Daily Snapshot

Genealogy: Your Ancestor Shot and Killed My Ancestor!

Many people think of genealogy as names and dates, which it is. But it can be so much more! Our ancestors lived through difficult times and under circumstances hard to imagine. They made good and bad decisions, had successes and failures, experienced love and heartbreak, and had moments of joyous pride and numbing shame. They homesteaded in the wilderness, raised crops, took care of their families, defended their property, and did what was necessary to survive. In other words, to borrow from the poet Edgar Albert Guest, they did a “heap o’ livin’” in that dash between their birth and death dates, and there’s a heap o’ lost stories waiting to be found and told. But where to begin?

A good starting point is the census. Where did your ancestors live? Could they read and write? How many years did they attend school? Did they rent or own their home? What was their address? What was the value of their home and property? What did they do for a living? Where were they born? Where were their parents born? Was English their native language? The answers to these questions can be found in the census records! Are you beginning to see the start of a story? Just for fun, if an ancestor lived in an urban area and had a street address, check the address online to see if the house is still there. (And even if it isn’t, you may still be able to get a feel for the neighborhood if there are any remaining homes.)

Take advantage of the tools available on Internet genealogy sites such as FamilySearch, Ancestry, GenWeb, and RootsWeb. Message boards can be very helpful, and they’re free! They are most often arranged by surname or location, and to post on them you simply subscribe those that interest you. And, yes, I really did receive this response to a post: “I just had to contact you. Your ancestor shot and killed my ancestor.” (I didn’t know the story, and it was true!) Message boards are a wonderful way to connect with relatives you didn’t know existed. The responder may not be in your direct line, but he could be descended from an ancestor’s sibling and have a wealth of family stories to share.

Sometimes you find stories where you least expect them. Family Bibles, published genealogies, old photographs, and family letters are sold on eBay. I research an unusual family name, and an eagle-eyed genealogist (my favorite kind!) from a related family notified me about a group of items for sale that referenced the name. When I looked into it, I was surprised to discover the items had belonged to my great uncle. He had been employed building the Panama Canal, the items were from his Panama days, and they included a formal family photograph I hadn’t previously seen. One of his daughters had a brace on her leg, and I later learned she had scoliosis – something I hadn’t known.

Family stories, no matter how implausible, often contain a kernel of truth. Look for the kernel, and if you find it, make sure to share (and document!) the correct version. A friend told me his middle name came from a family member who had been a governor of Delaware. When he asked me to look into it, I discovered the name didn’t belong to any governor of Delaware, but it was the name of someone who had been a governor of the Delaware River Authority. In another instance, I was told a family member had been eaten by a shark. Later research revealed the boy drowned and his body was never recovered. I suppose it’s possible he…..well, we don’t need to go there. It was a tragic event and, clearly, someone had an over-active imagination.

Historical and genealogical societies in the locations where your ancestors lived are wonderful resources for finding forgotten or lost family stories. Their staffs are well-versed in local family names and local history, and if you can’t travel to them, they will look through their records for you for a nominal fee. These local societies do wonderful work and provide a valuable service. Through them, I’ve found everything from the newspaper write-up of my mother’s wedding to a never-heard story about a distant relative who, in the 1920s, fell out of an open cockpit airplane to his death. Be prepared for whatever you might find!

Did your ancestors migrate south or west? If so, do you know how they traveled? Did they use the Erie Canal? Did they come by flatboat down the Ohio River to the Mississippi or Missouri Rivers? Did they go by Conestoga wagon? Did they walk alongside an ox cart? Did they come down the Great Wagon Road? You may not have a record of your ancestors’ journey, but others traveled the same way, along the same route, and some kept diaries and wrote memoirs. Use their stories to help you understand and describe what your ancestors experienced.

If you can, obtain a copy of your ancestor’s complete probate file. Probate files are normally housed at the county courthouse in the county where your ancestor died, and you will have to pay for a copy of the file, but it can reveal much about your ancestor and how he lived. An estate inventory is often included in the file, as well as an accounting of the estate sale, the purchase price of each item, and who bought it. You may be surprised at the things our ancestors owned and the value of those items.

If there was a will, it will also be in the probate file. Wills are usually straightforward, but you sometimes find instances of unusual generosity, thinly-veiled pettiness, and familial strife. A friend shared a will from the 1860s in which her ancestor lambasted his second wife for cruelly mistreating his daughter while favoring her own children. In his will, he cited examples of the mistreatment, stipulated that his stepchildren could not continue to live in his house, and “by no means” was his daughter to continue living with her stepmother. He wanted his daughter to leave the house “immediately after my death,” and in a final twist of the knife, he wanted the will read at his funeral.

My favorite way to learn about my ancestors is to go where they lived, walk where they walked, breathe in their air, take in their vistas, and stand at their graves. It may sound odd, but I feel them around me, welcoming me, and it’s a humbling experience. Also, by going to where they lived, I can personally look through old courthouse records, talk with local historians, and look for local history books to help me better understand the area and why my ancestors may have chosen to settle there.

Truly, genealogy can (and, arguably, should) be more than a collection of names and dates. Our ancestors have stories to tell us, if we’ll only look for them. Meanwhile, I hope these few examples have inspired you to ask questions and seek answers so that you’ll better understand who your ancestors were – not merely that they lived.

Put Yellowstone on Your Bucket List

I first started going there when I was about four or five years old. Way early in the morning while it was still dark, my grandma would load up a cooler with Shasta pop and bologna sandwiches and put them in the trunk of the car. She would make sure there were plenty of blankets and toys in the back seat before we left. Then we would all pile in and grandpa would back out of the driveway, the gravel crunching underneath the car’s tires.

It was surreal for me to ride through our small town and watch the houses glide past my window in the early morning dawn. Everything was so still and quiet. We would only see one or two other cars on the street as we made our way out of town.

Soon we would be on the two lane highway headed north. I would almost immediately fall asleep amid my toys and stuffed animals. What seemed like just minutes later, but in reality was more like two-and a half hours, we would be pulling into the town of West Yellowstone, Montana and making our way to the entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

There we would spend the day meandering on paved roads through lodge pole pine forests, stopping to see canyons, waterfalls, wildlife, geysers and hot pools. Many stops would be made to gaze at elk, moose, buffalo and bear. Gentle flowing creeks and rivers would be our backdrop as we stopped to enjoy our lunch at one of the many picnic areas alongside the road. Towards evening we would make our way back to West Yellowstone and find a motel room. The next morning after a hearty breakfast at the local coffee shop we would head back home with the promise that we would do it all over again next year.

I never tired of it. The annual trip would be the highlight of my summer when I was growing up.

Last week I took my ten-year-old granddaughter Emily there for the first time. These days you have to make room reservations way in advance in West Yellowstone, which we did. For three days Emily, my wife Diana and I spent our time enjoying the sights and sounds of Yellowstone. For me it was like going back in time. I felt I was passing down to Emily a family treasure which my grandparents passed down to me so many years ago.

I know a lot of you have just retired or are contemplating retirement in the near future. There are many plans and decisions to be made about how you will spend your time. If you have never been to Yellowstone National Park before, don’t put it off. It simply is a trip you must take once you have entered the ranks of retirees.

I have been there about twenty times or more in my life. First as a young boy visiting there with my grandparents. Later, several times as a teen along with my parents and younger brother. Then as a young father and husband with my own family. And now coming full circle as a grandparent sharing the experience with my own grandchildren. It’s almost like a rite of passage. Whenever I hear that someone has never been to Yellowstone I feel like taking them there myself.

If you go and I hope you do, take your time. Don’t be in a rush. Give yourself three or four days to see everything. Over the years I have come to appreciate the beauty and the grandeur of Yellowstone like no other place I’ve ever been. Let me tell you about a few of the highlights.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lower Falls

When most people think of Yellowstone they think of Old Faithful geyser and primarily go to see that. But there is another gem within the park’s borders that most tourists aren’t even aware of.

On the eastern side of the park sits a steep V-shaped valley 800 to 1,200 feet deep and 24 miles long. Cut into volcanic rhyolite rock by the rugged Yellowstone River, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone boasts one of the most beautiful falls in the North America. The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone plunges 308 feet to the valley floor and the roar from this massive cataract can be heard for miles.

There are many vantage points from which one can view the canyon and the falls. My favorite is Artist’s Point located on the south rim of the canyon due west of Lower Falls. From this vista you get a jaw dropping view of the red and yellow rocks of the canyon with the river churning and twisting deep beneath you. In the distance, framed within the canyon walls, are the frothy Lower Falls cascading down to the river below.

Old Faithful Geyser and Upper Geyser Basin

The most famous attraction in Yellowstone is located in the southwestern area of the park. Old Faithful was given its name in 1870 by an exploratory expedition that stumbled upon this immense volume of super-heated water erupting out of the ground at regular intervals. The most predictable geyser in the park, Old Faithful shoots a column of hot, steamy water an average of 145 feet up into the air at an average interval of 90 minutes between eruptions.

Old Faithful is part of the Upper Geyser Basin which boasts many other geysers. Though less predictable, Castle Geyser, Daisy Geyser and Grand Geyser are all no less spectacular and within walking distance at the Old Faithful complex as well as the historic Old Faithful Inn.

Built in 1904, the Old Faithful Inn has a clear view of the Old Faithful Geyser and is unique in that it is one of the few log hotels still standing in the United States. It is a massive structure and a prime example of the “Golden Age” of rustic, resort architecture. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987, the Old Faithful Inn is a must see in the Old Faithful area.

Hayden Valley and Buffalo Herd

On the eastern side of the park is a large grassy valley straddling the Yellowstone River between the Canyon and Yellowstone Lake. Beyond the basin of the valley sits a succession of low, heavily timbered ridges. Pulling off the side of the road and gazing out at the vast expanse of land, one is struck by the peacefulness of the scene. Particularly if a herd of buffalo is seen grazing in the distance.

Yellowstone National Park has the oldest and largest public bison herd in the United States numbering approximately 3,700. The Hayden Valley is prime buffalo habitat and large herds can be seen grazing in the meadows and grasslands of this vast stretch of the park. Unperturbed by human activity, Yellowstone bison can be observed wandering near roadways and other infrastructures in the park. Be careful though and keep your distance. American bison can run up to 35 miles per hour and in addition to their notable strength are surprisingly agile.

There are many other sights in the park worth exploring; Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Falls, historic Fishing Bridge and colonial style Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Wildlife is in abundance with elk sightings a common occurrence along with the occasional spotting of a wild wolf pack.

I have been coming to Yellowstone all my life and will continue to do so as long as I am able. It is one of the most beautiful places on our planet.

If you’ve never been there, I hope you will include a trip to Yellowstone National Park in your retirement adventures.

Bon Voyage!

Totally Submitting to Thailand’s Charms

It’s only been a few days, but I’ve already settled into a very comfortable routine here in the Little seaside town of Ao Nang Beach, Thailand.

Let me start by saying that everything is astonishingly affordable in the “land of smiles”. And this fact invariably affects the spending choices you make.

For example, my little bungalow near the beach sets me back a mere $23 a night – so maybe I’ll stay longer. It’s quite basic but, clean, quiet, conveniently located – shops, restaurants, and the beach are just a short stroll away. Add three meals out (with adult drinks) plus an hour massage, and your daily total is easily under $50.

I usually start my day at the restaurant next door with local fresh fruit and yogurt. The pineapple and mango are particularly delectable! But Yesterday I choose to eat like a real local and had rice soup with minced pork (60 bhat, $1.70) and I’ve absolutely no regrets. If you long for bacon, eggs, and toast, no problem! A “western breakfast” is available for $3.40.

But keep in mind, to keep costs down when traveling to a foreign land, eat and drink like the locals. Your spirit of adventure is generally rewarded by a positive and memorable experience!

Next, I head for the protected beach, passing classic colorful Thai “long tail” boats waiting to ferry tourists to the nearby islands for snorkeling/relaxing. The far end of the Beach is framed by a giant limestone karst, rising dramatically from the sea.

Here I swim and dry in the morning sun before it gets too high; prior to needing to apply the dreaded white cream. Today I will bring my mask and snorkel and see what I can find…

Along my short stroll back from the beach, for 50 bhat ($1.40), a tiny dark wrinkled woman uses a machete to chop a hinged opening atop a large green coconut and inserts a straw. So delicious and even cheaper than a small carton of pasteurized Vita Coco back home! Is there a more healthy and delicious way to hydrate and top off electrolytes?

Next, I arrive at the perpetually bustling street food row. Some dozen stalls offer everything from mango crepes cooked in coconut oil, to chicken satay, to charcoal grilled squid with sticky rice ($1.40, $2.00, and $4.50 respectively) and they’re all amazingly delectable. Today I will try a banana crepe for $1.15.

Street food and side-street restaurants are the friends of value travelers. By that I mean better AND cheaper!

The restaurant on my bungalow side-street prepares an excellent seafood Pad Thai for $2.28. Enjoying this meal al fresco, watching international tourists and locals parade by, with a large bottle of beer ($2.57) is a truly an enjoyable experience.

Every tenth or so storefront is a massage parlor – it’s a Thai thing. And considering that an hour massage costs less than a typical massage tip back home, I figure I can’t afford not to get one every day! Having gotten too much sun yesterday (yes, I foolishly refused to retreat as the midday sun made its way around a palm tree) I opted for an aloe vera massage today – delightfully soothing!

The local beer and rum are top notch, and being local, are extremely affordable. Chang is my favorite beer among the several local varieties. SangSom rum is smooth and delightful on its own or mix it with fruit juice from one of the omnipresent 7-11’s.

It’s crazy, but there are actually more 7-11s in tiny Thailand than across the entire USA. And I have a theory for their popularity. The 7-11 colors (red, orange, green) are eerily similar to the colors found at the Royal Palace and temples, and the Thai people absolutely adore their King and are demonstrably religious.

I’m not suggesting conspiracy; the 7-11 corporate colors were established long before venturing overseas. But perhaps the coincidence of colors inadvertently, yet subliminally attracts customers.

Snorkeling off the mainland beach is nothing special, but there are plenty of amazing tiny islands just a half hour boat ride off the coast. A full day excursion to three islands, a buffet lunch, plus fruit and water on board costs only $23. Not bad for world-class snorkeling amongst beautiful islands.

Yes things are quite different over here, however on my way back from the beach the other day, while feeling momentarily alone and out of place, I came upon a sidewalk cafe and stopped dead in my tracks when I heard Bob Dylan asking, “how does it feel to be on your own?” It was an aha moment that made me realize that universal constants exist in the midst of such vast differences.

OK, let’s review the routine:

• fresh fruit
• swimming/snorkeling/sunning
• fresh coconut water
• street food
• massages
• beer & rum
• side street restaurants
• seafood, seafood, seafood
• an occasional aha moment

This routine feels so natural and pleasantly unavoidable that resistance would surely be futile.

I happily surrender myself completely!