History buffs and genealogists from the area gathered in Lincolnton April 12-13 for a conference sponsored by the Lincoln County Historical Association and the Gaston-Lincoln Genealogical Society. 

Activities and speakers included

• A book signing by Rodney J. Steward Ph.D. for his book “Seizing the Home Front: David Schenck and the Act of Sequestration” at Memorial Hall on Friday night.
• A presentation on Saturday by LeRae Umfleet on “A Researcher’s Odyssey, or Finding the Hidden Stories, Where None are Written”.  She replaced Kevin Cherry Ph.D. at the conference due to medical reasons.
• Also on Saturday Kathy Gunter Sullivan, a Certified Genealogist, presentation was “Road Blocked? Now What? Strategies for Resolving Genealogical Puzzles.”
• Robert Carpenter presented “Voices of the Civil War: What they said and wrote in contemporary interviews, letters, and diaries” on Saturday.
• Rev. James L. Pyatt’s presentation on Saturday was on “Preserving Church Records.”
• Christopher Meekins presented “Visiting the N.C. State Archives” on Saturday. 

A tour of Shadowlawn finished up the conference Saturday afternoon along with a wine and cheese social.  The historic home is located at the intersection of High and West Main Street and is now owned by Bill and Sandy Stark.  The house originally built in 1826 was owned by Paul and Anna Kistler.  The house was later sold to Charles Rapper Jonas’ family where he grew up just feet away from the library that is named for him.

The Lincoln County Historical Association along with the Gaston-Lincoln Genealogical Society hosts this conference annually, for more information or to join next year’s conference call Jason Harpe at the Lincoln County Historical Association at (704) 748-9090.