Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
Posts about family history, family life, and miscellaneous topics.
This week my oldest son Kenneth turns 19 years old. Besides finishing school, Kenneth’s biggest focus is the martial arts. He is particularly passionate about teaching self-defense. Over the years, I have trained 14 nieces and nephews plus all three of my children in the martial arts. Last week, the first member of the third generation started with us. To
Recently, my youngest son Caleb obtained his first job at a local fast food restaurant. I was proud of him because Caleb decided he wanted a job, filled out a number of applications and obtained a job close to the house. Caleb found the job to be a good fit because of the location and working environment. It is interesting
My great grandmother Lydia Margaret “Dollie” Story Zimmerman’s youngest sister Hattie May Story was born on August 20, 1896. Hattie was Dollie’s half-sister as she was the daughter of George Washington Story and his second wife Margaret Sweat. Dollie’s mother was George Story’s first wife Malinda Davis. Hattie’s mother Margaret either died in giving birth to Hattie or passed away
My stepfather, Ernest C. Diaz, raised me, so I included his family in my genealogical research. However, Dad’s father, Joseph Diaz, emigrated from Mexico and his mother Marie Moellenberg was a first generation American born to German immigrants. Finding information on his family has not been easy. We know Joseph’s father was Ulalio Diaz and his mother’s birth name was
My second great-grandfather George Washington Story was born in August 1843 to Gilford Dudley Story and his second wife Nancy Jane Story nee Womack. George was born in Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois, USA. He was the fourth of Dudley’s and Nancy’s nine children. George Washington Story married his first wife and my second great-grandmother Malinda Davis on November 26, 1863,
Yesterday, my maternal grandmother Alvina M. Ellis nee Mosblech would have been 100 years old. Born in St. Louis, Missouri on May 15, 1916, Grandma was the seventh of fourteen children. She married an only child in 1938 and they would have two children, my mom and Aunt Maureen. Grandma had a big influence on my sisters and me because
On May 7, 2016, my daughter Caity returned to Taekwondo competition for the first time in eight years. As her dad but also her coach, I tried to dissuade her from sparring until we had a few more months but she was adamant about sparring at the tournament. Caity likes forms but she always preferred sparring. Reluctantly, I agreed. I
Many Zimmermans always believed my great-grandfather Parker L. Zimmerman was married five times. However, Parker was married three times to Victoria Harris, Mellie Bollinger and Lydia Margaret “Dollie” Story. It was actually Parker’ sister-in-law Amanda Isabelle “Mandy” Story, who was married five times. Mandy was born in Illinois on July 16, 1877 to George Washington Story and Malinda Davis although
John Moellenberg was born in Germany on March 30, 1861. Sometime prior to 1890, John Moellenberg married Adele Barmann. They welcomed their first son, Frank Moellenberg, on August 30, 1891. In 1893, John, Adele and Frank immigrated to the United States and settled in St. Louis. John and Adele had more children after coming to St. Louis. Henry Moellenberg was
A few weeks ago, my second foray into the martial arts came full circle. My daughter started studying Taekwondo again after more than five years away from the sport. It is actually Caity, who brought me back to martial arts in the summer of 2000. After my natural father passed away in July 1999, I went on a year-long fitness