I found this picture in a box in the attic. It had loads of old pictures my Dad had gotten from his mother's house when she died in 1964. Neither my brother or I had a clue the box was up there and if I had known it was there I would pulled it out years ago to go over with Dad. There are pictures of great aunts, great uncles, cousins once, twice, three times removed. Some have names on the back, others don't.
This picture of Mable has her name on the back, but no date. It simply states "Mable *insert Augie's last name*". I called my Dad's twin sister last weekend to see if she knew who Mable is/was and she didn't know. Unfortunately Aunt Virginia is 86 years old and is the last of Dad's siblings, so if she doesn't know I don't know who would.
Because of this box of photos I plunked down $145 to join Ancestry.com. I am completely and totally addicted to this website. I am having a blast reseaching my family. So far I haven't found Mable, and my fear is that she lived and died in between one of the census. The picture looks like it was taken around 1915 to maybe 1925. The database for the 1850 to 1930 census is pretty detailed, and I have found most of my Dad's family in each of them, but no Mable. I also am having trouble finding records for several of Dad's uncles and one Aunt.
I am hoping as more people join the website and input their families I'll get matches for them. But as of today I am searching for Mable, Lenia, Hezakiah, Hercias and their immediate families.
I've had much more luck with Mom's side. Her brother Norman had done extensive research years ago so I knew a lot going in. And since Mom's family basically immigrated to Pennsylvania and has stayed there, it's been easier getting connections from other members' trees. Dad's family immigrated to Philadelphia from England, then moved all over the south. We had originally thought Dad's side was from Tennessee, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. Imagine my surprise to find out we also have connections to Virginia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Alabama, and Texas.
The immigration information I've gotten has completely surprised me, too. We thought Dad's family was from Ireland (wrong...England), and Mom's was solely German. Well, we have a strong Irish link from Mom's side to include the German, and Dad's is the English and German. I have found greatgrandparents (many times removed) from Finland, Switzerland, France, Italy, Sweden, and Norway.
We knew we had Cherokee blood, but I've also found we are related to the Delaware Tribe (a great grandfather was Chief Big Thunder, born 1594 in Delaware). This is on my Mom's side. She would have loved to have know this! Chief Big Thunder's daughter (my great grandmother many times removed) was named Princess Bright Lightning. She married a Finnish immigrant named Hendrick Coleman, and their line eventually made it's way to my Mom's mom. How cool!
And? I'm related to Humphry Bogart!!! We share a great grandfather (9 times removed for me, 8 times removed for Humphry - his name was John *insert Augie's last name*). This great grandfathers' sons all immigrated to America. His son John *insert Augie's last name* Jr came to Philly and this lineage made it's way to me. Another son Simon *insert Augie's last name* also came to Philly and his lineage made it's way to Humphry. Humphry and I are distant cousins. My Aunt Virginia was thrilled to find this out. I am too. :-)
There is also evidence of links to German Dukes and Duchesses. Hopefully this information won't go to my head. I'll try not to start referring to myself as Princess/Duchess Augie, however if you'd like to call me Princess Augie feel free!
Be prepared to be bored with more details of my family's history as I find them. I also plan on posting more photos. I'm obsessed with all these old photos and it's been rewarding to find out the details of their lives.
My Great Grandfather Charles - Houston, Texas circa 1946 (my dad's grandfather on his mom's side). He lived to be 90 years old. He was a school teacher.
Great Uncle Carl (that's also him in the first picture above) - he served in WWI and died at age 24 in 1920. He had been gassed in the war, came home and eventually died of his injuries. I have had this picture framed and displayed in my home since I graduated from college. His story makes me so sad, and I know my grandmother and Aunt Lula never really got over his death. 
My Dad and his twin sister Virginia, about 1930. I love this picture. It too has traveled with me for years. Aunt Virginia is the last sibling left.
My Great Uncle Hezekiah (my Dad's uncle). He was born in 1886. Apparently Hezekiah is an old family name...I've found 5 people in the family tree with this name. Uncle Hezekiah was Dad's favorite uncle. He died in 1947.
