JOHN HOPWOOD, COL LOVELAND AND OTHER FINE FOLK

Last week Aunt Marie sent me an e-mail to say she had found an internet site for our Great-great-greatGrandfather, John Hopwood Bleazard. He is Caleb Bleazard's father. Caleb was known as Grandpap and is featured on mudderbear'sMemorylane family history page. It is amazing to me what that one piece of information has opened up in the way of family history research. There is so much information out there just waiting to be gleaned. I didn't think there was much to tell about Grandpap's family. Nobody talked about the Bleazards or told stories. It has surprised me in the past that we even knew who his father was. There is in the family treasures a portrait photograph of his sister, Lucy. That's all. With all the constant talk and chatter about everybody, I wonder why there wasn't more about them. Maybe there was just too much going on in the present that kept them all busy, but they certainly have their story to tell.

Interestingly, I had just been looking over my genealogy books and reading a list of trivia questions I had composed using the few facts I discovered here and there about their lives. There were several questions about Chester Loveland that piqued my interest in him. I thought to myself, I should look him up and see what I can find for a new blog on Memorylane. So, I have been searching and there is a wealth of information about him. Again, no one ever mentioned Chester Loveland or his daughter, Fanny Emmerett. I have found at least two very interesting references for Grandpa Loveland's stories. One was found in Nevada history. Who would have thought of that?? He helped to settle Carson City and then took the saints back to the Salt Lake valley when the Johnston's War was threatening.
I always wondered how to get started and where to look. Now there are many places that have just opened up. It's like discovering a treasure chest in the attic full of wonderous old things from the past. I am having a great time. I hope to be posting big time for awhile. Thanks, Marie. It all started with you.