From the Editor's Desk; By Ronald F. Eustice
April 2004: Minneapolis, Minnesota
As I write these comments in late April, spring has come to Minnesota. The cool
rains, warm sunshine, green grass, blossoms and the baby birds are a most
welcome sight after winter’s long slumber.
In this issue, readers will become
better acquainted with the branches of our families that originate in the
extreme southwest of England in the County of Cornwall. It has become evident
that a sizeable number of our namesakes trace their roots to the mining villages
around the village of Crowan.
It has been most enjoyable to
communicate with Charles Eustis of New York and Dr. Robert Eustice of
Mississippi by letter and phone as I wrote their stories. While they do not seem
to share a common ancestor (at least as far back as ten generations), they do
share a strong belief in education, devotion to family and the practice of their
faith. Both Charles and Robert are highly decorated veterans of World War II and
continue to be active in military organizations. We certainly can be proud to
call them namesakes. We can only hope that their lifetime experiences can serve
as an example to us all.
A special thank you to Dawna Eustice
Lund of Redlands, California who has done considerable research on the Cornwall
families. Her extensive research has been used as a base of information for the
articles on the Eustis family of Pennsylvania as well as the Eustices of Galena,
Jo Davies County, Illinois.
I was able to write the articles
about Charles Eustis and Robert Eustice because of the information that they
provided to me in a family history questionnaire. A copy of this questionnaire
is included with this issue of the Eustace Families Post. It is hoped that you
will take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire (if you have not
previously done so), and return it to me. I will be very pleased to write an
article in a future issue about the families of those who return the
information. Family history takes on an added dimension when we can link the
past with real people from the present. I am especially eager for information on
our namesakes in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
The article on Dick Eustace of Exminster, United Kingdom resulted from an
article published in his local newspaper that he shared with us.
Congratulations to Sheila Jewison and
Jennifer Harguth of Waseca County in Minnesota. These young women were recently
crowned Miss St. Patrick and Miss Irish Rose at the 36th annual St Patrick’s Day
celebration of the Irish American Club of Southern Minnesota. Both of these
girls are from families with Eustice roots that originate in Ballymahon, County
Longford, Ireland. Over the years, a significant number of Eustices and Eustice
descendants have reigned over the Irish American communities of Southern
Minnesota. Perhaps it is time to compile a list of these women and publish an
article about them in a future edition of the Eustace Families Post.
Need a gift idea? Why not consider
giving a gift subscription of the Eustace Families Post to that relative that
seems to have everything? A gift subscription will make a lasting gift because
family history lasts forever.