Weaving the Past into Our Present
September is marked by significant milestones and anniversaries in my family's history. This week especially weaves together beginnings, homegoings, and other memories, echoing across generations and reminding me how our stories endure. While reflecting on these anniversaries, I realized this is the perfect moment to launch Roots To Return. Born out of love and a desire to honor those who have shaped us, my mission is to help others reclaim roots, reconnect with family histories, and return to their ancestral homeplaces.
This mission is rooted in my own journey.
On September 27, 1881—144 years ago— Jesse Powell wed Millie Ann Young. This event began a new chapter for our family in rural Missouri. Several years ago, I traveled there, seeking to learn about what life was like for my paternal grandmother and her family during the late 19th century onward. What I discovered was even more profound than I had hoped.
As I drove through the rolling hills, I took in the earthy aroma of spring soil, blending with the scent of wildflowers, carried by the gentle breeze. Walking through fields with a local historian, I listened to the distant sounds of babbling creeks, cows lowing, and birds singing—each painting an auditory picture of the past. The sun-warmed wood of old barns and cemeteries met my hands, while vast open skies met my eyes, filling my senses and bringing the history of my ancestors to life.
During this trip, I was blessed to meet a network of angels—cousins, local government officials, and historians—each eager to share their knowledge and memories.
Meeting my cousins for the first time felt like opening a living archive. We exchanged stories of our lineages. Through their accounts, I learned of our family's arduous journey by covered wagon from Kentucky to Missouri after emancipation—a quest fueled by hope and determination. One elder shared a family reunion book, filled with stories of my second great-grandparents, Jesse Powell, Millie Ann Young, and their children,including great-grandfather Tyre. These stories brought our family history to life in a vivid and unforgettable way.
As I reflect on this incredible journey, I invite you to consider the migrations in your own family's past. What treks—perhaps filled with hope and challenges—lie hidden within your history? These untold journeys become the threads weaving our individual family tapestries into the shared human experience. They await rediscovery and celebration.
On my last research day, Georgia, the Cooper County Recorder of Deeds, showed me the courthouse archives, teaching me how to find and read the local marriage and deed records. It was a day of discovery that connected me to the lives of my ancestors.
The most miraculous moment happened as I was finishing up. I had spent the day learning about two generations of my family who lived, married, and built their lives after emancipation. While I was looking for plat maps to find my ancestors’ homeplaces, Georgia called out, “Kelly, I think I have something for you.”
She had a hunch—some files delivered earlier that week from the Boonville Historical Society were under consideration for destruction if not archived elsewhere. Thankfully, the Recorder’s Office accepted them. Georgia gently pulled a certificate from a manila folder. It read: “Marriage License, Session Acts 1881. Issued to Jesse Powell and Millie A Young, on September 27th, 1881.
Tears filled my eyes as I held a piece of my ancestors’ history in my hands—a marriage certificate that had nearly been lost to time. Just days before, I had received Jesse and Millie’s story in the family reunion book. Now, I held evidence of their union, a tangible link to their love and legacy. Their journey didn’t end there: Jesse and Millie went on to own up to 70 acres of land throughout the county and raise six children, their lives echoing through generations.
Roots to Return is your invitation to discover and honor the story within you—a bridge between past and present. If you feel inspired to begin your genealogy journey or reconnect with ancestral roots, visit www.rootstoreturn.com or reach out to me directly. Together, we can embark on a journey to rediscover your family's story and celebrate your legacy. I look forward to walking this path with you.
