Genealogy

This is the Plűss family crest, found in a church window in Rothrist, Switzerland

I’ve always had an interest in genealogy, though until recently had done nothing about it.  In 1995, shortly before my great-aunt Alta died, she gave me all the records she had concerning my mother’s family.  At about the same time, my dad gave me his volumes of “The Bliss Family in America” by Aaron Tyler Bliss.

 

When my aunt gave me the information she’d collected, she made me promise that I would continue the work she had started.  Specifically, she wanted the information put into the computer, and updated as much as possible.  Some of the information was priceless:  stories handed down across the generations, and even a list of items taken from our southern family (or destroyed) by Yankee soldiers during the Civil War!

 

For almost 10 years, I did nothing with the information.  Then, in early 2005 a relative of mine asked me if I knew anything about my mother’s ancestors.  I started to investigate, and got immersed into the world of amateur genealogy.  Since that time, I have successfully traced many lines of our family back as early as 1329...all for free! (The internet is truly an amazing tool…)  My mother’s family lines originate largely from Ireland and England.

 

My father’s family has been equally interesting.  Using the Bliss Family volumes as a starting point, I’ve uncovered some surprises:

· My last name really wasn’t Bliss...it was Plűss (umlauted) as recently as 1800.

· The Plűsses originated in either Switzerland or France, and moved around to escape religious persecution.

· The Blisses fought for the North during the Civil War

· I have distant family in Kansas, Missouri, and the Dakotas.

I encourage any budding genealogists to go to the “Other Sites of Interest” section to find out how to get started on WorldConnect.