GHOST PHOTOS

I am sure we all have those old family photos passed down from generation to generation.

Photos of our ancestors, that we have no clue about. No dates, names, or locations.

I have about one hundred pictures that belonged to my father.

About 30 years ago my father and I went though them, he knew the names of most of them. 

Some on his fathers side, others on his mothers.

He did go though and labeled those that he knew, but as with family pictures of old some he did not know.

The picture above was taken in the early 1900's. If I was to guess, it would be around 1925 or earlier. Since he did not have that many male relatives it helped to narrow it down.

Pictures like this and others I call "Ghost Photos".

It is a shame that the identity of these photos are lost in time.

I can be safe in guessing that these pictures were taken in Columbus Ohio since that is where my fathers family came from.

It would be nice if in the world of genealogy if there were a data base that we could place these Ghost Photos so others may search within dates and places. 

For now I will just have to keep moving on, trying to piece  these photos together by what information that my father told me, and with what I know from researching my family tree.

Maybe one day a distant cousin will happen to see this post, and recognize  one of these Ghost Photos as one that they have stored away.

Until then I will just enjoy these Ghost Photos and wonder what part of history they played in my life.

Without a Past

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. —George
Santayana

I was watching a video called  Pension Digitization Project at the National Archives. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWV9ObQUDRc

  It is amazing how much History is still being found on the U.S. Civil War.

 I guess we all have are favorite periods of history.

As a small 10 year old I could not get enough of anything that dealt with Abraham Lincoln. Growing older my eyes were opened up to WWII. Staying up late on weekends watching old WWII movies with my dad, him explaining  about the different weapons, and the generals who commanded the troops. As a teen, I experience the making of history by living the Vietnam War though the eyes of Walter Cronkite. 

Today you can ask a youth about the attack on Pearl Harbor and most will not know, but ask about 9/11 and they will know. History changes for each generation. It is sad that our schools pick out bits of history to teach our children.

Not to long ago while researching my family history, I found a whole generation of my family who led Militia's during the Revolutionary War. Others that help in founding one of the Original Colonies of America. One of my distant grandfather was the author that drafted the revolt that started the Boston Tea Party in which Thomas Jefferson used parts of in the Declaration of Independence.

It is things like this that brings History alive to me!

We are all a part of History. Each day history is being made.

Don't let History past you and your children by.

Search out your families, help history come alive in your eyes, and the eyes of your children.

Tobe Batson was my Great grandfather. I had always knew that he was murdered in 1935, but never knew who did it.  One simple post on a genealogy forum and within one hour I was mailed this clipping.
I have noticed that in the world of Genealogy all a person has to do is ask! Now days with programs such as "Who Do You Think You Are" and "Finding Your Roots", Genealogy is a growing hobby. Or as in my case a passion! My Great grandmother (Tobe's wife) would always tell me stories of when she was growing up. When I was about 9 years old she told me that when she was a little girl, she saw a man get hanged. She said it was the worst thing she ever saw. Just listening to her tell it made me feel sick.
I have been doing my family research for about 30 years now.
Every week I find something new.
Now that I was sent this clipping, and told where she got it (GenealogyBank.com) I wasted no time in starting my own search!
I found a clipping that told of the trial of William Scarbro.
Tobe Batson's sons had a few headlines also.  "Delirious Cleburne Man bought here......" , another "Boy Gets Hand Blown up with Stick of Dynamite"  
I found several other articles. I think a book could be wrote about the Batsons in the early 1930's, that would make Bonnie and Clyde look tamed! 
 Maybe you don't know of anyone in your family who has made headlines, but you will never know till you start searching! 
Join some Genealogy forums, ask questions I am sure you will get a lot of help!