Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The Eternal Family Ties That Bind


22 years ago began a journey for me that has pretty much become an addiction. A good addiction, but an addiction none-the-less. My dad started being the genealogist in the family, it interested him from the start when we joined the LDS church in 1976. We would attend family reunions back in Harper, Kansas for the Burkes, Newberry's and Howells. My Great Grandma Eda Susan Newberry gave my dad a lot of stuff. My dad has always remained interested in our genealogy but gave over the research duties to me in 1991 when he sent me a small box of long pedigree charts and family group sheets in a Book of Remembrance. Kind of like the picture here, only the paper ones, and not as nice. Pink pedigree charts and yellow family group sheets. :)


So in my curiosity I decided to just look around once along with Joe, Amanda (age 3) and Zachary, who at that time was only a few months old, pushing them both in the double stroller we had around the BYU genealogy library. Well just one time turned into many years of research adventures. I never knew then I would be stepping into a future of thousands of names found, about 6 large file boxes and several notebooks full of information! Research has been so fun for me and a bit of a challenge too. I loved going about once a week to BYU, usually Zachary was with me, but not always, Joe would watch the kids and I'd go on my own, especially as they got older. Even two additional kids later, sometimes I'd be toting a baby in a stroller on my research adventures, sometimes not.


BYU Library
As someone who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we believe that this great work of searching our ancestors is important to do their precious saving ordinances for them in the LDS temples of the world.
The research we do leads us to be sealed or bound to our families. The ties that bind us for Eternity.

Matthew 16: 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.


LDS Family History Library Salt Lake City, UT
I also love going to the Salt Lake City Family History Library. I'm like a kid in a candy store. So many books and films, so little time. I remember once (yes, this is true, I don't kid) I asked if I could pitch a tent inside the library. Half joking and knowing they wouldn't, but seriously would have found a Walmart in SLC and bought a tent if they let me.....or an air mattress and sleeping bag at the very least. But, no dice.

I've enjoyed finding pictures and stories most of all. It's been so much fun discovering tidbits of information on my ancestors. My ancestor George Guest Russell fought for both the North and the South in the Civil War. I have many ancestors on both my mom and dad's side who fought for the Revolutionary War, Civil War, War of 1812, Spanish-American War, etc. I've discovered pensions and DAR records and many other things. My ancestors were from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, Switzerland and Canada.
I'm also glad I got my sister-in-law Kathleen interested in genealogy. She has found a lot of things and as far as the more recent technology of the LDS church on familysearch.org, she knows her way around it better than I do, so we help each other!
I love genealogy and I love my eternal family.

Templeton Family Bible



3rd great grandparents John Arnold Burke and Matilda McIntosh & family.
 




Third great grandparents Norman Allen Newberry and Sarah Thomas.


 
 
Janel Newberry born 14 Jan 1965 in San Diego, CA daughter of Danny Allen Newberry and Judith Lynn Meyer.
Grandparents:
Norman Allen Newberry and Barbara Mae Howell
Edward Charles Meyer and Virginia Elizabeth Owens

Great Grandparents:
Fred Herbert Newberry and Eda Susan Templeton
Theodore Ernest Howell and Lida Luella Burke
Charles Frederick Meyer and Minnie Alma Lexow
William Harrison Owens and Lorene Gertrude Russell

2nd great Grandparents:
Norman Allen Newberry and Sarah Thomas
Henry Lafayette Templeton and Ellen Meathers
George Washington Howell and Margaret Eliza Hickey
Charles Arnold  Burke and Priscilla Beatrice "Twix" Wohlford
John Meyer Jr. and Katherine Ohlweiler
Johan Christensen Fredriksen Lexow and Sophia Maria Dorthea Maier/Meyer
James Madison Owens and Jessie Taylor McCutchen
Elijah Lafayette Russell and Irene Eliza Ann Beavers



Meyer Family Bible


Grandma and Grandpa Edward Charles Meyer and Virginia Elizabeth Owens






3rd Great Grandparents:
 
Benjamin C. Newberry and Adeline Hurley
George Downing Thomas and Mary Batson
William George B. Templeton and Nancy Glover
Henry Meathers and Sarah Ann Griffith
Wamun Mansfield Howell and Margaret Jones
Sandy A. Hickey and Rhoda Tilley
John Arnold Burke and Matilda McIntosh
William C. Wohlford and Matilda N. Keck
John Georg Myer and Barbara Elizabeth
Jacob Johann Ohlweiler and Maria Elisabetha Imig
Charles Lexow and Carolina Holtz
Ernst Maier/Meyer and Caroline Warber
William Randolph Riley Owens and Nancy Narcissus Wilson
Charles Harrison McCutchen and Nancy Elizabeth Taylor
George Guest Russell and Sarah Jane McDonald
Albert K. Beavers and Sarah L. Harris

4th great grandparents:

John Newberry and Hannah Clayton
Dennis Hurley and Mary Connell
Abraham Thomas and Arlinda Gardiner
Stephen Batson and Aletha McDorman
George Hiram Templeton and Margaret Peggy Turpin
Jesse Glover
John Henry Meathers and Ellen
John Griffith and Eliza
Lewis Howell and Jerusha Duncan
Ammond Davis Jones and Elizabeth Tatum Grimes
Elijah Hickey and Sarah Saylors
Henderson Tilley and Mary Cardwell
William Herbert Burke and Barbara Comstock
James Mackintosh and Cecelia Mather
George Wohlford and Priscilla Stahl
Godfrey Kick III and Mary Ann Wolf
Johann Adam Ohlweiler and Maria Margaretha Weber
Johann Jacob Imig and Elizabeth Rausch
Christian Lexow and Caroline Tenajahn
John Holtz
Joseph Owens and Epsie Caroline Gunter
William Tanner Wilson and Rachel
William Walker McCutchen and Margaret Frances Elizabeth Harrison
Leander Jasper Taylor and Mary Ann Pollock
Elijah Russell and Sally Guest
Eli McDonald and Sarah Crouch
Reuben Beavers and Mary Headen

Mount Timpanogos LDS Temple