World War I began 100 years ago today

World War I began 100 years ago today

World War I Memorial, Atlantic City, New Jersey

What seemed as a minor event in Central Europe, 100 years ago today, was not even reported in many American newspapers in the US until two days later. An assassination in what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina was the event. Here is a report on the local Springfield news article:

http://thelibrary.org/blogs/article.cfm?aid=3323&lid=62

Earlier, I posted this article about how WWI will be recognized here in Missouri:

http://www.examiner.com/article/recognizing-the-centennial-of-the-start-of-world-war-i

Do you have ancestors or relatives that were involved in World War I? Have you documented them sufficiently? Now is the time to do so. Reminders of War are not always welcomed, but by using them as a reminder to finish a piece of research, they can be valuable. Best wishes in your efforts!

Families are Forever! ;-)

52 Ancestors: #26 John and Rebecca Miller

52 Ancestors: #26 John and Rebecca Miller

This year, Amy Johnson Crow has issues a new 52 weeks blogging challenge:

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

on her No Story Too Small blog.

The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.

My approach: I have made this a Tuesday Theme, and, use it to enhance my WikiTree ancestor profiles. That is, focus on a different ancestor on my WikiTree list of profiles, each week (include possibly adding new profiles), Great idea! Thanks to Randy Seaver's post for bringing this to my attention!
Note: Third shift (not change) to approach. Beginning with #25, I will be doing direct ancestor couples.


#26 John and Rebecca Miller

These are a set of my 2nd great-grandparents, #22 and #23 on my Ahnentafel Report, for my genealogy friends.

Their youngest daughter, Ellen Rebecca Miller, was my great-grandmother, see #4.

John Miller (b. 6 Oct 1806, Berks Co, Pennsylvania; d. 7 Sep 1888, Edgerton, Williams Co, Ohio)
married
Rebecca Firestone Carle (b. 4 Jan 1808, Ohio; d. 6 Oct 1892, Coon Rapids, Carroll Co, Iowa)
on 8 Mar 1832 in Columbiana Co, Ohio

Their first two children were born in Richland Co, Ohio, and rest were born in Williams County, Ohio):

Their known children were:

1. Sabrina Miller (1832-1913)
2. William Carle Miller (1834-1910)
3. Richard Miller (1837-1839)
4. Harriet L. Miller (1838-1903)
5. Harmon L. Miller (1840-1929)
6. Daniel Burns (D.B.) Miller (1843-1939)
7. Lydia Ann Miller (1845-1903)
8. John M. Miller (1848-1851)
9. Ellen Rebecca Miller (1850-1912)

John Miller was a very successful farmer and raised his children to be successful, each in their own way - in that, he was most successful.

I wrote extensively about this family in the 1990s, recorded at Rootsweb. That site is currently down. I'll add the reference when Ancestry.com has gotten those records back on line.


The first mention of John Miller, here, was on a Surname Saturday.

I wrote about the Miller family in My Hometown, Coon Rapids, Iowa, as well.
I blogged about the "Rebecca" given name at the Carle Surname Saturday.

What fun! ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

52 Ancestors: #25 William and Asenath Preston

52 Ancestors: #25 William and Asenath Preston

This year, Amy Johnson Crow has issues a new 52 weeks blogging challenge:

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

on her No Story Too Small blog.


The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.

My approach: I have made this a Tuesday Theme, and, use it to enhance my WikiTree ancestor profiles. That is, focus on a different ancestor on my WikiTree list of profiles, each week (include possibly adding new profiles), Great idea! Thanks to Randy Seaver's post for bringing this to my attention!
Note: Third shift (not change) to approach. Beginning with #25, I will be doing direct ancestor couples.


#25 William and Asenath (Butler) Preston

These are a set of my 2nd great-grandparents, #20 and #21 on my Ahnentafel Report, for my genealogy friends.

I have written extensively about this pair. Even more information is available on the Preston line as a result of invaluable research by my cousin, known as GeneJ in genealogy research circles.

On 14 June 2014, I did a Google search on ["the old sheriff" William Preston] and the first five entries were as follows, all by me:

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~earlyyrs/smith/preston/wmpresiii.html
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~earlyyrs/smith/preston/wmpressjr.html
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~earlyyrs/smith/preston/preston.html
http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2011/06/learn-more-about-finding-old-sheriff.html
http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2009/11/surname-saturday-preston.html

The sixth was also about our direct ancestor, written by my cousin, an invaluable collaborator on this particular ancestor:

http://theycamebefore.wikispaces.com/William+Preston+1812+Memorial

If you enter a search of "old sheriff" in this blog, you'll find even more entries were I have referred to him, such as his birth certificate in New Hampshire, at:
http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2010/02/treasure-chest-thursday-birth-record.html

Here is their family:

William Charles Preston (b. 30 Dec 1780, Rumney Twp, Grafton Co, New Hampshire; d. 1837, St. Joseph Twp, Williams Co, Ohio)
married on 7 Dec 1820, in Wood Co, Ohio (which included Defiance, later in Williams Co, later in Defiance Co)
Asenath Butler (b. 23 Mar 1803, Michigan; d. 4 Apr 1888, Jones Co, Iowa)

They had five children of which we know:

1. Alice Loraine Preston (b. 17 Feb 1827, Defiance, Ohio; d. 1920, Webster City, Hamilton Co, Iowa)
2. Charles William (William) Preston (b. 7 Feb 1826, Defiance, Defiance Co, Ohio; d. 1911)
3. James P. Preston (b. 22 Feb 1835, Defiance, Ohio; d. 30 Dec 1906, Deer Lodge, Montana)
4. George W. Preston (b. 7 Dec 1832, Williams Co, Ohio; d. 25 Nov 1901,  Jones Co, Iowa)
5. Henry Clay Preston (b. 7 Dec 1832, Williams Co, Ohio; d. 10 Mar 1910, Jones Co, Iowa)

Finally, a couple of notes on Asenath, who had incredible life on her own account:

http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2013/03/happy-210th-birthday-asenath-butler.html
A tribute to her on her 210th birthday anniversary.

http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2011/03/fearless-females-march-3-asenath-butler.html
A Fearless Female tribute to her.

http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2010/01/surname-saturday-butler.html
Her family background on a Surname Saturday

http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2009/11/john-bulter-my-irish-ancestor.html
The story of her father, and her with her family being "saved" by "Hull's Surrender." Thanks, again, General Hull!!


What fun! ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

52 Ancestors: #24 James Kinnick

52 Ancestors: #24 James Kinnick

 

This year, Amy Johnson Crow has issues a new 52 weeks blogging challenge: 

 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

 

 on her No Story Too Small blog.

The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.

My approach: I have made this a Tuesday Theme, and, use it to enhance my WikiTree ancestor profiles. That is, focus on a different ancestor on my WikiTree list of profiles, each week (include possibly adding new profiles), Great idea! Thanks to Randy Seaver's post for bringing this to my attention!

Going back nine weeks… to the first George Washington Kinnick…  now, to the second child, another son, born after John and Mary migrated from Maryland to North Carolina. This time, adding him family to the WikiTree entries.

He would also be a first cousin, five generations removed. Also part of this fascinating family - and, another part of the largest single groups of KINNICK surnames in the country (counting their descendants). My mother was a KINNICK, of course.


#24 James Kinnick

 

 This family was included in the first book I published about the Kinnick ancestors:

Kinnick Early US Family History

ebook:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-bill-smith/kinnick-early-us-family-history/ebook/product-17413775.html

print book:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-bill-smith/kinnick-early-us-family-history/paperback/product-16516494.html


James Kinnick was born in North Carolina in March 1795, after his parents (John and Ann) moved to North Carolina in 1792. He was their nineth child and and fifth son.

He married Margaret Eckles (1792-1843) in Rowan Co, North Carolina in Feb 1817.


They had 8 children together:

1. Eliza Kinnick (1817-1863) married Samuel Henry in 1845.
2. Nancy Emeline Kinnick (1820-1846) married Geroge Wesley Burk in Mar 1840 in Johnson Co, Iowa.
3. William Franklin Kinnick (1822-1895) married Elizabeth Stinson in 1847.
4. Henry Kinnick (1824-1850)
5. Perlina Kinnick (1826-1908) married Thomas Rumbley Hubbell in Feb 1846 in North Carolina.
6. Emily Camilla Kinnick (1828- ??) married Lazarus Henry VanDyke.
7. Mary Kinnick (1830-??) married Alexander Robison.
8. James W. (Jr.) Kinnick (1834-1909) married Mary A. Alexander in 1856 in Johnson Co, IN.


As shared last week, the descendants of this extended family have also been fascinating to research and write stories about.  There is much more to be done on this family.

The 1953 Kinnick Genealogy Book has been the starting point for much of my KINNICK family history research.

When I compiled, with the aid of nearly 100 other contributors, the 2003 Online KINNICK Genealogy Book, in 2003 (nearly 900 online pages, inter-linked) - the 50th anniversary of the earlier work - we extended the family history to all KINNICK descendants that we could identify. It has become the definitive work on the KINNICK Surname, and is the basis for the One-Name Study currently continuing the work.


What fun! ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

52 Ancestors: #23 William Kinnick

 52 Ancestors: #23 William Kinnick

This year, Amy Johnson Crow has issues a new 52 weeks blogging challenge:

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

on her No Story Too Small blog.

The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.

My approach: I have made this a Tuesday Theme, and, use it to enhance my WikiTree ancestor profiles. That is, focus on a different ancestor on my WikiTree list of profiles, each week (include possibly adding new profiles), Great idea! Thanks to Randy Seaver's post for bringing this to my attention!


Going back nine weeks… to the first George Washington Kinnick…  now, to the first child, a son, born in after John and Mary migrated from Maryland to North Carolina. This time, adding him family to the WikiTree entries.

He would also be a first cousin, five generations removed. Also part of this fascinating family - and, another part of the largest single groups of KINNICK surnames in the country (counting their descendants). My mother was a KINNICK, of course.


#23 William Kinnick

This family was included in the first book I published about the Kinnick ancestors:

Kinnick Early US Family History

ebook:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-bill-smith/kinnick-early-us-family-history/ebook/product-17413775.html

print book:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-bill-smith/kinnick-early-us-family-history/paperback/product-16516494.html


William Kinnick was born in North Carolina in March 1793, after his parents (John and Ann) moved to North Carolina in 1792. He was their eighth child and and fourth son.

He married Sarah Clark Ross (Mrs. Richard Ross) in May of 1829 in Indiana. “William walked from N. Carolina to Indiana in 1825 with his nephew Jabez Graham Kinnick. 1854 moved to Dallas County, Iowa.” Quote from 1953 Kinnick Family Genealogy Book. [Mrs. Ross had a son, Robert, and a daughter, Nancy, by her first marriage.]


They had 12 children together (each born in Indiana):

1. Sarah Ann (Sally) Kinnick (1830-1907) married John Smith Barngrover in Apr 1848.
2. infant son Kinnick (Mar 1831-Mar 1831)
3. infant son Kinnick (Mar 1832-Mar 1832)
4. infant daughter Kinnick (Jan 1833-Jan 1833)
5. Mary J. Kinnick (1834-1851)
6. Rebecca Kinnick (Mar 1836-Sep 1837)
7. Catherine (Kate) Kinnick (1837-1897) married James Comly Michener in Oct 1870, in Adel, Dallas County, Iowa
8. William Alexander Kinnick (1839-1845)
9. John Thomas Kinnick (1841-1924) married first Jennie E. (Edith) Weeks and second Annis Graham. There four children from each marriage. I have done fairly extensive research on this family and collaborated with family descendants.
10. Susan Elizabeth Kinnick (1843-1924) married Charles Wesley Curtis in Sep 1866. I have done fairly extensive research on this family and collaborated with family descendants.
11. Richard Ross Kinnick (1846-1916) married Rachel Adams in Nov 1865 in Adel, Dallas Co, Iowa. I have done fairly extensive research on this family and collaborated with family descendants.
12. William Butler (W.B.) Kinnick (1849-1934) married Mary Jane (Jennie) Stump in Mar 1875, Dallas Co, Iowa. I have done fairly extensive research on this family and collaborated with family descendants.
This is the grandfather of Nile Kinnick - Heisman Trophy winning football player at the University of Iowa.


As shared last week, the descendants of this extended family have also been fascinating to research and write stories about.  There is much more to be done on this family.

The 1953 Kinnick Genealogy Book has been the starting point for much of my KINNICK family history research.

When I compiled, with the aid of nearly 100 other contributors, the 2003 Online KINNICK Genealogy Book, in 2003 (nearly 900 online pages, inter-linked) - the 50th anniversary of the earlier work - we extended the family history to all KINNICK descendants that we could identify. It has become the definitive work on the KINNICK Surname, and is the basis for the One-Name Study currently continuing the work.


What fun! ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)