Ancestry
American culture emphasizes individual achievement through hard work in one's lifetime, and downplays the contribution of ancestry to an individual's own resources for a successful life. Although the American viewpoint rejects the inheritance of privilege and social status, at least formally, this perspective should not blind us to the influence of ancestors on individual standing. Understanding one's own family of origin is an essential part of knowing one's own self, and should be a part of every person's education. Many opportunities exist for obtaining a balanced understanding of both determinants.
Ancestors extensively shape one's own personal history, but the mechanisms are general. Ancestors locate their descendants in place, time, and society, and they provide a historical background. Immediate ancestors, mostly parents, provide the early environment for growth and experience that forms the foundation for maturity. All ancestors provide the specific genetic material for the blueprint of each descendant's physical form and life behaviors. Although little is known about the relationships between genetic information and psychological aspects of an individual's life, it is likely that an individual is more similar to recent than distant ancestors.
Stories of some of my ancestors are provided in the links of the table below. These ancestors came to the Western Reserve of Ohio to pioneer and settle this area. They formed the types of families and communities that made this area vibrant in subsequent decades, and shaped my own destiny.
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