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Archiver > WRIGHT > 1997-11 > 0878971458


From: Carol Schwaderer Dickinson <>
Subject: Re success story
Date: Fri, 07 Nov 1997 22:44:18 -0800


> A Babb cousin once told me, "When you think you
> have hit every dead-end in the world, there IS
> someone out there who has that one piece of information you need...in an
> attic, in an old trunk, in
> a dusty torn book...just keep following those
> footprints!

Once many many years ago, I subscribed to a small county newletter from
the local genaalgy group because many lines in my family had lived in
that area.

Within a few months, I had found my cousin Jeanne who never knew what
happend to her gggrandmother. I had a newspaper clipping of an interview
with my ggggrandmother telling about how they all had moved to Michigan,
including Jeannes ancestor. A 54 year old woman who had literally
married the boy next door. He wa 18! Yes EIGHTEEN.

And I found another cousin and was able to give him a copy of a letter
his ancestor wrote to my ancestor (they were brothers) during the civil
war. The letter had been found inside the wall of the family farm almost
a hundred years after it had been written. It too had clues. But even
if it hadnt it was precious, describing a battle the soldier had fought
in that day. A small skirmish not even recorded in civil war history.

And still later I corresonded with a cousin about another branch of my
family. He sent me photos of graves he had taken years before. No big
deal at first. But one day sitting in bright sunlight I looked at them
again and the gravestones in front of them which looked totally black
actually showed writing and IT WAS ANOTHER FAMILY I WAS LOOKING FOR.

One day in Anchorage Alaska I was waiting on a customer in the store.
I noticed her last name as asked if she knew if her family came from
Ohio or Massachusetts. She admitted to Andover Ohio. I shook her hand
and said, Hi! I'm probably your 5th cousin. When we looked it up, sure
enough 5th cousins. She worked at the store next door. And we found out
we were 5th cousins when she wrote to the guy who sent me the photos who
told her of her own ancestry

You really do never knew when you'll find the clue or where it will be.

Carol Dickinson

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