Where and when were your grandparents born? (both sets) What do/did they look like? What were their occupations? How did they come to meet and marry?
This is
a important question, because this moves us on to the next generation.
Family members did not always come from where you thought they did. My
fathers family was in Ohio when he was born, but they were regionally
from Michigan. My mom was born in Michigan, but her family was
originally from Ohio. Both families moved a great deal prior to getting
settled in one place, but would eventually locate where other family
members had already located.
Asking
questions about appearance may not seem like much, but they may provide
clues on ethnic origins. It will explain many of the features and
characteristics of our current generation that we may not understand
today.
Jobs
were so important to understanding our nations transition from a
Agrarian society to a urban setting. In my own family they had been
farmers for generations, but then in the early 1900's they moved to
cities and started working factory and railroad jobs. They moved from
living on large pieces of land. They located in apartments and city
houses. Many things had changed from living a farmers life.
It is
important to understand where your grandparents met, because it will
offer clues on other family members. Did they meet at church or
school? Maybe a place they worked or someone that lived in the
neighborhood. Were they friends with other family members? All of
these are important facts for our continued genealogical journey.
