There is a children's book entitled "Where's Waldo." The challenge is to find Waldo, a character dressed in a red and white striped shirt and bright blue pants, amidst a scene of other distracting objects.
The last two weeks I have been helping my friend with some family history research. He knew very little about his great-grandfather beyond his wife's name and the names of their children. So I set out on a quest to find the Langeland family. It has been a very addicting, yet extremely fun and rewarding adventure. I had found birth dates for all the children and death dates for all but two. Last night I found Henry. I was so excited. I had been searching for hours on Ancestry.com but could not come up with anything. He appears in the 1900 Census and then disappears. Then last night I tried a different search on familysearch.org and I found Henry's death date! Yeah.
Now I am looking for Lester. It is much like a "Where's Waldo" experience. Except that I can usually find Waldo and I can't find Lester. I find him in the 1910 Census living in Ashland, Oregon. I actually grew up about 90 minutes from Ashland, and visited there often. In 1917 Lester registered for World War I. And then... Where's Lester?
This experience has motivated me to find out more stories from my parents before they are gone. I wish I knew more about these people I am researching. What were their lives like? What made them decide to leave their family and travel across the nation (my friend says that if I spent one winter in South Dakota I would know the answer to that question). Nevertheless, I want to know more stories about my parents and grandparents before it is too late.
I am having the best time doing family history-- and this isn't even my family.
Life Is Good!
1 comment:
I heard it said recetly at a temple fireside that they felt like the information is always given often by help from the other side right when they need it. Let us know when you track Lester down.
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