Why We Are Motivated To Research Family History

THE STORYTELLERS

We are the chosen. In each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors – to put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story, and to feel that somehow they know and approve.

To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before.

We are the storytellers of the tribe. All tribes have one.

We have been called by our genes. Those who have gone before cry out to us: tell our story. So we do. In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors you have a wonderful family you would be proud of us? How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me?

I cannot say.

It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do. It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying I can’t let this happen. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it. It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family. It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation.

It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do. With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are them and they are us. So, as a scribe is called, I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take their place in the long line of family storytellers.

That is why I do genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and put flesh on the bones.

This above poem is variously attributed to Tom Dunn (editor), Melody Hall (editor), Della M. Cummings Wright (author), Della’s granddaughter Della JoAnn McGinnis Johnson (rewritten), and that great provider of all works of literature we don’t know the provenance for, Anonymous.   – Attribution, comments, and published to the Internet by “wanderernolonger.”

DJ's personal note: Some years back a close relative remarked -- "...you seem to care more about the dead than those of us who are living." I admittedly was taken back a bit but did not reply. Well... it's an untrue statement.  I feel this unfortunate thoughtless opinion lacks logical refinement.  But, it is likely not unique among many folks in the general population. Distant cousin Ann Stanton recently called our attention to Ms. Wright's above-cited poem on storytelling. Her written work conveys the accurate family genealogist's feeling and the true mission we follow as those many miles traveled take us to visit new and ancient burial grounds both near and far. We the storytellers know today that a curious unknowable descendant perhaps in many future years -- scores from this day -- will strongly appreciate the genealogical work we now do.  I'm confident they will pick up this duty-bound storyteller mission and expand our work with new and improved ancestry history research.  djp

On Autosomal DNA Testing

DNA double helix, public domain from Dreamstime.com

Autosomal DNA testing hasn't been very helpful in my case (and I don't think this is unusual). What is confirmed over and over again is my mom is my mother, dad is my father, and my older brother is my brother. Almost all of my 1st-thru-3rd cousins identified as my "DNA Matches" were previously known or recently discovered, so the suggested DNA match more or less confirmed the known facts. But the autosomal DNA test has not helped much with family genealogy research.

So, is DNA testing a waste of time? Well maybe for most folks, unless a person is unsure about their true blood-related family as may occur in an adoption, etc. I always thought maybe I fell off the back of a milk truck (mom always liked the milk delivery man)... but Lil is my Mom. And I think on several occasions dad felt like disowning me as a pre-teen and teenager -- but it seems Dad is my Dad.

I did find a previously unknown paternal 2nd cousin, but unfortunately, Colonel Bob Janzen, USAF was then deceased (Bob passed away in 2016, two years before discovery). Bob and I are in the same generation from the closest common ancestor, our Great Grandmother Ms. Effie Julia (Odell) Moegling. Seems that cousin Bob had taken the 23andMe DNA Test in an unsuccessful attempt to track the origin of the Parkinson's Disease that took his life. Sad to have missed the opportunity to discuss ancestry subjects with Bob... naturally over a couple of beers. I'm unsure if Bob was satisfied with his DNA test research, but I think probably not.

RIP Colonel Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen, USAF (ret.)

P.S.  Should have added that our interesting common ancestry takes us back to early New England settlers Captain George Denison (d.1694, Hartford, CT) and Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677, Stonington, CT).  The following lineage chart shows Thomas Stanton Sr. --  to -- Colonel Bob Janzen link (note: Thomas Stanton Jr.'s wife Sarah Denision (d.1701) is the eldest child of Captain George Denison): 

Thomas Stanton Sr. (1616 - 1677)
10th great-grandfather

Thomas Stanton Jr. (1638 – 1718) and Sarah Denison (d.1701)
son of Thomas Stanton Sr.

William Stanton (1677 - 1718)
son of Thomas Stanton Jr. and Sarah Denison

Sarah Stanton (1708 - 1755)
daughter of William Stanton

Sarah Richardson (1734 - 1812)
daughter of Sarah Stanton

Sarah Brainerd (1762 - 1828)
daughter of Sarah Richardson

Hannah Smith (1789 – 1840) and Isaac Odell (d.1840)
daughter of Sarah Brainerd

William Sheldon Odell (1817 - 1891)
son of Hannah Smith and Isaac Odell

Albert G. Odell (1839 - 1892)

son of William Sheldon Odell

Effie Julia Odell (1862 - 1924)

daughter of Albert G. Odell

Alice Edith Gorton-Moegling-Brazinski-Gignac (1885-1935)

daughter of Effie Julia Odell

Edna Elizabeth "Betty" Brazinski (1915-1978)

daughter of Alice Edith Gorton-Moegling-Brazinski-Gignac

Colonel Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen (1935-2016)

son of Edna Elizabeth "Betty" Brazinski

A Photographic Remembrance Of Brian "Yo" Jones

One of Yo's last "surprise" visits to a friend... 

Ed Button (IHS-1961) Remembers: "The picture was taken on or about 25 August 2020, two weeks before Brian died.  We were in my living room when Yo paid me an unexpected visit.  By luck, I had the Ilion "T-shirt" on that he presented to me in 2015 when I was in the nursing home.  I was shocked when I learned he had passed away."

Bill "Yavor" Yavoritzki's (IHS-1961) tribute to his lifelong buddy Brian "Yo" Jones appropriately and succinctly states our collective feelings on hearing of Yo's untimely passing.

Yavor writes...

"Relationships, experiences, and memories of our childhood years as well as our so-called "Golden Years” come to mind as I recall a wonderful legacy of this gentle soul. Brian touched the lives of many with his wit, determination, love of sports, our community, our country, and his many friends and cherished family. Knowing Brian remains a 'fun' experience from our North Street School days to our "Golden Bomber" Ilion High School days. Rest in peace knowing that you will always be loved by your family and the many, many friendships that you made."

Ilion Elementary School "The North Street School" where Brian (left) and Bill "Yavor" Yavornitzki are actors in a 3rd-grade play. 

A May 1955 image of Mrs. Baldwin's Sixth Grade Class at North Street School, Ilion, NY.  Most of these "kids" made it through Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High School with Brian.

"Yo" and "Yavor" in their mid-to-late teens for some fun and "Happy Days" in a Sylvan Beach Amusement Park photo booth.

Photo Collage - High School Junior and Senior Years

Yo and his young sons are all smiles in this fine camera shot (believed to be sons Ryan and George).  

Bill "Yavor" Yavornitzki tells us one of these images was shot when he was disabled with a broken foot.  Unable to drive, Yo makes a visit to take Yavor shopping for necessary consumable supplies. A characteristic kindness all Yo's friends will fondly recall.

 

 

Remembering the strongly talented high school and college champion wrestler Brian "Yo" Jones.  Images are copied from the IHS 1960 Yearbook "The Mirror" - the 1961 FSHS Yearbook "Maroon Log" - and the 1965 SUNY Oswego "Ontarian" Yearbook. 

Ilion High School 1959/1960 Wrestling Team, "Yo" is standing on the far right side, brother "PeeWee" is standing on the far left side.  In 1959/1960, the skilled Jones Brothers were both Section III Wrestling Champions in their respective weight classes.

1961 Frankfort-Schuyler High School Senior Class Wrestlers.  Yo is kneeling on the left.  Copied from FSHS Yearbook "Maroon Log"

Copied from the 1965 SUNY Oswego Yearbook "Ontarian."  Brian "Yo" Jones is kneeling on the far left side.  Yo is the 1964 SUNY Oswego  Wrestling SUNYAC and ECWC Individual Champion (123-lb weight class) and the 1965 Wrestling SUNYAC and ECWC Individual Champion (137-lb weight class). 

  

Brian's Patented "Hang Loose" Greeting and His Typical Infectious Smile (date: August 2016).

A Life Motto: Never forget a friend, keeping each association fresh through frequent and thoughtful visits with new friends, older friends, and very old friends.  The unexpected kind phone call or the caring surprise visit are recalled as Yo's deeply held trademark.  Several images follow reminding us of this charismatic truth.

Old friends and school chums Robert "Cork" Ortlieb, Brian "Yo" Jones, and Tony "Simi" Simonetti at Oneida Lake.

Ilion School Friends Brian "Yo", Marianne "Mo", Florence "Flo", and Tony "Toe" attending a couple of dated class reunions.

Lifelong friends Brian and John Moody perhaps in the late 1960s.

"Yo" and "Yavor" at one of the many gatherings with friends... hair color, tie, and collar design strongly suggest an early 1970s event.

SUNY Oswego wrestling team classmates Yo and Brian McGann visiting near the beach (dated 2016). 

And now the rest of the true story... a few tributes from Brian's friends as expressed a few days after his untimely passing on September 8, 2020. The remembrance compiler selected a couple of sentences from these 2020 sympathy expressions. To view/review Brian's complete obituary and sympathy writings see Ironside Funeral Home obituary/tribute wall,  click HERE.

"We have lost one of the most caring and loving friends we have ever know. Brian and I have been friends for over 70 years... from North Street School till now. Brian was a person who would always be there for anyone who needed anything, his friends who love him reside all over the country."  Marianne (Kurkowski) Feuerstein (IHS Class of 1961)

"Brian was one of the most genuine of men... a SUNY Oswego wrestling great, he was always kind and thoughtful. Brian was always at a friend’s side in times of need, without ever having been asked."  Bill and Ruth Wilson, SUNY Oswego classmates, 1966 & 1967

"Brian was a unique person who was a joy to all lucky enough to have known him. I graduated from Frankfort High School with him and we shared many of our most important times together, weddings, children's births, bad times, and loss of loved ones. Brian's excellent wrestling ability, the best I ever knew, proved a great incentive to many of the younger team members."  George “Jr” Grizzuto (FSHS Class of 1961)

"Yo phoned me maybe eight years past right out of the blue... we must have talked for two hours about younger year things, catching up on a near half-century past deeds. What a competent and capable communicator! The 1960 IHS Bomber Wrestlers hold fond memories of Yo's athletic accomplishments and remain strongly proud to have known a genuine New York State Section Three Wrestling Champion." Dave Paul (IHS Class of 1961)

"Brian touched the lives of many with his wit, determination, love of sports, our community, country, and his many friends and cherished family. Knowing Brian has been a lifelong "fun" experience."  Bill Yavornitzki (IHS Class of 1961)

"Yo was a dear friend.  When you were with him, he always made you feel that you were the most important person of the moment. Yo is known to show up unannounced in wide and varied U.S. locations. We are all blessed to have been part of the life of a truly wonderful person.  FSHS Wrestling Coach Campo is waiting in Heaven to give Yo a few more disciplinary laps, thinking Yo could have won wrestling matches by more than one point." WHAT A REUNION!"  Mickey Manore (FSHS Class of 1961)

"Brian was a very special caring guy who spread so much kindness, love, and laughter to so many people whose life’s he touched. Brian took much joy in “surprising” friends with a visit. He was the “glue” in many long-time friendships and will be missed by so many special friends that he always made an effort to reach out to."  Jeanne & Mike Morris (IHS Class of 1961)

"Brian and I met through wrestling and we had an instant connection.  He was my Best Man at my wedding on 5/3/1969. We both got drafted in 1966, and later met up at Ft Dix and Ft Monmouth in New Jersey. He was the most loyal and caring man I ever met... a  friend for 55 years... we have lost a good one. RIP Yo, Joe Brian Jones."  John Shiel (SUNY Oswego)

A Compiler's Note: A family tree for "Yo" is created at Ancestry.com -- Joseph Brian "Yo" Jones Family Tree -- the new tree takes Yo's lineage back to his great-grandparents.  Ancestry.com subscribers might want to view Yo's family tree and contribute other known information. Jones Family memorial profiles have also been created at FindAGrave.com where Yo and most of his family had no remembrances created (to view click HERE ).  The images collected here are mainly sourced from public domain Internet-based research and the private collection of contributors. Many public images are found involving Yo's activities, but a careful look finds Yo not present in many published photos.  Yo's friends will recognize the obvious reason... "Yo" shot many of the available images and he personally published them (a fact we shall all certainly miss).  Also noted the Facebook group "Ilion High School Class of 1961" has essentially been dominant for the last year.  Maintaining this Facebook group with fresh material was another of Yo's special attention activities.  No case can be immediately recalled where Yo was not in possession of a favorite camera... shooting photos that he typically quickly published. Many thanks for YO's caring image documentation.