Civil War Series on Sunday - Dorothea Dix gets her nurses

This Day in the Civil War - 150 Years Ago
Wednesday May 29 1861
DETERMINED DIX DOES DOUBLE DISPENSARY DUTY

"Many people realized at the start of the war, or even earlier, that the military was not an all prepared for the complications involved in raising and maintaining huge standing armies. One of the most persistent of these petitioners was Miss Dorothea Dix, who had been fighting for months to be allowed to provide nursing services. After promising to hire only older, homely women so soldiers would not be tempted to sin, she was authorized today by Secretary of War Simon Cameron to gather nurses."


On a personal note: My 2nd great-grandfather Walter Watson KINNICK '...took his bride with him...where she acted as a nurse for troops in camp... '

"Walter re-enlisted 10 Aug 1862 in Co. D, Seventh Regiment, Kansas Volunteers, Cavalry [8](not 5 Regiment as reported in [7]). He took his bride with him to Corinth, MS, where she acted as nurse for troops in camp there [7]. He was discharged 2 Dec 1864 from St. Louis, MO [7,8]."

Source: http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~earlyyrs/kinnick/kinnickweb/wwatkinn.html#Adult


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Surname Saturday - HERRON

Surname Saturday

HERRON

Helen Lucile KINNICK (My maternal grandfather, Paul KINNICK's, sister) was born on 28 Mar 1894 in Iowa. She died on 13 Mar 1956.

Wilson Cleveland HERRON son of Thomas Lafayette HERRON and Keturia L. Elizabeth HEATER was born on 12 Dec 1890 in Iowa. He died in 1976 in Iowa.

Wilson Cleveland Herron and Helen Lucile Kinnick were married on 18 Sep 1912. They had the following children:

i. Margaret Elizabeth HERRON was born on 09 Jul 1914. She married Emmert Martinus NELSEN on 21 Oct 1933. She died on 29 Nov 1991.

ii. Wilbur Elias HERRON was born on 23 Jan 1916 south of Coon Rapids, in Guthrie Co, Iowa. He married Pauline Jeanette BOWER on 13 Apr 1941 in the Methodist Parsonage, Guthrie Center, Guthrie Co, Iowa. He died on 25 Feb 1999 in Iowa Meth Med Ce, Des Moines, Polk Co, Iowa.

iii. Donald Alonzo HERRON was born on 09 Sep 1917. He married Jennie Adelia BETTS on 25 Dec 1942. He died on 23 Apr 1997.

iv. Thomas Duane HERRON was born on 28 Nov 1919. He married Mildred Mae BETTS on 21 Oct 1940. He died on 08 Oct 1996 in Iowa Meth Med Center, Des Moines, Polk Co, Iowa.

v. Pauline Roberta HERRON was born on 28 Jul 1921 at home south of Coon Rapids, Iowa. She married Clayton Cleveland ROLLER on 30 Sep 1939. She died on 04 Dec 1994 in Thomas Rest Haven, Coon Rapids, Carroll Co, Iowa.

vi. Wilson Cleveland (Ping) HERRON Jr. was born on 10 Jul 1923 in Coon Rapids, Carroll Co, Iowa. He married Lucille Grace DILLIVAN on 28 Aug 1946 in Carroll, Carroll Co, Iowa. He died on 28 Mar 1992 in Des Moines, Polk Co, Iowa.

vii. Naomi Lucile HERRON was born on 26 Nov 1925. She married Robert Earl KEPPLE on 11 Aug 1945 in Carroll, Carroll Co, Iowa.

viii. Violet Geneva HERRON was born on 28 Apr 1927 on the family farm south of Coon Rapids in Guthrie Co, IA.. She married Norman "Gene" CROUCH on 18 Mar 1950 in Bayard, Iowa. She died 11 Oct 2005.

ix. Vera Genevieve HERRON was born on 28 Apr 1927 on the family farm south of Coon Rapids in Guthrie Co, IA. She married Thryl Gene HILGENBERG. She died on 07 Feb 2002 in St. Anthony
Hospital, Carroll, Carroll Co, Iowa.

x. Shirley Ann HERRON was born on 30 Dec 1929. She married Lyle Howard SEIVERS on 21 Jul 1949. She died on 07 Apr 1999.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Follow Friday - 27 May 2011

Follow Friday

27 May 2011

I always appreciate (and learn from, and enjoy) writings by Michael Hait, where ever they appear. This week, writing a post at  his "Planting the Seeds: Genealogy as a Profession" he asks: "Shouldn't we all be 'Primary Care Genealogist?' Be sure to read the comments and replies, as well, of course.

This discussion, of course, related to the issue of 'what is a professional?' - that has been cussed and discussed at length in the Geneablogs, lately. But, it is a little more pointed, at least the way I read it. I spent 15-20 years in 'academe' - coming in late, and exiting after a perhaps 'fairly short' exposure; though I did achieve a reasonable degree of success while I was there.

I am fascinated to see the same type of 'inside' cussing and discussing about what a 'professional' genealogist should be as I did regarding being a 'professional' academic. There, the big issue was, to oversimplify a bit, whether 'a teacher' or 'a researcher' was the true 'professional.' Michael here speaks about the 'generalist' versus the 'specialist' - and the first comment really takes off on it.

I believe I prefer what I believe Michael is saying: If you have good (genealogical) research skills, it really doesn't matter. The research methods are at the heart of any good genealogy work. Good research skills are at the heart of any academic work, as well. Whether you become a specialist is a separate issue. But, you still need good research skills, first, to be a competent genealogist. I also believe this is the basis for valid certifications, general or specific.

What do you think? If you care to comment, I invite you to do so.  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Job Opportunity: WikiTree is looking for a 'Counsin Connector'

This is from the note from Chris Whitten at WikiTree:

**************

The full description is at http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help_Wanted
and included below in plain text.

---

JOB DESCRIPTION

As WikiTree.com's Cousin Connector, you will help connect distant
cousins and facilite their enjoyable, productive genealogy
collaborations.

This http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/WikiTree_Honor_Code will be your
guide. You will be setting an example for what's best about WikiTree:
A generous, cooperative, community attitude ... a dedication to
discovering and sharing genealogy ... an excitement about the grand
goal of growing a single worldwide family tree.

You will be helping make sure that WikiTree really is a worldwide
shared tree and not a collection of individual trees. Specifically, we
anticipate that you will be spending a few hours a week browsing
surname index pages and using our FindMatches tool to look for likely
duplicates. From there, you'll be proposing merges.

You will also be improving the overall quality of merged ancestor
profiles by demonstrating and explaining good genealogical methods
(especially: citing sources). You'll be making research suggestions
and answering questions by e-mail and our message boards.

Since disagreements are so common in collaborations, you will be
helping diffuse conflicts and encourage a style of WikiTree usage that
minimizes them (again, especially: citing sources). You'll be clicking
a lot of "thank you" links to demonstrate how this feature can
encourage people to make useful contributions and help maintain a
friendly atmosphere through positive reinforcement.


QUALIFICATIONS

You should have prior experience helping people research genealogy,
either as a volunteer or a professional.

You must be able to express yourself well in writing. You need to be
able to show a smile in your electronic communication. :-)

Most importantly, you need to be genuinely excited about this as an
opportunity to help other people with an interest in genealogy and our
common mission. This needs to be what motivates you. The compensation
is just what enables you to prioritize it.


HOURS

Approximately five hours a week to start. You can work whenever you want.

The only constraint is that if someone asks you a question you can't
leave them for days without a response. If you're not going to be
available you just have to let people know.


LOCATION

From your own computer, anywhere on the Internet.


COMPENSATION

We will negotiate a monthly rate that works for you, based on your
experience and needs.

It won't be a lot of money. WikiTree is a free website; you'll be
helping non-paying members with their genealogy. You'll be working
alongside volunteers.

On the upside, if you also work as a free-lance professional
genealogist, this will be great advertising. WikiTree gets thousands
of visitors a day and is growing fast. You will be a highly-visible
leader in the community. The job description is to be fun and helpful,
so you will get a good reputation. Every person you help is a
potential future client.

Plus, if you have a website or page elsewhere on the Internet the
search engines will rank it more highly because of your visibility
here.


TO APPLY

E-mail Chris Whitten at chris -at- wikitree.com.

A CV or resume isn't necessary if you don't have one handy. Just tell
me about your relevant experience. In particular, are there discussion
forums, blogs, or websites where I could see posts from you?

Let me know what you would need for compensation and ask any questions
you might have about the position or WikiTree in general.

If haven't used WikiTree lately, be sure to spend some time using the
site and browsing our Help Pages before contacting me so that we can
have a more informed discussion.

You might also contact Elyse Doerflinger at elyse -at- wikitree.com.
She can tell you what it's like to work as part of our team.

You can also get a sense of our community through our
http://www.facebook.com/WikiTreeOnline Facebook page.

************

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Monday Memories - A 1964 comparison to current day

Monday Memories

A 1964 comparison to current day

We just returned from a 2 week 'vacation' in southern Utah (Wayne County, Teasdale, Torrey, Capital Reef National Park, etc.) and I realized one of my posts there really should be on this blog.

We revisited the sites of our 1964 trip from St. George, Utah, to Louisville, KY, as I was just finishing up my 3 year Air Force active duty tour, and returning to civilian life. We had our two young daughters, and one place we stopped, and took family photos, was Capital Reef National Monument - not yet a National Park!

Now, for a couple of years, the older of those two girls, Annette, with her husband, Larry, live near Teasdale, about 20 miles from Capital Reef - they see the distinctive 'water pocket fold' - red cliffs - from their east deck!

http://drbillonretirement.blogspot.com/2011/05/first-thursday-1964-comparisons-in.html  is my 'retirement/travel' blog where I recorded our return visit. Please feel free to look around other pages, when you visit.

Following are a couple of the 1964 scans of the July 1964 photos - time has already begun to take it's toll. We enjoyed finding the same spots, the same rock formation - and noting the similarities, and the differences, in 47 years! Check it out.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Civil War Series on Sunday - First Union combat fatality this day 1861

Civil War Series on Sunday 

First Union combat fatality this day 1861

Every day for the next few years, we can follow what happened 150 years ago on that date, in the Civil War conflict. I think occasional reminders are of value. Most of us had ancestors in the Civil War.


"On May 22, 1861, in what's generally regarded as the first Union combat fatality of the Civil War, Pvt. Thornsbury Bailey Brown was shot and killed by a Confederate soldier at Fetterman Bridge in present-day West Virginia."

Forbes.com (Today in History)



Families are Forever!  ;-)

Follow Friday - 20 May 2011

Follow Friday - 20 May 2011

My thanks go out to Elizabeth O'Neal for her 13 May 2011 post at Little Bytes of Life for the following referral.

The following post reiterates with some nice deal one of may favorite admonitions to new researchers: look at the aunts and uncles... you often find interesting people living with them. Brend Leyndyke wrote this on her Journey to the Past blog post: Researching Sisters Leads to Finding Great Great Grandmother.

Bonus post:
I follow Biff Barnes at Stories To Tell because if fits will with my blog theme. His latest is: Why You Should Keep a Writer's Journal.  I've tried several times, and it doesn't seem to work for me... but writing blogs does. How about you? Do you keep a 'writer's journal,' a 'diary,' or something else? Love to hear what you do in a comment. Thanks!  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Added 'Search this Blog' box, for you and for me

A quick shout out to Ben at Quick Blog Tips for the reminder to add a 'Search this Blog' box.

Thank you,

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? A Singular Woman by Janny Scott

It's Monday, What are You Reading? 

A Singular Woman by Janny Scott

This is the twenty-second entry for this meme, suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [The first 21 entries in the series were posted at the Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar, which has now been put on hiatus]

I have always been fascinated by the lady who is the subject of this book. I am very pleased that it is now available.

Product Description on Amazon.com:

A major publishing event: an unprecedented look into the life of the woman who most singularly shaped Barack Obama-his mother.

Barack Obama has written extensively about his father, but little is known about Stanley Ann Dunham, the fiercely independent woman who raised him, the person he credits for, as he says, "what is best in me." Here is the missing piece of the story.

Award-winning reporter Janny Scott interviewed nearly two hundred of Dunham's friends, colleagues, and relatives (including both her children), and combed through boxes of personal and professional papers, letters to friends, and photo albums, to uncover the full breadth of this woman's inspiring and untraditional life, and to show the remarkable extent to which she shaped the man Obama is today.

Dunham's story moves from Kansas and Washington state to Hawaii and Indonesia. It begins in a time when interracial marriage was still a felony in much of the United States, and culminates in the present, with her son as our president- something she never got to see. It is a poignant look at how character is passed from parent to child, and offers insight into how Obama's destiny was created early, by his mother's extraordinary faith in his gifts, and by her unconventional mothering. Finally, it is a heartbreaking story of a woman who died at age fifty-two, before her son would go on to his greatest accomplishments and reflections of what she taught him.

Happy Reading,

Bill  ;-)

New look and approach to blog

New look and approach to blog

This weekend marks a new look to this blog and a slight adjustment of focus of this and my other blogs, to reflect the current realities of my work and leisure focus.

This occurs with the upcoming release of my 2nd novel, later this month or so, "The Homeplace Revisited." I will place more emphasis on my The Homeplace Series Blog (in promoting the book and looking to the future of that series) and will stop making new entries to Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar blog (See left sidebar Blog List). I will also be working more with my Single Surname blog, The KINNICK Project, as I place a higher priority on my next nonfiction book, "The World of Sergeant Major William Kinnick," in coming months. If you have any interest at all, I hope you will become followers and/or subscribe to the RSS feeds of these blogs. I thank you for your support.

I will also continue my 2 weekly columns with Examiner.com (I welcome your subscription to one or both of these, as well):

Springfield Genealogy Examiner

Ozarks Cultural Heritage Examiner

Thank you for your continued support. All comments are always welcomed!  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Follow Friday - 13 May 2011

Follow Friday - 13 May 2011

I have not mentioned a Carnival of Genealogy for a long time. The 105th Edition, at Creative Gene, is on the topic of: Favorite Current Technology. This Edition has 17 entries by bloggers both new and well known. This is a great way to read what these writers of various interests and inclinations have to say, not only about technology, in this case, but their personal philosophies, as well. Always a fine set of readings. And, you might meet someone new... that you really need to know about...  ;-)

At the end of this post is the Call for Submissions to the next Carnival. If you haven't participated lately, you might want to consider it - now or in the future.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Follow Friday - 6 May 2011

Follow Friday - 6 May 2011

I am drafting this (for you to read a week from today) on an interesting day... Royal Wedding, Space Shuttle didn't go up, aftermath of tornados in SE and flooding here, NFL draft and lockout foolishness, NBA playoffs, Trump F-bombs, etc.

Two highlights, for me, however, were, first, via our early involvement in WikiTree, finding I am a 5th cousin, twice removed from one of my favorite GeneaBloggers, Randy Seaver of Genea-Musing in San Diego. My 4th great-grandmother, Hannah Healy (married William Preston) had a sister Joanna who married John Underhill in 1741, Randy's sixth great-grandparents. Small world! [Common ancestors: William and Mary S. Healey] Don't we actually look just a little bit alike?!?!  ;-)


Second, and most important here, Randy has a great post, today:
"Hank Jones - 'When the Sources Are Wrong'" Few of us get to attend society meetings such as the one Randy reports, especially not with this kind of outstanding speaker. Randy give a great, brief review, and includes eight quotes from Hank that are worthy of book, on their own. Enjoy, and learn.  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)