Genealogy: A hay stack full of needles. It's the threads I need

I have lived in Hanover, Pennsylvania all my life, and I thought I knew all that there was to know about this small town.  Since I started my journey researching my husband's family, I quickly learned that that was not true.

My main focus was on the Staub family line.  I quickly added the Groft line, then the Smith line, and now the Wilt line.  I was warned by fellow genealogists to only focus on one family line at a time.  Hanover is a small community and it is understandable that this cross-over of families exists.  So focusing on one family was just not possible!

Since starting my journey I have found previously documented information on these families, as most genealogists today have found.  A part of me wonders, 'what is left for me to find?"  Where can I dig deeper to add to my database?  I wonder, too, who else has asked this question and what new research angle turned up interesting family facts. 

It would be fun hearing from other genealogists and to share experiences.  I would involve the family, but it seems like this is my journey and ONLY my journey. 

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.

Am I a romantic ?

Posting to my blog has taken the back seat to my computer activity.  In my spare time, I have been entering lots of research about my husband's family tree, the Staub Family Tree. 

In 1985, a wonderful lady, Jean L. Staub, compiled her research into a book.  This book was shared with a select contributing family members.  Jean deserves so much credit for her tedious work!

In typing the names into my database, I am falling in love with all the old-time names.  For instance, Kathleen Anastasia, Nadine, Aloysius, Leo.  I, too, was named after my grandmother and probably many grandmothers past.  For a very long time, I thought that my name, Mary Kathryn, was not very unique.  I have now changed my mind and thank my father for naming me, even if he had gone behind my mother's back in doing so.  I bet they had a small argument over this. 

Now back to my database.  Happy research, everyone.

Family Reunions and In-laws ...

Good morning, everyone.

I need some sage advice.  My husband's family reunions (there are two) are fast approaching.  I've always been very bored going to them, so I haven't actively attended in the past few years.  This year I intend to do so and with the intent of gathering more material for my research and their ancestors' lives.

Have you successfully gathered research from the relatives at family reunions?  If yes, how?  If no, what didn't work?  There are several living Smith brothers or sisters to assist, but in the Staub family the Staub uncles and aunts (their parents) are gone.  Only the spouses are living.

How do I approach the family as a whole (they hold business meetings) to encourage their help with stories, data, and photos for my file?  Remember, I am an in-law!

This is what I tentatively plan to do. Maybe I need my husband to do this for me Feel free to send me your thoughts.

1. Tell the planning committee and/or the reunion attendees how my research project got started.
2. Have examples of my current research, such as pedigree charts and other reports, to show them what we can do with this information.
3. Tell them about this blog.  This may be the most efficient method for them to share info with me and to send photos, as well as my email address.
4. My plan to start Staub and Smith family web sites.  The intent would be to   allow sharing of stories, photos, and submit changes to the family tree. Could I do this with a blog, Face Book, or another social media outlet?
5. That in the future I intend to hand over my database files to a younger historian to continue the legacy.

I don't want to take work from their family historian or secretary. 

I also want to ensure that the newer generations begin to learn about their heritage.

I hope that the older generations begin to reminisce about the 'good old days'. 

Other suggestions for sharing their heritage would be most welcome.

As always, thank you!!!