Each picture is a treasure.
It's also a reality. These people, even the ones we didn't know, lived. They were born, went through their own version of the terrible twos. Someone even had to potty train them.
Someone taught them the skills they'd need for life. Someone watched their first steps and were excited. They clapped when Roscoe said his first words.
Roscoe went to school. At what age was he when the first girl fluttered her eyes at him? There is no way to ever know.
What I've learned is my granddad was young once. That's something we know on one level. But it's when we see pictures of our ancestors at various stages in their lives that it really hit homes. It's one of those AHA moments. It's when you realize that your ancestor wasn't born a grandma or granddad. They were born as a baby and it took all those years of living, just like you and I do, to get to the stage where we knew them.
They really were young once. They really did have a full life ahead of them. A life filled with hopes and dreams. A life filled with all the things we have. No, they didn't have all the electronics we have today, but those aren't the things that we'll be remembered by.
If not today, sometime this week, talk to your parents, or grandparents if they're still alive. Get them to talk about your ancestors. Get them to tell you stories about what they remember.
In my lifetime I had access to one of William and Mariah's sons and daughters. I was born early enough to have memories of Uncle Art and Aunt Tute. I remember them. When I see pictures of them, they stir memories. Why didn't I ask them about their childhood? Why didn't I ask them about their parents? I know the answer. Because when they were still alive I didn't know who William and Mariah were. Why didn't I know there was a history of ancestors?
This is the hundred year anniversary of Mariah's death. All those who have first hand information about Mariah are gone. Why did we wait so long to find out about them.
I grew up a mile from where William and Mariah lived. One mile. Yet is was within the past few years that I knew that is where they lived. It wasn't all that long ago that I learned they actually homesteaded.
Mom did a lot of research and if it weren't for her, I wouldn't have near the information I have today. I thank her for all she did. My complaint about her work is the same as it was forty years ago. Who were they? Yes, you have when and where they were born. You have who they married. You have their children named. You know when they died. But who were they?
Why did part of Mariah's side of the family move to this part of Kansas, but none of William's side? Why did they name some of their children after Mariah's side of the family, but to my knowledge, none after William's side?
Who were they?
Each document tells more of their story. It is up to us, the genealogist, to piece their story together. Document by document.
It would be easier if there were family stories to go along with these documents. It would be easier if my own parents had written down stories about their parents, grandparents and any family stories they'd heard through the years.
Yes, it would have been nice if the records for the future generations had been started five generations ago.
The main thing I've learned. The best time to start this family recording is today. Just remember, our ancestors lived their lives. They were young. They had hopes and dreams. They were real. They cried tears like you and I do. They laughed, they loved, they mourned. They lived a life.
Start recording your own memories. Start asking your relatives questions. Start absorbing you heritage today. Take pictures. Keep your pictures. Label your pictures.
Today is the day when you can do something for your family history. If you don't want to research, don't. Start a journal about the stories you've heard about your family.
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