Mira Dietze

11 Oct. 2016

Eng 101

Who do I Come From?

Society today has discovered that much of who we are depends on our DNA. Our
genetic makeup is a strong factor in what we do, like, feel, and think. If someone wanted
to learn more about themselves as well as to who and what they come from, they could
learn a tremendous amount when they search their genealogy. Many things such as
traditions are passed down from generation to generation.

Ancestors on my fathers side come from Germany, and Czechoslovakia. My

grandfather Siegfried Helmut Dietze immigrated to Canada during WWII, and my
grandmothers parents went to Canada from Germany and what is now called the Czech
Republic. Ancestors on my mothers grandfathers side immigrated to the U.S. from
England and Scotland in the 1600s.

(Despain) My great-great grandmother Margaret Hunter came to the U.S. from

Scotland in the year 1866. Margaret Hunters parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints in Scotland and they came to the U.S. to gather with other people who
had joined the same church. She and her family traveled here on the American Congress.

She later made the journey to Utah with her family one year before the railroad traveled
west. She married in Utah and she, her husband, and unborn child went to Arizona to
settle what is now known as Joseph City and Heber. I only bring this up because my
mother was born in Joseph City and I still have family there. I recently went to a funeral
in Joseph City. I also recently went cliff jumping in a place where my uncle and many
ancestors went cliff jumping, Winslow Arizona. I live in Arizona now because my greatgreat grandmother, Margaret and her family came here and settled the land. I believe that
I have a lot in common with Margaret. She was extremely hospitable, and was willing to
sacrifice many comforts of life in order to follow her faith. I am very devoted to my faith
and I love to serve others and accept difficult tasks. Ive never had to settle any land but I
will do anything the Lord asks me to just like she did.

I inherited a lot of things from my great-great grandmother Margaret. She

came from Scotland where there is the highest percentage of red-heads. I am a red-head,
my mother is a red-head, and my grandfather was a red-head. She provided me with those
genes. She passed along genes to me which now make me stand out from the crowd.

Margaret and her husband were hospitable to a fault. On Memorial Day, her
family would gather flowers, put them on graves, and have dinner. They were determined
and stayed in Heber AZ during a drought because they knew theyd make it through.
They worked hard. Margaret was protective of her daughters, and she pulled pranks.
They made sure their kids could go to school.

I am the same religion as Margaret, I am an active member of The Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter Day Saints. Like Margaret, I keep the Sabbath Day holy. I love the Lord,
and I try to live every day like my salvation depends on it. I will one day bring children
into this world who will be raised righteously. They will know the importance of service,
charity, and love.

I speak English and love to dance just like Margaret did. She and her husband
would go dancing every chance they got! I love country swing dancing today! My mother
and grandmother were both born in the Joseph City area because my great-great
grandmother was brave enough to settle the land and be obedient to what the Lord asked
her to do. On the American Congress there were many plays and concerts to pass the time
on the long voyage. Id like to speculate that Margaret liked to sing, because my
grandmother, mother and I all like to sing! Pioneers would sing joyous songs of praise to
pass the time and keep up their spirits. I have been in choir ever since I can remember,
and Ive had vocal training and sing many of the same songs she sang.

Works Cited

Despain, Loy K. "Margaret Hunter Shelley History." Free Family History and Genealogy
Records. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.

Larkin, Dixon Ferrin. "Margaret Hunter Shelley (29 July 1859 6 May 1930)." Family
Search. N.p., 17 July 2015. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.