184 years ago, 24 September 1835, in Oakland County, Michigan, my first cousin, 4 times removed, Oliver Torrey Case was born to Leman and Polly Jenks Case.  Ol was the fifth child of six in his parents’ brood, and the first son.    Ol married Eleanor M. Pearsoll and they had one child, a son, Harry C. P.   I have very little information about Cousin Ol — I know that he died on 31 March 1920, in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.  His wife died two years earlier on 7 May 1918. also in Lansing.

Now where would they have gotten that name for their first born son?  From his uncle, Oliver Torrey, husband of his mother’s sister, Laura Jenks.  Always follow the names — especially when they do not seem to make any sense in their immediate context.