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Archiver > ALBUTLER > 2000-09 > 0968085397


From: vansmith <>
Subject: Re: [ALBUTLER] A Genealogists Nightmare
Date: Mon, 04 Sep 2000 11:36:37 -0500
References: <23.7e3244.26e489bf@aol.com>


This is pure fiction in the whole, I'm sure and designed to scare us
into action.

Vanessa Smith

wrote:
>
> Whille I don't normal submit something of this nature to the list, I
> understand how an genealogists would feel if this happened to them. Jerrol
> Forester forwarded this to me. I believe you will enjoy reading. I hope
> none of us ever have to experience something of this nature.
>
> Mildred Stinson Brown
> List Moderator
> --------------------------------
> A Genealogists Nightmare!
>
> Dear Cousin,
>
> In response to your letter, I am sorry to inform you that grandpa "Fred" died
> some time back and the stuff you asked about is not available.
>
> The personal property the family did not want was sold at an estate sale. All
> those boxes of junk did not interest a single buyer. We were able to salvage
> several binders for the kids homework after we sent all the paper to the
> incinerator. The kids really complained about having to lug all that paper
> and pictures of those ugly old folks to the dumpster. An old family Bible
> from the 1840's did bring $ 5.00. The one from the 1870's did not sell.
>
> There also was a bunch of floppy disks that we were able to reformat and
> download some games for the kids to play on their new playstation. At least
> SOMEBODY got some good from the three generations work.
>
> I saw the fellow at a flea market a couple of weeks ago and he said he threw
> the Bible in the trash after nobody was interested in it. He said he got an
> offer for fifty cents for it, but would rather burn it than give it away. He
> seemed to be having a lot of success with some very nice Elvis paintings at
> his booth.
>
> The two aunts you asked about are also dead. They were such a delight and
> could talk all day long about the things papa had written about. I remember
> them saying something about some records that were copied from two
> courthouses that later burned. Neither ever wrote down a single thing.
>
> The letter you referred to was one he typed up and sent to lots of folks who
> wrote him. He laughed about them never getting any of his hard work as well
> as his Fathers and Grandfather who was in the Civil War . He guarded all the
> information carefully to the bitter end.
>
> I wish I could remember some of the things to help you, but I was bored to
> tears listening to them talk about the family members who were in the civil
> war and those silly pieces of paper he showed so proudly. I vaguely remember
> they had some beeswax seals and something to do with the land grants that
> were destroyed in the courthouse fires. I wish I could remember the story
> about his grandfathers evening with Jefferson Davis when he was on the run.
> There are also some very juicy stories that were handed down, but I don't
> remember them very well.
>
> Another thing I remember after he got sick was some fellow calling him and he
> agreed to let him come down and copy all his material. He told him he would
> call him back when he felt better. Papa mentioned something about letting the
> society the man was from have all his work since nobody in the family cared
> anything about a bunch of people who had been dead for 200 years. Papa died
> the next week.
>
> I am so sorry papa and the two generations wasted so much of their life on
> such worthless hobbies and hope your family will follow something more
> interesting. We enjoy Bingo and bowling very much here in Pleasantville.
>
> I really enjoyed hearing from a long lost cousin and would like to hear back
> if you find anything important. The kids need the computer for their games
> and I need to watch the "Millionaire" show.
>
> ==== ALBUTLER Mailing List ====
> --------------------- ALBUTLER-L Mailing List ---------------------
> Thanks for making the ALGenWeb Butler County Web Site a success!
> http://www.geocities.com/butlercounty/

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