Hartsook Ball Chaney Family Genealogy

The Hartsook/Ball Family Genealogy site, was created to share accurate genealogy information on all the lines I have researched, with others who may be researching the same lines. A great interest to me, and hopefully to others, the history of Oregon. I have included indirect family lines, all with one common link, all were early pioneers to Oregon.

Foreword
Our ancestors did nothing to write about in most history books, but our family, like most, were the backbone to this great nation we call America. Most were Farmers and Tradesmen, who worked hard with their hands everyday, for little money. It does not mean they are any less interesting or important, as they all lead interesting lives in an interesting time period. The one common link all these family lines have, are one or more of their descendants have ended up in OREGON, some heading to the fertile Willamette Valley, known for their rich farmlands and small but growing towns like INDEPENDENCE. While others felt the opportunities for a new life were more abundt in a larger town, and headed to PORTLAND.

To quote from a book I read once, "Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, Doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief, Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor"... And Butcher, baker, candlestick maker -- in our family we've had them all, including assorted farmers, carpenters, preachers, clothiers, wives, mothers, union soldiers, confederate soldiers, revolutionarily patriots, government officials and at least one bachelor. They have all contributed to the genetic pool that has influenced all generations that followed. Understanding our ancestors may help us to know ourselves better, to give us a sense of identity. Whether we like it or not, we are the result of our heritage. What we do with it is up to us.