I think that it is human nature to want to know where we came from, to want to hear about those who came before us. To know where in the world our ancestors settled, what ethnicities have mixed and molded us into the way we are. Going into the course I knew quite a bit about my mother’s mother’s side of the family stories, names, and traditions were passed down to me. However I had only ever heard vague stories for the other sides of my family and I wanted to know more. I wanted an answer to how I got here, and what genetics came to make me the way I am. I think I underestimated how much information ancestry and the internet really has. I was able to find out a lot and I answered the questions I wanted answered.
My Grandfather Charlie, My dad Charles, and My Uncle Jim
I found where in Hungary my dad's family came from, and I managed to even see records of my 2nd great grandfather growing up in Sweden. When I set out I was looking for a good story. I wanted to find that I came from interesting people from interesting places. Instead I found a new appreciation for the life I have now. Though out of my 4 grand parents 3 are the children of first generating Americans I didn’t realized that on my maternal grandfather's side of the family I have family that was in America during the civil war, and when I found this out I was scared to find that I had Family on the wrong side of history, but that wasn't the case.
Ella Madden the 2nd Great Granddaughter of Daniel Webster
My 7th Great Grandfather was named Daniel Webster. He is famous for a two day speech he gave on the Senate floor against slavery. He is named and quoted in the Gettysburg address and he was also a vocal critic of the Indian Relocation Act. On My maternal Grandmother's side I found records of their quintessential Jewish story facing hardship in Europe. My 2nd Great grandfather went ahead and set up a home in New York, and then my grandmother followed making the journey alone with only what she could carry and her 5 small children. They settled in a Jewish community in New York. My grandfather on my dad’s side was the first generation on that side of my family to be born with a birth certificate. His father and family used everything they had to be able to take a boat to America. They fought harder than I could have imagined for the life I have now. My grandparents wanted the American dream for their children so they faked documents saying their children were from Cleveland Ohio. They made sure they all spoke english.
Four Generations Together Left to right Great Grandma Madelaine, Grandma Carolyn, Great-Great-Great Grandma Zipre, and Great-Great Grandma Miriam
They wanted a better life for their children and their children so they traded in their culture to fit in. While I am sad that I didn't grow up with more of my culture, I understand and am grateful for their sacrifices, how hard they worked for my family to have the life we have today, and that story wasn’t unique. On every branch of my tree I found stories of people fighting for a better life for their children. So in the end I did find stories with interesting people, the interesting places, and interesting cultures, but that wasn't the big takeaway for me. In the end I found gratitude for all the people that struggled and fought for me to be here and have the life I enjoy.
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