This old lady has confessed to addiction to “climbing the family tree.” When a request for help arrives in my email box, I hasten to find answers. After I completed my research (and delivered response messages), I checked for our “cousin” relationship. That was a BIG SURPRISE because it is via my maternal branch of the tree. Usually, requests are for Frantz information and collateral lines (my paternal lineage).

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POSTSCRIPT: Being altruistic has its perks. Conservatively, six hours have been spent “helping” the Ancestry subscriber with her request. In the process, I have added information to my tree and reinforced the information I have about her branch of the tree.

I’ve prayed for cooler weather (in Central Texas). This morning, I am cold and I’m wearing a sweater. I’m not complaining because residents in Florida are facing the wrath of Hurricane Ian. Join me in prayer for Florida residents?!

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Life, Liberty & Levin recommended viewing.

This proud Texas neanderthal is supporting Take The House. Count me among “the basket of deplorables.”

Obviously, I should spend less time “climbing trees” and devote time to deleting some of the 99,000 old email messages from my Gmail. But that isn’t any fun!! Honestly, it is so uncomfortably HOT, I seek “comfort” in my hobby.

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A cousin sent a very interesting article and the following is my reply.

SINCERE THANKS, Gale, for the article. I knew Elvin years ago. He and the extended family researched and self-published a small booklet (for family) titled “Michael Frantz Descendants.” His sister, Hazel Frantz Turner, seemed to have the bulk of the researched information and she lived about one-hundred miles from me–in Highlands, California. I spent a good many hours in her home in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

More to the story: I was beginning my Frantz research and approached it with a mass-mailing. I wrote a pleasant letter introducing myself and asking for Frantz information. I spent time in the Lancaster library going through phone directories (all over the U.S.) for folks with the Frantz surname. I sent the letter–with SASE (remember self-address stamped envelope?). I received a reply from Loren Frantz–in Pennsylvania–saying his sister had a booklet titled Michael Frantz Descendants. If I remember correctly, that same day, I received a large padded envelope with a copy of Michael Frantz Descendants. Loren had shared my request with his sister (whom I would not have known to contact) and she graciously shared with me.

If you may have noticed, I have Hazel’s name as one of the authors of Frantz Families–Kith & Kin. She was extremely helpful. One project in particular: A Brubaker cousin in Sacramento was planning to publish a Brubaker book. He shared hundreds of computer printout pages with his information and Hazel checked every name against information she and I already had. It was a very poor presentation (book) and he was stuck with copies that never sold. Sorry, I don’t remember his name (because he didn’t make a good impression on me). I visited with him a couple of times–in Sacramento.

Gale, see what memories the name “Elvin” brings. Thanks from Lorraine

A second email message to my cousin:

Gale, I did some additional research after reading the story. I added information to the Ancestry Gallery with further details about Elvin Dale Frantz. Thought you might like this extra background.

Two statements arrived in the U.S. mail; fifteen pages of fine print. They reveal the cost of my recent two–day trip to the hospital—totaling $22,310.00. Gratefully, my health insurance covered every penny but I expected to see an amount I was due to pay. Five weeks early, I had my Halloween scare (lol). Heart attack averted.