Descending the stairs to the basement of the Flemingsburg courthouse, through the dark narrow corridors, to the doorway of the genealogist's office, you are on a journey back in time.My husband and I took this journey and as we crossed the threshold, from present to past, Caren Prater, genealogist, welcomed us into her world of research. Out of her many articles and artifacts, she pulled down an aged shoebox so that we may inspect its contents.
The dress was mauve in color, small, petite, the neck was latticed from shoulder to shoulder in the front, and it was fitted at the waist. The straight skirt of the dress hung limp with a large dark stain visible in the front. The back of the dress was frayed from where a zipper had once been. The gold, tarnished class ring has long since lost its shine. The tiny diamond in the wedding ring is no longer brilliant as it once was. You can no longer see the second hand on the gold, tarnished watch tick away the time as it did when it was worn.
These articles which have been silent and in storage for 42 years have come to life. These are the articles that were found on Pearlie Mae Bush, my husband's aunt, when she was found brutally murdered in 1958.
Through his genealogical research of his family, he found a newspaper article on the Internet about Caren Prater and the work she does as a genealogist. In that article was a segment about Pearlie Mae Bush written by Frank Lockwood that said, "then there is the file on Pearly Mae Bush, who was shot in the head with a .38-caliber slug in 1958. For weeks her body was unidentified. The corpse became a tourist attraction. More than 3,000 people trekked to the Price Brothers' funeral parlor before she was identified by a sister, according to an article in a 1959 issue of True Detective. The killer, Edward Eugene Henry, was paroled in 1975. Nearly 40 years later, Bush's personal effects remain unclaimed: a mauve dress, a 14 karat gold wedding band set, a Bulova Swiss watch, and a 1947 class ring from the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphans' Home in Xenia, Ohio."
Several years ago, I began to research my ancestry. Michelle Adams who wrote the article, "For Every Soul There is a Trace" writes, "start with your immediate relatives and work backwards." I started by talking with family relatives, beginning with the oldest member on my father's side. From the information I obtained from him, and information from others, I was able to begin my search for family records. My search led me to several different cities and counties to obtain various records.
Michelle Adams explains that, "states and town registries provide birth, marriage, and death certificates. These documents will list parents' names. County clerks' offices within various states also hold naturalization records for those people who followed the procedures in county courts. The county clerk maintains all land records: mortgages, deeds, federal liens, and court cases. State and local libraries can provide marriage and death notices that appeared in newspapers as well as gravestone inscription. Major libraries near immigrant ports of arrival also serve as depositories of passenger lists.
State archives, usually located in state capitals, serve as repositories of official records. These archive offices contain wills, estate records, deed records, probate materials, and census records. Books can also be helpful in providing passenger lists, historical names, and "how to" information for children and adults."
The results of my research on my father's side have been very informative. My great-great-great-grandfather emigrated from Dublin, Ireland to Wilmington, Pennsylvania in 1804. He had arrived on the ship named "Mary."
The research on my mother's family has not been as rewarding. A prominent family reared my grandmother, and she was listed as a servant in the 1910 census of Mason County West Virginia. My mother has always told us her mother was an orphan and was reared by a couple known only to her as "Uncle Joe" and "Aunt Fannie." At this point in time, I have come to a "stand still" in my research on my mother's side, and where do I go from here? During my interview with Caren Prater she suggested to, "start with what you know and work backwards."
Genealogy not only provides historical value to your roots, but it also plays a very important role in your health. According to an article written in the Consumer Reports on Health it states, "uncovering the conditions that run in your family may help lengthen - or save - your life. Family history is the gateway to genetic testing. Researchers have identified genetic defects that cause or help cause thousands of diseases - including common killers like coronary heart disease, diabetes, and numerous cancers. For certain uncommon diseases, such as hemophilia, at least some cases of Alzheimer's disease, and certain cancers, heredity is the main cause. If you have certain genes, you'll probably get the disease. While it's currently impossible to prevent such inherited disorders, knowing that one may run in your family can lead to heightened vigilance and early detection; that, in turn, can allow doctors to prevent or treat complications."
My father died at the early age of 57 years old with Alzheimer's in 1985. It is a very real possibility that this dreaded disease could possibly also effect any of his children or future grandchildren. This information has been recorded in my genealogy for future reference.
After a couple of years had gone by and I had slowed down on my research, my husband began working on his family tree. He has been very successful in his search on both sides of his family. He has utilized every possible tool and opportunity to search out information, including the Internet. In the article "For Every Soul There is a Trace" by Michelle Adam she explains, "Internet sites are extremely valuable in offering a wealth of information, from genealogy guides and organizations to actual passenger lists and name sharing (posting your name and connecting with others who share the same surname). In the past several years, they have produced a surge of genealogical activity, putting previously inaccessible information at the researcher's fingertips."
One of the most exciting discoveries for both of us was the article about Caren Prater at Flemingsburg he had come across through his research on the Internet.
James Vlamos author of the article called "The Blonde in the Morgue" in True Detective magazine wrote, "for weeks the fearful and the curious came to stare at the dead girl, but more than 3,000 had passed by before anyone recognized 'The Blonde in the Morgue.'"
We contacted Caren Prater by phone and she graciously invited us to her office to view the articles, which were found on Pearlie Mae Bush at the time of her death. No one had ever been to the courthouse to claim her belongings, because none of the family knew about them.
Today, Mrs. Prater and other members of their community have plans for opening a museum in Flemingsburg. These articles may be part of their display as it's part of their history.
Genealogy is very fascinating and informative. You may never know what you might discover if you leave a stone unturned.
WORKS CITED
Adam, Michelle and Helen Kelly. "For Every Soul There is a Trace." World of Hibernia. 5.1 (Summer 99): 46
Lockwood, Frank E. "Preserving The 'Junk' From Which Time Is Made." Lexington Herald-Leader. 23 Dec. 1997, <http://www.kentuckyconnect.com/heraldleader/news/122397/fm1junk.html
Prater, Caren. Personal interview. 3 March 2000.
"Prepare For the Future: Know Your Ancestors." Consumer Reports on Health. 11.9 Sept. 1999
Vlamos, James. "The Blonde in the Morgue." True Detective. Jan. 1959: 24
ABSTRACT
Genealogy will tell you many things about your past history. It can be very helpful in knowing about your family's medical history that could explain and sometimes help prevent future medical problems. You may even uncover some mystery or find some articles, as we did in our research.
My research paper explains some of the steps you take to begin your genealogical search, and to help me find ways to continue to uncover some roots on my mother's side of the family.
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