1921
Fredonia, Kansas Courthouse lawn
Zelma Odessa Cline and Harry Melvin Troutman (adiah)
"Summer Sunday afternoon and 'a-courtin'."
Descending Jacob's Ladder · Volume 2
Every Branch Tells a Story.
The Troutman family spans generations, continents, and countless untold stories. Help us preserve them — for the family, and for history.
Our Purpose
Preserving the Troutman Legacy
For generations, the Troutman family has woven a rich tapestry of lives, migrations, marriages, and memories. Now, we are gathering those threads together.
This site is the living archive for Descending Jacob's Ladder, Volume 2 — a printed family history that will preserve your stories, photographs, and genealogical records for generations to come. Every submission you make becomes a permanent part of that record.
"A family's story is never truly finished — it is only waiting to be told."
New Feature
Tell Your Family Story
Every family has stories too good to keep to themselves. Answer twelve questions about your family's history, humor, and characters — and our AI historian will craft a beautifully written narrative in the voice of a 19th-century family chronicler. Suitable for printing, sharing, or tucking into the family archive.
Share:
How It Works
01
Submit Your Story
Share your branch of the family tree — names, dates, photographs, and the stories that make your family yours. Every detail matters.
02
Grant Permission
With your submission, you grant permission for your stories and photographs to be included in Descending Jacob's Ladder, Volume 2. Your contribution is credited and honored.
03
Preserve the Legacy
Your stories become part of a beautifully printed family history — a permanent record that future generations of Troutmans will treasure.
From the Archive
Stories From the Family
A glimpse into the lives that shaped the Troutman name. These are placeholder stories — your real submissions will take their place.
c. 1935
Troutman Family Homeplace, rural Altoona, KS
Harry M. Troutman (adiah), Keith M. Troutman (adiaha), Jackie D. Troutman (adiahd), Bobbie L. Troutman (adiahc), and Herman R. Troutman (adiahb)
"Troutman Family Musicians."
Family Memorabilia
Carry the Legacy With You
From coaster sets to legacy coins, our family store offers a curated collection of Troutman memorabilia — meaningful keepsakes that connect generations.
Join the Archive
Your Story Belongs Here.
Every name, every date, every photograph you share becomes part of something lasting. Don't let your branch of the family tree go unrecorded.
Contribute Now