OHGALLIA-L Archives

From: "Henny Evans" <>
Subject: Re: [OHGALLIA-L] Genealogy Community -- Letter to List -- Personal Opinion.
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 08:30:21 -0400
References: <007b01c452ce$db0cb440$c7e82118@home1cemf1szf4>

Mike, an excellent idea. Now if we will all just take the time to do it.
Henny
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Donnally" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 7:49 AM
Subject: [OHGALLIA-L] Genealogy Community -- Letter to List -- Personal
Opinion.


> In light of recent mail issues I am re-sending this post that generated no
replies. Sorry if you have already read this....
>
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> Genealogy Community:
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> Why do we seek out our ancestors with such passion? Why do we
spend countless moments tying to grasp the character of those from our
ancestral past with thoughts like: "Who were they, what did they do, what
trails and tribulations did they face in their days draped in flesh"? I am
sure it is different with each of us, but I wish to share my feelings with
you. I will admit to being an underling with only a few years searching out
the many lines that ultimately made me who I am today. Yet, during those
few years on reflecting my purpose for doing it -- I have realized I have
drifted off course.
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> I thought I was spending hours upon hours in various locations
like libraries, genealogy societies, and my vehicle documenting the history
of past lives for my children to teach them about the sacrifices those
before them had made. I have tried to put faces on names and sometimes names
on faces. I have vainly stumbled around attempting to learn about the
things that matter the most.
>
> I wanted to know things that I could not possible find like,
"what were their fears, passions, hates, dreams, and trials they engaged
through life". I wanted to be inside their minds trying to experience what
they did. I would sit in Bossard Library reading various family histories
and the same thing seemed missing. I wanted to know these people better than
this. After many months I came to the realization that my ancestors were
never one to express their feelings as most it seems of the time.
>
> I have come to the conclusion that we as current day
researches - living and breathing beings can remedy some of those vexing
questions that batter the conscience. We need to sit back and transcribe
our lives events for OUR descendants. We need to tell them how we felt. We
need to put pen to paper and explain our lives to them with our own words.
We need to be honest. Tell our followers about the most pivotal moments in
our lives - how it effected us - how it evolved our spirit - and how it was
left for them to draw what wisdom they can from it. Share with them when
darkness had hold of us so they might learn that through persistence they
too can survive a storm. Call it a short autobiographical or a confessional
or a journal if you will. I will call it a Testament In Life.
>
> Let our descendants learn from our mistakes. Let them look
within us as we are unable to look within those we seek to form kinship
with. Words are powerful tools from the mind. It may die off like all
things of flesh and bone, but those words can carry our spirits forth into
the future and leave an endless legacy for generations...
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Michael P Donnally
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> ==== OHGALLIA Mailing List ====
> First Families of Gallia County is an organization which honors and
> recognizes all ancestors in Gallia County by 31 Dec 1820. Contact
> Gallia Genealogical Society for more information.
> 412 Second Avenue
> Gallipolis, OH 45631
> 740-446-7200
>
>
>

This thread:

• Genealogy Community -- Letter to List -- Personal Opinion. by "Michael Donnally" <>

  • Re: [OHGALLIA-L] Genealogy Community -- Letter to List -- Personal Opinion. by "Henny Evans" <>

  • Re: [OHGALLIA-L] Genealogy Community -- Letter to List -- Personal Opinion. by