ROOTS & BRANCHES

OK, so I’ll admit that I sometimes get weary of the seemingly infinite designations such as French Fries Day or Quilt Week or Fruit Fly Awareness Month.

Now, no offense is intended for the many more serious designations, and I do have to say that a recent electronic newsletter from the folks at Just a Joy, which bills itself as the world’s largest source of searchable family heirlooms, hit a responsive chord with me.

“August is ‘Family Bible’ month. Although not ordained or consecrated by any governing body, we are designating August as “Family Bible Month” and encouraging all Jus ta Joy participants to consider posting a Bible in your possession that is not associated with your own family,” the newsletter read.

The blurb continued by urging readers to buy an “orphaned” family Bible on ebay or at an antique show. “As we all know, genealogical karma is the best karma and such an investment and effort could bear real rewards,” the newsletter continued.

I have several family Bible stories.

One of my first “on my own” genealogical discoveries was going to the attic of my parents’ home – despite my mother’s scoff that “there’s nothing that will help you with genealogy in those old trunks” – and finding the Bible beautifully in-filled by a professional scrivener for a set of paternal great-great-grandparents, Peter and Christianna (Rupp) Daub.

The Bible was apparently then passed down to their daughter Emma Eliza (Daub) Etchberger and in turn to Emma’s daughter Dora Annie (Etchberger) Beidler, my grandmother. The information included Peter Daub’s parents’ names, which previously had been unknown to me.

Some years later, my aunt Lorraine (Hiester) Lightner gave me a prayer book that included family information on her great-grandparents Harrison and Rosabella (Kerschner) Hiester. The data included baptisms of their 11 children as well as their first grandchild, who arrived when their eldest daughter Catharina was but 14 years old.

Then there’s the 18^th century gem of a family Bible – one that was brought across the ocean by the Wilhelm family. I only found out about this Bible after it had been auctioned to a collector.

I was able to track down that collector, who said the Bible “looked great on his coffee table.” He agreed that if he ever tired of looking at this Bible (editorial comment – that he has no relation to at all!!) that he would contact me (Still waiting and hoping for that call!)

Just from that experience, I think the Just a Joy folks are on to something – long live “Family Bible Month!”

You can find Just a Joy at the URL, http:/justajoy.com or call (704) 948-1912 for listings or pricing.