August 16, 2025

Introducing Flora Louise Black

Share Your Memories of Flora Louise Black

1911 – 1996
A woman who never waited for the green light. 🚦

Meet Flora

Born in Indianapolis in 1911, Flora Louise Black grew up in a bustling household before marrying young, raising three children, and later striking out on her own. Over the years she reinvented herself time and again—through new marriages, new homes, and new names (her luggage tags proudly read “Flo” no matter what the paperwork said).

She worked as a secretary, traveled fearlessly on her own, and filled journals with her thoughts and experiences. Family lore says she may have been married five to seven times, though the exact count remains one of her best-kept secrets.

What isn’t a secret? Flo lived life boldly, faithfully, and on her own terms.

Family Memories

Her driving skills are the stuff of legend:

Sitting at a red light, Flo would confidently declare, “My turn!” before pulling into traffic.
She once stopped right in the middle of an intersection to check her map. (Seatbelts not included!)
She delighted her grandchildren with trips to Woolworth cafeterias and the mall for cheesecake.
She inspired her family with her independence—traveling alone, keeping her faith, and journaling every year of her life.

As her granddaughter Karen remembered:
“She was a strong and outspoken Christian lady. I admired her greatly. She was one of the first women I knew who traveled alone and lived independently. I looked up to her courage.”

Add Your Story

This page is for the people who knew and loved Flo best. Did she ever take you on one of her “adventurous” car rides? Do you remember her journals, her faith, or her fearless spirit?

Please share your memories in the comments below. Every story adds another piece to the lively mosaic that was Flora Louise Black’s life.

📜 Want the full story?
Head over to Flora Louise Black’s Family Page to see her complete timeline—from birth records to censuses, city directories, and more. It’s the detailed backbone behind all the memories shared here.

July 26, 2025

Introducing Jacob William Beyl Jr.

🌿 Jacob William Beyl Jr.

Born in 1876 in Columbus, Indiana, Jacob William Beyl Jr. was the son of French and German immigrants who built a life—brick by brick, board by board—in the American Midwest. He worked as a carpenter, a laborer, and a woodworker throughout his life, often living in the company of his family but rarely mentioned outside the census forms and city directories that documented his comings and goings.

Jacob’s life was marked by simplicity and struggle. He never married, and by the end of his life in 1921, he was unemployed, isolated, and battling inner turmoil that few seemed to see coming. He died by suicide at the age of 45.

His death left behind not only grief, but also questions, heartbreak, and—eventually—this effort to understand and honor him.

We remember Jacob Jr. not for the manner of his death, but for the fullness of the life he lived before it. He was a son, a brother, an uncle. He was a craftsman whose hands built things—quietly, steadily. His story matters, and we’re here to keep it from being forgotten.

You can read the full story of his life and legacy on his Family Page.

💬 Tell Us What You Know

If you knew Jacob—or even if his story simply resonates with you—I hope you’ll share your thoughts in the comments below. Every thread, every memory, every fragment helps us piece together the human story behind the name.

🧡 If You’re Struggling

If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please know that you are not alone.

In the U.S., you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7 and free of charge.
For more information or resources, visit: 988lifeline.org

There is hope. There is help. And there are people who care.

With care,
~Kris