Saturday, October 31, 2009

A Family Discovery

Back on this date in 1981, I made the discover that made me more interested in my family history. I heard that Great Grandpa was a different person. Our family surname was spelled differently. Also I learned that Great Grandfather, Isaac who fought during the Civil War.

I got to met my Grandpa John's sister in law, Mary for the first and only time. She was part American Indian and Irish. This trip was the start of my journey. I began to search more on my family history.

On that Saturday evening on October 31, 1981, it was a time to remember. I was so excited to learn more about my family history. It made me wonder about what I heard.

My Great Grandpa Isaac fought in the Civil War. He was an ex slave. My Grandpa John died in a covered wagon. Yankton South Dakota is along way from St. Joseph Mo. That was a long ride up North

I still search for more family history. I'm discovering more. The leads seem little but my imagination is growing. I want to discover more about my family history.

On My Journey....
A Family Discovery

As I keep searching, things come up.
May I discover more.

Thank You, Jesus for the leads.
Susan

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Longevity On The Family Lineage

I was noticing some of the lives of my ancestors.
I mean their ages and how long they lived.
Some had long lives.
While many had lives too short.

My father, David lived to be 76 in 1989.
My mother, Lula lived to be almost 80 in 2000.

My father's father, John lived to be about 47 in 1918.
My father's mother, Jennie lived to be about 42 in 1926.
My mother's father, Leo lived to be about 70 in 1954.
My mother's mother, Mary lived to be about 86 in 1975.

My mother's mother's mother, Anna Laura lived to be about 80 in 1947.

These Ancestors Were Former Slaves:
My father's father's father, Isaac lived to be about 72 in 1917.
My father's father's mother, Martha lived to be about 24 in 1871.
My mother's father's father, Robert lived to be about 67 in 1919
My mother's father's mother, Charlotta lived to be about 72 in 1924.

My father's mother's mother, Harriette lived to be about 60 in 1909.

There were a wide range of ages.
My ancestors had longevity in their blood.
The following ones were former slaves:

I came across my 2nd Great Grandma Juila at 60, my 3rd Great Grandma Lillie at 93, and my 4th Great Grandma Hannah at 115 on 1880 Census. Than there was my 2nd Great Grandma Frances at 100 on the 1900 census. I don't know how long these women lived.

Thank God for good health and longevity.
May the LORD bless each generation.
May we live long and healthy.

On The Journey: Longevity On The Family Lineage

Julia was my father's father's father's mother.
Lillie was my mother's mother's mother's mother's Grandma.
Hannah was my father's mother's Grandma.
Frances was my mother's father's mother's mother.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Abiding Memories

I was trying to find more names to add to the family tree on August 13, 2009. I thought to look at my parents funeral record booklets. As I was looking for names, I noticed some things.

I didn't find some names to add to our family tree. I got to see who signed the books. I saw some of our relatives signature. Especially my siblings and their children and so forth.

I notice how we write our last names. Some of us printed well, others actually signed the book. I notice how we make our K's. Some of us made our k's big. The l's were different too. It was like one line with out the loop.

It was interesting to see who came and paid their respect when my parents passed on. There were many who signed both books. There were names of people I didn't know.

In all I got to see who came and how people signed their names. Our signatures do speak of some things. It's nice to see how others write their names.

On The Journey...
Abiding Memories

Memories can bring things into the light.
Thank God for those who care enough to sign their names to guest books.

Blessings,
Susan