John, Much of my original information about my ancestors (all lines) comes from my father. Born in 1914, as a youngster he had no radio or television or movies for entertainment, but he had grandfathers who loved to tell him about "the olden times." He says that after supper, they would gather around the stove on a South Dakota winter night, and Pop would say, "Grampa and Gramma, tell us about the olden times." The two "old folks" would chuckle, and Grandpa would launch into it with gusto. Pop has remembered an amazing amount of the material from those evenings, and I have proved a lot, and not disproved a thing so far. You mention sharing the stories with younger folk, and I think this is really important for us to do *on purpose* for our kids and grandkids. Not surprisingly, I have inherited my Pop's love for the stories of the olden times, and have a degree in history and a stack of family stories to show for it. George --- George R. Carpenter Pinckney, Michigan carpgl@ismi.net ---------- > We all should all beware of our history and make sure the young know it > also. > > John R. Carpenter > La Mesa, CA