A President Among Us at Hemlock School

Joanne Koncick's kindergarten class, including student Julia Grimes (standing next to quilt), as well as Julia's mother Melissa and grandmother Martha Petro, Julia's family tree, and the quilt made by Julia's great, great, great, great grandmother, who was Abraham Lincoln's cousin.

Melissa Grimes and Martha Petro, mother and grandmother, respectively, of Julia Grimes, a student in Joanne Koncick's kindergarten class at Hemlock School, recently visited the class to discuss their family tree-which includes Abraham Lincoln.

The visitors talked about their quest to learn about their ancestors, the value of this information, and how the children might research their own family trees.

Mrs. Grimes and Mrs. Petro also brought with them a cherished family quilt dating to 1831. The quilt was made by Julia's great, great, great, great grandmother, Abagail Coffman. According to Mrs. Petro, genealogical research conducted by the family shows that Abagail's father and President Lincoln's grandfather were brothers.