Gene Notes

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

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Too-Too Thursday - Too Pushy?

Did anyone else get the "You haven't submitted any indexes in 90 days" email from FamilySearch.org recently? I did. Well excuse me, let's see what's been going on for the last 90 days? Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and other projects. Hello, it's not like I don't index for anyone else, FamilySearch. After all I just helped with Missouri's 1962 death certificates and I am still working on the Jackson & Independence Examiner index. I would be a good percentage of people who index for FamilySearch also index other records or volunteer genealogically. I really hate those reminders.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Wedding Wednesday - Bowman & Redd


 Mootie or Nanniethel Bowman married Dr. Thomas M. Redd on January 30, 1855 in Fayette county, Kentucky.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

A New-Found Relative

I am always so excited when one of my blog posts results in an email from a relative, or inspires someone to get working on their family history. Therefore, when I opened an email from a new-found relative this morning, a Bowman descendant, I was thrilled to find out that she learned something about her family from me.

In the 25 years that I have been researching, I've come across many relatives who have helped me, so it is great to be able to pass that forward.


Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday, January 28, 2013

Missouri Death Records 1962

I expect by the time you read this, the Missouri 1962 Death Records will have all been transcribed. Quite a feat with 49,700+ records. I've noted that not even the people writing the record could follow the directions. Or the stupid mistakes. There is NO Columbia county, Missouri. Columbia is in Boone county, not Columbia. Nor is there a Missouri county. The instructions say City, not City and state, so you shouldn't see something like St. Louis, Missouri.

The worst are the ones involving infants who were either stillborn or died shortly after birth. I hate seeing those, but noted there is no consistency in how they were filled out either. Fortunately, the Missouri State Archives have drop down menus that cover most items. They need a new one for prefix though. I often see Mr. in there, where you would think it isn't needed. In this case, the man's name was Dora, so that qualifying "Mr." would help someone search. He was also known as D. C. and there is no drop down menu for nicknames.

It's a fun project and I can't wait to search it!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Sympathy Saturday - Rebecca Bowman Brinker

Rebecca Bowman Brinker was an older sister of my great-great-great-great grandfather Abraham Bowman.

Born March 25, 1745 on Cedar Creek, the daughter of Hans George "George" Bowman and Mary Hite and the wife of George Brinker, she died on January 26, 1831 at the age of 85. You can visit her Find-A-Grave memorial here.



Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Friday, January 25, 2013

One Thousand

Hey, I can't believe this is my 1000th post! OMG! It seems like I just started this blog a few weeks ago. Since I only post 6 days of 7, that's pretty good. I've blogged about life, death and marriages; suicides, murders and accidents; census and census takers. I've crabbed about not having enough time to get stuff done, and sometimes about being bored. It seems that there is almost always something to write about, for which I am eternally grateful. I'm also grateful for all my loyal readers! Thanks!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Too Too Thursday - The 2013 Project

One of my favorite yearly projects is (or was as I wrote this), the Missouri 1962 Death Certificates transcription project.

I look forward to this project every year. Forty-Nine THOUSAND death records are in the process of being transcribed. Can't wait to use the index!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Wedding Wednesday - Percival and Laramee

Happy Belated 41st Wedding Anniversary to Mike & Joyce!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Who Is She and Where Did She Come From?

I got a call today from my cousin John M.'s wife today, regarding John's first cousins.  My mom, her brother and sister were three of them and they are all deceased. The conversation went to mom's Uncle Andy, the oldest of the Meyer children, and his children. We had one by the name of Mildred, she is listed in uncle Andy's obituary, but we now think she is a step-daughter. Looks like John is down to just one 1st cousin.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday, January 21, 2013

Finding Time

Trying to get this post done before all heck breaks loose around here. We've been working on some re-organizational projects around the home this year, and today I hope to have someone come out and give me an idea of the cost of some built-ins for the storeroom/craft room and the living room. The weekend was spent in an orgy of cleaning, touch-up painting, storage options, shopping and doing some outside cleanup, as well as doing our weekly spa maintenance. Not to mention working on the Jackson County & Independence Examiners project for Missouri State Archives.  I'm hoping things will level off a bit soon.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Sympathy Saturday - William Martin Carter

On January 19, 1849, William Martin Carter, son of Curtis Carter and Elizabeth Baker, husband of Jane Winn Snead. He was also the brother of my great-great-great grandfather, Edwin Harvey Carter.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Friday, January 18, 2013

Keep 'Em Coming

So I was happy to submit my 3 sets of 100 index cards each for the Missouri State Archives database of  the Jackson (county) and Independence Examiners. In return I got ... 3 more sets. Not quite through the second set yet as I've had other things to work on, but I have it down to a science. Still anxiously awaiting the 1962 Missouri death certificates. I also have a craft project to work on. I better get busy!

What are you working on?

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Too-Too Thursday! I Scanned How Many Photos?

I have a project that I will be working on for the rest of the year -- and you will see mention (and photos) of this project over at my alter ego site Generational. This particular project is to do a cover-to-cover scrapbook. Named 2013 Cover 2 Cover by MyMemories.com, it is a way to scrap the year through and have a print ready book before Christmas.

Because I have to be different, and the fact that I have 33 years worth of photos waiting to be sorted and scrapped, I thought I would start at the beginning - well 1979 - when my life began with my DH. I scanned just about all our wedding photos - taken by friends and family at our tiny wedding - and selected the best of them (I think) for inclusion in a book.  Sounds like fun!

In the meantime, we've arranged for the fella who built our kitchen cabinets to come in and price out some built in cabinets in the living room and the storeroom/craft room. Which means I need to go in there and clean it up a bit lot! OMG!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Wedding Wednesday - Zimmeth and Mack

On January 16, 1954 in Detroit, Michigan, Marguerite "Margie" Zimmeth married Angus Mack. Margie was my mom's only sister. Angus, or "Uncle Mack" as we knew him, was an only child. In their wedding photo, the only people I can identify are Mack & Margie, my Mom to the immediate right of the bride and uncle Jack far right.

Mack died in 1993 and Margie in 1998.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Sometimes I Make Mistakes

In searching for last Saturday's "Sympathy Saturday," I came across a death record for someone who supposedly died on January 12, 1876. It jumped out at me, because the fella was also married that day. It seemed wrong to me, so I went searching for him on Find-A-Grave and anywhere else that I might locate the death record.

Well, I didn't find it. I did find him on the 1880 census, moved to Arkansas with his wife and two children. That was the last record of him that I found. So I deleted the erroneous death record (for which I had no source, and think I made the mistake by adding the marriage as a death instead. Both were on the record.)

OMG! Glad I caught it.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday, January 14, 2013

A Productive Weekend-Indexing

I got back into indexing with a vengeance this weekend, completing my part of the Missouri State Archives project of producing an index for the Jackson and Independence Examiners. All told, I indexed 300 records. It was broken into 3 parts, and I was pleased that I finally had the time to sit down and work on this. The images of the cards were easy to read, except for one that was so faint, I couldn't read it.

What shall I work on next?


Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Sympathy Saturday - Marianna Perek

Marianna Perek was born about 1855 in Czerniejewo, Poland, the daughter of Ignacy Perek and Agnes Swiatlowska. She died on January 12, 1858 in Czerniejewo. She was a second great grandaunt to my DH. Her older sister, Antonina was my DH's great-great grandmother.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Friday, January 11, 2013

Freaked Out Friday - Not So Much!

Well, taking a couple days off and enjoying a visit to Knoxville, TN seems to have lit a fire under DH and me. We got moving on some of our organizational projects and hopefully, tomorrow will be able to cross a couple things off our To-Do lists. Quite frankly, I'd like to work on some genealogical projects for a day or so, so that I can feel like I can get something done and out of the way there too!

A little birdie tells me that its almost time to transcribe the Missouri 1962 death certificates. They got done the first weekend last year. The more the merrier. If you are interested in this project, or any of Missouri State Archives projects, see their eVolunteer site.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Too-Too Thursday - Genetics

We were having a conversation with cousins who live about 100 miles from us, about jobs. Cousin said that he had to walk on pipes at a paper plant (before OSHA) that were quite high up. I commented I was afraid of heights and that when I am really feeling the height, my feet hurt AND he KNEW what I was talking about.

I will admit my family (sibs and parents) have for years made fun of this little oddity I have - the feet hurting - not the phobia. So it isn't in my head, it's in my genes!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Wedding Wednesday - Meyer & Gabourie

On January 9, 1932, in Detroit, Michigan, Oscar Ferdinand Meyer (aka Ike or Fred) married Ellen Mary Gabourie. He was the son of Joseph Meyer and Amelia Knost. She was the daughter of James Gabourie and Lillie Bosley.


Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

On This Date ...

James Witherspoon Black was born on this date, January 8, 1828, about 7 miles from Harper's Ferry in Jefferson county, West Virginia. He married my second great grand aunt, Johanna Nisbet Oliphant (her stepfather was Alexander Oliphant.)

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday, January 7, 2013

Monday Moanin' - More Fun

DH and I are prepping for a visit with family in Knoxville, Tennessee. A couple of years ago, my FCOR, (first cousin once removed) and his wife and their son, moved from San Diego upon his retirement. Yay for us, since at the time, the only family we had near us was our Older Daughter.

FCOR's wife is also an avid genealogist, so we have lots of fun chatting about our weird family finds when we get together. FCOR is also a computer nerd and a great photographer, so our visits are highly entertaining. Usually, by the time we leave, I can hardly talk anymore. Sounds like fun to me!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Sympathy Saturday - William Webb Chinn

 William Webb "Webb" Chinn was born May 7, 1890 in Lexington, Missouri and was the son of Manville J. Chinn and Anna "Nannie" Webb. Webb was related to me through his parents - his father was my great-great-great grandfather's third son, and a younger brother of my great-great grandmother. On his mother's side, he was a grandson of my great-great grandparents, John Garland Webb and Elizabeth C. Carter. His Chinn great-great grandparents were first cousins, so we add another layer of relativity!

Webb died in Busch, Arkansas on January 5, 1970. He is buried in Walden Cemetery and his Find-a-Grave Memorial can be found here.



Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Friday, January 4, 2013

Freaked Out Friday - Time is Flying!

I can't believe how fast this year is going! Seems like time is getting away from me.

Yesterday, the DH and went shopping for storage solutions. We just can't seem to settle on what we want. This is one of the major problems when you don't have a basement to store things!

I was going to say that I resolve to get back into the genealogy groove next week, but we are planning an overnight trip - my first since knee surgery in June of 2012 - so hopefully by the end of next week. My problem is that I have SOOOO many things going on, it is hard to figure which to tackle first. Probably the volunteer project for the Missouri State Archives has to be done first. I would like to get some of that project done and sent back before Monday. Possible?

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Thriller Thursday or Too-Too Thursday

I know the holidays are over, but I am still de-Christmasing my house. And it started last year.


On New Year's eve, we took Mouse for her spay follow-up and vaccination boosters. She took them really well but was really quiet for two days. Yesterday, she was her usual rambunctious self. This morning, she decided she wasn't happy where her food was situated and moved it, mat and all into the middle of the kitchen floor spilling the water in the effort! Since today was grocery day, we picked up a new mat, supposedly NON-SKID! Maybe that will work.

She certainly likes to investigate. One of her favorite places is DH's office. There are lots of hiding places there. She also has a thing for the guest bath.

We are (me) trying a new training method. I'm hoping it will work. I've got double-sided tape on the kitchen counters. She hates it! We are learning the clicker method, and sometimes she responds really well to it.

Unfortunately, she wears me out! I really need to get back to work on my family history!
Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Wedding Wednesday - Vivian & Combes

On January 2nd, 1819 in Winchester, Kentucky, Marinda Vivian to John H. Combes. She was the daughter of Thomas Vivian and Nancy Bush.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year - 2013

Wow! Can't believe how fast 2012 passed. Although it was a good year, it couldn't pass fast enough for me.

I'm ready to think about resolutions.  Not that I always keep them, but I do have a few things in mind.

First and foremost, is organizational remodeling around the house. First on the list is the laundry room, so that our cat, Mouse, is not freaked out in the hallway trying to use her litter box. And lets face it, I hate having it in the back hall.

Secondly, is organization of the storeroom/craft room. I am hoping to get some stuff done in there that will make the room more useable! Since I plan on scanning photos in there, I need some place to work where I can leave photos out if necessary. Keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

Thirdly, yes, I will continue to scan, sort and scrapbook photos. It isn't going to get done on its own.

Fourth, continue with volunteer projects. That is one of the most important resolutions.

What are yours?

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes