An old soldier, who is well-read and blessed with a good education. My interest in family history was fed by the women of my family, God bless them. My mother always assumed I'd write the family history, whatever that means. To the best of my knowledge she knew only her grandparents.

Family lore had circulated about our ancestors rafting down the Ohio River. This was somewhat supported by a sheaf of fading, flaky photostats discussing the Mefford family of Mason County, Kentucky, which I inherited upon my mother's death. However, when analyzing the names I couldn't bridge the gaps between missing generations.

In 1991, after I acquired my first computer, I discovered tools and a matrix in which to place my data and developed ways to expand upon it. With the passage of time, I have traced some of my lines of descent through the Carolingians, to the Counts of Anjou and Normandy, to the Plantagenets, and discovered numerous Colonials — even dating back to Colonial Jamestown, at least six Revolutionary War patriots, and I've encountered numerous cousins I hadn't known existed — some of those have become dear friends and collaborators.

My mother would have been astounded and proud of the family I've rediscovered. N.B.: My maternal lines include, but are not limited to: Neal, Mefford [Meffert], Turley, Bailey, Raizor (Razor), Witcher, Dewitt, Sullivan, Rice, Rule, and Abshire. My paternal lines from Lebanon, to the best of my knowledge, include: Farris, Solomon [Suleiman], Hayek, al Khoury, Guttas, Ishe [Eishy], Tanous, Romanos, Shouwaysha, and Zoghby.