Introduction
Have you ever wondered where you come from? What stories lie buried in the past, waiting to be uncovered? For many, genealogy is more than a hobby—it’s a journey of self-discovery, a connection to the past that shapes the way we see ourselves today.
For Becky Stites, researching her ancestors has been a lifelong passion, sparked by her mother’s dedication to tracing their family history. Through courthouse visits, handwritten letters, and, later, digital records, she has uncovered stories of perseverance, hardship, and faith. In this personal account, Becky shares the joys and challenges of researching her ancestry and offers insights for anyone looking to start their own journey.
The Joy of Researching My Ancestors
A Mother’s Legacy
I owe my love of ancestry to my Mother. She was the one who started the whole project. At the time she did her research, online sites were not as prevalent. Her discoveries were all good old-fashioned “leg-work.” She traveled from courthouse to courthouse, tracing our family through original records. Mother phoned, wrote letters, and interviewed relatives, picking their brains for whatever memories they had. She even took a small recorder and left it with an elderly relative so that anytime she remembered something, she could record it. Now I’m lucky to have all of her notes!
From Courthouses to Computers: A Changing Research Landscape
My research has been very different from my Mother’s. I spend most of my time online or at the library. We are blessed here in St. Louis to have several genealogical libraries close by or within a day’s drive. Worldcat can identify the closest library for a needed book or source. Occasionally, my husband and I have traveled to a distant courthouse to explore the old documents within. There is something really exciting about seeing an original marriage license or deed!
Today, thanks to the efforts of the Mormon Church, so many records have been digitized and are accessible through online sites. However, there are still valuable books and loose records to be found in libraries, courthouses, and even passed down through generations to descendants.
Getting Started with Genealogy Research
If jumping into finding out about your ancestors intrigues you, Ancestry.com is a good place to start. The local library offers a version for free if you would just like to try it out. (Take a flash drive). Just put as much information as you have – your parents, grandparents, etc. Start with their names, dates, and locations of their births, marriages, and deaths. Use the “search” tab and see what information pops up for your relative.
Be selective, for not all information that comes up is for the person you are researching. You will receive “hints” that others have researched (or even AI); again, verify that the information is accurate. The last thing you want to do is to go off on a tangent, researching a relative that is not in your family. Trust me, I’ve been down that road before, only to discover months later that the link to my family didn’t exist.
Staying Organized in Your Research
Doing the research requires organization. Get folders or a small desktop filing cabinet to keep yourself organized. I print off a lot of deeds, military records, keep notes, etc., so the accumulation of papers can get overwhelming. Being able to read “vintage cursive” is a plus.
FamilySearch.org is an amazing source of original records, some with indexes. I have been known to search through hundreds of pages when they are not indexed, just in hopes of finding that one document I needed.
Discovering the Stories Behind the Names
Learning about my ancestors has been such a joy in my life. Each time I begin a new side of the family, I find out all sorts of amazing things that I never knew. My research has evolved from finding facts about a relative to really discovering who that person was. I want to know their story.
There are success stories and tragedies. Every family has them. You get to experience the courage and perseverance of your ancestors. You feel the sadness they experienced with the loss of their loved ones. You see how faith in God was the most important thing in their lives. You know that you will never understand how suicide could have been the only option. You recognize poverty when the only place your relatives were buried was beside the creek, where their graves washed away. Sometimes you can hardly believe that they were able to pick up their lives and keep going after the tragedy they suffered.
The Passion of the Search
My passion is the “search” – the discovery of that one missing piece which explains the “why.” In the end, though, ancestry is all about THE STORY. It’s about sharing that story with others who are also in the search. It’s about learning from the past and seeing where you came from. It has been my privilege to write the stories behind the individuals whose lives have influenced mine today.
A Final Thought on the Importance of History
“To many, history is just a collection of dates and actions from the past which are best left in the past where they belong. It is supposed that what was said and done more than a generation ago, much less a century or two ago, has nothing to do with our life, character, or actions today…. The fact is, that from the dawn of time, we have been deeply influenced and affected by the words and deeds of those who lived and died long before we were born.”
— Primitive Baptist Heritage, Sep 15, 2016, Primitive Baptist Archiv
Conclusion: The Power of Knowing Our History
Genealogy is more than names and dates—it’s about understanding the lives, struggles, and triumphs of those who came before us. Becky’s story highlights the incredible journey of discovering not just where we come from, but who our ancestors were as people.
The past has a way of shaping the present, and through ancestry research, we can bridge the gap between generations, keeping their memories alive. Whether you’re just beginning your search or have already uncovered fascinating stories, the pursuit of family history is one that connects us all.
Have you started researching your own ancestry? What stories have you uncovered? Share your journey in the comments below!