Putting the clues together

I'm working on a small branch of the family with the surname of Kressler.   In the 1870 census Elmira shows up with the family and has two sons with her.  As the 1870 census doesn't list the relationship I didn't realize they were her sons until a later census.  I'm trying to find out her maiden name and which of the Kressler boys she 'belongs' to.  I was so excited to find a death certificate for her oldest son only to be deflated as the informant on the death certificate put a question mark for the son's parents' names.  The informant was an unknown person to me.

I searched newspaper articles for the youngest son and found the informant's name listed as someone who visited or who the youngest son was visiting.  That didn't help much as I still didn't know the relationship of the two until finally I found an article listing the youngest son as the parents of the informant's wife.  So, the informant was the husband of the niece of the first son.  At least that mystery was solved.

But, who are the parents of the two boys, Francis and Charles?

Family Tree Maker 2011 Software Rant

I've been dumped out of the program three times this evening. 

I guess it is time to export and import my data again.  I just did that in September.   <big sigh>

I have over 70,000 names in my database and I've been told that perhaps I should divide the families up into separate databases.  I don't want to and here's why.  I'm doing this for the enjoyment of putting the puzzle pieces together and I love it when I find a connection between the families.  If I separate the families I will miss finding those connections. 

I am frustrated with this software, but I hesitate to move to another one because of the loss of data and errors.

FTM does not distinguish between city, county, state and country except by commas.  I wish it had separate fields for the information.  I want to be able to search for family data in a particular county when I'm headed to that county and I can't with the way the FTM program is set up.  I use the plan part of the program to help with this, but I really don't like having to (re)enter the information and I strongly dislike (that seems kinder than hate) the report generated because it sucks.

I get a message every time I open the program and click on a leaf to access Ancestry.  I don't know if every one gets this message who is using FTM or if it is just me.  But it is frustrating.  The message tells me I need to use an updated browser.  My default browser is one of the ones listed AND the one I don't use but FTM seems to use (IE) is up to date. 

Here is the message I get: 

We’re making updates that may impact your Ancestry experience. Certain features on Ancestry will have reduced functionality or may not be supported when using Internet Explorer 8 or 9. Check out the recommended browsers for more information.

We’re making updates that may impact your Family Tree Maker experience. Starting in October 2014, Ancestry Web Search within Family Tree Maker software will have reduced functionality or may not be supported by Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista or Internet Explorer 8 or 9. Moving forward, Microsoft Windows 7 or 8 will be required for Ancestry Web Search functionality to work properly.

FTM frustrates me because I cannot create the reports I want by manipulating the data I want on the printed paper.

I am frustrated at how slow the program operates.  Sometimes I turn off the internet access just to see if it will speed up.  It doesn't help and those darn little leaves still show up!  They are just grayed out. 

I want to be able to add more names for a person and be able to search for all of the names, not just the preferred name.   I want to be able to search for a female using her married name.

It frustrates me that FTM was not represented at the last genealogy conference I attended in Salt Lake City.  I visited with other software vendors and was frustrated when the sales people could not answer my questions.  One vender was so pleased with her product (even though she couldn't answer my questions), because it was web based.   Web based means I get to subscribe to it instead of owning or having a license for the software.  She was so delighted about the fact that the updates would be automatic and I wouldn't have to worry about them.  I asked what do I do when I'm out in the boonies in a cemetery and I want to look at my data with no internet access.  She said I would need to print a report before going.  So, the lesson there is you better print before going because you never know where you will or won't have internet access.  I don't want my genealogy software to be web-based.

Are there any genealogists who are software designers creating genealogy software?  Someone who cares about the product?  Someone who cares about what I want in a program????

I'm done with my rant for the moment.  If you made it this far, thanks for reading.

Just for fun

Because I don't have enough to do in my life, I am plugging names into my newspaper subscription to see what pops up.  I am currently looking in the Allentown, PA area.  It's an interesting way to search.

I am searching for Charles Mohr.  He is not a direct ancestor's name, but I have several Mohrs named Charles in my database.

I just found an obituary of the wife of a Charles Mohr. Her first name is not listed.  However, her father's name is listed and her children.  I've looked for all of them in my database and have had no luck.  I didn't try her siblings, at least not yet.

One trick I've learned is to put the information from the obituary into my database and see what comes up with a search on Ancestry.  So, I will try that.

Bingo!  I found a census record that looks promising and several family trees.  As I look through the trees it appears that this Charles could be my husband's 3rd cousin 4x removed.  I am noting the file that the connection needs to be proved and I'm clipping the article to put in a file folder for that branch of the family. 

It will be fun to see if I just found a distant cousin!

Library 'Help'

I went to a state archive today for the first time.  It was a frustrating experience.  One of the helpers in the library did not listen to me when I explained what I wanted.  She immediately took my paperwork and started searching Find A Grave.  I couldn't believe it.  That is a wonderful online resource that I can access from home!  Next she went to Ancestry.  Another wonderful resource that I have a subscription to so I access it from home.  I wanted to find the microfilm of the local newspapers for a certain town.  After she wasted several minutes of my very short research time she finally took me to the microfilm.  I found what I was looking for in minutes.  I really wish librarians would ask more questions before assuming I know nothing or I know it all. 

Wow.

I was looking for Edwin not expecting to find anything as the name is fairly common.  I found an article in a 1900 Pennsylvania newspaper about an Edwin who believed a bear was stalking him and was told by a fortune teller to carry an axe on Saturday between 11 and 12.  He was not to talk to anyone during that time.  The fortune teller told him the bear would see him with the axe and realize Edwin was a dangerous man which would cause the bear to stop bothering him.  It was and is quite a story.

Later that day, after walking silently (and telling his neighbors before hand not to talk to him), Edwin shot his current girlfriend three times and committed suicide by shooting himself in the head while sitting on his girlfriend who was face down on the floor. 
 
Some time before the tragic event the girlfriend visited a witch doctor and was given a prayer book to put under Edwin's pillow to entice the devil possessing Edwin to leave. (A later newspaper article quoted the girlfriend as saying the prayer book came from Edwin's aunt, not a witch doctor.  She requested that her name be kept out of the newspapers in the future.) She was also told to put bread crumbs in the key holes to stop witches from entering the rooms.  I found it interesting the newspaper noted that no explanation was given as to how the evil spirit possessing Edwin was to leave if the key holes were blocked.

By this time I was intrigued.  Since I was reading the second half of the story (that's where my search took me) I clicked on the front page of the newspaper.

Wow!  He is the Edwin I was looking for!  The article mentioned his wife (yep, he was married at the time) who is a 3rd cousin 3x removed.

Fortunately, Edwin did not kill his girlfriend.  He must not have been a very good shot or perhaps her placing her hands over head helped somehow as her wrists had gunshot wounds.  One arm was fractured by a bullet.  One bullet went through the floor.

Maybe she stayed very still while on the floor and extremely quiet causing him to believe she was dead as he proceeded to take his life.

Edwin had threatened to kill her before. Something about the day must have made her nervous because she sent for her 13 year old daughter from a previous marriage to come stay with her.  (This I don't understand.)  The 13 year old witnessed the whole thing.

The whole tragedy of murder/suicide was premeditated. Edwin had written letters to his aunt and the coroner.  He wanted his aunt to use his insurance money to bury him and the girlfriend together.  He apparently paid the girlfriend's life insurance and wanted it used to help pay for the burial.  He wanted his aunt and sister to have his things.

His wife who had started divorce proceedings was given nothing in his will.  He also left nothing to his son.

I've read some wild stories.  This one may be the wildest yet.  What caused him to snap?  Edwin was under pressure from his wife because of not paying support and she was filing for divorce.  He believed his girlfriend was or had cheated on him.

I did a little more research on the girlfriend.  She had been married and divorced twice.  During one of the marriages about four years earlier she tried to commit suicide by taking poison.  Obviously she was unsuccessful in her attempt.  I did not research her life after the murder attempt other than newspaper articles from the year of the tragedy.  I am leaving her alone unless I discover she is related.  

Which is always possible...

Old Newspapers

From 1898...
"This morning she was very stiff and sore.  The outcome of the matter is not regarded with enthusiasm.  Mrs. ____ is 73 years old and exceedingly stout, weighing about 250 pounds."

The accident is not amusing, but the newspaper description, well, that is another matter.  I love the 'not regarded with enthusiasm' statement.  I'm not so sure I like the inclusion of her weight!  That would be distressing on top of the pain of the accident.

You just never know....

I found a Bisbee family in Nebraska when researching a different branch of the family in the area.  Something struck me at the time so I added the family to my database as no relation. 

I recently learned I could access obituaries online through the Wichita Public Library.  While searching for a Bisbee, I found a granddaughter's obit in the Wichita Eagle for the family listed above.  Interesting.  So I did a little searching again to see if I could connect her family to mine. 

Bingo!  She is a 6th cousin 1x removed.  Nice to meet you Irene!

Dorthea

Dorthea is a third cousin 1x removed.  Here is part of her story...the only part I know.

She was born about 1943 in Kansas as an only child.  During her lifetime she was regarded as retarded.  She was described as a happy person.

After her parents died she lived in a facility for mentally ill adults until the State of Kansas became aware of her situation.  She was moved to a group home for mentally disabled adults where she attended events such as concerts at the Wichita River Festival.

She hadn't been at the new group home long when she decided to take a bath before retiring to bed.   The group leader had no idea her diabetes had damaged her nerves so badly she could not feel the pain of hot water.

She took her bath.

When she walked back to her room the group leader saw her severely red feet under her robe.

Dorthea scalded herself in the tub.  She was rushed to a burn unit where she died two weeks later.

Death by Drowning - Caisson Collapse

Allan, a young man of 24, was working as a laborer on a caisson in Port Stanley, Canada when suddenly the structure gave way trapping workers under water.  Allan, was one of the unfortunate ones trapped and ultimately drowned. 

I first learned of the cause of his death on his death certificate.

As I was unfamiliar with the word caisson, I googled it.  Then I added Port Stanley to it and finally found newspaper articles about the tragedy.

Too add to the horror of it all, I discovered Allan's dad was also a victim. 

Allan's mother died earlier the same year at the age of 49 leaving six children.

The next to the youngest child would have been about 14 years old when he lost three of his family members in 1937.

Partner in 1940

What does this mean?  I thought maybe they were partners in business but one woman works as clerical help in a bank supply business while the other repairs jewelry beads.  Wouldn't it be gutsy to declare yourselves as partners in 1940?

Having a marital type relationship with someone of the same sex is still a bit of a scandal (for lack of a better word) in this day and age even though rights to marry someone of the same sex are slowly increasing.  I can't imagine what it would be like for someone in 1940.  I suppose living in LA would be better than small town USA.

Do I put the partner listed on the 1940 census into my database?  If in fact the woman is the relative's life partner, I want her recognized.  If the word partner means something else, then she doesn't belong in the database.  As this can be a delicate issue I am not putting the partner in the database at this time.  Hopefully I can find an obituary and clear up this mystery.

Declaration of Intent and polygamy

I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. 

Seriously, this is a statement on a 1930 Declaration of Intention for the United States.  The alien doesn't have to swear that he or she is not a criminal or ill.  Apparently the US wants to make sure the 'evil' practice of polygamy is not brought into the US.  (Little late for that, right?)  Sometimes we have our priorities all out of whack in this country.

On a slightly different note, an alien (from the same Canadian family) came to the US about 1918 and was ill with tuberculosis.  It appears he entered the country with tuberculosis (still working on proof) and died a year later.

By golly, send us your sick but don't send us your polygamists!

Before anyone starts in on me about polygamists - if consenting adults want to live this lifestyle and are not harming children or each other, who am I to judge.  

I find it amusing that there was so much concern over this lifestyle but no statements about criminal records.  "I am not a murderer nor have I ever murdered anyone or intend to murder anyone."  "I have never harmed another person..."

 I'd like to see a current Declaration of Intent form.  Does it still have the polygamist statement?

Edited to add:  I found the polygamy statement on a 1914 Dec of Intent, too.

Sloppy

Argh! The names match. That's it. The document cited is for a man born in 1867. That's a big difference from 1915.  You post it and others repost it with the same citation.

On a happier note, I just downloaded my first Swedish record.. It is in Swedish (duh)!

I love old newspapers!

From the Winnipeg Tribune Oct 19 1905:

It is a terrible thing to be 'ambeeshus" and to be silly enough to marry a count.  Poor Miss Anna Gould had to produce three million in order to become the wife of Count Boni de Casteliane.  That was in March, 1895.  She had a early income of nearly a million, and he spent it all for her, and bought lots of things besides and fought duels and gave a hundred thousand dollar boar hunt for the Grand Duke Boris, and entertained the King of Portugal and started a little private harem, until he had got away with about nine million altogether.

On the top of all that he had the bad taste to make rude remarks about the Goulds, who had provided a million or two once or twice to keep things going.  The noble Castellanes spoke of Anna as "bourgeoise."  Finally the wife brought suit for divorce.  Unless she pays debts amounting to $5,000,000 the count will refust to her the custody of their children; and the courts may decide that they cannot leave France.  The children are boys, one 10, one 9, and one 4 and a half, handsome and clever; the youngest is said to be the handsomest child in Paris.  His portrait has been painted by the most famous artists.  This is rather remarkable as the mother is undersized, sallow and irregular of feature, while the father is small and effeminate, and yet handsome in his way, or, rather pretty.  And this the last insult, to call a man pretty.

Comments???

No relation.  I thought the article was interesting.  In today's world would this be the cause of a lawsuit?

Leaving home...home and other tidbits

Moving to a new country would be exciting, yet difficult.  Making it more difficult would be leaving an aging parent who lost her husband nine years earlier and only son six years later.  Being the only surviving family member, I wonder how she could leave her mother?  Her border card indicates her move was intended to be a permanent one, however, she is back in Canada by 1935 making her stay in the US less than five years which explains why I cannot find her on the 1940 census.  Why did she come to the US and why did she return?

I find it interesting unmarried women are generally listed as 'spinster' on the 1935 Canadian voter list unless a specific occupation is listed.  In this case Arlie is a registered nurse and is listed as such even though she is not married.  Her entry does include Miss to designate her as unmarried.  A few married women are listed with their first names.  One has 'married woman' as her occupation.

Spinster at the 'old' age of 25.  Seems strange to think of a single 25 year old woman as a spinster.

Is Canadian a race?  According to the 1901 Canada census it is.

I think I need to visit Canada.

Why is it that the only child of this Canadian family who supposedly died in the US has a death record saying her birthplace is California, yet I found her baptismal record in Canada.  No baptismal records for her siblings so far anywhere.  I really think the person who died in the US is not the same person as our family member or the person giving the info for the death record was wrong.

If completing a form in another country and the information requested was birth place - city/town and county - would you go ahead and only put state and county?  I just ran across an alien to the US who put his town and county on the form but nothing else.  Good thing I already had the information.  

How is it that the immigration date on census records can be so different.  I can maybe understand a year or two as a difference, but ten years?  Drives me crazy.

Musings

Mama died in childbirth, I think.  She died in 1920 and the last baby was born in 1920.  The female baby had three sisters and one brother.  Daddy didn't remarry until the baby was 20 years old.  Is that because the girls didn't want him to get married and it was easier to give in to them or because he never met anyone he wanted to marry until Laura came along 20 years later?

It is interesting how nothing was found to document Laura's marriage to Rupert.  I finally tried searching under her supposed married name and there's my proof.   I found a marrage record and a naturalization record.  Bingo! 

It seems a shame that one or all of the step children of Laura couldn't step up and provide her with a headstone.  Their mother and father have a headstone.  Laura was married to their father for nearly 24 years. 

How strange to have a father who is nearly 60 when you are born.  The grandfather was born nearly 100 years earlier.  Seems strange.  I can't imagine having a baby when I'm 60.  Grandchildren are fine with me. 

Bam! Bam! Bam!

That's the sound of my head hitting the wall.  Good grief!  Sloppy research drives me crazy!

You listed the baby as born and dying in 1934 yet your document is for a female with the same name who died in 1997.  If you would have looked you would see that the name on your document is her married name and she is much older than an infant.  Am I going to email you and let you know about your mistake?  Nope.  At least three family trees have followed your example.  If I can find the correct documentation, you can too!

SMH

As I scanned looking for the last part of an article that was continued on page 3 of an Oklahoma newspaper I ran across an interesting family.  The family referred to in this post is not related as far as I know and the family lived in Los Angeles. 

A 46 year old man fell in love with a 17 year old girl.  Her parents objected to their relationship.  The man convinced his 18 year old son to marry the 17 year old and the three lived in the same house.  The 17 year old eventually had two children.  Ten years later the 18 year old (now 28) fell in love and wanted out of the marriage.  After the divorce the 46 year old (now 56) and the 17 year old (now 27) married and petitioned to have the birth records of the two children changed to reflect the biological father.  Yes, the 'old' man.  So, the children's grandfather is actually their father.  The father they knew is actually their half-brother.  How's that for confusion!

Btw, don't you like how I did the math for you in this article?  The ages in the parenthesis are the ages at the time of the article which is from 1947.  If you want to know how old they are now, you figure it out.  lol

Sucker-punched!

Sometimes research catches you by surprise.  I read on some public trees that a distant cousin of my husband had a son who died in his 20s.  I was prepared for a car accident or some other accident that a twenty something young man might get himself into. 

Boy, was I ever wrong.

This young man, Alvin Hallum, age 29, was a police officer in training in Dallas, Texas.  Everything I can find on him speaks to a mature, responsible, and many other wonderful qualities of a young man...a man we all want to see as a police officer.

I didn't know this young man when he was alive.  I don't know his family other than what I've found researching to add them all to the family tree. When researching, the people are not just names, they become real to me as I learn about them. I feel like I know him and when I discovered the cause of his death, it took my breath away. 

He was murdered in the line of duty at a gas station.  His partner was wounded.  Alvin was reloading his gun when the assailant charged him and shot him in the head.  DOA at the hospital.  My heart aches for his then young wife and son. 

The assailant tried to make a get-away, but was caught after leading officers in a chase and died in gunfire. 

Triple Funeral

Triple Funeral?  Whenever I find a family with the same death dates I wonder what happened.  Car accident?  Illness?  Murder? 

This time it was drowning.  I don't know how the mother, age 30, and the baby daughter, 8 months, ended up in the irrigation ditch near the baby's uncle's house.  The baby's father screamed for help and his brother came to the family's aid straight from his bed in his underwear even though he couldn't swim.  He jumped in and was swept away along with his sister-in-law and niece.  He left behind a wife and 6 small children.

The uncle was called a hero in the newspaper. 

I assume the daddy/husband couldn't swim either which would explain why he didn't jump in.   The daddy/husband eventually remarried, but it doesn't appear that he had more children.  He had step-children.  I wonder about his state of mind afterwards.  Did he feel guilty the rest of his life?  I think it would be tough to live with the fact that my brother gave his life trying to save my family while I stood on the bank.  However, if you knew you couldn't swim (assumption based on report brother couldn't swim) you probably would feel like you couldn't do them any good other than to try to get help.  It would be a tough situation.

Murder in Kansas

Close your eyes and think about what life would be like in rural Kansas in 1895.  What would it be like to be a young wife with a year old son married to a farmer?  What would you do if something happened to your husband?  What if you were pregnant when your husband was murdered?  

Mary was a young wife in 1895 who lived the above.  All has been confirmed except the pregnancy.  William and Mary had a baby in 1895, but it is unknown if the baby was born and died before William's tragedy or after. 

William was in the field in November when his assailant, Hedy, presumably snuck up on him. After being fired on William took out after Hedy.  Hedy fired a fatal shot to William's face and took off back to Iowa.  Neighbors, including the one who kindly gave Hedy a place to stay the night before, found William in the field.

A reward was offered by the then governor of the State of Kansas for information on the murder.  Eventually Hedy was arrested in Iowa and returned to Kansas for trial.  After 16 hours of deliberation the jury found him guilty after hearing the prosecution and then Hedy's declaration of self-defense as his defense. (I suppose it could be self-defense if you completely ignore the fact that Hedy fired first and William came after him because of that! I'm not a lawyer, but I know what I would tell one of my students if he or she snuck up on someone and hit them and then cried self-defense when the victim retaliated.  Not that it makes it all okay, but if you start something you should be ready to take on the consequences.  jmho)

Hedy committed suicide after the conviction.  I wonder if he couldn't bear the thought of prison or what he had done.  I wonder if he was still with his wife at the time of the murder and if he had any children.  

The murder and trial was mentioned in newspapers as far away as Denver.  Several Kansas newspapers had articles about it, too.  Unfortunately, I could not find out more information on Hedy or William's wife, Mary.  Mary died in the 1950s.  The young son died when he was only 19.  I can't imagine the heartache Mary endured during her lifetime.

Questions

I just don't understand families sometimes. 

Jack, Mildred, and Margaret (the latter two twins) were born in California in the 1920s.  By the 1930s their parents divorced.

Jack is found in Michigan in 1930 with his father and his father's new wife.  In 1940 he is in New Jersey with his father and step-mother.

Mildred is the same as Jack except that she is living with a different family at the age of 6 in Michigan.

Margaret is the same as Jack.

Mama can't be located on the 1920 or later censuses.  It's possible she remarried or that she was deceased after the twins were born.   There is one possibility for her on the 1930 census which has her back in Iowa and with a son born before she married Jack, Mildred and Margaret's father.  That possibility has been proven not to be her. Where is mama?

I am amazed at the traveling the family did when it wasn't quick to get anywhere. Why were the kids living with their father instead of their mother?  Why is Mildred with a different family in 1930?

Elisha, Elisha, Elisha, Elisha, John, John, John, John, John, Rosco, Wedgewood, Claredon, Algernon

After seeing so many Elishas and Johns, all of a sudden some new interesting names start appearing. 
Some are listed above.  More are:
Adoniram
Gad
Fordyce
Sumner
Cyprian
Cyrenia
Bathsheba
Aurelia
Arathusa
Moses
Noah
Persis
Pemmie
Spaulding
Submit
Waneta
Sherman
Ruez
Rosette

Well, not all of the above just showed up 'all of a sudden'...I looked for unusual names after I found about 8 unusual ones in about 20 minutes of research. 

What was your first clue you have a problem?

I've been busy researching the Bisbee line as I think I'll enter it in the state fair.  Maybe.  It's turned out to be more incomplete than I thought.  As I was busily entering and documenting I realized I had two Mary Hall's.  They were two generations apart.  That is not impossible, but not likely.  Then I realized that Abner had two biological mothers.  That's not possible. 

I finally created a spreadsheet to document the family and where the information was coming from.  I looked for primary sources.  I was relieved whenI found a primary source which told me which of the biological mothers was really his biological mother. 

Now to figure out why so many histories and trees listed the other mother and hopefully, figure out why the problem seemed to be about missing generations or people.  It was difficult wrapping my mind around the problem even with the spreadsheet.

Finally, I found a documented family tree.  A researcher in the area where the family lived found where one of the first histories written on the family tree confused one of the John Bisbees.  The misinformation was copied and presented in lots of other family trees.

The information given on the tree satisfies me as being correct.  It fits the research I have done.  All of the trees with the incorrect information has no primary sources to back up their research.

I had to manipulate my data in order to get all of the family members in the wrong generation to the correct generation.  (As I detached them I added 'detached' as their first name so I could easily find them in a search.  Then when they were merged within the proper generation I discarded the 'detached' name.)  I have to admit it caused me great concern to do that much manipulation.  But, it was manipulate it or delete it and reenter it which meant revisiting all of my sources to redocument.  Even though I had several people in the wrong generation, I had other information about the people that was correct and I didn't want to redo that piece.  I believe I have it correct now.  

Whew!

Sloppy Researching

I would think the fact that the family is in a totally different state would be one clue that the information should be double-checked.  People move around a lot, but it still needs to be checked.

I would think the fact that the names don't totally match would be one clue that the information should be double-checked.  The handwriting on the census makes deciphering tough, but it still needs to be checked.

I would think the fact that the race doesn't match would be one clue that the information should be double-checked.  I haven't found any records where the race has been wrong, but it is possible and it still needs to be checked.

Together the three facts above should make you realize the information is WRONG!  Yet, you posted it on your family tree, and dang it, people are just blindly adding it to their tree. 

Jasper Bisbee and Henry Ford

Enjoyed reading this website.  Jasper is a 4th cousin 4x removed of my husband.

http://www.oldtimeherald.org/archive/back_issues/volume-9/9-6/jasper-bisbee.html

Bisbee, Arizona - we are related, but how?

DeWitt Bisbee is related according to a county history.  But the source skips a generation and I'm struggling to fill in the gap.  Argh!

Update: The source skips SEVERAL generations.

Another update: Oh hell, I created a mess!  I worked backward to get to the missing generation and apparently picked up some bad data.  It couldn't be that I got confused, could it?  Damn. 

This puzzle doesn't fit.

How do I explain this?

James married Cora in 1904.  I have a newspaper clipping that says so.  He has three daughters, one born about 1900 named Florence.  The other two were born after 1904 so I think I can safely assume they belong to Cora.  (Oh boy, I don't know if assumptions are good though.  This has been a tricky puzzle.)  The two younger girls are Martha and Christina.  These three girls are mentioned in newspaper articles with their parents, assuming James and Cora.

I found an article about Mrs. James dying in June of 1903.  This must be the first wife, possibly the mother of Florence.  An undocumented family tree has the first wife and mother of Florence as Elizabeth.  No maiden name given.  The deceased wife is the daughter of Mrs. Albert Fahringer.   Another survivor listed is a child a few WEEKS old.  I'm hoping this is a misprint and should read a few YEARS old.  Otherwise, I have more problems to deal with with this puzzle.

So, let's recap here.  James was married twice according to newspaper articles.  Unknown who could be the mother of Florence and who died in 1903.  Cora, the second wife, married him in 1904.

I found an Albert Fahringer in the 1900 census.  Guess who is listed with him as boarders.  JAMES AND CORA!!  Guess who is listed as a granddaughter.  Yep, Florence.  Do you see why my head is spinning?  Cora is listed as a boarder with the same last name as James.  Now, it is entirely possible that James married two Coras and the undocumented family tree has his first wife's name wrong.  Cora is listed as married 1 year and the mother of one child.  She is 19 years old.

The 1910 census has James and Cora listed with their three daughters.  Cora is listed as the mother of 2 and married 6 years.  I'm ready to think that Cora is the name of both wives.


Update:  Just found the first Cora's burial record.  Two Cora's for wives.  Who would have guessed.  :)

Jail at 82 yrs old

 1991

An especially hard headed 82 year old man was placed in jail for non-payment of a floral arrangement he claims he never ordered.  He said he never contacted the florist shop even after getting repeated bills. He never told his family either.

The florist shop claims to have called at least three times asking for payment and was told it would be paid.

Finally the florist shop filed a criminal complaint.  The gentleman ignored the hearing notice so a warrant was issued for his arrest.  He was sent to jail for missing the hearing and bail was set for the amount he owed along with constable costs.  $94.45.

He was an unhappy man when his daughters bailed him out of jail after about 4 hours.  He told the paper he had money and could have bailed himself out, but he didn't owe the money and wanted to prove his innocence.  Besides "it's free board."  His daughters had to convince him to go home.  They told him his 23 year old dog needed him.  That did it. 

What a character! I know those you who know my family will think 'yep, he's related' to her, but, he married into the family.  So there!  He's the husband of a 6th cousin. 

Lightning and Murder

Lightning and Murder - what do they have in common?  Siblings. 

In June of 1899, Preston, age 19, was crossing a bridge in Lehigh County.  Some young men, sometimes referred to as a gang or thugs in the newspaper articles, were drinking beer and singing songs on the bridge.  The young men had been terrorizing locals passing on the bridge so much so that Preston carried a handgun on the advice of his uncle.  While Preston crossed the bridge a gunshot rang out.   He continued home.

On the bridge, a 25 year old man, James, bled to death.  He died before anyone could do anything to help him.

The next day Preston heard about a man killed on the bridge by a gunshot.  He confessed to shooting his gun, but claimed it was in self-defense.  He said the young men on the bridge were going to rob him so he shot his gun as a warning and left.  He claimed to have no idea that he actually shot someone.

Preston had a stellar reputation.  As the local people heard about the event, they came to Preston's defense.  The newspaper stated that any amount of bail money could be raised if needed because of the belief in Preston and the fear of the 'gang' of young men by the citizens.

His reputation helped his case as he was acquitted of murder.  The men on the bridge claimed they didn't do anything to Preston as he passed on the bridge but their reputation for harassing the locals had to be prominent in Preston's defense. 

When Preston was acquitted the newspaper said "two pretty girls' cried.  One was his girlfriend and the other was his 14 year old sister. 

Near the end of July, this pretty sister was struck by a bold of lightning in the early evening.  The early newspapers use more details in describing events than newspapers do today.  The bolt was described as glancing off of a tree striking Anna in the head, passing through her body and nearly pulling her newly ripped shoes off of her.  Her clothes were on fire.  One of her friends put out the fire, but there was no hope for the nearly 15 year old girl.

I can't imagine the emotions this family must have experienced with these two events.  A few months later Preston was sued by the father of James.  He claimed he was disabled and James was his source of income.  I never found an article to let me know how this 'non-suit' turned out.  Maybe the term 'non-suit' tells me.

Preston went on in life to marry and have children while being a responsible citizen.  The young men who terrorized the locals on the bridge moved elsewhere and the bridge became safe again.

My information comes from several articles in the Allentown Leader and Allentown Democrat, 1899. 

Argument

An argument that causes suicide.  I'm still shaking my head.  What would be bad enough that a 24 year old wife and mother of two small children would take poison?  The newspaper articles state there was family troubles and she had argued with her husband.  Early 1900s.  I can't imagine being the parents of the 24 year old, the spouse or the children. 

Tilghman Peter

Tilghman Peter was born Oct 1 1835 which probably comes from a book by Beulah Klotz about the Peter family.  He is the son of Nicholas and Salome.  Did he marry Rosa Heintzelman?  Is his daughter Ellamanda L. Peter born Nov 22 1876 in PA?  I have another Tilghman Peter b Oct 1 1855 married to Rosa with the same daughter.  This Tilghman is the son of Jacob and Maria.  I need help figuring this out.  I think the second set of information is right, but need more documentation.

Margaret E Kreidler

I am looking for more information about Margaret E. Kreidler born abt 1898 in PA.  If you can help, please send me a message via this blog. Mom and Dad are Charles (William) and Grace.  Did Margaret marry?  Children?

1973 Welcome Home!!!

After all of the heartbreaking discoveries of distant cousins who did not return from war either from being killed in action or missing in action, I found one who came home after being captured and held prisoner for five years.  What joy his family must have felt to learn he was coming home and then to finally have him in their arms.  WELCOME HOME WAYNE!

Not Twins

While researching a family I ran into a pair of sisters..  Nothing unusual about that.  But these two born in the same year are not twins.  I know it is possible, I just don't see it a lot.  One was born in January, the other December. 

Genealogy Talk

I was asked to give a short talk about researching and genealogy.  I was a bit nervous as public speaking isn't in my comfort area, but I love genealogy and love to talk about it so decided to do it.  I am glad I did.  I had a great audience and after I got over my nerves, it was a tiny bit fun.  Thanks ladies and gents for making the presentation easier for me.

Dog Funeral

While searching for information on Reuben Cook, I ran across a Reuben Cook who loved his hunting dog so much he had a regular funeral when the dog was poisoned and died.  The dog's casket had hunting scenes on it.  Pallbearers were selected, a history of the dog and his pedigree was given, and a hymn was sung.  The dog's grave was completed with a gravestone with his name and age.  The dog's owner offered a reward for information on who poisoned the dog and planned to get a bronze cast of the dog for the grave.  I wonder if the bronze cast was completed and where the dog is buried. Back in the days before all of the regulations and rules, I wonder if the dog is buried in a 'regular' cemetery. 

The story took place in Meriden, Connecticut in 1876 and I read the article in the Chicago Daily Tribune.  Interesting.

What's wrong with being Irish?

This doesn't have connection to my family, but I thought it was interesting. In 1947 a woman petitioned the court to have her maiden name restored after 60 years of marriage.  She told the judge she had her tombstone engraved with her maiden name and she put off marrying her late husband two  years because she didn't want his last name.  It was O'Conner.  She said she was mistaken for an Irishwoman for years.  She was successful in legally changing her name.  Wow. 

Where are you?

I'm looking for more information on Caroline Estelle Ward b about 1874 in NY and her family.  She married Frank Coonradt sometime after 1900 and they had a child, Gertrude, born about 1906.  By 1910 Caroline is a widow. 

I also would like more information on Nellie Emeline Ward b Oct 1875 in Berlin, NY.  Supposedly she married Frank Krueger.  I can find no information on him or Nellie other 1800 and 1900 census for Nellie.

Myron Ward, a brother for the two listed above is also elusive.  He was born Ag 1883 in Berlin, NY.  Did he marry Gertrude and move to Glen Falls?

***
Abby Jane Cook b abt 1859 NY, probably Rensselaer County. I am assuming she married by 1880 as she is no longer listed with her mother on the census.  Who did she marry? Where did she live?

Hattie L. Cook b abt 1879 NY, probably Rensselaer County.  Found her on 1880 census and that's it.  Anyone know anything about her?

Amanda M Cook b Sep 20 1856 married a man by the name of Walker.  She died in Vermont.  Who did she marry? 

Levi Cook b around 1850 in Rensselaer County, NY.  He married Mary Lawler.  What are their dates of birth/death/marriage?

Sisters Susan (b abt 1847) and Lovina (b abt 1848) of Rensselaer County, NY are also lost.  Can you help me find them?

Lions, Tigers and Bears - OH WAIT! Just Lions.

I really enjoy finding newspaper articles about family members.  A recent one reported on a family member's wedding at the county fair.   It took place in front of the grandstand.  And.....it was in a lion cage complete with six lions.  The article didn't explain why.  Neither the bride or groom are/were lion tamers or trainers.  Nonetheless, it would have been an interesting wedding to attend!

Odd

Bud married twice.  He died in 1983.  His divorced first wife died 2007. His second wife died 2003.  The second wife is buried across the US from him.  The first wife is buried next to him.  The first wife had remarried.  Where is her second husband? 

Did the kids bury them next to each other?

Just when you think the stories can't get sadder

Imagine being a five year girl.  Your mother dies.  Your father places you and your seven year old brother in an orphanage.  A year later your brother dies.  I know times were hard back in the 30s.  This illustrates it.

not a 'real' family member...

Really?  Not a 'real' family member?  Your family member adopted him.  That makes him real.  Why not use the term adopted?  He is a half-sibling to your cousins.  I hope you all didn't make him feel like an outsider as he was growing up. 

Lee and Mabel

In 1918, Lee, age 12, ran away with Mabel (same age? listed as a child in article) to Chicago. Their final destination was supposed to be Gebo, WY. Why there? I don't know. Not much information was given about Mabel, but she sounds like a character. She had movie star theatrics and told the authorities 'Of course it's none of your business, but if you want to know, we're going to get married.' Mabel had a picture of a world-famous "movie vampire" with her that she would not surrender. Poor Lee, his father was coming to get him. His girlfriend/fiance didn't seem to care and declared 'there will be some other time' when she and Lee would run away for good.' Apparently the love didn't last as I find Lee married to someone else when he is an adult. Wonder what happened to Mabel.

 

Cemetery Road Trip

I plotted a trip through Oklahoma to visit cemeteries on my way to a family event in Texas.  My family was impressed with my notebook tabbed with towns.  Each town included a map showing the location of the cemetery (if I had information available), a list of people to 'visit', Find-a-Grave photo requests, and library information if obituaries were needed.   I never had time to visit any libraries as once I was on the road and found the first cemetery it hit home just how much time it was going to take just to visit the cemeteries.  I tried to set a flexible schedule to give myself an idea of time as I traveled.  I found that I fell behind and finally had to abandon the idea of visiting the last two cemeteries.

Some directions were wrong due to road changes.  I am not sure if the map of Avard, Oklahoma was wrong or if I was turned around.  (probably the latter)

I also didn't have time to do any Find-a-Grave photo requests as only one cemetery had a map.  No map means I 'get' to walk the cemetery.  I don't mind walking the cemetery on nice days as the headstones are always interesting and I get to wonder about the stories about the people buried there.

It was an interesting day.  I was on some awful roads out in the middle of nowhere, but it was fun and I can't wait to do it again.

Plural Marriage and DAR

We have some family members of the Morman faith, but not many.  It was interesting to me to find a family on my husband's side who believed in plural marriage and practiced it.  I don't have a problem with plural marriage as long as the parties involved are of age and want to be a part of that lifestyle.  I have to admit I don't understand it.  I'm not sharing my husband and he is well aware of that!  :)

When I attended the genealogy conference I met several Morman attendees.  Makes sense, right?  The conference was in Salt Lake City.  As one of the attendees and I visited about DAR she informed me that DAR would not allow her to join because her mother was not the 1st wife of the war ancestor's descendant.  I was appalled. What difference does it make?  What if the first wife had died and this was a second wife?  (My membership is through a second wife as the first wife died.) Again, what difference does it make as long as my new friend can prove her relationship to the ancestor?  I called DAR when I returned home.  Apparently DAR did not allow this in the past.  But like many other things in our lives, opinions change as time passes.  I notified my new friend to submit her paperwork.  She is going to let me know how things go for her.

Oops!

I did some 'fishing' to find information on a distant cousin.  I was delighted to find her, her husband and their ten children.  Usually I am meticulous about entering every piece of information I have, but this time I didn't.  Perhaps it was because something/one was trying to tell me I caught the wrong fish!  I found her siblings obituaries and they listed her last name wrong.  Well, according to my fishing, it was wrong.  The first time I thought it was a mistake committed by the newspaper.  The second time I thought, 'Hmmm, maybe she married a second time.' which was possible as her husband died several years before she did.  But, nothing I had listed that second marriage or name.  So, I googled the 'second husband' name.  Lucky for me I found the right fish!  I'm so grateful I didn't take the time to enter every detail on the ten children as they are not a part of my family.  Time to detach the wrong fish from the family and delete them one by one. 

Regina Fenstermacher Ross

Regina, who did you marry?  I know his last name is Ross and I know the names of your four children.  John, Hannah, Charles and Joseph.  You are the daughter of Christian and Maria Barbara (Hilbert) Fenstermacher.  Would you stop hiding from me? 

(Regina born about 1801/1802 in PA)

Anyone out there in cyberspace know anything about Regina and her family?

 

Update Feb 2021: No new information on Regina.  I am adding this to my list of people to look up in the Fenstermacher book in Pennsylvania.  

Research tools

Extracting data from the census records in the past was done with pencil and paper.  I grew up with pencil and paper and it is natural to take notes in that manner.  I'm working on going paperless with my research (what a struggle!) so I've worked on creating a spreadsheet for each census that can be saved in the family file.  Each spreadsheet has a comment area so I can quickly see what struck me as I extracted the information.

I am also entering the data into a database.  Not each detail but an abstract of the information with all names included tagged.  This is tied to a citation table.  It takes a little more time to document everything, but I think in the long haul it will be worth it.  I can now get a display (I'm not printing, remember paperless!) of sources ready to be copied and pasted into my family narrative.  I am also ready to create a story about my family using the database. 

The database includes any document or information I find that I feel like helps tell the story or provides clues about my family. 

I originally thought I would keep the database for my entire family of 64,000 people.  I have changed my mind.  Each family will have its own database.  I may break my largest family into the original three brothers consisting of three databases, however, that particular family is so intertwined over the years I need to put some thought into it.  The other difficulty is duplicate names.  Each family has duplicate names, but the three brothers family is unreal.  So far my solution is to put the birth year after the name to help distinguish all the Georges.  However, I'm concerned that will not be enough.

RootsTech

I enjoyed the conference and learned some great things. The conference was well-organized and the volunteers helpful.  The keynote speakers (except for one) were fabulous.  

I have some new free sites to post. I'll try to get them up in the next few days. 

The emphasis was telling a story in the family history and not making it just about the dates and places.  I've collected stories all along, but I have not done a good job of putting them together or sourcing them, especially when I first started.

There were lots of great resources presented to help genealogists with their family stories, however, they all want your money AND your research.  Of course, they aren't going to pay your for your research as they are doing you such a favor to allow you to have a spot on their site to share.  Share was the other big emphasis at the conference.  Am I the only one frustrated with the paid sites for wanting me to upload my information while they charge others to look at it? 

I wanted to see what is available to help document and organize my information.  I've decided against changing software programs, however, I remain very frustrated with Family Tree Maker.  FTM didn't help their cause by NOT being at the conference.   I found some venders with some products that looked interesting, but they are paid sites and only web based.  I want something that resides on my computer.  The vendors tried to sell me on the point that I could access my data from everywhere, but I have a cloud that allows me to access it from anywhere.  I want to be able to access my data when I have no access to the internet...so I need it on my computer.

Since I didn't find a commercial product that fit my interests, I'm trying to create what I want using a database.  It's been slow going, but I am getting there.  I think. 

Sad Events

I continued to work on the Baldwin family today.  Some new information learned that sticks in my mind is a father committing suicide five months after his wife died.  He was in his 60s.  He seemed to have a full life as he was active in the community and with his children. Wonder why suicide?

Then I learned a distant cousin in this family died on the USS USS Bismark. The military headstone card said he was KIA (killed in action) and his body was non-recoverable. The Bismark was the last US Navy carrier destroyed in WWII. Two Japanese kamikazes hit the ship and 318 men were lost. Donald was 19. So sad.  

Finally, a Baldwin mother of four boys gave birth to twin boys in 1923, but sadly she died.  Her sister took the twins and raised them until her death in 1931.  She had several children of her own, the twins were the youngest.  After her death they returned to their father and several half-siblings as their father remarried.  As I've worked on this all day, I need a break. I will learn more about the twins and siblings tomorrow.
 

Carlson-Stewart Family

Julia Stewart Carlson is a second cousin, 3x removed for my husband.  I've spent the last few days working on her family line.  I've stumbled on some of her children and I am looking for some help.  (The family was located in Utah.)

It doesn't appear (or at least I haven't found) Anthony Clinton Carlson, b 1893, had any biological children and was married twice.

Blanche, b Sep 1899 in Utah, appears on the 1900, 1910 and 1920 census.  I cannot find her in the death records, marriage records or listed in any obituaries. There is a Blanche Carlson listed in the Western States Marriage index but that's a different Blanche.  (darn!) Blanche, where are you?

Retta, turns out to be Anna Larita who goes by Margaret.  She died in 1989.

Orlean (Bud) is the father of two children.  Dale W and Sally Ann.  I am guessing they were born in the 1930s.  I would like to know more about them.

In Orlean's obit a sister Sally Meister in Van Nuys, California is listed and a brother Andy in Retsil, Washington is listed.  I cannot find them on any census records or any other mention of them.  Any help with them would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone out there have any information to share?