Welcome!

I am new to the blogging community but, as my family tree has grown, I decided that this is the best way to share my findings and make new connections.
I have been interested in genealogy in about 30 years and have worked on it off and on during that time.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Library of Congress trip

I am going to the Library of Congress on Saturday with a local genealogy group. I am not sure yet what I will look for, but I am excited to go and learn more about it and what is there.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Genealogy Class

Taught my first genealogy class tonight. There were only 2 students but we had a great time. Even though it was to be a beginner's class, they both had some experience so that was helpful. I am looking forward to next week.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Sentimental Sunday

I am feeling a bit sentimental today. My feet were cold so I got out some slippers I made a few years ago. They are a bit big as they have stretched out but they remind me of some my dad was wearing the few years before he passed away. Made me think about him with sadness but also with some good memories.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Sunday's Obituary

I have looked at the site  http://www.fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html a few times in the past but have not found much. In the past several days, I have had the opportunity to take some time to look through it more thoroughly and have been pleasantly surprised at the wealth of information I have found.
I have found several obituaries, but one in particular I was very happy to have located. My grandfather had a brother who died fairly young in a truck accident. I was always told he was from, and lived in, Michigan but I was never successful in finding anything about him in any Michigan resources. Well, it turns out, that while he died in Michigan, he was actually working for a trucking company based out of Chicago! Now I have a new clue on where to search.
The copy I have is a pdf and I have not figured out how to attach that type of file yet. If I do, I will post the obituary here!

Monday, June 25, 2012

An Amazing Weekend

I just had the most amazing weekend! I went to Pennsylvania with my mother as she wanted to attend a stamp show but did not want to drive. While she enjoyed her stamps, I enjoyed seeing some historic sites and making friends with cousins I had not met previously.
First, my 6th great-grandfather, Conrad Weiser lived in Womelsdorf, PA and I went to his homestead. While the buildings were not open, I got to walk around the grounds, peek in windows and see the monuments. http://conradweiserhomestead.org/index.asp
Then, I went to tour the Ephrata Cloister, where Conrad spent some time for spiritual reflection and renewal.
And, best of all, I spent Saturday morning and afternoon meeting and getting to know some cousins and share pictures and family stories. It was fantastic.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Wedding Wednesday

June is a month full of weddings. I have counted 96 weddings in my family tree with only one day in June that does not have any, the 24th. I may find one for that day eventually!
Most of these weddings happened many, many years ago and were not the elaborate events we have today, but they still brought people and families together.
I want to highlight one wedding in particular, that of my parents. Last year, they celebrated 60 years together. It was bittersweet as Dad was in the hospital and passed away just 16 days later. But that anniversary day was one of his good days.
Obviously, I was not at their wedding, but I can comment on their marriage. As with many couples, they had their ups and downs, I am sure, but growing up they were loving and supportive of each other as well as their children. They have been a wonderful example of two people committed to making a happy life together and home for their family.
I hope that many of the other weddings that occurred in June resulted in equally happy marriages.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Ancestry Hints

I have been working my way through several "hints" on ancestry and it has been very interesting. I have found several documents and bits of information I did not have before. It will take quite awhile to get through everything and get the appropriate information into my family tree but that's OK. I am really enjoying it.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

I Took the Plunge!

After using Ancestry.com for research for several years, I decided to upload my family trees. I had been hesitant in the past due to privacy concerns, etc. I know there are safeguards in place to hide information on living people, but I was hesitant just the same. But, I decided to export my tree, doing one for reach grandparent and back and using the grandparent as the starting person; only ancestors, no descendants. This way there’s less of a problem with privacy as I did not use any living people. I decided to divide my trees rather than upload one large one so I can track them better. And I can name them with the primary surnames for that line. For me, it makes looking at connections easier.
Well, now I wonder why I waited so long! I have connected with cousins I haven’t been in contact with for years and have met some new ones I didn’t know I had. I’ve found information I didn’t have that would have taken many hours researching in various databases by individual.
I kept seeing the commercials for ancestry and the references to the little leaf. I didn’t know what they were talking about. Well, DUH! That’s because I didn’t have a tree in there. Once you upload your tree, ancestry does a search and finds documents and sources that may go along with the people in the tree. Many are census records, but there are matches to items in all their other databases as well. Also, it shows you other people who have the same person in their tree so you can connect with them or just follow when they have uploaded something new.
One great feature is the ability to attach photos and documents from other people’s trees to your own. I found some stories and pictures I didn’t have so added them. My mother checks ancestry now and then and she saw a picture I had added and asked me, “Where did you get a picture of Grandma Jenny’s headstone?!” It was wonderful to share that, and other finds with her.
So, I encourage anyone who has not uploaded a tree to ancestry, to do so and see what treasures you may find.
Happy Hunting!