By Sherry Larson

People’s Defender

Becky Reed of the Adams County Historical Society (Genealogy Department) needed some shredding done, so she called Venture Productions. That meeting led to a conversation about genealogy. She discovered that some people participating in the Venture program were interested in delving into their family tree.

T.J. McClellan is a history buff who had already started a book about his family. He, along with Chester (Junior) Crawford Jr., Naman Stapleton, Caleb Hosteter, Keith Huffman, and their direct service providers Melissa Stamper and Jim Parker, began their journey into genealogy. The group separated into two, making it easier for Reed and Ethel Chambers, also of the Historical Society, to assist in research. Reed designed color-coded binders for each member. They meet at the Historical Society every other Wednesday. Reed said, “It shows them every page and every person and tells how they are related to them.”

Junior Crawford, who is 78 and visually impaired, wanted to know more about the Crawford family. He has an Uncle Leffle Crawford who lives in Alabama and is only three years Junior’s senior. His uncle was named after a friend his Dad had made while in the service in Germany. Upon his Dad’s return, he requested his baby brother be named Leffle. Junior connected Reed with Uncle Leffle, and with Leffle’s help, she could fill in plenty of blanks on his family tree. Crawford hopes to have a book completed to send to his uncle for Christmas. Stamper explains that Crawford comes to Venture solely to participate in the genealogy activity. Reed states, “Junior, we love having you here; you are such a joy.” McClellan echoes, “Yes, it is. It’s a joy to see old Junior come in.”

McClellan loves pictures. He…