In this political season, we're all from Pennsylvania (or Ohio or Florida).

The Gray side of my family are Pennsylvania Democrat Party activists who wrapped their coal mine union organizing in Methodist robes. The Kidder side of my family arrived in America in 1649 and were Vermont Republicans, inventor/entrepreneurs in mechanical engineering. The Kroppers are Germans, 'recent' arrivals in the early 20th Century.

My Pennsylvania forebears worked in coal mines and advocated for Workmen's comp and the 40 hour week. When President Roosevelt appointed my great grandfather Postmaster in Midland, PA, he was too ill from black lung disease, so his wife took the position and held it for 20 years. In 1956 he reflected that the 'radical' politics of his youth had become mainstream. See the link.

My mother was born in Huntingdon, lived in Baree, moved to Johnstown, PA, then to a farm nearby where my grandfather had the nursery farm. She went to Avalon HS on Ohio River Blvd. in Pittsburgh, then on to Penn State.

In this political season, we're all from Pennsylvania (or Ohio or Florida).