Sentimental Sunday-Gifting To Those We Love

Photographs of ancestral homes, tombstones, and walking the land that once was farmed by generations are all aspects that are beyond description for me, and are the areas that I am beginning to focus on more when I explain our family history to living relatives now. I have discovered that doing so is what gets them excited and more willing to answer questions, find a photograph, look for a record, etc.

In fact, I am even realizing that I need to temper these revelations a bit. If I share too much then by the time I leave a family dinner I have a to do list from my siblings that is long enough to last for months, but I am thrilled with the investment. The younger generations that get turned off by pedigree charts are actually staying around the dinner table to listen to stories of inspiration, tribulation, courage, and humor and that delights me to no end.

Christmas has always been an opportunity to share a few historical gifts. Years ago I gave my parents and each sibling my very first family album that consisted of a few charts, copies of original records for our immediate grandparents and great-grandparents, and several photographs. Over the years I have given them additional info they could add to that binder. My mother has added to the tradition by giving each of us copies of their high school yearbooks and other delights over the years.

This year was no exception, and one of the most sentimental in years. I had located my  2nd great-grandfather, William Eckardt, his wife Fridolina and 2 sons Richard and Conrad in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York in the 1880 census with William working as a tailor. Several Onondaga city directories are available online, and I used those to locate the addresses of employment for William in Syracuse during the time the family lived there.

Google Maps and Ebay are such a benefit to our worlds as genealogists, and they are part of my online Research Toolbox. I searched Google Maps for the current day location of his employment as well as where they lived, and discovered that one of those places at the time was along the Canal in Syracuse and that the building is still there.

I often purchase postcards off Ebay that play a part in my family, but this time I discovered a greater treasure:an actual photograph of the building with the Canal, just as it would be as my ancestors would be at the time. I gave this to my mother as a Christmas gift with a copy of the census to frame. Both are below, with the picture partially covered out of respect.

1880 Syracuse, Onondaga, New York (image taken by KE)

Next week I will share the Sentimental gift my mother in turn gave to each of us.

Tombstone Tuesday- Cemetery Kits Helpful

Visiting cemeteries is one of my favorite aspects of genealogical research, which often leads to some interesting facial expressions on those around me before I get the opportunity to explain my thoughts behind the statement. 

A cemetery to me is a sacred location, but it is not an untouchable or hands off place to be. Even in college when I was away from home and there was no time for genealogy, I would frequently take walks in a nearby cemetery from the campus that was beautiful and peaceful. 

Today when I visit the cemetery of my ancestors to take the photographs that are so precious to me I cannot help but stand there and go back in time to the day those people were buried. I imagine the friends and relatives  walking the land I am standing on as they grieve for the person they knew so well and now are losing, and the emotional sentimental fool that I am I always get a little emotional in the process. Genealogy to me is more than adding names to my database, and I am sure that is more pertinent because I knew so little about my family when I first began.

Last fall my parents and I were able to return to Ohio County, Kentucky for a couple days of research at the courthouse and to visit some local cemeteries. Ohio County is a key location to my maternal side of the family, and I was determined to visit one cemetery in particular that held several ancestors. 

The cemetery is at what is called Old Salem Church. The day we went I was a bit discouraged to find that part of the cemetery had been mowed and the part I needed to get to was under 3 feet of grass and weeds. What did I do? Turned to my trusty cemetery kit. My cemetery kit is actually a large tote bag that includes what I consider to be the necessities for anyone intending to make it a habit to visit their ancestral relatives in unknown locations. (Sorry, but despite my best efforts I could not find my photo for this post, but will put one up next week). 

Contents of my bag: Cloth diapers (for cleaning), water bottle for spraying onto unreadable text, kneeling pad used by gardeners, metal probe for finding parts of headstones under ground, clippers to assist in weed removal (I actually have a couple varieties), nylon brush and piece of styroform to gently remove lichen, hoe, garden gloves, trash bag and paper towels to clean up behind myself, piece of foam board covered with aluminum foil to assist with sun, tripod for my camera, first aid kit, bug spray, notebook paper, cemetery forms and clipboard. I know this is a lot and I don't always use it all, but the clippers, and bug spray came in handy this day. 

My parents thought I was nuts, but I knew that there were few opportunities to visit this cemetery and I didn't want to miss my chance, so out came the spray, I left all but the tools and the clipboard and my camera in the car, and off I went into the middle of the weeds and any unseen creatures.

Salem Cemetery, Ohio County, KY (property of ke)

I was delighted when I was rewarded, after trimming and pulling some weeds and grass, as well as spraying some water onto the stone to see it better, the long awaited location of my 3rd great-grandfather, John Raley. 

John Raley
Born Oct 8 1806
Died Aug 11 1884
Aged 77 Y., 10 M., 3 D.
Salem Cemetery, Ohio County, KY (taken by ke)

Changes, they are a coming

I wrote a couple weeks ago that I was reevaluating my use of this blog and how I wanted to make the space more productive for myself and for others who read the contents. After giving myself some time to think through the possibilities, as well as my to-do lists, I am prepared to discuss them now.

When I first began this blog, I stated that I wanted to use the space to "display information about my ancestors and their life, as well as to use it as a forum for discussing other ancestors from the Tri-State of Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky." I also wanted to use this blog to discuss brick walls I needed help with.

Over time illness had prevented consistent use of this blog and the blogging community I love and respect, and I have also failed to stay the course with many of the goals I initially planned for this space. Now with thought and planning, I have established the parameters for the next few months of this blog.  One of the first things I did was to revamp my "Surnames and Locations" page to place the surnames more specifically into the states and counties that are relevant to my research. I will be adding my "Research Toolbox" within the next week, as well as defining my stand more clearly on copyright and links to these pages.

Content coming in upcoming weeks will include the following:

Military Monday
Civil War Papers of Lemuel Tucker and David Cozart
Information regarding ancestors in World War II

Local Events in History in Newspapers and Other Media
Discuss events in history that affected the Tri-State area, such as the 1937 flood, 1925 tornado, and the Civil War

Serendipity Stories & Breaking Brick Walls 
Times when the heavens parted and all fell in place as well as the stories of recent brick wall discoveries AND the walls I still need help climbing

Courthouse Conquests 
My catchy theme for courthouse finds

Stories From The Road 
Ancestral Homes, Businesses, Places important to my family directly and by means of living in the area, social history related information

Character Sketches 
This idea comes straight from a recent webinar conducted by Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist . I would like to add these once or twice a month. This will force (make me- smile) to write the narratives I need to on my ancestors and add the sources correctly.

The Writings of Those Before 
It has been sometime since I quoted the entries from the 1911 journal of my great-grandfather, John James Raley. I would like to get back to those. In addition, there were some other members of my family who have written journals, books, etc. and I would like to add those writings at times to share.

Research Strategies & Tips 
The title is self-explaining

Of course there are other entries to continue with, including Tombstone Tuesday, Surname Saturday, Treasure Chest Thursday, and all the other themes that are described on Geneabloggers and suggested by fellow bloggers. I am excited about the possibilities for this blog, and expanding the options to not only include specifics about my family, but to also add more information about the Tri- State area and also the other areas relative to my ancestors.

Visiting Courthouses

As the dreary days of snow fade to budding trees and the sound of lawnmowers throughout the neighborhood, there also comes the indescribable itch within so many of us to begin traveling the paths of our ancestors.

Despite the growing amount of materials appearing on the internet, some records (or at least the complete file of those records) can only be accessed at the courthouse of origination. I have learned over time that I may find a copy of the "original record" online only to learn later that there are 4 or 5 other papers that go with that marriage record that had I not spent some time digging in the county I would never had known and would have missed some very important clues. Additionally, for me there is nothing like being able to actually hold in my hand the original record my ancestor signed in 1825. At that moment I can almost feel his or her presence and the emotions are high for me. After all, isn't this why I began this journey as a 13 year old girl eons ago?

I wanted to share a few tips I have learned through my experiences at the courthouses I have visited. No two are the same in personality even if they are generally laid out the same way.

For anyone who hasn't read this book yet, I would strongly suggest that you read Christine Rose's "Courthouse Research for Family Historians:Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures". She does an excellent job of taking the mystery out of the entire process, giving us the confidence to face any situation.

Another step I take before going to a new courthouse involves a little intelligence work. I call the local genealogical society to get the "low- down" about the way that particular courthouse works. Are they friendly? Is there a particular worker in the office I should ask for? How is the office laid out? What have been your experiences with them? Are  the records accessible to me or are they behind a counter?

I also ask about the local library. Checking their catalog and hours online is valuable as well. I have spent the day at the courthouse obtaining records then crossed the street to complete further work at the library. As always, not all records are at all libraries, etc. You never know what you'll find.at the nearby library that isn't documented in catalogs. (I have a few stories to share there over the next few weeks) You may even find a living cousin!

Preparation is the key. Checking the counties' web site will tell you the hours, address, and usually the extent of records that are available within the county. I know in some cases in Kentucky there were courthouse fires, particularly during the Civil War. Do not let courthouse fires discourage your pursuits. In Ohio County, the courthouse burned but a local physician was successful in begging for time to get the records out of the courthouse first. In another county, original records are not in the courthouse at all, but in another building in town. Had I not taken the time to call the local library and ask for someone who works with genealogy records I would never had known that, and instead would have been rather frustrated.

I take a binder that includes my priority list of records I want on any trip. My lists are divided by category- Marriage, Death, Birth, Probate, Land, etc., then further divided by surname since the indexes are designed that way. I also include family group sheets, maps of the area, and any other notes I think will help, as well as noteboook paper.

In my bag I include the following:
a legal sized folder (to protect copies of papers I make that day)
butterscotch drops (help when I am thirsty)
a small flashlight (really helps when there is a word I can't read)
a 81/2 x 11" magnifying sheet to place over records difficult to read (coupled with flashlight its great)
paper clips, mini stapler, post-its (to mark the pages I need to copy), and pencils

I learned long ago that other people do not want to hear the history of my life (no matter how fascinating it may be), especially clerks in the courthouse who are busy with the work of the day, and to tell you the truth I think it really works to my benefit. When I arrive at the clerk's office I usually follow a script that has proven to be very successful for me, even in those counties that have their records behind the counter or in another room. Here's how it goes:

Arriving in clothing that presents me as a casual professional, I walk in with a level of confidence, make a point of a few greetings and comment on how busy they look to be. I identify myself as a family historian who does not want to get in their way ("after all, you have so much to do as it is, I would not want to make your job any more difficult while I am here today"). I tell them I am looking for a brief layout of how their office works "since every office has a different personality" and organization system , and do my best to get out of their way. As they see that I get to work, stay out of their way (unless of course the record I need is in a locked room ) , and appear competent in my duties, the eyes relax that watch me. I do make a point of developing a relationship with one or two employees that appear friendly which is often beneficial as well.

I love going to the courthouses, digging through boxes and indexes in search for all those treasures that fill in the blanks of my family. I wish all of you success in your endeavors as well!





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Excuses For Knowledge Are Gone With The Wind

There was a time in the genealogy field when gaining new knowledge for me was limited to the books I could purchase, from attending an annual day long conference in the area, or by trial and error. The cost of going to Salt Lake City was beyond and still is my reach as well as so many of these amazing conferences held in areas like California, Arizona, Boston----well you get the idea.

Those days are gone and I am thrilled. I am actually in learning overload and loving it! There really isn't any excuse anymore for me that prevents my ability to gain further skill sets needed to improve my knowledge, assist in breaking through walls, and further round out the story while practicing the new skills.

And the best part? The cost, which involves nothing more than a pad of paper, a pen or pencil, a possible drive down the street, and some time.

Here is a list a recent opportunities as well as upcoming or continued opportunities:

Family Search has an entire learning center called "Research Courses" and its many categories include Research Principles & Tools (Descendancy Research, Inferential Genealogy, Using Research Logs, using different online databases, as well as other strategies), Reading Handwritten Records, USA Research (census, military, Colonial, Native American are among the list), Foreign Country Research (England, German, Spanish, Ireland, Italy, Russia, New Zealand, and Poland) as well as areas for Professional Genealogists. These are videos, many which include a handout to assist in the process.

Legacy Family Tree has a series of webinars that are excellent and well done. I have attended several and there are some worthy of thought upcoming including "More Blogging for Beginners" by DearMYRTLE scheduled for Wednesday, March 2nd, and "Building a Research Toolbox" by Thomas MacEntee  scheduled for Wednesday, April, 6th. What I appreciate is if I am unable to attend the discussion the webinar remains on Legacy for several weeks for review.

I am going to put in another plug for my nearby libraries as well. I am so impressed with the drive they posses to offer services that keep those of us interested in the historical aspects of our ancestors as well as to learn more about the resources that exist locally .

Willard Library (our local genealogical treasure for me) is the host of "Evansville and the Tri-Sate After the Civil War" to be held on Thursday evening, February 24, 2011 at 6:00 pm. Harold Morgan is a local author that has assembled several books including "Home Town History: The Evansville Indiana Area, A Photo Timeline", and "Home Front Heroes: Evansville and the Tri-Sate in WWII". Harold is an excellent presenter and I am sure there will be a crowd to see how Evansville and the area responded after the Civil War.

Evansville-Vanderburgh Public Library is in the midst of a series called "Preserving Our Past" that continues until May the 11th. Upcoming classes include: Maps (learning about our Digital Sanborn and Historic MapWorks collections), Historic Architecture, House Histories (what it is and how it can be used), Local History on Demand (learn about ContentDM), Scanning Documents and Photos, and Textiles.

I know there are other opportunities in each of our communities and online increasing all the time.

Organizing My World- Part III

So much time has passed since my last entry regarding my organization system that I almost did not write this, but I wanted to finish what I started.

The last entry, dated June 20, focused on my family binders that contain original or copies of documents and as a result remain in my home permanently. Therefore, I must have a system I use when I do research at the repository.

I use a variety of tools when planning a research trip and I find that my steps are the basically the same whether I am going to my favorite local repository (Willard Library) or a location farther away.

I have a series of these mini binders (as does my mother) that contain quite a bit of information on all of the lines in my family. I actually have 4 binders in different colors (Silver, Burgandy, Marine Blue, and a Khaki Brown) that can be eventually based on the 4 lines, but for now I only use 2 of them.

I have purchased them as well as the forms used inside through 2 different companies: Ye Olde Genealogical Shoppe and Genealogy Shoppe. These 6 ring binders are only 5 1/2" by 7 1/2 " in size and  can contain a large amount of information, depending upon how you choose to use them. 

                                  
This is an example of the front page of  family group sheet. The back of the from serves as a checklist covering census years, vital records, military, school, homes of residence, church, land, funeral, grave markers, tax lists, and so on. In addition, there is room for me to write additional notes.

There are also other forms designed to fit inside these binders including pedigree, military, census, land, and probate. While it takes some time to enter all the information in the beginning, the reward of having easy access to all my research within a small binder that fits in my purse cannot be beaten. It also is handy when meeting new cousins.

When I go to my local repository for serious research, I take my research binder for that side of the family (colored lavendar when sitting on the shelf). Inside I have what I call a Detailed Records Checklist that I developed a few years ago listing every kind of record I could think of onto one set of forms. I have one for each member of the family. You could do the same using any number of forms, including  Loretto "Lou" Dennis Szucs top 300 Genealogy Sources which cover Internet, Home, County, Federal, State, and Misc. topics.

I also take my research goals for that visit. If I do not do that, then I find that I quickly get off topic and wander all over the place, and find myself a bit frustrated when I get home that evening, or when I look up at the clock and realize that 2 hours have passed and nothing has been completed on my list. I do keep a research log per family unit, matching my philosophy of the binders. I played around with them for awhile, but after coming home and finding that I had made copies of the same documents 3 times, I knew I had to stick to them. I do not number my documents, but instead make a note on my research log when I make copies of documents and also note which file they will be placed in for future reference.

My research binder also holds a list of all the various spellings of surnames, notebook paper, county formation guides for the states that play a role in that side of the family inside sheet protectors, research materials that are helpful from Ancestry's Red Book and/or the Family History Library, and various forms useful to me that I have obtained from several sources.

In adition I carry a pouch with post-its, paper clips, portable stapler and refills, highlighters, magnifying glass, and a small flashlight. I have been surprised at the times I have needed a flashlight to be able to read stacks in a dark corner, or when the electricity has gone out. I also carry a camera and take my laptop to places where the computer is allowed.

I used to find information, get excited, make copies, throw it into a file folder and bring it home to sit on a desk or empty space somewhere in my home until I felt like doing something with the paper pile. Now I am getting smarter, and citing my sources as quickly as I can in all the locations it belongs, and filing the papers where they belong when I get home.

After all, how can I enjoy my genealogy if I cannot refer to the information for further study and enjoyment when the time comes?

That's my process. It's not perfect, and I know I didn't include everything here, but I wanted to flesh out the process the best I could. When I started this I didn't know that so many of my blogger friends would also be writing about organization processes this summer, but I think its a good thing for all of us in order to learn from one another.

May you find a process that works for you.

Organizing My World- Part II

I know that I have left my organization entry in deep space, as well as the rest of my blog, but illness can be a cruel monster and as much as I would like to think I have complete control, we all know that there is no such wish.

Now that that is off my chest I can proceed to further discussion regarding how I keep my genealogy paper organized. I discussed in the first entry that I keep a binder for each family unit on my pedigree chart in order to maintain the information gathered about each family on my tree. I am a visual learner, so I am including several photos with this entry in order to demonstrate what I am writing:

      These are the family binders in my library bookshelf separated into two different colors to easily distinguish my two parental lines Yellow is my maternal line, and blue is the paternal one. I am planning to further divide into 4 separate color lines this summer based on my grandparent lines instead as more data is assembled, successfully sourced, and appropriately filed. The good thing is I can easily change these colors even by using scrapbook paper on the outside of the binders in the sleeves. I have mini binders in 4 colors: blue, silver, burgandy, and green, so I may stick to those, but have not made up my mind.

     The sides, front, and back are clearly labeled with the family name so that I can easily find the family of need. I also have my address on the cover in case I should accidently leave the folder at a repository.


I follow the advice of keeping records of my direct line with their parents until they get married. Once they marry, I take their marriage record and use it as the beginning of their own binder in my bookshelf.

Let's use for an example a couple that married in 1800. Their binder includes sections for their chronologies, vital records, censuses as a couple, land, military/school, everyday life, logs, etc. Their son, John is my direct ancestor. Once he married Sally I would set up a binder for the two of them. All information for the two of them since marriage is in the joint binder. Each child they had also has a separate section, labeled as above. The son or daughter born that again is my direct ancestor , would then be in his own separate binder, and on down the line.

The other children will remain with their parents. After some trial and error this became easier for me because there were too many times when documentation served joint family members. This keeps all together and my mind from going crazy trying to decide where in the world to put Document A or B.

I also have a file cabinet with manila folders for each surname. Whenever I get home from a repository or find a document on the computer I put it in the folder until I have taken the time to source the information, and note receipt off my list of missing items. This keeps me from leaving items all over the house in several locations, which is good because I have many other items that fits into that category.

This is not a perfect system. There are lazy days when I come home from the library with a pile a paper and simply sit it on the desk until later, but I no longer spend time going through piles, then going through piles again trying to find that one elusive piece of paper that I just know I have. When I am trying to figure out a birth date while on the phone with my mother, I can either check my computer program or open the appropriate folder.

I use acid free sheet protectors, and rarely take these books out of the home. I have other items that go with me. That will be part 3 of this later this week.

Organizing My World- Part I

I have given much thought recently to the amount of research I am wanting to complete, the ancestors I am wanting to either find or rule out in some brick wall situations, and the plans I want to develop as my family plans for a major trip through Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, and North Carolina which are all areas in which ancestors and records are just waiting for me to come and find them.

My currrent organization system consists of  binders between 1 and 2 inches for each family and file folders where items are placed by surname until correctly filed in the binder. I do not place items in my binders until they have been properly cited. These binders, all black Avery at the store, are then colored with either yellow computer paper or blue paper in the sleeves so that I can quickly distinguish my maternal side from my paternal side when they are sitting on the bookshelf.

Each binder is labeld in large black letters on the outside front and outside back as well as the side so that I can easily see it from any angle when I am working  in multiple locations in my home. For example, one binder reads "Lemuel Tucker and Martha Ann Cozart." When the family binder is open, I have it divided into sections so that it reads more as a biographical folder. The sections in order are: Contents/Family Group, Personal Chronology, Vital Records, Census, Military/School, Land/Judicial, Everyday Life, Maps, Research Log Notes/Source Summary Sheets, Other, and then each of the other children that are not my direct descendants.

I really like my binders. I like that I can contain each family unit together, which helps me in my thinking and in keeping my mind organized. When it comes to my direct line, I have taken the advice I received from the book "Organizing Your Family History Search: Efficient & Effective Ways to Gather and Protect Your Genealogical Research" by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack (Betterway Books, 1999). In it Sharon discusses a few different ways to organize your research and I took some from here, and there, and over yonder...you get the idea. But one point she made that I have well remembered is that information about your ancestors that occurred before they married should be kept with their parents, which is what I am doing. Once a direct ancestor marries another of my director ancestors, for example, when my great-grandparents Conrad Eckardt and Julia Schnacke married, records created once they married is in their joint family binder.

Of course there are exceptions to any rule. I have a personal chronology or timeline completed for each of them in the early sections of the binder, but I include ALL their life events, not just events once they got married. Although I have both a Xeroxed copy of the actual census page from Ancestry or another database and a typed transaction so all info is readable, I also have a summary sheet that lists information from all censuses. Family group sheets are in each binder and that of course includes information from not only their entire life, but generations above and below as well. 

This is becoming a rather long blog entry. I will continue this over the next few days as I explain my system. Hopefully I will give ideas to others, and encourage others to give ideas back in return.

Next entry: Futher discussion of my family binders, forms used, and some photos to use for further explanation

Third entry: My research notebooks that I take to repositories

Railroading: A Way of Life

Indiana is often called the "Crossroads of America". Given that, it seems only appropriate that so many men in my family served for the railroad on both sides of my line.

L & N Railroad Company (courtesy of Willard Library)

One of my father's favorite stories to tell is the day he left from the train depot in Evansville to go to the front during World War II. As the train left the station it needed to slow a little further down the street, where his father, a crossing watchman was working. My father came to the window and addressed his father who was not known for open emotion. My grandfather saluted him in response before the train gained speed and headed west. What a moment that must have been.

Dad at spot of his father's stand

Last year, our family learned that the spot where my grandfather's stand stood for years was being demolished due to new interchanges on a Highway through the city. I contacted our mayor's office who in turn contacted the railroad and the demolition company and we gained permission to take one of the metal poles that the stand had been built upon as a momento both of that special day but also because of the tie it held for my father to his father, who had died many years ago. Mr. Tucker had the opportunity for a promotion that meant the family would move to Mascoutah, Illinois, but due to the pleas of his children who did not want to move, he turned down the promotion.

My father grew up at what he calls the L & NY in Evansville, a series of section houses actually placed between the tracks at the railroad company. According to the 1930 United States Federal Census for Pigeon Township, Vanderburgh County, Indiana conducted on April 15 there were 18 households living between those railroad tracks with a total of 68 men, women, and children. I can only imagine how those section houses must have rocked every time a train came through.

Israel McDaniel as Watchman

My father's grandfather, John Rankin Tucker, once worked as a section worker near his home in Maunie, Illinois My father's maternal great-grandfather, Israel McDaniel, worked for the railroad in both Maunie, White County, Illinois and later in Evansville, Indiana. A cousin speaks of coming over on the train to visit Israel. His favorite activity was to put a record on his player for their listening pleasure. Israel and his wife Clyde Bell McDonald still had two sons living at home while he worked in Evansville- Roy and Harry. He would leave a list of tasks for them to do in Maunie and as he left the depot in Maunie Israel would immediately be calling down the street for his sons about these same tasks if they were not completed.


(Note: This photo is well damaged and needs some TLC to be upgraded, but I had to inlcude it in this entry)




All of those who have read the entries of the journal by my maternal great-grandfather, John James Raley, may not know that most of that was written while he was away from his family working at one his positions for the railroad. John becamed trained in telegraphy as a young man at a drugstore in Ohio County, Kentucky after attempting farming. At one point John also ran a "hotal and bar room" in Ohio County, but he always returned to the railroad.   The train companies he worked for included The Southern Express Compnay, the CO & SW Railroad Company, the Ohio Valley Railroad Company, and the Newport News & Mississippi Railroad Company. In the course of his job he and/or his family moved more than 20 times throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and Southern Indiana. At one time John moved his wife, Caroline, and their 3 young sons they had at the time into a rented room in Warrick County, Indiana while he went to work in Rilpey, Tennessee. How she was able to do that I do not know! Later, one of their sons followed his father into the same career.                   

The railroad has played an important role in the lives of my ancestors, both professionally but also in the ways that their families lived. Many memories are still shared around the dinner table at special events about these days. I am grateful for the ties that bind us all, just as the trains themselves bind us throughout the country, especially in its hey dey.

This entry was written in conjunction with The Blogger's Almanac available through FamilyCurator.com.

Goals For May

May is a big month in my house as my little darling graduates from high school. After spending most of the past two weeks being very under the weather and most of today wandering the internet (although it has been very fruitful), I have decided to follow the lead of my fellow Hoosier Tina Lyons who in her blog Gen Wish List , makes a monthly list of goals publicly. 

I have a huge trip coming up in July that combines pleasure with some fantastic opportunities to explore the ancestral lands and records of my ancestors so I had better get cracking now. So goals for the month of May include:
1) Completing the mini binders on my maternal side for both my mother and I
2) Finish sourcing my surname binders and ensuring all relative materials/documents are filed appropriately
3) Plan research trip to Kentucky Historical Society this month
4) Conduct interview/meeting with a cousin on maternal side of family

Let's hope that at the end of the month I can report that these goals were achieved and maybe even a few more.

Thanks for the idea, and the push, Tina!

Treasure Thursday- Marriage Record

Marriage Record of John Darling to Parthena Utley
19 October 1851 Gibson County, Indiana

My Paternal 4x great-grandparents

Treasure Thursday- An Unusual Entry

Although Treasure Thursday usually contains a long awaited miltary file or a photo of a item from my family that has been passed through the years, I decided to take a different take on the theme this week.

Since I have spent many hours researching this week (who has time to do anything else?), there is a site for those of us with Southern Indiana roots that is a great gift and definitely a treasure. Initially known as the Browning Genealogy: Evansville Indiana Area Obituary Search Database the site has actually grown into much more over the past few years, which I will discuss in a moment. Charles Browning was the owner of the locally owned Browning Funeral home and years ago knew the importance of genealogy to others. He would cut the obituaries from the local newspapers, then make an information card regarding the deceased person to include information from several categories including: family members, cause of death, residence, funeral home, and the name of the cemetery where they were buried. In his memory (Mr. Browning passed away in 2007), his family and others continue with his work, which includes more than 537,000 cards to date. An example for my  aunt, who died tragically in a fire,  is shown below:

There are times when the obituary is more recent and obtaining through our local newspaper costs a fee of nearly $ 3.00, yet I have located it attached to the card on this site which makes these even more of a treasure. I have even used the listings at the botom to trace other family members through time until I reached a current generation.

A recent discovery I made to the Browning information also leads to additional site called Browningpeople.net . This includes the obituary information, but also includes other databases that Charles Browning began, including one he called his People Study. I typed in my last name and found announcements regarding scholarships won when I left for college, my parents 50th and 60th wedding announcements, photos from yearbooks, announcements regarding the soldiers in my life just to start.

There is also a Business Entity Search, a Veteran database, and an Immigration Database which notes records from Warrick County for my ancestors when they went into the courthouse and announced they wanted to be US citizens. All of these databases are a work in progress and there are more records to be entered in the computer system so checking back would be beneficial, but what a fantastic gift Mr. Browning, and his family have left for people with ties to Vanderburgh, Indiana and the nearby areas.

For this genealogist, I count this as a very special treasure!

Karl Martens and The Gold Rush

I have not been on here this week as I turn my attention to homework assignments and reports and research neeeding to be completed for deadlines. But I decided that I could take an hour to turn on the NBC series we have all been whispering about, "Who Do You Think You Are?" and do some scannig at the same time.

I knew that this would be a good day for genealogists. Any time that our favorite obsession is prodcast on millions of televisions and treated with respect is a good day. What I did not expect is to get so entralled into the story. Unlike the series on PBS, this one focused on one person at a time and included them going through the process of accessing records at repositories around the country. While not everyone can afford to just get on a plane and travel from professional genealogist to another, the spirit of the finds and the belief that there are stories to be found is what I believe is the focus and basis here that will inspire so many.

It did the trick for me. You see, I have a great-great-great grandfather was one of those crazy dreamers who traveled to California during the Gold Rush. The story I had always heard as a child was that he had come back to Warrick County Indiana with 5 pieces of gold that were made into rings, yet no one knows whatever became of those rings. as i listened to the story tonight of Sarah jessica Parker's ancestor goiing to California I remembered that my beloved great-grandfather (the author of the journal I prize and the son-in-law of this man) had written something in his journal about this adventure. So I went to find the entry in the journal to see if it would yield any clues.

This is what the entry had to say:
"Myt wife's father, Charles F. Martin, was a German farmer. He came to America from Darmstadt, Hessen Germany sometime during the year 1849. I will say that I have been advised that Darmstadt in Germany is a city and that Hessen is a State there and that for one to say that I am from Darmstadt, Hessen Germany is just the same as to say that I am from Evansville, Indiana. Mr. Martin only had a few pennies when he landed in the city of New York state of New York. He was at that time just a poor, green, young German boy starting out upon the great and turbulant waters upon the bottomless ocean of time trying to make his way through the cold and unfriendly world upon his own resources and I will say that he by being studious, industrious, honest, upright, economical, well-behaved, quiet, sober, and by being everything that it took to be a good, reliable true gentleman in every sense of the word made it all right."

"He soon acquired a sufficient knowledge of the English language to get along all right and to make himself understood wherever he went or to whom he choosed to talk. He secured work in the Gold Mines of California and made money and saved it.... he had two good trades, one was that of Broom making, the other was that of a Cabinet maker, in fact he could use most any kind of tools being very ingeniously inclined by nature and was at home or handy with all kinds of carpenter's tools. "

Karl Martens, also called Charles, came back to Warrick County, Indiana and bought 125 acres of land, built a house, ran a farm, and married Sussannah Young or Jung, also from Darmstadt, Hessen Germany, and raised a large family. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, not far from his home.

A relative years ago had told me there were np records to find in California regarding the Gold Rush because of a fire, and I let that go since there were so many other ways to go in my research. But after watching tonight's episode, I have some hope, and some new ideas on my own research on this fascinating man.

That's why I will continue to watch the show. Inspiration comes from many sources, and I will take evry one of them.

Til next time,
enjoy your own journey

Kim

Timeline of Martha Ann Cozart

After some attempts to start this timeline on the site TimeToasthttp://www.timetoast.com/, I decided that I would follow the steps of a fellow blogger (Tina Lyons from Gen Wish Listgenwishlist.blogspot) and just list my timeline here. The good thing is that I have set up an account (free) with TimeToast, and never being one to walk away from a challenge, will soon return and learn how to work the program to my satisfaction. I will let you know how it goes.

Timeline of Martha Ann COZART

Born about 1849 in White County Illinois to Samuel Nicholas COZART and Rocksanna WRIGHT.

Census records for 1850 list her at 11 months of age, living in District 13, White County, Illinois with her parents and 4 older brothers. She was the youngest by 10 years.

The census of 1860 lists her as 11 years of age, living at Township 5 Range 9E, White County, Illinois with her parents as the only child.

Martha marries Lemuel TUCKER on 20 Sept 1866 in White County, Illinois.

19 October 1866, my great-grandfather John Rankin TUCKER was born.

The rest of the children born to Lemuel and Martha Ann were as follows (all in Ilinois):

Amanda Ellen was born 2 March 1869
Samuel H. in 1872
George Raleigh 4 Feb 1876
Unnamed daughter 14 Nov 1878
Anna Belle  30 Nov 1880
Fronie  Date u/k
Minnie Jane  Nov 1881
Melvinia "Millie"  8 Nov 1883

Martha's husband Lemuel, dies on 2 Sep 1885.

On 12 August 1890 Martha applies for her husband's Civil War pension benefits as his widow.

On 6 February 1894 Martha marries for the 2nd time to Jeremiah SHELTON in White County, Illinois.

She died 30 March 1910 in Carmi, White County, Illinois at the age of 61. She is buried in Hamilton County, Illinois, which is where the SHELTON family has their family cemetery.

Update on the Winter Games

Although I do not have much to show for in my medal count for the past few days, the experience itself is so much more valuable.

My focus today was Category 6- Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness!

Task A; Comment on a new genealogy blog (to me) was easy and I found several that struck a chord for me to leave a comment on.

Task G: Use the Follow feature on a Blogger-based genealogy blog  and follow one or more blogs. I definitely added to my Google Reader tonight, first by viewing some of the newer blogs that have been featured recently, and then by starting to read some of the other blogs that are participating in the Winter Games. I love reading what others have to write, but the irony is that in doing so I did not even get through all the Olympic participants to view tonight in order to move on to some scanning I had planned.  How do those of you that subscribe to hundreds of blogs do it? Everyone has so much to say.

So my count tally to date is rather small, but I am learning and growing in the experience.

To date: Back Up Your Data- I have earned a medal
Organize Your Research:- Silver Medal
Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acs of Kindness- Silver Medal

Tomorrow I hope to spend some time on citing some sources that need my attention, figure out why DropBox is fighting with me, expand my knowledge of maps, and catch up on 52 weeks of genealogy challenges.  Whew! We'll see how that goes!

In the meantime, take a moment to use the symbolism of the Vancouver Olympics and the stories of athletes who have overcome obstacles in which no one believed they would walk again, or run, or compete and how they broke through their own brickwalls just to be in the moment as inspiration to try "one more avenue" for that elusive ancestor or piece of documentation that has to be out there somewhere in your own travels today.

Winter 2010 Olympics- An Update

This is one of those nights when I can't sleep with so much on my mind so I thought it was the perfect time to open the laptop in the dark and address some of the tasks and categories for the Winter Olympics.

I began this with much excitement and unfortunately sometimes life gets in the way (needing to buy a new router (those of you who read this blog know that I must have a ghost who curses electronics), our girls basketball team is in the throes of basketball tournament fever (and that's BIG if you live in Indiana!), and so on. However, I have been able to dedicate some time to my categories.

Category 2: Back Up Your Data

          Task C: Back up all your data using a flash drive, an external drive, CDS, DVDs, or an online source.
                 I happen to use all of the above at this time. Every time I download my pictures from the camera, 
                 I immediately save all new data to 2 different external hard drives. One of them goes in a  
                 waterproof safe and the other leaves the house. (This is happening approx. 1x a month) After any
                 info is downloaded or added to my FTM program I save it to a flash drive and also to one of the
                 external hard drives.
          Current count in Category 2: 1 medal

Category 3: Organize Your Research

          Task C: Organize at least 20 photos into photo albums, sctapbooks, collages, protective holders, etc.
                I am currently taking a scrapbooking class called "Library of Memories" from Big Picture  
                Scrapbookinghttp://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/ and our current asssignment invloves this very  
                task, except on a larger scale. So I have just organized a couple years of photos over the past 2
                weeks with more to go.

          Task E: Create at least 20 data entries in your database, or scan 20 photos, or scan 20 documents.
                I am currently scanning a couple small albums of my mothers that are full of cemetery photos and
                houses that family members have lived in throughout Illinois, Indiana, & Kentucky. As of this
               writing that numbers to approximately 75 photos (and they are also being immediately being
               backed up.
          Current Count in Category 3: 2 medals

There is much more to do and I am really looking forward tomorrow to reading several of the new blogs I haven't looked at yet, as well as learning how to add photos to Find a Grave, and some of the other tasks.

In the meantime, say a little prayer for my girls here in Indiana will you? They are playing at the next level tomorrow and I would really like to see them move up to semi-state, especially since this is senior year for some special ones to me.

Until next time, keep plugging away and may you find much success.

Kim
                 

2010 Winter Games- Let Them Begin!

I have been amiss in the past week to ten days in my blog activities for a variety of reasons, the best being that her high school basketball team is currently in the throes of tournament time (and won quite a "barn burner" tonight-one of those "Indiana terms that seems to surface every year in February.)

Regardless, I was pleasantly pleased to see on Geneabloggers http://www.geneabloggers.com/ that there is an Olympic event for genealogists. The 2010 Winter Games have several sports, including the ones I plan to participate in: Back Up Your Data, Organize Your Research, Expand Your Knowledge, and Write! Write! Write! In each category there are a list of tasks to complete. The more done during the Olympics, the better the medal.

For example, in Write! Write! Write! the tasks include: write a summary of what your blog is about and publish it on your blog, participate in a genealogy or family history related carnival, and write a brief biographical sketch on one of your ancestors.

I really like this for several reasons: an opportunity to globally participate with other bloggers in a fun event, its a reminder to stick to those New Year Resolutions I made on this blog just a few weeks ago, and it gives me some new tools to investigate and try out in my family research.

Consider partciapting in this fun exploration. Even if you only complete one task in one category you are one step farther than you were yesterday!

Treasure Chest Thursday- Cossairt, Cosad, Cazart, Cozart Family

My great-grandfather was Lemuel TUCKER (b.IL abt. 1842, died 2 Sept 1855 White County, IL). He married Martha Ann COZART (b. abt. 1849 White County, IL, died 30 Mar 1910 White County, IL) on 20 Sept 1866 in White Co., IL

This couple have always fascinated me since I have known little to none of this vein of the tree for so long. Gradually, and with humor, the COZART line of the family is becoming one of the most interesting and researched lines on Ancestry, RootsWeb, and others. There is still much I have to personally prove and collect records down to my line, but my treasure today gives me some insight into doing that.

I had heard of this book on several message boards and was thrilled when it surfaced for me to purchase from a nice woman trying to clear out her inventory. "Genealogy of the Cossart Family, Cossairt Family, Cassatt Family, Cozart Family, Cozad Family, Cosad Family by Joseph Arthur Cossairt" was typed on carbon paper in 1932. It appears he sought to contact as many cousins in the United States and write a comprehensive listing with sources noted where he could.

It is a great source for me and I have not even scratched the beginning of its surface in surveying all the information included, but to me-- one of those enduring treasures!

John James Raley Journal Part III

I was looking over some of the past entries in this blog and realized that some time had passed since I last quoted from the journal of my great-grandfather, John James Raley. For those of you new to this blog, or just passing through, this journal is one of my greatest treasures. JJ, as I call him in order to keep him separate from all the other men with the same name in his pedigree, started writing this journal on Wednesday, July 19, 1911. The last two entries, one regarding the "Titanic Disaster" on page 273, were dated Monday, March 25, 1912.

He wrote about the family, the news of the day, his favorite sayings, and included poems he sent to his wife and his children when he was away from them because of his job with the railroad. I have quoted as he has written to this point, grammatical errors and all, but I am hesitant when it leaves an ancestor in what their descendants might consider an unfavorable light. I know that we could have several discussions about that and maybe this is a good time to have one, but in the meantime I have a decision to make.

One of the themes that runs throughout my great-grandfather's journal is the ability for members of his family, close or distant, to take care of themselves, be able to earn a good living, and to be responsible to one another. he doesn't mix words regarding these themes, and I sure if I could meet with the good people of Ohio County, Kentucky in the early 1900's they would say the same things. So, I will qoute the positive and the somewhat questionable, asking you to remember the era, the culture, and the man.

The current entry returns to his Uncle Wesley RALEY who is the son of John RALEY and Nancy WILSON, both born in and raised in Kentucky. Uncle Wesley, actually James Wesley RALEY is the brother of JJ's father, Jonathan RALEY. This entry discusses Uncle Wesley's children.

"He has several of his children living near him on farms and I suppose look after his needs. His oldest child by his first wife lives in Louisville, Kentucky and is wealthy now, and in the year 1883 he did not have one dollar and boarded with me at Big Clifty, Grayson County, Kentucky, and went to school and I waited on him for my board money until he could teach a school and earn it. He taught one or two schools then worked as a clerk in a dry goods store for one R. J. Daniel at Caneyville, Grayson County, Kentucky, 84 miles west of Louisville Kentucky on the I. C. Railroad. He went from there in to what was known as the Kentucky Joans Clothing Manufacturing House at Louisville, Kentucky and worked there as a clerk for several months and ran a boarding house near a medical college and boarded the students. he made money almost like finding it, then he quit the Kentucky Joans Clothing Company and secured a position as postal clerk on the train running from Louisville, Kentucky to Memphis, Tennessee. I heard my father say just a few days ago that cousin William Raley's income was said to be nearly one thousand dollars per month at that time, Harah for Bill!  Will close for today, Wednesday July 19th, 1911."

I think he included that last part with just a small bit of sarcasm, but as we all know, those little pieces of daily life, such as current income or the company a ancestor worked for all serve to fill out the story of their lives.

Thanks for listening,
Kim

Continuation of a Journal

When I began this blog, one of my goals was to have a place to dedicate to writing about the discoveries I would find down the road regarding my family history, as well as to share information with others regarding the many facets of genealogy. Unfortunately, neither one of these has happened in the past 2 weeks and i have missed this blog, so new in my life. I have quickly discovered that maintaining a blog has other benefits, such as helping me to keep my efforts focused on genealogy, and in delighting in all the avenues that we all know encompass this great "hobby".

Hard to believe, considering that just a few months ago I found blogs unnecessary and time consuming!

The purpose of today is to return to one of my early entries which is to quote entries that my great-grandfather John James Raley made into a journal he wrote about the family in 1918. I know this is a gift that should be shared, and I would be beggind if I learned that a cousin had such a treasure as well. So, I am going to commit myself to writing at least one entry a week, writing it just as my great-grandfather did spelling errors amd all.

"My Grand Father John Raley his brothers and sister all raised large families they were all Farmers most all of their lives except his brother James Raley who quit farming when he was about 45 years of age and engaged in the general merchandise business he also dealt quite largely in Tobaco at one time and at one time since I can remember was said to be worth several thousand dollars he was better fixed in a financial way than any of his brothers or his sisters husband Robert Wilson in fact he was very much better fixed than any Raley except my cousin William Raley of Louisville Kentucky whose in come is said to be some thing like or nearly one thousand dollars per month at this time in rents on his property he is a young man too something like 45 years of age and started out 26 years age without a dollar."