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I grew up a Kienlen. Usually, I had to tell people more than once how to spell it - two Es and one I? - or is it the other way? I believe my ancestors had to do the same thing. It was often misspelled in newspapers and on documents - Kinlin, Kinlen, Kienlin, Kenlin, etc. My immigrant ancestor spelled it Kienlen, just as it had been spelled on his German Christening record in 1799. His uncle who immigrated to the UK also spelled it Kienlen, but the family later changed it to s

We all come across interesting people in our family tree from time to time. My cousin (1st cousin 5 times removed), "Bernarr Macfadden", certainly qualifies. He is still well known in certain circles, and promoted many of the ideas we have today about health and fitness. He was born Bernard McFadden on August 16, 1868, in the tiny town of Mill Spring, Wayne County, Missouri. My 5th great grandfather, Samuel McFadden, was his grandfather. Bernard had a rough childhood, which m