Meet our Members: Sjana Lee Dreyer-Bauer

Question

Hi everyone!

It's time to get to know another one of our wonderful WikiTreers. This week's member is Sjana Lee Dreyer-Bauer.

Sjana became a Wiki Genealogist in July 2014. She is active in many areas of WikiTree, particularly in our Virginia project and as a Ranger and Data Doctor.

When and how did you get interested in genealogy?

My grandmother passed away when I was 15 years old. I had no idea her and her sister were very involved in our genealogy and DAR. I found her old boxes in our garage and went through them and was amazed by what I found and all the work they had already done. I picked up where they left off.

What are some of your interests outside of genealogy?

Riding my Quad/ATV and getting really dirty. Not big on hills but love the adrenaline rush. Anything and everything about Genetics as in DNA.  I am a writer.  I have a published historical novel and am published in a scientific journal on DNA. Fishing. I’m an EMT, so I love anything about being a First Responder and Disaster Relief. Love Zombie movies. Our property in Virginia is a Certified Animal Habitat so it is free for animals to breed and their babies are safe; we have a creek, so there is plenty of water for all animals; and lot of trees for shade and food for the natural animals.  We also raise free range chickens and soon will be adding fiber goats, pygmy goats, alpacas, and a donkey and/or horse.

What is your genealogical research focus?

My focus started on my maternal line only as it was a brick wall for years until more people started getting into genealogy and doing their DNA.  Once I broke through that brick wall, I then found out my husband and I were distantly related as were my parents and his parents.  It blew my mind.  I’ve been trying to see where all those trees line up. 

Honestly, I’m like most people on WikiTree…I may start one place, then get side-tracked and follow the rabbit down a different rabbit hole. Or another analogy I like is I follow one butterfly and see a different one and start following that one instead!

How long have you been on WikiTree? What brought you here and why did you start getting involved? 

I did my Full Sequencing DNA back in 2007 and no one was related to me back then. It was so frustrating, but like everything, I had to wait, just like we had to wait for documents to be found. 

It is amazing what documents we have today that we never imagined we would have had 20 years ago. Same with DNA. I get notifications of matches nearly every day and to see DNA matches on WikiTree is wonderful. I’ve been in the field a very, very long time. I don’t know how I found WikiTree.  Maybe doing a search for something, but I was so surprised to find a place that worked together, growing a family tree, WITH SOURCES, for FREE!!  This was unheard of, and I think I joined in 2014 and have been active ever since.

Which projects are you most involved in?

I rotate all the different projects I work on: Rangers, Data Doctors, Virginia keeps me very busy, to name just a few. One project of my own that really keeps me busy is I am going through the wills of some of my ancestors and collecting the names of the Men and Women and Children that lived as slaves. Their names are usually listed and then I go through the local documents trying to find out what happened to them. Many of these slaves were later listed as Mulatto and related to me, which means they are also my family, so it is important to me to find them and what happened to them.

(interview continues in comments)

Comments

Do you consider your work here to be part of your legacy?

I don’t think of my work as a legacy. I just think that everything I can do, may help one more person find out who they are. Finding out who I was and am on this path of learning, has been so incredible. Learning of my ancestors’ experiences, good and bad was eye opening.  Even my husband’s families’ stories…I make him sit down and listen as I read them. They are fascinating.

Do you have a story about how you were helped through the work of others on WikiTree? 

I was on the England Orphan Trail and my guide was Tomas Lowe. I have to say, he was a saint. I probably have never, ever been helped more on how to make a proficient and correct WikiTree profile by anyone ever than by him through the England Orphan Trail. He was patient with me, and very clear with his communication. Seriously, I never learned more about how WikiTree works than from him. I hope that I can be as patient with questions and as concise with how to make a correct profile as he did with me when helping someone else with profiles. 

Answer 1

I loved this interview with Sjana. Her story about finding those genealogy boxes at her grandmother's house as a teenager I can totally relate to as that's when the genealogy hunt began for me! Like Sjana, I waited a long time for DNA testers to pop up to solve brick walls and how genealogists need a lot of patience for records to surface. Her experience with Tomas and the England Orphan Trail a plus.  I think many Wikitreers has benefited from Sjana's kindness

I love hearing about her animal habitats...so sweet

Comments

Hi Maggie,  Thank you for the lovely comment!  I think so many of us can thank our earlier family members that also passed on the genealogical bug to us for getting us started.  Oh boy, the frustration of having to wait for others to catch up sure did try the patience, tho lol :)  Good to hear I was not alone!

Answer 2

I am happy to say, Sjana is my 6th cousin at 13*. One of my first "discoveries" was my 4th great grandparents. Thanks to work Sjana had already completed, I was connected to the Tree. After spending several days of reading profiles and studying the connections, I too was hooked. I'm not sure if I should blame her or thank her, this really cuts into my fishing.

Comments

Oh wow, Kay.  I had no idea!  It is so good to "hear" our work actually helps someone directly.  I do cringe to think of my early profiles, tho.  Oh dear, they were awful.  I'm still going through and cleaning them up after all these years.  But yay!  I got another cousin!! :)  I do get the "cutting into fishing time" tho...it is so beautiful right now and the creeks are all stocked with trout :)

Answer 3

Congratulations Cousin Sjana for being honored as Member of the Week! You are 1 in a million+

You are my 8th cousin once removed

• Your 7th great-grandmother, Dinah (Swift) Perry (abt.1672-1740),
•  is her 8th great-grandmother.
• Your 7th great-grandfather, Benjamin Perry (1670-abt.1744), 
• is her 8th great-grandfather.

Comments

Oh Cousin David...always sparkly, lovely congrats.  Thank you, cousin!!

Answer 4

Hi Sjana

Congratulations. Admittedly far back, but we are related, you are my 25th cousins three times removed.

Comments

A cousin is a cousin...we're family!!  Thank you! :)

Answer 5

Nice to read your interests Sjana and how you began  your journey with genealogy.  Also, thank you for your contributions to WikiTree.   We are (maybe) 11th cousins through Elizabeth (Southerton) Warner.  However, I need further proof that  my James Warner is related to the same family regardless what other websites and online trees may say. I do wish it were so.   I'm most interested in deep ancestry going back as far as I can.

Comments

Thank you for your kind words, James.  Sometimes I find that working down from the common grandparents, helps when looking for those proofs.  You just never know what might would pop up!  I wish you the best of luck in your journey! :)

Answer 6

Congratulations, Sjana! I enjoyed reading your interview and getting to know you a little better. Thank you for the contributions you have made to the 1776 Project. We're happy to have you as a project member.

Comments

Thank you so much, Betty.  The 1776 Project was one of my first Projects I joined on WikiTree, as DAR was what my grandmother was working on in our genealogy when she passed away.

I've been honored to be a part of the Project <3

Sjana

Answer 7

Nice getting to know you better! Thank you for all you do :D

Comments

Thank you so very much, Liz.  You have been truly amazing with all the help you have given me over the years.  Plus, the both of us have been through the trenches untangled the most awful messes of family trees, especially, the Green's and Willis's.  You had the patience of Job and I just dug where you told me.  I loved and do love working with you whenever I can!

Sjana

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It's always a pleasure working with you too!

Answer 8

Beautiful interview Sjana.  Loved that you still find time for outside interests (if you can imagine!).

The Orphan Trail was my introduction to how to source PROPERLY.  If not for the Trailblazers, we would be connecting profiles through rumours, like other sites.

BTW, we're 11th cousins through our MRCA Richard and Elizabeth Warren.

Keep up all that you do for WT and have fun!!

Comments

Hello Cousin Brad!

Thank you so very much for your kind words!  Yes, I totally agree with you about the Orphan Trails and learning to source properly.  All of those people that volunteer their time to work with us "blazers", really are some of hardest workers on Wikitree.  I always try and recommend the "Trails" to anyone and everyone just to really re-enforce WikiTree's standards for sourcing. What we have here is amazing.  It was so wonderful to meet you, Brad!

Answer 9

LOVE this interview, so many interesting topics.  One of the big items that piqued my interest was the mention of DAR since I am a member.  Also that you had "a guide" while you were on a project.  I think that if Wiki doesn't already have something like that available, it would be nice to have it offered.  There are so many questions that I personally have, as one of the newer folks on here that it would be nice to have a 'go to' person that you know how each other communicates.   Just like a mentorship program.

And that you are an author on top of everything else!  I have a friend that is searching for historical novels, can you tell me what you have written?  Then I can at least pass along the title to her.

Thank you for sharing so much with us!  I so appreciate your interview.  So much more to say, but will end it now.

Comments

Hi Tammie, Thank you so much for your very kind words!  They really do mean a lot :)  WikiTree offers so much to the new and seasoned members...for anyone wanting to freshen up their skills.  There is a Mentor Project with Volunteers that will help with any questions you have and also asking questions here in the G2G forum.  Everyone is helpful!  If you want to join a "Trail" and you are a new member (or even a seasoned member, as I just started on this one, too), I would recommend the Profile Improvement Project (PIP).  You will work on your own profiles in this Project and get a well rounded experience on WikiTree standards for making and sourcing them properly :)  Thank you again for your kind words and for taking the time to reach out! ~ Sjana

Answer 10

Hi Sjana! Better late than never. I am still reeling from having Covid19 that I contracted while in New York City hunting information on the Titanic with my sister, Bonny, for the Disaster project.

Thank you so much for a really interesting interview. Your experiences are remarkable. I particuarly enjoyed your comments about the Orphan Trail. It was one of the first things I did when I joined WikiTree and agree with you completely. I cannot overlook PGM and the PGM team as well. Very helpful and wonderful people.

We are 10th cousins/2xr through MRCA Jane (Wells) Baldwin. You are a Connecticut Baldwin (Sylvester) and I am a Massachusetts Baldwin (Henry). This is what I so love about WikiTree...adding to ancestry, history, and so much more.

Again, thank you for all that you do for WikiTree ESPECIALLY the work you are doing tracking your slave ancestry. Yes, they are family and we cannot and should not overlook them. Well done, you!

Comments

Hi Cousin!  I so hope you are feeling better soon!  I have been over covid for well over a year, but still suffer from "covid toes" (they are always freezing and have no feeling yuk!, so I am forever wiggling them.)  

A Titanic adventure sounds so fascinating.  I hope it was fruitful for you!  

Thank you so much for your kind words.  I often come across your name so I thank you for your work, too!  Thank you for all you do, too!

It is so exciting when we find our cousins and see new matches and where fit in amongst each other.  I think that is one of the best parts of WikiTree!  This week has been incredible as I have met so many new people I probably wouldn't have met otherwise and feel so blessed because of WikiTree.  It is the best place to be!  Thanks for taking the time to reach out, Carol :)

Sjana

Answer 11

Thank you 18th cousin twice removed. What a wonderful discovery in the garage! How does your husband like listening? Your contributions are greatly appreciated. congratulations!

Comments

Thank you so very much, Cousin Clare!  Well, to answer your question honestly, my husband and I have been married a very long time (we are heading toward our 35th wedding anniversary ~ and we are still younguns'! lol), so, I guess he figures if I grudgingly listen to his stories about his work days or about his current mechanical tractor/garage "doings", he kind of has to do the same with mine, with our family history. LOL  Although, he actually keeps on an "interested face" while I talk...I can't say the same about his old police work or tractor stories lol

Thank you so much for reaching out.  As always, it truly is wonderful meeting new family!

Sjana

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Thank you. It is indeed a small world and I also appreciate making "real" connections, Sjana!

Answer 12

Thanks for all you do on WT, especially in Appalachia. I can't imagine how exciting it was to find all that research! I am kind of a genealogy lone wolf in that no one in my immediate family is interested, they get the glazed-over-eyes look when I try to engage them in what I think is interesting conversation, haha. I hope you are able to keep contributing and paying it forward. I know I try to make my wikimentors proud and use the knowledge they gave me to make the tree bigger and healthier.

Comments

Thank you so very much for your kind words and for reaching out, Erin! I see that we have 20 degrees between us, but no relationship....yet ~wink~  bet we find one! :)

You and I are very much alike being a lone wolf, tho.  My grandmother started the research with her sister and I continue it for her. No one in the family really seems all that interested unless I make them sit down and listen or nag them to death to take DNA tests LOL But, it will all be here on WikiTree for current and future generations to discover and to continue.

You've done amazing work on WikiTree, yourself, Erin!  Thank you for all that you have done.  

The Appalachia Project is especially dear to me as my family was living in Appalachia, as was my husband's. I live right here, too :)

Happy Root Hunting, Erin!

Sjana