Welcome to my website, which is always undergoing renovation. The pages that follow are devoted to my family history.  Genealogy has been a hobby of mine for many years. At times, it's been an addictive endeavor ... other times, a relaxing past-time. I enjoy the research and challenge of learning about my forbearers. I think most people are curious about their ancestry to some degree. Please surf through my pages and let me know if you find anything interesting; or perhaps, a long lost ancestor. Thanks for visiting,  Patrick

Below are brief family histories for the surnames I'm researching. At the bottom of this page is an enter button that will take you to Patrick's Genealogy Pages. When you arrive at that page you'll see my family tree in the left frame. Click on a surname in the tree and follow the respective link for additional information for that family.

Murphy ..... My own surname has definitely been difficult to research. It's obviously the most common name in Ireland.  I'm in the process of updating the data on my Murphy pages. My line of the family migrated from Stokes County, NC during the late 1830's and settled in Fayette County, IN. Allied families are: ADKINS, ATKISON, CLARK, EVANS, SHAFFER and VAUGHN. My connection to these families arrived in eastern Indiana 1825 - 1845. They lived north of Everton, IN and later in Cleveland, IN. Someday, I hope to trace my Murphy's back to Ireland.

Hughes ..... This is my mother's maiden name. Another common surname which, at times, seems impossible to trace. These folks were coal miners and appear to have Welsh origins.  Thomas Nelson Hughes (1842 - 1913) is the 'brick wall' in this family. He was born somewhere in Virginia and died in Scott County, TN, during a year when death statistics weren't recorded in Tennessee. The family requires some major 'field work' in Tennessee.  Allied families are: DAVENPORT, DICK, DICKSON, ELLER, GAMBILL, JOHNSON, McMILLAN, and PENNINGTON. Thomas' wife was Amanda Eller, and I've had better luck with her genealogy.  The surnames above belong to her ancestors.

Lacy ..... Alma Florence Lacy was my father's paternal grandmother. In 1984, my dad attended a Lacy reunion at Riley Park in Greenfield, IN. He hadn't been to one of these gatherings since the 1950's. A nephew of his grandma had compiled a genealogy of the family and gave copies out that day. Dad sent the document to me that summer, and it was a primary reason I became interested in genealogy.  The research I've done on this family has been extensive. Many hours have been spent at the courthouse in Hancock County, IN.  I'm hoping someday to connect my Lacy's to the immigrant, Thomas Lacy, who arrived in Virginia from Wales in the early 1680's. Allied families are: BAILEY, GRIFFITH, LIVELY, and REEVES.

Huizenga ..... My maternal grandmother was born in Chicago as Anje "Anne" Huizenga.  Huizenga//Huizinga is Dutch. This family's origins go back to the 16th century in the province of Groningen, which is in the north of Holland. The family was involved in the beginnings of the Mennonite church. They were farmers and teachers within the Melkema community. This family is my closest connection to the 'old world'.  Thanks to my pal, Robbie Huizinga, my Huizenga pages wouldn't have been possible.  Allied families are: TICHGELAAR, WOLMA, LEEURTSEMA, HOPMA and DANHOF.

Minor ..... The early generations of the Minor family have been thoroughly researched. I've been successful in tracing my lineage back to Thomas Minor of Chew Magna, Sommerset, England. Thomas arrived at Salem, Massachusetts in 1629. The migration of my line settled at Lyme, CT ... then on to Greene County, PA ... and finally Fayette County, IN. My paternal grandmother was Mary Jane "Jayne" Minor. I've had difficulty with the later generations of this family, because her father dropped out of sight during the Depression. Allied families are: RONAN, ENNIS, MESSERSMITH, PHILLIPS, HAMILTON and SMITH.

Creal ..... I've enjoyed researching this family, partly due to the fact that there are many old family photos that have been saved and preserved. Looking through the pictures seem to make studying the family more poignant. McCreal or McCrea may have been the original spelling, with Scottish or Welsh origins. Anthony Creal (1770 - 1817) is the dead end. He appears to have been born in Connecticut ... then moved to Saratoga Co., NY ... and then on to Chautauqua Co., NY .. where he died. Three of his children left NY in the 1820's and traveled the Great Lakes and the Erie Canal to settle in Vigo Co., IN. Allied families are: HAVENS, SEYMOUR, MESSER, WATERBURY, MILLER, BURTON and BURNETT.

McCandless ..... Myrtle S. McCandless was my father's maternal grandmother. This surname is Scot-Irish. Variant spellings are Cuindliss, McCandlish and McCandliss. The family originated in Scotland, and arrived in Pennsylvania via northern Ireland during the 1790's. Her grandfather, William Arter(s) McCandless, left PA with his parents as a child and settled in Warren Co., OH. Myrtle and her brother Minor, were at one time the oldest living twins in the U. S. Allied families are: MURRAY, ARTERS, WINNER and FORREST.

Reeves ..... As with my Minor's, this family has been extensively researched. They originally came from Oxford in England. In 1652, my line of this family arrived in Prince George Co., Va. Their migrations led them to Prince William Co., VA > Mason Co., KY > Brown Co., OH > Hancock and Rush Counties in Indiana. I've dug exhaustively on the Reeves' who lived in east central Indiana. This family definitely was 'fruitful' and 'multiplied'. My Reeves' lived near Willow Branch in Hancock County, IN. Allied families are: CRAWFORD, LAMBERT, REDMON, NEVILLE and DOGGETT.

As I mentioned above, the pages that follow are under going construction; which is a continual chore. Someone once asked me, "Aren't you done with the genealogy thing yet?" I answered with, "Of course not!". It never ends, and that's the 'hook.' So please surf through the numerous pages. Maybe you'll find a long lost ancestor. If you do ... it makes all of the work I put into this website worth it. Enter below and enjoy!

"Background image - Newton-Hughes farm, Florida Twp., Parke County, IN .. circa 1940's"