Hunting for Ancestors

My great Uncle Ivan kept a diary – like a lot of my ancestors did. He began his with using his own mother’s diary from 1906 and wrote in earnest from 1910-1973. He covered a lot of personal things such as all diaries do but also added world and national events in such a way as to make one go back and re-read the passage to make sure you read it correctly. For example, on April 12th, 1912, his entry was, “Titanic sank. Miss Higgens here for supper. (Our grade teacher)” In November of 1914 he entered the following: Dr. Dudley arrested for abortion. Town excited.” He recorded everything that explained a life on a farm in the early 20th century. Things such as going to a movie for five cents, the weather which impacted life such as extreme heat or -25-degree days. He discussed transportation such as taking the train to school because of too much snow in April; or the entire family driving into Presque Isle to get their picture taken in 1913 by Mary Oaks – a well-known photographer in the town. I have that picture on my wall. In two weeks, I will be attending a Maine Old Cemetery Association (MOCA) summer meeting in Thorndike and plan to visit one of the family cemeteries in the area. In the cemetery is a woman named Melinda and she died young. Before her death she had a girl named Addie. Addie grew up to marry and have a daughter named Maude, who had a son named Clyde who had a daughter named, Carolyn, who had a daughter named Cara. Sitting beside me as I write this, is an embroidered Cross that Melinda made in 1855 when her daughter, Addie was just 14 months old. Addie’s brother would be born in December 1857 and his mother, Melinda would die on February 20, 1858. I thought I would bring this piece of artwork back to its creator in a few weeks and spend some time there…. Cara Kent curiositiesifvg@gmail.com