Bob Cihla passed away at 4 am this morning. I’ll pass along more detail as I hear it. Funeral arrangements will be in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Monthly Archives: January 2015
Bob Cihla Update
Today Bob was moved to Mercy Hospice House in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Bob Cihla in Hospice Care
Our association President, Bob Cihla, has transitioned to hospice care. He is in end stage COPD with the complication of interstitial lung fibrosis. The doctors tell us that there isn’t anything medically to do to make him better so they are doing palliative care.
Please keep Bob and the Cihla family in your thoughts and prayers.
Continuing to Update the Sarah (Strong) Barnard Genealogy

Sarah (Strong) (Barnard) Wells Headstone
I am continuing to transcribe the Sarah Line into Family Tree Maker, based on The Descendants of Francis Barnard by Dr. Walther Barnard. The updated family tree is here: Sarah (Strong) Barnard.
I am even planning out a real book for the Strong Family Updates series!
Joseph Parsons and Elizabeth Strong
THE BANNS HAD been posted on the Meeting House door. Young Joseph Parsons was to wed Elizabeth Strong. In Northampton, when the eldest son of a wealthy man married the daughter of a church elder, the whole town was invited to the celebration. Because of its nearness to mown meadowland with room enough for townsfolk to ramble, all parties agreed that Joseph Parsons’ house was the best location for the wedding feast, though some in the town planned to stay away in protest.
I was delighted to discover the book My Enemy’s Tears: The Witch of Northampton by Karen Vorbeck Williams includes the wedding of Joseph Parsons and Elizabeth Strong, daughter of Elder John Strong and Abigail Ford. The book goes on to state that the bride’s family was not opposed to a little merry-making, and we continue the wedding through Chapter XVI.
New Book From Brooke Shields
I was walking through Barnes & Noble last week and noticed there is a new book out from Brooke Shields, There Was a Little Girl: The Real Story of My Mother and Me. Brooke has written several book, and her ancestry has been featured on Who Do You Think You Are.
Brooke is a 10th great granddaughter of Elder John Strong and Abigail Ford, through the Thomas line:
1-John Strong ( — ) + Abigail Ford ( — )
2-Thomas Strong ( — ) + Rachel Holton ( — )
3-Joseph Strong ( — ) + Sarah Allen ( — )
4-Phineas Strong ( — ) + Mary Parker ( — )
5-Ozias Strong ( — ) + Susanna West ( — )
6-Susanna Strong ( — ) + John Baker ( — )
7-Thirza Baker ( — ) + George Sheffield ( — )
8-Betsey Sheffield ( — ) + John Keyes Campbell ( — )
9-Mary Campbell ( — ) + Charles Arthur Moore ( — )
10-Mary Elsie Moore ( — ) + Marino Torlonia ( — ), 4th Prince of Civitella-Cesi 11-Marina, Princess Torlonia ( — ) + Francis Xavier Shields ( — )
12-Francis Alexander Shields ( — ) + Teri Schmon ( — )
13-Christa Brooke Camille Shields (1965– )
Here is the book description from Amazon:
Updating the Site Layout
It’s New Years Day! The site looks very plain this week as I update with new features. Our site is now much easier to read on your iPad/tablet or iPhone/Android smart phone.