mtaggartThere is definitely wisdom in revisiting the documents and notes that we have in our files and I know that, but I find myself often procrastinating that task for another day. The hunt for new clues in new resources is exciting and with it I feel renewed hope that this time I will find something that will ultimately break down that solid brick wall of mine. But the reality is, each time I reread the material in my files, I am doing it from a slightly different perspective, having grown in my knowledge and understanding about my ancestors and their families and so, in a way, the material is new or at least seen in a new way.
Recently I pulled out the Journal of John Edward Metcalf who served a mission for the LDS church to Georgia in the 1880’s. One of my cousins, Darlene, located this journal online early in our research as we initially scoured the internet to see what we could find about John Monroe Ganus and his life. John M. Ganus and several members of his immediate family are mentioned numerous times in John Metcalf’s account. It has been years since I read through this journal and I realized that I have forgotten many of the details. John Metcalf’s descendants have graciously shared a transcribed typed copy of his journal online which can be found here: http://www.metcalfwaslin.org/album/history/jejr_jnl.htm
This journal does not contain as much day to day information about individuals’ lives, as does the John Joseph Pledger Murphy journal that I have mentioned in earlier posts, but it does provide some information that cannot be found anywhere else. The following is an entry from this journal:
April 1882
Thursday 13th-Called up to go to Sis Mary Gamus and Administered to her baby who was very sick the Lord releaved it from pain We also Blessed & Named it at the same time But it gradually got worse til death which occured at 5 PM. We also Blessed another of thier chidren stayed all night at Bro John Ganus.
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| William Franklin Ganus |
The question is, just which Mary Ganus was he referring to? Initially I was unsure, but over time, I have learned more about the two Mary Ganuses that are candidates and their children. Although I continue to look for additional information to back up my assumption, I feel fairly confident.
William Franklin Ganus married Mary Matilda Roberts about 1879 in Haralson County and they had a daughter in 1880 named Martha Olivia and a daughter born in 1881 named Mary E. By the time Frank moved to Colorado in 1886, his wife, Mary Matilda, had died and although he had their daughter, Martha Olivia, with him, there is no further mention of daughter Mary E. Could the baby have been Frank Ganus and Mary Matilda Robert’s daughter, Mary E.?
John Thackason Ganus also married a Mary. John T. and Mary M. Chisenhall married about 1878. Church records indicate that they had a child named Walter Scott who was born 24 March 1882 and this child was not with them when they arrived in Colorado either. Could the baby that died been Walter, son of John T. and Mary M Chisenhall ?
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| John Thackason Ganus |
While both Marys are possibilities as they both lost young children that were born in the same time period and appear to have died in approximately the same time period, I believe that it is more likely that the Mary mentioned in the journal was Mary M. Chisenhall. I have found that Mary Matilda most often was known as “Tilda” and in the 1880 census, she is recorded as Matilda. John Metcalf then mentioned in the journal that he stayed the night with John Ganus, and it seems more likely that he stayed with the younger John, husband to Mary M Chisenhall. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a grave for either of these Ganus babies. This journal records the only reference found to this date of this baby’s death.
Whenever I look at pictures of John Thackason Ganus, I think of all that he and Mary endured. I’ve heard that he had 12 children, and so far I have found records for 11. Of the 11 that I am aware of, six died as children. John and Mary buried children in Georgia, Colorado and Oklahoma. While conditions for childbirth and after care for mothers and babies are not ideal throughout the world today, they certainly have improved and I wonder if their children would have survived with today’s knowledge and care?
William Franklin Ganus had his share of troubles as well. He and his first wife, Mary Matilda, lost one of their two children. Then, following Tilda’s death, Frank married Sarah E. Faucett and they lost 3 of their 6 children. Frank buried children in Georgia and Colorado.
I am amazed at the challenges that people faced back “in those days.” It was difficult just to survive. But I guess the reality is, people continue to face hard things today, although the details of those challenges have changed. I remember hearing a man say once that our life is full of challenges and that every day we face a series of problems. Our life story is made up of the details of how we face and solve those problems. Being able to see and understand our ancestor’s problems is essential in writing their story.
As I recently reread the Metcalf Journal for the first time in several years, I was reminded of the importance of continually revisiting what I know, or at least what I think that I know. Because I’ve continued to research my Ganus family over the years and have learned more about them and their families, when I reread the things that I have filed away, I seem to see more and understand more, which in turn helps me in my search for more. I have known that for some time really, but it’s always good to be reminded.
You have a solid point about revisiting those documents we've gathered over years of research. Every fact discovered leads to new understandings.
I have sometimes been amazed at myself, in looking back over some of these documents that seem to fairly scream out their details, that I was so blind to those details the last time I had taken a look.
I have revisited documents only to discover what should have been obvious to begon with, but only with a more complete knowledge of the family could I understand it.
This post is a great reminder — something many of us know intellectually, yet still often fail to do.
"John and Mary buried children in Georgia, Colorado and Oklahoma." – YIKES! I'm sure that was a rough row to hoe.
It's so true. A friend of mine use to always say that it was the hunt that she liked and I think it is easy to fall into that trap.
I've done that a lot with names on my ancestors documents. Recently as I looked through a census record for my ancestor it hit me just who a particular individual was that was living with my ancestor's family. I know enough now to realize who they are and why they were living with them.
So true. It doesn't seem quite as fun at the time, but it matters. I think the longer I research and the larger my files become, the more I resist, but having more experience, I should know better. It always pays off.