Series: The Susie Situation
This family mystery centers around the Carver family in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. In 1912 the family's house and barn both burn down on the same day in July. This is right around the time that 14-year-old Susie was sent to a school for girls. After years of wondering if these events are related and what really happened here, I started digging into deeper, with the help of newly digitized newspaper articles and a genealogist in Nebraska. Cousins Kate and Melody have been helping with research, gathering thoughts, and asking questions, and as more cousins think of things, we're collecting their thoughts as well. If you are a cousin with information that we don't have, about this or any other family event, please email carverhistorical@outlook.com and send your thoughts, or get a phone number from me for further conversation.
If you prefer video and want to start at the beginning, the YouTube Playlist is here.
My family left us many things - a predisposition to cancer, diminutive stature, a distinct lack of generational wealth. They neglected to leave photos. We don't know what Grandpa looked like, or two of our three aunts. Those three aunts died way too soon and really needed to meet more men. That's what we've decided from where we sit -- three nieces and grand nieces, learning about Dad's three sisters, while we unravel a 100 year old mystery that we're calling "The Susie Situation." Our story starts with a fire.
Last week we talked about Fires and Farts. This week? Seventh Grade and Scams. We meet Aunt Sina and find out how Melody became hooked on Family history.
We meet Aunt Florence and find out how Nancy became hooked on Family history. Sometimes if we look at the stories we've been telling ourselves, we'll realize they aren't quite what we thought.
We meet Aunt Susie and find out how Kate became hooked on Family history. Plus, what are Genograms? And were the Carvers really horse thieves?
I decide to hire a genealogist and discover that a Kincaid homestead is a big homestead, up to 640 acres. No wonder Grandma and Grandpa decided to move! And no wonder the news article said that losing their home on a Kincaid homestead was such a big loss! Now I'm waiting for the genealogist to find court records, which will take time.
How far would you go for your Significant Other? Would you eat the food she likes? Move to the city he loves? Would you change religions? If your man were big into blackmail, would you participate?
Actual copies of the documents mentioned in Hot For You. Note that the transcription is available right now, but I am still working on making the actual handwritten documents available and will have that later today (March 3, 2024.)
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