Let's Get Started !!

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

This is how I decided to "kick-off" my family history blog.  For a long while I have wanted to tell of what I was learning about my ancestors but kept procrastinating. Sadly, the loss of my research comrade was the trigger that told me it was the time to start.

IMAGE: Edwin J. Ostrom (1940-2015).
Photo from Ed's private collection

Edwin Junior Ostrom was not only part of my family, he was also my friend, fellow family historian and a very fine person. Ed was my second cousin, but more like a brother. It is sad that he passed away recently.

Ed and I became acquainted in the 1990's.  I had posted a query on one of the RootsWeb message boards inquiring about the Ostrom family from Elbow Lake, Minnesota.  Luckily Ed soon posted back to me asking how was I connected and the rest is history.  From that day on, whenever either one of us would make a discovery, we were writing or calling the other.  It was fun and exciting all at the same time.  I can remember the first time we were to meet face to face; both of us were so very excited.  It was like we had always known each other.

It was during a private moment at Ed's funeral that his wife told me that Ed wanted me to have his computer that contained all of his family history work.  I was touched by his caring and thoughtfulness.  As soon as I got over the surprise, I began to wonder what I could do in his honor.

One thing I knew for sure was that Ed wanted to have his information placed online. He and I had talked about publishing his work a number of times, but he never felt confident enough to place it there himself.  It wasn't long before I knew that the best legacy I could make for Ed was to contribute his work to the web for him.

Ed had great luck in that he had aging relatives who wanted to tell him about their memories; and he had the skill and determination to write what he heard. Surnames of Ed's interest include Ostrom, Emerson, Brekke, Nilson, Caplan, Bezdek, Greenhouse and Jelinkova; his geography areas include Oregon, Minnesota, North Dakota, Norway, Illinois, Czech Republic and Russia. It is important that his information doesn't get lost to time and that's where I can help.

I am truly a beginner with keeping a blog, but I am going to give it my best. Here is my plan. I am thinking of publishing Ed's work in two directions. One is right here, on Wednesdays I will publish a story that Ed wrote and include photographs, maps, etc. that go along with the telling. I am doing to call this "Ed's Day Wednesday." The other direction is to add his family tree to Ancestry.com. This second goal may take a few more days to get started, but I'll be sure to tell you when I get that done.

So now that I have announced to you that this is my direction, I am committed.  Wish me luck. It is going to be an adventure!