On My 40+ Year Journey: Searching For My Family Connections

 Have A Happy Thanksgiving! 

I love discovering my family connections. The more I come across leads, it encourages me to keep searching.  This gives me a good feeling inside. It leaves me to think that I’m on the right track. Oh, the mystery!

I began my journey, well over 39 years. However, the spark of my journey begin around the Summer of 1976 through 1978. It was when I saw photos discovered at my Grandmother, Mary’s home. And the mini series “Roots” was coming on T. V.

As I’m searching through old newspapers, I’m seeing some things that I didn’t realize. I’m thankful for the tool of old newspapers. It has brought out more in my relatives lives.

I’m trying to connect the dots with my new findings. It makes me wonder. I believe that there is more out there. I don’t know where to search.

It was 39 years ago, October 30, 1981, I took a journey to Sioux City Iowa with my sister, Mary and her boyfriend and future husband, Roger. We were heading to Yankton South Dakota on Oct 31 to visit our Great Aunt Mary and some cousins. They were going to share some things about our family history.

Saturday, October 31, 1981 was the day I was told that Isaac Blakey was my Great Grandfather. I thought John Blakey was. Isaac fought in the Civil War. That blew my thinking.

As I reflect back over my 1981 journey, I’m thankful that we went. I’ve come along ways. I have reconnected with some of my Sioux City and South Dakota relatives on facebook and found more long lost relatives.

Then when I started connecting with some DNA relatives, the journey has become more and more interesting. I’ve been contacted by DNA cousins since Oct 24, 2014. There are many we’re trying to discover how we are related.

One surprising note about my journey to discover my family connection, I have a DNA match with my brother in law’s sister, Terri. We stayed at her house in 1981. What a small world we live in. Yes, my brother in law is my distant cousin. We don’t know who our common ancestors are.

My quest continues. 
I’m so thankful for all that I have stumbled across on my lineage.
 
The BARTLETT Family Connections:
  November In Loving Memory

The  DADE Family Connections:
November In Loving Memory 

 The Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections:
November In Loving Memory 

Thanks for reading.

My 40+ Year Journey: Searching For My Family Connections

God bless you. 
S.A. Blakley