I’m going to have my DNA processed by CRI Genetics to see what my historic background is before my great grandparents wound up in Germany.
I’ve also opted in to see if any famous people are in my line. There is an oral history stating that I’m related to the Brothers Grimm (which would make perfect sense, since they and my grandmother lived in Kasell, Germany during the same period) but I’ve also heard I have Cherokee (or some other eastern tribe) blood flowing in my veins, and there is a photo of one of my purported relatives in front of a tipi, and so did DeForest Kelley (or so he heard), and it would be a hoot to find out I’m actually related to him. That’s a long shot, but it’s worth a look.
And who knows, I might be related to other well-known folks, too (whether famous or infamous: I know I have Viking blood in me, and likely Neanderthal, too.) I’m going to find out in six to eight weeks. That’s exciting!
My sister Jackie had her ancestry checked by Ancestry.com and she came away knowing she has mostly European ancestry (duh!) with a smattering of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. I expect to find out much the same except that CRI Genetics testing can go back a lot farther than several centuries.
My analysis will include Ancestry Analysis + Health and Wellness Reports + 5 Extra reports and a maternal haplogroup (to trace my mom’s ancestry) plus the Famous People Haplogroup. I got the first part above at a 68% discount on Black Friday, so I decided to go whole hog. The entire thing cost just over $200.00, so I saved a bundle. The maternal haplogroup was $89.00 and the Famous People was $9.99.
My Mom’s Lineage
Great Grandfather
(Wilhelm?) Stelzner
Great Grandmother (Dorothea?) Stelzner
Grandmother Elizabeth Marie Stelzner (married name Biersner)
Mother Dorothea Hope Smith (nee Leichty) (as a child, left)
My dad Jack Smith:
LaPush WA about 1955 (with me at the beach)
Mom and Dad about 1993
My Dad’s Lineage
Grandma Etta Schaefer with me, Laurel, and Jackie about 1955
Grandma was married to Clement Smith. I do not ever remember meeting him. He was a lout; he was kept away from us when we visisted Grandma, apparently. (Grandma Schafer was a pot-stirrer, too, it seems; always causing strife among her kids, according to my mom and dad, but she worked mightily on FDR’s and JFK’s campaigns, recieiving letters of thanks and signed photos from them, so there is that! I wish I had them! I saw the JFK signed photo).
