FACEBOOK--It CAN Be Valuable!

I’ve grown to dislike Facebook. Although it keeps me in contact with long distance friends and family allowing me to view photos and news that they post, reading many of their shared posts has given me insight to their personal beliefs and thoughts that not always come across face to face. I can honestly say that Facebook has distanced me from previous friends, and has caused some unfriending on the part of both our sides! It’s amazing how an innocent “comment” on someone’s post can so quickly turn into a lecture from others who have different beliefs—and I’m not just talking about politics, but also the small tidbits referencing local news, health, or even grammar (yes, grammar)! Because of this ridiculous banter that goes back and forth, I have deleted all my conversations, and have quit posting.  I no longer comment on anything, and now only—oh, no!—share cute animal stories?!!!!

Actually, I would close out my account altogether if it weren’t for genealogy.

Genealogical-wise on Facebook I have:

·      Found people who have generously helped me research ancestors long distance

·      Gotten answers to questions that I have posted

·      Joined both family and location groups that have helped in my research

·      And have used it as and been personally found as. . . Cousin Bait!

And that’s why I keep my account--because I do not have any on-line family trees to connect with cousins.

Recently a long-lost (I say that because, yes, in the past, I have had contact with her) first cousin once removed (the daughter of an older first cousin) posted on Facebook newspaper articles and photos I have never seen before of both my father and grandfather. Okay, time to reconnect!

I started by requesting copies of her posts for my files. Then we started emailing. I had a couple of questions for her about what her mom had and/or knew about the family—specifically about my Dad. Her mother, my actual cousin, I never knew. She was born of my father’s older brother, and had memorabilia that I had never seen and stories I’ve never heard. We’re still in the process of sharing information, but as every genealogist knows, that takes time. I hope to get more information to work with, but for now, I’m ecstatic! Why?

Because, the BIG BREAKTHROUGH for me was a photo of my dad as a young boy! I had none! There was a fire in the attic of a house my grandparents owned many years ago, so most of the old family photos were destroyed. I had no idea what he looked like except for his high-school days and beyond. This cousin had a school photo of my dad at age 12, taken in 1936!

 Ray Rowe, 1936

Flash back to another cousin of another brother of my father’s who had previously given me an art piece done in reverse foil on glass that reads on the back, Ray Rowe, Made In 7^th Grade. This would put Dad at approximately the age of 12 when he made this. 

"Ray Rowe, Made In 7th Grade"

I now have a bit of history from another year in the life of my father. 

I will keep digging.