I came to Grayson County the first time in 1967. I had met my wife, Shelby Jean Blevins, and her immediate family in Yokohama, Japan. Her dad, French P. (Jack) Blevins was from Crumpler, Ashe Co., NC. Her mother, Dorothy Osborne Blevins, was from Independence, VA. Her sister, Linda, was born at Shatley Springs, NC. We came back to meet the extended families and introduce our daughter, Debi.

Meeting the family was overwhelming. Her mother had six sisters and brothers. There were many aunts, uncles and cousins. The first Sunday we went to church at the Mt. View Baptist Church just west of Independence. There were 44 people at church that morning. Everyone except my wife’s dad and I were blood kin; at least that is what I thought.

Years later, Shel returned to college after I had retired from the Navy. One of her first assignments was to “tell us about your family.” She did not know much of the family history so she asked her grandpa about them. He was the first one to peak my interest. What he told us was part fact and part “family tradition”.

As a result of the research I did for Shel I found that her dad was, in fact, blood kin. Recent information provided to me indicates a high probability that I too am a not too distant cousin even though I grew up in Texas and Oklahoma. I have Osborn and Cox lines as does my wife. It seems that everyone in church that first time I was in Grayson County was blood kin.

The stories I encounter when doing research for others is what makes it worthwhile. My own family has some that when posed to others can be very confusing but that is what makes genealogy so much fun.

Gil Wetmore