MuddyPuddles

Book Writing Progress report:  I feel like I’m gaining ground but I might be getting further behind???  As you know, I have been doing a lot of research on my family, trying to get the facts straight, contacting relatives and asking them to contact others, pumping them for information, researching on the internet, researching census data, marriage and death records, etc. etc.  New information is coming in daily.  I’ve rewritten a few chapters several times as I get new information that modifies and/or expands the old information. 

Often times new information raises additional questions.  If he was born in 1902, how come he is listed in the 1900 census?  If the family moved from Missouri to Belton Texas to Lubbock Texas, how is it that my dad and at least one of his older brothers was born near Winters Texas, which is a long way from those other places?  It’s kind of like solving mysteries and putting puzzle pieces together.  You may dig and dig and then all of a sudden a piece fits and it brings satisfaction.    

I have also found that the more I dig, the more I figure out new ways to dig.  For example, quite by accident I figured out that I can often solve puzzles about my family by researching the maiden names of some of my great grandmothers (when researching the names of my great grandfathers didn’t yield much).  I find that someone has researched that family name and has left new information (new to me) about some of my ancestors because of our family lines crossing (or joining).  I’ve also become more acutely aware of the fact that my bloodline is really a combination of hundreds of bloodlines.  I had never really thought about how I’m related to the Hodges and the Uptons and the Wells.  I’m also related to the Sanders, Crims, Emmerts, Wrights, Smiths, Hannahs, Boyds, Lairds, Livingstons, Stewarts, Kelborns and even to Bertha De Blois.  In fact, you’ll be happy to know that I’m even related to you!!!  How ya doin’ cuz?

It’s been a great blessing to dig back into my past.  It’s probably going to be hard to know exactly when to cut it off and say, “that’s enough”.  I know that when my book comes out that more information will come pouring in---possibly because of the book.  So, I guess I’ll have to have a revised and extended version a little further down the line.  In the mean time, does anybody know the exact cause of death for my great uncle Laxative Bromo Quinine Crim?  I think he had a herniated disc that went awry---or was that Aunt Bertha?  No, she got cooked in the squat!  Later!  Dennis

Does the name “Bertha De Blois” ring a bell with any of you.  I’ve been doing some genealogical research on my family and according to what I’ve been able to come up with, Bertha is my great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great (25 times) grandmother on my mother’s side.  I’d call that pretty great.  She was born in 990 a.d. in Blois, Loir-et-Cher, Orleanis Centre, France .  (Still doesn’t ring a bell?).  Until I double checked, I was thinking that she was born in 909 a.d. and I was planning on having a 1100^th birthday celebration next year.  I had already assigned my Father-in-law the task of getting the candles together.  Now, I guess we’ll have to wait another 82 years before we can do that.  Remind me in 81 years so I can get the party planned.  In the mean time, if you see any De Bloises running around, give them the good news that I might be one of them great cousins they’ve been wishing they had.  As you probably know, we are a close knit bunch.  Thanks, Dennis