I am impressed by the family stories generated and published by other genealogists and family historians, and I wish that I was a more creative writer. I want to be able to write interesting, meaningful and good stories about my own ancestors to help me and my relatives (brothers, children, grandchildren, cousins) understand their ancestors lives and times. At my age, I'm not going to significantly improve my writing, so I've relied on Artificial Intelligence to help me.
Like me, several genealogists and family historians are using Artificial Intelligence to generate story ideas and to write the stories, which are then edited for accuracy and content, and then published on websites and/or blogs.
Every ancestor has a unique life, and has their own stories based on their life experiences from birth to death. I want to hear about my second great-grandfather David Auble's unique stories.
I attached my genealogical sketch (52 Ancestors - Week 21: #28, David Auble (1817-1894)) for the AI tool to use to provide the questions or ideas, and then asked the AI tool to provide the answers to the questions based on the information in my genealogical sketch, historical events, cultural background, etc.
1) Here is the AI prompt that I'm using for the free AI tool Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 for story ideas, and a two-paragraph summary of the answers: "Please provide ten unique interview questions to ask David Auble (1817-1894) about his life experiences in 1892 based on the attached report. Provide two-paragraph answers to each question."
(AI Grok 3 image of an 1862 shoemaker)
2) The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 response to my prompt for my 2nd great-grandfather David Auble was:
Interview with David Auble (1817-1894)
in 1892
1. Mr. Auble, can you tell us about your early years in New Jersey and how losing your father at age 13 shaped your path into shoemaking?
I was born in Stillwater, Sussex County, New Jersey in 1817, the fourth of eight children born to John and Anna Row Auble. When my father died in January 1831, it was a devastating blow to our family. I was only thirteen years old, and suddenly the security of childhood vanished. My mother Anna had to care for all of us children, and times were exceptionally hard. The loss of my father meant I had to grow up quickly and learn a trade to support myself and help the family.
It was during this difficult period that I was apprenticed to a shoemaker in Green, Sussex County. The craft of bootmaking and shoemaking became not just my livelihood, but my salvation. It gave me purpose and a way to build a future. By the time I moved to Newton in about 1838, I had developed considerable skill in the trade. The discipline and precision required in shoemaking taught me valuable lessons about honest work and attention to detail that have served me well throughout my life.
2. How did you meet your wife Sarah Knapp, and what role did your business partnership with David L. Foster play in your courtship?
My meeting with Sarah was truly providential, though it came about through business rather than romance initially. In 1838, I formed a partnership with David L. Foster, and we established our shoemaking business in Newton in a building that had been occupied by George Dennis, right next to W.T. Anderson's law office. What I didn't know at the time was that David Foster was married to Hannah Maria Knapp, who was Sarah's sister. Through my daily interactions with David, I naturally became acquainted with the Knapp family.
Sarah was the daughter of William Knapp, himself a shoemaker, and Sarah Cutter. The Knapp family was well-established in Newton, and I found Sarah to be an intelligent, kind woman with a strong character. Our courtship developed gradually through family gatherings and social events in Newton. We were married in 1844, and I can say it was the wisest decision I ever made. Sarah has been my steadfast companion through all of life's trials and joys, and together we've built a loving family and a good life.
3. The death of your brother William in Philadelphia in 1844 must have been traumatic. How did this tragedy affect you and your young family?
The news of William's death hit me like a physical blow. According to the Sussex Register, my brother was stabbed to death during a quarrel in Philadelphia by two brothers who had been singing obscene songs while William was returning from a party with ladies. What made it even more tragic was that William had a loaded pistol but chose not to use it - he was the better man, even in his final moments. The paper noted that the deceased and his killers were intimate acquaintances, and that strong drink was the root cause of the trouble.
This senseless tragedy occurred right around the time Sarah and I were married, and it cast a shadow over what should have been the happiest period of our lives. We were so moved by William's memory that we named our first son after him. The incident reinforced my belief in temperance and the importance of avoiding the kind of establishments and company that can lead to such violence. It also made me more protective of my own family and more determined to build a stable, peaceful life away from such influences.
4. You've had several business partnerships over the years. What have you learned about choosing partners and managing business relationships?
Business partnerships have been essential to my success, but I've learned that they require careful consideration and mutual respect. My first partnership with David Foster in Newton was brief but successful, and it brought me into contact with the Knapp family. When I moved to Newark after my marriage, I formed a partnership with my brother-in-law Samuel C. Knapp. This partnership lasted until 1848, when we dissolved it by mutual consent, and I continued the business alone.
Later, I partnered with Thomas Gordon in Newark, and our firm of Auble & Gordon dealt in boots and shoes until 1855, when we also dissolved by mutual consent. I've learned that successful partnerships require clear communication, shared values, and the wisdom to know when to part ways amicably. Both of my partnerships ended on good terms, which has served me well in the business community. The key is to choose partners who share your commitment to honest dealing and quality workmanship, and to always put the relationship above temporary disagreements.
5. What drew you to move your family from Newark to Terre Haute, Indiana in the 1860s?
The decision to move to Terre Haute was not made lightly, as we had established a good life in Newark. However, several factors influenced our choice. First, Sarah's brother Manning M. Knapp bought land there in 1867, and we and Sarah's siblings Charles, Sarah, and Catherine planned to make the move, since family ties have always been important to us. There's comfort and practical advantage in having family nearby, especially when starting fresh in a new place. The opportunity for business growth in a developing city like Terre Haute was also appealing.
Sarah actually purchased land in Terre Haute from her brother Manning M. Knapp for $2,000 in August 1870. The property became the site of our home at 411 Chestnut Street, where we've lived ever since. Terre Haute offered new opportunities for my boot and shoe business on Main Street, and I've been pleased with how the community has embraced us. The city has grown considerably since we arrived, and I'm proud to have been part of its development.
6. How has your trade as a bootmaker and shoemaker evolved over the decades, and what changes have you observed in the industry?
When I first learned the trade in the 1830s, everything was done by hand - from cutting the leather to stitching every seam. Each boot or shoe was a work of individual craftsmanship, made to measure for the customer. The tools were simple but required great skill to use effectively. Over the decades, I've witnessed remarkable changes in our industry. New machinery has been introduced that can perform some of the more repetitive tasks, though the skilled hand is still essential for quality work.
The growth of cities like Newark and Terre Haute has created larger markets for ready-made shoes, not just custom work. I've had to adapt my business to serve both the customers who want bespoke boots and those who need serviceable footwear at reasonable prices. The materials have also improved - we now have access to better leather and more durable findings. Despite these changes, I've maintained my commitment to honest workmanship and fair dealing. My reputation in both Newark and Terre Haute has been built on the principle that a man's word and his craft are his most valuable assets.
7. You've raised six children, though you lost young Cora in 1876. How has parenthood shaped your perspective on life and success?
Parenthood has been both my greatest joy and my deepest sorrow. Sarah and I were blessed with six children: William, Frances Mary, Charles, Katherine, Anna Mattison, and little Cora. Watching them grow, learn, and develop their own characters has been more rewarding than any business success. Each child has brought unique gifts to our family. Frances has become a skilled teacher, Charles has taken up painting, and William has established himself in business.
The loss of Cora in 1876 at only fifteen years old was the most difficult trial Sarah and I have ever faced. She was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery here in Terre Haute, and not a day passes that we don't think of her. Her death taught me that success cannot be measured solely in material terms - what matters most is the love we share and the time we have together. It has made me more grateful for each day with my surviving children and more determined to provide them with the moral foundation they need to navigate life's challenges.
8. As someone who cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison, how have you viewed the tremendous changes in American politics and society over the past fifty years?
I've had the privilege of witnessing extraordinary changes in our nation since I first voted for William Henry Harrison in 1840. That election seems like a different world now - the country was much smaller, and the issues we faced were different. The great tragedy of the Civil War tested our nation's very foundations, and I'm grateful that we emerged stronger and more united. The end of slavery was a moral necessity, though the path to reconstruction has been difficult.
Here in Indiana, I've seen tremendous growth and development. When we first arrived in Terre Haute, it was much smaller than it is today. The expansion of the railroads, the growth of industry, and the waves of immigration have transformed not just our city but our entire nation. I've tried to instill in my children an appreciation for the democratic process and the importance of civic participation. The right to vote is precious, and I'm proud that I've exercised it consistently throughout my adult life, always trying to choose candidates who would serve the common good.
9. Your wife Sarah comes from a prominent family - her brother Manning was a Supreme Court Justice in New Jersey. How has this family connection influenced your life in Terre Haute?
Sarah's family background has indeed opened doors for us, though I've always been careful to earn my own way through honest work. Her brother Manning M. Knapp was a distinguished jurist who served on the New Jersey Supreme Court for seventeen years before his sudden death in the courtroom two years ago. His reputation for integrity and legal scholarship reflected well on the entire Knapp family. Having such connections has certainly helped establish our credibility when we moved to Terre Haute.
However, I've never wanted to rely solely on family connections for success. Sarah's brother C.C. Knapp here in Terre Haute has been supportive, but I've built my business reputation through my own efforts and commitment to quality work. The Knapp family name represents the values of education, public service, and moral character that Sarah and I have tried to instill in our own children. We're proud of the family legacy, but we've also worked hard to contribute our own chapter to it through honest living and community involvement.
10. As you reflect on your 75 years, what do you consider your greatest achievements and what hopes do you have for your family's future?
Looking back on my life, I'm most proud of the family Sarah and I have built together. Despite the early loss of my father and the challenges of starting over in new places, we've created a stable, loving home for our children. Each of them has developed into a person of character and capability. My business success has been gratifying, but it has always been a means to provide for my family and contribute to the community, not an end in itself.
I hope that my children and grandchildren will continue the values of honest work, education, and service that have guided Sarah and me. I want them to remember that prosperity without integrity is worthless, and that the greatest wealth is a good reputation and the love of family. As I enter what may be my final years, I pray that they will carry forward the lessons they've learned and contribute positively to their communities. The world is changing rapidly, and they'll face challenges I can't imagine, but I believe the foundation we've given them will serve them well. Most of all, I hope they'll remain close to each other and remember the love that has sustained our family through all of life's trials and joys.
3) All of this AI material is historical fiction since I don't have details of every day or every year in the lives of my ancestors. Each ancestor has a unique life, and has unique family, economic, historical and social experiences. I don't know about the thoughts, education, wisdom, decisions, temperaments, emotions, figures of speech, or sound of the voice of any of my ancestors older than my parents and maternal grandparents.
My ancestors, and everyone else's, were human -- happy, sad, imperfect, innocent at times, craven at times, saintly at times, perhaps evil at times. They survived childhood, had to support themselves and their family. They had health, social and economic challenges, and almost all of them did the best they could with their life situations.
4) Does it matter if I am presenting these as seemingly real answers or conversations? I don't think so - because my purpose is to enable my relatives to know who their ancestors were and to help them understand the lives of their ancestors. The AI-generated responses are much better than any response I have in my memory bank or thast I can dream up.
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Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.
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