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From: <>
Subject: [BLACK-L] How I Got Started in Genealogy
Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 12:16:39 EDT

It's time to bare my soul.

I had two reasons to start my genealogy. Reason 1: When I was a very small
child until adulthood, I have always thought and pretended to be German. I
loved Germany. Reason 2: In my immediate family we had so many divorces, and
since the Bible speaks of the generation sins, I began to wonder who was the
first person in my lineage that divorced. My maiden name is Danner, which is
a German name. My father always said that it was, but it didn't sound German
to me. I just didn't know the German alphabet either. Since I'm in the Air
Force, I finally received orders in 1987 to go to Germany. When I arrived, it
was as though I was finally home. I was in awe of everything; this was home!
My German friends could not believe how quickly I picked up the language, and
they said, "I was more German than their own children." I started doing my
research while stationed there, and found the village where some of my Danner
ancestors came from. My friends would explain to the village folks that I was
an American "soldat" searching for my ancestors. The village people were so
helpful to find the house where they lived before moving to America. After my
return to the United States in 1993, having spent 6 years in Germany, I was
stationed at Andrews AFB MD which is close to Washington DC. I immediately
began a more intense study of my family. I did a lot of census work at the
Archives. In the Pike County, Alabama, 1830 census, I found my g-g-g-
grandfather with two children but no wife. I assumed that she had died.
While at the National Genealogical Society library, I found a book which
mentioned Abraham Danner in Twiggs/Wilkerson Counties Georgia. There had been
a letter left at the Post Office in Marion for Anna Danner. Abraham's son's
name was Thomas Marion who married Mary Ann Black. One day I was on the
internet, and found a unique web site called, "Tracking Your Roots" by Lisa.
This site was strictly for Alabama counties. Low and behold, she had a link
to divorces in Alabama. I thought what the heck, search and see what you
might find--not really thinking any of my relatives would appear in that
section. There was Abraham Danner; he divorced Anna 14 Dec 1827. I am
stationed at Maxwell AFB AL, which is home, and can now do local work. It's
interesting to note that Abraham had to go before the state legistures three
times before he could get a divorce. (We don't know why they got a divorce,
and don't know what happened to Anna.) Now this explains the German and
divorce reasons, but since I've started, I'm hooked. History has taken on new
meaning to me. I believe that if History teachers would get children to do
their genealogy, history would have a new meaning and be even more interesting
that ever before. Since my parents divorced when I was so young, I did not
know their parents as well as I would like. And now I feel I know my parents
better, just from being more knowledgeable about genealogy issues, questions
to ask, and medical issues.

God Bless You All in Genealogy Efforts

Wanda Danner Mehlhof

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