Leaves & Branches: Genealogy, Research & Family History
This vintage photograph is delightful because of the happy faces of Albert & Elizabeth.
Vintage photographs are like little windows looking back in time.
A Window into the Past
My great uncle Clarence W. Mark shared this photograph with me. Clarence is in the center of the photograph, standing with two of his sister's sons. Probably taken in the early 1940s in Ohio. I love how young they all look.
Vintage photographs are like little windows looking back in time.
A Window into the Past
A Family Treasure
Is your birthday in January? Maybe you share your special day with someone in our family who came before. Look below and see. Happy Birthday!
I have posted this series before. This version has been updated with more information. I hope you find it as much fun as I do.
Click on the links to learn more.
1 January
For many years my New Year's Resolution remained unchanged:
-- Finish writing my Book about my paternal grandfather's family. --
I kept thinking that this would be the year to finish. I would set aside research and focus on writing what I have learned. Finally I made it happen.
Stop Researching & Write!
I had written my book in sections, each a surname was a branch of my paternal grandfather's ancestors. I had researched each branch for many years. If I was to ever share that information with my family I had to put the brakes on research and focus on writing.
Pull it all Together!
For each section I:
Then, I set up a format for the book and brought all the sections together.
To the main body of the book I added:
This is an interesting Christmas card. It shows my paternal grandfather and his two daughters but none of his five sons or his wife. There is no date on this card, possibly mid 1940s, in New York State.
Our Brown Roots began as a quest to learn more about my father’s paternal roots but quickly expanded to include many related families. The Brown family had married Alford, Brumfield and Smith and those families married Ashley, Dillon, Fortenberry, Hollis, Kelly, Kennington, Lawrence, Ott and Spurlock. The deeper our roots stretch, the wider they spread. My research, begun in New York and Ohio, quickly moved to Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana and beyond. Information from Bibles, letters, interviews, documents, maps and photographs blended into family trees, timelines, outlines and family stories.
Our families were in the Colonies before the United States came to be. In this book you will learn the history of those families, how their lives intertwined and the worlds in which they lived. To understand the people who populate our family tree, we must understand their worlds. What was happening in the places they lived, at the time they lived there? Learn about how our families grew as our country grew; how our ancestors used their strengths and talents to defend and build their lives, their families and our country. It is my sincere hope that this book will keep those ancestors alive into future generations.
Questions?
My first cousin kindly shared his mother’s 1942 Autograph Book with me. The book belonged to Genevieve Audry (Brown) Wieland Schaperjahn. It was given to her by her aunt and uncle, Roy Edward & Isabell Esther Mark Nee.
Genevieve Audry (Brown) Wieland Schaperjahn
3 Oct 1932 OH - 18 Jan 2015 NY
Daughter of Roy Jessie & Ivy Regina Mark Brown
Genevieve, her parents and her siblings had lived in Wayne County, Ohio but moved to Columbia County, New York circa 1940/41.
The book was signed by many of her Ohio relatives as well as her family and friends in New York. It is wonderful to see the handwriting, messages & signatures of many family members.
· “Grandma” N. Regina Victoria Gruissy Mark, 1879 – 1959. Wrote: Roses are red. Violets are blue. I can’t think of Another To Write to you.
· “Your Grand Dad” Thomas Kenneth Mark, 1879 – 1975. Wrote: Roses is Red and carrot is Sweet and so are you.
· “Your aunt Isabell Esther” Isabell Esther Mark Nee, 1903 – 1984. Wrote: Dear Genevieve; I hope you enjoy filling out this book with names of your new friends.
· “Roy E. Nee” her uncle, 1878 – 1963. Wrote: Nov 16 – 42 Hello Blondie. How’s the girl?
· “Paul” cousin, Paul Kenneth Nee, b 1934. Wrote: I love you little. I love you big. I love you like a little pig.
· “Your Aunt Blanche & Uncle Owen” Owen Andrew & Blanche Bowers Mark. Wrote: 1942 Dear Genevieve: - We think of you quite often, You think of us we know, And we just thought ‘twould be kinder nice to write & tell you so.
"Uncle Clarence" Clarence William Mark, 1917 - 2006. Wrote: Genevieve Autry Brown took her hat and went to town, the wind blew strong and hard, her hat flew up and landed in the yard.
· “Jeanette Brown” Genevieve’s sister, Jeanette Rose Brown Sparks Wager, 1934 – 1986. Wrote: Dec. 26, 1942 The valley is green. The hills are bare. I love you and I hope you care.
· “Leo Brown” her brother, Leo Dwight Brown, 1930 – 2017. Wrote: I love coffee. I love tea. I love the girls and they love me.
· “Dad” Roy Jessie Brown, 1902 – 1956. Wrote: To my little fat stuff. Genevieve, The sea is wide and you can’t step it. I love you and you can’t help it.
