Months ago I began putting together a family tree on ancestry.com and surprisingly met distant relatives on my Smith and Wininger sides of the family. But I never expected to find what I found.
Deborah Winegar, a cousin of mine related to me through my grandfather’s sister, found me online and told me all sorts of ancient family drama. She also told me some more interesting things like the fact our Wininger line goes back to the American Revolution and she is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
With Deborah’s help, I put together DAR applications for me and my mother who lives in Anderson, Margaret Smith. Quickly I realized that the lack of a birth certificate for my 92-year-old grandfather, our link to the American Revolution, might have trouble proving his lineage despite the fact he is still alive and so is his brother, Anderson resident Charles Wininger.
It took weeks, but finally I located Grandpa Wininger’s marriage certificate from Knox County 60 years ago and it names his parents. Immediately, I contacted the local chapter of DAR in Naples, Fla., where I live, and the group agreed to sponsor my application and my mother’s to become members of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
In October, we were notified that DAR’s researchers agreed with our findings that our Wininger line did in fact link us to American Revolution soldier Johannes Winegar, a poor farmer born in Virginia. I am proud to know one of my ancestors helped create our free America. I encourage everyone to rediscover their own family history, no matter what you may find.
Camden Smith
Naples, Fla
Letters
Letter: Genealogy research brings reward
I never expected to find what I found
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Letter: Consumer-driven economy will pay off debt
To save America some money — by acclimation of course — let’s not have a presidential election in 2012. We already have a good president who will do his best to kill all Republican bills (DOA) and, consequently, create more good-paying jobs in the $30 per hour range.
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Letter: Gingrich cashes in on political amnesia
Rasmussen says that Romney has flattened nationally. Why?
Two reasons seem to tell the tale. Gingrich has shown that he will fight, and Romney is a Mormon, believed to be a “cult” by a majority of evangelicals. -
Letter: Hiring Winkler not wise spending
As a taxpayer I want to know that my taxes are being spent wisely. Hiring Greg Winkler at a salary of $126,000 is not wise spending.
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Letter: Bill of Rights being nullified by new law
President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act on New Year’s Eve. I doubt many Americans noticed its implications because they do not yet comprehend the big picture. This law, coupled with the Patriot Act, is paving the way for America’s direction toward tyranny.
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Letter: $14 trillion debt started by previous president
I’m a proud atheist who’s lucky enough to know the difference between fact and fantasy.
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Letter: Economy putting people in the gutters
We are now getting the results of putting people in the gutters. We need to take a second look at our government and its policies. It’s not working.
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Viewpoint: Look at Creation Museum from an educational, scientific perspective
I encourage any and all who have interest in this vitally important topic to “go to the source,” to invest the time and energy into exploring The Creation Museum for themselves.
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Letter: Blame the voters for our Congress
Why is insider trading legal for Congress and illegal for the rest of us? They make and enact laws for all of us, but then exempt members of Congress. Somehow this doesn’t seem to pass the smell test.
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Letter: Smith’s firings appear vindictive
Anderson is a city of negative publicity and actions. Why else is Sears leaving? Can we stand four years of vindictive actions and negative reporting?
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Letter: Planned devaluation of dollar is coming
I’ve submitted letters regarding the existence of a global elite for years now. I’m now submitting another one in which I hope readers will take note of.
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Letter: Consumer-driven economy will pay off debt
