I'm excited for summer. Some things slow down, while others speed up. For me, work slows down a bit, which leaves room for other things.
First on my list between the weddings and retirements and all the other social events June can bring, is a family history road trip. Next weekend I'm traveling a few hours northeast to meet my grandmother's second cousin. He has a wealth of information and photos related to the Shaffer family and I'm coming with laptop and scanner, ready to get copies of it all.
He said there will be others there as well, other cousins who are also interested in research. It's becoming quite an event. He seems really excited, which makes me excited as well. I am desperate for some more Shaffer family photos. I have page upon page of information. My great-great-great grandfather, John D. Shaffer, was a prominent farmer, merchant, and state legislator. He was in the county newspapers every week, often multiple times, so his life is well documented.
His photo, however, is not. I know they are out there. Someone that prominent was before a camera. I have one photo, which is more an artist's rendering that was used in a county history, but I know there are more. There must be more. I also have no photos of his wife, Susan Robbins Shaffer, which I find alarming.
I hope by visiting Victor will result in finally seeing the faces of my ancestors. Time will tell...
