In this issue: News from the World Wide Web 100 Years Ago Double Cousins Fascinating Family Fact A Dream Come True The Genealogy Page

News from the World Wide Web and your editor!

The Round Robin website has now been accessed by over 1,300 people. Our guest book has been signed by people from all over, including one person from Australia.

One of the people who left us a message in December was Radine Derringer Willis who wrote "All the Hartwell / Derringer/ Robbins / Chrysty, etc., etc., descendants out West really enjoy The Round Robin. We appreciate all your time and hard work involved in putting such a nice tribute to our families together. We especially enjoy the wonderful pictures. It is nice to be able to put names and faces together. It also brings back so many memorable moments. Thanks, Raymond and Gladys Derringer, Radine Willis and families".

Check out this website for pictures from the Reunion in September 1998, dozens of people looking for genealogy information, or just stopping by to say hello.

While we'll continue to be available at our address on America Online, the easiest way to get to the web page is to type jg3.com/roundrobin

These items are reprinted from the North Vernon Sun, November 10, 1998.  The column, by Lillian Carmer, features items gleaned from newspapers on file at the Recorder's Office and on microfilm at the Jennings County Library.

The following originally appeared in the Banner Plain Dealer, November 10, 1898.

Maple Grove:

A. Robbins Jr. and Rosie Dunlap were married October 30th (1898) at the home of Geo. Robbins."

A. (Amasa) Robbins, Jr. and Rosie (Dunlap) Robbins, Jr. were the parents of one child, Daisy Fern.

On March 12, 1804 Amasa married Martha Ella Davidson. They were the parents of six children, Denny, Paul, Earl, Mary Elizabeth (Betty), Christine and Ted.

Because Amasa Robbins, Jr. married Martha Ella Davidson, and his brother Oliver Robbins married Martha's sister, Sarah Belle Davidson, these couples' children are "double cousins."  We are happy to have several of the Davidsons among the readers of this newsletter. We encourage you to contribute information regarding the Davidson families.

In case you missed this interesting story told by Earl Robbins at the reunion --

Earl Robbins is his father's second son. He was born on a Tuesday, August 13.

William G. Robbins is Earl's second son. He was born on a Tuesday, August 13

Will F. Robbins is William G.'s second son. He was born on a Tuesday, August 13

Send us your "Fascinating Family Fact" so we can share it with everyone!

Almost 30 years ago, little Patty stood in front of her toy blackboard instructing her pretend school children. She would alternately gently teach and sternly chide her imaginary class. While working in her successful banking career, a grown up Patty went back to school, with the blessing and support of her husband, Mark and children Jessica and Matthew, in order to realize her childhood dream. On December 18, 1998, Patty completes her bachelor's degree in Psychology and her student teaching requirement of the Teacher Education Program at University of Illinois at Springfield. She has already passed the State of Illinois Teacher Certification test and is ready to start looking for a position teaching real live children, hopefully 6th, 7th or 8th graders in her special interest of Science.

Congratulations Patty (Gunderson) West on your achievement. Your family is very proud of you!

A Tribute to Grandmother

We have concentrated much of our efforts in the past years on grandfather Amasa and his lineage. I would like to dedicate this small space to grandmother, Nancy Mariah, the woman grandfather Amasa loved, the woman who was his helpmate for 41 years. She gave him 10 children and she raised them all to adulthood. She surely loved, supported and stood behind her husband to enable him to be the kind, generous, and loving man that we know he was (history bears this out).

Nancy Mariah Hartwell was born 11 may 1842/3 in Vernon, Jennings County, Indiana. Her lineage goes back to our patriot of the Revolutionary War, Joseph Hartwell, born 3 Nov. 1730 in Concord, Massachusetts. He married Sarah Skinner 12 June 1751. She was born 12 June 1734 in Glastonberg, Connecticut. Joseph died in March 1805 in Lyndon Township, Vermont. The daughter of Phillip and Caroline (Hartwell) Hartwell, Nancy Mariah married Amasa Robbins, Sr. 24 Sept. 1864 at her father’s residence located 3 miles west of North Vernon, IN. The marriage was performed by James M. Mayfield, J.P. She died 3 May 1909. Her remains rest beside her loving husband for all eternity in a marked grave in Graham Creek Cemetery, San Jacinto, Indiana.

I'm sure grandmother Nancy Mariah and grandfather Amasa were tough taskmasters, but we can be proud today of our own admirable traits: honesty, charity, love of God, family and country, hard work, thirst for knowledge and robust health and longevity. I don't believe those traits were born in us. I believe they were given to us by our ancestors. I firmly believe "Ancestors made us what we are today." As we learn more about our ancestors we learn more about ourselves.

All of this information comes from primary sources: Birth, Death, Marriage, Will, Land and War Records

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