Freaked Out Friday: Lap Desk Revisited.

OMG. I love the new lap desk, but maybe a lap desk isn't the right choice when you have bad knees. It tends to make both of them go to sleep. And then there is the velcro factor. The boot on my right leg extends almost to my knee and sometimes I catch the bottom of the lap desk on the velcro. And the sound of velcro attracts Mouse the cat. She already thinks my boot is just another scratch post! As it was, yesterday, I just couldn't muster up enough interest to do any research. Too bad, since I had most of the day to myself, with Mouse the cat only spending half the day on my lap!

Tomorrow is another day.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday: Lapdesk change

I love my tablet. I really do. But for typing posts, it is laborious. Today, DH bought me a new lap desk that accommodates my larger laptop AND my mouse. Wow, I feel almost human. Also, I managed to graduate to a cane today. It's so much easier to get around. I even transcribed an obituary today. I miss my office though. A lot. I look forward each day for the possibility of the foot feeling well enough to be in a normal unelevated position!

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Zimmeth & Schmalz

Joseph Zimmeth, who was my great-grandfather's brother, married Magdalena Schmalz on February 26, 1878 in Mankato, Minnesota. Joseph was born in 1834 in Roeschwoog, Alsace, France. Magdalena was born in 1859 in New York.

Joseph is listed in deeds in Michigan in the 1860s and 1870s. How he ended up in Minnesota, I do not know. He died one week after their 20th wedding anniversary.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday Moaning - Week Two

Wow! I can't believe I missed the best weather we've had in ages. This darn foot of mine is really making me nuts. And I miss my office and my craft room. I certainly have enough to do in both rooms and I am getting impatient. I'll be glad when I can rest my foot on the floor without shooting pains.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day napping,  reading  or playing games. Unfortunately,  I can't concentrate on anything for very long. And Miss Mouse routinely sits on my lap till my legs go to sleep.

So you can see that life has been less than thrilling over the last week.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Your Blogger

Sorry, but my regular theme is unavailable for a number of reasons, most immediate being my broken ankle. The boot supports dig into my still swollen limb making walking -even with the aid of a walker extremely painful. Yes, I have a laptop, but the downside of having a larger laptop is that there's no room for the mouse and the touchpad and I do not get along. I am hoping that the swelling and pain recede a little more over the weekend. I have totally missed the great weather  this past week. Too much hassle getting up and down the steps.

On the upside I haven't done any research this week so my pile-o-paper hasn't grown.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Freaked Out Friday : Testing My Patience

Good news is that I got half my blood testing supplies.  Bad news is that I got half my blood test strips.  And my doctor  reordered the wrong allergy medication.

And this boot is really uncomfortable. It's trying my patience.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday - What Missed This Week

This was a typical busy week for me, at least it was scheduled that way until I missed the bottom step of the deck. On Monday, I missed my haircut. And sorry, folks, but have been unable to shower yet. Not that I haven't done the daily sponge bath! Ugh. Tuesday I got to visit the orthopedist. That was fun .. not. I came home with this boot that is totally uncomfortable.  Wednesday was spent trying to be comfortable when I walked in said boot with the aid of my old faithful walker. Today? I am missing my pedicure and trying to figure when I can get up and down the steps again to get my haircut! 

And I am hoping in a couple weeks to feel well enough and stable enough to go see "Duck Hunter Shoots Angel" at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center! We shall see.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Demoss & Webb

On February 19, 1889 in Grand Pass, Saline county, Missouri, Mr. John P. Demoss and Miss Katie Webb. He was the son of  John P. Demoss and Mary E. Davidson and was my 1st cousin 3 times removed and as yet I haven't connected to his wife's family. John died in 1936 and Katie died in 1969 at the age of 102.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Tuesday Update

I was informed that the fracture of my right ankle was a best case scenario. I am now wearing a boot on it, but getting around is still cumbersome.  In view of the  circumstances posting may be a little haphazard.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday Moaning -For Real

For many years it always seemed someone would get sick around my birthday.  We went through it all, flu,  colds or whatever was being passed around school or work.  Well this year it is my turn.  Yesterday I missed a step on the deck and landed on my right ankle, breaking it. Somehow I think that I am missing dinner out tomorrow.  And grocery shopping. The first one I am really sorry about, the latter not so much.

I still have my walker from my knee replacement surgery in 2012, and I am getting around slowly while hopping because it is non-weight-bearing.

Happy Birthday to me!

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Charles Downman Chinn

Charles Downman Chinn was the son of Rawleigh Chinn and Margaret Downman (nee Ball.)  Rawleigh and Margaret were never married. Rawleigh was married and probably divorced from Esther Ball by whom he had legitimate children. In his will, Rawleigh refers to his three sons by Margaret as his "godchildren." She, in her will, refers to them as Chinns.

Charles was born October 18, 1723 in Fauquier, Virginia and died there on February 15, 1788. He was my great-great-great-great-great grandfather!

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Beyond Frustrated

In my six week diabetic blood test strips supplier saga,  I got word after four weeks that Medtronic could not supply my strips. Really?  It takes that long for verification?  Hopefully the most recent company I contacted will live up to their promise of verification by Monday.

 In the meantime, I am going to enjoy Valentines day with my DH.


Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday - My Dirty Little Secret

I bet that got your attention, eh? It really isn't a secret, but I am addicted to the Winter Olympics.

I used to only watch figure skating. Never ice-dancing. Downhill and slalom. Then there came the Super G. Now there is slope style, half-pipe and snowboardcross. I am so addicted to watching them it is funny.

And who can resist luge, skeleton and bobsled? Or ski jumpers. This year women are competing in the ski jump.

The really surprising part? This year, I've gotten interested in the ice dancers. Mainly because they attend University of Michigan and practice in Canton, Michigan, just a mile or so from where DH and I lived in our first house. Awesome.

And I will admit, I got pissed at Bob Costas calling Putin a peacemaker. Such BS! You think the "Pink-eye" is an accident? And I also forgot to not watch the evening news and had Tuesday's events spoiled for me.

Another week or so, and the 2014 Sochi Olympics will be over, and life and research can get back to normal!

 {Olympic rings graphic courtesy of Photobucket.}

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Maitland & Ballinger

On February 12, 1902 in Richmond, Missouri, Miss Anne Maitland, daughter of Alexander Maitland and Mary Grieves Oliphant and Mr. William Roten Ballinger were married at her parent's home.

Anne was one of my great grandmother's - Helen Maitland Percival - sisters.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

My Favorite Project - Missouri Death Certificates

Last week I got a notice from the Missouri Archives Volunteer group that the 1963 death certificates were ready for indexing. Wahoo! I will admit I forgot about them for a couple days. Then the little hamster in my head reminded me, and I signed in and did some. I indexed 400 records in a couple of days, maybe 3 hours or so actual work. It took a lot longer this year for the records to be indexed, because last year it was done in three days. I got the project complete notice this morning!

When I received the notice, there was a brief note also alerting us to the fact that the images were slow to load. They were. Maybe that's why it took twice as long? It is done, however, and the images should be up after President's day. Yay! I already have a short list of names to look for in the index.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday - This Is How I Like to Start a Week

Last Saturday's "Sympathy Saturday - Joseph Oliver" made me take another look at the children living with Joe and Eliza (Percival) Oliver in 1850. Joe was born in 1812 and died in 1868; Eliza (my great-great-great aunt) was born in 1823 and died in 1884. They were married in 1844 in Boone county, Kentucky.

From family letters, I found several children mentioned: Dryden, Nimmy, Oliver, Lilburn and Meddie. In 1850, Oliver, Lilburn and Madeline Foster were living with Joe and Eliza in Meade county, Kentucky.

Periodically, I will check for records online at Ancestry.com and this time, I found out that J. Oliver, Lilburn Boggs and Martha Madeline Foster were the children of Asa and Patsy Boggs Oliver Foster. I am now working on the premise that Patsy and Joe Oliver were siblings, and Joe and Eliza Oliver took the children in on Patsy's death in 1849.

That still doesn't explain who Dryden and Nimmy were. Were they Joe's children from a previous marriage? I do not find them on the census. In later years, Eliza would bemoan that she had no children of her own, and was grateful to Meddie for giving her a home. I still find that Meddie supposedly died in Kentucky in 1924. Unfortunately, I've never found a death certificate for her. At the time of her death she was married to John B. Parr who followed her in 1927. And guess what? No death certificate for him in Kentucky either.

Someday, I may find out who Joe's parents were, who Dryden and Nimmy were. In the meantime, I'll keep looking.



Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Joseph Oliver

Joseph Oliver was born September 29, 1812 in Indiana. On June 11, 1844 he married Eliza Percival, the sister of my great-great grandfather, John Stearns Percival. Joe Oliver died on February 8, 1868 in Kentucky and was buried February 10, 1868 in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville. 

We visited Cave Hill many years ago, in August. It was hot and buggy. I did get this photo, though!
The photo is in black and white because my first scanner was a black and white hand held one. Time to dig out the original and re-scan!

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

And the Hits Keep on Coming!

I'm having so much fun! Yesterday I went hunting -- for obits. And, better yet, I found them! On Ancestry.com on an external link Web: Oakland County, Michigan, Historical Resources Obituary Index, 1970-2009. Very exciting. 

I was again prompted by my cousin's wife and my own curiosity, since neither one of us knew who any of the children were. So now I have thirteen second cousins I've never met. 

What has this done besides fill out my knowledge on the Meyer family? Well, it's added more to my pile-o-paper, of course. With the cold, nasty weather we've been having I should accomplish something, right?

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday - Off Track and Challenged

My cousin's wife challenges me every so often. I will get an email from her asking what I have on members of her husband's family. What you have to know was that most of my original information on his line came from her.

One of the relatives we were fixating on was Andrew Meyer, my mom's favorite uncle. He was the older brother of my mother's mother, and made an effort to come and visit my mom when she lived with her Aunt Rose and Uncle John Ochsenfeld. I remember her talking fondly of him.

Andy was married twice. His first wife was Blanche Henry who died in 1946. He then married Grace. Still not sure when, but his obit ran all the children together and we became confused as to daughter Mildred. After much research which did not relate in any way to what I was already working on, I discovered Mildred's parentage (Albert Mayford Burkhart and Alma Grace Chenoweth.) I eventually found Grace's headstone on Find-a-Grave, but I am still no closer to her marriage record to Uncle Andy. It's out there, I just have to find it.

Part of the problem was that my mother didn't really keep in touch with Andy's children. Andy died in 1954, and Grace much later in 1980. My cousin's mother didn't keep in touch with them either. I had one letter from one of Andy's sons, Robert, who has since passed.

This is one of my lines that I pull out every so often and work on. In 24 hours I was able to pull a lot of information together. I will keep prodding at it. Some day, it will all fall into place!

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Percival and Mastin

On February 5, 1871 in Perry county, Indiana, Orran (Orrin) Percival and Helen Mastin were married. She was his second wife.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Last Month Was Better Than I Thought!

While the weather was hugely disappointing in January, all the stop-and-go work on my pile-o-paper produced some good numbers in my genealogy program stats. I added 82 people and 70 images, 9 new sources and 7 to-do items. The to-do item list is a little misleading because it usually involves some give and take.

Now, if the weather would just warm up a little and stay consistent for a bit!


Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Great Weekend.

Yesterday, we attended a Super Bowl party at older daughter's house. We had a great time during a boring game.

Saturday, I received the gift of a transfer of cemetery management where my great-great-great grandparents and great-great grandparents are buried in Missouri. This would be the Webb family on my dad's side. 

Thanks Bill!

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Elizabeth Carter Webb

This is my great- great grandmother Elizabeth Carter. I have her name as Elizabeth Custis Carter, but think possibly it should be Curtis (her grandfather's first name.)

From the Higginsville Advance ,  Higginsville, Missouri, obituary; 14 February 1908; p1 c6. 
In Memoriam - Died - at her home in Higginsville, Mo., Tuesday, February 11, 1908 at 9:50 o'clock P.M., after a short illness, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Webb, aged 73 years, 11 months and 14 days.

The death of this gentle, loving woman came as a thunder clap from a clear, cloudless sky. She had been ill with grippe ten days or more, but at no time was there the least apprehension of a fatal termination. Tuesday she was greatly improved, and the sons and daughters of this hospitable home were happy and buoyant. About nine o'clock that night she retired and for a time was talking with her daughter, Mrs. Frank Bowman, who had been with her during her illness.  About 10 o'clock the daughter heard the mother cough and called to her. Receiving no response, she went at once to her bedside, only to find that the silent messenger had entered and that the idolized mother, friend, neighbor had laid down life's cares to taste of heaven's joys.

Mrs. Webb was Virginian by birth, being the daughter of the late Edwin Carter, and had been a resident of this county since childhood, and in 1855 was united in marriage to Jno. G. Webb who passed to his reward some 13 years ago, a truer and nobler man than whom never lived, the fruits of this union being ten children, six of whom survive, now grown to be gentle loving daughters and manly, dutiful sons, and they rise up and pronounce the memory of their parents, father and mother, blessed.

They are Mrs. M. J. Chinn of Kansas City, Mrs. Frank Bowman of Lexington, Maurice O. Webb of Dallas county, Jock G. Webb, J. Ed. Webb and Dr. Wm. C. Webb, of Higginsville. Mrs. Webb made her home with her sons, Jock and Edward, mother being their first and constant thought, bestowing every love, care and attention without show or stint.  How these two especially, will miss her, words are lack to express.

She was a woman of refinement of great force of character, enjoying her life in a quiet unostentatious manner, her one thought being the comfort of daughters and sons, ever finding her greatest happiness in ministering to their wants and in making her home by her gentle presence a haven of rest, where all who entered felt better for her sweet influence.

Since the death of her loved companion in 1895 she has been only waiting, waiting, for the master's call to a happy, joyous reunion in the "Home Over There," and the summons, though sudden, came to her as a sweet relief, finding her ready and prepared, she having early in life confessed the Christ, ever living a consecrated Christian life.

Her death, though sad, was a beautiful one and in keeping with her life of gentleness, modesty and quietude, even the day she was laid to rest being in attune therewith - one of brightness and sunshine.

Thursday morning services were held at the family residence in Higginsville, Rev. N. H. McCain, assisted by Rev. J. N. Crutcher, officiating, the immense concourse gathered, both at the home and family cemetery testifying to the love in which she was held and to 

And from a following page:

Died at her home in Higginsville, Mo., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1908 at 10 o'clock P.M., Mrs. Elizabeth C. Webb, after a short illness, aged 74 years.  She was the mother of ten children, six of whom are living, as follows:  Mrs. Man. J. Chinn of Kansas City; Mrs. Frank Bowman of Lexington and Messrs. Maurice O. of Dallas county, Jno. G., J. Ed and Dr. W. C. Webb, of Higginsville.  Funeral services held Thursday morning conducted by Rev. N. McCain, assisted by Rev. J. N. Crutcher. Interment in the family burying grounds on the old Webb home place, near Dover.

Please visit her Find-a-Grave memorial here.

Copyright 2010-2014, ACK for Gene Notes