Cultural Roots

I am a very family oriented person and wouldn't be who i am today without the influences of those i have been surrounded by growing up.  Everyone has their own views and opinions on particular subjects; however, those can ultimately be influenced by how one is raised and who your surrounded by. 

I was raised in a household in which my parents weren't separated, in a family that loved one another and in a southern atmosphere.  I grew up with the 'southern boy' manners implanted in me from early childhood (meaning i was raised to respect elders, open doors for ladies, and treat girls with respect). 

I grew up in a household that wasn't wealthy, but was well established and didn't have to live in poverty from not having enough money for my parents to raise me and my siblings.  One reason for this is work ethic.  My parents worked hard and continue to do so to support my family and give me and my siblings things others might not have the pleasure to have.  That work ethic was instilled in me at an early age and whatever i put my mind to do, i will get it done.  Now, this came with the help of playing sports.  Sports drive me and id so growing up.  I got into playing sports at an early age because that is what my older brother did as well.  I followed in his footsteps and my parents lead the way with encouragement.  Growing up, i was outside a lot playing with my brother and just being in the outdoors drove me.  If i grew up in a household that wouldn't allow sports or didn't support them, i wouldn't be the same person.  I am blessed to be raised in a home in which I had the choice to do so. 

Growing up, i was around my family a lot and most relatives lived relatively close by so we got to visit them regularly.  It became a ritual for members of the family to meet on Sundays after church to eat lunch and my grandparent's house.  Both sides of the family would do this.  Both sides of the family have similar beliefs in ways of respecting others, having good manners, and believing in God.  I was raised attending a Baptist church and that was instilled in me by my family and so was the importance of God and the Bible.

In doing this cultural roots project, i wanted to figure out more about my ancestors and where they came from.  Starting on my mother's side and grandmother's (Anne Silvers) side of the family, my great-great grandfather was full blooded Cherokee Indian and they originated form North Carolina.  My great-grandmother had 18 children and only 9 survived due to disease of polio and scarlet fever that was spreading at the time of the early 1900s.  On my grandfather's side, all generations served in the military.  They served in World War II and the Vietnam War.  My grandfather, who is no longer with us today, had an honorable discharge from the army after being injured by a grenade exploding near him.  It causes him to lose his hearing on one side.  After the wars, my grandfather and his parents worked on their farm in the Carolina hills.  I was very close with my grandfather (Frank Silvers) and he took me fishing all the time, which i still love to do.  He passed away when i was 10 years old, so i wish i would have had more time to spend with him.

On my father's side of the family, I found some greatly interesting things.  My great-great-great grandfather, on my grandmother's side, was Sam Bass.  Sam Bass was an American outlaw.  He married a full blooded Cherokee Indian whom lived on a reservation in Idabel, Oklahoma.  Their daughter married a man named Robert Pearle Manning, who came over to America on a boat from Scotland.  Most of the people on my father's side of the family were brick masons and farmers, except for Sam Bass.  Sam Bass and his outlaw days are written in history books.  After a failing business, Sam Bass turned to robbing trains.  He formed a gang and robbed the Union Pacific gold train from San Fransisco, California.  Bas and his men intercepted the train on September 18, 1877 at Big Spring, Nebraska, stealing $60,000, and it is to this day the largest single robbery of the Union Pacific.  He died on his birthday at the age of 27 after being shot by a Texas Ranger named Richard Ware. 

Even though i don't take on the same views or traits as Mr. Bass, I found it interesting to have him a part of my ancestors. 

My grandmother (Mary Osborne), on my father's side, was very close with me and i saw her a lot.  She loved me very much and taught me a lot.  She showed me right from wrong and gave me encouragement along the way.

The only grandparent that i have still alive is my grandmother on my mother's side (Anne Silvers).  I love her a lot and love going over to her house to eat some some good home cooking.  So, in doing this cultural roots project it was a little difficult in finding all this information.  I had to call up relatives, aunts and uncles and so did my parents to find more information on our ancestors.  I enjoyed getting to know a little more about my family and ancestors.