I had no idea what was in store for me when Aunt Maggie asked if I had a picture of Grandma Nellie Newland that she could have copied for her children.  Of course, finding the picture of my grandma was no problem.  I had in my possession an old trunk full of pictures that had belonged to my mom and dad, and I knew there were numerous family photos inside,  I had briefly browsed the contents after my parents had passed away; and realizing the monumental task of sorting, identifying, and attempting to get them to the proper families had seemed too large to tackle at the time.  So, I decided to wait until my brother came for a visit and ask for his help.  That was several years ago, and the trunk had nearly been forgotten . . . until Aunt Maggie asked for that picture of grandma.
When I opened the trunk after all those years, I was greeted by faces of members of the family who had gone to their reward long ago.  Some brought back happy thoughts of my childhood and events that had faded into the back of my memory.  Others filled me with such sadness as I recalled days that were long gone, and unsaid words that should have been spoken, unfulfilled deeds that should have been done.  Still others left me puzzled.  There were so many pictures of people who I could not identify.  I knew they were family members, and I could recall places where I had seen them . . . reunions, birthday parties, funerals, . . .but they were like strangers.  This should never happen!  Not within your own family!
Then it occured to me that there were so many people I could identify who would be a complete mystery to my children unless I took action to acquaint them with their ancestors.
That should not be too difficult an undertaking . . . should it?
Was I in for a shock!
A Family gathering at the American Legion Park
Blackwell, Oklahoma ca 1936
LOLA NELLIE ROBERTSON NEWLAND
There is no such thing as a "little bit of family history."  I discovered this when I decided to delve into genealogy.
Webster describes genealogy as the science of tracing pedigrees.  It is not that simple and it should contain a warning that it is addictive!  Let this serve as MY warning to any of my children, grandchildren, or any of my descendants who would endeavor to continue with "TO BE CONTINUED."  Let me also assure you that the rewards are too numerous to mention.
You will become aquainted with people that once existed and they will, through your research and interest, exist once again.  Your mind will envision them as they were, you will begin to share their experiences and understand their joys and sorrows.  Life was not easy for many of them, but they were sturdy and determined and they hung on to their existence with hard work and faith in God.  And most importantly, they helped make you who you are today.
The Newland tree is an old one... tall, sturdy, and spreading; growing stronger each year.  Our roots more than likely began in Germany, with the Uland, Ulant spelling in Bavaria.  Then we migrated to America and settled in Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.  But we did not stop there, we pushed into Indiana, Kentucky, and into Missouri where we sank our deepest roots.  From there we pushed on west and today we have family members in every state.
Some of the names on our roots are Robertson, Cockrell, Botts, Hicks, Bullard, Clanton, Beckley, Hudson, Tate, Brammer, Lafferty, Collyar, Flick, Smith, Dutton, Jenkins, Miller, Riddle, Baker, Prince, Schmidt, Anthony...just to name a few.
We have doctors, lawyers, politicians, ministers, carpenters, farmers, laborers...
We have teachers, writers, poets, musicians, painters, masons, millers...
We have yankees and we have rebels.
We have family members who served in every branch of the military.
We have brave men and we have cowards.
We have honest men and we have scoundrels.
We have not, to my knowledge, produced a rocket scientist; but we have had those who worked the fields and tilled the land and grew the crops that fed those scientist.  Without people like our family, this land would still be a wilderness.  You can make your own judgement as to the value of that statement.
We are of different faiths, different backgrounds, with different ideals and goals... but we are family.  And that is what makes us special!
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