Researching Family History One Record at a Time
Reflections on this research as it unfolds — discoveries, dead ends, and the occasional reckoning with what the records actually say. Entries are listed newest first.
7 July 2026
Who was this mystery woman? Who was the elderly, invalid relative her family forced her to marry? Where was Annie for all those years after her divorce? Why is Annie the only relative in the cemetery who does not have a headstone?
4 July 2026
After my interest in family history was sparked by a fantastical tale my paternal grandfather told my children about his mother, Minnie Staggs, I began dabbling in family history. Minnie’s story was first on my list of family legends to explore.
4 July 2026
Soon after the wild trip to deliver my grandfather to my aunt, I had a haunting dream that set the stage for my obsession with genealogy and researching my family history.
3 July 2026
I initially resisted researching my grandfather's side of the family, considering what a repulsive man he was. But I couldn't stop thinking about the intrigue surrounding his mother. What a dilemma! How badly did I want to know?
1 July 2026
I never gave much thought to actually researching and discovering more about our family characters until I took a memorable ride to Phoenix with my paternal grandfather, a world-class scoundrel.