CREATING A COMPOSITE OF A FAMILY
Finding descriptions of ancestors within the same immediate family can also reveal a “sketch” of the family. That Eirst application I mentioned above was for my paternal great‐grandfather, John Marschall. He applied for an United States Passport in 1910, and there is only a description of him. As he survived the Storm of 1900 on Galveston Island, Texas, I would imagine any early photos of him that had been taken were ruined in the storm. Additionally, my paternal grandfather, Joseph Marshall, was “split” from the rest of the family, and none of my family knew about my grandfather's father, John Marschall, much less had a photo of him. This is why his description, while meager, is special. • • • • • • • • • •
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53 years old; 5 feet, 6 inches; medium-broad forehead; blue eyes; broad nose; Large mouth; Medium chin; brown hair; light complexion; and oblong face
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