And finding a contemporary Stanton Family Cousin,
Colonel Robert L. "Bob" Janzen, USAF (ret.)
Autosomal DNA testing hasn't been very helpful in my case (and I think this is not 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 test activity "DNA Matches" were previously known or recently discovered, so the suggested DNA-match list more or less confirms prior known facts. Autosomal DNA tests have not helped much with more distant family genealogy research, but doubtless other family storytellers have experienced better DNA-Match research production.
So, is autosomal DNA testing a waste of time? Well maybe for many folks, unless a person is unsure about their ethnicity and/or may hold questions about their true blood-related family as may occur in an adoption, etc., etc.. So why a waste of time [??] -- the fact is a vast majority of DNA-match contact attempts go unanswered in personal experience! It seems that a significant percentage of DNA test takers submit DNA samples to simply verify their ethnicity and/or to confirm their paternal/maternal linkage... and once determined they simply loose interest in more genealogical research... going away never to return. I always thought maybe I fell off the back of a milk delivery truck (Mom always liked that milk-man). However, by DNA testing, Lillian-is-my-Mom. And I think on many occasions my Dad Steve felt like disowning me as a pre-teen and teenager -- perhaps suspicious about that friendly milkman. But it seems that by DNA, Dad-is-my-Dad.
A Sad, But Successful DNA-Match Finding: -- A previously unknown paternal 2nd cousin was found using our DNA match results; but unfortunately, Colonel Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen, USAF (retired) was deceased (Bob passed away in 2016, two years before his discovery). Bob and I are in the same generation relative to our closest common ancestor, our mutual Great Grandmother Ms. Effie Julia (Odell) Moegling (1862-1924). Seems that cousin Bob took the 23andMe DNA Test in an unsuccessful attempt to track the origin of the Parkinson's Disease that took his life. These facts relating to Bob's passing were confirmed back in 2019 by his beloved wife Jenny (note: Bob's brother Carl, a U.S. Army Veteran, also passed away from Parkinson's Disease in 2011). Very 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 thinking he was probably disappointed with this personal medical research project.
Colonel Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen, USAF (1935-2016) joined the U.S. Air Force in 1958, honorably serving his county for 28 years. Bob is a 1953 graduate of Pelham Memorial High School, Pelham, New York; Colgate University, Hamilton, New York (with BA); and, Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri (with MS). He is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. Bob's many Air Force assignments were in various overseas duty stations and in the continental USA locations including a tour of duty at the former Griffiss Air Force Base, Rome, New York, and with several Air Force commands in the State of Virginia & Washington DC. While in active military service, Bob also graduated from the Air Command Staff College and the Air War College. He was awarded numerous medals and commendations throughout his distinguished career including: the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the National Defence Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Following his U. S. Air Force retirement, Bob and his beloved wife Jennifer made their home in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Virginia, USA. Bob was interred with full military honors at Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, Virginia, USA. Our common ancestor is Great Grandmother Ms. Effie Julia (Odell) Moegling (d.1924).
P.S. Should have added that our interesting common ancestry takes Bob and I back to both 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 linkage. Also note: Thomas Sr. eldest son Thomas Stanton Jr.'s wife Sarah Denision (d.1701) is the eldest child of the famous Captain George Denison (d.1694). Captain George Denison and Thomas Stanton Sr. are two of our common 10th great-grandfathers:
Thomas Stanton Sr. (1616 - 1677)
10th
great-grandfather
Thomas Jr. is son of Thomas Stanton Sr.
son of Thomas Stanton Jr. and Sarah Denison
daughter of William Stanton
daughter of Sarah Stanton
daughter of Sarah Richardson
daughter of Sarah Brainerd
son of Hannah Smith and Isaac Odell
