A Friend Thanks Earl for Finding Family
This Family Tree would never have been made if it hadn't been from a good
friend and fellow worker EARL SALISBURY. Earl and I had been assigned to
the Indianapolis International Airport to bring our records at the Wayne
Township Assessor Office up to date. This assignment lasted about two years.
During that time, Earl and I had learned a lot about each other. One day
I mentioned to Earl that I was adopted as infant. I was five years-old
when my mother told me that I was adopted. It did not mean a thing to me
at that age.
The issued surface again when I was flying. World War II broke out and
the FBI requested a copy of my birth records for a security clearance to
continue flying. At the age of nineteen, I remembered being surprised to
discover that I was born in LaFayette, Indiana to Olga and Burley Daniels.
His real name was George K. Daniels. Like most people who are adopted,
I wonder what possessed them to give me away. I assumed I was born out
of wedlock.
In 1950 after the death of my mother, I found a shoe box in her closet
marked "JACK." I opened the box, and I found love letters from
a girl friend at Indiana University, my pilot log book, my adoption papers,
and two copies of my birth records. I gave one of my birth records to Earl.The
matter was dropped until a couple months later when one morning Earl, whom
had been studying genealogy for 19 years, came to work and announced to
everyone that I had a brother.
Earl had made a search and found that Olga and Burley Daniels had a son
Robert C. Daniels born Jan.5, 1920 and another son born June 24, 1922 George
Keith Daniels. It was just two weeks before Christmas Holidays. I didn't
know if this person was deceased or living. I thought what a wonderful
Christmas gift If I could find him alive.
I went to the clerks office for Tippecanoe County in LaFayette, Indiana
to start my search. My first "hit" was successful. I found the
marriage records and marriage application for both Olga and Burley Daniels.
The search included other marriage records of Robert C. Daniels, Maxine
Rodenbarger and my grandparents and their addresses.
With all this information, I went back to Indianapolis to continue my search.
It was mid-February when I was at the Indiana State Library newspaper archives
searching the obituaries. During my search, I discovered that Margraret
Rodenbarger had pass away. She also had a brother named Leo Rodenbarger
living LaFayette Indiana and a sister named Maxine Daniels residing in
Campville, Florida. A call was placed to Leo Rodenbarger. I asked him if
he had a sister name Maxine. He said, "yes," and that she was
married to a Robert Daniels and living in Florida.
The internet gave me the names address and telephone number. I called and
Robert answered the telephone. Here, I am 76-years-old talking to a brother
that I never knew existed. We now communicate by phone and letters.
I was the "lucky one" being raised and loved in a good Christian
home. Robert was beaten as a child, so he left home at an early age. He
has had a break down and his wife tells me that I brought childhood memories
back to him. Maybe some day we will meet.
His daughter has been to our home and now lives in Illnois. I have traveled
to Memphis Mo. and met the relatives there.
I hope that everyone that reads this Family Tree enjoys it as much as I
did making the search.
My search ends with the birth of William Daniels in 1664 in Essex, England and his death in Middlessex, Virginia May 29, 1723.
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