TBT- Maine Brothers & Sister of Winnebago

Spotlighting photos from my extensive archive

This week it is--

5 Maine siblings of Winnebago

Left to Right:
Ralph Maine [1872-1939] - my great-great grandfather
Spencer Maine [1860-1928]
Selwyn Maine (sitting) [1862-1952]
Olive Maine [1869-1933]
Irving Maine [1958-1928]

Five other siblings are not in this photograph-- 
Spencer & Irving farmed in Winnebago their entire lives. Selwyn & Ralph also lived in Winnebago & later lived in Northern Minnesota. Olive lived with different relatives over the years & also ran boarding houses throughout Minnesota.

They are the children of Erastus Maine [1823-1895] & Eliza Pierce [1838-1880]

2017 Genealogical New Year's Resolutions!

Another New Year Upon Us... Hello, 2017!

Another New Year…. My first impulse is to lament what a colossal failure 2016 was, in terms of my genealogical research! I still feel like I’m completely disorganized and wading through mountains of paper. And due to this dilemma, I feel that I’ve not been a very effective researcher—squandering valuable time and energy.

Of course, I know I’m probably just being unrealistically hard on myself. At one time, I was ultra-organized. I knew every single bit of research I’d done and every piece of documentation in my possession. In fact I had large swaths of my genealogy committed to memory. It was great. Fast forward 20 years. Things have changed. Lots of accumulated information, but not always where it needs to be. Brick walls have come tumbling down… but new ones have of course sprouted up. It’s a never ending cycle.

But in reality, if I’m honest, 2016 was a pretty good year for me genealogically speaking. I accomplished quite a few things and while I’m still “disorganized”, I think I’m well on my way to changing that.

Among my “accomplishments” that I can claim for the year

-Organized & launched a successful family reunion over a weekend, for 100 people

- Attended 2 day North Star Genealogy Conference, to further my genealogical education

-Continue to analyze DNA results from myself, father & both maternal grandparents

- A number of new pedigree ancestors & family surnames to research

- And even a few cousin connections

But now to the important part---- 
My 2017 New Year's Resolutions, albeit 3 weeks late...

1. GET ORGANIZED-- so much easier said than done... but I refuse to have this one show up in 2018. I know I can corral my 20+ years of research into something manageable once again!


2. Educate myself on what I don't know that I don't know... or a few things I know I don't, but wish I did! This is an easy one, because I'm already planning to attend a couple of genealogy workshops in person in 2017. There is always something new to educate yourself on when it comes to genealogy!

3. Photo Archive-- while this could fall under a sub-section of 'get organized', I'm giving it it's own resolution! I am lucky enough to have thousands & thousands (yes, really!) of family photos. It's time, once and for all to get them scanned & better organized. And the countless 'unknowns' need to be shared with others for possible identification!

4. Real Kin Connections-- Yes, there are actual living breathing relatives that I rather enjoy, and many of whom have interests in genealogy. It's time share some info & memories over a cup of coffee!

5. Time To Travel-- Yep, The Dead Relative Collector has more than a few road trips to take in 2017! There are records to be searched for, archives to be visited & cemeteries to be tromped through. Now to get planning the whens & wheres! 

And of course, this list could go on and on...and on and on... But I'll digress...  The world of genealogy is ever changing. Every week in fact, there are new resources and information entering our world. If I was lucky enough to be retired or vastly wealthy, I know I would devote many more hours in a week to our craft. Such as it is, neither is the case. And I will plug along, snatching what hours I might here & there... working hard at accomplishing my tasks... staying hopeful...

What's on your genealogical agenda for 2017? Any big goals? Trips or conferences on your schedule? A book to read or a webinar to enjoy? Some longtime brick wall you've finally decided to make a priority and smash down? Whatever these goals might be, Good Luck & Happy Hunting!

TBT- Photos of Yesteryear- Mapson Family Christmas

In honor of the upcoming Christmas Holiday, I'm spotlighting this photo

From the home of

Jethro & Sarah Mapson

My Great-Great-Great Grandparents

This Christmas photo was taken at the home of Jethro & Sarah Mapson, near Granada, MN around 1910-1915. It's very likely that it was taken by their grandson Harry Mapson, who was a photographer, starting as a teenager. 

In the background you can see a pendant from San Diego, CA, which is where Jehu Mapson, a brother to Jethro lived. The Mapson family were prolific letter writers & much correspondence survives today.

This lovely photo, from over 100 years ago, is one of my favorite pieces of Holiday memorabilia.

TBT- Photos of Yesteryear-- Frank Mapson

Spotlights photos from my extensive photo archive

This week it is-

Great-Great-Great Uncle Frank Mapson

Frank Mapson wearing a fur coat belonging to his father Jethro

Frank Mapson was born March 24, 1869 in Marion, Minnesota, the son of Jethro & Sarah (Sealey) Mapson. As a baby he came with his family to Martin County, Minnesota where he grew up.

Later marrying Ida Clynick and having two children- Harry & Hazel. Frank farmed in rural Granada, Minnesota his whole life. He died at home there in 1967, at 98 years of age.

Betsy Hagen- A 20 Year Mystery Solved!

Every genealogist has a "brick wall" or mystery to be solved. And The Dead Relative Collector is certainly no exception. In fact, I come from a family riddled with mysteries & brick walls.

One of my longer standing questions involved a Great-Great-Great-Great Grandmother, Beret "Betsy" Hagen, who as a young wife & mother left her home in Northern Norway and came to the United States, settling in Minnesota.

In 1873, four months after the birth of their 12 child, Betsy's husband died; leaving her to tend to their large family and the farm. As her older daughters were already married, before long some children moved in with their older siblings and eventually, Betsy remarried Peter A. Williamson and they continued farming while raising their blended family.

Unfortunately, the family lived in a very rural part of Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. While vital records begin in the 1870s, there were not many newspapers that picked up news from that rural area... they were just too far away from the larger towns that had newspapers.

An extensive family history, written in the late 1950's by a cousin had sketchy information on Betsy & her husband, as by that time all of their children and some of the grandchildren had died.

Betsy had 3 possible death dates listed, ranging from 1891 to 1898. I was able to rule out the earlier dates, as Betsy & Peter show up in the 1895 State Census.

The rural Lutheran Church Cemetery that the family is buried at, is full of unmarked graves. And other than 1 infant granddaughter who died in the 1880s, NONE of the Hagen family has markers. I've been to the cemetery on two different occasions and walked it diligently, to no avail.

Lutheran records, at least in Minnesota, have been digitized and I was able to find death/burial records for all the Hagen family members in Kandiyohi County, EXCEPT Betsy... and I searched year by year from 1895 (when she was last known alive) to 1900 (when Peter Williamson appears widowed). No death or burial showed up for the small Lutheran Church that Betsy was a member of for 30 years. I was pretty much certain, at this point, she must have died elsewhere! 

Peter & Betsy had children living in North Dakota (where Peter himself would die in 1908) and in Cass County in Northern Minnesota. Unfortunately, death records that early are very sketchy (non-existent) for those areas at the time of Betsy's death.

Newspapers for the area are limited... and news coverage for their rural area is even more limited. And after scanning reel after reel of microfilm hoping to spot anything, I pretty much gave up all hope. Chronicling America does have Willmar newspapers, which I have searched previously, hoping to find something.

Finally, this last week, I hopped on Chronicling America again... I searched very vague names and very vague dates.... And FINALLY I hit the jack pot! A small death notice, loaded with details, in a Willmar newspaper, that gave her date of death & location... AND confirmed that she was buried at the cemetery.

She had a daughter (my ancestor) and a son who lived as neighbors to each other in 1898 in Cass County, but she was probably living with her daughter whose family was mostly grown by that time.

After over 20 years of trying to confirm the details of her life, I've finally gotten some answers about Betsy Hagen!

Next up, to tackle the Norwegian records and see if I can determine, for sure, who her parents & siblings were. One mystery solved... countless more to go!

North Star Conference & Genealogy Education~

With the busy days of Summer becoming a memory, and Autumn (at least here in Minnesota) beginning, albeit seemingly behind schedule, It's now been over 2 weeks since The Minnesota Genealogical Society put on another quality North Star Conference. Spread out over 3 full days of great speakers & information-- The 2016 Conference showcased the immense talent & knowledge of Blaine Bettinger and Dr. Michael Locapo. As well as various speakers from the genealogy field who shared their expertise on a wide range of topics!

We're very fortunate in Minnesota that we have an active Genealogical Society at the State level that coordinates conferences throughout the year and is able to get some of the most knowledgeable speakers in our field, to present.

As a genealogist who is always trying to further his understanding of DNA & how it can apply to my research, I was looking forward to the always knowledgeable Blaine Bettinger, who is at the forefront of DNA research. He released a new book, "Genetic Genealogy in Practice" earlier this Spring.

However, I was most excited to have 2 days of plenary sessions with the great & entertaining Dr. Michael Lacopo. I'm assuming any reader of 'The Dead Relative Collector' has surely read/followed/loved Hoosier Daddy, the fascinating blog written by Dr. Lacopo. If you haven't read it yet, stop reading mine right now & click the above link to his. You won't be sorry!

Among the other speakers I was able to enjoy was Dianne Plunkett Latham who gave wonderful information on joining the various lineage societies & groups out there [I must start my SAR & Mayflower quests this Winter] as well as Kelli  Bergheimer who shared online tools that I didn't even know about, to connect & collaborate with cousins! Katherine R. Willson talked about the serious subject of what to do with our genealogy once we're gone... and to make sure our wishes are fulfilled. 

There were other speakers that I also heard lecture... as well as some I couldn't fit in, but hope to next time... and whole new subjects that I know nothing about... but should.

Even though Autumn is well underway... and before we know it the hustle & bustle of the Holiday Season... and while some of us have to balance jobs, families & other distractions from our research... there will be plenty of opportunities to further your genealogical educations! 

I know I'm already thinking about to RootsTech next February... checking out the speakers & topics to see what might interest me, if I was to make the trip to Utah for the first time. 


And, like I said, luckily Minnesota has a very active genealogical society and there are plenty of opportunities over the coming weeks & months to learn something new!

Conferences like this are a great reminder how much more to genealogy there is (or can be)... it isn't just Facebook groups & "shaking leaves"... regardless how helpful & great they are. Make sure you aren't missing out on some great opportunities.

Are there any conferences on your calendar? What topics are you interested in? Have you been to any previously?

Mystery Photo-- Fairmont, Minnesota

This unidentified photo comes from Southern Minnesota

Compliments of a Fairmont, MN (Martin County) photography studio

These two ladies remain unidentified... from a collection a photos connected to the Weber & Krumholz families, it is likely that they are relatives. One of them shows up in other photos as well... also unidentified.

Hopefully someone out there will recognize these ladies so we can give them names once & for all