From a friend... Poetic Licence instantly comes to mind. What do you think?

Judy Wallman, a professional genealogical researcher, discovered that Hillary Clinton's great-great uncle, Remus Rodham, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889.


The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows. On the back of the picture is this inscription: "Remus Rodham; horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889".

Judy e-mailed Hillary Clinton for information about her great-great uncle. Hillary's staff sent back the following biographical sketch:

"Remus Rodham was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency.
In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honour when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed".

It's an interesting story to say the least. I guess all of us have ancestors which we can't really say we're proud of (or of what they have done) but none the less, they are our ancestors! I love it...

In doing my research of various family branches I have found a lot of skeletons in the closet. Some revelations were really shocking to even current family members. But, it is what it is. We don't invent happenings in the history and exploration of our familes.

Makes it more interesting though.

lilbees

That last line is a hoot..lol

What our ancesters did in the past, has nothing to do with us. Nobody knows what they will find, when they begin to dig.

I will say on the story of "skeltons" that many times I have found it to be of assistance to the current generation. In one case, they were looking for their birth record with no luck. After learning the actual date of marriage of the parents was much later than their birth they looked under the mother's maiden name and were able to obtain their birth record. Also found that the child was never formally recognized thus explaining some legal difficulties for them in later life.

lilbees

Its so funny but one of my favorite stories in my family is that of an Uncle who did time in prison for cutting off a man's head in the forest. They were arguing over who was to be Master of Ceremony at a function and my uncle was asked. The other man wanted to do it.

Years later, when my uncle was released from prison, he met a lady who he fell in love with and asked her to marry him. Her family did not know of my Uncle's past. A villager, knowing the truth began to talk so one night, my uncle paid him a visit. While the villager slept he held a knife to his throat and told him to retract all statements he had made publicly or he would suffer a terrible fate. Of course the man immediately straightened everything out and my Uncle married the woman he loved and they lived a very long and happy life together.

I met them in 1972 on my first trip to Italy and I thought he was the sweetest man, sitting there in his chair..and yet I knew, even before the story was told to me by my father that he had a "past" and I was drawn to him. I wish I had the guts and thought to question him while he was alive! ..hehe

Are there any more Uncles hanging out...perhaps...in Illinois? Just wondering..Joe B.

Hmmm..let me check my tree!