The Fascination of Family for Story Plots

Family History

As I've delved into my family history, I've found many interesting people. Some are well-known like Mandy's uncle...William "Buffalo Bill" Mathewson. Others, like Mandy, have disappeared into the pages of history, perhaps unknown even to their descendants.

However, I've discovered that these ancestors are fascinating, and I'm working at telling their stories and having them come alive. Some will remain as names on a family tree until I can tell their stories. Others I'll change their names slightly so I can expand upon the events of that day.

Mandy, based upon a young girl who definitely lived, will find her way into your lives as well as her descendants.

"When are you going to finish Mandy's story?" youngsters ask me after I've read them the first chapter or two during my school visits.

Author friends encouage me to do this, too.

So.....I must spend more time with Mandy and complete her story, which is in its first draft.

The Search for Uncle George

As I work some more on Mandy's story, Papa Goes to War, I think about my husband Jim's and my search for Uncle George's grave. From letters and Civil War records, I learned that he, Mandy's uncle (and my great, great uncle) died of dysentery near Atlanta during Sherman's March to the Sea.

Our search finally took us to the Union Cemetery at Marietta. There we actually did find the stone for Uncle George's grave, near the oblisk that marked his unit, as described in an old letter.

In my book, I write about Mandy and her family receiving the news of Uncle George's death and how the seriousness of the war struck home.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Is the Photo the Original Mandy?

I found a photo in my grandmother's photo album of a girl, who may be the "original" Mandy. It's a young girl who, I think, may be the daughter of Uncle James, the widower.

Even if she isn't, I could base my description around her, develop a story about her life that becomes Mandy's story. If I look at the genealogy records a little closer I may find the names of his children. That will tell me if the girl in the photo is my Mandy...the main character of Papa Goes to War.