mtaggart
As they pulled away, the little hands waved wildly out the car windows while their sweet voices called out “Goodbye Nana, goodbye Papa!”
I felt the familiar lump rise in my throat. Their visit was officially over and they were on their way to their home hundreds of miles away. The much anticipated visit was over and all that was left were the memories, sticky fingerprints and the many pieces of art work decorating the front of my fridge. Family. There’s nothing better than time with those you love.
As I began the task of restoring order to my house, my tendency to relate everything to genealogy surfaced. I began to think of my ancestors and contemplate their relationships with their children and grandchildren.
I thought of the ever important FAN club as taught by Elizabeth Shown Mills and the the vital role Families, Associates and Neighbors played in each others’ lives. Beside the natural tendency for people to want to live in close proximity to each other, family was a source of safety and protection in addition to a source of help and support in every aspect of life. Aunts, uncles and grandparents played a significant role in their grandchildren’s lives. On my childhood visits to Colorado I learned all too quickly that aunts, uncles and grandparents all helped in correcting and instructing the children and that reports of public misbehavior made its way back to mom very quickly in those small familial communities. Families worked together in raising their children.
Although, in many instances, I can see evidence of this tendency to live near each other in my ancestor’s migrations, I confess, there are those times when I scratch my head and wonder if some were just gypsies and moved willy nilly. But then I am reminded that even gypsies traveled together in a caravan. Sometimes no obvious clues are present but I know that likely within that “missing information” lies clues to yet unknown extended family.
One such situation is the move of my 2nd great grandparents John and Olivia (Rainwater) Ganus to Arkansas. The only evidence of that move which occurred between the 1860 and 1870 census is the indication on both later census records and church records that John and Olivia’s son Newton was born in Pine Bluff Arkansas in 1867. The family lived in Alabama in 1860 near Olivia’s sister’s family, the Baileys, and by 1870 they had returned to Georgia, and were again living near family. So why the move in 1867 and did they go with family and if so, who and why?
Times have certainly changed and so have the roles that families fill. Families no longer rely on each other for physical protection. Women go to the hospital to have babies and fewer people live on family farms. More and more people are turning to the convenience of HOAs, condos and apartment living. If people want the answer to a question, no need to ask parents or grandparents, Google knows it all, and Youtube has a video demonstrating it. As much as I enjoy modern conveniences, when the house is quiet and void of the voices of my children and grandchildren, I often wish we could go back to the days when grandparents and parents made a community.
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| William Cohen Brock and Martha (Ganus) with their family Martha was the sister of my 2nd great grandfather John Monroe Ganus Copyright © Michelle G. Taggart 2015, All rights reserved |
Ever since I got thoroughly involved in genealogy, I've defined and redefined family a gazillion times. I've never lived in a multi-generational home where children were raised by grandparents like so many of my forebears. However, I grew up next door to my grandparents, and I was in and out of their home all the time like it was my own. Sometimes I long to sell this house and move to the rural area where our lake house is, where the only traffic tie-up is caused by a tractor. But family is HERE, so I can't imagine even being 4 hours away for any length of time.
Wendy your growing up sounds like heaven to me. I would have loved to have grown up next to grandparents and would love to have grandkids next door now. I was able to visit my grandparents for weeks and sometimes spent the entire summer there though. They, along with my aunts, uncles and cousins all lived in the same small community that was filled with relatives and it was seriously heaven to me.
I too would love to move out more rural, but opt to live closer to family. I guess it is too much to hope that if we moved rural they would follow?
I love how they included other family members in the photo by placing the other picture in front. That made me smile!
My heart aches to live in a community with grandparents and family. Great article! Miss you!
Wonderful post Michelle! I didn't grow up living near grandparents, although we visited with my maternal grandparents regularly. They lived in the same state as us, so it was easier to visit with them. We didn't visit my paternal grandparents as often though. They lived out-of-state.
Thankfully today, with family scattered everywhere, technology allows us to stay in touch and even visit each other virtually via services like Skype.
I often think of that Jana. Can you imagine what our grandparents would think of Skype or Facetime? We live in such a different world and thankfully it does help us keep in touch in a way the previous generations would never have imagined.
I am not sure why this shows as "unknown"….but I do know who you are and I sure miss you as well! (PS—Kids should live by their parents :^)
I just wanted to thank you for all the stories and information that you povide. I got to see pictures of my Great Great Grandparents William Cohen Brock. I would love to k ow if you have any information on their son Lloyd Jefferson Brock.
Hello Michelle my name is Michael Shaun Brock and I am the Great Grand Son of Dr Lloyd Jefferson Brock. I would like to thank you for this blog, it has been a world of help to me. I didn't k ow anything about my family past Llyod Brock. My father told me that he was a dentist and helped found Tanner Hospital in carrollto GA. His picture used to be displayed at the hospital. I was wondering if you have ever researched him if so I would love to read about his life. Thank you for all the wonderful stories and hope to hear back.
Shaun, I would love the opportunity to exchange information with you. You can contact me by clicking on the postcard to the right above that says, "Email me," or contact me at shelltag1 at gmail dot com.