In his 2018 Rootstech talk, President Dallin H Oaks said the following: “Family history starts when you learn about your ancestors. They are real people who lived before you and were part of a family. We need to be sealed to our ancestors so that we can live with them in the next life. When you learn about your ancestors, you will feel more happy and confident, not feel so alone and know that each person is precious in Heavenly Father’s eyes.”

Over the years I have enjoyed learning all I could about my ancestors and their amazing stories. In this discovery process I have found some internet sites that have provided me with stories and photos that I may not have found in any other way. These include the following:

a. Familysearch.org (see Memories)
Example: My great grandmother Caroline (Carlie) Eliza Lyman Callister’s marriage written in her mother Eliza Marie Partridge Lyman diary: “February 8th. 1878 [Oak Creek, Utah] Started to the city [Salt Lake City] in company with my son Platte and my daughter Carlie and nephew Edward. Stayed all night at Br. Ole Jenson’s in Leamington. 9th. Traveled all day in the cold. Towards night we passed the Tintic mills and encountered a furious snow storm, it was fearful for a short time. We had to break the road through the snow and traveled till after dark then camped in the snow. Carlie and I slept in the wagon and the boys slept on the ground under a cedar tree. The night was very cold and still. Not a sound could be heard except the occasional steps of the horses as they moved about in the snow. The stillness of death reigned around. No living thing near us and dismal was the night but the morning brought a bright sun to warm and cheer us and we felt more encouraged. After making a hasty toilet we started again on our journey through the unbroken snow and after traveling a few miles we came into a road that was broke. We passed through Eureka and Holmansville then down a most dismal canyon, then up the west side of Utah Lake and stopped for the night at the house of a Danish man by the name of Hanson where we had the privilege of sitting by a fire and making our beds in the house which was quite a blessing as the weather was very cold, indeed. 11th. Went to Cottonwood and camped by a house. It rained all night. The boys were quite wet as they slept without a wagon cover. 12th. Arose in the morning and started on our journey arrived in Salt Lake City about noon having been in a snow storm all the way that day. Found my sister and family well pleased to see us. Br. T. Callister called on us in the evening. 14th. Went to the Endowment house and saw my daughter Carlie sealed as wife to Br. T. Callister. Went and took supper with Sister Bathsheba Smith”

b. FamilySearch Catalog – https://familysearch.org/search/catalog Select Availability: ‘online’. Search by Surname: Callister then select ‘Margaret Crook Callister’ which is on page 2 (My step grandmother) in the list. Once you find and click on the book title, click ‘here’ after Notes (To view a digital version of this item click here.)

c. Church History Library – https://history.lds.org/section/library?lang=eng
Search example: “Thomas Callister” (My great grandfather). Result: Letter from Thomas Callister to Brigham Young 4-18-1867 “Hostile Indians…”

d. Utah Digital Newspapers – http://digitalnewspapers.org
Search example: “Lathel Callister” (My father).
Results: Millard County Chronicle 6-4-1931 Wedding

e. Mountain West Digital Library – http://www.mwdl.org (Old Utah Photos & Documents)

Search example: “Thomas Callister”, by typing in “Search our Collections” box.

f. Utah State Historical Society – https://history.utah.gov/utah-state-historical-society/
Example: Chief Blackhawk, Bishop Thomas Callister
Click on “Utah Historical Quarterly”.
Click on “Back Issues”
In “Search” type: “Utah Historical Quarterly” and “Thomas Callister”
Click on “Utah Historical Quarterly, Volume 4, Number 1-4, 1931”
At the bottom right, Click on the magnifying glass with an A in it.
Above the book cover you’ll see “X Find in publication”. Type your search name [Callister] there. Each “Callister” in the document will be highlighted in yellow.

Excerpt: “It was during the latter part of April, 1870, that a stranger Indian introduced himself to Bishop Thomas Callister at Fillmore, and became his honored if not welcome guest. Slowly dying of tuberculosis, induced by a gunshot wound, received on June 12, 1866, Black Hawk had returned with the dual purpose of making peace with the Great Spirit and of effecting reconciliation with his Mormon foes.” –Jerry Callister