Email From Gary Aden to Gary Aden
Email Dated 6/19/2001

      Familial or Hereditary Illness: It is known that John, Jessie and
visiting sister-in-law Centa almost died of typhoid fever in 1907 after
their second son, Carl, was born. All three sons- Lloyd, Carl and
Raymond- suffered from moderate to severe duodenal ulcer disease as
adults. Contemporary medical understanding of the infectious etiology of
duodenal ulcer draws a relationship between the mother's intake of
impure water, subsequent development of gastric carcinoma and adult
onset duodenal ulcer in her offspring. Elda, her daughter, had no ulcer
disease or malignant tumors in her lifetime. Unfortunately, I have only
screen memories of my grandmother as our contacts were brief and only
intermittent during my childhood. It is known that Jessie died of
abdominal cancer, but the death certificate does not enlighten us
further. Neoplastic illness is unknown in the available Aden death
certificates thus far other than Lloyd, her oldest son, who died at age
75 with generalized carcinomatosis from a primary site of a low
grade(grade 2) annular, adenocarcinoma of the cecum classified as a
Duke's Type B2 which does have an hereditary propensity. 

       A familial tremor is also seen in her three sons and two
grandsons. The genetic source of the tremor could be from the Aden side
as husband John and several male Adens also had a fine tremor. However,
we have no raw data on the presence or absence of tremors on the
Mechling side. 

        DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION APPLICATION: See section on
John Jacob Mechling in this report on the Mechling twig. Those of you
seeking membership in the D.A.R. can short circuit the process somewhat
by referring to Elda ADEN Betsinger's successful application and
membership number which is 640652. Parenthetically, it should be added
that Elda Betsinger's retirement years were spent near the La Jolla,
California home of yours truly. A memorable photo of her with baby Megan
Elisabeth Lindsay, my first and only grandchild whose middle name is
spelled as Theobald Mechling's wife, Anna Elisabeth Lauer, spelled hers,
is reproduced in Volume XII, Number 3, p. 35, September 1998 of the
Mechling Family Newsletter. 

          Related Surnames: Marriage only- Aden Branch; Twigs Productive
of Children with Mechling Surname- LAUER( 7th degree, see separate
genealogical report ), HAMAN( 6th degree), THOMAS( 5th degree), IMMEL(
4th degree), EICHER( 3rd degree), RUMBAUGH( 2nd degree).

          Mechling Family Association: Its newsletter reflects the
maturity and sophistication of the organization. Indeed, it emphasizes
pictures  information about individual members and doings rather than
genealogical data. If one didn't know better, a disinterested reader
might assume that everyone in this 1000 member organization knew and
cared about each other. The truth is that most of us lead lives separate
from the organization and never have met each other. With the exception
of World War II years, this family has been holding annual national
reunions since 1917. Within its various lines are persons of
considerable wealth and prestige. The association holds annual
competitive elections, appoints active committees and requires annual
dues. Other publications besides the newsletter are the ongoing
revisions of the six volume Mechling demographic data. I wish to relate
a humorous anecdote which occurred shortly after I became a member in
1996. The organization had feverishly searched for its old world roots
since its inception and they thought they had discovered a family in
Hoerdt, France with similar ancestors. They invited the couple and five
other dependents to the annual convention in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania all
expenses paid. They showed up and a festive time was had by all. They
also extended their trip with a week at Disney World in Florida
complements of the Association. Imagine what chumps the Board of
Directors of the Association must have felt like when further
investigation disclosed that they were not related. The Association is
currently engaged in attempting to have the original Mechling homestead
in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania designated a State Historical Site. Their
success will require the cooperation of the Pennsylvania Power and Light
Company. Their case is based upon the fact that the house near
Zionsville is one of the few pre-Revolutionary houses in existence.