Our lives are collections - collections of memories, photos, conversations, keepsakes and experiences.......... the good and the bad.
One of the saddest parts of doing genealogy is the sadness that so many people are not well remembered or not well recorded. This could happen for many reasons, and it is the driving force behind my obsession to document my family's existance in this world.
I have such a desire to write the story for my daughters so that they will understand, that they will know, that they will feel, where they are from. It is so important to me, and one day it may be important to them.
One of the saddest parts of doing genealogy is the sadness that so many people are not well remembered or not well recorded. This could happen for many reasons, and it is the driving force behind my obsession to document my family's existance in this world.
In many families, maybe the collections (i.e. the memories) have been handed to someone in the family. When a parent passes, it is usually one child who gets the collections. I'm sure it's the story of most families. Sometimes, that collection keeper holds onto the collection, not sharing the information. Jealousy, greed, bad feelings............the reasons are as numerous as the stories locked away in the collection. I think about my own grandparents, maternal and paternal. I knew them. Some of their stories I was present for. I at least know where to look for additional information.
I have been working on my daughters' line, and so many of their ancestors are poorly recorded. I only have small amounts of information to conduct research; sadly, I do not have connections with my ex in-laws. Cornelia Hughley is the ancestor that began my reverie. She married Squire Nathan Childre. Although born in Alabama, her final resting place is Hurst Ranch Cemetery in Hamilton County, Texas.
I have such a desire to write the story for my daughters so that they will understand, that they will know, that they will feel, where they are from. It is so important to me, and one day it may be important to them.
Today, I am driving back through the almost deserted roadway between Austin and Brownwood. I will go through the same areas that the ancestors of my daughters and even some of my own ancestors traveled
before they migrated to Mills, Brown and Coleman counties.
before they migrated to Mills, Brown and Coleman counties.
I want to know what prompted people to come to Williamson County from Arkansas, South Carolina or Missouri. How did they end up in Williamson or Travis counties? How did they end up here? Even more amazing to me is how and why these people migrated into a hostile western area.
The terrain is not that great to farm, and surface water is scarce. It is almost a desert region with lots of hot temperatures and little rain. In constrast, Williamson County is lush, green and full of underground springs. What prompted people to leave such an area and move into the Northwest area full of hostile Comanche Indians? I'm sure the fact that farming in some areas was possible, or that maybe the crazy land grants offered inticed many.
This thirst is something I cannot appreciate in 2014. Or actually, maybe I can.
Because what drives any of us what drives a person to get an education or to improve their lot in life?
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