Explore family history with help from Rootseekers
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–When individuals hear about a genealogy group, most imagine hours of boring research into one’s family history.
But genealogy is much more than that. As the history of each individual is uncovered, so is the history of the community they are from.
The Rootseekers Genealogy Society (RSGS) formed 19 years ago, back when the Mabank library was meeting in the old Mabank bank building. They shared a small space at the back of the building with the library.
Even then, their numbers were fairly strong as there are about 35 members listed as charter members.
Currently, the RSGS meets at 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month, at Tri-County Library with a member present on Tuesday morning to help beginning researchers.
Good fellowship and surprises about personal family history are just a small reward paid to researchers who wish to discover the interesting lives led by their ancestors.
Grace Donovan and Charles Beale are members who are often genealogy helpers at the library.
From the beginning, the members developed a habit of helping beginning researchers with the various techniques used in discovering their roots.
“We believe family research should be freely accessed. We don’t charge (when we help someone),” Skip Gustafson, outgoing Rootseekers president said.
Most of the members are also members of other historical clubs such as the Sons or the Daughters of the American Revolution, Confederacy, etc.
Researching military records reveals a surprising amount of information, Gustafson added.
“The wars include The Revolutionary War - 1776 to 1783, war of 1812 -1815, the War Between the States - 1861 to 1865 and of course, World War I and World War II,” Gustafson explained.
Member Bob Stokes updates, and is responsible for, the club’s informative and easily accessed website, www.rootseekers.org.
Most of the members have functions they actively take part in.
Stokes is also the editor of the newsletter and other RSGS publications.
Two of the women members are involved in interviewing veterans for their stories.
The club members are constantly building their own research base for items such as 40,000 obituaries they have catalogued for the counties of Kaufman, Van Zandt and Henderson.
They have a collection of history on Mabank and surrounding communities.
Their collection of news papers transferred onto microfiche and microfilm dates back to some of the first copies of The Mabank Banner.
They have enumerated many Kaufman County cemeteries.
Gustafson named other information items researchers can delve into, such as articles written by members showing their research.
Information lists include a wide collection of local history such as:
• a list of superintendents of Kemp Independent School District.
• valedictorians of Mabank High School.
• pictures of the early beginnings of the city of Mabank.
• actions of the Kaufman County Commissioners during the Civil War and many other little known historical facts.
But not all the information is centered around the local area. Some reach out to other states and genealogy organizations.
For instance, one past RSGS member even submitted a list of the charter members of the First Church in Salem, Mass.