I've used FREE Artificial Intelligence tools to create biographies, poems and songs about my ancestors lives, genealogy research, and family history in the recent past. Today, I want to share a poem and a song about my second great-grandmother, Sarah (Knapp) Auble (1818-1904).
(image created by Grok 3)
1) Here is the information I used for a Prompt for the poem and the song lyrics: Please create a poem and song lyrics to commemorate the life of Sarah Knapp (1818-1904). She was born in January 1818 in Woodbridge, New Jersey, the daughter of William Knapp and Sarah Cutter. Sarah's brother was Manning Knapp, who became a New Jersey Supreme Court justice. William Knapp was a shoemaker and moved his family of 11 children to Newton, New Jersey in 1825 where he opened a shoe and boot making business. Sarah met David Auble (1817-1894) in Newton and married him in 1844 in Newton. He was also a shoe and boot maker. They had six children - William Auble (1845-????), Fannie Auble (1846-1917), Charles Auble (1849-1916), Kate Auble (1851-1940), Anna Auble (1859-1913) and Cora Auble (1860-1876). David and Sarah Auble moved their family to Newark, New Jersey before 1850 where David opened a shoe and boot making business. Sarah kept house and reared her children. David and Sarah then moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, and bought a house owned by her brother Manning Knapp. The had a house at 411 Chestnut Street where the children grew up, and Sarah kept house while David had a boot and shoemaking business there. Their youngest daughter Cora died in 1876 at age 16. Sons William (a shoe dealer) and Charles (a painter) left home after 1880 for Chicago, Illinois, and both married. Daughter Anna also married and had children. Daughters Fannie (a teacher) and Kate never married. David Auble died in 1894 in Terre Haute, and Sarah kept the house, appearing in the 1900 US census in her home with daughters Fannie and Kate. Sarah had 5 grandchildren born between 1881 and 1897, and cherished them. Sarah and her two daughters moved to Bushnell, Illinois before 1904 to live with daughter Anna Buntin's family there, and Sarah died there at age 86 on 1 September 1904. She is buried in Bushnell Cemetery in Bushnell.
2) I chose the poem created by Grok 3 today. Here are the stanzas:
SARAH'S FOOTPRINTS OF LOVE
In Woodbridge’s frost, where January sighed,
Sarah Knapp was born, with a spark inside.
Daughter of William, a maker of shoes,
And Sarah Cutter, her strength to infuse.
Eleven siblings filled their humble space,
Till Newton called in eighteen-twenty-five’s embrace.
A shoemaker’s craft, her father’s trade,
In Sussex hills, their roots were laid.
There David Auble, with hands skilled and sure,
Met Sarah, his match, steadfast and pure.
In forty-four, their vows were sworn,
A union strong, a family born.
Six children came, a lively brood,
William, Fannie, Charles—dreams pursued.
Kate and Anna, then Cora so fair,
Each a thread in their tender care.
From Newark’s bustle to Terre Haute’s sun,
A house on Chestnut, their lives begun.
Manning’s gift, a brother’s grace,
Held Sarah’s home, her resting place.
Through joy and grief, she wove her days,
Cora’s loss, a shadowed haze.
David’s boots marched on till ninety-four,
Then Sarah stood alone once more.
Fannie and Kate, by her side they stayed,
Teachers and keepers, their love unswayed.
Grandchildren five, her heart’s delight,
Gleamed through the years, a tender light.
To Bushnell’s fields, with Anna near,
She moved at last, her end so clear.
Eighty-six years, a journey grand,
Sarah slipped soft from life’s demand.
In Bushnell’s earth, she rests today,
A shoemaker’s daughter, who carved her way.
Through love and loss, through time’s long sweep,
Sarah Knapp Auble, in peace, does sleep.
3) Here is the AI created song and lyrics for "Sarah's Footprints of Love" (with song lyrics created on Claude Sonnet 3.5 used as custom lyrics on Suno.com), using a storytelling style in a moderate tempo:
SARAH'S FOOTPRINTS OF LOVE
Verse 1:
Born in Woodbridge by the sea
One of eleven children, running free
William's daughter, shoemaker's pride
Manning's sister, watching dreams take flight
Verse 2:
Newton's streets led her to love
David Auble, sent from above
Leather and laces bound their hearts
A family business, a brand new start
Chorus:
Sarah Knapp, she built a home
Loved her family through storms and sun
From New Jersey to Indiana's shore
Left footprints on history's door
Love that lasted evermore
Verse 3:
Six children blessed their Newark days
Then Terre Haute became their place
Chestnut Street held stories sweet
Of little footsteps, memories deep
Bridge:
Some children roamed to Chicago's lights
Some stayed close through dark and light
Young Cora left too soon to fly
But love lived on, it never died
Five grandchildren came to fill her days
With joy that time could never fade
Chorus:
Sarah Knapp, she built a home
Loved her family through storms and sun
From New Jersey to Indiana's shore
Left footprints on history's door
Love that lasted evermore
Verse 4:
In Bushnell's arms she found her rest
With daughters near, she was so blessed
Eighty-six years of grace and love
Now watching over us from above
Chorus (modified):
Sarah Knapp, she built a home
Loved her family through storms and sun
From New Jersey to Indiana's shore
Left footprints on history's door
Her love lives on forevermore
Outro:
In Bushnell's ground she sleeps today
But her story lives on, they say
Through generations, strong and true
Sarah's love still shines through
Still shines through...
The AI tools do this so much better than I could, and weaves the poem and song along a story theme that is true and heartfelt. Each tool provides a different poem and song from the same prompt --I love fishing in all of the AI streams!! Frankly, doing the poems and song are the most genealogy fun I have every week!
4) These stories, told in verse and song, are part of my genealogy and family research. My hope is that they will be passed down to my grandchildren and their descendants to highlight the importance of sharing stories, memories, admiration, and love of our ancestors. I will add them to my Google Drive and to my YouTube channel and my FOREVER account.
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My blog posts with the AI-created poems and songs to date are on this AI and Genealogy Compendium page.
Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver
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1 comment:
Enjoyed it!
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