I've been posting family history on FB, pictures and stories about family members that I have been told. The one big story about my maternal grandfather is how he had been very rich (owned the electric company, a bank with 2 others, a lumber mill, paid for building a local school house and wired it and provided electricity free, etc. A lot)

Well in 1925, the bank manager ran off with all the money. This is before FDIC. His partners declared bankruptcy after transferring assets to their wives. My grandfather sold off his businesses, farm, and most of his possessions. I had his personal property taxes from before and after, but today I put them in one doc. Stark!

I know my mom was proud of him, but she often spoke of the loss and the deep poverty they lived in after. But putting the two lists into 1 sheet, the comparison was more stark than I had seen it before. It was hard for mom being youngest - her older siblings got to go to college but she didn't. And, Aunt Irene loved to lord her degree over Mom.

Your personal story tells a lot about humanking in general. The trick with moving assets to relatives and declare a bankrupcy is still alive and well.