BFNA Official Website - 501(c)3 non-profit, Blaisdell Papers publisher. Blaisdell,
Board of Directors 2025-2030
President
Vice President and Webmaster
Vice President and Webmaster
Bonnie Blaford
I was born into a remarkable family who loved to camp and explore the parks of all 50 states. My parents and three siblings enjoyed the excitement of nature and the culture of all of America. Perhaps these adventures influenced by career choices more than my parents realized.
A graduate of Parkland College and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in Parks and Recreation. My first job was a recreation director at a NATO training base in Germany. I started my National Park Service career as a Student Conservation Association volunteer at the Grand Canyon; assigned to the Carl Sandburg NHS in North Carolina; Lincoln Home NHS in Illinois; permanent interpretive position at the Kennedy Center for the performing arts; worked President Ronald Reagan's first inaugural ball at Kennedy Center; National Mall, worked at Lincoln, Jefferson Memorials and Washington Monument; worked Yorktown celebration; special event of the opening of the Vietnam War Memorial; interpretive ranger at President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Home and the only Vanderbilt Mansion in the Park Service; law enforcement ranger at Minute Man National Historic site in Concord, MA; Tuskegee NHS in Tuskegee, AL/home of Booker T. Washington; George Washington Carver Museum; first park ranger at the Jimmy Carter NHS/planned and developed this NHS/ prepared for a visit from President Arafat.
I retired in 2011 after 8 years with the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, West Branch, Iowa, a career that took me to many National Historic Sites. I live in Tipton, Iowa.
Bonnie Blaford - From: Barbara Virgiline (Gray) Blaford, Edna Pearl (Blaisdell) Gray, Benjamin Franklin Blasdel, Isaac Newton Blasdel, Lt. Enoch Blasdel (6.228)
Vice President and Webmaster
Vice President and Webmaster
Vice President and Webmaster
Barry C. Sweetman
I was born in Michigan, eldest surviving son of Alvin M. C. Sweetman (a WWII veteran) and Beatrice Blasdell. My wife and I have been married for over 40 years.
I graduated high school at the age of seventeen and shortly thereafter enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller and served in both England and Germany.
After serving in the Air Force, I attended Jones College in Jacksonville, Florida where I was appointed program director of the college radio station. After college I was employed in my childhood dream job as a Radio Announcer.
Eventually, I taught myself computer technology and programming, after which I was hired by Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) as an implementation specialist and database developer. After eight years with SAIC I spent the next 25 years as a self-employed independent contractor doing programing, system integration, and database development with Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft and Cisco, the US Military, and foreign governmental entities. I retired in 2015.
I’m an avid photographer and have been since the age of 8. My favorite subjects are wildlife and nature photography. My other avocation is genealogy research. I’ve amassed over 50,000 profiles in our combined genealogies, while researching my wife’s and my own genealogies over the last 30 years. Researching my mother’s Blasdell genealogy is what led me to the BFNA of which I’m an active member. I’m also the appointed webmaster of the BFNA website since last year, for which I am grateful.
Barry Sweetman - From: Beatrice Mae Blasdell, Robert Blasdell, Alfred James Blasdell, Jacob Blasdell, Isaac Blasdell (D2.2)
Treasurer
Vice President and Webmaster
Genealogist
Everett W. Curry, Jr.
9TH Great Grandson of Ralph Blaisdell and Elizabeth Parker who arrived in the new world on August 14, 1635. I was born on the 310th birthday (March 7, 1942) of Ralph and Elizabeth’s son Henry who arrived with them. I descend through Lt. Jacob Blaisdell, his 5th Great Grandfather.
I have been married to Barbara for fifty-six years. We have three adult children and six grandchildren. Barbara and Everett have lived in California, Hawaii, and Oregon, now in Hillsboro, Oregon for thirty-one years.
I am an ordained minister with American Baptist Churches USA, Financial Planner, and have served on several non-profit organization boards. I earned a bachelors' degree in history from California State University, Northridge; masters' degree from American Baptist Seminary of the West; and doctorate from San Francisco Theological Seminary. I was ordained in 1967 and served six American Baptist congregations as pastor as well as three others in interim capacity. Trained in Planned Giving, I served Linfield College (now Linfield University) and American Baptist Seminary of the West as Director of Planned Giving and Director of Development respectively. I twice served American Baptist judicatories.
Among my interests, I was licensed in July 1956 as an Amateur Radio Operator (W6ABM). I retained this license until upgrading to Advanced Class in 1995 and Extra Class in 2000. I have been active in amateur radio for 64 years. I have been the Master of Ceremonies for the SEA-PAC/ARRL Northwestern Division Banquet for the past fifteen years. I coordinate the Education programs for OTVARC and am administrator for their Volunteer Examiner Team.
I have been actively involved with genealogy for nearly fifty years. Originally intending to provide my children with their four main lines back to the immigrant, I continue to expand my family story and work at breaking down “brick walls.” More recent adding DNA searches, my horizon significantly expanded.
Everett William Curry, Jr. - From: Everett William Curry, Seth Rueben Curry, Albert Grant Curry, Martha Louisa (Nowlin) Curry, Jonathan Blasdel Nowlin, Elenor Cooper (Blasdel) Nowlin, Capt. Jonathan Blasdel (6.233)
Genealogist
Editor, Blaisdell Papers
Genealogist
Margaret Guss
A Georgia College and State University graduate and born into a pioneer Georgia family. I am the wife of the late Earl R. Guss, Jr., a Florida native who has an impressive ancestry. We have three adult children and two grandchildren. Our children grew up in Burlington, N.C.—I am a member of the Amelia Island Chapter of the DAR, Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, Colonial Dame of the 17th Century, Charles Towne Chapter, Charleston, South Carolina., serve on the Board of Directors for the Huxford Genealogical Society and serve on the Executive Committee for the Blaisdell Family National Association as Genealogist. A member of First Presbyterian Church, Fernandina Beach, FL and Elder in the Presbyterian Church USA.
My career has taken many twists and turns as a teacher and social worker for the mentally challenged, mentally ill and homeless population. AWARDS: Volunteer of the year State of Alabama in Mental Retardation 1989. Instrumental in the development and securing funds for a Sheltered Workshop for adults with mental retardation; Pres./Incorporator Clark Smeltzer Training Center Board, Incorporator of H.O.P.E. Board; and Incorporator of Etowah County 310 Board.
After retiring, I became fascinated with Earl's rich family heritage. We spent much of our travel time researching Earl's family history via courthouses, cemeteries, libraries, health departments and interviewing people who are able to share a family history.
Margret Guss wife of Earl Russell Guss, Jr., - From: Earl Russell Guss, Sr., Gladie Grace (Richmond) Guss, Lucy Jane (Blasdel) Richmond, Rueben Sutton Blasdel, Isaac Newton Blasdel, Lt. Enoch Blasdel (6.233)
Vital Statistics Editor
Editor, Blaisdell Papers
Editor, Blaisdell Papers
David Nowlin
I am honored to serve BFNA as your Vital Statistics Editor.
I arrived in this world in Salem, Oregon as the third son of Oscar JB and Dorothy (Longsdorff) Nowlin. After my father returned from serving in World War II (Pacific Theater), my family moved to Holton, Kansas where my parents bought a greenhouse which my Dad operated for 55 years. My mother taught music, both privately and in public schools; she instilled a love of music in all of her four children.
I graduated from Holton (Kansas) High School, from the University of Kansas (BA), and from the University of Kansas School of Law (JD). In late 1967 I married Sharon Coffman whom I met while attending KU. After our wedding, we moved (without money, a job or contacts) to Denver, Colorado, where I began a 30-year career in mortgage banking, including the management of residential and commercial lending operations for various lending institutions. In 1998 I joined a major title insurance company in Denver to manage the title and escrow functions of commercial real estate clients who were acquiring and developing real estate projects all over the country. When management consolidated two commercial offices, my new responsibilities were in Phoenix, Arizona. There are still heal marks all the way down I-25 from Denver toward Phoenix but we finally adjusted to our new surroundings and made many friendships which we cherish to this day.
My interest in genealogy began quite by accident over 35 years ago. Having attended many of my wife’s bi-annual family reunions in Lawrence, Kansas, Sharon and one of her cousins volunteered to plan the next reunion. We were sent a mailing list of the attendees and our first question was: who are these people and how are they related to us? I discovered a six week beginning genealogy class at the Denver Public Library. I attended the class, became an active member of the Colorado Genealogy Society, and did a great deal of research by “old school” methods (letter writing, trips to the library, visits to cemeteries, courthouses, using paper as my data base) - all for the purpose of discovering the common ancestor of the Coffman family reunion attendees. I prepared and presented a report of my findings at the next reunion. As they say, the rest is history.
I am currently a member of the Johnson County (Kansas) Genealogy Society where I serve on the Board as Secretary. Prior to Covid-19, I volunteered in the Genealogy Department of our local library and also volunteered weekly at the Kansas City National Archives - in both venues helping people do family research. In addition of genealogy, my hobbies include reading American history and hiking; I have climbed 15 of Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks.
David Nowlin -From: Oscar JB Nowlin, Cortez Dewey Nowlin, Jonathan Blasdel Nowlin, Elenor Cooper (Blasdel) Nowlin, Capt. Jonathan Blasdel (6.233)
Editor, Blaisdell Papers
Editor, Blaisdell Papers
Editor, Blaisdell Papers
John E. Blasdel, Jr.
Term Ends - December 2025
John E. Blasdel, Jr., of Bright, Indiana. I am the oldest son of John E. and Wilma (Fondong) Blasdel, and grandson of Walter and Lillian (Jackson) Blasdel. I have two younger brothers, Jeff and Joel (Jody), and one younger sister, Joan (Blasdel) Erhart.
I am a widower, married to Anne (Renner) Blasdel for 39 years, and together we had two daughters: Trisha (Blasdel) Spears and son-in-law, Brian Spears, and Sarah (Blasdel) Reed and son-in-law, Jason Reed, and 6 grandchildren, Joseph and Abigail Spears, Micah, Zaiah, Jonah and Ezrah Reed.
An elementary school teacher for South Dearborn Community School Corporation in Aurora, Indiana for 39 years, I retired from teaching in June 2012.
My hobbies include riding roller coasters (especially with his grandchildren), traveling, singing tenor with the "Viva Voices," and historic preservation. I am currently vice-president of the Hillforest Museum Foundation Board of Directors and serve as a docent at the museum and chairperson of the Hillforest Education Committee. I am also a member of the Clifty Creek Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
I have served as an associate editor of the Blaisdell Papers since December 2013, contributing articles and assisted with proofreading while Leo Blackwell was editor. I welcome all articles of interest to the Blaisdell family to be submitted at: jbla1951@gmail.com or mailed directly to me at: 2159 Basket Lane, Apt. 306, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025.
John Edgar Blasdel, Jr. - From: John Edgar Blasdel, Sr., Walter Earl Blasdel, Quincy Ervin Blasdel, Charles Bailes Blasdel, Rev. Franklin Townsend Blasdel, Lt. Enoch Blasdel (6.228) and from: Lillian (Jackson) Blasdel, Nancy Jane (Harper) Jackson, William Anthony Harper, Joseph Morrill Harper, Sally (Blasdel) (Harper) Chase (6.234)
Secretary
Membership & Retention officer
MemberShip Chairman
Brenda Higgins
I am a Hoosier Blasdel who grew up in Lawrenceburg, IN. I studied German and Latin at Indiana
University. We moved to Miami, FL in 1973 where I met my husband, Dexter Higgins, who was a general aviation pilot. We were married in 1976 and our son Paul was born in 1977.
Later we lived in Charlotte, NC, Atlanta and now Memphis, TN. I taught preschool and elementary school for 31 years. I am now retired and a Master Gardener and member of DAR. Happy to be the new secretary for the Blaisdell National Family Association.
Brenda Rose (Blasdel) Higgins - From: Elvin Whitfield Blasdel, Ira Wingate Blasdel, Charles Bailes Blasdel, Rev. Franklin Townsend Blasdel, Lt. Enoch Blasdel (6.228)
MemberShip Chairman
Membership & Retention officer
MemberShip Chairman
Virginia Negangard
I was born in Milan, Indiana and lived there until I graduated from Milan High School. After graduation I attended business school in Cincinnati where I still live. I worked for many years at the local Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan before retiring.
After retiring from Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan, I worked at various jobs for a total of 50 years.
Back in Milan, I remember my great grandfather, William Ferris Walker, sitting at his desk, probably writing Blasdel family history. (William Ferris Walker was a prominent genealogist for the Blasdel family) I was given some of this history by a Blasdel cousin, Glenna Mae (Kinnett) Ferris, who was another noted genealogist during her lifetime.
I share our family history with my family by buying one subscription of the Blaisdell Papers for the next generation and tells them it's up to them to help keep up with the family history.
Virginia Lee Negangard From: Esther Harriett (Walker) Negangard, Orvil Roberts Walker, William Ferris Walker, Nary Jane (Blasdel) Walker, Isaac Newton Blasdel, Lt. Enoch Blasdel (6.228)
Membership & Retention officer
Membership & Retention officer
Membership & Retention officer
Sue E. Blaisdell
I was born in and raised near Jackson, Michigan. My background is in plant sciences with degrees from Michigan State University, and to this day, I do a lot with plants and pollinators. I’m a big fan of healthy living, walking, hiking, biking, gardening, cooking and nutrition.
My husband is Steve Mraz who is ½ Bohemian, ¼ German, and ¼ Irish from Clarion, Iowa. He retired from the Army and then from Lennox. We have lived in Marshalltown, Iowa, since 2002. We have two children both living in Brooklyn, NY, and no grandchildren.
I’ve also been involved in politics in Iowa which can get pretty hot every 4 years. I’ve worked hard to push my party into better choices for health and the environment. It takes a lot of teamwork to get things done. Recently, I seem to be concentrating on developing my skills of messaging and social networking.
My Mom got into genealogy in the 60s. She found a protege in one of her brother’s sons to work on her side of the family. But before she died in 2010, she was needling me to take over her accumulated Blaisdell family history and do something with it. So, I have concentrated on using free websites to glean info, and I use Legacy Family Tree to organize my data. I am currently a member of the Legacy IG of the Iowa Genealogical Society, the GIG of the Historical Society of Marshall County (IA), and Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County (MI). And, I have a bunch of genealogical projects that are in diverse states of completion.