This post is by Doris McCraw
Where do you come from? How does it affect how you see the world? What kind of history is there? These and other questions came up as I read a friends Facebook post, he performs as T.R., of a quote from Roosevelt in Keokuk Iowa. Now as I am sure most of you have ascertained, I am a history buff. In fact the librarians here now call me ‘historian’. I find I like the title. But back to my questions.
Where do you come from? The television shows, ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ which was on NBC and ‘Finding Your Roots‘ on PBS were about looking into your ancestry. I know one great-grandfather was from Germany. Another was so stubborn that although he had served in the Great War (WWI) he would not allow his four sons to be inducted for WWII unless he could also re-enlist. Guess who won? Yes, my great-grandfather. I had the pleasure of knowing the one from Germany, but am more like the other one.
What kind of history is there? I am from Illinois, having grown up about twenty miles from the Mississippi river. Quincy Illinois was about thirty-five miles south-west of my home town. Did you know that Quincy was one of the cities on the Lincoln/Douglas debate tour? I also was just across the river from Keokuk Iowa. In the 1880’s there was a medical school in that town and I know of two women who attended who practiced medicine in Colorado prior to 1880. Keokuk also has one of the twelve original national cemeteries designated by Congress. To add to that, Nauvoo and Carthage Illinois were also nearby and they figured predominately in the migration of the people of the Mormon religion.
The historic Carthage Jail (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
How does this affect how you see the world? I really do believe growing up in this region fueled my love of history. At one point I could tell the story of the death of Joseph Smith in the Old Carthage Jail better than some of the experts. I was constantly going there because the history fascinated me. Hannibal Missouri was also close by and I grew up near Sam Clemens country. Being surrounded by this environment had a profound influence on who I became. This was the area of many of my ancestors and I wanted to know all about all of them. It also was in a farming community and since there were not many other young people around I spent a great deal of time with the elderly and listening to their stories. In many ways it was a blessed life.
I know that much of my writing and my voice are due to the influence of the area I came from. The people, the history and the physicality of the region are all part of who I am. It also has informed how I have responded to my adopted home state. It is a gift I am happy to have been given. How about you? Where do you come from?
Read the Monday through Friday haiku and photo post at: http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com
Keira's Place 