My interest in genealogy arose only recently. Sadly, it was long after my parents and grandparents were gone. In their absence, I credit websites like Ancestry and Find-a-Grave with piquing and sustaining my curiosity and my research. I was born in Long Beach, California, and still reside there, recently retiring from a career in geology and petroleum engineering. I am a fourth generation Californian, something I did not know until I undertook this effort.

Among my paternal roots are these surnames: Van Benschoten – arrived in California before Gold Rush in 1848 from New York, with roots in The Netherlands (Holland). McKay – arrived in California circa 1850-1865 from Nova Scotia, Canada, with roots in Scotland. Adams – arrived in California circa 1862-1868 from Ontario, Canada, though earlier generations of Adams were from Connecticut, fleeing to Canada with other Loyalists during the Revolutionary War, with roots most likely in Great Britain. Purvine – arrived in California circa 1851-1859 from Iowa, with European roots unknown. Cameron – arrived in California in 1880s from Missouri, family originally from Tennessee and Virginia, with roots evidently in Scotland. Symington – arrived in California in 1880s from Missouri, family originally from Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, with roots in Scotland. Qualls (or Quarles) – arrived in California in 1897 from Georgia. Leveque – arrived in California in 1858 from Paris, France. Dober and Dietzler – arrived in California in 1866 from Pennsylvania.

Among my maternal roots are these surnames: Burbridge – arrived in California circa 1932 from Montana via Washington. Olson – arrived in California circa 1932 from Montana via Washington. Widows (or Widdows) – arrived in California circa 1925 from Montana. Other Norwegian roots include surnames Christensdatter and Ringheim (“Americanized”), folks who immigrated in 1880s and settled in Wisconsin and Montana.

My virtual cemetery is called “Perpetual Slumber Memorial Park and Cemetery” and if there is not a real cemetery somewhere by that name, there should be. Mine includes most of my known ancestral fore-bearers and associated relatives - genetic, adoptive, and/or marital. I think of it as a convenient way to keep tabs on them during their "cemetery years."

My interest in genealogy arose only recently. Sadly, it was long after my parents and grandparents were gone. In their absence, I credit websites like Ancestry and Find-a-Grave with piquing and sustaining my curiosity and my research. I was born in Long Beach, California, and still reside there, recently retiring from a career in geology and petroleum engineering. I am a fourth generation Californian, something I did not know until I undertook this effort.

Among my paternal roots are these surnames: Van Benschoten – arrived in California before Gold Rush in 1848 from New York, with roots in The Netherlands (Holland). McKay – arrived in California circa 1850-1865 from Nova Scotia, Canada, with roots in Scotland. Adams – arrived in California circa 1862-1868 from Ontario, Canada, though earlier generations of Adams were from Connecticut, fleeing to Canada with other Loyalists during the Revolutionary War, with roots most likely in Great Britain. Purvine – arrived in California circa 1851-1859 from Iowa, with European roots unknown. Cameron – arrived in California in 1880s from Missouri, family originally from Tennessee and Virginia, with roots evidently in Scotland. Symington – arrived in California in 1880s from Missouri, family originally from Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, with roots in Scotland. Qualls (or Quarles) – arrived in California in 1897 from Georgia. Leveque – arrived in California in 1858 from Paris, France. Dober and Dietzler – arrived in California in 1866 from Pennsylvania.

Among my maternal roots are these surnames: Burbridge – arrived in California circa 1932 from Montana via Washington. Olson – arrived in California circa 1932 from Montana via Washington. Widows (or Widdows) – arrived in California circa 1925 from Montana. Other Norwegian roots include surnames Christensdatter and Ringheim (“Americanized”), folks who immigrated in 1880s and settled in Wisconsin and Montana.

My virtual cemetery is called “Perpetual Slumber Memorial Park and Cemetery” and if there is not a real cemetery somewhere by that name, there should be. Mine includes most of my known ancestral fore-bearers and associated relatives - genetic, adoptive, and/or marital. I think of it as a convenient way to keep tabs on them during their "cemetery years."