Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-09-23
County History riention
(Second Article.)

Last week we mentioned that the
second department of the proposed
History of Highland will be devot-
ed to sketches in family history.
p A given sketch will begin with
the pioneer himself. SO far as
trustworthy information can be
had it will give the national ORR
gin and plior residence of the set
tier, the year of his arrival, the
plan of his settlement the names
of lis wife and children, and such
other facts of interest as may be
known.
The postelity is then traced in
the male line to the present year.
AS to posterity in the female line,
the reader will consult the sketch
es of the families into which the
daughters have married. Other
wise, there would be a vast amount
of repetition.
The name of each descendant is
followed by the leading facts of his
or her career. This mention will
state whether the person is living
cr not, and if not living whether
deceased in childhood or adult age;
whether married one or more times,
and if so to whom, with further
statement as to whether of this
county or not. There is further
mention of place OF residence, occu-
patton, military record, etc. TO
determine the period in which a
2crson lived, dates or birth, mar
rage or death, will frequently. be
given, but not in the case of those
persons of the present generation,
who are below middle age.
Where m individual has had an
academic education, followed a
professional career, or held civil or
military office, or otherwise achiev-
ed some prominence, there is a
brief statement of the fact with re-
gard to such matters but no estl-
mated geographic mention,
When a person moves out OF the
county. his destination is given
but not followed up.
The inquiries which will be sent
out at an early day will include full
instructions for the guidance of
those who undertake to supply in
formation. In the two histories
the compiler has previously writ
ten, the facts of family history
were mainly gathered through per-
sonal interviews. Henceforward,
it will not as a rule be possible for
him to follow this plan, There is
certain advantage in taking notes
from oral information, but there is
also a disadvantage. In the sur
prise of the moment and perhaps
also the hurry, various facts are Ii
able to be overlooked.
Any person at all likely to be
called on for information should, in
the meanwhile, refresh his memory
with regard to names, dates and
other facts in the family record
Old papers containing information
of value should be looked up, for
sometimes these are very impor-
tant.
But no person, even if not spec
tally looked up or written to, should
stand back from offering informa-
ton which perhaps no one else can
furnish. No history of the county
has yet been written, and no other
will be written for many years to
come. 1t therefore stands us all in
hand to have anything of informa-
ton brought forward. The annals
of this region go back more than
100 years. Persons have recently
passed away whose aid would have
been of great value. What can still
be got should be made available.
To make the book a full success,
there is needed not only a general
patronage by the people of the
county, but also a general cooper
alton in furnishing the data requir-
ed in this preparation.
! Other phases of the history will
be presented in future issues of the
Recorder. Look out for them.