Do you have any interesting family stories to share? [I Am Intersted In My Family Tree]

The first sawmill in my county was owned by my great-great grandfather. He brought it here on a barge along the Tennessee River.

I've looked into some more of my ancestry, and I discovered that my family at one time was pretty wealthy. They were also slaveowners. That was surprising, but I should've known that was likely the case. My goal is to find more photos from that time.

One more story...

My great grandmother (possibly one more "great") once housed and fed Jessie James close to where I currently live. She didn't know who he was at the time, but she described him as a very kind and respectful man. He was passing through with a couple of other individuals on horseback. They left late in the night, but he left her a letter, thanking her for the hospitality.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

thepreposterouspanda · 36-40, M

My however-many-greats grandfather was a minister/farmer in Georgia during the civil war. General Sherman actually came through and burned his farm down, but let them live because killing a minister was considered bad luck. :)

I have a copy of the letter describing it all somewhere. 🤔

Remastered

@thepreposterouspanda It's a good thing he was a minister.

thepreposterouspanda · 36-40, M

@Remastered It's a fact I'm quite grateful for, to be sure. 😂 He came over from Scotland with two of his brothers, one of which was in New York and the other in Canada.

We have a letter between the brothers expressing concern for Simon (my ancestor) with all the craziness that was happening down here, and then a letter from Simon to them explaining the long silence haha.

Remastered

@thepreposterouspanda I hope I can find some letters and photos.

thepreposterouspanda · 36-40, M

@Remastered There are sides of my family that I wish I knew more about. Specifically, the paternal side of both my mother and father.

My great-grandfather on dad's side was killed by a drunk driver when my grandfather was six, so I don't know anything beyond that.

On mom's side, I know they were from Hungary, but that's about it there too. :)