"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep to know our heritage - to know who we are and where we came from. Without this enriching knowledge there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness".



ALEX HALEY, ROOTS



Tuesday, November 9, 2010

A love of Genealogy, Photos, and Grandma

Well, here it is. My first post.
My obsession to learn my about my family's history began almost at birth. I used to sit on my Grandmas floor and look through her old photo albums and wonder who everyone was. Now, am lucky enough to be the owner of most of those same photos.
Thus begins my second obsession, sharing them.

While I can identify most of people in my photos. Alas, some I cannot. I hope that someone will come along, and figure it out. Not just for me, but for all of the people who have never seen a picture of their Great Grandparents.

I am looking forward to sharing some of the fun stuff I've learned, and uploading photos as I identify them. I'm also hoping to write what I know about someone along with their photo. Here's the first.

My Grandma
Clara Belle Heath Crosley
Born in Iowa in 1902
Died in Chicago in 1979 Buried in Lancaster Wisconsin.


Grandma lost her mother Alta Clinger Heath when she was only 5. She was then raised by her Maternal Grandparents Ella McCartney Clinger and John Alexander Clinger.
She never said much about this to me, but did mention her Grandmother in conversation. I didn't know about her loss until I started working on my family tree. Grandma always wore cool cotton dresses, and was "soft" when you hugged her. Just how Grandmas should be.
She always had dinner on the table at 4:30 exactly, and held the phone to her chest when she talked because of her hearing aid. Its funny the stuff you remember. She loved dogs (especially her dog Tiny), and to sew.

She was married twice. The first time to Jack Schaffner, with whom she had 2 sons. And the second to my Grandfather Reuben Thompson Crosley III, to which 2 more sons were born. The youngest being my Dad.

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