2012 in Review

In January when I set my course of work for 2012, seen here, little did I know how wise I was to keep it short and simple 

I had hoped to get in a research trip or two. Didn't happen. In fact, the only trips taken were one to Chattanooga courtesy of our daughters when we stayed on the Delta Queen, and a couple trips to Nashville.

We were lucky enough to have a visit by my Aunt and Cousins in early June, and a Zimmeth/Simmet cousin the week before I had my knee replacement surgery. In August, one of DH's cousins came from Buffalo for a visit.

However, I did start the scanning/sorting project of 33 years of photographs. In starting that project I found some photos that I thought were missing.

I had fun searching the 1940 census. Eventually found my mother who was indexed wrong. She was not indexed with her brother and sister. The family was definitely split up. Unfortunately, I never found my grandfather, as I've blogged about previously. He was not only MIA on the 1940 census, but also in my mother's and her siblings' lives. Also MIA is one of my husband's father's uncles, Stanley Kruszka, who is MIA in 1930 also. If they don't want to be found, sometimes they just aren't going to be found.

I'm hoping 2013 will be a little more successful!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Angus McEachin

I connect to the McEachins through my late uncle Angus Mack. Before she died, my aunt Margie Zimmeth Mack handed me a book one of Uncle Angus' relatives had put together. Until that point, I had no idea his last name was really McEachin. Let's face it, until I was in my teens, I thought his first name was Mack. That's what my parents always called him.

Today's subject was my Uncle Angus Mack's grandfather.

From the Port Huron Times Herald, Port Huron, Michigan, obituary, 30 December 1931, p1.

Death Takes Old Resident -- Brother of New York Democratic Leader Dies in Ubly.  (Special to the times Herald).  Ubly, Dec. 30 -- Angus J. Mack, 73, pioneer resident of Sheridan township and a brother of Norman E. Mack, well known buffalo newspaper publisher and Democratic leader, died Tuesday in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Matthew McIntyre, Sheridan Township.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Columbkille church, Sheridan township. Rev. Fr. William Fitzpatrick will officiate.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Mr. Mack is survived by 13 children:  Mrs. Peter C. Burns and Daniel, both of Port Huron; Hanley, James, John, and Mrs. Joseph Heffernan, all of Detroit; Norman, Malcolm and Mrs. Harry Johnson, all of Flint; Mrs. R. C. Burns and Mrs. McIntyre, both of Sheridan Township and Sister Mary Estelle and Sister Sabina, both of Chicago; three brothers, Norman E., Buffalo; Neil MacEachin, Bad Axe, and Malcolm MacEachin, Rhinelander, Wisconsin; and two sisters Mrs. John D. McEachin, Ubly and Mrs. Sarah McGillivray, Cass City.

Mr. Mack was born in Parkhill, Ontario and came to Sheridan when about 12 years old.  He had lived there since and was active in civic affairs, serving several times as supervisor and treasurer of the township.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Something Accomplished

I took down some of the Christmas decorations yesterday, including that tempting (to our cat) Christmas tree. Mouse tried to help me by knocking down as many ornaments as possible! As I was putting away my ceramic pencil Santas my sister Diane made for me many years ago, I was reminded what William, age 5, said about them. He said "I like your wise men. Them have different gifts." I only remember that one of them was holding a wreath.

This little boy continually amazes me. I made him a paper nutcracker in the shape of a Toy Soldier courtesy of a freebie at SVG Cuts. William saw it under the tree and said "Who is the nutcracker for?" Okay, what 5 year old boy knows about nutcrackers? He certainly knew it was a ballet.

I'll also admit it's been a LONG time since I was around a 5 year old boy. For more than a few hours. It was fun but exhausting.
 
Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday-Two Days After Christmas

I had hoped to get the Christmas Tree down yesterday, but no such luck. It rained most of the day, then rained and snowed and since our stuff is all stored in the shed, I just didn't want to deal with it. It has become quite the challenge to keep the cat from scaling the tree and stripping it of any and all decorations.

I'm still recuperating from Christmas eve and Christmas day. Christmas eve was spent with our daughters, and younger daughters boyfriend and his 5 year old. It's been a long time since I was in the company of a 5 year old. He likes to help, so he helped set the table and we gave him a plastic knife so he could practice his cutting skills. It was a struggle for him, but he did it. He also chose who sat where. Now I understand my mom's statement "I'm glad they came, but I'm glad they went home." How she did it with her grandchildren, who were fairly widely spaced, is beyond me. But it was really nice to have a child in the house.

Christmas day was quieter. Older daughter spent the night and most of the day with us. We had a chicken pot pie that I made and froze after Thanksgiving. Wednesday, we were back to ham left overs. In a couple of weeks, when the ham has become a memory, I will drag out the ham bone I froze and make soup. 

Today, it is off to the doctor's for a checkup. Why I made the appointment for 2 days after Christmas, I have no idea.

Right now I am enjoying the relative quiet in the house and the neighborhood. Think I'll pour another cup of coffee!
Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Ford & Percival

On December 26, 1867, in Ashland County, Ohio, Joshua Ford married Sophia Jane "Jenny" Percival. She was the daughter of Moses Cook Percival and Mary Wright.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Merry Christmas

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Twas the Day Before Christmas

We got a nice call yesterday from younger daughter and boyfriend and boyfriend's 5 year old son to see if they could come a day early for Christmas. Well, of course, we said yes. I sort of miss the chaos of Christmas eve which we always celebrated with my family. So this year, I am remembering it. Older daughter will be over soon and we will start our celebrations early.

All of us here wish you a merry Christmas!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Emeline Davis Percival

On December 22, 1912 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Emeline Davis Percival, widow of Warren Percival. Death occurred as a result of hypostatic pneumonia due to a fracture of the hip after falling down stairs. She was born in Chelsea, Maine on August 12, 1820.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

If the World Doesn't End ...

Happy First Day of Winter! And today is the end of the Mayan Calendar. If the end of the world doesn't happen, I am all set for my next genealogical road trip, since I added the RootsMagic App to my iPod Touch. I am also anxiously awaiting my Android phone, and when the RM App is available for that, I will have everything covered.

I love tech stuff, but really just limit it to my laptop, my iPod and my phone. However, I saw the iPad mini the other day and just love the size of it. Do I need one? No. Do I want one? Maybe.

As to the Maya Calendar, well, here is a link to the Wiki page. I think the reason there is no new calendar, is that it got far to complicated for them! So see ya Tomorrow on Sympathy Saturday!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Too Too Thursday - the Final Rush

Sure, we could have stayed home yesterday and accomplished some of the tasks that have to get done before Christmas, but you know what? We spent part of the day an hour away having a nice visit with younger daughter. Since she was under the weather for Thanksgiving, it was really nice to have a cheerful visit with her and get updated on all her doings. Yes, I know we'll see her on Monday for our Christmas eve dinner. It was still great. The tasks will still be here today.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - DeLong and Sellers and Mitchell & Sellers

 From the Lexington Herald, Lexington, Kentucky, 20 December 1906, section 2, p2

DOUBLE WEDDING.
The double wedding of two attractive sisters, Miss Henrietta Sellers to Mr. Lawrence Jasper Mitchell and Miss Clara Sellers to Mr. Arthur Ami DeLong was celebrated yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the East Hickman Baptist Church, the Rev. Mr. A. R. Willet officiating. It was a beautiful wedding in all details and the attractive little church was crowded with friends for the impressive ceremony. Mrs. Allan McDowell, of Nicholasville, who presided at the organ played a beautiful program of music during the moments of waiting and Lohengrin's bridal chorus and Mendelssohn's wedding march for the entrance and departure of the bridal party. From the windows to the center chandeliers in the church were garlands of smilax forming a pretty picture overhead; the altar was banked with palms and ferns and where the bridal couples stood for the ceremony, hung a beautiful white wedding bell. First came the bridesmaids up the right aisle, Miss Martha Baker, of Nicholasville and Miss Clara Sellers of Versailles, followed by Miss Helen Baker, of Nicholasville and Miss Madge Reynolds of Missouri. They wore stylish tailor suits of broadcloth and picture hats and coming slowly behind them were the two charming brides. They wore beautiful gowns of blue chiffon broadcloth with large blue picture hats and as they neared the altar, they were joined by the bridegrooms who entered the left aisle followed by the groomsmen, Messrs Sidney DeLong, John Clarke, Melvin Knight and Wallace Sellers, of Lexington. The picture formed was a beautiful and impressive one as the four young people stood to take the marriage vows and as the responses were made "Hearts and Flowers" was softly played.

The ceremony was followed by congratulations and the bridal party was then driven to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mitchell near Nicholasville, the parents of one of the bridegrooms, where they were entertained with a beautiful dinner. The evening was happily spent drinking to the health of the popular couples and an elegant dinner of several courses was served. The lovely brides are two of the county's most attractive accomplished girls. They are daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sellers and have always been social favorites. The bridegrooms are prosperous young farmers and are both very popular. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell will go immediately to housekeeping on a pretty farm on Union Mills Road and Mr. and Mrs. DeLong will keep house at his attractive country place on the Tates Creek Road. They were remembered with many handsome gifts and their host of friends are extending to them their best wishes and congratulations.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

One Week Until Christmas

Here it is the week before Christmas and I am still planning my menu. Mostly trying to figure out a dessert. My family is not the traditional pumpkin pie for dessert type of family. In fact, one of my kids does not really care for pie! Actually, I've come up with 'smores if the weather is nice and we can light the firepit. But I need something I can eat too, since 'smores really are not diabetic friendly.

It makes me think back to the wonderful desserts my mom used to make, whether for the holidays or not. Pineapple upside down cake, cheesecake, banana cream pie and her specialty of apple pie. For Easter, I will make the traditional (for us) lush angel cake. I would try any of these, but really don't want left overs. Especially since I have a doctor's appointment two days after Christmas!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

It's Monday Already?

Yes, I had all weekend to write my post, but somehow, stuff kept interfering. First, we drained, cleaned and refilled our spa. Doesn't sound intensive does it? Well, using just the drain, it took an hour to drain an inch of water. This is a 225 gallon hot tub. At that rate, it would have drained all night long. A call to the Pool and Spa Depot produced a pump that would pump it out a little faster. It still took an additional 2 hours to drain. But it was a nice day, so I could climb in there in my shorts and give it a good wipe-down before refilling it.

Refilling it took a half hour. Chemicals added and tested and all we had to wait for was the temperature to warm up in order to use it that night. Since the starting temp was 57 degrees, it took a while.

Saturday and Sunday we spent trying to figure out how to keep Mouse from climbing the tree. The spray bottle works up to a point, so we cut up an old box and put it around the tree. She is still interested in the box, but more easily distracted. Nine days until I can take down the tree!

I have a couple of Christmas cards to make, and hope to get back into my volunteer genealogy projects tomorrow.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday-Kaye Percival

My mom died on December 17, 2007 in Livonia, Michigan. It's been 5 years and I still expect to hear her raspy voice on the phone every year on my birthday, singing. One of my sisters still claims to get that annual call.


I remember the funny little dances she did along with singing.



 
I remember her cooking for the holidays. Everyone wanted to be the "stuffing tester."  There are some things my mom made that were fabulous.  Her chicken and dumplings were my favorite. Some other things, we would tease her about, asking how many cans she had to open.

I miss her so much, especially around the holidays.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

TGIF - Totally Distracted.

Okay, it's 10 days from Christmas and as hard as I try to stay organized, things don't always work out the way I expected. For instance, we discovered yesterday that our older daughter won't be at our Christmas eve celebration since she has to work. We changed it in order for younger daughter and her entourage to make plans with the entourage's family. Since older daughter works retail, I can't say I am really happy with these plans. Somehow we'll work around it. In the meantime, I continue with prep work for the menu.

In the midst of all this chaos, is Mouse. Mouse, of course, is our adopted shelter cat. She is so fixated on the tree, and we have been fighting the battle or the ornaments with her. Last night she tried to climb the tree. Oh and it's artificial. She even tries to eat it. I've been keeping a spray bottle handy to keep her from the tree. Sometimes, all I have to do is show her the bottle and she moves away. Other times ...

Today, we are adding a new Christmas tradition. We are going to empty the hot tub, give it a quick clean and refill it. The high today is expected in the upper 50's and it seems like that might be the best we can hope for.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday - Twelve Days Til Christmas

I know from previous experience just how fast those last 12 days before Christmas pass. I am finishing up the last of the homemade things, and hoping I get them all done before Christmas eve. I am also working on a volunteer project for the Missouri State Archives. No, not the death certificates, that won't start until 2013. Right now I am working on transcribing an index for the Jackson Examiner and the Independence Examiner. Exciting since I had family members living in Jackson county and in Independence in the time frame of this index.

I'm also working sporadically on indexing for Family Search. And trying to keep the cat from knocking ornaments off the Christmas tree. Keeping the cat from the tree? That's the most challenging.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Bowman & Moore

On December 12, 1872 in Mercer county, Kentucky, Miss Nannie Smith Bowman to Bacon Rochester Moore. Nannie was the daughter of Dudley Mitchum Bowman and Virginia Smith.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Those Holiday Photos and Newsletters

Yes, I do read the annual newsletters that I get from family and friends. More importantly, I scan the photos they send and link them in my RootsMagic genealogy program. Having said that, I will admit the ones I get early before Christmas end up scanned and linked faster than the ones I get after the 15th of December. It seems by that time, I am rushing around trying to get things organized for one last trip to the grocery store, or to get one last gift. So scanning waits then till that day when I go through the list of cards I sent and double check addresses, and prepare them for storage. Yeah, I have no idea why I keep them, maybe its time to get rid of the ones prior to 2010? I always have an idea that I am going to pick some out for framing, because quite honestly, some of them are framing gorgeous!

Are you prompt with scanning? What do you do with the photos?


Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Getting There - Christmas Preparations

I am getting there. Most of the Christmas presents are wrapped, some even with home-made boxes and gift card holders. The Christmas cards have been sent.  The front outdoor lights are still waiting to be hung - waiting on a repair on the stacked stone first. In the meantime, I've begun to think about the menu. I've had one of the desserts planned for a little while. Hoping it is decent enough for the kids (ages 32, 30, 28 and 5) to make 'smores around the fire pit in the backyard. I'm not sure what else we will have, other than ham, but I know in the next week the entire menu will be planned.

With the addition of our adopted cat, Mouse, I've had to re-arrange some items on the Christmas tree, and have been trying to get her to leave the ornaments alone. Easier said than done. I have a feeling she might change some of our traditions.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday, William Harper

See this week's Thriller Thursday-William Harper for the back-story on his death. He died the following day.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

T.G.I.F. - Really!

It's been quite the week around our house. On Monday, we adopted a cat, aged about 1 year, who tried to adopt our Older Daughter last week. Older daughter already being the mommy of two very possessive cats, and it being 2 a.m. and not able to trust one of her cats not to attack - again - she called the police who took the cat to the local animal shelter.

Within 24 hours, the sweet little grey and white cat was up for adoption. DH and I had talked the week before about adopting a pet, but thought we'd wait until after Christmas. However, it just seemed fated that this cat would show up when she did.  When we went to meet her at the shelter, she tolerated being cuddled by 3 adults consecutively for quite a while.

In our county, when you adopt a shelter pet, it has to be spayed or neutered and vaccinated before you can even take it home. Tuesday was spay day, which we added to by asking them to do the Feline Leukemia test also. Her test came back negative and they did the surgery. DH and I spent part of the day shopping for cat food, a collar, litter and box, toys and something cozy for her to lay on/ignore. Then we set about trying to cat-proof the Christmas tree. We did have a cat for the first third of our marriage and neither our cat nor our dog ever fussed with the tree.

Wednesday was pick up your cat at 7:30 a.m. day. The woozy little thing tolerated the car ride to her new home in a carrier without much fuss! Her new home was waiting for her and she appears to be in for much spoiling and loving. 

There are still a few places off-limits to her until we are sure she is adjusting - our offices included. Mine is a complete and utter disaster at the moment. The laundry room is another room that has been deemed forbidden. Once she gets used to the sounds our space-age washer makes, I am sure she will be fine in there. At the moment, the guest room, too, is off-limits. After Christmas, when all the wrappings are put away, we'll see. Then there is the storage room/craft room. There is far too much in there that she can climb, so for the foreseeable future, that door will remain closed. Not that she doesn't try to sneak in every time one of those secret doors is opened.

She is also fascinated by the sound of our coffee pot.

When we picked her up post-operatively, she weighed less than 6 lbs. Not really healthy for a one-year-old (approximately) cat. However, she seems to have no problems eating or filling the litter box, so I presume that will change as we go along.

The little thing was unfortunately named Mouse at the shelter, and it seems to have stuck. She is so not a mouse. She is inquisitive and active and loves people. She loves to snuggle up to you, rub her face on your cheek and then put one paw on each shoulder and hug you. At night, she likes to drape herself across us.  My mind boggles at why she was a stray. For the most part, when you tell her no, she listens. She does have a fascination for the Christmas tree though.


Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Thriller Thursday - Accidental Shooting

From the Chillicothe, Missouri Constitution-Tribune, December 10, 1929:

William Harper Very Low

William Harper, attendant at the city dump ground, who was accidentally wandered Sunday morning when a revolver he was carrying dropped from his belt and was discharged, the bullet penetrating his right breast, is very low at the Chillicothe hospital and is not expected to survive the night.  An error was made yesterday in giving his name as John.

He was carrying a .38 pistol in his belt; he was stooping over and pistol fell to ground and discharged accidentally.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes


Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Percival & Brant

On December 5, 1830 in Geauga county, Ohio, Miss Sabrina Brant to Mr. Sereno Percival. He was the son of Orrin Percival and Leany Burroughs.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Please - No New Databases!

I am so far behind, when I check FamilySearch.com, Ancestry.com, or Genealogybank.com for updates, I secretly hope they don't put anything up that I will feel compelled to search then and there. I always feel like that around the holidays, because there is always so much to be done. Just when I think I have everything under control, something else comes up that I feel obligated to work on, clear out, etc., when I really know that I can't handle one more thing.

I've been having really weird dreams at night lately, too. I am ready for them to stop. If my dearly departed would just leave me messages in my weird dreams, that might not be so bad ...

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday, Monday!

To make myself feel good, I sat down and looked at what I did in November genealogically. At least what I added to the database. I only added one person, but I added 14 sources and 109 multimedia items. Not shabby. Those 109 multimedia items are census, obituaries, marriages, and family pictures.

Now, since November is the start of the holiday season and I finished off making my Christmas cards (60 - I counted) decorated my tree and house, shopped, etc. I don't feel like I did nothing.

Of course, I still have all those cards to address and send off and Christmas lights to put up on the front of the house when older daughter is done working on cleaning our gutters.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Isabella Mildred Chinn

On December 1, 1908 in Kansas City, Missouri, Isabella Mildred Chinn, daughter of Joel Higgins Chinn and Caroline Isabella Blackwell, from burns.  She was 76. Her Find-A-Grave memorial can be found here.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

My Other Blog!

Some of you may know that I have another blog, Generational. That blog tends to be non-genealogical in tone, and shows more of my crafty side.

Starting tomorrow, I will be offering some lucky scrapbooker the chance to win the premiere scrapbooking software out there! My Memories Suite Version 4!

I have used this program since version 2 and it just keeps getting better! Here is a link to what is new in Version 4.

Remember, you can only enter the give-away on my other blog, so be sure to visit!


Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Decisions, Decisions

I hate being pulled in different directions. Like, should I use Transcript to transcribe the obits, death notices, marriage announcements and other miscellaneous newspaper clippings or should I use Windows Speech Recognition? Should I be working on addressing Christmas cards, writing a blog, or watching the Tennessee State Football Championships on our local PBS station with DH? Maybe I should be finishing the Christmas decorating and cleaning.

Nah. I think I'll go watch Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Thriller Thursday - Death in a Saloon

 From the Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri, Obituary, 8 February 1910, p9:

Died after taking capsules.

Grundy Young, a Cleaner and Dyer, Fell into a Stupor in a Saloon.
Grundy Young, 39 years old, who lives with his parents at 1723 Prospect avenue, died in the rear of Orloff's saloon at Fifteenth and Locust streets, at 6:40 o'clock last night after swallowing several capsules in a glass of water.  He had been in the saloon most of the day.  Last night he sent to a drug store for some empty capsules.  Young took the capsules, went to the rear of the saloon and must seem to take a drink of water.  In a few moments he sat down, fell into a stupor and died before assistance arrived.  Dr. Harry Czarlinsky, deputy coroner, said the body to Wagner's undertaking rooms, where an inquest will be held today.  Young was employed at the cleaning and dying shop at 2528 Prospect avenue. 

Grundy's death certificate states his death was a suicide from carbolic acid poisoning. I never found any newspaper evidence of the inquest. His parents were Grundy Young, Sr. and Emma Buford. Grundy, Jr. was a fourth cousin 3 times removed.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Klijewska & Kruszka

On November 28, 1916 in Buffalo, New York, Mary Klijewska, daughter of Max Klijewski and Mary Siekierska married Leon Kruszka, son of Michael Kruszka and Josephine Glowska. They were my DH's grandparents.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes.

Serendipity - Or Cousin Carol Strikes Again!

Every so often, one of my bloggin' cousins will post something that relates to someone in MY database. In today's Reflections from the Fence, cousin Carol posted pictures from a cemetery she visited on the Natchez Trace. I knew as soon as I saw the title who Cowles Mead was. The younger, that is. This is a less-than-collateral line I investigated while trolling the records at the Lexington, Kentucky Cemetery online. Not only that, but I have a photo I took of Cowles' wife's headstone at Lexington Cemetery. She died in 1864, fifteen years after her husband. Her burial date, interestingly enough was June 6, 1865. Possibly she was buried originally in Mississippi and then her remains returned to rest with her family in Lexington? 

Her Find-A-Grave Memorial can be found here
.
Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday Moanin'

It's not that I didn't get anything done last weekend, but it sure didn't include much in the way of genealogy. Instead, we spent Thanksgiving day at Younger Daughter's in Nashville. It is unfortunate that she didn't feel great - having come down with a nasty cold. So far, DH and I haven't caught it.

Friday, we avoided stores like the plague. I've only once gone shopping on Black Friday, and I vowed to never to do it again. That year, we went only because I wanted my DH to get me a digital photo frame. I still enjoy it. Tremendously. 

However, before Thursday, I was pretty productive. I managed to enter a lot of death notices/obituaries and marriage notices into RootsMagic. BTW, I am now using version 6.0.0.2, and with the fixed narrative reports, I am happy as a clam.

As soon as I finish the holiday decorating, I will be back at work!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Fred Kettler

From the New Bremen Sun, New Bremen, Ohio, Nov 29, 1907:

Fred Kettler, one of the oldest and well known residents of the community, died very suddenly at his home in Lock Two, last Sunday morning at about six o'clock of heart failure, at the age of 75 years five months and 19 days.  Mr. Kettler had enjoyed comparatively good health notwithstanding the fact that he was so far advanced in years, and to his many friends the news of his sudden demise came as a severe shock.

He was born on the old country in 1832, but came to this country as a mere lad and with his parents soon settled into this neighborhood, and until his death made this his home.  He was for many years engaged in farming and also conducted a sawmill at Lock Three, but for several years now he has lived in retirement in Lock Two.  He was first married, the first time to miss Henriette Stork, who died leaving him one daughter, the second time to Charlotte Fortriede from home which union issued six children, and the third time he was married to the present Mrs. Kettler neè Stockman, who with 11 children, two stepchildren and many other relatives and friends survives him to mourn his loss.

Burial took place Wednesday afternoon and the willow grove cemetery, Rev. W F Henninger of St. Paul's church conducting the funeral.

You may view his Find-A-Grave memorial here.



Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

The Day After -- New Traditions

I can't say I am ready to give up all control over the holidays, but it sure felt good to have someone else host a holiday for a change. For the first time since we moved here, I didn't cook the holiday meal. The only thing that could have made it better if the hostess had been feeling better.  Hopefully, she will be on the mend soon.

Younger Daughter 's roommate made the most delicious chocolate bourbon pecan pie for dessert. Oh yum. Normally I don't like the cloying taste of all that sweetness, but this was just the right texture and sweetness. And I only had a tiny piece. But it truly was delicious.

Maybe it's a new tradition and maybe it isn't. But it was fun.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Thankful Thursday - Thanksgiving 2012

OMG! I don't have to cook today. Today's dessert is already made, and all we have to do is drive 80 miles to Younger Daughter's home in Nashville where she is making Thanksgiving dinner.

We have a lot to be thankful for this year. First and foremost, we are thankful for our health. DH has been in good shape this year after being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2011. I am somewhat thankful for my new right knee. I am finally getting my mobility back and can go up and down the stairs without dreading bending my right knee. Recovery has been a really long and hard time for me, but I finally feel more like my old self.

Older daughter is still living in our little town, for which we are thankful. I've gotten really used to having her around more often. Mostly, we enjoy having dinner and watching Revolution every Monday night. We are thankful that she had a great time on her trip to Australia, and thankful that we got to cat-sit Luna and Tonks while she was gone.

Younger daughter is in a new relationship. She moved to Nashville last year and after about 6 months found a new job and has a couple new guys in her life. One is 5, one is 28. Both make her pretty happy. We are thankful for having her about an hour away rather than 600 miles away.

We made some home improvements this year, adding some "stuff" to our backyard in the form of a spa with gazebo and the slab to hold it. Also our builder was able to find the time to strip our deck down to the support, add 3 feet to the length and 2 feet to the depth, giving us a nice 14 x 20 composite deck. Anything to make maintenance easier is my goal. We still have a couple projects in mind that we hope to get done by early next year.

Mostly, we are just thankful to have each other and to be able to be together for family holidays.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Percival & McNitt or is it McNett or McNutt

On November 21, 1868, Miss Tryphena Percival, daughter of Cullen and Rachel Quigley Percival married Mr. William McNitt. Or maybe they weren't since their record was x'ed out. They did have one child, Frank "Sylvester" McNitt.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Do You Remember?

Okay, this post will certainly date me. Forty-nine years ago on Thursday, President John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. I am reminded of this, since the Military Channel has been running stuff on it for the last few weeks. I was shocked when I realized next year will be the 50th anniversary of it. I don't feel like I am old enough to  remember something from 50 years ago!

I was in school that day, sixth grade, when the announcement came over the PA system to pray for the President, who had been shot. A short time later, we were given the grim news that the President had died. I guess I should insert here that I attended a parochial school. Praying was not only okay, but mandatory.

To this point, I had not added this to my genealogical database, but I am going to when I finish writing this post.

Where were you, and what were you doing when Kennedy was shot? Or Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy, Ronald Reagan? These were important events in our times - well, mine at least. Have you thought about adding notes about all these historic events in your genealogy. I wish I had something from my family members who were of an age to remember what they were doing when Lincoln was assassinated, or McKinley was killed. Having newspaper accounts of the events is one thing, having a diary entry or a letter remarking on the death of a leader? One can only wish.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday Moanin' - Early to Bed ...

It was an early night last night since DH and I had to be up early for a delivery from the local big box home improvement store. AFTER I got up and got dressed he tells me that he told the delivery people that 7 am was a little too early. So I got up at 6:20 am why? It's almost 8:30 am and they still aren't here.

I'm still fussing with using Windows Speech Recognition in Transcript. The author of Transcript had me try using the newest version on my old Windows Vista laptop and unfortunately I got the same results. Now, if you are unfamiliar with Transcript, click on the link and you will get a brief explanation of the program and the opportunity to download the latest version. For free. It still works the best when using it as intended, typing from an image. Since I save all my obituaries, marriage and birth notices - among other things such as letters - as .jpg files, this program was made for me. Last year, before the purchase of my new Windows 7-64 bit laptop, I was even using Transcript with the Windows Speech Recognition program. They worked great together.

If you haven't been to the site, you probably don't know that the gentleman who writes the program lives in the Netherlands. So Windows Speech Recognition does not come with his Windows. I guess I'll just go back to dictating my blogs, and using WSR for emails and FB.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Abram Bowman

Abram or Abraham Bowman was born June 18, 1817 in Kentucky and died November 17, 1874 in Nodaway, Missouri. He was the son of Abraham Bowman, Jr. and Nancy Trotter Gatewood. He married Mary Gist Bowman, daughter of George Hite Bowman and Mary Gist, his first cousin. He was buried in Savannah City Cemetery, in Savannah, Missouri.

His obituary can be found on his Find-A-Grave memorial here.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Freaked Out Friday -- Still Behind

You know how you sometimes get behind on your "chores" or "to-do list" and you never seem to get caught up? That's how I feel. Our to-do list around the house seems to get bigger every day, and the things accomplished list gets smaller. Sigh. 

For instance, I used to be able to get a few blog posts in the can before it was time to post. I'd set up a schedule where they were posted at 12:01 AM CST. This week I've been lucky to remember to write the blog post, and to even have a topic.

White my DH and I were out trying to pick up some odds and ends today, I picked up a headset for my laptop. USB and not stereo, since my Windows 7 laptop doesn't seem to have a place to plug in earphones AND a microphone. Sigh. As I was testing it out, I discovered the one program I want to use it in primarily, it doesn't work with it any longer. Grrrr. Hopefully, the gentleman who writes the program will respond to my email!

Incidentally, this post actually made the "schedule."

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday: Busy, Busy!

Our deck was finally complete on Tuesday with the replacement of the steps and new handrail. Finally. Yesterday, DH and I put the final touch on by adding the last two solar post cap lights. They look so good and we are very happy with it. In addition, we added solar Christmas LED lights to the gazebo. Now we are looking for a welcome mat for the back door since you aren't supposed to put rubber or vinyl backed rugs on the composite decking. Needless to say, I haven't had much time for working on those genealogy projects that are sitting on my desk.

Also, I am looking for either a new headphone/microphone set or new pads for the earphones of my existing set. I've had them for many years, back in the old days when laptops didn't have built in mikes. I use them for the Windows Speech recognition program, which I like to use in conjunction with Transcript.

Also, I've started my Christmas shopping, need to figure out a dessert for Thanksgiving - younger daughter is cooking - and finish my Christmas cards. And, oh, finish the audiobook I'm listening to!

Guess, I better get busy.


Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Percival & Ewer

On this day, November14, 1816, Sylvanus or Silvanus Percival, son of Benjamin Percival and Lydia Goodspeed, and Celia or Selah Ewer, daughter of John Ewer & Hannah Robinson, were married by the Rev. Jonathan Burr in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Sylvanus is recorded as living in Hanover.

His father also recorded the marriage in his diary: "Thursday, 14 November, 1816, Silvanus married today."

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Medium - Rare

I got sucked into watching Long Island Medium tonight. The funny thing is that it reminded me of my hubby's Aunt Stella. She did believe in the afterlife and reincarnation and promised to come back and answer my genealogical questions. Sadly, she died in 1993, and has yet to "contact" me. Maybe she has extreme faith in the power of my research? My love of the hunt?

Her family was very secretive and there are still some questions unanswered. I could use some help here!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Veteran's Day - Observed

We finally got our flagpole up just in time for Veteran's day.  In our last house in Michigan we just had the house bracket type, but many years ago, when we lived in Redford, we had one and were proud to fly the flag.

I've often said that I don't believe in a lot of holidays. The only legitimate legal holidays - other than Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's and Easter - are Memorial day, in which we remember those who have passed who served; Independence Day, for obvious reasons; Veteran's Day, in which we remember all the Veteran's, those living and those who served to protect our country.;

So here's to my dad, Frank, and my father-in-law, Ben, who both served in WWII. Here's to both my grandfather's, John and Charlie, who served in World War I. My great-grandfathers managed to miss the Spanish American War, but my great-great grandfathers, John Percival, John Bowman and John Webb (aka Garland Webb) fought in the civil war. Garland Webb is the only one of them who survived.

Then there are my nephew's Steve and Patrick, both who served their country. Not to be forgotten also are Phil and Kevin.

I am grateful that all served.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Leonard Percival

Leonard Percival died on this date in 1891 in Salisbury, Vermont. He was born to Stephen Percival & Rebecca Honey on March 24, 1809.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Some Success!

I did some data entry yesterday in my fit of cleaning my office. I didn't get all of it done, but the stack of paper to go to the recycler got larger. I attached 35 images to the database and then designed a Christmas card using parts from an SVG Cuts kit. I am still working on the design elements to add to that.  And DH and I loaded all our stuff back on the deck which is almost finished. Just the fascia and steps and handrail are left.

Not much will get done today as it is the first day of our Art Prowl which has become one of our favorite annual events. And the weather is supposed to cooperate today, which is a huge blessing!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday - Too Cold, Too Rainy

This week has been gray and dreary and full. Our deck continues reconstruction and a little deconstruction with it. The builder has left an egress route which is now being deconstructed so that he can now finish up the decking. Most of the railing is up except that part of the privacy portion that allows him to bring those 20 foot lengths up on the deck, measure and cut.

If you read my other blog, Generational, you will note that we are again having washer issues. Apparently, whomever builds the Kenmore washers for Sears can't seem to put a decent washer together. We are still waiting to hear from Sears about this, and finally threw our arms up in the air and bought a new one. NOT a SEARS KENMORE! Of course, it being new, it is also a High Efficiency top-loader. A bit of a learning curve, but so far am happy with how quiet it is, and the nice job it does on our clothes.

I am trying to get up the energy to stop procrastinating and clear up my office. It desperately needs it. It's so bad that I can't see the desk calendar. I have last year's Christmas cards to go through so that I can update my list. My cards are almost all made.

Then there is the matter of the about 3 dozen cards my husband has given me since my surgery. I am trying to decide if I am going to scan them or put them in a scrapbook or both.

I guess I am done procrastinating .. or maybe I will finish this cup of coffee first!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Percival & Russey

On November 7, 1867 in Cassopolis, Michigan, Mary Danks (widow) maiden name Mary Percival married Charles Russey.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Trying to Organize - Again

Over the weekend I organized our storeroom/craft room -- a bit anyway. I've been feverishly making Christmas cards and needed to get all my scrap paper in some sort of easily accessible order. That was easy.

Now its time to sit down and organize my office -- again! Unfortunately, its been in disarray since before my knee replacement surgery in June. And when I work on census, death records and cemetery records, I just pile the new info on top. Oh my. It's so bad I lost my iPod in the piles of paper.

And there are many piles.  One pile is stuff I'm working on. One pile is stuff I've received in the mail/email and need to look at. One pile is notes I've made - reminders to look for something, marking where I left off while listening to an audiobook on said lost iPod. One pile is note paper, notebooks, etc. That pile includes the notebook I keep for random blog posts and another is a notebook I keep of my database stats. Then there is the stack of paper that for one reason or another has only printed on one side (mostly these are cemetery records) and I stack those and use them in the manual sheet feeder and will print more cemetery records on the front! Or use them for scrap. Then there is the pile on the shredder for - well shredding, of course!

It looks like I have my work cut out for me. I guess I'll get it done soon? Sure could use a house elf or two right about now!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Someone Reads My Posts!

There is nothing like getting an email from someone who read one of your blog posts and has a connection. In this case "K" emailed me that he recently bought and restored the home that James and Bessie (Bowman) Rankin owned in Claremont, California. This is going to take me on a treasure hunt, as I think I have pictures of this house taken in the 1920-1940 range. Since no one in my family EVER wrote on the pictures - well with the possible exception of some of the photos my dad labeled - I'll have to send some to "K" to find out. 

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - James Rankin Sr and James Rankin Jr

It isn't often you can write about a father and son in an obituary post. They didn't die in the same year, let alone the same day. James the senior or Jamie as he was known to family died on November 4, 1942 of a coronary embolism, and it was totally unexpected. He was 66. He married Bessie Bowman, my grandmother's oldest sister.

James the junior died 25 days short of his 46th birthday. I've written about James before here and here. James, tragically, suffered a life-changing accident when he dove into the surf in California and broke his neck. He spent the rest of his life as a paraplegic. He married Amelia Schlenker, a woman who had infantile paralysis and who also was handicapped in 1945. James died on November 2, 1958 from acute hepatic insufficiency due to acute viral hepatitis. He was survived by his mother and his wife, Amelia.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

TGIF!

Ahhh. The end of another week. I finished the death certificates I have been working on and have moved on to Christmas cards. As in making them. Actually this is an ongoing project. Since I can't sit and work on cards too long, I will get up and walk around and then come back and work on census. I still find it hard to concentrate on anything for too long a time.

Mornings have been starting early here. It figures. I finally can sleep for most of the night and I have to wake up early before work starts on the deck for the day. It's shaping up and we are anxious to move back onto it all the furniture before it gets too cold to enjoy it!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday - Just Too Cold!

First we had rain last weekend, then falling temps. Today, I woke up to frost on the pumpkin - er - minivan. Sure it's November, but I hate the cold. There is still a lot to do outside with deck reconstruction going on, but the cold weather really irritates the new knee and who feels like working outside when it is in the 30s. Sure hope it warms up soon.

Today is backup day. Usually, I do my backups on the last day, but was a bit distracted yesterday. Those backups are just so darn important and I hope that none of them ever fail.

Off I go to do those backups and maybe straighten out my office workspace.


Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Percival & Blossom

On October 31, 1751 Benjamin Blossom married Bathsheba Percival, probably in Barnstable, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of John Percival & Mary Bourne.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Like a Hurricane!

With former hurricane Sandy ravaging the northeast, I thought about how safe my "stuff" is. Yes, I have backups of all my genealogy, but there are still all those paper files to be scanned and saved. I do work on it occasionally, but I have a feeling, most of it will still be there to be scanned, or I will have added to the paper pile before everything gets linked to my database. Will one of my kids carry it forth?

Maybe I better get busy on writing those books?

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday Moanin' - Adding Those Records

Even though the California death records project is far from complete, I found quite a few death certificates - mostly in Los Angeles county or city. There have been some surprises so far and one that I knew took place in the city of Angels was hard to find. Mostly due to a spelling difference. I am glad I searched for Sikes after not finding it under Sykes. The Sikes/Sykes in question is Edna Chinn Sikes/Sykes. She was my first cousin three times removed. She was the subject of a Thriller Thursday here. She was 29 at the time of her murder.

I guess I should get busy transcribing the certificates.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday -Charlotte Henriette Wilhelmine Kreyenbrok Kettler Lemkuhl

Charlotte Henriette Wilhelmine Kreyenbrok was born in Ruhrlock, Minden, Westfalen, Germany on 26 Nov 1808. On November 27, 1830, she married Christian Arnold Wilhelm Kettler also in Ruhrlock. This makes her my great-great grandmother. They immigrated to America about 1841 and in 1849, Christian died. After that Charlotte married John Henry Lemkuhl.

Charlotte died 27 Oct 1888 in New Bremen, Auglaize county, Ohio at the age of 79.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Freaked Out Friday - California Death Certificates

If you haven't poked around at familysearch.org lately, they have been putting up Birth and Death Certificates for 1849-1994. A lot of counties are sadly lacking yet, but I have had really good results searching in Los Angeles county and city. My count is up to 23 death certificates, 6 of which have already been extracted and linked to the proper people in my database. This is the longest I have sat in my office chair and I hope I don't regret it tomorrow. Could I be getting back to my normal? I sure hope so.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday - A Little Less Too Would Be Nice

After a summer of relative inactivity - other than therapy - it seems that Fall is catching up with me in a big way. All kinds of things are getting done around the house, which means that we are trying to get things wound up before winter. This includes work on our deck, work on landscaping in the back, and re-thinking some organizational stuff in the house. Frankly, by the time we finish talking about what needs to be done I am tired!

And then today, I played secretary to my Dear Husband, relaying birthday wishes from our Facebook friends. See, DH does not have a FB account, which is probably a good thing. I have always thought it was a weird time-waster, and someday I think I just might delete that account.

The one really good thing, besides DH's birthday was the birth of a daughter to one of his first-cousins-once-removed Tuesday. I did manage to add her to the database. Welcome to the family!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Weaver & Compton

From Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, Arkansas, marriage, 28 October 1868.

Married.

On the 24th inst., by Rev. R. S. Hunter, Mr. George V. Weaver and Miss Alice L. Compton, all of this city.

The above incident came off very quietly, and the parties stole away on one of those exquisite hymeneal tours with so little ostentation that we must believe the process of making "two hearts beat as one," is, in this instance at least a happy transformation.  Our friend Weaver, the "George" of schoolboy days, is the scion of a good old stock, and well represents the virtues and excellencies of a respected ancestry.  The partner of his choice does eminent credit to his good taste and judgment.  Long may they live and happy may they be, with no other cares to mar the serenity of contentment save those incident to the state.

[Blogger's note: George Weaver was my 2nd cousin 3 times removed. We both descend from Dr. Jabez Percival.]

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Change?

I have usually embraced change when I thought it would make work, life, research, etc. easier. But change for the sake of change? Nope. For instance, I still use the old search for Ancestry.com. I hate the new one and hope they never take the old one away.

Today, I was reminded by Genealogy Bank that they are changing their site in one week. Sigh. I tried the new search. I don't like it. Why do the search boxes have to be so large?

Maybe I'll get used to it. In time for the next change.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday Moanin' - No I didn't Forget!

Really, I didn't forget to post. Well, I did think of it last night, started a post, and then lost it in cyberspace. Actually, I accidentally closed out my browser, and figured I would catch it in the morning. I was tired and forgot about "Draft." I'll save that one for another time.

As is often the case, life intervened. First, I slept in until after 8:00 a.m. CDT. Since that is almost unheard of for me, I enjoyed it. Hence, everything else got a late start and DH and I were behind schedule when we got a call that our 2:30 p.m. appointment could be moved up. But we were at lunch. By the time we got home, we were still catching up on things and I get an email distracting me. You see, it was in response to an April 2010 post about my grandfather who worked for the Detroit water board from about 1927 to 1961 or so. Well, I had to go find the post it referred to and see what picture the man was inquiring about. It was this one - A Little Bit of Detroit circa 1930. Unfortunately, my grandfather loved to clip pictures and articles and NOT attribute them. Sigh.

So lessons learned:

1. Draft feature for Blogger. Duh!
2. Don't procrastinate.
3. Remind family members to always attribute newspaper articles and photos!




Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Betsey Percival Jeffers

 From: Kalamazoo Gazette, Kalamazoo, Michigan, obituary, 22 October 1901, p3.

Mrs. Betsey Jeffers.

Mrs. Betsy Jeffers passed away Sunday morning at 9 o'clock after a brief illness. She was the daughter of Montgomery Percival, and came to Michigan with her father's family in 1835. She was married to Deodat Jeffers, a pioneer in Kalamazoo county, in 1852. To them were born three children, two of whom survive her - William J. Jeffers of Chicago, and Anna E. Jeffers of this city. Deceased also leaves two sisters, Mrs. E. M. Knapp, with whom she has made her home for a number of years; Mrs. F. A. Carter of Akron, Iowa; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Mr. Jeffers passed away in 1887. Deceased was a faithful member of the First Congregational church, and leaves the memory of a beautiful life. The funeral will be held at the home, 214 East Lovell street, this afternoon at 2 o'clock.

[Researcher's note:  Betsey was the daughter of Montgomery Percival and Eunice Cook, and is my 4th cousin 5 times removed. For many years, I thought there was no connection between my Percival family and other Michigan Percivals, since my Percivals came from Missouri via Indiana, Kentucky, New York and Massachusetts. In researching the Percival-Rainsford descendants, I have re-aligned my thinking on this subject.]

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Silly Friday

DH and I ate at a local deli the other day, and as usual with left overs, we took them home, marking the containers with our initials, A, B & C. Oh yeah, the C was for left over chips. On the way home, I mentioned maybe we should have continued with the alphabet for naming our kids. Older daughter could have been Charlotte or Celine, Younger daughter Dinah or Debbie! Then DH reminded me of our "twin names" just in case we ever had twin girls. They would have been named after hubby's favorite Star Wars character, Darth Vader. The names he and my mom came up with? Dartha Vartha and Vartha Dartha. If they read this, I hope they appreciate the names we did give them!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Thriller Thursday - Another Family Story - Without an Ending

Also in the April 1961 letter from my dad's aunt to my uncle John, is another family "story." This one references my great-grandfather and his brother Herbert as children.

"My father (John Henry Percival) told of learning to swim in the Missouri River, and once he told your dad [Blogger's note: my grandfather, John Stearns Percival] and me about going hunting with a colored boy who lived with them on the farm. Dad said they were coming home, it had gotten dark, they were out of bullets when they heard a wild-cat scream. They loaded their guns with nails and small bolts to be ready. About that time John and I began to cry so Dad said "Here I am, I got back safely." Evidently the wild-cat gave them the go-by."

Now, I never met my great-grandfather, John Henry Percival, who died just before my dad's 4th birthday, while my grandparents, dad and uncle were living in Detroit. Maybe he was just a storyteller at heart. I do know that in 1870, Henry, Herbert, with their mother, Susan Davidson Percival - awfully indexed as Buerwell - were living in Waverly in the same home as her mother, Anna Estes Davidson and Susan's sister Eliza. In 1877, Susan took for her second husband, widower Thomas Holt. While his younger children lived with them, hers were farmed out, Henry apprenticed to a tinsmith (Andrew Botts) in Richmond, Missouri and Herbert went to his uncle Jabez Percival's home in Covington, Kentucky. Since Henry was born in 1862, this could very well have taken place in the late 1860's or early 1870's. Unfortunately, it retains its "family legend" status.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Foley & Brasgalla

It is so much fun to be able to write about a wedding I attended. This one for one of my nieces, took place on October 17, 2008 in Livonia, Michigan. Ironically, it was held less than a mile from where DH and our daughters and I all lived until 2007. It was a beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple.

Happy 4th Anniversary, Colleen & Sean.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Slowly it Goes!

Wow, I can remember when I could shoot through 30 census reports in a day - sometimes in just a few hours. This latest round is going oh so slow. And I am not even working on those loads of 1940. Oh no, I am being systematic and working on the oldest first. Sometimes that means that I dig up an old census that I didn't have, or go searching "just one last time" for someone who is MIA in a particular year.  Right now that means that I am working on 1915 New York State census. Only 83 more to go!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

My Name Game - Part Two

 Now, here are my mother's names. Growing up, I only heard two names Zimmeth and Meyer. Zimmeth, of course being my mom's maiden name and Meyer being her mother's. The other name I heard was Ochsenfeld or Ochenfeld, which is the name of the aunt and uncle who raised my mom.

Zimmeth - mom's maiden name. Her father was Charles Zimmeth. He was the son of August Zimmeth and Augusta Wilhelmina Cleasotte.
Meyer - Luetta. Mom's mother. Until my mother was an adult, she thought her mother's name was Loretta. Luetta was the daughter of Joseph Meyer & Amelia Knost.
Knost - My great-grandmother, Amelia or Emilia Knost, married Joseph Meyer.
Kettler - Amelia's mother was Charlotte Kettler. Charlotte married Gerhard Knost.
Kleesaat - Or Klevesaat/Klesat/Clesat/Cleasotte, etc. Christian Kleesaat was my great-great grandfather. He married Wilhelmina Zabrack.
Zabrack - I've blogged about this one before. The name may or may not be correct. No clue other than Prussia to tell me where they came from.
Boegler - Catherine Boegler married Josef Zimmeth and were August's parents. 


Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - George Zimmeth

My grandfather's brother, George Zimmeth, was born July 12, 1881 in Tawas township, Iosco county, Michigan, and was the brother closest in age to my grandpa. He died October 13, 1918 in East Tawas, Iosco county, Michigan, while my grandfather was in the Army in France during World War I. He died, as his death certificate says, from typhoid fever from water from an open well. Coincidentally, it occurred during the Spanish Flu epidemic. My grandfather stated years later, that he didn't find out for a couple of months that George had died.

George left a widow, Julia Blust Zimmeth and four children, Leo, Mary, Rose and Barbara. Barbara died in 1921 and only Leo, Mary & Rose reached adulthood of the 12 children that George & Julia had.

George was buried in St. Joseph Catholic cemetery in East Tawas, but no stone marks his grave in the plot where his 9 young children were buried.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

My Name Game

The Wild Ones used to keep a list of really crazy names we came across in our researching. This is NOT that list. This list contains the names I am researching. First, I will break it down to my dad's line.

Percival - yes, my maiden name. One of my projects has been working on the descendants of James Percival and Mary Rainsford.
Bowman - My dad's mother was Mary Anne Bowman, daughter of Frank G. Bowman and Elizabeth Webb.
Maitland - my maternal great grandmother was Helen Maitland, daughter of Alexander Maitland and Mary Oliphant.
Webb - great grandmother, Elizabeth "Bessie" Webb, daughter of John Garland Webb and Elizabeth Carter.
Carter - Elizabeth Carter, my g-g-grandmother was the daughter of Edwin Carter and Ann Paul.
Oliphant - Mary Oliphant (above) was the daughter of Alexander Oliphant and Martha McMekin.
Davidson - Susan Davidson married John Stearns Percival. Her parents were Nathaniel Davidson and Anne Estes.
Estes - Anne Estes parents were Littleberry Estes and Mary Ann "Polly" Wade.
Kirtley - Dr. John Stearns Percival married for his second wife, Sarah Ann Kirtley. Their children included John Stearns Percival who married Susan Davidson.
Chinn - Mary Elizabeth Chinn, daughter of Dr. Joseph Graves Chinn and Barbara Garland Graves married John Parker Bowman. They were the parents of Frank Bowman above.

Those are my major lines on my dad's side. Another time, I'll work on my mom's line.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes.

Thriller Thursday - Another Family Story

My dad's aunt Mary Black Percival French gave my uncle some family history in a letter. I don't know if it is fact or fiction, but here is another one - mostly regarding my great-great grandfather, John Stearns Percival, father of Herbert Davidson and John Henry Percival. He married Susan Davidson.

"I got all the earlier ancestors, but got stuck when it came to my own grand-father, your great-grandfather [blogger's note: John Stearns Percival.]  According to what I found, he did go to war for the South but came home for a visit, [His enlistment was up. He re-enlisted a few months later] then went back and was killed shortly after that. The Kansans came over to Waverly while he was gone the first time, ran off the 20 slaves they had, (who had already been freed but chose to stay with my grandmother (Susan Davidson Percival) and the two small boys, my father and uncle Herbert.) The Kansans burned all the buildings, house barns and all, took all the live-stock and left my grand-mother penniless. She went to stay with a brother and taught school to support herself and children."

Actually, Susan Davidson Percival took her children and fled to Kentucky to her sister-in-law's home  where she did indeed teach school. Her only brother, John Davidson lived in Jackson County, Missouri and he died in 1864.

I can't even find John Percival on the 1860 slave census. The family was living in Middleton township, Lafayette county, Missouri in 1860 and not Waverly. Is it possible he freed any slaves he may have owned? Yes. If there were former slaves living on the farm in 1860, they aren't enumerated.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Knost & Wiemeyer

On October 10, 1848, in New Bremen, Auglaize County, Ohio, Louise Adelaid Wilhelmina Knost, daughter of Johann Friedrich Knost, and Charlotte Frederika Augusta Johanna Reker married Johann William Wiemeyer. Louise died in childbirth, 9 months later.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Herbert Percival - The Wrap up - For Now!

So if you followed my last three Thriller Thursday posts, you now know as much as I do about Dr. Herbert Davidson Percival. Doesn't it make you wonder who knew and reported that he went to Hawaii? That part of the puzzle really perplexes me. Obviously the family knew more than they were saying, and did not bother to pass it on to Herbert's brother, John Henry Percival, my great-grandfather. Or did they? What I knew of Herbert came from my dad's aunt Mary Percival French in a letter dated April 2, 1961 to my uncle John Percival.

"...My father's brother, Herbert was born in 1859 and my father in 1861. I think perhaps my grand-father came back for that event. Anyway, uncle Herbert graduated from Medical School in Cincinnati and my father worked to help him get through school. He went to California and had a very good practice. One day he was out collecting, driving a fine team of horses and vanished. The theory was that he was killed for the money and the horses sold, and the buggy dumped into the ocean."

And so, this is the story we all believed. And as I've stated many times, it always bothered me that no one knew for sure, and that I felt that he ditched his family.

So for now, I will pursue these leads, even though cursory searches in Hawaii have shown nothing of Herbert. Its possible he changed his name, and wouldn't that add just another brick wall!
Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

This Day in History - October 8th.

One hundred and forty one years ago, the great Chicago fire started. I had a collateral line living there at the time, but as far as I can tell, no casualties among them.

Today is also one of my nephews birthday. He is 31! Happy birthday, Patrick!

It was a crazy weekend in our household. We had wet and cool weather which usually is enough to keep me inside. However, since frost is expected I used Sunday to plant my bulbs and finish transplanting iris tubers. After another cold and damp evening and morning, I wonder if the knee will ever recover enough for a normal life.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Timothy Gates

From the Connecticut Gazette, New London, Connecticut, obituary, 20 October 1819, p3:

Died - At East Haddam on the 6th inst. Timothy Gates Esq. aged 80 years; a man of the purest morals, and most exemplary life, a man of piety, a Christian by profession and a Christian in deed.

You really have to appreciate these old death notices. Timothy was married to Hannah Percival, daughter of John Percival and Hannah Whitmore and therefore, was my fifth great grand-uncle by marriage.

His Find-A-Grave memorial can be found here.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Back in the Saddle .. er Desk Chair

I can't say that I am completely comfortable sitting here in my desk chair, but let's just say that I know when to get up and stretch.

Today, I worked on census. This meant I edited some of the images, printed them, and input the information into my genealogy program and then linked the images. Eight down, and 1,541 to go! Incidentally, I added one to the queue. This almost always happens when I work on census. Sometimes I add more to the queue than I get added to my database. That's when I feel like I am moving backwards!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Thriller Thursday - Herbert Davidson Percival - Mystery Solved?

From the Los Angeles Times, October 16, 1901:

"Monrovia Brevities

Inquiry has been made here as to the whereabouts of Dr. Herbert D. Percival, who practiced medicine in Monrovia for some time, and left here October 8, 1894. Dr. Percival had a good practice, but dropped out of sight one day, leaving his family to their own resources. He has never returned. He is reported to have located in a mining town in the northern part of the State, and afterward to have gone to Honolulu. Since that time he is reported to have died. A property of value has been left him in Kentucky, and parties are trying to find him. It is believed his family still resides in Los Angeles."

So, it appears my gut feeling was correct and that Herbert did desert his wife. I don't know if that 1894 date is valid or not, but it sure is specific. 

 I have clues here and will have to follow up on them. Honolulu, eh?

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Cassy Bowsher & Stephen White

Even though they are no blood relation to me, I want to post this marriage. Cassy (Catherine) Bowsher was one of my step-grandmother's  older sisters. Her other sister, Daisy, married Stephen's brother Antoine.

Cassy, unfortunately was indexed as Cory in the Michigan Marriage records available on FamilySearch.org. So it took a few tries to find the record. But here it is. They were married October 5, 1903 and remain married 57 years until Stephen's death in December of 1960.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Holy Stats!

For years I have been keeping track of my database statistics, mostly how many people in the database, sources, to do list items and multimedia. I sat down to record those items yesterday - the first of the month - and discovered the last time I did it was June 12th. The funny thing is that I actually added to the database in that time frame. I added 15 people, 1 source, 1 to do list item, and 7 images. Yes, I have backed up my database during that time frame many times. I try to remember to back up any time I may have changed something, just in case. Worst case scenario is I only have to copy the backups in case of any kind of failure.

Are you protected?

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Herbert Percival - The Story Continues And Monday Moanin'

Make sure you catch this week's Thriller Thursday as it brings you up to date with what I know about my dad's great grand uncle, Herbert Davidson Percival. He has been the family's mystery man for generations after he disappeared from California circa 1894. Not that I've stopped looking for him, since I don't have any sort of death record for him ...

This past weekend was a busy one here. We had great weather, cooling into the low 70's during the day which made working on the backyard landscaping much easier. Not that I did much, except help layout the stones in one area near the spa, planted some flowers and situated my knockout rose bush tree. It just made spa time last night more appreciated.

I finish up with physical therapy this week and plan on getting going on some of the 1500 census that I found this spring.

And, as always on the first of the month, I back up my databases, images, etc. Busy day today!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Thomas DeMoss

At the age of 6 months and 25 days, Thomas DeMoss, son of John P. DeMoss and Mary E. Davidson DeMoss.

His Find-a-Grave Memorial can be found here.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Happy Anniversary! Thirty-Three and Counting

On this day, 33 years ago, I married my wonderful DH. I always love to recount the interesting day we had. First, he picked me up early in the morning and we went for a walk-through on the house we built. Well, it was already under construction. Our wedding day was also closing day. Closing was a disaster, DH threw a temper tantrum at his parents, egged on by his mother.

My sister, Diane, was my matron of honor and was late for my wedding. I almost ended up married to DH's best man. When I left the house I was renting with a friend, I locked myself out! Of course we didn't discover this till the next day. And then we forgot to check out of the hotel.

I like to think our wedding day was like life. It was unexpected, funny, and slightly disturbing. It certainly wasn't boring. Our life hasn't been boring either, and each year I fondly think back on that crazy, crazy day and look forward to what comes next.

Happy Anniversary, DH!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Thriller Thursday - Herbert Davidson Percival - The Mystery Continues

Last Thursday, when I decided to reopen that particular can of worms that is Dr. Herbert Davidson Percival, I did not suspect I would ever find anything more on him.  I search for him constantly, ever hopeful that someday I would know for sure if he died at the hands of a robber (the family lore) or if he just took off.

I found some information that led me to believe he might still be in California in 1896, per a September 12, 1896 blurb in the Cincinnati (Ohio) Post:

"Unfavorable word has been received from Miss Cynthia King. She has asked for further leave of absence from the school board on account of her health. She is at Los Angeles, Cal., and is most delightfully situated with Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Percival."

Really? Per the 1896 Los Angeles City Directory, Kate Percival is listed as the widow of Dr. H. D. Percival.

Then I found this article in the Los Angeles Times on June 19, 1896 on page 10:

"Decree of Divorce

Kate G. Percival was granted a divorce from H. D. Percival in Judge McKinley's court yesterday, upon the ground of desertion. "

Do you divorce a dead man? Not likely. So is it likely that Miss Cynthia King was happily situated with Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Percival? I don't think so.

I have always had that niggling thought that Herbert took off. My personal feeling is that he was always living in the shadow of his cousin, Dr. William Percival (Kate's second husband.) Certainly no letters survive in our family archives after the late 1880's when his Aunt Eliza Oliver Shacklett nee Percival died.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Bowman & Chinn

John Parker Bowman, son of William Bowman and Nancy Todd Parker was born in 1817 in Kentucky. On Sept. 26, 1837, he married Mary Elizabeth Chinn, daughter of  Dr. Joseph Graves Chinn and Barbara Garland Graves. Their union was blessed with 6 children, Isabella, John C., Joseph, Edwin, Frank and Clifton.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Tuesday Trash or Treasure

To file or not to file. I can't tell you how much I hate filing. And I am probably not alone. No, I don't file everything I print. And to be honest, while I print out census in draft form, and only for the family I want on the page, I don't keep that copy once I've linked it and entered the census fact into my database.

However, there are things that I do keep. That odd piece of paper that might give me a clue as to the birthplace of an ancestor, a note someone wrote listing people who went to an out of town funeral and whose names I don't recognize, a newspaper article about another relative. Actually those all get scanned and the info put in the notes.  I just can't let go. There have been a few times when I've gone back to look at those notes, looking for clues as to the people mentioned, or where they lived. Usually that triggers a census search.

So, no, they aren't trash. Not to me.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday Moanin' - Weekend a Bust ...

Genealogy-wise, last weekend was a total bust! We've had a lot going on around at the house the past few days and this week doesn't seem to be getting any quieter. We have a few weeks left before we expect the first serious frost of the autumn and we have been rushing to get our landscape ready for more landscaping.

When I did get a brief chance to search out something I came up with a big fat ZILCH! And nothing really new to catch my interest at Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org. Sigh. Isn't that always the case when you break through a brick wall? You want to put "FOUND" or "COMPLETE" next to the subject and move on to something else! After I check the FamilySearch.org catalog!

In the meantime, I will move on to something else. Not sure what, but since I still have 208 items left on my to-do list!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - John Skirving

 From The Scotsman, Edinburgh, Scotland, Nov 20, 1833, p 4:

"
At Etobicoke, in Upper Canada, on the 22d September, Mr. John Skirving, late farmer, Monkton Hall, county of Edinburgh."




John Skirving was born 18 May 1776 in Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland, the son of Robert Skirving and Jean Robertson.  On November 28, 1806, he married Margaret Wardlaw. On April 13, 1833, the family set sail from Cromarty and landed in Quebec on June 15. On July 9, the reached their new home of Toronto.

He died from malaria two months later. He was my great-great-great-great grandfather.

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

That Felt Really Good!

I haven't done much research in the past few months, other than searching the 1940 census. Therefore, it felt really good the past couple of days to really get into "research mode" and poke a hole in one of my brick walls.

I hope you all are following along on my Thriller Thursday - Herbert Percival theme. If you want to catch up, simply google Herbert D. Percival or Herbert Davidson Percival + Gene Notes and you will probably find everything I have ever written about him. Or you can start here. Herbert's story, at least the part I think I know of it will unfold in upcoming weeks.

Am I a tease or what?

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes

Thriller Thursday - Herbert Percival Revisited -- Again

 I've written before about my Family Mystery - which is to say - what ever happened to Dr. Herbert D. Percival.

Herbert was my dad's great-granduncle, the brother of his great grandfather, John Henry Percival. Born about 1859 in Missouri, Herbert went to live with his uncle Jabez Percival in Covington, Kentucky by the 1870's. His father, John Stearns Percival, Jr., died outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1863 while in the 5th Missouri Cavalry (Confederate.)

Herbert, while living with uncle Jabez and Aunt Kate, studied medicine at the Medical College of Ohio - later a part of the University of Cincinnati. He graduated from there in 1883 with his cousin, William Bush Percival.

On June 24, 1884, in Covington, Herbert married miss Catherine "Kate" Gray. The would have one child, a son, Robert Hemingray Percival, who died at the age of two months on August 7, 1885 in Covington. 

Herbert and Kate resided in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, where he was licensed by the North Dakota Board of Medical Examiners on February 28, 1887.

From there, Herbert and Kate moved on to California, where in the early to mid 1890's Herbert disappeared off the face of the earth. In 1897, Kate, now a widow, marries her husband's widowed cousin, Dr. William B. Percival.

Recently, FamilySearch.org released an index called the Deceased Physician File. I found Herbert in it, maybe 3 times. At least two of the following records are the same person, and I am on the fence about the H. D. Percival record. However, I do accept the Herbert D. Percivan and Herbert C. Percival are the same people - both graduated the same year from the same school.

He has been my Mystery Man for all my researching days, since I discovered him early on in my research. Family legend he went out to collect fees one evening, was probably waylaid, and the body disposed of never to be seen again. Fact or fiction, I have no idea. I would dearly love to solve this puzzle!

Copyright 2010-2012, ACK for Gene Notes