Reflections - What I've Learned So Far

 

The more I’ve researched and learned about my ancestors, the more I realize what a strong group of men and women I’m descended from!  I’ve wondered about the courage it took to immigrate to a new country, leaving family, job, and everything they knew behind.  I’ve been amazed at the artistically talented ones, like the stained glass workers, weavers, and shoemakers.  I’m totally in awe of the strength shown by women who supported their farmer or soldier husbands, raising families (sometimes by themselves after a young death) in hard times without ‘modern day conveniences.’  I’ve wondered what it was like for the men to volunteer for the Army to defend their country, and how scared they must have been about the battles to come.  I’ve worried about what it was like for those who dealt with physical illness without today’s medicines, or mental illness without today’s compassion and support.

My ancestors came from many walks of life – rich and poor, educated and not, small families and big, farmers and gentlemen and businessmen – but all were hard-working people who made their way in the world.  The best part of my relatively new interest in genealogy is finding out more about these amazing people.