Why do I care about them?

Some people think genealogy is pointless. What difference does it make? Those people are gone. They lived their lives and now they're gone.

The truth is, one of these days we'll all be gone.

What I've learned, there's a lot more to a legacy than what my ancestors owned, or didn't own.

Following the routes your ancestors took during their life gives us a good idea about their spirit.

John Braden was born in Ireland around 1803. At one point in his life, prior to 1837 he boarded a ship and came to America. Why did he board that ship? I still don't know. Did he come over with the specific purpose of marrying Leticia Braden? Was Leticia his cousin? Was it arranged? I don't know. I suspect they were cousins. I don't know for sure.

The fact remains, John Braden was on a ship that came to America. During that time frame in history, it says something about him, knowing nothing more than he got on that ship. It says he was willing to do what he needed to do to make a better life for himself. It suggests that he did not have a weak spirit. Nor a weak faith in himself or God.

With that teeny tiny bit of information it makes me proud. I realize he might have gotten on the ship to avoid debtors prison, or a number of not so savory reasons. That possibility does exist and I'm not so naive to think he was all goodness and righteousness. I have no idea what his moral compass was. Except I have a pretty good idea because of the generations that followed him. The children that he and Leticia produced give a picture of how they lived their lives and the moral compass they used.

Two of his sons were ordained ministers. One of his sons was a farmer who devoted his life to his children. That son was my great, great grandfather. All I have to do is take the information I have of John's descendants to get an idea of who he was. I'll admit, I don't know what happened to all of my great, great grandfathers siblings, but those that I could follow were all highly respected within their communities.

I know John Braden placed a huge headstone on Leticia's grave after she passed away. Was it out of love, or guilt? I have no idea. But it's there and it's striking to see.

I know William and Maria Birdsell left Iowa with six children and moved to Kansas. No easy feat in the 1870s. I know William's grandfather was alive during the Revolutionary War. I don't know if he fought in it. But he was there when this country gained her independence. I know for some reason, Martin, William's grandfather, left New York state in the early 1820s and moved to Ohio.

I could go on and on and on and on about these interesting people who came before me.

Why do I care about them? Because they are interesting. Because they when life got tough for them, they did not give up. They lost children. They lost mates. They lost homes. They even lost their lives. But they lived their lives. They have left records of the lives they lived. Each record tells more of their story.

I care about them, because they cared enough to protect their families. To do something about their lives so their children and future generations could have a good life.

Every day through the various social medias, I see people complaining about their lives. Day in and day out. Do they really think life just happens? Don't they realize that to have a good life takes work? Can they not see past their yesterday and today and realize that the life they have is the life they've set into motion?

If you don't like the life you have, do as your ancestors did, do what you have to do to make a better one for yourself, your children and your grandchildren and all those great, great, great grandchildren yet to come.

Let them go back into history one day and find your name and piece together your story and let them be amazed and proud to have come from such strong humans. Even if you don't care, one of these days, several generations down the road, someone will care about who you were. Leave them a trail of records that shows them the spirit and spunk that you had.

Or sit on your butt and do nothing about it and let those future generations shake their heads amazed that you were able to live long enough to procreate. The choice is yours. It doesn't belong to anyone but yourself.

So thank you to all my ancestors who had what it took to take the chances you took so that those of us today can have the lives we have today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I'm so proud that you are my ancestors. You make me want to be a better person, so my records will reflect some of your courage and spirit.