Pueblo County-City Library, Pueblo Colorado

The above mentioned library is WONDERFUL!  I visited there last week and everyone was helpful and kind.  The best part was when the librarian showed me a link on their website for obituaries.  I wish every library would do this! 

They indexed the obituaries for their local paper, Pueblo Chieftain, and made that index available to the public via their website.  They will send you a copy of the obituary from the link on the index!  Free via email! 

Here is a link their website.
http://www.pueblolibrary.org/
(Click on search and at the bottom is the link to the obituary index.)

Here is a link to the obituary search.
http://www.pueblolibrary.org/obituaries-search

Well done, Pueblo Library, well done!

WWI Gassing

I ran across a man (not related) who went into the Pacific Colony in the early 1900s.  He died in 1922 from epilepsy and psychosis.  He was married less than ten years earlier and had a small child when he died.  My heart was breaking for him.  Because he captured my interest, I did a little more research on him.  It turns out he was gassed in WWI.  With what is going on in Syria today, this haunts me even more. 

Insane, really?

I'm looking at a census records for Louisa.  She's an unemployed adult who cannot read nor write.  She is listed as insane.  The choices are deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic.  I wonder what the criteria was for being labeled insane in 1870.

Be creative!

I love the census records, however, they can be pretty #@$#& frustrating when I can't find who I'm looking for in them.  Today I was reminded of being creative with names when looking.  The name alluding me was Jurmann.  I can find the family in the 1910 and 1930 census.  Where are they in the 1920? 

It hit me. 

The last name sounds like German.

I tried German and there they are!  I hope that works for the 1940 census, too!

Joke?

Someone's idea of a joke? Bill and Darlene divorced in 1972. She died in 1983. He died in 1991. Their headstones are separate but in the same cemetery and next to each other. His has the word TOGETHER on it. Hers has AGAIN. Did Bill get the last laugh?

Listen to instincts!

A thought kept creeping into my mind as I posted data to the family tree today regarding Kenneth.  I knew his name is Kenneth Eugene yet I posted a SSDI record with Kenneth middle linitial G.  Why?  Because sometimes the initials are wrong.  It bothered me that the SSDI record had a G instead of an E.

But did that stop me?

No.

Am I sorry?

Yes.

Kenneth G is NOT Kenneth Eugene.  You probably think that is a no brainer but when dealing with the census and records that are taken by hand there are tons of mistakes due to misreading the sometimes horrible handwriting.

The SSDI is not usually wrong.  I ignored the warning in my head.  Now I get to clean up the mess.

What made me finally admit my mistake?  The 1940 census.  I found Kenneth E and Kenneth G in their respective assumable locations.

Why did I do it to begin with?  I hate to admit it but I found  family trees with the misinformation.  Usually I do a better job of proving the information before adding it.

Not today.  Argh!

 Another twist of the knife....Kenneth E was easy to find on the SSDI.  Frustrating.

Feeling like a detective...

Abraham Dobbs was giving me fits on the census.  I could not find him anywhere.  So I tried looking for his wife, Jane.  Bingo!  I have records for him on the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census.  He was listed under his first name, his middle name and his initials.  Wonder what is next?

Oh heck, found the family on the 1880 census but Abraham is not with them.  Jane is listed as married so where is he???  No luck with anything I've tried.

I tried to find him in the 1900 census as I think he died in 1902.  No luck again.  Time to try to find him through his sons.