James Stapleton Lewis himself was a genealogist. In the 1880s he compiled the names of many of his family members, as well as the families of his first wife Anna Jones and his second wife Mary Swenson. Apparently he had this recorded in some sort of a notebook or ledger book. What a find that would be if it still exists in someone's basement or attic!
JSL (as the family refers to him to save writing that long name) was born February 22, 1814 near Bellbrook, in Sugar Creek Township, Greene County, Ohio. I started this blog on the 197th anniversary of his birth. His parents Rachel Stapleton and Joel Lewis Sr. were American pioneers in every sense. They followed early pioneer trails from North Carolina through the Cumberland Gap to Kentucky and then to Ohio.
Though James eventually left the midwest and continued the pioneer's quest to Utah and Idaho, he remained in contact with family members still in Indiana and Ohio. One of the goals of the JSL Families Project is to bring far-flung family members together again - through technology if not in person. Maybe we'll figure out a way to have a family reunion with virtual elements to celebrate his 200th birthday in three years!
If you'd like to read a well-written biography of the life of James Stapleton Lewis, check out the one written by Janis Durfee (a Lewis cousin I met because of our common interest in JSL). It's on Janis' website genealogybyjan.com
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Grandma's Genealogy
I have three vivid images in my mind of my Grandma. In the summer Grandma was often found among her petunias, zinnias, lilies, and peonies. In cold weather she liked to stand in front of the heat vent in her kitchen or living room. But the third picture is my favorite. I can still see Grandma with pedigree charts and family group sheets and letters spread out on her table. That was the best time to catch Grandma because it meant stories from the lives of those whose names were on the charts. It also meant an explanation of the results of the latest response she had received in her genealogy research.
I heard about "Grandfather James Stapleton" among many others. Grandma was six when he died. I heard about Grandma's frustrations in trying to locate more information about John Jones (James Stapleton Lewis' father-in-law). She had his will but still had many brick walls on the Jones lines. Grandma and I shared a joke that when she passed on to the other side, she would look up John Jones and get messages to me about where to find the needed information.
So, it isn't surprising that I grew up to be a genealogist. My grandmother spent her time carefully filling in blank forms listing births and deaths and marriages. She wrote letters and awaited responses. She located probable places for wills or marriage certificates, sent her money, and hoped for positive results.
When I took my first genealogy class in 1967, I did much the same thing. By this time, though, microfilmed records were available. Today I'm a jammie genealogist who loves being able to look for records online in my pajamas at 2 a.m. and plug that information into my computer software. My grandmother would marvel at how much "doing genealogy" has changed - and how much it has stayed the same.
Forty years later, I'm still trying to verify information about John Jones. Stories of James Stapleton Lewis still hold my attention. I'm planning to share my love of these men and my quest to know more about them with you. I hope it is your quest as well.
I heard about "Grandfather James Stapleton" among many others. Grandma was six when he died. I heard about Grandma's frustrations in trying to locate more information about John Jones (James Stapleton Lewis' father-in-law). She had his will but still had many brick walls on the Jones lines. Grandma and I shared a joke that when she passed on to the other side, she would look up John Jones and get messages to me about where to find the needed information.
So, it isn't surprising that I grew up to be a genealogist. My grandmother spent her time carefully filling in blank forms listing births and deaths and marriages. She wrote letters and awaited responses. She located probable places for wills or marriage certificates, sent her money, and hoped for positive results.
When I took my first genealogy class in 1967, I did much the same thing. By this time, though, microfilmed records were available. Today I'm a jammie genealogist who loves being able to look for records online in my pajamas at 2 a.m. and plug that information into my computer software. My grandmother would marvel at how much "doing genealogy" has changed - and how much it has stayed the same.
Forty years later, I'm still trying to verify information about John Jones. Stories of James Stapleton Lewis still hold my attention. I'm planning to share my love of these men and my quest to know more about them with you. I hope it is your quest as well.
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