Category Archives: West

Our West family begins its genealogy and family history in New York, and then moves into Ontario, Canada, before winding down to start a new homestead in Lenawee County of Michigan in the newly formed farming community of The Township of Raisin. There, the Farlin family marries into the West family and the next generations spread themselves across the planet. We trace our West family roots to Washington State, where some Farlins also followed.

Biography of Wilbur West (1827-c1900), Son of Benjamin West and Polly Disbrow

Posted on November 19, 2006 by Lorelle VanFossen

The Michigan County Histories has a terrible unedited version of Portrait and biographical album of Lenawee County, Michigan available online, which features biographical biographical sketches and portraits of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Produced by the Chapman Brothers, … Continue reading →


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History of Portland, Oregon, Helps Genealogists

Posted on November 16, 2006 by Lorelle VanFossen

Genealogy Help (GenHelp) has just released a History of Portland, Oregon as part of their ongoing emphasis on the history of Oregon Genealogy. The new manuscript for History of Portland, Oregon can be found on the Access Genealogy website, and … Continue reading →


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Howard “Bud” West (1937-2006)

Posted on October 19, 2006 by Lorelle VanFossen

My father, Howard W. West, died a few days ago. There will be a memorial service Wednesday, October 25, 2006, from 6-8PM at Solie Funeral Home, 3301 Colby Avenue, Everett, Washington. Howard W. West Jr., was also known as “Bud” … Continue reading →


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History of the USS Arizona

Posted on October 7, 2006 by Lorelle VanFossen

My grandfather, Howard W. West, serviced on the USS Arizona in the 1920s. Going through his photograph album from that time period, as well as his USS Arizona Log Book (1924-1925), I still found I have so little information to … Continue reading →


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Nishimura, Sannomiya, Kobe, Japan

Posted on October 3, 2006 by Lorelle VanFossen

On the first pages of the old photograph ablum of my grandfather, Howard W. West, and his time in the Marines and military, much of which was spent on the USS Arizona during the 1920s, I found a lovely signed … Continue reading →


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Lenawee County, Michigan, Online Resources for Local Information, Cemeteries, and Vital Records

Posted on September 7, 2006 by Lorelle VanFossen

My West and Farlin family were brought together in Raisin Township, Lenawee County, Michigan. The term “lenawee” or “lenawai” (Shawnee) cames from the Native American word meaning “man” from the Delaware “leno or lenno”. Lenawee County’s first white settlers were … Continue reading →


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History of the San Diego Marine Base

Posted on September 7, 2006 by Lorelle VanFossen

Leatherneck Forum – A base is born in San Diego reports on the history of the development of the San Diego Marine base. If you have an ancestor who served in the Marines on the West Coast of the United … Continue reading →


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Wilber West (1827-c1900) and Wife, Comfort Caroline Wells (1830-c1890)

Posted on September 3, 2006 by Lorelle VanFossen

From the Memoirs of Lenawee County, Michigan: from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Lenawee County by Richard Illenden Bonner (born 1838), I found the following on pages … Continue reading →


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Snohomish County: An Illustrated History Book

Posted on August 10, 2006 by Lorelle VanFossen
Snohomish County: An Illustrated History Book

It took ten years but the amazing book on the history of Snohomish County, Washington, is now available. “Snohomish County: An Illustrated History” features 432 pages packed with geological, environmental, historical, social, and political history of Snohomish County. There are … Continue reading →


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Soap Opera Life: Lula Bell Louella Brunner Pinder Parrett, Mystery Ancestor

Posted on August 4, 2006 by Lorelle VanFossen

Faked marriage. Many marriages. Divorce. Adultry. Drugs and alcohol. Mental illness. Abandoned children. Orphanages. All this soap opera material adds up to our major mystery ancestor: Lula Bell/Louella Brunner Pinder West Moorhause/Morehouse Parrett. It’s really tough when much of the … Continue reading →


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