Susan Farrell Bankhead, Certified Genealogist (sm)
Pass It On: Tell a Story
A granddaughter, Amanda, recently phoned me for information about her grandfather’s Bankhead family tree. She is age nine and her school teacher gave the class an assignment to complete over the Thanksgiving break. She was asked to find out if there were any “Indians” in the family tree or discover any stories about her ancestors.
Amanda lives in Oregon. I live in Utah. I could have easily sent her a huge database or sent her to one online, but it was important that I took the time to talk with her about her ancestors.
So, I sat in front of my computer while she recorded things on paper in Oregon. It would have been more ideal to sit beside her and help her fill in a chart, but we did the best we could despite the distance between us.
I gave her information on her grandfather, great-grandfather, gg, etc., back to John Henderson Bankhead who was born in Tennessee, moved to Mississippi, married, joined the Mormon church, and migrated with the Mississippi Saints to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.
I told her of the pioneers crossing the plains, how the children had to walk, how meals were cooked over a campfire, and their possible interactions with “Indians.”
It made family history come alive for Amanda, not just a list of names and dates.
When I had given her as much as I felt she needed at the time, I had her read it back to me to make sure she got names and dates right.
Here’s a picture of the papers she wrote: 
As she read her data back to me, I went to FindAGrave and pulled up the tombstone for John Henderson Bankhead. I told her she could find his grave at the website and that it has links to his parents, wife, and children!
She was excited and said, “This is so much fun!”
It was fun for her because SHE was doing it. She told me she thought all I would know about was her grandfather (my husband Bruce) and maybe his father. She was excited to know more about the family.
Tips for getting family members involved while they are young:
- Don’t just hand them a chart all filled out. Give them a chart to fill out on their own. It’s while they are doing the actual writing that things begin to click for them because they have invested some effort in the task.
- Tell them stories about each family member.
- Give them a place to find out more information.
How have you involved young family members in their own family history?
What a great surprise! When I read this I realized that you have a connection to John Henderson Bankhead. My husband is also related to him!
Can you point me to any of the interesting stories and websites that you mentioned in your blog? I totally agree that a family tree is more than just names and dates. The stories are what bring it to life!!
Thank you so much,
Cindy
Cindy: I love it! How fun to find that our husbands are “cousins.” The link to John Henderson Bankhead’s tombstone is already on the blog post. Just click on his name and you’ll get there. There’s lots of info about the Mississippi Saints on the Internet. Just Google “Mississippi Saints” and you’ll find some links. There’s also some pioneer sites that I will have to look up later. Hopefully this will get you started.
Susan:
Thank you for the information. Any additional information you can share will be greatly appreciated!!!
Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Cindy
Susan, very cool article. Cindy referred me too it. My youngest son had a similar school project but he was more interested in the war veterans from the civil war, revolutionary war, etc. I too am related to the Bankheads, my great grandmother was Frankie Bankhead who married Hugh Mortimore Wilkinson.
I personally am no longer a member of the Mormon Chuch but my family on both sides has been crossing paths with the Mormoms all through out the Churchs history. Obviously there is the Bankheads on my paternal side. On my maternal side there is the Ogdens and the Duffields. The Duffields were “jack mormons”, they were not actually in the church, but were friends with the church, and they were on the side of the Mormons before the massacre at Nauvoo, Illinois. I find it all very interesting.
Tim: It’s always fun to find another “cousin.” Maybe someday we should have a Bankhead reunion so we can all meet in person!