Most of the FAG memorials I manage are for people related to me, albeit sometimes remotely through marriage only. If you're more closely related than I and want a transfer, contact me and I will make the switch.
(The numbers that appear below are FAG memorial IDs.)
I was a software developer for 25 years. While working full time I took courses in history (my hobby) and eventually earned a doctorate. Since my retirement from coding, I've been engaged in a project whose goal is to identify every descendant of my great grandfather William Henry Frederick Schafer (9455959) who with Lavinia McGowan had 14 children, 54 grandchildren, and 94 great-grandchildren (which includes me). I've identified 204 great-great grandchildren to date and 180 great-great-greats. I've also been writing family histories, creating DAR & SAR applications for family members (James Barnwell 46101357 is our Patriot), and growing trees on ancestry.com. I seem to have a fortuitous skill set—formal historical research training and a bit of computer savvy—that has helped me discover some exciting data on my ancestors from the many genealogy websites on-line.
Each of us has 8 great-great grandfathers. I am writing short biographies of my seven great-great grandfathers who served in the Civil War. (Six for the Union and one for the Confederacy. The latter was forced at gunpoint to enlist and quickly deserted and moved north). My 8th great-great grandfather who didn't serve, Johannes Schafer, died in Germany before 1860, but his son, William Henry Frederick Schafer, enlisted for the Union at age 30 in Company C, the Illinois 31st . In 1869 at age 38 Schafer married Lavinea Caroline McGowan (9455969). She was the daughter of Alfred McGowan. WHF Schafer had served with McGowan in Company C . Lavinea and Schafer had 14 children. Their 13th, my grandmother Ruth Schafer (154585243), was born when WHFS was 62.
My parents were James Harrison Rainbolt Jr (97675658) and Elsie Rose Jett (97675499). My 7 great-great grands and 1 great-grand who served in the Civil War were:
My mother's side:
21722072 Humphrey Jett, Private, Company D, 54th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, served less than a year in 1865.
225258675 Jasper Marion Thurston, Private, Company B, 35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment Deserted, hid in the woods, and escaped to Illinois. His father, John T Thurston, a Union sympathizer, had his house burned to the ground by rebels, & was imprisoned at Fort Smith, where he died.
50663423 Thomas Corwin Allen, Private, Company F, Ohio 95th Volunteer Infantry. Served with his brother Morris who was a POW and died in the Sultana explosion.
131643556 Noah Webster Geer, Private, Company D, 179th Infantry Regiment New York. Was paid a $203 bounty to go at age 17, & wounded in the face.
My Father's side:
40461851 James Calvin Rainbolt, Private, Company K, 120th Illinois Infantry. Named his son William Tecumseh Sherman Rainbolt (my great grandfather).
50425265 John Carter Barnwell, Private, Company K 120th Illinois Infantry. Promoted to Full Sergeant. His ancestors had served in the War of 1812 and the Revolutionary War.
194978349 Alfred McGowan, Private, Company C, 31st Regiment Illinois Volunteers. His FAG memorial says he died in the war, but this is disputed.
9455959 William Henry Frederick Schafer, Private, Promoted Corporal Dec 31, 1864 Company C 31st Regiment Illinois Volunteers. Re-enlisted when his 3 years were up. Served with his brother Lewis Schafer (14823347) who died, possibly of typhoid, in 1863 and is buried at Memphis National Cemetery in Tennessee.

Most of the FAG memorials I manage are for people related to me, albeit sometimes remotely through marriage only. If you're more closely related than I and want a transfer, contact me and I will make the switch.
(The numbers that appear below are FAG memorial IDs.)
I was a software developer for 25 years. While working full time I took courses in history (my hobby) and eventually earned a doctorate. Since my retirement from coding, I've been engaged in a project whose goal is to identify every descendant of my great grandfather William Henry Frederick Schafer (9455959) who with Lavinia McGowan had 14 children, 54 grandchildren, and 94 great-grandchildren (which includes me). I've identified 204 great-great grandchildren to date and 180 great-great-greats. I've also been writing family histories, creating DAR & SAR applications for family members (James Barnwell 46101357 is our Patriot), and growing trees on ancestry.com. I seem to have a fortuitous skill set—formal historical research training and a bit of computer savvy—that has helped me discover some exciting data on my ancestors from the many genealogy websites on-line.
Each of us has 8 great-great grandfathers. I am writing short biographies of my seven great-great grandfathers who served in the Civil War. (Six for the Union and one for the Confederacy. The latter was forced at gunpoint to enlist and quickly deserted and moved north). My 8th great-great grandfather who didn't serve, Johannes Schafer, died in Germany before 1860, but his son, William Henry Frederick Schafer, enlisted for the Union at age 30 in Company C, the Illinois 31st . In 1869 at age 38 Schafer married Lavinea Caroline McGowan (9455969). She was the daughter of Alfred McGowan. WHF Schafer had served with McGowan in Company C . Lavinea and Schafer had 14 children. Their 13th, my grandmother Ruth Schafer (154585243), was born when WHFS was 62.
My parents were James Harrison Rainbolt Jr (97675658) and Elsie Rose Jett (97675499). My 7 great-great grands and 1 great-grand who served in the Civil War were:
My mother's side:
21722072 Humphrey Jett, Private, Company D, 54th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, served less than a year in 1865.
225258675 Jasper Marion Thurston, Private, Company B, 35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment Deserted, hid in the woods, and escaped to Illinois. His father, John T Thurston, a Union sympathizer, had his house burned to the ground by rebels, & was imprisoned at Fort Smith, where he died.
50663423 Thomas Corwin Allen, Private, Company F, Ohio 95th Volunteer Infantry. Served with his brother Morris who was a POW and died in the Sultana explosion.
131643556 Noah Webster Geer, Private, Company D, 179th Infantry Regiment New York. Was paid a $203 bounty to go at age 17, & wounded in the face.
My Father's side:
40461851 James Calvin Rainbolt, Private, Company K, 120th Illinois Infantry. Named his son William Tecumseh Sherman Rainbolt (my great grandfather).
50425265 John Carter Barnwell, Private, Company K 120th Illinois Infantry. Promoted to Full Sergeant. His ancestors had served in the War of 1812 and the Revolutionary War.
194978349 Alfred McGowan, Private, Company C, 31st Regiment Illinois Volunteers. His FAG memorial says he died in the war, but this is disputed.
9455959 William Henry Frederick Schafer, Private, Promoted Corporal Dec 31, 1864 Company C 31st Regiment Illinois Volunteers. Re-enlisted when his 3 years were up. Served with his brother Lewis Schafer (14823347) who died, possibly of typhoid, in 1863 and is buried at Memphis National Cemetery in Tennessee.