Published inAbout Me Stories·PinnedAbout Me — Grant FuerstenauA medical student with more hobbies than he can handle. — Hi everyone, and thank you for taking the time to read this! A Little Background My name is Grant Fuerstenau, and I was born in South Dakota but moved around a lot as a child, mainly due to my dad’s career. My family finally settled in Taylorville, IL, a small town just south…About Me3 min readAbout Me3 min read
Published inLessons from History·Nov 7, 2022President Taft and His Peculiar PetsLuckily, the White House has a big lawn — William Howard Taft is known for many things — being the 27th President of the United States, becoming the 10th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, his love of baseball, and his large stature. …History4 min readHistory4 min read
Published inLessons from History·Sep 13, 2022The President’s Secret ShipThe story of Grover Cleveland’s secret cruise — Many presidents in American history have possessed significant medical histories. …History4 min readHistory4 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·Sep 11, 2022The Death of President Zachary TaylorThe controversial demise of the 12th president — Old Rough and Ready died just a little over a year into his term as the United States’ 12th president. He became the 2nd president to die in office, the first being 9th president William Henry Harrison. Though not much controversy surrounds the death of Harrison, the same cannot be…History4 min readHistory4 min read
Jun 16, 2022British Involvement in the American Civil WarHow President Abraham Lincoln prevented an alliance — We typically view the Civil War as a conflict between Americans and only Americans. While this is mostly true, there did exist some possibility for foreign intervention. As can be observed during most civil wars around the globe, there is usually some form of meddling in the afflicted nation’s affairs…History5 min readHistory5 min read
Jun 9, 2022The Abbreviated Life of James GarfieldThe second president to be assassinated — Last of the log cabin presidents, James Abram Garfield had potential. The Preacher President was whole-heartedly committed to civil service reform and corruption control following Civil War Reconstruction. Garfield was also a champion of African-American rights and education among his contemporaries. Though his presidency was limited to just 200 days…History7 min readHistory7 min read
Jun 6, 2022A President’s Battle With Thomas Addison’s DiseaseJFK’s Rare Condition — John F. Kennedy is remembered for many things. Whether it is for his World War II heroics, time as a representative, senator, and president, or through his personal life, every American knows who JFK was, or at the very least knows of him. One lesser known fact, however, is that…History4 min readHistory4 min read
May 28, 2022The Unfortunate Presidential Turmoil of a Famed RevolutionaryTrouble in the White House — John Adams’ name is among the most recognizable in regard to revolutionary America. His contributions to the creation of a newly formed democratic nation simply cannot be overstated. Adams’ fierce upholding and understanding of the law paved the way for his rise through the ranks of influence among New England…History6 min readHistory6 min read
Published inShort History·May 26, 2022Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough RidersThe 26th president’s gang of horsemen — Teddy Roosevelt is known for many things. He was instrumental in creating national parks, an avid conservationist, a successful politician, and a vivacious author, among countless others. He was also a war hero during the Spanish-American War of 1898. War on the Horizon At the start of the war, Roosevelt was serving as Assistant…History3 min readHistory3 min read
May 25, 2022First Ladies of American HistoryA look into three presidential spouses — We often spend time in school or on our own learning about the presidents. Far less frequently do we take the time to glance into the lives and accomplishments of their spouses. First ladies are rarely given their fair share of fame, especially when their husbands fall under the category…History8 min readHistory8 min read
