Lightbody Oral Tradition

My Uncle Roy Nelson, son of Lura and Alfred Nelson and brother to my own Father, Arthur James Nelson, had a daughter, Gail Nelson who told me about a "Lightbody" in the family. Then, I asked my Cousin, Anthony Ferguson, who had written an indepth genealogy on the Fergusons, starting from Nelson Ferguson. We learned Nelson had 2 known wives. One gave him many children...the other gave him one named Orrin. The one who gave him the most children was said to be an "Indian" woman from around Port Arthur, Ontario Canada. There indeed was an Ojibwa Indian group who lived there in those days. The area later became called Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada. One of the relatives noted that Nelson had to speak for his first wife... as she could'nt speak English. Another relative said he'd seen her in a photograph with Nelson when he was a boy. He said he knew she was an Indian woman. Then, when you look at the pictures of my Grandmother, some of her Brothers & my Cousin, Gail Nelson and our Cousins, Mike and Denny Nelson...you can see Indian features in them...and in me, Lynda. My Grandmother, Lura Ferguson Nelsons Brothers ...especially Clint and the youngest one...looked like they came off an Indian reservation! My Cousins Mike and Denny too! They are dark, with dark hair and eyes. My Father, Arthur, was a very handsome man with blue black hair and dark eyes. He was always darker than the rest of us...but more like a nice tan with rosy cheeks! Then also, there was Richard "Butch" Ferguson, married in Tacoma to his wife Mary Lou. They had two Sons, Richard jr. and Frank. Frank was my second cousin, who when we met, we became very close. Mary Lou told us that she knew there was Indian in our family tree. Emma, Franks Grandma, also knew. So, you see, there were many confirmations as I was growing up...but I never really put it all together until I was in college and really wanted to research more and get to know more. At this point, through all I've heard and seen and learned through old photos and current ones...oral stories and the meeting of long lost Cousins over time...I have absolutely no doubts whatsoever anymore. None. Our Great Great Grandmother, "Lightbody", still lives in some of us through our looks...but even more in some of our hearts.

by
Lynda Nelson Imburgia