Last March 16th, Alonzo H. Cushing Camp #5, Department of Wisconsin, held the first of what hopefully will be one of many "Ancestor Days." Expanding on an idea first expressed by PCC Ronald Aronis, Camp #5 decided to try to see if there was any interest in the Sheboygan area for the public to find out if they had an ancestor that fought in the Civil War. The Sheboygan area was picked because Camp 5's brother Alan Wambold, a research librarian, lives in Sheboygan and was familiar with the Library and staff.

Members of Cushing Camp #5 assist a gentleman in tracing his Civil War Ancestor. From left: Dick Rohan, Jim Benware, Alan Wambold, Andy Bollen, Mr. Rod Prinsen of Sheboygan discovering his ancestor Sgt. Yohan Duessing of Company I, 26th Wisconsin Infantry.

Brother Wambold, knowing what books and facilities were needed, reserved a room at the Mead Library in downtown Sheboygan. Two Internet-access computers were also reserved as well as microfilms, books, rosters and maps to provide the database required. Other members of Camp #5 familiar with ancestor research, some with their own laptop computers with ancestry databases installed, were present to help.

Advertisements had been placed in the local papers and the event began at 10:00 a.m. and was scheduled to end at 2:00 p.m. A steady flow of people came, some with no information and some with research started but they had reached a dead end. Some had folders of clippings and tintypes of ancestors and one even had parts of a GAR medal carefully preserved. At times as many as 4 people were being actively helped while some waited outside the room for a researcher to finish with someone else. Around 20 to 25 persons or couples were assisted, and we believe all but one went away with the information requested.

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