My great grandmother, Lillie Ellen Myers was born on July 5, 1876, in Nickerson, Nebraska, and died on January 5, 1914, in North Bend, Nebraska, where she is buried. Her father, John C. Meiers, was born in Canada on Aug. 2, 1833 and her mother, Lydia Louisa Foster, was born August 13, 1840 in Ohio.
Sadly, that’s everything I know about her. No pictures, no stories, nothing. At the time of her death at age 37, my grandfather had just turned 15. I don’t recall him ever mentioning her and he died when I was just 13, well before I was interested in such matters. She died six years before my Dad was born.
I cringe when I think of my great grandchildren knowing me only by the dates of my birth, death and marriage. I may not have solved world hunger, stopped global warming or ended armed conflict, but I’d like to think the values I taught my children and the direction I provided to help make them productive and honorable adults counts for something.
Sadly, that’s everything I know about her. No pictures, no stories, nothing. At the time of her death at age 37, my grandfather had just turned 15. I don’t recall him ever mentioning her and he died when I was just 13, well before I was interested in such matters. She died six years before my Dad was born.
Since it is unlikely that any diaries, clippings or letters that include Lillie will show up nearly a century after her death, this will probably always be a gap in my own family history. I wish she would have left something more of her life but I’m certain that, with four young boys to raise and given her death at a relatively young age, passing on family stories was not a priority.
A key goal of my personal history business is to make it possible for anyone to collect and save their own family stories for future generations. Think about that a moment. Don’t you want your life to mean something, even after you’re gone?I cringe when I think of my great grandchildren knowing me only by the dates of my birth, death and marriage. I may not have solved world hunger, stopped global warming or ended armed conflict, but I’d like to think the values I taught my children and the direction I provided to help make them productive and honorable adults counts for something.
Whatever else I may accomplish, that is my true and lasting legacy.
Writing tip of the day: What are you doing to ensure your descendants know something about you and your life?Larry Lehmer is a professional personal historian who helps people preserve their family histories. To learn more, visit his web site, send him an e-mail or follow him on Twitter.
Flickr photo courtesy of Gravityx9.
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