I have two Williams both married to a Sybilla. One William had no parents listed, the other did. One William had children listed and the other did not until I started working on his line. The children are the same as the other William. Makes you think they are the same, right? The only problem is the maiden names of the girls. They are different. Everyone has the wives' dates of birth/death the same on the internet. Did Syblla remarry after her husband's death? Is that where the other name comes in? He did before 1900 and she lived to 1936 so it is possible. However, I have parents for the Riedy wife and I am unable to find anything that makes me think she remarried.
Did Ms. Riedy marry a William and researchers have confused the too?
I am confident of her maiden name as Donat, finally. I found her marriage record and her maiden name is listed on several of the death certificates of her children.
Now to figure out the Riedy.
Update:
They are the same person. Her father died when she was young and her mother remarried. Wow. It has taken me hours to get this figured out, but I did it!
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015
1895 Estate
Just read about an estate worth $80,000 in 1895 in Pennsylvania. Wow. Wonder what the same estate would be worth today?
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
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?
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?
Saturday, December 20, 2014
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:
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.
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.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
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!
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!
Saturday, November 8, 2014
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.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
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...
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...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)