When You Think You Have Heard It All…..

1940 CENSUS brings together cousins. Roy (my step-dad) and Melda met for the first time after extensive research was done to find relatives from the past.

Recently I shared a heartwarming story about my WWII VET step-dad Roy and his celebration of his 90th birthday ( http://wp.me/p2rYD1-o8 ). Roy grew up very poor and his parents divorced while he was a boy. Roy never knew when his real dad had passed away. One day he asked me if I could find this information out because of the release of the 1940 census. I was able to give Roy his father’s death date and burial location, but the biggest surprise was that we found out he had a half-brother, and a half-sister he did not know about. When you think you have heard it all life throws you a few new curve balls! We were fortunate to contact them both. In fact a reunion is planned for them to meet. I hope they hurry. No one is getting any younger!
I had recently flown home from Montgomery, Alabama 3000 miles to Seattle after witnessing a tender-hearted visit between my step-dad Roy and his cousin Melda. She was also researching her family tree that included Roy. She decided to drive to Montgomery, Alabama for a delightful visit while I was in town. Melda and I found each other through our mutual research.

Roy and Melda discuss their family roots with photo albums as their respective spouses look on. Genealogy work has confirmed their family lines all the way back to Germany.

Melda reminded me in an email of how special this experience was for her. Upon returning home Melda spoke with her elderly mother about meeting Roy: ” I couldn’t help but stare at Roy’s striking ice blue eyes. When I mentioned it to my mother, she said my grandfather had eyes like that.”
While Melda and Roy are second cousins, Melda’s father who has passed away as well as Roy led interesting work lives in the history of Alabama. Melda’s father was a Superintendent of Education during the changing times in Alabama Public Schools serving the children in Alabama. During that same time period, Roy was working as the Director of Veteran Affairs serving our Veterans. Today I give tribute to both men in their work and their lives.

Roy meeting with Governor George Wallace while he served the Veterans of the Military.

Brain “Teasers” from the Grave

Almost a year ago, I was at an appointment with my neurosurgeon discussing among other things the possibilities of my brain tumor recurring and what I could do now to help my memory issues. I told him I am not interested in puzzles in the conventional way you think of them or sodoku. He laughed and said, “Well just find something you like that works for you and your brain.” It was shortly after that I became interested in genealogy. I found out so much information that I was starting to write it down to keep up with it. After a month or so of working on my ancestors, I began helping others. I felt like I was putting together real life puzzles.
In the months that have passed by, I realized that when you discover your past, it may make you emotional. You might find out something you did not expect. It is not always for the good either! Here are some of the examples of some of my discoveries from my own ancestors or other folks I assisted with their own research. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Oh, I mean those that are still alive. Better yet, I will not mention any names…..You will see why in a minute…Thank you also to those who taught me alot about research..YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE..THANK YOU FOR HELPING MY BRAIN!!!
1. It was found in one family that an ancestor( an uncle back from the civil war-time) was considered a hero in the south because he killed several Yankees for retribution for losing all his confederate soldier brothers in the war. He kept the buttons off their outfits as souvenirs. After awhile it was said his mother told him to leave the state he was living in because the law was after him. He did move away, but drowned in a river a few years later.
2. Another uncle who was 68 years old (why is it always uncles?) married a woman who was 12 years old. He had grown children and grandchildren older than his 12-year-old wife. This happened in the late 1800’s. They had at least four children together.
3. Another male “family” member was shot dead in the early 1900’s by two women that were sisters. Another find was a young ancestor who was shot dead accidently by his childhood friend.
4. A very rich and wise ancestor who owned much land and was well-known as a “banker” for the town he helped to develop in the late 1700’s hated one of his daughter’s husband. The husband allowed his daughter to die while she was in labor with their child when he could have tried to get her help. He chose not to. My research found a news clipping ad he paid for calling this man every name in the book and making sure this husband knew exactly where he stood with his father-in-law. Can you imagine taking an ad in the paper in this century?
5. A family member finds out she had an uncle she never knew existed. A person also had photos of a great-grandmother and never knew her name. This is found out from find a grave and other information like death records, or census records that identify other children in the household.
6. A family member found out he has a sister living that was 20 years younger than him with the use of the 1940 census and great detective work.
7. A family member finds out they had an ancestor on the Ship The Tennessee at Pearl Harbor when Japan invaded Hawaii.
8. Family members find out their parents are double cousins or worse yet that their parents were sister and brother.
9. A family member finds out their ancestor was a NAZI in WWII.
10. Last but not least, a family member finds out they are related to Conway Twitty, or better yet possibly Napoleon from a DNA match.