This a newspaper article that mentions that my Grandmother and Great Grandmother are related to General John Pershing, who died that week.
My Grandmother (who is referred to as “Mrs. Francis Wilkinson” rather than her own name) also discusses when she met General Pershing at a Family reunion in 1923.
I also find it a bit strange that someone who cooked for Pershing gets top billing over actual relatives of his.
Here is Joanna Stouffer Wilkinson’s 1930 application to join the D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution). Note: her application was accepted.
She was a descendant of Peter Frederick Pershing, who was an immigrant from what is now Germany.
General Pershing was also a descendent of Peter Frederick Pershing. He is descended from Peter Frederick Pershing’s son, Daniel Pershing. My family is descended from Elizabeth Pershing, Peter Frederick Pershing’s daughter.
This would make My great grandmother and General Pershing third cousins, not second cousins as she claimed. They share the same great, great, great grandfather (Peter Frederick Pershing).
This would make me General Pershing’s third cousin four times removed. Apparently Peter Frederick Pershing has over 7,000 living descendents.
