Where are you?!?

The Ottawa Kansas library was my destination today.  As I've said before, every library is different.  Here I was allowed to get microfilm out of the unlocked drawers to my heart's content.  When asking about what to do with the rolls when done (most libraries don't want you putting it up) and I was told to just put it back.  Okay.  Works for me. 

Today's search was frustrating.  It was nice to have a small town newspaper to look in as it doesn't have as much verbiage to scan, but, I only found one of four obituaries I wanted.  Where are the rest of you, darn it?

The newspapers were interesting even though they didn't contain the information I wanted.  One had a picture of a war bride from Germany or maybe England (my CRS is kicking in) with her young son in New York City.  Her husband was presumably in Reno working on a divorce according to the caption.  The wife hoped having their son with her would help a reconciliation.  I wonder how it worked for her.  It was surprising to find a picture/caption like this in a small town Kansas paper, even more surprising to find out it didn't involve a local person.  Why was this in the local paper?  

The library's genealogical section was small, but I found a lot of area books on cemeteries and histories.  I found some for counties not so close such as Finney and Ford.  The book on Ford County was new to me so I enjoyed some time perusing it.

Before heading out to the cemetery I stopped at Keim Bakery for lunch.  Nice place.  I would recommend it.

I found a map of the Mount Calvary Cemetery and an index of people buried there.  I quickly jotted the map down and I knew that would help shorten my time in the cemetery.  The cemetery didn't lend itself to the map very well, in my opinion, but I did find the graves I wanted to find in spite of the cold blustery Kansas wind and faulty map.

One obituary and three hours later

It's amazing how much time one obituary can consume.  I have new information which allows me to search for more people and before you know it, three hours are gone.  I now have the maiden name of my cousin's wife, the name of her first husband, and more information on her children from the first marriage.

Oh, remember the movie The Fockers.  Well, I found one of my families on the census as the Fockerts.  That is not the real family name.  It's amusing. 

It was an adventure

Each library is an adventure.  An added adventure today was driving to the Kansas City Kansas Public Library.  I loved seeing the KC skyline and bridges, but I'm a small town girl and driving by myself makes me nervous.

The KCK library has the microfilm locked up and four at a time are 'checked out' to you.  The printer on the reader didn't like any of my dimes so the librarian 'keyed' it to print and I just paid at the desk.  I thought that was very friendly of her.  Ten cents a copy.  More than reasonable!

I don't know if the microfilm was really that different or if my hurting neck (woke up with a crick in my neck) made it seem different.  Usually when I get microfilm the first date is the first paper on the film.  This film had the last date on the film first.  The joke is on me as I was excited when the librarian handed me the rolls to see that I needed either the first or second date on the all of the microfilmed checked out.  But that was not the case, I had to 'fast forward' to close to the end of the roll.  Oh well.

The library had some cemetery books, phone books, directories and some other genealogy books.  I found a piece of data in a cemetery book and then I needed to go as I parked in a two-hour parking spot.

I don't know where I was at in Kansas City as I don't know the area very well.  Isn't that a comforting thought?

On my way back I exited the interstate on the wrong exit and ended up at the railroad tracks. It made me nervous to drive under the interstate on a single lane with a train track in the middle of the lane!  I had to take a 'sharp right' to get back on the interstate and find a spot to get off and turn around so I could take the 'real' exit.

I'm glad I found the 'sharp right' road as otherwise I would have been going up the down ramp to get on the interstate hoping a highway patrolman wasn't around to see me!

Wonder if they knew

Thelma married Norman.  Her father was Alfred, grandfather was Alfred and great-grandfather was Joseph.  Hmm, might as well put her maternal grandmother on there too, Rosa. Rosa's father was Daniel.  (another one of those double cousin lines)

Rachel married Llewellyn.  Her mother was Gerda, Her grandfather was Calfenus and her great grandfather was Joseph.

Thelma and Rachel are both 4th cousins once removed to me.  They are second cousins to each other.  I wonder, were they aware they were second cousins?  I went to the same high school as second cousins once removed and didn't know one of them was related to me.

What makes this story more interesting than just simply were they aware of each other....they married brothers.  Yep, Norman and Llewellyn are brothers.  Small world.

Think outside of the box

Beatrice has been driving me crazy.  Her dad and mom apparently divorced when she was less than ten.  I can find her dad with his second wife and his second child on the census records for 1910, but no Beatrice.  I find Beatrice and her mother on the 1920 and 1930 census, but not for the 1910.  I really want to find this as I'm concerned I could have two wives connected to her daddy in error.  I need more information to confirm my suspicions her daddy married twice. 

It finally hit me.  Beatrice's mother would be in her 20s and probably moved back home with her young daughter.  Try them under the mother's maiden name.  Tada!  There they are!  This was the only census Beatrice's mother told the truth about her marital status even though she is listed with her maiden name.  She lists herself as 'widowed' on the 1920 and 1930 census. 

6th cousin, meet 6th cousin

My 6th cousin, Althea, married another 6th cousin of mine, Willard.  They both descend from my 5th great grandfather and grandmother.  I wonder if they knew they were distant cousins.

Sorting it all out

I don't have much information for Stella L.  I have birth month/year/state from the 1900 census and I know her siblings/parents.  Well, I guess I know more than I though.  :) 

I'm trying to find her marriage information and any children she may have.  As I'm unable to find an obituary for her, I decided to check other trees online to get information to verify.

I found three husbands for her.  Russell, Elmer and Adam.  I found her on the 1920 and 1930 census with Elmer and one child.  I found the child's obit.  His only survivors are nieces and nephews.  That means he must have a deceased sibling, or more.

I determined Adam was married to a different Stella as I found Adam's daughter's obituary.  Her mother is Stella L but a different maiden name. 

I found Russell and Stella in 1940's city directories, but no census records of them together.

I cannot find her on the 1940 census, nor can I find her son.  Frustration.

I found Russell on the 1940 census (if it is the same Russell - in the right area) and he is single and living with the OTHER Stella!  She is listed as married but the husband is not listed on the census.

Now I'm thinking my Stella did not marry three times.  The OTHER Stella married twice.

Stella has several siblings.  I hope to gather more information when I obtain their obituaries.  How many more children did she have?  Where are they?