alfred B. Coffin
Lester W. Haynes
Paul S. Maroubian
Bernard F. Romano
Maurice L. Cohen
John W. Hennessey
Fredrick N. Martin
Angelo Russo
Alfred F. Cole
Richard K. Henry Jr.
Leo J. Martin
Dominic J. Russo
Nicholas Conti
Thaddeus R. Hubbell
John M. McCall
Edward A. Safer
John M. D’Alanno
Paul W. Hughes
Allan McClay Jr.
Raymond E. Sargent
Philip Z. Darch
Alfred Iodice
Stanley J. McEachern
Stephen F. Sawyer
Harold D. Davis
Eric B. Ives
Warren F. McManus
Charles J. Shutt Jr.
Fred Devenney Jr.
Myron L. Jevelekian
Harold H. Melkonian
Warren S. Studley
Joseph A. D’Onofrio
Charles E. Johnson
Suren Melkonian
Otto M. Theurer
James J. Donovan
Henning E. Johnson
Edward F. Moran
Albert C. Todino
Arthur O. Doria
Malcom E. Johnson
John J. Moran
Simon Torossian
Raymond G. Dougan
Louis W. Juliano
Murad Mouradian
Thomas J.Trapasso
Theodore J. DuBois
Aram G. Kadehjian
Richard S. Movsessian
Samuel Tungrain Jr.
Melville B. Eaton
John R. Keane
Harry C. Moyles
Thomas A. Waldron



Earl H. Wellch
Frank D. Borghetti


Michael F. White



Robert S. White



Jack Wiltshire



George F. York




Saturday, January 25, 2014

Lillie Or Lilley -- Surname Saturday



The Lillie / Lilley surname has always been a favorite of mine even though I don't share a direct line. Over the years, several people have contacted me because they saw I had a Scrambling connection. I have over 600 individuals in my tree with that surname. There are some blanks to be filled in, in this tree but perhaps some of what I have might be of use to a person working on the descendants of Roswell Lillie. This family began in Vermont, and ended up in New York, Louisiana, and Michigan.



Generation No. 1

1.Roswell LILLIE was born ABT 1785 in Vermont, and died 19 JUN 1851 in Edwards, St. Lawrence Co., New York. He was buried in So. Edwards, St. Lawrence Co., New York. He married Ruth BANNISTER. She was born 11 SEP 1787 in Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, and died 27 FEB 1871 in New York. She was buried in So. Edwards, St. Lawrence Co., New York.

Children of Roswell LILLIE and Ruth BANNISTER were:


2  i.Timothy LILLIE was born 10 JAN 1812 in Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York, and died 20 AUG 1880.
+3  ii.Benjamin J. LILLIE was born 2 MAR 1823 in Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York, and died 22 SEP 1898 in Iberia, New Iberia Co., Louisiana.
4  iii.Levi LILLIE was born 1825, and died in Michigan. He married Jane GREVES.


Generation No. 2

3.Benjamin J. LILLIE (Roswell LILLIE1) was born 2 MAR 1823 in Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York, and died 22 SEP 1898 in Iberia, New Iberia Co., Louisiana. He married Elizabeth VanGordon CLEMONS 12 MAR 1864 in Wright Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan. She was born 12 DEC 1835 in Shelby, Orleans Co., New York, and died 3 SEP 1874. He married Jane SCRAMBLING 7 JUL 1875 in Ottawa Co., Michigan or Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, daughter of David G. SCRAMBLING and Hannah COOK. She was born 14 FEB 1847 in Laurens, Otsego Co., New York, and died 26 AUG 1913 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan. She was buried in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan. He married Philena DICKENSON 18 JAN 1843 in Edwards, St. Lawrence Co., New York. She was born 5 JAN 1825 in Pitcaim, St. Lawrence Co., New York, and died 1 JAN 1864.

Children of Benjamin J. LILLIE and Elizabeth VanGordon CLEMONS were:


5  i.Sarah Ann LILLIE was born 10 DEC 1864 in Michigan, and died 4 MAR 1866.
6  ii.Hattie B. LILLIE was born 3 JAN 1866 in Michigan, and died 6 JUN 1895. She married John N. BURKE. He was born 1865, and died 1919 in Michigan.
7  iii.Rose LILLIE was born 30 NOV 1867 in Michigan.
8  iv.Flora LILLIE was born 14 MAR 1869 in Gratiot, Michigan, and died 11 JAN 1893 in Dakota. She married Warren E. GOODENOW 26 OCT 1887 in Grand Haven, Ottawa Co., Michigan, son of Isaiah GOODENOW and Gertrude NISKERN. He was born 1861 in Illinois.
9  v.Dora LILLIE was born 1 APR 1870 in Michigan, and died 13 AUG 1880 in Wright Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan.
10  vi.L. D. LILLIE was born 26 AUG 1874.

Children of Benjamin J. LILLIE and Jane SCRAMBLING were:


11  i.Lewis Cass LILLIE was born 20 NOV 1875 in Michigan, and died 10 AUG 1876.
12  ii.Jessie Viola LILLIE was born 10 DEC 1876 in Coopersville, Ottawa Co., Michigan, and died 10 JUL 1913 in Jennings, Jefferson Davis, Louisiana. She married Edward Leander MARSH 29 NOV 1911 in New Orleans, Jefferson Co., Louisiana, son of Martin MARSH and Emma STEVENS. He was born JUL 1869 in Blackearth, Dane Co., Wisconsin.
+13  iii.Douglas Daniel LILLIE was born 24 NOV 1877 in Michigan, and died 6 JAN 1959 in of New Iberia, Louisiana.
14  iv.Daisy Emogene LILLIE was born 24 OCT 1879 in Wright Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan, and died 15 AUG 1880.
15  v.Bertha Evelyn LILLIE was born 3 OCT 1880 in Wright Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan, and died 12 DEC 1968 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan. She married Edward Leander MARSH 16 AUG 1914 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, son of Martin MARSH and Emma STEVENS. He was born JUL 1869 in Blackearth, Dane Co., Wisconsin. She married Abraham BURGEMASTER 22 APR 1920 in Muskegon, Muskegon Co., Michigan, son of John BURGEMASTER and Catherine VERHOW. He was born 6 JAN 1872 in Polkton, Ottawa Co., Michigan, and died 15 MAR 1941 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.
16  vi.L. E. LILLIE was born 1880, and died 13 AUG 1880 in Wright Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan.

Children of Benjamin J. LILLIE and Philena DICKENSON were:


17  i.George A. LILLIE was born 21 JAN 1845 in Michigan, and died in of Wright & Coopersville, Michigan.
+18  ii.Roswell LILLIE was born 26 MAY 1846 in Wright Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan, and died 9 NOV 1924 in Tangipahoa, Louisiana.
19  iii.Clinton W. LILLIE was born 22 FEB 1848 in Wright Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan, and died in of Coopersville, Michigan. He married Dora A. CAMPBELL 31 MAY 1893 in Lamont, Ottawa Co., Michigan, daughter of Wm. W. CAMPBELL and Charlotte ANGEL. She was born 1861 in Tallmadge, Ottawa Co., Michigan.
20  iv.Guy C. LILLIE was born 26 AUG 1849 in Michigan, and died in of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
21  v.Eliza P. LILLIE was born 26 FEB 1852 in Michigan.
22  vi.Benjamin Franklin LILLIE was born 9 DEC 1853 in Wright Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan, and died 18 OCT 1911 in Coopersville, Ottawa Co., Michigan. He married Elizabeth A. BURKE 22 MAR 1887 in Eastmanville, Ottawa Co., Michigan. She was born 1862 in Canada, and died 1930. He married Lorinda Marion SMITH. She was born 25 MAY 1859 in Ottawa Co., Michigan, and died 19 JUN 1884 in Ravenna, Muskegon Co., Michigan.
+23  vii.Silas L. LILLIE was born 31 JUL 1855 in Michigan.
24  viii.Mary A. LILLIE was born 26 APR 1857.
25  ix.Fred LILLIE was born 26 SEP 1858 in Michigan, and died in of Coopersville, Michigan.
26  x.Timothy B. LILLIE was born 26 APR 1860, and died in of Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.
27  xi.Byron C. LILLIE was born 10 JUL 1862 in Coopersville, Ottawa Co., Michigan, and died in of Coopersville, Michigan. He married Edith M. DEVOWE 6 JUN 1901 in Berlin, Ottawa Co., Michigan, daughter of Lias DEVOWE and Eva DUDLEY. She was born 1877 in Coopersville, Ottawa Co., Michigan.


Generation No. 3

13.Douglas Daniel LILLIE (Benjamin J. LILLIE2, Roswell LILLIE1) was born 24 NOV 1877 in Michigan, and died 6 JAN 1959 in of New Iberia, Louisiana. He was buried in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan. He married Grace Blanche BRADFORD 3 JAN 1912 in Ionia City, Ionia Co., Michigan. She was born NOV 1887 in Ionia Co., Michigan, and died 9 JUL 1959 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.

Children of Douglas Daniel LILLIE and Grace Blanche BRADFORD were:


28  i.Ruth A. LILLIE was born 23 OCT 1912 in Michigan, and died 11 DEC 1979 in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.
29  ii.Marion Jane LILLIE was born 1910, and died 1969.

18.Roswell LILLIE (Benjamin J. LILLIE2, Roswell LILLIE1) was born 26 MAY 1846 in Wright Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan, and died 9 NOV 1924 in Tangipahoa, Louisiana. He married Mary R. BENNETT 11 SEP 1873 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan. She was born MAR 1845 in Hamberg, Michigan.
Children of Roswell LILLIE and Mary R. BENNETT were:


30  i.Ellen B. LILLIE was born 22 JUN 1877 in Polkton Twp, Ottawa, Michigan. She married Clayton H. RUDY. He was born 1868 in Indiana, and died 11 NOV 1938 in Cortez, Colorado.
31  ii.Hal A. LILLIE was born CA 1882 in Coopersville Twp., Ottawa, Michigan, and died 28 JAN 1899 in Coopersville Twp., Ottawa, Michigan.

23.Silas L. LILLIE (Benjamin J. LILLIE2, Roswell LILLIE1) was born 31 JUL 1855 in Michigan. He married Amanda CLEMENS.

Child of Silas L. LILLIE and Amanda CLEMENS was:


32  i.Benjamin L. LILLIE. He married Evelyn VANNOTTEN 17 APR 1900 in Coopersville, Ottawa Co., Michigan.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Plum Island, Massachusetts

Since many of this year's blog posts have been based on photos I took last year, this one is no exception. From Wikipedia, "The island is located in parts of four municipalities in Essex County. From north to south they are the city of Newburyport, and the Towns of NewburyRowley, and Ipswich." We visit there at least once or twice a year. From the view above, we are facing the area where my husband's parents had a cottage for many years. His father, along with two other friends built it, and they all shared it during the summer months. We also stayed there.





While looking into the lighthouse, all I saw was the reflection behind me.

Very near this spot is where the Atlantic Ocean (above) and the Merrimack River (fresh water) meet. The River is formed in New Hampshire and flows southward, then northeast until it meets the Ocean, a short distance from the above spot. What is interesting is the Merrimack River is a mile from where I live (see below).