Family Tree

Recently, several of our cousins - at midlife - began asking questions about family members and ancestors to form a family tree. In olden times there was a family bible that was passed on through generations. Today, with mobility, auto and air travel, many families have become separated. Some people still visit Ellis Island in New York harbor perusing ships' manifests, an entry port where sometimes the immigration inspector shortened the European surnames. Other folks scout out the cemeteries checking the tombstones. My own parents were born in 1890. My maternal grandmother arrived in this country from Ireland circa 1880. The practice over there was the oldest son inherited the farm and the rest of the siblings scattered. So it was that Alice and Ellen Sullivan took the boat to America becoming upstairs/downstairs maids - and the two sisters married two Mallon brothers  - a rarity today. My paternal grandfather was in the energy business - ice and coal - around the turn of the century i.e. 1900. He had a horse and wagon and might be considered an entrepreneur of that era. Folklore has it that if the driver stopped for a few beers, old John Horse knew the way home. Sort of an "equine GPS". So, save your old photos, slides and home movies as someone in your family will come along some day asking questions. America - the great melting pot.!
tjs
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