I love reading historical novels. Even though the characters are fictional, the setting, the dialogue, the plot give credibility. I feel the reality of history. I wonder if many of our ancestors could be characters in novels. Do you have a story like this one in your family background?

My great-great grandmother brought eight children from Germany. Apparently my great-great grandfather had died before the family boarded the ship. Then my great-great grandmother died onboard from cholera. The oldest child was 17. Landing in America, the children were on their own, somehow making contact with relatives and friends from across the country. My great grandfather traveled to Iowa to be raised by a cousin. When he was financially stable, he came to Bellevue, Ohio and began farming. He established a strong legacy with his sons owning about 160 acres each. One of these sons was my grandfather. The land is still in my cousin’s possession today. Does this sound like the start of a novel? I am in awe of the generations who went before me.