I vividly remember sitting across the desk from a bank officer with my Mother-in-law, Velma Thomas Mattoon as she opened a new bank account. When the officer asked her birthplace she confidently replied, "Maysville, Kentucky". As far as I knew, she knew what she was talking about. When I began constructing my family tree on Ancestry.com I entered her birthplace as Maysville, Kentucky. Later I had an opportunity to talk with her cousin, Bill Thomas, who had known Velma all her life. He was also the only family member doing genealogy at that time. When I mentioned that she was born in Maysville, Kentucky, he just snorted and said, "Oh no she wasn't"! "She was born in Weiser, Idaho, or maybe Fruita, Colorado". By that time I knew enough to verify facts, rather than just accepting something I was told or found on an Ancestry family tree. I started with FamilySearch.com and sure enough I soon located the record of an unnamed...
About Barbara Mattoon I am a genealogist, family historian, world traveler, photographer, writer, mother, grandmother, gardener, friend and volunteer. The purpose of this blog is to share family history, but it will also contain comments on travel, photography, books, theater and concerts. Lifelong learning is my passion. I will be nudging and encouraging my generation and those following to participate in life and learning every day. I would love to have you come along.