Tracing Family History

I came across an interesting little poem on the pitfalls found in searching one's family history. The poem was penned by Mrs. Charles Dean of Steven's Point, Wisconsin and quoted in Harvey: 1600 -- 1979. Compiled by Winnie Jo (Fornea) Stockstill. (Copy in the Pearl River County Historical Society Museum).

      I started out to trace my tree

To find, if I could, the makings of me

And all that I had was great great grandfather's name

Not knowing his wife or from which way he came

 

I chased him across a long line of  states

And came up with pages and pages of dates

When all was put together it made me forlorn

I'd proved poor great great grandfather had never been born

 

Then when my hopes were fast growing dim

I came across records that had to be him

The facts I collected than made me quite sad

Dear old great great grandfather was never a dad!

 

Just one of the many problems in researching history.  I wish you all good fortune in your historical research.