Friday, December 31, 2010

Follow Friday - 31 Dec 2010

Follow Friday - 31 Dec 2010

My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)

POST 1:

I have previously mentioned  posts by Dan Curis - Professional Personal Historian. This week I am recommending his "My Top 10 Posts of 2010." I'm pretty confident there is something useful for just about everyone in this list.

Have a Great New Year!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, December 24, 2010

Follow Friday - 24 Dec 2010

Follow Friday - 24 Dec 2010

My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

This post is full of neat links, and they have links, and they have links. Good, fun reading. Comments included. Stop when you want... or keep following the links of interest!





Families are Forever!  ;-)

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Follow up to Dec 18 post

The Dec 18 post was about Christmas stockings... from the old days, when our three daughters were young. This week we are visiting our grandkids in Austin, TX. I noticed their Christmas Stockings "hung with care" ... "In hopes that St. Nick would soon be there" ... the tree is only a few feet away. Their stockings are a little fancier - and each has two:




Merry Christmas!  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 18 - Christmas Stockings

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 18
Christmas Stockings

This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - laber 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Christmas Stockings

Rather than Christmas Stockings of ancestors today, this will be about Christmas Stockings of our descendants... and continue the topic of minimalism. These Christmas Stockings are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of their 'beginnings' as Annette is celebrating her 50th year, this year, as well. [She even got to attend Silver Dollar City, the theme park, free, a few weeks back, because they are also celebrating their 50th anniversary, and everyone with a 50th birthday in 2010 got free admission, all year!]


Nancy made the stockings, as the girls arrived... we've used them every year. More symbolic than terribly useful, of course, expect for an apple, an orange, some nuts, some candy - perhaps a candy cane or two; oh, and often earrings or other jewelry in little boxes, hidden along the way... I won't bore you with the photos of the Christmas Stocking, heavy laden, with all the other gifts stacked around, many, many years, over the 50 years, but I do have them!

We'll not be home on Christmas, this year, so the stockings are hung in remembrance of all those great years past.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, December 17, 2010

Follow Friday - 17 Dec 2010

Follow Friday - 17 Dec 2010

My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

Again this week, I'd like to thank Randy Seaver for bringing this excellent blog post to my attention:
"How I Got Here - The Path to Becoming a Family Historian" by Marian Pierre-Louis

This is worth reading, no matter your situation, as a tribute to family influences and as a reminder of our responsibilities to your children, their children, etc.

A quote from Marian's post:
"My message to you is be an example for your children or grandchildren.  Don't force them to learn family history but consistently live your life so that you model in all your actions and interactions the importance of family history.  I would argue that that is one of the most effective ways to encourage future generations.'


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Last Five Days of Advent Calendar Topics

 Last Five Days of Advent Calendar Topics

 I still seek Guest Posts for one or more of the days of Advent remaining - see the following
Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories:

December 20 – Religious Services
: Did your family attend religious services during the Christmas season? What were the customs and traditions involved?

December 21 – Christmas Music
: What songs did your family listen to during Christmas? Did you ever go caroling? Did you have a favorite song?

December 22 – Christmas and Deceased Relatives: 
Did your family visit the cemetery at Christmas? How did your family honor deceased family members at Christmas?

December 23 – Christmas Sweetheart Memories: 
Do you have a special memory of a first Christmas present from a sweetheart? How did you spend your first Christmas together? Any Christmas engagements or weddings among your ancestors?

December 24 – Christmas Eve
: How did you, your family or your ancestors spend Christmas Eve?

If you have a one, two or three paragraph comment you would like to include here, send it to me by email, or even in the comments here, and I will include it in the post for the correct day; likely along with my own comments. Let's give it a try.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 15 - Holiday Happenings

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 15
Holiday Happenings

This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - laber 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Holiday Happenings

I'm taking a little different tack on this one. I just published an Examiner.com article on using holiday family gatherings as a time to ask about past holiday stories and getting more family information for your family written down. You may check it out at: http://www.examiner.com/genealogy-in-springfield-mo/christmas-gatherings-will-dominate-the-next-ten-days-are-your-questions-ready

Enjoy!  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Next Five Days of Advent Calendar Topics

Next Five Days of Advent Calendar Topics

 I still seek Guest Posts for one or more of the days of Advent remaining - see the following
Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories:

December 15 – The Holiday Happenings!
: Often times December to mid-January birthdays and anniversaries get over shadowed by the Christmas/Hanukkah/New Year holidays. So we’re going to shine a spotlight on those family members and ancestors this time around. Select one or more December to mid-January birthdays and/or anniversaries on your family tree. Write a short tribute to or memory of those birthday guys and gals and write a toast to the anniversary couples.

December 16 – Christmas at School
: What did you or your ancestors do to celebrate Christmas at school? Were you ever in a Christmas Pageant?

December 17 – Grab Bag: 
Author’s choice. Please post from a topic that helps you remember Christmases past!

December 18 – Christmas Stockings
: Did you have one? Where did you hang it? What did you get in it? Do you have any Christmas stockings used by your ancestors?

December 19 – Christmas Shopping
: How did your family handle Christmas Shopping? Did anyone finish early or did anyone start on Christmas Eve?


If you have a one, two or three paragraph comment you would like to include here, send it to me by email, or even in the comments here, and I will include it in the post for the correct day; likely along with my own comments. Let's give it a try.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 11 - Other Traditions

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 11
Other Traditions

 This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - laber 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Other Traditions

As with many families, about our only 'other tradition' is alternating celebration Christmas day with one side of the family or another. In our early married years, it was a question of being with my folks or my wife's folks for the holiday. On the far end of married life, now, this is determined bases on the grandkids, in Austin, and whether it is "our year"  to be there Christmas day, or, "the other grandparents" year... and we then alternate with New Years Day, as well. This is the one holiday that the two grandkids and their family do not travel. Actually works out quite well, for the most part.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, December 10, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 10 - Christmas Gifts

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 10
Christmas Gifts


This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - laber 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Christmas Gifts

My favorite all-time Christmas gift was my Lionel electric train... in 1952. Here is a still from a movie of the train running... in 2005. Still beautiful, still runs. In a box, carefully cared for....  ;-)




Families are Forever... but the train is mine!  ;-)

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 9 - Grab Bag - Loft Wreath



This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - label 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Grab Bag - Indoor Decoration
Loft Wreath

In our small cabin, our favorite 'decoration' is probably not our 'tree' or our 'outdoor decorations' but our 'indoor decoration.' As we sit in our favorite chairs, looking at our favorite TV, and reading our favorite books, we face the loft. Last year, we 'spiffed' up the view with an Ozark hand-crafted Christmas Wreath, that we have up again this year, and, hopefully, for years to come.


Here is a closer look at the wreath. Lighted, yes! Easy to see why we like it so much.




Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 8 - Christmas Cookies



Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 8
Christmas Cookies


This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - laber 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Christmas Cookies

I wrote about Grandma (Sporensen - born in Denmark) Kinnick's Christmas Cookies under the Holiday Food prompt, but I'll add one more comment here, under Christmas Cookies - especially since her cookies were good, year around!

A real favorite, that she didn't make that I recall in the later years - therefore, from my younger years, was: I don't know the name, but they were really good. I'll have to just describe them.

I think she used a 'donut' cookie cutter, but just a hole on the top, not on the bottom. It was good, sweet, cookie dough They were good sized around, not skimpy. The whole as about the size of a quarter, and was not 'large' on the cookie! I think I must have helped make them, as a youngster, or at least watched real close. The whole circle was laid out, and a filling of raisin 'stuff' was spread on, not real thin... some body to it. The top was then put on, so that the filling showed through the hole. It was pressed around the edges so that the filling was only exposed in the hole, in the middle. Baked. I loved them. They weren't favorites of others in the family, so lost out, in the long run. But, for me, those were the best.

What were your favorites?

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 7 - Holiday Parties


Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 7
Holiday Parties


This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - laber 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Holiday Parties

I'll share a brief story from our family about a farm lady in the community who always "looked after the farm account" for her family, both before and for many years after her husband died. She read all her mail carefully, and tried hard to do everything right.

Annually, about this time of year, she would receive the announcement letters from the Rural Electric Cooperative, the local Elevator coop where she sold her grain, and her local bank, among others, about the annual holiday dinner, open house or holiday party they were holding for their customers and constituents. She took these very seriously, as well, considering them her personal invitation to participate. Even when she moved to assisted living and even the nursing home, she expected to attend, even if being taken in the van, these annual 'holiday parties,' because she had been personally invited. Totally dedicated... or just liked the free food? We'll never know...  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 6 - Santa Claus

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 6
Santa Claus


This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - label 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Santa Claus


I grew up in the 1940s and 1950s in a west central Iowa rural community centered on the rural Star Methodist Church. Each Christmas Eve, each family in the community gathered at the church for the annual Christmas Program. The program consisted of the elementary school ages putting on a nativity based program, each student having a 'piece' to say, music by the choir and congregation, and words spoken by the preacher. At the end of the program, 'Santa Claus' would always appear, with a sack/bag for each youngster (containing an orange, an apple, some nuts and some candy) {sponsored by the Adult Sunday School Class, I assume}.

I'm sure it is safe to say that this Christmas Program had taken place every year dating back to the late 1880s when the Adult Sunday School Class was first formed, by among others, my wife's great-grandfather Wilson and other pioneers of the community!).

Once I got my slide camera (summer before high school), some of the photos from these Christmas Programs have been my favorites, over the years. I'll just share two of them, today.

I believe this was the very first Christmas after getting the camera; a cousin meets Santa:


This is 1956, my youngest brother, held by Dad, meets Santa (most in the background are part of future wife's family...):



Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 5 - Outdoor Decorations

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 5
Outdoor Decorations


This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - laber 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Outdoor Decorations

I just about skipped this one, quite frankly, but instead I will continue the 'minimalist' theme with a comment on our outdoor decorations on the cabin, in retirement. The photo is from 2009, but the high and low wreaths are the same. We have colored lights around the window, and put colored lights on the left holly bush (rather than the 'white tree' thing over there) this year.


I'm sure many of the other posts will be much more spectacular today!  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Second Seven Days of Advent Calendar Topics

 Second Seven Days of Advent Calendar Topics

 I still seek Guest Posts for one or more of the days of Advent remaining - see the following
Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories:

December 8 – Christmas Cookies
: Did your family or ancestors make Christmas Cookies? How did you help? Did you have a favorite cookie?
December 9 – Grab Bag - 
Author’s choice: Please post from a topic that helps you remember Christmases past!
December 10 – Christmas Gifts
: What were your favorite gifts, both to receive and to give? Are there specific gift-giving traditions among your family or ancestors?
December 11 – Other Traditions
: Did your family or friends also celebrate other traditions during the holidays such as Hanukkah or Kwanzaa?  Did your immigrant ancestors have holiday traditions from their native country which they retained or perhaps abandoned?
December 12 – Charitable/Volunteer Work
: Did your family ever volunteer with a charity such as a soup kitchen, homeless or battered women’s shelter during the holidays? Or perhaps were your ancestors involved with church groups that assisted others during the holiday?
December 13 – Holiday Travel
: Did you or your ancestors travel anywhere for Christmas? How did you travel and who traveled with you? Do you remember any special trips?
December 14 – Fruitcake – Friend or Foe?: 
Did you like fruitcake? Did your family receive fruitcakes? Have you ever re-gifted fruitcake? Have you ever devised creative uses for fruitcake?

If you have a one, two or three paragraph comment you would like to include here, send it to me by email, or even in the comments here, and I will include it in the post for the correct day; along with my own comments. Let's give it a try.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 4 - Christmas Cards

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 4
Christmas Cards


This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - laber 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards have always been an important part of our families' holiday celebration as long as I can remember, which is quite a few years. Today, I'd like to share an early recollection, and share a photo scan, of what I believe to be the first 'Annual Christmas Letter' of which I became aware.

Growing up on the farm, in west-central Iowa, we had two couples, aunts and uncles, one on each side of my mother's family, that lived in Des Moines, and we thought of them as 'the city folks." One was an Insurance company executive, an 'actuary' and the other owned his own business (note how I only talk of the role of the 'man' of the family - how things have changed!). In 1966, the latter, the Keck family, sent a three-fold letter, personally typed and illustrated, printed at a printer. This photo image is one side. Note the 'Airstream' trailer, their trademark, and the 'family history' tidbit on the left. A neat note about their family. Many of us have been trying to do this, now, ourselves, for many years. Are you sending an Annual Letter this year? I'm sure we will, again....  ;-)




Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, December 3, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 3 - Christmas Tree Ornaments

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 3
Christmas Tree Ornaments


This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - laber 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Christmas Tree Ornaments

As with our Christmas Trees, our Christmas Tree Ornaments through the years have been many and varied. They have ranged from those made by family members to a extensive collection purchased and saved annually from Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO, theme park) visits.

However, I think I can say that the ones that have always been there, and continue today, are representatives of ones both my wife and I made in country school (different ones, a few miles apart). The three that are left, and hanging on the tree near me, at this moment, I call representative because we don't really know if they are originals of mine, hers, or some we made later in our early family years. They are a snowman, a donkey and a reindeer (see photo below). They were cut out of plywood and hand painted. Part of our family heritage.



From Cindy: of Cindy's Place and Everything's Relative

As I put up my own Christmas tree this past weekend, I often thought of the decorating in our home growing up - Mom always decorated the tree - at least in my later years. All the kids in the house got a new ornament every year. Nothing "Hallmark" but just a simple ornament, marked with our name and the year. When I was an adult, I received all of the ornaments to put on my own tree and I've continued this tradition with my own children. They get a good laugh at me when I pull out a Pooh Santa from 1973 and say "awwww" every year. I also have a few heirloom ornaments from my Grandmother and still receive a new ornament from my Mom every year. Thanks for the memories!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 2 - Holiday Food

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 2
Holiday Foods


This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 19 posts here - laber 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


Holiday Foods - Christmas Cookies

Probably the most consistent holiday food through my lifetime has been Christmas Cookies. When I was young, my maternal grandmother, born in Denmark, always made some of her distinctive cookies for family Christmas gatherings well into the younger years of my daughters. My mother also developed her own special Christmas cookies, that my wife subsequently made for many, many years. None of these cookies were very fancy, but they were really, really good, and memorable. My daughters continue to talk of them, as they have grown to have their own families. They have become part of our family heritage.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Advent Calendar - Dec 1 - The Christmas Tree

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 1
The Christmas Tree


This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration - a different topic each day. We will attempt to post on each of the topics. Our invitation continues to be open to other writers to join us here with your comments (See Nov 29, Dec 5, Dec 12, and Dec 16 posts here - label 'Advent Calendar' - for the topics; or the link in the title, here).


The Christmas Tree

Over the years, I believe our family has had about every shape, size, type, and description of Christmas tree at one time or another. In the early years, we usually bought a tree from one of the local charitable organization's fundraiser lot. In more recent years, for various reasons, we moved to artificial trees of all sizes, depending on our residence at the time. We currently have a very small tree that sits on a table, with a few traditional ornaments, lights and little else (minimalism is 'in' at our small cabin these days).



Our family, Christmas 2008, at the cabin, in front of the tree

Our oldest daughter, Annette, and her husband, Larry, (left, above) at their home on Boulder Mountain in southern Utah, have begun a tradition of purchasing a $10 permit from the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and go out on the mountain and choose and cut their tree (4 wheel drive Jeep, of course). It has been a great experience for them.

From Blog Follower Janice:

When I was a young child, we had a real tree probably about six feet tall. My parents and my youngest brother and I usually decorated it together. After it came down after New Year's Day, it seemed like we were picking needles out of the carpet for months.
Sometime during my teen years, we got an artifical tree. It always sat on the top of the TV. I don't know what year it was but could probably tell from pictures. Since my mother was allergic to real trees perhaps she didn't want to mess with it after my father died. I still have this tree in my basement and sometimes bring it upstairs for a second tree.

 - - Thank you, Janice, for your comments.
Merry Christmas!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sunday, November 28, 2010

First Seven Days of Advent Calendar Topics

 First Seven Days of Advent Calendar Topics

 I still seek Guest Posts for one or more of the days of Advent - see the following
Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories - first seven days.

December 1 – The Christmas Tree
: Did you have a real tree or was it artificial? How big was the tree? Who decorated the tree? What types of Christmas trees did your ancestors have?
December 2 – Holiday Foods
: Did your family or ancestors serve traditional dishes for the holidays? Was there one dish that was unusual?
December 3 – Christmas Tree Ornaments
: Did your family have heirloom or cherished ornaments? Did you ever string popcorn and cranberries? Did your family or ancestors make Christmas ornaments?
December 4 – Christmas Cards
: Did your family send cards? Did your family display the ones they received? Do you still send Christmas cards? Do you have any cards from your ancestors?
December 5 – Outdoor Decorations
: Did people in your neighborhood decorate with lights? Did some people really go “all out” when decorating? Any stories involving your ancestors and decorations?
December 6 – Santa Claus
: Did you ever send a letter to Santa? Did you ever visit Santa and “make a list?” Do you still believe in Santa Claus?
December 7 – Holiday Parties
: Did your family throw a holiday party each year? Do you remember attending any holiday parties?

If you have a one, two or three paragraph comment you would like to include here, send it to me by email, or even in the comments here, and I will include it in the post for the correct day; likely along with my own comments. Let's give it a try.


Families are Forever!  ;-)
Publish Post

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Carnival of Genealogy - 100th Edition - 'There's one in every family!'

Carnival of Genealogy - 100th Edition - 'There's one in every family!'


It's a FAMILY REUNION - the 100th Edition of Carnival of Genealogy.

And the topic for the 100th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is…

“There’s one in every family!”


My perspective in these comments relate to the pre-1940 era; not recent years when other sociological factors have perhaps become more prevalent. It also relates primarily to the families with over five children living to adult age that was so prevalent for most of the years of the eighteen and nineteenth centuries where most of my research has been done..

There is at least one single person in (nearly) every family.

It may be a 'maiden lady' or a 'bachelor,' but it has always been interesting to me from my early days of family research that this seems to be true... in nearly every family with which I have worked. I've not done a statistical analysis, but this is my anecdotal observation. Your observations may be similar or different, of course. I'd be interested in your thoughts; comments welcomed.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, November 26, 2010

Follow Friday - 26 Nov 2010

Follow Friday - 26 Nov 2010

My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

Thomas at GeneaBloggers.com frequently offers useful tips and recommendations for genealogy bloggers and others.  His recent "Writing Tips for Genealogy Bloggers" is worth checking out, again, if you have not spent some time there. We can each use one or more of the tips, whether we are newbees or old-timers as reminders.

What do you think?  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, November 19, 2010

Follow Friday - 19 Nov 2010

Follow Friday - 19 Nov 2010


My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

I am pleased to again recommend a fine post by Dan Curtis - Professional Personal Historian: "What I've Learned About Getting "Truthful" Interviews."

The post is directed at the personal history interview, but the seven point discussion really speaks to all of the genealogy and family history research we do on our family and ancestors as well, in my view. We want the "truth" - but does the "whole truth and nothing but the truth" always contribute in a positive way to what we hope to accomplish in our research and especially in our sharing of our family story?

I do not mean to suggest we "not seek the truth." To the contrary, following the context Dan builds with his seven points, I believe, provides us a better framework within which to tell our family stories.

What to you think?  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Family Tree Maker for Mac: Merging Family Trees

Family Tree Maker for Mac: Merging Family Trees


Continuing the progress report on migration to the new Family Tree Maker (FTM) for Mac genealogy software...

I decided to move my "family tree" to it; actually, I have three family tree files. You may have a similar situation. I have my primary tree and two others based on much research but which I have not previously merged with the main tree. The larger of the two was originally created based on a branch of my maternal side, Kinnick, where we had not yet proven the relationship for certain (the NC-Indiana branch). The third, a smaller set, was from back in colonial times (Maryland - Brightwell line).

With the family relationship demonstrated on the larger set and the third, smaller set representing the earlier days of each, I decided to merge the three files in setting up the new software. Have you found it necessary to merge genealogy software files? In the past, this has been quite a challenge, in many cases. I was anxious to see how the new software handled this situation.

With each of three trees successfully loaded using Family Tree Maker for Mac on my Mac, I moved ahead to merge the smaller of the two files into my main tree. To my pleasant surprise, the very first questions the software asked was, "Do you want to backup your file." Excellent. In the past, I have lost my primary file sometimes in the process of doing a merge. Have you had that experience? Well, it immediately provided the click-click process to back up the file, and moved to the merge. I only needed to enter the information to access the file to be merged, answer some specific questions about what I wanted to include, and the merge occurred. Since the second file was only a few hundred individuals, it took little time. The merge identified 33 individuals that were possible "overlaps" or duplicates. The software provided a worksheet screen with multiple options to include and exclude proper information. It felt good working through these options. The merge was successful.

With a small success in hand, I felt confident to follow the same process with the larger file, merging it into the newly created merged file. The only difference was that with several thousand names, rather than a few hundred, the merge took much, much longer. There were only 33 individuals to be resolved, this time; so that was nice. With my newly integrated major file, I look forward to working with the many other features available on the Family Tree Maker for Mac.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Saturday, November 13, 2010

FTM for Mac: Installation and GEDCOM issues

FTM for Mac: Installation and GEDCOM issues

Today my wife and I received our copy of the CD with the new Family Tree Maker (FTM) for Mac genealogy software. I hope to share some comments, here, from time to time, as I install and migrate my family research to this new software on the Mac from my old PC laptop using RootsMagic4. Most of my research work took place between 1995 and 2003 - first on Reunion on the Mac, then on RootsMagic on the PC, through several transfers and iterations of software. I know I lost a lot of my notes/citations when I moved from Reunion to the PC. It appears I will retain my notes from the PC back to the Mac.

The installation of the FTM for Mac from the CD went very quickly. I use a MacBook Pro with Mac OS X Version 10.5.8 with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, for those who care about such things.

Earlier, I had created GEDCOM files from each of my three family databases via RootsMagic4. I must admit that I was shocked when they were unacceptable to the FTM for Mac because: "GEDCOM files must be 5.5 or higher." I have the latest update of RootsMagic4 on my PC, why would the GEDCOM generated there not be acceptable???

Curiously, as I was "fooling around" trying to figure out what to do, I double-clicked one of the GEDCOM files on the PC - and it opened up in Family Tree Maker 11, which I had loaded on the PC at some time in the past, but never used. After verifying that all my information appeared to be there, I created a Export/GEDCOM file in FTM11. When I opened that in the Mac on the FTM for Mac, it opened just fine. I proceeded to do the same with the other two files.

And life goes on...

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, November 12, 2010

Follow Friday - 12 Nov 2010

Follow Friday - 12 Nov 2010


My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

It has been a while since I have had a chance to mention a blog post by my friend, Kathleen Brandt, at a3Genealogy: Accurate Accessible Answers. Her post, "But, It Doesn't Follow Logic!" really caught my attention. She gives outstanding examples to back up her assertion that you must know/look at the laws of the time and place you are researching. But, of course, she just scratches the surface. Use these examples to remind yourself to properly followup in your personal research.


POST 2:

This recommendation could have come from any of several places, but I am using Randy Seaver's post: "Can we really build a Better GEDCOM?" I think this development and the wikispace being used to collaboratively move forward is very important to each of us doing genealogy research. The GEDCOM standard is critical to us all, but it can be improved. Check out the links, and, if you have the skills, the interests and the time, I encourage you to participate at an appropriate level.


Comments are welcome, as always!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, November 5, 2010

Follow Friday - 5 Nov 2010

Follow Friday - 5 Nov 2010


My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

This is really a multiple recommendation because it is: Monday's Link Roundup from Dan Curtis. He is Personal Historian, that I'm sure I have mentioned before. I recommend signing up to be on his email list. He sharing a 'plethora' of useful and interesting information.

On this particular Link Roundup, I was especially interested in 'UNESCO's Ten Best Intangible Cultural Heritage Sites,' and '10 Tips for Blogging Your Memoir or Any Book.' You will have your personal favorites, I'm sure!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

100th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy upcoming

100th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy upcoming


This seems to be the week to promote upcoming blogging activities. I'll use the GeneaBlogger link to the call for submissions. Hope you will help be part of the 100+ submissions to surpass the goal. I do plan to be a part, as well. Here is a summary excerpt:

"And the topic for the 100th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is… “There’s one in every family!” Bring your stories of colorful characters, unique heirlooms, mouth-watering recipes, most dearly beloved pets, whatever! Interpret as you like. Every family has “special” individuals, you know, the ones with a green thumb, the black sheep, the lone wolf, the blue-ribbon cook, the story-teller, the geek! I know you have treasured recipes and amazing heirlooms you’ve yet to share! Tell us about them and become a part of history in the 100th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy! The deadline for submissions is December 1st."


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Monday, November 1, 2010

Advent Calendar - Coming in December

This is just an alert to let you all know that I am planning to participate in the Advent Calendar project - I issued an invitation to my Facebook friends and family members to send me guest posts. We'll see what happens.

The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories blog has all the details. You are invited to send a guest post, as well. Just send me a email with Advent Calendar in the subject line and the date to publish your guest post.

Stop back regularly to see how this new project works!  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, October 29, 2010

Follow Friday - 29 Oct 2010

Follow Friday - 29 Oct 2010


My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

I was wondering the other day what the latest application of cloud computing might me. Today I found one; maybe on the latest, but certainly appears useful, to me, for my research. I have far too many bookmarks that I never seem to get back to until many of them are "gone!" icyte seems to have solved that. We will see. I signed up, in just a few minutes, and I am off and running.

Thanks to Lynn at The Armchair Genealogist for the initial information in a Tuesday Tip.




Families are Forever!  ;-)

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Treasure Chest Thursday - 2 grandfathers play football

Treasure Chest Thursday

2 grandfathers play football
1907, perhaps

I was helping my wife scan some photos she was borrowing from her brother, Al. Among them was this great photo of MY grandfather, and HER grandfather, Class of 1909 and 1908, respectively, at Coon Rapids (Iowa) High School - with their football team; I assume in 1907 - since one would have graduated in May 1908 (and went off to college). We believe they are the young men on the right, front row - hers to the right,  mine to the left. Small world, huh?? [Nancy's Mom had written "Paul Kinnick" and "Lynk Thomas" on the back!





Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, October 22, 2010

Follow Friday - 22 Oct 2010

Follow Friday - 22 Oct 2010

My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

This is a follow-up from Jenn over at Family History Research reporting on finishing the "Beginning Genealogy" course, that I recommended here last week. Even as a professional genealogist, she reported that it was worthwhile to get some reminders of where beginners are in their learning process. She will be teaching a class soon, and feels it will be useful. Perhaps many of us could benefit from checking out this two week learning opportunity, as well.

http://familyhistorytips.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/family-tree-university-course/

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Treasure Chest Thursday - Report Card of my Dad - 9th grade

Treasure Chest Thursday

Report Card of my Dad - 9th grade

Last week in this post I shared my Dad's 5th grade report card. Thanks, again, to Cousin Dave, for sending each of these to me, from his Mom's boxes (Dad's older sister). 

For 9th grade, high school, Dad went to the nearby town of Coon Rapids, Iowa. This was the school year of 1929-30. He graduated in the Class of 1933. The teacher filling our the card was Morris Miller - I've put that name on my "to-do" list to check out, of course. I note Dad's name is now spelled "Leverne" as he used as an adult - also my middle name.

Grandfather Wm Smith again signed the cards, of course. Dad had taken on more responsibilities on the farm. As I recall, he was responsible for milking the cows for the family every morning. He was the youngest around to have a car available, so he could drive to school after milking the cows each morning. Town was six or seven miles away, rather than a mile and a half away as it was in eighth grade. He liked to tell stories of knowing the janitor at the high school real well. He would arrive and park the car near the janitor's door, in the basement of the school. Sometimes, the janitor would wait a few seconds to ring the bell, so he could get to class and not be tardy. Fun story!  ;-)

It appears that this year, he was only tardy 3 times, and only missed 1/4 day of classes all year - pretty good!  ;-)




What fun!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, October 15, 2010

Follow Friday - 15 Oct 2010

Follow Friday - 15 Oct 2010

My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

This week I am recommending, if you have not done so already, that you do read the post by Randy Seaver on Friday, 8 Oct 2010, "Intentional Acts of Genealogical Terrorism." It raises some interesting issues we should each consider. The comments he got on his post are also useful to consider. I'm not sure I understand entirely what each person is saying, but, I know we must each seriously consider how we feel about this issue.


POST 2:

Jenn over at Family History Research provides a useful post for some of this week, "Educational Opportunities." Mostly a reminder of some free classes, for those interested. Her ProGen Updates continue to be interesting to follow, as well.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Treasure Chest Thursday - Report Card of my Dad - 5th grade

Treasure Chest Thursday

Report Card of my Dad - 5th grade

We all love old report cards from school. This one is from 1925-26 (Sept 7 to May 21)... for my Dad.





This was at Union Twp District # 1, also known as the Star School, north of Coon Rapids, Iowa, in Carroll County. Three points of note, to me:
1. His name was spelled: LeVerne Smith
2. His Dad, Wm Smith, whom I was named for, signed the card each period (mother was deceased).
3. He was promoted to 6th grade - of course he was.

Ok, the grades are of interest, as well:


This was a rural school, he worked on the farm, even at this age. So, being tardy a few times, and missing a few days of school are not unexpected. The name of the teacher was Clara Christy. That goes on my "to do" list. His grades were very good.

Thanks to cousin Dave, who sent these to me (arrived in the mail this morning). His Mom, Dad's older sister, had them in her boxes. I really enjoyed receiving that envelope, this morning. It also had Dad's Ninth grade report card, which I will share next week.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, October 8, 2010

Follow Friday - 8 Oct 2010

Follow Friday - 8 Oct 2010

My recommendations this week. Sorry I missed last week. See Sentimental Sunday post on Oct 3 for what I was doing...

As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)

I seem to be recommending "funny" and fun-to-read - but none-the-less very useful posts today. Enjoy!

POST 1:
 The 12 Step Program for Genealogist at It's All Relative is too good not to pass along. I hope most of you have already seen it; but, if not, check it out NOW!  ;-) Easy read, though you will think of many examples as you go along that will slow your reading, enjoy! [Thanks to Randy Seaver, again, for the referral!]


POST 2:

5 Reasons I Wish I Could Travel Back in Time and Smack My 1995-Self at Clue Wagon is worth a read and yes, confessions are acceptable. We've all done some of these things sometime, sadly. [Thanks to Greta Koehl for this referral!]



Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Sentimental Sunday - Family time in Estes Park, Colorado

Sentimental Sunday
Family time in Estes Park, Colorado

We have been discussing this weekend that we are continuing a very long tradition in our families by spending time together in this wonderful natural setting. My parents brought my brothers and I to Estes Park in 1950. My wife's family visited nearby in the same time period. We were poor farm folks in Western Iowa, but a family trip to the Colorado Rock Mountains was a most memorable family experience. This trip was Nancy and I, along with oldest daughter, Annette and her husband, Larry. His son, Ben, joined us for a couple of days. Larry said his family came here from Illinois when he was young, as well... and he brought his family, as well.

Each of our three daughters love to visit here, primarily because we vacationed here as a family when our girls were young in the 1960s and 70s, as well, regularly. We try to visit, with some of the family, very few years.

I am posting this, as a reminder to myself, and others, that "telling and sharing these current ancestor stories" is so important, as well. The experiences we are having today are the ancestors stories of the future. Record them, share them, and retell them.

I just finished posting some of our family experiences on my "Retirement" blog - "Dr. Bill on Retirement" - which has become my most recent family travels/visits recording place. I started creating web pages on our travels in 1992, and have done so continuously since, in one place or another. This blog is the most recent. You are welcome to visit, once or regularly, if you care to. Some earlier years can be seen here.

I encourage you and yours to record your family stories, in your own way, as well.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Tuesday's Tip - 28 Sept 2010 - New Daily Blogging Themes

 
Tuesday's Tip - 28 Sept 2010
New Daily Blogging Themes

Entering the second week of my second year of this genealogy related blog, I was thinking about the Daily Blogging Themes. I had noticed some new ones popping up, and thought I'd go take a look at the GeneaBlogger site, and see what Thomas had to say on this, lately. Under the About section - not to my surprise, Thomas stays on top of these things - I discovered "Participate in Daily Blogging Themes," which was recently updated - which I encourage all new bloggers to do.

Here is what it said:

*****
One of the fastest ways to become part of the fold is to post about your ancestors via a variety of “prompts” to help feed you ideas on blogging topics. As of September 2010, we’re offering more than just one blogging theme per day – there are as many as five per day? Check the Genealogy Blogging Beat each day for the daily blogging themes which include:
    •    Sunday: Black Sheep Sunday, Church Record Sunday, Sentimental Sunday, Sunday Supper, Sunday’s Obituary.
    •    Monday: Amanuensis Monday, Madness Monday, Mappy Monday, Maritime Monday, Military Monday, Mobile Monday, Motivation Monday, Mystery Monday.
    •    Tuesday: Talented Tuesday, Tech Tuesday, Tombstone Tuesday, Tuesday’s Tip.
    •    Wednesday: Wedding Wednesday, Wednesday’s Child, Wisdom Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday.
    •    Thursday:  Thrifty Thursday, Thriller Thursday, Treasure Chest Thursday.
    •    Friday:  Family Recipe Friday, Follow Friday, Friend of Friends Friday, Funeral Card Friday.
    •    Saturday:  Sorting Saturday, Sports Center Saturday, Surname Saturday.
*****

So, there you have it. A whole set of themes - something for about everybody -  yeh, sure - there will be more to come, I'm sure - but, this will give us some new life as we move into the new year! I see a half dozen that I would like to adopt, a couple I already have, including this one. How about you?


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Monday, September 27, 2010

My Hometown on Monday - Hometown by LVene

Hometown by LVene
(with my comments and photos, as well)

This is the first of what will be several excerpts from a nine page "story of the early days" written by my Aunt LVene (Smith Thomas) and included in the back of the Smith Family History book she compiled for her siblings in the late 1980s-early 1990s. These are some of her memories of our hometown, Coon Rapids, on Saturday nights...

"Saturday is not what it used to be in the old hometown. Once it was the busiest day in the week for merchants, because in small rural communities farmers came to town on Saturdays to do their trading. Forty years ago country people did not go into town every day. They came once a week, perhaps more if repairs or some important item was needed. All week eggs were gathered and put in a 30 or 60 dozen egg case. (Remember them? They are collector's items now.) They were made of wood with cardboard fillers inside to hold eggs individually. Cows were milked, the milk separated, the cream poured into 5 or 10 gallon cans to bring to town. Cream and egg money bought the family's groceries, and now and then a little money saved to spend elsewhere. I remember how much fun it was to meet your friends in town on Saturday night and walk around the streets or sometimes to go to the show."

From Dr. Bill: My few actually images, "memories" I suppose, from the mid-to-late 1940s, as a youngster, relate to the Saturday nights in town, much as LVene describes, above. My wife and her family did the same, also, and Nancy often tells of how she spend the "dime" she was given - would it be candy OR a comic book, this week, etc. Never enough for both! My memories are going with Dad, with the Milk and Eggs, to the Creamery. The most vivid memory is, at least in my mind, the image of the men, standing around, each wearing their "town" hat, ready to head up to main street where everyone had their favorite parking places, to hear the gossip, and spread some, I assume.

Here is an example of the "town" hat - Walt Disney was a bit formal, but that is the image.



 And, here is an example of the "cream can" that LVene mentioned. Dad and a neighbor and his son, with brother Jim (just behind the can), and two dogs, getting ready to take them away.



 Families are Forever!  ;-)

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Celebration Saturday - a week late - First Blogiversary!

In congratulating Dionne Ford at Finding Josephine on her first Blogiversary - Congratulations! - I was reminded that I just "flew by" by own - last Saturday. September 19, 2009, was my first post on this Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories blog. How time flies!! 356 post across the year!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, September 24, 2010

Follow Friday - 24 Sep 2010

Follow Friday - 24 Sep 2010


My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

I've continued to be heavily involved in several projects, recently, but I did come across a very useful post if you are asked to give a presentation at a conference, or such. This is in the form of a personal testimony, by Jennifer Holik-Urban, Professional Genealogist, at her Family History Research blog.

http://familyhistorytips.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/praise-for-the-connected-genealogist/

I've enjoyed sharing Jennifer's stories of transitioning from hobby genealogy to professional genealogy. Her blog entries are always worth reading. This is another good one. I do enjoy knowing Thomas MacEntee, as well, a lot. I got to spend some time with him at the Kansas City Family History Expo. He can be a bit eccentric, but, he ALWAYS does really good work. That is the important thing. He has also taken on new professional challenges, including the items mentioned in this post. I want to be fully supportive and encouraging to his efforts as well. We will each, and all, benefit over time, I am confident!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, September 17, 2010

Follow Friday - 17 Sep 2010

Follow Friday - 17 Sep 2010


My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

I've been off in Texas all week with my grandkids, taking them to school every day and picking them up while daughter recovered from a sprained ankle - she's doing fine!

When I got back, I had received a great packet of information - military and pension files on my 2nd great grandfather, Michael Smith, a Civil War veteran - 65 some pages. So happy to get it, many hours of reading, writing translation/transcription actually, and story writing ahead!

So, a big shout out to the National Archives for their online "National Archives Order for Copies of Federal Pension or Bounty Land Warrant Applications at: eservices.archives.gov/orderonline for a fine job done for me, again! Hope you have good luck, as well!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday - 14 Sep 2010 - Smith Grandparents Post 8

Tombstone Tuesday - 14 Sep 2010 - Smith Grandparents Post 8


On the 22 Jun 2020 for Tombstone Tuesday I reported on recording my Smith Grandparents on Find A Grave (William - Ellen). Last Tuesday, I shared the obituary of Grandpa William as recorded in my Aunt LVene's family history from the local Coon Rapids Enterprise. Today, I will share the obituary, same source, for Grandma Ellen.

From the Coon Rapids Enterprise (via LVene Thomas Smith family history book)

Mrs. Wm Smith Dies in Hospital
Devoted Wife and Mother Called by Death Last Week

Mrs. Ellen Preston Smith, wife of Mr. Wm. Smith, died last week in the hospital at Carroll soon after an operation for gallstones with which she had bee afflicted seemingly for years. She will be remembered by early settlers as the daughter ofd Mrs. Ella Preston, mother of Harry and other Preston boys, and a most exemplary young woman. She graduated from our public schools, as did also her eldest son, Grant Ballard, by her first husband, Mr. Ballard. She was the mother of ten children, two having preceded her, leaving eight, with husband and other near relatives, and many friends to mourn her death. She was an affectionate wife and mother and highly esteemed neighbor.  The following obituary was read by Rev. Koehler at the funeral services at the M.E. church Saturday afternoon, the services being largely attended for town and country.:

Ellen Rebecca Preston  was born April 12th 1880 in Deer Lodge, Montana. In 1898 she was united in marriage to Mont G. Ballard of Blair, Nebraska. To this union one son was born.

December 30, 1900 her husband passed to his eternal reward. May 11th 1904, she was united in marriage to her now sorrowing husband, Wm. Smith. To this union nine children were born, five girls and four boys. Two of the boy preceded the mother to the heavenly home.

Mrs. Smith was a member of the Presbyterian Church. She was a devoted mother and a kind and affectionate wife. For the past two years she has been in poor health. She passed out of this life in the hospital at Carroll Thursday evening June 28. to mourn her loss she leaves a sorrowing husband, eight children and two brothers, and many friends and acquaintances.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Sentimental Sunday - Smith Grandparents Post 7 - The Children

Sentimental Sunday - Smith Grandparents Post 7 - The Children


Ellen Rebecca PRESTON first married Montgomery (Mont) BALLARD in 1898.

Grant BALLARD was born 2 Feb 1900.

Mont BALLARD died 30 Dec 1900

Ellen Rebecca PRESTON BALLARD second married William Emanuel SMITH on 11 May 1904

William Theodore (Theodore) SMITH, b. 11 Dec 1904; d. 2 Mar 1921
Willard Ward (Toots) SMITH, b. 11 Aug 1906
Lena Irene (Irene) SMITH, b. 15 Jan 1909
Naomi LVene (LVene) SMITH, b. 8 Sep 1910
Pauline Cecile (Pauline) SMITH, b. 21 Sep 1912
Baby Boy SMITH, b. 3 Jan 1914, d. 1914
Delbert Leverne (Pete) SMITH, b. 9 Aug 1915
Etha Maxine (Max) SMITH, b. 18 Oct 1917
Ellen Bethene (Betty) SMITH, b. 9 Aug 1919

Ellen Rebecca PRESTON BALLARD SMITH died 28 Jun 1923, leaving a husband and eight children and her husband, William, 54:

Grant, 23
Toots, 16
Irene, 14
LVene, 12
Pauline, 10
Pete, 7
Max, 5
Betty, 4

William did not remarry. The older children looked after the younger ones, and managed to be active in school and the community. More stories to follow.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Following William Emanuel Smith - Surname Saturday - Post 6 Smith Grandparents

Following William Emanuel Smith - Surname Saturday

This post is intended to follow William from his birth to his marriage with what is known, and perhaps mention research yet needed for this period, on the family.

We can start with the 1970 U.S. Census, since William was born 5 May 1869; he usually reported that he was born in Moline, Rock Island Co, Illinois. His family, in the 1870 census, is recorded in Hampton Township (with a Rapid City P.O.), Rock Island Co, which is just immediately east of Moline (the family was in the same Township in 1860, but with a Hampton Village P.O.). In 1870 census there were Michael Smith, 42, farmer, France, and Nellie, wife, 21, Sweden (all parents foreign born) along with three children from Michael's first marriage (wife died): Julia, 12, Mary, 10, Mich, 7 and their son, our William (listed as Willie), 1 (all children born in Illinois). It appears that Nellie's mother, Mary, 53, is also in the household at the time of the census.

The next census in which we can locate this family (nothing his yet been found in 1880... have searched and searched!) is the 1885 Iowa State Census, which has them in Coon Rapids (or Union Township), Carroll Co, Iowa. We do know, however, that they moved to Grand Mound, Clinton County, Iowa, for several years, in between. So, we have "to piece things together"  for some more details from various sources. The 1885 census is helpful, to start:

119 124 (from ancestry.com image)
Michel Smith, 55, Germany, Farmer; Alien who has taken out first papers (relates to naturalization)
Nella Smith, 36, Sweden
William Smith, 15, Illinois
Lena Smith, 14, Illinois
Eliseberh Smith, 10, Clinton Co, IA
Benjamine Smith, 8, Clinton Co, IA
Elsaana Smith, 5, Clinton Co, IA
Roberts Smith, 1, Green(e) Co, IA
Grant Smith, 0, Guthrie Co, IA

We can confirm from family records that Johannah Magdalina (Lena) was born 19 Dec 1870 in Moline, as well. Also from family records, we know that the next child in the family was John Joseph Smith, born 31 July 1872, in Grand Mound, Clinton County, Iowa - just across the Mississippi River from Moline, Illinois. I can speculate that since farm land was often rented from March 1 each year, they likely moved in either the spring of '71 or '72 to Iowa. [One other son, Peter Andrew, was born and died in Grand Mound, in 1878, only living a few months.]

Did you notice in the obituary in Post 3 the following: "At the age of 12 years he moved to Carroll County and made his home in this vicinity until the time of his death." William would have been 12 in 1881. From the 1885 census, Eliz, Ben, Elsa were born between 1875 and 1880. Both Greene and Guthrie Counties are adjacent to Carroll County, so that is not contradictory. Looks like we can assume they moved from eastern to western Iowa in 1881 or 1882. At that time, John Joseph would have been ten. When did he move to Nebraska (with whom, why) is a question for more research. Now, consider the three older children by Michael's first wife, Lena.

My notes, from LVene's book: "In early 20's of Black Smallpox on farm south of Grand Mound" regarding son, Michael's death - this would have been about 1882. Perhaps they moved shortly after he died. More research required. Julia married Charles Oehrlein in 1874 and they remained in Grand Mound area. Mary married Adam Mohr in 1878, and they remained in Grand Mound area, as well.

Neither William nor his sister, Lena, married until 1904. From Lena's obituary: "Early in her life she came with her family to Greene County, Iowa, where she has since resided, spending her early years near Old Carrolton before moving to a farm north of Scranton at the age of twenty." That would have been 1890. Ben married a Perry girl in 1900, and lived there. Elsie moved to Nebraska and married and stayed there. Grant, born in Dec 1884, died in May 1885. Robert was married, but his wife (born in 1890), died in 1919 and he apparently moved to California shortly there after and led a long life, dying in Bakersfield in 1953.

We reported, on Labor Day, that William next appeared in the records to date in 1900 US Census as a Well Driller in Coon Rapids. In 1904, he married Ella. We do know from the 1925 census that he completed the eighth grade, which would have likely been prior to 1885. He was probably farming in the area, to help support the family during most of those foggy 1885-1900 years. More information will be sought.

Finally, a few words on the parents, Michael and Nellie, during this latter period. LVene says:
"Michael went to Nebraska in 1886 where he lived for 8 years before he entered (on December 10, 1894, at age 65) Nebraska's Soldiers and Sailors Home at Grand Island, Nebraska because of old age, rheumatism, and general breaking down. Margaret evidently lived south of Carrollton until she moved to Nebraska, in 1898, when she asked for admission into Nebraska's Soldiers and Sailors Home... she had been a resident of Nebraska for only 5 months. A Dr. Hawk from Carroll, Iowa, on December, 1897, stated she had weak lungs, general weakness, her age and unable to learn a living." She died there March 27, 1900, at age 53. He died there April 16, 1902, age 73. Both are buried in the Home Cemetery.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Friday, September 10, 2010

Follow Friday - 10 Sep 2010

Follow Friday - 10 Sep 2010

My recommendations this week. As usual, I normally pick one or two good posts from my week's readings, or left from the prior week! Hope they are useful or at least interesting to you, as well! If it is your first visit, even better!  ;-)


POST 1:

This is the Carnival of Genealogy, 97th Edition: Research From Scratch!
"The idea was to start fresh with someone we haven't researched before and see how far we could get using just online resources." I think you will enjoy the exercises, if you haven't seen them!

http://creativegene.blogspot.com/2010/09/carnival-of-genealogy-97th-edition.html

POST 2:

This was an interesting "discussion"  at Roots & Rambles - yes, there are actually "discussions" on our blogs - you just have to look hard to find them... the discussion continues over a number of comments. Enjoy this one!

http://rootsandrambles.blogspot.com/2010/08/where-do-genealogists-meet-on-internet.html

BONUS POST, this week.


If you have not yet seen this video from  the NGS, by Elizabeth Shown Mills, yet, it is time to take 5 minutes and watch/listen. She one the most respected genealogists in the field. Thanks!

 



Families are Forever!  ;-)

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Treasure Chest Thursday - Smith Grandparents Post 5 - Miller Will

Treasure Chest Thursday 
Smith Grandparents Post 5
Miller Will

Aunt LVene's Smith Family History included a complete photocopy of the Will of John Miller, maternal grandfather of Ellen Preston Ballard Smith, my grandmother. Today, that Will is the Treasure, because it tells so much family history, spoken (written) and unspoken...

John Miller was a prosperous farmer in Williams County, in the NW corner of Ohio. To keep the story, here, short, in 1869, my Grandfather, James P. Preston, "came riding in on his horse out of the West" - as my parents told the story - from his homestead in Montana Territory (and years as a gold miner), and in a few weeks, married the young daughter of John Miller, Ellen Miller. [It could be noted that James' father had been the first Sheriff of the original (larger) Williams County in 1826, in Defiance. James had returned, at least partially, to participate in the court settlement of his father's estate; he had died under mysterious circumstances, and the estate took years to settle.] Further, a cynic could also suggest that James needed a wife, and family, to settle his "Homestead Act" claim on his Montana ranch, which he did shortly after returning from "the states" to Montana Territory with his new wife.

James and Ellen went off to Montana, which did not please her father. There, they had four children over the next ten years, Ellen born in 1880: the three "Preston boys," Ernest, Harry and John, and, my grandmother, Ellen Preston (named after her mother - how clever!). When Ellen became ill, and returned to Ohio to recover (without the children), her father would not let her return to Montana. When she had been gone a year, James filed for divorce. In the meantime, again, making the story short - really - John Miller had let his daughter move to Coon Rapids, Iowa, where her older brother was a local banker and respected citizen. In the divorce settlement, James allowed the children to go live in Iowa with their mother (all grade school age, at the time). They each attended and graduated from High School in Coon Rapids (which, of course, is also my home town!)

In his will, John decided to bypass his daughter, and her husband, by making bequests of land, farms, to each of his four grandchildren, directly, and having them pay a sum monthly ($5) to their mother, through her life... so she would be taken care of, but not have the responsibility of the land.

Here is how it worked. Have you seen this before? I'm a bit curious if any of my cousins have heard the story differently.

 On these images, I've clipped it a bit - so I'll comment on what is here. First, this is two pieces laid together, to set up the premise, and you can see that Ernest got the first farm. Each was 160 or 200 acres of prime farm land, in the area near Coon Rapids.


I've skipped the parts describing the rest of Ernest, his brother Harry and pick up at the end of John, just before the details of the bequest to Ellen, the youngest, the granddaughter, 160 acres. This was shared with you as "The Home Place" recently.

Further note, above, Item 8 and 9. Harmon L. Miller was the banker in Coon Rapids. In Item 10, then, partly above, continued, he is charged with administering the bequests. [This was not a clear and easy job, but I'm confident he was up to it. In the Oklahoma land rush, he came out with many, many oil well properties....] Note that in Item 11, he does allow each of the grandchildren to receive their land when they reach the age of majority. This will was dated 1888, but is was contested and not actually settled until 1909, five years after William and Ellen were married.

It was not until 1909 that they were able to move out from town to live on their farm, where the rest of their children, including my father, were born. 

Families are Forever!  ;-)