These are my roots
Dr. Herman Kiefer1825 – 19113rd great-grandfather
Arthur Egmont Kiefer1855 – 19322nd great-grandfather
Herman Guy Kiefer1889 – 1936Great-grandfather
Mary Elizabeth (Marybeth) Kiefer Blackburn1918 – 2007Grandmother
James Herman Blackburnb. 1956Father
James Joseph Blackburnb. 1979Me
Olivia James Blackburnb. 2019Daughter
About Jim
James Joseph Blackburn grew up hearing that the family was connected to "the Kiefer hospital" in Detroit. In 2026 he set out to find out how — and found a revolutionary, a Paris painter, a stubborn great-great-great-grandmother, and a family scattered across the world.
My line
Dr. Herman Kiefer → his son Arthur Egmont Kiefer → Arthur's son Herman Guy Kiefer, "Herman Kiefer II" → Herman Guy's daughter Mary Elizabeth "Marybeth" Kiefer Blackburn → her son James Herman Blackburn, my father → me → my daughter, Olivia.
My father's middle name is Herman. For most of my life I didn't know why. Now I do.
Why I built this
In 1951 my great-great-great-grandfather's grandson Edgar wrote The Kiefer Saga and left blank pages at the back, hoping the family would keep the record going. I want this site to be that next volume: one place where everything about the Kiefers lives, and where cousins who have never met can find each other.
If you're family — or you just love a good Detroit story — I'd love to hear from you.