Getting to Know Albert Smith

Jeff Westover Family History 0 Comment
Getting to Know Albert Smith

All year long I’ve made reference to a video (or two) coming out about Albert Smith. It is still a work in progress. The challenge stems from what to include and what to leave out in telling of his story. Thanks to Albert’s journals and to a long life lived so close to events of Church and Utah history there is a great deal of information. There is little of the 19th century Mormon experience that Albert didn’t have. He came from a religious family. That led to his conversion sometime in the mid-1830s, a time that saw him joinClick to continue…

Join the Westover Family Christmas Card Exchange

Jeff Westover Events, Family News 0 Comment
Join the Westover Family Christmas Card Exchange

Christmas! Yes, I’m going there. I know it’s only August. But I tried to set up a family Christmas card exchange last year and failed spectacularly. I think I got it up too late and didn’t put enough push behind it. This year I vow to do better. So, here’s the deal: the Westover Family Christmas Card Exchange is opened to all registered users of the site. But to participate in the exchange you will need to sign up. I’m not expecting huge numbers. But I am hoping enough of us sign up that we get a good little exchangeClick to continue…

Revelations from a Trip to Rexburg

Jeff Westover 20th Century, Family History 1 Comment
Revelations from a Trip to Rexburg

I just returned from a visit to the Westover Family Ranch in Rexburg, Idaho. I was there to attend a board meeting of the ranch. I learned a great deal. I must confess that my own personal time spent at the ranch has been limited. As a child I heard much about the ranch. But it wasn’t until just a few years ago that I attended a family event there. After the business of the board was done I attended a nice family meeting and then began a short period of visiting. During the course of the morning I heardClick to continue…

The Life of Ane Marie Jensen Barnhurst

Jeff Westover 19th Century, Family History , , 0 Comment
The Life of Ane Marie Jensen Barnhurst

Of the many reasons to be on Family Search few are as important to me than a fairly new feature known as the Family Calendar. It is just a simple timeline tied to your family tree that shows important dates – birthdays, days of passing, marriage, etc. It’s kind of cool because if you set it up right it will send you reminders of these dates via Facebook. Tomorrow’s date marks the passing of Ane Marie Jensen – a pioneer of great significance in the Riggs line. Just who is Ane Marie to me? My grandmother, Maurine Westover, is theClick to continue…

The Value of One Personal History

Jeff Westover 20th Century, Family History, Journey of Discovery 5 Comments
The Value of One Personal History

When I got up in the middle of the night last night to, apparently, stub my toe (mission accomplished) and get a drink of water, I decided for some reason to jump on my computer for “just a minute” to take a look at Family Search. (Nobody but me seems to understand this habit). I figured I’d be back to bed within 60 seconds. Two hours later I crawled back into bed for a brief nap before having to get up again for work. I stumbled upon a file cousin Paul Westover recently uploaded featuring the personal history of hisClick to continue…