Richard & Rachel Thompson, Established 1946

You can thank Millie Redweik for this book. She is currently in charge of the historical exhibits for the Star City Sesquicentennial (scheduled for July 31 August 2, 2009). She asked everyone she knew to write up something about their families' histories in Pulaski County.

Well. A few months and a few hundred pages later, here it is. This is a little more than she expected!

Sister Linda looked for, found and mailed all of the genealogical research she had done on both Mom's family and Dad's family. Thank you, Linda.

Special thanks go to Melody Miller for Thompson additions and Chris Pool for a wealth of information regarding the Phillips family.

I hounded cousins and siblings, some of whom gladly sent data. Some did not want to be included, or did not want much to be included about them.

One of my friends said, "You're pretty brave. I tried to do this and half the family isn't speaking to me anymore."Another said, "99% of your family will think you didn't get it right, and you'll be paying for it for the rest of your life."

Well, if so, then let it be. I did this for me as much as for the family. This is not the first time I tried.

In 1982, I asked Linda for all of her research with the same goal in mind. I then dropped the ball and didn't get back to the book for 27 years. What I missed was the opportunity to sit down with many people and hear from them first hand what their lives were like. Linda took the opportunity when we were much younger. I let that chance go by.

I hope that this document - which is not perfect and which is certainly not all-inclusive - can stand as a beginning for persons who want to learn more or for younger generations who want to carry it forward.

It was a little difficult to figure out how to set it up, and those of you who read it from cover to cover (my gosh, if you do, please let me know!) might think that I repeat myself. It is written so that people who want to focus on one branch of the family can do so without having to read everything.

The Appendix is multi-family. There is a little bit to interest anyone who is interested in any particular branch. The Table of Contents for the Appendix can be found on that first page.

So, with much love to Mom, Dad and everyone whose name appears in this book, here goes. I hope you enjoy!

Dettagli