CHAPTER 30 - GENEALOGY

From Richard's memoirs, recovered from his original WordPerfect files

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

--Malachi 4:5 & 6

I became interested in Genealogy, for the most part, after I joined the Church and realized the emphasis the Church has placed upon it.

Mother gave me a big start in genealogy as she had become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1929.  As I have stated before, she had to gather considerable genealogical material to prove she had an ancestor who fought in the American Revolution.  She not only had Bible entrees of her people but also a book entitled:  “The Gallogly Family, The West Family” which proved invaluable.  The “Forward” in the book follows:

“While spending the Christmas Vacation of 1924 with her parents in Detroit, Elizabeth Gallogly - then a student at Pine Manor School, Wellesley, Massachusetts - said:  'I wish I knew more about our family.'  She was told to write to her Aunt 'Polly' (Miss Mary A. Gallogly) at the Pine Knot Ranch, Sula, Montana.  Within a few weeks the story came, and it is now put into print by one who is deeply interested in its preservation.   Detroit, Michigan, December 1926.”

Aunt Polly wrote the story, as I would put it, off the top of her head.  She was not a genealogist and didn't always give the complete detail needed, nor is it always clear in the book who she is talking about.  It is somewhat of a puzzle to figure out the relationship of different people.  However, Aunt Polly is quite accurate in her account.  I had the opportunity to check some of her recorded work with a professional genealogist in England and he gave me substantial, written proof from parish records that agreed with her writings.

I began my genealogical research in 1948 and some years later, finding that Aunt Polly was still alive, I wrote to her to see if she could give me any additional information about the family.  She sat and wrote me a letter, again off the top of her head I am certain, and retold nearly everything that was already contained in the book, and both accounts agreed.  She didn't add anything that I didn't already know.

With Dad, the quest has been more than difficult.  For the most part, my account of my research on his side of the family is contained in the chapter (18) I have written about him.

I have always enjoyed Temple work.  I have done a good bit for my ancestors and considerable for others who were non-relatives of mine but who's names were in the Temple awaiting for their work to be done.  The Extraction Program of the Church has enabled the Temples to have names available so that members can do work for others than their own ancestors, if they have not researched and found additional names on their own lines.

The following pages show a descendant chart with my posterity to date, including my sixth great grandchild, Nicole DeVonne Huffman, who was born today, 20 June 1989, as I write this account.  An ancestors chart, extending back nine generations and several pedigree charts that make up my ancestors as far as I have been able to find to date.

What I have researched and collected is on my home computer. My son, Dick, has a copy of most of it on his.  I hope that nothing will be lost in years to come but it will be extended as my children and their children continue the research, and do the temple work that is required.