Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Could a family tree be any longer?

When I married my husband in 1974, I didn't have a clue as to the size of his family.  It wasn't until recently when I began my research journey that I learned more about where his family came from and how large it is.  This family tree is more like a forest than a single tree!  My family tree is tiny in comparison.

As I researched his German roots, I was fortunate to borrow a book on the Staub family, providing me with ancestors dating back to the 1800s and their families up to the present.  It is here that I will mention that it was typed on a typewriter.  Can you imagine?!  I can't.  As I sat for hours every day at my computer, typing the family names and birth data into my database, I developed a very deep respect for Jean, the lady who compiled, arranged, and typed it herself. 

My research is in its infancy stage and already I see cousins marrying cousins.  Friends of mine from high school have married someone in the Staub family lineage.  My husband's grandmother has ancestors who married Staub's - you probably have come across this in your research as well.  It probably isn't uncommon as we live in a small community.

As I continued typing, I needed more information and clarification.  So I wrote Jean a letter, since I didn't have a telephone number to call.  After several weeks and almost giving up on hearing from her, I got my wish.  Tomorrow we are meeting, and I can't wait. I have so many questions to ask.

It is here that I wish to pay tribute to this remarkable lady, Jean, for her determination to research, write, and share the past history on the Staub family from McSherrystown, PA.

Oh, if you are reading my blog and are a baseball fan, you will be interested to know that  Louis "Bull" Durham is actually a Staub and is from McSherrystown, PA.  Read his story here: http://research.sabr.org/journals/in-pursuit-of-bull-durham.

Thank you for visiting with me today.

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