How This Began

My mother died in December of 2009. After she died I realized that a lot of information had been lost with her death. I found that there were lots of things I would like to ask her about the family, but now couldn't. In my childhood I spent a lot of time in Southern Utah at my grandparent's house. When we were visitng my Grandma Cooper, we often went on drives around the area and to the cemetery because my grandpa was the Sexton there. Grandma always pointed out the graves and told stories about the person buried there. She loved to talk about her youth and growing up in Panguitch, Utah. She told stories of being afraid of the Indians, of floods, and of the heartache of losing family members to death. She was a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and had recorded and kept histories of family members. She had written a good biography of her life, but nothing had been written about my grandpa. It was at this time that I decided to start asking questions about family that we had no history on. I knew that if I didn't try to get the facts and details from those family members still alive, the stories would maybe be lost forever.

 Over the last two years I have done a lot of research into my family's genealogy and family history. I have learned many amazing facts and read inspiring stories of where they came from and how and why they came to Utah.  Names on a page are no longer names; they are people. I appreciate the sacrifices they made so that I can live where I do today.  I wish I had kept a journal all this time so that I would have a written record of my discoveries. I have forgotten many of them. I have four three-ring binders with pages I have printed but I wanted to personalize my ancestor's stories in a better way.  That is why I decided to start this blog, to make an account of my family's history. 

It is my hope that my family and extended family will find this blog a source of information and inspiration. I hope that they can gain an appreciation for our ancestors as I have.  I also hope that they will add their comments or memories.