A Tombstone, A Tombstone... Genealogists Need Tombstones

Or at least tombstone transcriptions....but pictures are the best.

While doing research for a friend, I came across a discrepancy in the death years of this friend's great grandparents.

The death information was first obtained through Ancestry which now searches FindAGrave's database through the Ancestry portal. This database provided my first set of death years. With each entry, Ancestry provides a link to FindAGrave's website for the person. I followed the link but no picture existed. I did the logical thing.... I put in a request for a picture. But my instant gratification was not satisfied.

Yes, I know genealogy is not about instant gratification most of the time. But I can dream. Anyway....
I did a search on the internet for the great grandfather of my friend. I find his name in a cemetery listing online. But his death year and his wife's death year are switched! That is when the conundrum started. Still no picture of the tombstone at FindAGrave.

How was I going to resolve the discrepancy?

In the past two decades, the search for genealogical information has become easier and easier. To get information from a tombstone, you had to go to the cemetery or have access to a library that had a reliable listing on those interred at the cemetery. But now you may find the same information at FindAGrave, the Tombstone Transcription Project or several other websites.

So I searched with no luck. Then one day I received an email stating that someone had taken pictures of the tombstones and posted them to FindAGrave. You never know when a picture is going to be posted. I have some requests that have waited for years for someone to take a picture. But the genealogy genie smiled on me that day.

From those pictures I was able to determine that the dates had been posted transposed. Yet another reminder, that seeing the original is the best way to confirm information.

As I said at the beginning, I was doing this work for a friend. No good work goes unrewarded. A day later someone posted the pictures of two tombstones I had been waiting years to see! I know there are a lot of requests out there for pictures.... now my turn to pay it back!

The Thrill of the Search

Some people like to drive fast.  Some people like to jump out of airplanes.  Some people like to climb mountains.  It is all about the thrill.... the excitement!  I prefer to get my thrills in a differrent way.  It's all about the genealogical and historical search for me.  When I find that clue that solves the problem I was stuck on.... or just when I find out something I didn't know before, those instances are the thrill for me.

Whether I am working on my own family tree or a client's, I get the same thrill to find a missing piece of the puzzle. Even though information is more readily available to us via the internet.  But some times the indexing of information isn't accurate and that provides a challenge.

 I was searching for a census record.  The family name had been changed by the family at one time but I didn't know when it changed.  Using the census index was no help.   I had found the family I was researching in a City Directory.  I had the street address so headed back to the census records and  found the enumeration district I needed.  Then I started a page by page search.  I found them!

Sometimes the thrill happens after I have had some time to interpret the information I have found.  That was just the case as I was working on a census record for a client.  It stated that the husband and wife were from Germany and that their native tongue was Dutch.  Dutch??  I was stumpled for a while.  Then  telling my client about it, the lightbulb went on!  Not Dutch.... but Deutsch.  I had solved a misinterpretation that was over 100 years old!

I also love speaking to my clients and telling them something they didn't know about their ancestors.  Sometimes I am trying to get a clients read on new information I have found  One client now says I know their ancestors better than they do.

The thrill of bringing someone to life again that has been dead many years.  To flesh out the life of a   person who was just a bunch of vital records.  To fill in the dash between the birth date and the death date.  I like learning about what was going on in their lives as well as what was going on in the world.  How did that affect them?  Did they make any big decisions because of a world event?

Okay so maybe my heart doesn't threaten to jump out of my chest.  But the tingles are there.  These are thrills we as genealogists can have every day!

Family History Expo Teaches Technology for the Genealogist - Dropbox

      A couple of weekends ago I went to the Family History Expo in Springfield, Illinois.  I spent a lot of time going to technology related classes.  Until this expo, I had never really thought about how the non-genealogy related software and websites might be used to help further my genealogical research.  I owe a big thank you to James Tanner who led many of the seminars that inspired me.

     I will admit that some of the software/ websites  I had not even given a thought to use in my non-genealogical related pursuits.  The program/ website "Dropbox" is a prime example.  Dropbox as defined by the the website (www.dropbox.com) is a free service that  lets you bring all your photos, videos and docs anywhere.  Working on your family history book... want to have access to it over breaks.. while waiting for the doctor.  How much further along would that book be if you had access to it  on your iPad, Phone, Laptop, or on someone else's computer?
    My first use of Dropbox is to place my spreadsheet todo lists on it.  Now no matter where I am or what computer device I have at my fingertips, I have access to what I need to do.
     Another great thing about Dropbox is being able to share photos using it.  How often do relatives say "Can you get me a copy of that photo?"  But by time you leave it is tons of photos your relatives have requested.  It might take multiple emails to get the photos to them... or you could send a cd/ dvd.... better yet you could drop them into dropbox and invite them to the folder and they can copy them out to their computer!
     Planning a family reunion and several people need access to the family address list.  Why not put it in Dropbox?  Then everyone can help maintain the list.  The only draw back I see would be if someone downloaded the file, made corrections, and didn't put a copy back in the Dropbox.
     How do you get a drop box account?  Go to www.dropbox.com.  Scroll down on the webpage.  In the lower left corner under the title "Dropbox" is a link for install.  This will take you to a download page for your computer.  I tested this on both a Mac and Windows computer.  It led me to a download for my specific device.  I have also installed Dropbox on my iPhone and my iPad.
     When you open a Dropbox account, you receive 2 GB of space to upload pictures and files.  For every person you invite that joins Dropbox, you get an addition 500 MB of space up to 18 GB.  If you need more space, you can upgrade by paying a monthly fee.
     The biggest drawback to Dropbox at the moment is that if I drop a spreadsheet file to my iPad and make changes, I am unable to send the file back into Dropbox.  The only way around this problem that I have found is to email myself the file, open in it on my laptop and upload it again to Dropbox.  I have put in my votes to request that Dropbox create a way to email files into my Dropbox.
     Dropbox has a voting system to track what upgrades users of Dropbox would like to see.  It is called Votebox. Once you are a registered user, you can vote on changes you would like to see by going to www.dropbox.com/votebox.  You get 5 votes a month.  That's democracy in action!
    All in all I really like Dropbox.  I think it will help me accomplish a lot more with my genealogy.  Thank you James for pointing it out to me.

Thompson Family Reunion - The Preparation

The Thompson Family Reunion is fast approaching. It seems like only yesterday that I had months to prepare. Now its only days. Family still has time to get in their plans to attend. I find it easiest to base my planning on last year's attendance with a few added for other family members to attend.
Food is probably where I spent my most time thinking. What will be the meat choice this year? In the past years, my cousin and his wife have been our meat cooks. They do an excellent job! This year a little bundle of joy will keep them from being our cooks... and I wouldn't have it any other way! That leaves me to come up with a plan....and I have. It won't be as great as my cousin's cooking but then again the Thompson Family never really needs to worry about food. We always seem to have more than enough.
My grandmother, Bertha Thompson Johnson, was known to put out quite a spread in her day. Apparently it's a trait that has not only be handed down to me but quite a few of our other Thompson relatives. With that being said, I think I can cross food off my list of worries.
The site for our reunion is taken care of six months in advance. We enjoy the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area. We discussed the date for this year's reunion at last year's reunion. The State Park will only let you reserve a site 6 months in advance. So after last years reunion set the date, I marked my calendar for the 1st day that I would be able to reserve the park. When that date rolled around this year, I got on the internet and reserved the site. Usually before I send out invites, I confirm that the reservation are still showing on my account.
This year my biggest concern is the weather. While we are used to it being hot, we are not used to 100 degree hot. The past few weeks in Central Illinois have been extremely hot. So I've been doing a little....okay a lot of praying for cooler weather. 85-90 would be okay. Prehaps a call out to my Thompson ancestors for any assistance would not be unreasonable.
I usually bring a Thompson Genealogy Book, a current Descendancy Chart, and a Family History display. Those are in the works along with a few surprises. This area comes easy to me as it is my passion the family genealogy.
Well enough writing about getting ready.... time to start!

Where's Aunt Bernice in 1940?

My Aunt Bernice was 17 years old when the 1940 census was taken. However, the 1940 census taken in April 1940, does not list Bernice in the household of her mother, Bertha Johnson. Where or where can she be?
The obituary for her grandmother, Frances Mahalia (Flaharty) Thompson lists Bernice as "of Chandlerville". Normally in an obituary that would mean that was where she was residing when her grandmother died. Her uncle & aunt who were living with her grandparents in Mason County, Illinois however are also listed as living in Chandlerville. So is she in Chandlerville... Mason County... or where?
Fortunately, Chandlerville is a small township and took very little time to review each of the 3 enumeration districts which it contains. All three districts had no reference to my aunt. The town of Chandlerville is split by two townships - Chandlerville and Panther Creek. So I checked Panther Creek township as well with no luck.
I needed more information to try to narrow my possibilities. Time to talk to my father and that is what I did. My aunt was married twice. Her first marriage happened before 1943. According to my dad, she married young. I asked him if she might have already been married in 1940 and he thought she might have been. My dad at the time was only 13 years old. My father also said that his sister's first husband did not live long after the marriage. He indicated they might have lived toward the town of Oakford.
With this information in hand, I first rechecked the census records of the area outside of the town of Chandlerville but still within Chandlerville Township. I then checked the census for the area around Oakford and for Oakford Township as well. Not finding any reference to Virgil or Bernice.
I decided to do an Ancestry search on Virgil Ray estimating his year of birth to be within 5 years of my aunt and that he was born somewhere in Cass County, Illinois. Ancestry brought information back in a subscriber's family tree that Virgil died 15 April 1940 in Panther Creek, Cass County, Illinois. According to the 1940 Census for Panther Creek, the census for that area was taken between April 11 - May 7 1940.
I find Virgil Ray listed with his parents, Oscar & Rebecca, in Panther Creek, Cass, IL. He is listed as age 23 and married with what looks to be a question mark behind it. The date the census was taken for the Ray household was May 3 1940. Since the date of record for the 1940 Census is April 1, 1940, Virgil must have been living with his parents on that date. But Bernice, his wife and my aunt, is not listed in the household. An oversight possibly due to the family being in morning due to the death of her son several weeks earlier to the date the census was taken.
I returned to the household of my grandmother, Bertha, to determine when the census was taken for her household. The date is listed as April 3 -4, 1940. It would appear that it is possible that my aunt Bernice was missed in the census due to the hands of fate and the timing of the taking of the census.

Syncing Ancestry Online Trees, Ancestry App & Family Tree Maker for Mac

I love the new synching feature of Ancestry Online Trees, the Ancestry App on iPad and Family Tree Maker for Mac. I never have to worry which one I used last or what was the last piece of information added. No matter what device I decide to work on my family tree whether it be my computer, phone, or iPad, my tree has all the same information. Giving me that ability to take my genealogy with me anywhere and to be able to work on it anytime.... as long as there is a cell signal.
I have set up one family tree file that is synced over the various electronic devices. While I have posted my direct family line in my online tree, the tree which I have been working on for over 20 years with over 2,000 individuals I have kept separate. I use the online tree for clues and find the documentation I need to support the data's inclusion in my "offline" file.
Why do I not put my historic file up online? When I first started the file, I did not have strong documentation skills. Some of the information in my file was gathered from other family genealogists who did not provide documented support for their entries into the trees. I am not saying that they didn't have it. Only that it was not shared with me. I have tried to ensure that the family tree information I put online is supported by proper documentation.
Perhaps some would think that I am potentially holding back valuable genealogical information. But I know that I ensuring that only the most accurate data is being posted online by myself. There are many family trees out in cyberspace. We all know that every family tree online is the documented truth...right? Unfortunately, with all the information available online these days, it is often difficult to check the documentation that supports the facts. I could go off on a tangent here but I digress.
I really don't have much more to say about the synching feature.... other than love it, love it,uhhhhh love it! Thank you Ancestry for this great feature!

My Genealogical Resolutions for 2012 - Better Late?

Several months ago...okay four months ago.... two months after the beginning of the new year, I noted some genealogical pursuits that I would like to accomplish in 2012. As I was reviewing my draft blogs, I realized that this entry was never posted. Better late than never?

Any way here we go...... I resolve to the following:

1) Join a few local genealogical socities that relate to my family especially one that has meetings.

2) If none of the societies that I join have meetings, look to start a local research group.

3) Get all of the cemetery pictures I have taken over the past year posted on FindAGrave.

4) Get pictures of my husband and I scanned so they can be backed up.

5) Post more of the information I have collected on my family tree at Ancestry.

6) Get my DNA tested for my maternal line and talk my father into getting his DNA tested for my Johnson family line.

7) Spend more time actively researching my genealogy.

8) Go to Michigan and Canada to do research.

9) Take more cemetery pictures.

10)Share my current research with all my family.

10 sounds like a good number of genealogical resolutions. I am sure I could come up with more. But if I want a chance of making all of them happen this year, I think 10 is reasonable.

Searching the 1940 Census

     Do you remember the joys of searching for your ancestors in a microfilm census roll?  Using soundex to try to locate the correct roll of microfilm?  Were you overjoyed when internet websites such as FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com provided indexes to the censuses with links to census images?  Seems like we are right back where we started except we don't have to go to the library or LDS center to get the microfilm.
     For those who started researching their family tree after the FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com, now you get a taste of the hunt to find that ancestor which to me is the thrill of doing genealogy in the first place.
     I realized lately that as more and more information is available online that I am not as excited when I find something new about a family member.  To me, it is more exciting to dig through tons of books to find one bit of information.  I guess you could say I like the thrill of the hunt!
     So here I am searching page by page through the 1940 census searching for my cousin's parents in hopes that I can post an image up at our family reunion in July.  I do see where indexes are vital tools when looking at large towns or cities.  But where some of my family is from small rural communities, it is neat to scroll through the census pages and read the names.  Some of the names are familiar as distant relatives or as people my father has told me stories about over the years.
     Many of the names common in the small communities start me wondering are they related. Then I am off on a tangent trying to determine if they are related.
     Time to get back on course as I search for a great or grand uncle, John Thompson, in a larger community.  I know where he lived in 1930 so I tried the "One Step Work of Stephen Morse and Joel Weintraub".  My first go round I apparently put in too much information. After searching those two districts, I decided to give one step another try.  While I like the search, it didn't really feel like going through 10 districts of over 50 pages each.  The site provided two more districts.
     I first scan each district looking for the street that they lived on in 1930.  When that theory didn't pan out, I decided two scan each district page by page.  Even if I didn't find thin, I would know he was not in these four districts. After scrolling page after page, the name of my great uncle John did not appear.
     Time to look at my family information... where might he be?  When my great grandfather Thompson died, John was listed in the newspaper obituary as living in Alton, Illinois.  When his sister (my grandmother) died 16 years after her father, Uncle John was listed as living in Fosterburg.  My cousin live on the family land in Fosterburg that I remember traveling to as a child for visits.  So I decided to check Fosterburg.

     I tried to select Fosterburg from the standard browse list on Ancestry but it wasn't there. It was not listed  as a "populated place".  I did a google search for "fosterburg il township 1940 ed" (ed for Enumeration District).  In the list of search results was "1940 Census Enumeration District descriptions" on the National Archives website at research.archives.gov.  There was a list of enumeration districts for Madison Co, IL.  When I clicked this result, I was taken to an image of a typewritten list of enumeration districts.  The sixth entry down read Fosterburg township with the burg blacked out.  Beneath it read, "show separately Fosterburg (unincorporated)."
     I went back to Ancestry.com 1940 browse feather and changed the populated place to "Foster".  it provided me only one enumeration district.  I clicked on the selection.  And the fates smiled on me... or maybe just my uncle and his wife.  because there at the top of the first page was Uncle John, his wife Pearl, and their daughter, Norma Jean.

     While this search probably took me hours longer since the census is not fully indexed.  I must say I found the search much more thrilling in the end!

A Family Reunion

It's that time of year and my Thompson Family Reunion is right around the corner. There is about 1 month left. While that may seem like a lot of time, it really isn't when you work full time.

     One of the major items has been out of the way for months... the location. It is best to plan this well in advance. Many sites fill up. Our family has been patronizing a local state park. It offers many options boating, fishing, hiking, bike riding or just relaxing next to a lake. A bonus for the location we reserve is it has a covered pavillion with electricity. The electricity comes in handy to run fans to keep attendees of all ages a little cool. Tough bill to fill in middle of summer.

     Another major item for reunions is food. Never a problem with our family. We use the potluck method. We take a collection every year to cover meat, drinks, and serving items. But everyone is asked to bring a covered dish. In my family, that means they show up with at least two or more. I think our family motto could be "We shall not starve".

     The first two items are minor challenges to me What is more of a challenge is bringing genealogy to the family in fun and interesting ways. During our first reunion, I brought a descendency chart. I had found pictures from my mother's photo albums of as many people in the chart as I could. We had some good laughs. It was fun to have middle age adults find themselves in the chart as children. It was a great way to get updated pictures as well.
     I also created a family display board. It contained pictures of our shared ancestor, George and Fannie Thompson. The board has pictures of each of their children in order of birth. To add interest to it, I added information about George's father's Civil War Service. The next year I add pictures that had been found of George and Fannie's parents as well as missing picture of one of the children who did not survive until adulthood.
     This year I want to expand the display. Since this year marked the release of the 1940 Census, I plan to find George and Fanny as well as all of their children and display the print of their census page. Only a few of the attendees will find themselves listed in the print outs.
     Probably the biggest challenge is keeping the youth interested in reunions and in the family history. That will take a little more research.

The Luck of The Irish

Today, is March 17th, 2012.. St Patrick's Day.  It seemed only fitting to do a little research on my Irish Ancestor, Oney Frane.

Oney was born 12th December 1829 in County Mayo, Ireland.  This information was from her obituary in 1899.  Her parents are not listed.
She came to Canada in 1847 locating in Scarboro Township in Ontario.  There she married Frank Foote in 1858.  They lived in the Amherstburg Township since 1860.
She had 8 children that are known:  Martin Thomas, Wellington John, Sarah Jane, Henry Franklin, George Edward, Albert James, Alenira, and one child name unknown.
Oney died on 5 Mar 1899 in Colchester South, Ontario, Canada after an illness that lasted two years.

That is most of what I know about Oney.  But who were her parents?  Did she come to Canada alone? Where was she from in County Mayo?

Well here's hoping that the Luck of the Irish will be with me today.  Let the search begin!

Started at one of my most used websites...Ancestry.  Would you believe it there was a leaf beside Oney's name!  I took that as a sign I was doing what I should be doing.  Though the lead was for a piece of information (1881 Canadian Census) which I already had.  It reminded me of Oney's religion.  She was listed as  Catholic.  Not find much in a general search for Oney.

 I decided to switch websites.... why not a different religion.... Mormon.So I went to FamilySearch.org.  On the main screen, the word "Trees" stuck out to me.  I realized I had not narrowed my Ancestry search to look only at other public member trees.  Would a search there provide any links? I saw several family trees that basically were stuck at the same place as I was.  Time to head back to FamilySearch. org for a true search.

Decided on just a general record search for Oney Frane 1829-1899.  One record which did relate to Oney  was her son's, Martin, Marriage Register Entry.  Which led to two marriage records for her son, Martin.  It would appear he was married twice to two different women with the same name.  Each marriage record indicates that the wife's parents were different.  But as he is a collateral line, I will leave that for another day.

FamilySearch website has turned up nothing to help me.  Canadian Archives??  From the Library and Archives Canada main website, I choose "Ancestors Search."  A search on Oney Frane turns up nothing.  Nothing for Oney Foote either.  I'll try dropping the "e" at end of Foote.  That got two hits.  Unfortunately, both the 1881 and 1891 Canadian Census which I already had documented.

Thus far the luck of the Irish has not been with me.  Tried to do a random Google search.  But the only entries link back to myself.

Dear 2nd Great Grandmother Oney,  This lass needs your help to find out more about you and your family.  I would appreciate any help.

Happy St Patrick's Day

Planning for Our 2012 Thompson Reunion

This is the 3rd year of our Thompson Reunion in the 21st Century.  I have been trying to find inexpensive but nice giveaway items.  I would like to give each family group something to take away from the reunion.

Question is do I want to go with something generic that I know will be used like a pen or something.  Or do I want to give it the genealogy spin?

Do I want to make it an activity of some sort?  There is a website dazzle.com that will take a picture and make it into a puzzle.

What could I keep the younger generation entertained with?  Something that they could take home with them to remember those hot Illinois reunion days in the future.  This is a challenge with children ranging from newborns to teenagers.

I was thinking about what I have that reminds me of the reunions of the past century.  All we really have are photos and our memories...which tend to fade.  So how do I find something more lasting.

Checking out a website called gifts.com.  I remembered the guess how many in a jar game when I saw customized M&Ms.  I could have the M&Ms printed with the family name and place a counted amount in a jar.  Give everyone a chance to guess.  Give the adult closest a family related giveaway item and the youth closest the jar of M&Ms.  Taking a picture for posterity of course!

So many options with the Internet!  The search continues!