Three women—mother, daughter, cousin—set out on an ancestor quest, inspired by their aunt who lived to 102 years old. Their research went back 14 generations to original French settlers in 1600s Acadia. These families have provided generations of leaders in politics, government, and education in South Louisiana. Their ancestors arrived from Acadia (Nova Scotia) and France in the early 1700s, and descendants have lived for seven generations in upriver parishes just above New Orleans. This book tells the stories of these remarkable families in narrative nonfiction. Based on extensive genealogical and historical research, each generation is described in context of their times, places, societies, and events that took place in their lives.