Bizarre - I found my long lost relative on Active Rain - Jim Hale!

This is too bizarre. We get to know people at ActiveRain through their comments, and posts which we connect through.  But who would guess we may be related! And who would have guessed the power of an ActiveRain comment!

I was researching my GGG grandfather, Calvin T. Hale, who came from Illinois on the Oregon Trail in 1848.  I popped in his name to see what info google would lead me to, and there was a blog  post by Todd Clark from Nov of 2010 with a picture of his darling kids dressed up as pioneers.  In the comments Jim Hale left a comment on how his Great Grandfather, Calvin T. Hale, came over on the Oregon Trail, not once but twice.  The first in 1848 as a young driver.  The second, in 1852, was after he returned to Illinois to marry his sweetie, and bring her back to Oregon.  This time he captained the wagon train, earning the nickname "Cap" which lasted til his death.

Now, I "know" Jim.  He and I have guffawed of the demise of Lawrence of Florence, the goofy roadside camel photo op concession that used to be near my summer dune buggying spot in Oregon.  I even jokingly told him to come visit us there, as we have gone every summer for over 32 years.

Little did I know that Jim and I shared a common Great Grandfather - one who was an early pioneer of Oregon, and participated in an amazing segment of our nation's history.

I just spent an hour on the phone with my new "cuz", writing frantically as he recounted all the research he has done on Cap's life, and filling in the details he has collected through massive family research.

Amazing.

And how can I be certain it's the same guy?? Easy.  He told me of church records he had uncovered where as a young boy, Calvin broke the laws of his non-dancing church by attending a "frolick".  He was subsequently "disfellowshipped" by the elders for not being willing to ask forgiveness in front of the congregation.  Yeah!  That's gotta be my relative.  My whole family dances... frolicks at every opportunity.  And won't beg forgiveness for it either!

So if you don't think your comments have google juice, think back to how they helped me find a link to my history. It's amazing.  Truly.