Gene Notes

Some random and some not-so-random thoughts on family history.

Friday, November 30, 2012

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

Thursday, November 29, 2012

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

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

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.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

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, November 26, 2012

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

Saturday, November 24, 2012

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

Friday, November 23, 2012

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

Thursday, November 22, 2012

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

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

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

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

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, November 19, 2012

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

Saturday, November 17, 2012

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

Friday, November 16, 2012

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

Thursday, November 15, 2012

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

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

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

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

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

Monday, November 12, 2012

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

Saturday, November 10, 2012

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

Friday, November 9, 2012

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

Thursday, November 8, 2012

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

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

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

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

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

Monday, November 5, 2012

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

Saturday, November 3, 2012

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

Friday, November 2, 2012

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

Thursday, November 1, 2012

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