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Elusive Ancestor, The
by Merrell Kenworthy
I went searching for an ancestor. I cannot find him still.
He moved around from place to place and did not live a will.
He married where a courthouse burned.
He mended all his fences.
He avoided any man who came to take the U.S. Census.
He always kept his luggage packed, this man who had no fame.
And every 20 years or so, this rascal changed his name.
His parents came from Europe. They should be upon some list
of passengers to U.S.A., but somehow they got missed.
And no one else in this world is searching for this man.
So, I play geneasolitaire to find him if I can.
I’m told he’s buried in a plot, with tombtone he was blessed;
but the weather took engraving, and some vandals took the rest.
He died before the county clerks decided to keep records.
No Family Bible has emerged, in spite of all my efforts.
To top it off this ancestor, who caused me many groans,
Just to give me one more pain, betrothed a girl named JONES.
Only the Men Had Babies
by Dr. Dorothy Branson
My Ancestor, William had Children
All named, with birth dates and places,
But his WIFE was not even mentioned;
Of her, there are not even traces.
Surely she must have existed,
Was born, was a child, and had dreams,
Grew up and learned how to keep house,
Was a PERSON — but nameless, it seems.
She had parents, and someplace, a home,
Her brothers are listed, no doubt,
But she was only a girl,
So not really worth telling about.
She was half of my Ancestor’s heritage;
Without her, he wouldn’t have life.
His genes are half of hers, but I find
She was only his father’s wife.
Once a Girl, was first a “dau.”, then was a “Wife,”
She belonged to her Father till married,
And then she belonged to her husband,
And beside him “unnamed,” she was buried.
How awful to think MY Descendants
Might search for a name for me.
But be unable to find identity,
And wonder just who I might be.
Genealogy Dream
I dreamed my Father called me home
Across the great divide,
I was very much bewildered
I thought surely I had died.
St. Peter met me at the gate
He said, “Come follow me.
There’s something I must show you,
Something you must see.
Then I saw rows of people
Standing in a line.
When I looked them over,
They were relatives of mine.
Some among that massive crowd
I remembered well.
Some had lived long years before
I came to earth to dwell.
They were Grand Grandparents
Whom I was glad to see
But when I walked toward them
They turned away from me.
Then I saw my cousins,
My uncles and my aunts.
They said to me accusingly,
“We didn’t have a chance
To do the work that must be done
To start us on our way
To gain for us Eternal Life
So here we have to stay.
My Father and my Mother, too
Were standing apart
They looked so disappointed.
It made the tear drops start.
I turned and saw my Savior
On his face there was a frown.
“I died upon the cross for them
And you have let them down.
Behold your noble ancestors
Waiting for the day
When you would open up the gates
To help them on their way.
My heart was very heavy
As I looked these people o’er.
The blinding tears ran down my face.
I turned to him once more.
“Please blessed Savior, send me back,
I’ll make another try.
I’ll do the work for all my kin.
I’m not prepared to die.
I will not miss a single one,
I’m so ashamed, dear Lord.
I’ll try to do each ordinance
According to Thy word.
Then I awoke the dream was gone
I had not passed away.
But I made resolutions
To start that very day.
Baptisms, endowments, and sealings
I found were not a few.
The more I searched and searched
The more I found to do.
But I will keep on hunting
And searching all the while.
Next time I meet my ancestors,
I’ll meet them with a smile.
—Alice S. Redden