52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2025 Week 1: "In the beginning"

I have again decided to post as many of these themes as I can. Who knows what I will accomplish; 1, 3, 5, 11,22,33,or maybe 52. This is a program that I've started many times and usually only get 3 or 4 written and posted. As I have said in the past, I believe that however many stories I tell is better than none. If this idea intrigues you, check out Amy Johnson Crow's website at: 52 Ancestors www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-new" target="_blank">"52 Ancestors

This week's topic is "In the beginning". The instructions for this challenge are "interpret the phrase however you want - you can't be wrong." My interpretation is the beginning of my interest in genealogy

At the age of 81, the specific beginning memories are a little blurry. I know My mother told me some stories of her childhood over the years, and then when I was attending Point Loma High School her mother came out to stay with us for a few weeks or months. I believe it was winter and she came because she needed to get away from the bad weather in Ohio. I know that she had injuries over the years from slipping and falling on icy steps. She may also have needed a break from her husband. I wasn't privy to that information, but I had an impression that he was rather difficult to live with. I remember from my first visit that his daughter's hair was half her height long because he wouldn't let her cut it.

I believe that during her visit, my grandmother told me family stories. She had two sisters living in the San Diego area and these Grand Aunts would pass on information to me. My Aunt Elsie had a collection of scrapbooks that had an enormous amount of information about family and friends from McCreary and Whitley Counties in Kentucky and probably Scott County in Tennessee. My Aunt Vee (Vera) had her parents Family Bible with names and dates.

One of the first things I remember learning were the names of three of my Great Grandfathers names: George Washington Strunk, Abraham Lincoln Weddle, and Thomas Jefferson Jeffers. I was fascinated that all three were named after famous Presidents. I have a vague recollection of doing a family tree for a class, but it might not be accurate.

After we were married in June, 1964, we took a trip of a 3 day honeymoon in Big Bear, then on to Santa Rosa for Cecil to meet his boss in person Mr. Mitchell of Roy F Mitchell and Associates, Public Accountants, along with the other partners and staff, and find a place to live. On the drive home our 52 Chevy had problems. Luckily we were near Glendale where my paternal Uncle Carter and Aunt Mary lived. They took us to dinner, found a motel for us, and we got the car fixed. The rest of that story is for another time.

A year or so later we stopped by my paternal Uncle GB's home near the LA airport. He had his parents Family Bible. I know I copied all the information listed in the Bible. Later I typed it all up, and now I can't find that handwritten list. I believe all my information is correct, per the Bible, but I wish I could verify it with that list. His wife at that time died, and he remarried and as far as I know his third wife probably threw the Bible away.

Well, time to wrap this