I grew up in Lebanon, IL and attended the public schools there. In 1967, I dropped out of college in my Sophomore year and moved to New York. I completed my bachelors degree and professional studies in NYC to become a school psychologist. In 1992, I entered Drew University's school of theology to earn my M. Div., and in 1998 I was ordained. I then ministered to two small congregations on the East Coast. In 2010, I retired from the active parish ministry and moved to the West Coast, where I continued to be involved in volunteer activities with the Pacific Northwest chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society of America. I also became affiliated with Seattle Mennonite Church, becoming a half-time staff member at their drop in center for those experiencing homelessness. In March of 2020, I resigned from my position in Seattle and moved to Fate, Texas, where I now reside to be near my partner's daughter and her family.

My interest in genealogy and family history started in the 1980s, when I began working on an update of a Bridges family history. It then expanded to my attempting to follow a number of different families of which I was a descendant and who had settled in St. Clair county, IL fairly early, some before statehood was achieved.

I grew up in Lebanon, IL and attended the public schools there. In 1967, I dropped out of college in my Sophomore year and moved to New York. I completed my bachelors degree and professional studies in NYC to become a school psychologist. In 1992, I entered Drew University's school of theology to earn my M. Div., and in 1998 I was ordained. I then ministered to two small congregations on the East Coast. In 2010, I retired from the active parish ministry and moved to the West Coast, where I continued to be involved in volunteer activities with the Pacific Northwest chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society of America. I also became affiliated with Seattle Mennonite Church, becoming a half-time staff member at their drop in center for those experiencing homelessness. In March of 2020, I resigned from my position in Seattle and moved to Fate, Texas, where I now reside to be near my partner's daughter and her family.

My interest in genealogy and family history started in the 1980s, when I began working on an update of a Bridges family history. It then expanded to my attempting to follow a number of different families of which I was a descendant and who had settled in St. Clair county, IL fairly early, some before statehood was achieved.