Randy challenged us to do a blog about the nicest thing another genealogist has ever done for us. Goodness – that list could go on forever, but on my part I’m going to go way back in time to mention a New York town historian who went way beyond the call of duty for me.
Many years ago, I wrote a lady by the name of Margaret MacNab, who at that time was the Brighton, New York historian. I didn’t know much about my family, except that my great-grandfather, Charles Meitzler, had owned a hotel in West Brighton until his death in 1899. Based on what little I could tell her, Ms. MacNab proceeded to collect information on my family for me. She went to Mt. Hope Cemetery and copied gravestone and sexton info. She went to the courthouse and got naturalization and probate records. She collected vital record data. She even sent me a copy of a booklet that she had written on the area history. She collected and compiled all this stuff – and mailed what I remember as being a rather large package.
Ms. MacNab was an inspiration for me. And although she didn’t know it, she helped me along the road to spending the rest of my life in genealogy – where now and then I’m able to give back just a little of what she gave me.
Boy you can tell Ms. MacNab loved genealogy too. What a kind thing to do. But that is how most researchers are isn’t it. We know what these little things will mean to another researcher. And now we all pay it forward.
Yes, Ms. MacNab was a great person and an example of what a difference a person can make to their users. She passed 3 years ago, and is very much missed (albeit she was 96!).