Excerpt from Record of the Descendants of James Ensign, the Puritan, 1634-1939

In June Of the year 1932, four cousins, all descendants Of Caleb Wadhams Ensign, spent a fortnight in the friendly home Of one Of the group, Herbert Stevens Ensign, at Rutland, Illinois, consider ing the idea of a family genealogy, discussing ways and means, and actually organizing and compiling, in manuscript form, a mass Of data that had come into their hands. The quartette, besides Herbert, was made up of Mary Esther Ensign Of St. Louis, Missouri, Josephine Ensign Reynolds of Berkeley, California, and the writer, Maud Ensign Van Meter, Of Moline, Illinois.

It was agreed, at the time, that a brief sketch Of the family from James down to the seventh generation would form the background for a more complete history of the descendants of William and Mary Wadhams Ensign; and to Mary Esther was committed the task Of carrying-ou from where the four left Off. But, almost at once, it was found necessary to take in more family territory. Herbert had invited all the Ensigns in and near Illinois to a series Of Labor Day which developed such interest in matters genealogical, that it was realized that other branches of the family were eager for a part in any history that was to be undertaken, so it was decided to enlarge the scope Of the proposed book, and include all the family data that could be secured.

When the larger task' was undertaken and material from the several branches Of the family began to come in, Mary Esther extended her plans to meet the situation and not only devoted allher spare time to compiling and typing copy, but gave an entire summer vacation to contacting several distant groups, and collect ing additional material. Her sudden death, in 1937, made it apparent that she had undertaken too much, that for a year or more, she had been carrying her double burden in spite Of the handicap Of broken health. But she had accomplished much, and earned a deep debt of gratitude.

The trustees Of Mary's estate, after some delay and much correspondence, forwarded her Ensign materials to Maud Ensign Van Meter, the Editorial Committee having persuaded her, a busy housewife, already occupied in many time-consuming duties, to complete the work.

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