Well, here I go. But where will I start? There are Grissos and Smiths, Wrights and Bordens, Augustus and DeHarts, Tolsdorfs and Beiers. There are Grossmans and Vorhies, Kerins and Reeders. You get the idea.
I am starting with the Smith, Vorhies, Withrow line, and I am dedicating these first entries to two family members we lost in January of 2015. First is my mother's brother, John Hiram Grisso (1924-2015). I was born on his 21st birthday on February 21, 1945 while he was serving in the Atlantic during WWII. This connection made him very special to me. I felt his absence profoundly this year on our birthday.
My second dedication is to his first cousin, Jean Stevens Johnson (1929-2015). In genealogy terms, she is my first cousin once removed. She and my mother were first cousins. On January 2, I called Jean with the news of John's passing. We had a sad but lively conversation. I spoke of my discovery of the grave of the parents of my Great Grandpa Hiram Lee Smith's parents in Tucumcari, New Mexico far from our Midwest roots. George Smith (1842-1932) and Mary Smith (1847-1924) were great grandparents of Jean and John.
Jean was my go to person for family memories and fact checking. As happens too often, our best resources are gone too soon. Jean died four days after her cousin, John, and two days after our conversation.
My life is richer because of these two family members.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Friday, March 6, 2015
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Getting Started
Time is running out for many of my planned writing projects ( I just had a big birthday). It is already 2015, and I have discovered genealogy blogs. Maybe I have just enough time to share my genealogy discoveries with cousins near and far, geographically as well as biologically, through a blog just for them, other relatives, and especially my grandchildren.
Many blogs give helpful hints, suggestions, and resource guidance to their readers. This is not my intention since I am a novice genealogist. However, I am the oldest cousin on both my mother and father's sides of the family tree. Of course, this gives me a familial advantage. I have memories many of my cousins do not share. I grew up surrounded by great aunts and uncles, second cousins, and other extended family. Some of these cousins ( not to mention my grandchildren) did not have that same experience. So, I have appointed myself family historian. I am very interested in this task and anxious to share my discoveries. So, this blog is for my family that they might know from where they came. If anyone else finds the desire to follow my mumblings, I would be thrilled. Eventually, I plan to delve into my husband's family and that of my grandchildren's other grandparents.
I have a few other interests such as gardening, travel, and reading. Don't be surprised to find a page or two here and there on these topics as well as some random thoughts and other useless information.
As I said before, this blog is for my family. I hope you enjoy it. If you have any specific questions, please contact me. I will be happy to try to answer your questions, or I might even research it for you. If at anytime, you feel I have made a mistake, contact me so I can correct the information.
Your self appointed family historian,
Margie
Many blogs give helpful hints, suggestions, and resource guidance to their readers. This is not my intention since I am a novice genealogist. However, I am the oldest cousin on both my mother and father's sides of the family tree. Of course, this gives me a familial advantage. I have memories many of my cousins do not share. I grew up surrounded by great aunts and uncles, second cousins, and other extended family. Some of these cousins ( not to mention my grandchildren) did not have that same experience. So, I have appointed myself family historian. I am very interested in this task and anxious to share my discoveries. So, this blog is for my family that they might know from where they came. If anyone else finds the desire to follow my mumblings, I would be thrilled. Eventually, I plan to delve into my husband's family and that of my grandchildren's other grandparents.
I have a few other interests such as gardening, travel, and reading. Don't be surprised to find a page or two here and there on these topics as well as some random thoughts and other useless information.
As I said before, this blog is for my family. I hope you enjoy it. If you have any specific questions, please contact me. I will be happy to try to answer your questions, or I might even research it for you. If at anytime, you feel I have made a mistake, contact me so I can correct the information.
Your self appointed family historian,
Margie
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