The power went out at about nine in the evening and I went to bed in the dark. OMG, I had forgotten how dark it can be. Earlier in the day, the power went out a couple of times and really, really created trauma for me. No TV (my companion), and no Internet. I actually experienced an emotion of “loss.” That was the least of my concern. When the power returned (late afternoon), I discovered computer problems (and I won’t try to explain them). I couldn’t access the Internet and I gotta have the Internet for Ancestry and email. My mind isn’t as sharp as it once was; I’ve forgotten details about “setup.” After more than an hour of trial and error, I called my Internet provider and a nice young man talked me through the process.

All… in less than one hour. I wish Lele Mae “Marie” Kinzie Reed Berka had been this simple!!

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“Curiosity” prompted me to continue searching for more information about the woman convicted of bigamy. Woefully, no success.  ~~~~ Below: Four hours later and a cousin supplied “speculation” that I decorated with appropriate clipart.

Today, in my Ancestry research, I encountered extended family members who spent time in prison.  Extremely strange to read about a woman convicted of bigamy.  One of her husbands spent time in several prisons, in several states, for robbery. There were several brief references—just enough to tantalize one’s curiosity—so I searched Ancestry in every way possible. When I could not locate additional information, I went to FamilySearch. This was the first time I failed to find information in their “billions of records” library. ~~ “Climbing the family tree” is so fascinating. What motivated those two individuals to do what they did?

Before I had my first sip of gourmet coffee, I checked my email messages. A cousin sent an astonishing message. The reader may not find the information exhilarating but the details will have me smiling all day. In my reply to my cousin, I said: “Maybe only a person immersed in genealogy would find that “fascinating” but “I’m immersed.”

Lorraine,I advise you to check your sanity at the door and sit down.

Attached are two photos.  One is Raymond Franklin Showalter born in 1943 in Fort Defiance, AZ and the other is his brother Richard Alan Showalter born in 1950.  They are 100% Navajos born to Daniel Mariano Showalter and Marjorie Lillian Ayze.  How is it possible to have 100% Navajos named Showalter?

It appears that their father, Daniel, changed his name from Daniel Showalter Mariano to Daniel Mariano Showalter.  Why did he do this?  Did he want a German-sounding name for his children?  Was there a friendly Showalter who helped the Navajo Clan and they wished to pay tribute to this Showalter benefactor?  How did the name Showalter become entangled with these folks?

Anyhow, I stumbled upon this mystery when I saw that Richard Alan Showalter married Mattie Mae Christensen, the sister of Donna Mae Christensen.

Who is Donna Mae Christensen?  She appears to be the mother of Elmer Stewart Rhodes III.  Since we have lots of Rhodes in our respective trees, I thought I would connect the dots and discover the Showalter-Christensen-Rhodes connection in of all places on a NAVAJO RESERVATION.

But it becomes more bizarre…

Google the name Elmer Stewart Rhodes III

Now, dear blog reader, friends, and family, I suggest you do what I did: Google Elmer Stewart Rhodes III. I won’t provide a link because I want you to “feel” the mystery and anticipation.

All day, I was researching and documenting the Boon and Boone families. I thought I’d connect the frontiersman Daniel Boone to the Boone cousins in my tree. Dozens of individuals…, hundreds of source records. Gratefully, I eventually found comments that supported my belief: Two unique trees. (I found the needle in the haystack.) Now, future researchers have “in your face” information. (I love clip art and creating a collage.)

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Below: I copied email information provided by fellow researchers and saved it with the specific individuals.  “Collaboration.”

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Below: The families who pray together, stay together. The “cousin marriages” illustrate close-knit families.

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