Sympathy Saturday - Anna Maria Elizabeth Decker Meyer

Elizabeth Decker Meyer was the wife, of Anton (Henrich Anton) Meyer. They were married November 25, 1849 in Minster, Ohio. She died on June 29, 1859 in Minster. She was the mother of five children, two of whom predeceased her.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

I'm a Two-Percenter!

Do you use the old search on Ancestry.com? If so, you, like me, are the two percent that use the old feature. And alas, like all good things, it is going away.

I received a survey today, from Ancestry.com, about improvements that I would suggest. My first suggestion was to be able to search ONLY a specific collection, or, let's say just the United States Collection. And not get ANY results for outside the U.S.

Out of curiosity, I used the new search. And even though I said to search only the United States Collection, I  still got reams of results from the UK. It's very frustrating. And my guess is that they do that on purpose. So that you'll pay for the World collection.

Obviously, they aren't going to fix it. This has been my beef since before they introduced the 'new search' several years ago. If they haven't fixed it in all those years, it isn't going to happen because of a two percenter!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday - My Scrambled Brain

It's been humid and hot here of late, with a threat of thunderstorms. In fact, as I write this on Wednesday night, I am watching radar of storms moving in from Kentucky. Time to batten down the hatches.

When the weather gets nasty like this, I find it hard to settle down and work on any one thing or follow through. Could be due to the pounding in my head. It doesn't stop me from taking a peak a new/updated databases on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, however.

I need to stop looking, my desk is getting out of hand. We replaced a printer of hubby's last weekend (we moved him to an all-in-one) after his scanner died. The footprint for the old printer and separate scanner, which by the way, is no longer supported by HP, was a whopping 30 inches.  The new printer/scanner/fax/copier has a footprint of 15 x 18. That's a win as far as I am concerned. But there is a learning curve with new equipment.

Then last week, I bought a tablet. Said tablet and I are getting to know each other very well.  Now that I printed out the user guide for it, we'll get to know each other even better. Oh yeah, that's another pile. All these piles are hiding a file on my desk that I need to scan. I better go hunt for it!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - McIntosh and Mack or McEachin

On June 26, 1917, in Detroit, Michigan, Mr. John James Mack and Miss Margaret McIntosh were married.  They were the parents of my uncle, Angus Mack. He was the son of Angus McEachin and Catherine O'Henley; she was the daughter of Dougald or Douglas McIntosh and Mary Smith.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

U.S. Seamen's Protection Certificates - Ancestry.com

I found a neat database over at Ancestry, the above named database. It is listed as an update but I never searched it before yesterday.  Since a lot of my Massachusetts relatives were sailors, I thought it worth a look. So far , I've found 3 records.

Even back in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, citizenship had to be proven!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday Miscellanea

Sometimes, I feel like I am going to start growing mushrooms. My lawn already is due to all the rain we've had this year. Last I checked we were at 29 inches, but that was several days ago. It's crazy, but my garden is blooming like crazy. We've already harvested some green beans and the cucumbers are taking over!

Last week I bought a tablet. I hemmed and hawed over which I was going to get, mostly leaning towards a Google Nexus 7. The first generation one is just a year old, and so many are complaining about the crashing recently, that I went with my second choice. No, not an iPad mini, although attractive, too pricey for me. Instead, and I can already hear the gasps of disbelief, I bought a Nook HD+ with 32 gb flash drive. The attractive part? I can add a 64 gb micro SD card to it.

The next thing was I bought Families genealogy app. I am still struggling to get all my pictures on it (all 16400 of them) and Malcolm Green of Telgen.co.uk, is taking a look at my Families file to see what the issue is. I can import the preferred pictures (only 10,400 of those) or no pictures at all and use the program.  But of course I want it all.

For those of you not in the know, Families was designed to be used with Legacy Family Tree. While I am not a Legacy user, I do own version 7.5 and I imported my info from RootsMagic 6 into Legacy via GEDCom and went from there. Since my Nook HD+ and I are still on a learning curve, I'm not pressing the issue too hard. After all I have those PILES (I added a third one) to clear up on my desk!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Mary Elizabeth Eudaley Chinn

Mary Elizabeth or "Elizabeth" Eudaley was born to Robert Eudaley and Bertie Boone on January 2, 1918 in Ohio county, Kentucky. About 1938 or 1939, she married Elijah "Rodney" Chinn and they had two children: Irma and Elijah R.  Elizabeth died on June 21, 1955 in Ohio county, Kentucky.

You can visit her Find-A-Grave memorial here.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Summer is Here!

Hooray! Today is the first day of Summer, although it has felt extremely Summer-like the last month. It is also the one year anniversary of my right total knee replacement. I think I can say, I finally feel like going on a research trip. Or a visit. Or absolutely anywhere!

Traditionally, Summer time is that time that genealogists pack up their gear (notebooks, laptops, tablets, cameras, copies, cemetery kit, etc.) and head out into the world to work on their family research. Perhaps, if you are a family researcher, you will head to a cemetery where your "people" are buried. Or will you visit the county courthouse in hopes of unearthing some unknown information that will link your family line?

Whatever you choose to do with your summer, let me know in the comments below!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday - Life Interrupts, Yet Again!

I hinted Monday that things were not going as planned for me this week. Little did I know.

Sunday, on our way to lunch, we heard a loud rattling noise when we turned on the air conditioning in our 9 year old Honda CR-V. We figured  the dealership would have it a day and then we would be back in business. We were shocked, however, when they told us our a/c compressor actually exploded on the inside and that the whole unit would need to be replaced. The repair/replacement would cost a few thousand. Suddenly, we were rethinking the fix-it strategy.

Over the last year, since my right knee replacement, we have considered finding something easier for me to get into. Both daughters are driving Ford Fiestas, which are nice, but since we have little confidence in Ford products, after many, many bad experiences with them, we opted for a shiny, new, red Honda Fit Sport.  We even got an extremely fair trade-in value on the 2004 Honda CRV.

 Alas, that was not the only issue on Sunday. I noticed that our cat, Mouse, was scratching a lot. I was fairly confident she didn't have fleas, since I have been religious about applying preventative. She had a bare spot on her chin, a spot near her right ear and the inside of her right ear looked raw and awful. So Monday afternoon included a trip to the vet to get her check out.

Mouse is not a timid cat, but she was trying to burrow into us at the vet's office. Poor thing. Two shots and some topical medication later,  she is looking slightly better. But you know what I really love? The vet, Dr. Tamarah Cottrell of Copeland Veterinary, called this morning to check on our Mouse. I am confident Mouse will soon be happy and healthy again!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Kibler & Irr

Years ago (1978) my Uncle Jack Zimmeth interviewed his father, Charles or "Charlie" Zimmeth on tape. He made a copy of it for my dad and I made a micro cassette copy of it. Then I transcribed it.

One family mentioned on it was the Irr family. Namely Frances. For many more years, I had no idea who Frances Irr was. Or what she was to me. In the 1990's I discovered who she was and that she was my second cousin once removed.

Frances Irr was born Frances Theresia Kibler, daughter of Michael Kibler, Jr., and Monica Klaus, on February 25, 1872 in East Tawas, Michigan, during the Kibler family's short sojourn there. After a couple of years, they returned to Gardenville, New York. 

It was in Gardenville
, therefore, that Frances married Victor Frederick Irr, on June 19, 1895. Victor was the son of Victor Irr and Barbara Amann and was born in Gardenville on February 28, 1868.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Confederate Officer's Index - FamilySearch.org

I love browsing databases. Not. But occasionally, a database will present itself that just begs me to search it. Such was the case with the United States, Confederate Officers Card Index, 1861-1865 on Family Search. And I did find two that I was searching for, namely Lt. Colonel John P. Bowman and Captain John S. Percival. Both were my great-great grandfather's; both were from Missouri; both died in Arkansas; both died as a result of wounds. Actually, John Percival was killed in action. I can't wait to check the Webb family!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Monday Moanin' - Plans Interrupted

Once again, plans I'd made for my Monday got interrupted by issues. Really. I don't even know why I make plans to work on something any more. Seems like roadblocks keep getting thrown in my way. Here's hoping issues are resolved quickly!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Frank Barrow

Frank R. Barrow

Frank Rawls Barrow, 83, of Denton, former mayor of Denton and owner of Varsity Shop, died Thursday, June 15, 2006, at his residence.

Arrangements are pending with Mulkey-Mason, Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home.

Arts leader Barrow dies Former mayor of Denton helped city make strides

REMEMBERING FRANK BARROW

Friends and family said Frank Barrow's death signaled the end of an era in Denton.

The former Denton mayor, businessman and founding member of Denton Community Theatre died at his home Thursday evening. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about six months ago. He was 83.

"We were talking about the fact that the generation that built modern Denton are dying," said Barrow's son, David, 50.

Barrow died 24 hours after attorney L.A. Nelson, his friend and former Denton mayor. David Barrow said his father and his contemporaries laid the city's one-way streets and improved the city's infrastructure.

But Barrow is best remembered as half of the team who helped found the community theater. He and his widow, Betty Ann Barrow, began working in the community theater in 1970, when Frank earned the starring role in Harvey. In those years, a crew of volunteers was producing theater at the old City Hall auditorium above the city's firehouse.

"When we owned The Varsity Shop [a clothing and gift shop on Avenue A near the University of North Texas] we made friends with Carolyn Silvernale, and that was it. Frank was Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey and we just never left. We took reservations at the shop, and I made costumes at the boutique [the Barrows' second business on Avenue A]. We loved it. We just absolutely loved it."

In the years to follow, the Barrows were involved with more than 50 shows as actors, directors and costumers.

Frank Rawls Barrow's roots went deep and spread wide. He was born to William David Barrow and Nannette Pearl Rawls on Oct. 18, 1922, in his family's homestead on the east bank of the Angelina River near Jasper. He moved to Denton at age 12. He attended what is now the University of North Texas before going to Louisiana State University to pursue a degree in speech and drama.

Barrow returned to Denton after serving as an announcer for the Army Air Corps during World War II to become a partner in his father's Chevrolet dealership. He also served as the first lay pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church.

Barrow went to high school with his wife, Betty Ann, and they performed in a junior-senior play together and became good friends. They didn't marry until 1954. Betty Ann was widowed with four children when her first husband, a naval pilot, was killed in Korea. She had returned to Denton, only to lose her 17-month-old son, Mark.

Betty Ann Barrow said it was clear she was meant to be with Frank when he took care of her as she started over and attended UNT.

"I was in the depths of despair," Betty Ann Barrow said. "This was before people lived together. That just wasn't done. Frank would hold my hand until I fell asleep at night. When I woke up, he was there in a chair beside my bed. My mother told me, 'you'll never need each other more than you do now.' She knew it was meant to be."

Frank Barrow adopted Betty Ann's three daughters, then the couple had two sons. Their children say the couple was a team in every sense of the word. They were business partners, managing three Stuckey's outlets, a chain that was famous for its curios and its pecan divinity. At one point, the couple owned the longest go-cart track in the world.

It was the theater where the Barrows found a special niche, a place where their business acumen and creative energy flourished.

Frank Barrow was the first man to grace the stage at Texas Woman's University, where he played a principal role in Green Grow the Lilacs, the play the musical Oklahoma! was based on. It was his voice that led him to Washington, D.C. Barrow worked in radio at WWDC, and was the youngest announcer to introduce Franklin Delano Roosevelt before a broadcast of one of his fireside chats. In the military, Barrow was an announcer for a variety show called Contact" on a Florida naval base, which entertained dignitaries and featured Rita Hayworth, Al Jolson, Dorothy Parker and Lili Damita, to name a few.

Barrow never balked at the humbler aspects of community theater. Mike Barrow, his youngest son, said his father never had a problem fixing chairs, sweeping floors or fundraising.

"We grew up that way with mom and dad," he said. "You want to be able to tell people 'this is something I've done.' That keeps people from getting upset and saying: 'I wasn't hired to clean toilets.' In everything you do, whether it's your profession or the theater or whatever, everything is important."

Friends said Barrow would do anything to keep the theater going.

"There probably is not anyone who has given more to the theater in volunteer hours," said Donna Trammell, who hired the Barrows to direct her fundraising theater company, Texas Toast, in the 1980s. The Barrows would live in a community for weeks and mount fundraising shows using the locals. "Everywhere they went, everybody loved them. He did theater with kindness. In the kind of work that we were doing, you couldn't have a better way to do it. I don't think there will ever be anybody like them. I've thought about starting it [Texas Toast] again. But you can't do it without Frank and Betty Ann. That was the only reason it worked. I'm going to have to get used to saying 'Betty Ann' instead of 'Frank and Betty Ann'"

Trammell is the general chairwoman of The Barrow Society, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Denton Community Theatre. The society has two aims: to raise money for the community theater, and to plug volunteers into theater programs all over Denton. The society was developed last year, before Barrow was diagnosed with cancer. It was originally opened to supporters who could give $1,000.

"People just love that man. We hadn't started it long before we had $15,000," Trammell said.

Dena Bruton-Claus, a Denton performer, got to know Barrow when she was cast in the title role of Annie Get Your Gun several years ago. Like many of Barrow's friends, Bruton-Claus said it was the beginning of a deep friendship.

"On the day he was diagnosed, I took some ice cream over to him and we ate ice cream out of the package for lunch. One thing he said was 'I've had a wonderful life. I've been a lot of places, and I've loved a lot of people and been loved by a lot of people.' I don't know anyone who has been as open and generous and genuinely living as Frank and Betty Ann. When you are one of theirs, you are one of theirs. I never left that man's presence that he didn't say, 'I love you.'"

Bill Kirkley, a longtime performer, technician and director, grew up watching Barrow do everything from clean toilets at the theater to direct. He also recalls Barrow's spellbinding stories about brushes with fame - Kate Smith.

"I think it's Frank Barrow the man I love the most," Kirkley said. "At midnight on a back porch, he would tell a story making plum jelly with the Maharani of Puddukotai. Who knew there was a Puddukotai? I didn't even know what a maharani was. No matter where you went in the world, no matter what you did, Frank could connect to it and he could relate to it. You're familiar with Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon? Well, you could play Six Degrees of Frank Barrow."

Frank Barrow was preceded in death by: his parents; his brother, Bill; sister, Jane; daughters, Wendy and Candace; a son, Mark; and a grandson, Trey. He is survived by: his wife; two sons and daughter-in-laws Mike and Carol Barrow of Denton and David and Sheree of DeKalb, Ind.; a daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Ernest and Darby Barrow Brady of Flint; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A private funeral service for the family and a few friends will be held Tuesday morning. The family invites friends and loved ones to attend a celebration of Barrow's life at the Campus Theatre at 2 p.m. Tuesday.

LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877. Her e-mail address is cbreeding@dentonrc.com.

DRC file photo

What: A celebration of Frank Barrow's life

When: 2 p.m. Tuesday

Where: The Campus Theatre, 214 W. Hickory St. Frank and Betty Ann Barrow are pictured on the "Surrey with a Fringe on Top" on the set of Denton Community Theatre's Oklahoma! in 2003. The show was their farewell to the community theater, but the pair was recruited to help found Headliners of Texas shortly after the show closed.

[I never met Frank, but corresponded with him. I knew him as the compiler of  The Benjamin Percival Diary, chronicles of his ancestor in Sandwich, Massachusetts.]

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Prepping Paper

As I was starting the process or organizing what I want to send off to other researchers, I remembered one of my "new" relatives told me about the Boone County Public Library collection. Well, since some of my father's Paternal line lived in the tri-state area (Ohio, Indiana & Kentucky, I thought I'd better take a look.

All I can say is "Wowsa!" What was really appreciated were the links to e-pubs, kindle compatible, and PDF files. And photos! Ah, there were some great photos.

Enough already, back to organizing.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday - A Coincidence?

What are the chances on the same day I would hear from two different branches of the Percival family? And that both branches are from Kentucky!  I have long postulated that the descendants of Orrin Percival of Boone county, Kentucky were indeed descended from the same Percival line as me - that is - are descendants of Timothy Percival and Mary Fuller.  The problem? Connecting Timothy Jr to Timothy Sr.

The other Percival descendant that I heard from is descended from my great-great-grandfather's brother, Jabez Percival (the one who married Catherine "Kate" Bush.)

So I am reviewing what I want to send to them and making copies .. Again!



Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Percival & Swift

On June 12, 1809 in Sandwich, Massachusetts, Benjamin Percival, son of Benjamin Percival & Lydia Goodspeed, married Phoebe Swift, daughter of Silas Swift and Elizabeth Bumpas.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Nancy Parker's Husbands: Artemus Pratt and Timothy Percival, Jr.

Nancy Parker was the wife of Artemus or Artemas Pratt. He died prior to April 8, 1824, when Timothy Percival, Jr. married Nancy. From 1825 to 1828, Timothy Percival was the guardian of Nancy & Artemus' children: Rebecca, Artemus or Arthur (b 1815) and Victor or Vecter born about 1818.  Since Nancy and Artemus were married September 16, 1811 in Boone county, Kentucky, I estimate that Rebecca was born circa 1813. As you can see by an account settlement filed in Boone county in the January court of 1829, most of the money was spent that year on Rebecca. Timothy Percival probably died between January of 1829 and 1834, when Nancy died.  Timothy was married the first time to Louisa Shattuck, and it is felt from that line that the Percivals of Northern Kentucky are descended.

p 407
Timothy Percival
Boone County Kentucky
                Rebecca Pratt, Artemus Pratt, Vecter Pratt      
Children of Artemus Pratt dec'd to Timothy Percival their Guardian from the 1st Monday of September 1825 till the first Monday of December 1828. Debtors for board lodging washing clothing schooling & necessary expenses etc. goods etc. furnished for them etc. as will more fully appear by the following exhibits accounts and statements of the same with the vouchers herewith accompanying.

                To Board Schooling & clothing for them at $10 a year, 3 years, 3 months ... $33.00
                1828 Sept. 30th  1 Cloak & bonnet for Rebecca see exhibit of Receipt No. 1 ... 8.00
                May 30th.  1 pair Ladies shoes for Rebecca ... 1.62
                June 14.  1 yard white crepe for Rebecca as per Amt & receipt for no. 2 ...  .75
                Oct. 4th.  To 1 side saddle & bridle for Rebecca as per exhibit & Receipt No. 3.  ... 20.00
                Mar. 10th. 5-1/2 yds Calico for Rebecca, 37-1/2 pr yard ... 2.061/4
                May 6th. 6 yds Calico for Rebecca, 45 per yd ... 2.70
                May 28th. 2 wool hats for Arthur & Vecter ... 1.50  
                                                                                  Total              $69.63-3/4


                Credits
                By Receipt from Harvey Parker, trustee for the above named Rebecca, Arthur & Vecter                        $47.00

                Boone County Court
                                                                January Term 1829

                This account of Timothy Percival, late Guardian of Rebecca, Artemus and Vecter Pratt was this day produced in court, examined, received and ordered to be recorded, whereupon  the same is duly recorded.

                                                Att. Willis Graves, clk

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

The Weekend

We had a great Saturday. It was sunny, hot and humid and a perfect day for a family cookout at our home in mid-Tennessee. We enjoyed visiting, grilling, and eating.  All in all it was a good day for making memories.

I think this should become a tradition.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - William Byrd

William Lafayette Byrd was the husband of my first cousin three times removed, Maude Oliphant. He was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas on December 12, 1869 and died in Dallas, Texas on June 8, 1938. He was buried in Sunny Slope Cemetery in Richmond, Missouri.

Visit his Find-A-Grave memorial here.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Random Friday Thoughts

DH, Older Daughter and I went to see the latest Star Trek movie last night, which we really enjoyed. What I don't understand is what possesses people to take small children to a movie like that which involves sex and violence. When I mean small children, I mean children between the ages of 8 months to 5 years. Hello? If you can't or won't get a babysitter, wait till it comes out on DVD, stream it, or watch it on Demand on cable or satellite. Chances are if you live in the same town I do, you only get one PBS channel, so you are paying for some sort of cable or dish. With the price of tickets at $9.50/per adult, why should my viewing of any movie be disturbed by children kicking the back of the seat or infants wailing?

The weird thing is? These weren't the only people I saw with infants.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Too-Too Thursday - Who Do You Think You Are?

TLC is bringing back WDYTYA? in July. Maybe it will show a little more research and not so much so-called stars who are presented with a piece of paper and then go on a world tour!

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Wedding Wednesday - Percival & Roberts

On June 5, 1919 - probably in Boone county, Kentucky, Miss Matilda "Tete" Percival to James Kirtley Roberts.

This information came to me from another researcher and I haven't taken the time to verify it.  I admit I am intrigued by the husband, James "Kirtley" Roberts, because my great-great-great grandmother was Sarah Ann Kirtley.  She was from the same area of Kentucky, and had many siblings.

Some day I will figure it out.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

What Did You Inherit? Skills.

I inherited my love of cemeteries from my dad. My husband's dad passed down his ability to save money. Handyman skills? Not so much. Hubby and I both excel in our own pastimes, though. He is wonderful with finances and I turned out to be a terrific cook. Our kids, well, one has great cooking skills and the other is developing other areas.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy cooking a good meal. My mom was a good cook, just hated doing it. I would rather have inherited the handyman skills both our dads possessed, though.  Come to think of it, hubby's handyman skills are developing late in life. Better late than never!



Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Ancestry - US Consular Registration Certificates

 I try to take a look at all new databases, to see if there is anything interesting online. One such database that caught my eye last weekend was the U.S. Consular Registration Certificates at Ancestry.com

Of course, the first thing I do is type in Percival, my maiden name. The first family I came up with was R. G. (Richard Glenn) Haskell, his wife Olive M. Percival and their three children, Nellie, Glen and Julia. Two different records a couple years apart, 1909 and 1911.

The 1909 record, below, is the one that interested me, because it is the only record I have ever seen that listed all three children's full names. Interesting because I have no idea where the middle name Ethleen came from for oldest daughter Nellie.

Yes, I did pull the other record, just to check that on both records, they don't care when the wife was born, just where.  And the second record did not have middle names for the children.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes

Sympathy Saturday - Mary Grieves Oliphant Black

Mary Black was the daughter of  James Witherspoon Black and Johanna Nisbet Oliphant, and the granddaughter of Alexander Oliphant and Martha McMekin Nisbet Oliphant. She was born March 13, 1858 in Richmond township, Missouri and died June 1, 1895 in Richmond, Missouri.

Little is known about Mary, however, the 1880 census lists her as  an idiot, an unfortunate designation.  She was living with her uncle Alex Maitland and her half sister Mary G. Oliphant Maitland.

Mary's mother, Johanna, or Joanna, was the daughter of John Nisbet and Martha McMekin, but used the name Oliphant.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes