Family Ancestry

Hello friends,

Over the past couple of weeks my son has been working on a project collecting information regarding family ancestry. This project has rekindled my desire to understand my roots better.

I was adopted and am fortunate to know my birth Mother. That part of the puzzle is intact and I learned new information due to my son's project - things I didn't know - which is very cool.

Now I want to find my birth Father, but the task isn't easy. His name is James Anderson - a very common name. From what my birth Mother has told me he graduated in 1968 from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Business Management . He was working at an insurance company for the summer months, and it was at that insurance company that they met. In late August of 1968, he was going to boot camp and then into the Air Force. They dated during the summer months. He enjoyed hanging out at the fraternity house, which was Delta Chi.

Years ago, before my son was born I believe my birth Mother found him through the University of Minnesota alumni association. She sent "Jim Anderson" a letter, but did not get a reply.  At the time this "Jim Anderson" lived in Medford, OR.  I have a friend in Medford that did some checking and I believe this "Jim Anderson" now lives in Eagle Point, OR. Again, that is IF this is THE James Anderson.

I can understand a person's reluctance to want to accept what happened so many years ago.  I don't know what I would do if I received an email or call from someone claiming to be my child, but as a Father I think I would try to give the person the closure they need in life.  There's a gap in my history and I feel I need to fill it for my own sake (and for the sake of my children).

Why am I writing this blog post?  To put it out there into the universe for you all to read, to put it out there in hopes that somewhere someone knows a man named James Anderson who graduated in 1968 from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Business Management.  I want to fill in the blanks!

I have been blessed with a wonderful family.  My late Dad, Mom and sisters, Uncles, Aunts, cousins are fantastic.  This isn't about wanting to encroach on anyone's life or be added to a Christmas card list. This is about knowledge.

Anyhow, please share this blog post around.  If you happen to be in Oregon and anywhere near Eagle Point let me know.  Maybe you can drop by and ask this "Jim" some questions.

I have been sending "Friend Requests" on Facebook to people named "James Anderson" in an effort to see if one of them is him.

Just seeking closure...not getting any younger...

***UPDATE***
Turns out I had the wrong guy as my birth Father.  My daughter took a DNA test at Ancestry.com.  I decided to take one to see what my heritage looked like and a bonus is that it connects you to people who have the same DNA.  My daughter came up immediately as a match (showing up as a child) and I had a handful of 3rd, 4th and 5th cousins.  I emailed them to see if they were related to who I thought my birth father was, no luck.  After awhile I decided I didn't want to pay the premium at Ancestry.com so I quit.  Well, a couple of weeks ago I was contacted by someone who was showing up at my first cousin.  Her mother only had one sibling and he didn't have children.  After trying to figure out how this could be she emailed me - I gave her the information I had,  Turns out my birth Mother had it wrong.  The end of the story is that I now know my birth Father - he has lived very close to me for the past 47 years,  We've had lunch, a family dinner and several calls and lots of emails.  This is a happy ending to this story,  My kids will now know both my birth Mother and birth Father,

Mark Harvey

Family Ancestry

Hello friends,

Over the past couple of weeks my son has been working on a project collecting information regarding family ancestry. This project has rekindled my desire to understand my roots better.

I was adopted and am fortunate to know my birth Mother. That part of the puzzle is intact and I learned new information due to my son's project - things I didn't know - which is very cool.

Now I want to find my birth Father, but the task isn't easy. His name is James Anderson - a very common name. From what my birth Mother has told me he graduated in 1968 from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Business Management . He was working at an insurance company for the summer months, and it was at that insurance company that they met. In late August of 1968, he was going to boot camp and then into the Air Force. They dated during the summer months. He enjoyed hanging out at the fraternity house, which was Delta Chi.

Years ago, before my son was born I believe my birth Mother found him through the University of Minnesota alumni association. She sent "Jim Anderson" a letter, but did not get a reply.  At the time this "Jim Anderson" lived in Medford, OR.  I have a friend in Medford that did some checking and I believe this "Jim Anderson" now lives in Eagle Point, OR. Again, that is IF this is THE James Anderson.

I can understand a person's reluctance to want to accept what happened so many years ago.  I don't know what I would do if I received an email or call from someone claiming to be my child, but as a Father I think I would try to give the person the closure they need in life.  There's a gap in my history and I feel I need to fill it for my own sake (and for the sake of my children).

Why am I writing this blog post?  To put it out there into the universe for you all to read, to put it out there in hopes that somewhere someone knows a man named James Anderson who graduated in 1968 from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Business Management.  I want to fill in the blanks!

I have been blessed with a wonderful family.  My late Dad, Mom and sisters, Uncles, Aunts, cousins are fantastic.  This isn't about wanting to encroach on anyone's life or be added to a Christmas card list. This is about knowledge.

Anyhow, please share this blog post around.  If you happen to be in Oregon and anywhere near Eagle Point let me know.  Maybe you can drop by and ask this "Jim" some questions.

I have been sending "Friend Requests" on Facebook to people named "James Anderson" in an effort to see if one of them is him.

Just seeking closure...not getting any younger...

***UPDATE***
Turns out I had the wrong guy as my birth Father.  My daughter took a DNA test at Ancestry.com.  I decided to take one to see what my heritage looked like and a bonus is that it connects you to people who have the same DNA.  My daughter came up immediately as a match (showing up as a child) and I had a handful of 3rd, 4th and 5th cousins.  I emailed them to see if they were related to who I thought my birth father was, no luck.  After awhile I decided I didn't want to pay the premium at Ancestry.com so I quit.  Well, a couple of weeks ago I was contacted by someone who was showing up at my first cousin.  Her mother only had one sibling and he didn't have children.  After trying to figure out how this could be she emailed me - I gave her the information I had,  Turns out my birth Mother had it wrong.  The end of the story is that I now know my birth Father - he has lived very close to me for the past 47 years,  We've had lunch, a family dinner and several calls and lots of emails.  This is a happy ending to this story,  My kids will now know both my birth Mother and birth Father,

Mark Harvey