DIGGIN' UP SOME ROOTS

At the end of Sep., Jim went on a family history trip for a weekend. He went with his sister, Pat and his Aunt Jane. They went to Gold Hill . . . no, not in search of gold . . . but instead, to dig up some of their family roots.

They went stepping through cemeteries and meandering through the Gold Hill museum.

Lewis is Jim's great grandfather.

Guess what the "A." is for in Vernon's name? . . . It is for "Addison". It was funny how much Kelly loved the name for her first girl. After Addy was born, Jim found the name as he was looking through some family group sheets. Addy has a special family name from her great, great, great uncle.

Jim has traced the Hendricks Family back to Holland. Jim's grandma is a Hendricks. Mary Truax, Jim's great aunt, donated a lot of memorbilia to the Gold Hill Museum. Jim has traced the Truax family back to Belgium. The Truax's are related through marriage to the Hendricks family line. Below is Mary's high school graduation diploma. I thought this was neat, that they had her photo on it.
If you could read this tiny writing it would tell you that Cora Truax, Jim's, great great aunt through marriage, was believed to be the first woman to be elected to public office in Oregon. She served a 2-year term on the Gold Hill city council. In the frame it shows the Gold Hill Cafe. William and Cora Truax owned it. Mary Truax received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1921 at the University of Oregon. We forgive her for being a "duck" instead of a "beaver".
I love the old time photos. This is a picture of Mary Truax and her brother.

Jim had a good time digging up the past and it was nice for him to spend time with his sister and aunt. Thanks for the fun memories.