When I was in college, I began a family history for a class I was taking called Dynamics of the Past. At that time the only way to get historical family data was through word-of-mouth testimony, family records that were kept in Bibles, and searching through microfilm records at courthouses. I was unable to find much about the Rusmisel Family beyond that which was passed to me by my living relatives.



In the Spring of 2010, I watched a television program called "Who Do You Think You Are" produced by ancestry.com which reawakened my interest in finding out more about my family history What an interesting journey it has been!



As with any journey, there have been twists and turns, road blocks and discoveries. I have been fortunate to discover much more about the Rusmisel and Hess Families than I ever dreamed possible. I have made contact with distant cousins and reconnected with closer relatives. I have relived the history of the United States through the lives and stories of my ancestors.



This book is a record of that journey.