My interest in genealogy started at an early age. The catalyst appears to be my extended family. I was the oldest of six and my dad was the oldest of nine. I had lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins all of whom had stories. My mom use to take me with her when she went to visit her grandmother (my great grandmother) Theresa. The stories of these families intrigued me as they highlighted the very different paths and perceptions we take through our lives. It also highlighted the decisions we make when inevitably we face adversity. Some falter. Some thrive. And some worry about it but ultimately shake it off. I would be in the last group.
Walking, I am listening to a deeper way. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.
Linda Hogan, Native American writer
In the early 1990s with the advent of a nascent world wide web, I started spending time researching my family. This led to the discovery of tens of thousands of relatives going back to the late 18th century. More importantly, it led to the discovery of stories, songs, and pictures from that time. I started a collaboration with Laura Waddell and in 1996, We co-authored The Waddell Family History, a 450 page book of detailing the Waddell family.
I am currently in the process of digitizing this book and will post a pdf version of the book here in the near future. This is another hobby that I am likely to pursue in retirement.