I’ve been tracking my family tree on my father’s side of the family, and I’ve discovered so many wonderful things about my ancestors. Currently, I am researching my 3rd great grandparents who were born and raised during the 19th century. This generation either grew up or served during the American Civil War.
I learned that many of these families moved to Missouri during this time most likely because of the Louisiana Purchase and westward expansion. I’m thrilled to know that all 16 of my great great great grandparents are buried here in Missouri, so I can visit their graves on Memorial Day.
Six of my relatives served in the American Civil War including two of my 4th great grandfathers. Only one of them served for the confederacy, but according to some family records I found it wasn’t his intention. Apparently, in Dallas County there was a problem with Confederate troops and many people joined the confederacy to keep their family safe.
I’m also enjoying tracking all the family names and seeing what other families I come from. So far, these are the names connected to my family – Rose, Kelly, Cheek, Russell, Swift, Rakestraw, Davison, McDonald, Howerton, Chittum, Buttram, Leonard, Wilson, Oaks, Allen, and Hobbs. I know the further back I go, the less information I’ll be able to find, so hopefully when I start tracking my 4th great grandparents, I’ll have enough information to go on. I have pages of information on my 3rd great grandparents and lots of pictures, but rather than write it all out, I made this video instead. It’s the 3rd in a series about my family history: