Every family tree begins with roots… but the real story unfolds in the branches.
For our corner of the tree, those roots lead back to Frederick Hostetter, Jr. and Charlotte “Gram” Golden of Jersey City, New Jersey—the proud parents of six spirited daughters who formed the heart of this family line: Millie, Anna, Margie, Gertie, Charlotte, and Myrtle. From those six sisters grew a lively forest of cousins, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren whose stories stretch across generations and across the country.
The phrase “Roots & Branches” is more than a title to us. It’s a way of remembering where we came from—while noticing how those beginnings continue to shape the lives we are living today.
Because genealogy isn’t only about the past.
It’s about recognizing the threads that run quietly through time—connecting one life to the next.
Today, our family continues to share those memories in a private Facebook group called Roots & Branches, where descendants trade photographs, swap stories, and piece together the small moments that make our history feel alive. While the group itself is reserved for family members, visitors are warmly invited to explore the stories collected here on the site.
And if you happen to be an American history lover, you’re in luck. Cousin Kerri has a special gift for digging into Civil War veteran files, uncovering remarkable stories hidden in old military records. If that sort of thing sparks your curiosity, be sure to visit the Military Page, where you’ll find a growing collection of soldiers, links to their stories, and selected Veterans Pension files available for download.
Some stories are heroic.
Some are ordinary.
All of them matter.
After all, every branch of a family tree has its own tale to tell… and we’re still discovering ours.
Roots & Branches of the Hostetter Clan
ROOTS & BRANCHES – SPECIAL SECTION ADDED! From Ireland to America: The McGill Story Begins
Every family has a beginning—somewhere rooted in place, memory, and story. For the McGills, that story stretches from the shores of Belfast Lough in Ireland to the lives built across the sea. What follows is a journey in three parts: a question, a home, and the road beyond it.
1. A Question of Irish Roots
Were the McGills really Irish?
A lighthearted look at heritage, identity, and the stories we claim—best enjoyed with a bit of green and a sense of humor.
2. The Homestead on Belfast Lough
Step into the McGill family’s early home in County Antrim, as described in a 1910 family history. A glimpse of the land, the house, and the generations who lived there.
3. Walking the Homeland
Follow the landscape beyond the doorstep—from Carrickfergus to Belfast and the ports of emigration—tracing the path that led the McGills to America.