Almost Time for New Years Resolutions [Again!]

The final days of 2013 are flying by! The holiday hustle and bustle and Christmas fervor assist the clock in its race to the finish! Where do all the hours in the days go??!  Who knows? I've spent the last 5 hours eating spinach dip and reading blogs... so that's where today has gone anyway.....

With the end of the year comes the all important cliché of "New Years Resolutions"!!!! Don't get me wrong, I make them every year! In fact, I blogged about my 'Genealogy Resolutions' at the beginning of this year.... and am embarrassed to say, I didn't do a very good job meeting them... once I reread that post from 11 months ago....

So... I have a little over a week left of 2013... and I'm hoping I can enjoy some reflection on the past year and all the things I did (or didn't) do!  I'll also be crafting some realistic 'resolutions' for the coming year... things I can obtain and do with some level of success. I don't want to be forced to just copy & paste my 2014 resolutions for 2015... I want progress!

Organizations must prevail... and brick walls will hopefully come crashing down!

Mystery Photo... Freeborn Co, MN?

Mystery Photo Sunday

I have such a large photo archive... of both relative & non-relative photos... that I've decided to do a weekly spotlight of one the 'mystery photos' in my possession.


The 3 gentleman are probably connected to families in Freeborn County, Minnesota or Wisconsin... and more specifically the Grinolds, Schoonover or Nelson families.

They came from an old album that belonged to this family. I would love to know the identities of these gentleman and how, if at all, they connect to the above families!

Mystery Photo Sunday... Winnebago, Minnesota

Mystery Photo Sunday

I have such a large photo archive... of both relative & non-relative photos... that I've decided to do a weekly spotlight of one the 'mystery photos' in my possession.

See the below 6 photos... that came from the same album, as there are individuals in the group photo who also have a portrait.

From a Winnebago, Minnesota photography studio.... It'd be great to get these cabinet card photos to someone who might appreciate them!

Houston County Minnesota Cemeteries

 

As a genealogist from Minnesota, I take great pride in the many resources our state has in place to aide researchers! Many, like the death index, are very well known, but many many others are not.

So I've decided to spotlight a few of the lesser known greats here, in hopes that I can connect someone with a tool they can use! Since Saturdays are good days to do genealogy (at least for us working folks), I decided to post these links then.

Houston County, Minnesota

Transcribed Cemetery Records

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/cemetery/minnesota/houston.htm

 

I've never heard of the "American History and Genealogy Project".... but apparently they were active in transcribing cemeteries a few year ago... and posted these 5 cemeteries in Houston County.... I did not check to see if these cemeteries are already listed on Findagrave...  But if you have family in this area, you might check out the link~

Finding New Relatives Over The Holiday Season!

With the Holiday Season now into full swing, some genealogists have to let family research go until after the New Year… others will take this opportunity to connect with relatives, add new branches to the family tree, and otherwise further their research!

 

While I find the hustle and bustle of Holiday activities leaves little time for active genealogy research, I do use the opportunity to try and connect with “long lost, far flung relatives”….  There are always countless living, breathing “cousins” out there that I’d like to connect with and in doing so, add information or find others also interested in genealogy.

 

I do this by sending a Holiday greeting card and brief introductory letter along with a very bare bones breakdown of our connection……  Which looks something like this... 

Common Ancestor [born-died]

My ancestor --- siblings --- Their Ancestor

My ancestor --- 1^st Cousin --- Their Ancestor

My Grandparent --- 2^nd Cousin --- Their Grandparent

My Parent --- 3^rd Cousin --- Their Parent

Me --- 4^th Cousin  --- Them

While very basic, it gives the basics without overwhelming someone who has little genealogy knowledge.

While talking briefly about genealogy, I also speak of meeting and finding new “cousins”…. And also say that while I realize they might not have interest in family history, perhaps they know one of their relatives who does... and how I’d love to be put in contact with them… and so on and so forth.  Also expressing my understanding that the Holidays are a busy time for everyone but that it would be great to connect in the New Year!  [This gives us both the permission to put any extensive communication off for a month or so!]

I’ve been doing this random cousin greeting card exchange for a few years now and while I never do hear from some, others do write back and we have fostered great family relationships!

I usually send out 10 or so each year... but you could do as many or as few as you want. In fact, this year I am sending out about 20.

This is one way that I’ve been able to incorporate genealogy into my busy Holiday schedule.

Do you attempt any form of genealogy research during the Holidays?

Mystery Photo Sunday... Amboy, Minnesota

Mystery Photo Sunday

I have such a large photo archive... of both relative & non-relative photos... that I've decided to do a weekly spotlight of one the 'mystery photos' in my possession.

 

 

 

Two separate photos, both from Amboy, Minnesota photography studios...

These were both found by me over a few years... no reason to believe the first photo is related to the second photo.

 

Two great old cabinet card photos... would sure love to reunite them with relatives who would treasure them~

Meeker County, MN.... Historical Society & Old Queries....

 

As a genealogist from Minnesota, I take great pride in the many resources our state has in place to aide researchers! Many, like the death index, are very well known, but many many others are not.

So I've decided to spotlight a few of the lesser known greats here, in hopes that I can connect someone with a tool they can use! Since Saturdays are good days to do genealogy (at least for us working folks), I decided to post these links then.

Meeker County

Historical Society Museum

http://garminnesota.org/index.htm

While they don't have actual data posted to their site, they do have listings of their resources and contact information.

A great research aid to anyone with roots in this county!

 

 

Old queries from GenWeb

 

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnmeeker/oldqueries.htm

 

While these queries are old...from the mid 1990s... they might contain some data of interest... expect the contact details to be outdated... but a good starting point!

Mystery Photo Sunday...Gilbert M. Fowler...Mankato, MN

Mystery Photo Sunday

I have such a large photo archive...

Of both relative & non-relative photos... that I've decided to do a weekly spotlight of one the 'mystery photos' in my possession.

 

William L. Bayer & Gilbert M. Fowler

 

According to the brief search I conducted...

Gilbert MacKnight Fowler was born in 1910, in Mankato, Blue Earth Co, Minnesota...

the son of Sam & Mildred (Fletcher) Fowler.

He died 5 years after this photo, in 1957... in Sacramento, California.

 

This original photo came in a box of miscellaneous ephemera I bought at an auction... most of it seemed related to the Fletcher family.  I would love to return this photo to a family member who would treasure it!

 

Lincoln County Links... Minnesota Genealogy Resources

As a genealogist from Minnesota, I take great pride in the many resources our state has in place to aide researchers! Many, like the death index, are very well known, but many many others are not.

 

So I've decided to spotlight a few of the lesser known greats here, in hopes that I can connect someone with a tool they can use! Since Saturdays are good days to do genealogy (at least for us working folks), I decided to post these links then.

Lincoln County

Transcribed Birth Records 1876-1882
http://genealogytrails.com/minn/lincoln/births.html

Some early birth records... only about 30 or so, but have a look!

 

Diamond Lake Cemetery aka:
Danish Evangelical Cemetery Township
Diamond Lake Twp City
   Located in Lake Benton, Minnesota

http://genealogytrails.com/minn/lincoln/cem_diamondlake.html

 

Nicely transcribed cemetery, with some obit links, etc.

 

 

Two great resources for this small Minnesota County! 

Salome Sturm.... A Mysterious Grandmother...

As far as mysterious female ancestors go – Salome Sturm is no exception. In 20 years of researching her, I have little to show for it... Though I certainly have tried!

Salome Sturm was born 20 June 1841 in Alsace Lorraine, the daughter of Mathias Sturm & his unknown wife. Family lore is she married a Sturm, the son of Johannes & Catherine (Rudolph) Sturm, and that they had a son Jacob. Her husband died and she and her small son came to the United States, settling in Lake County, Illinois… this area was full of Sturm’s at that time… On 15 November 1866 she married Johann Sturm, the son of Johannes & Catherine… they had 5 children: John, Henry & David (twins), Michael, and Emma.  Johann died in 1875, and Salome went on to marry his younger brother George Sturm; and they went on to have a son George as well.

So what I think I have is a Sturm female, who went on to marry 3 Sturm brothers…. Though there were some family members who questioned whether her first husband was actually a Sturm…  I can’t find anything on a first husband, though she has this son Jacob Sturm… whether his Sturm surname was for his Father, his Step-Father/Uncle, or even his Mother’s maiden name – I do not know.

 

Salome died at her rural Long Grove, IL farm on 12 October 1906, she was 65 years old. She is buried nearby at the Long Grove Cemetery.

I’d love to know more about the life of Salome – who her parents were and her first husband. Maybe someone knows something of her and her life… and even has a photograph of this elusive, mysterious Grandma.

Lost Document... Aloisius Plutowski & Nettie Ebertowski

Marriage Record... found in an antique shop.....

Just this week I stumbled upon this nicely frame marriage record in an antique shop... at $29, it's a little over the amount that I'm willing to pay to "rescue" unknown genealogy gems.... But I thought if I publicized it here, perhaps I'd be able to find a relative... and in the least, the photos are retained here. 

According to the certificate, Nettie Ebertowski was, at the time, a resident of Oslo, Minnesota... which is a tiny hamlet in Marshall County. Though the wedding took place in North Dakota.

If you are connected to this family, and are interested in actually owning this certificate, I'm happy to assist you in getting it and shipping it to you.

For an 84 year old document, it is in lovely condition... and it's so sad that this family heirloom has been separated from family members who may cherish it.


[update- as of 05/10/2014 this certificate is still for sale]

Elizabeth Davids Park.... Who Were You?

As mysterious female ancestors go, Elizabeth Davids is certainly a prime example. Even though she married into the well documented Park(e) family, she remains an unknown.

Elizabeth Davids was born 2 September 1785, though I can’t find where I go this date from! So I can’t vouch for the accuracy of it. I have no idea who her parents could be.....

She married Ephraim Park on 2 September 1804, he was a young widower with a couple of children… Elizabeth would go on to have a number of children of her own including: Ephraim, Sidney, Charles, Eliza, Margaret Snyder Burgett, and Lucy Bacon. 

By the 1810s they were living in Chenango County, New York and in 1816 Ephraim died in Ontario County, New York, leaving Elizabeth a young widow with a large family to care for…Whether this is where the family was living at the time is unclear.

Also unclear is what happened to Elizabeth after this point! I don’t know if she remarried (she was only 31 years old) or died young herself.  In fact, I don’t even know for sure that she outlived her husband! She could have died prior to 1816.  Many of her children remained in the area and their families are fairly well documented.

I’d love to have some answers on the life of Elizabeth! Does anyone have her in their family tree?!

 

Mystery Photo Sunday... Blue Earth, Minnesota

Mystery Photo Sunday

I have such a large photo archive... of both relative & non-relative photos... that I've decided to do a weekly spotlight of one the 'mystery photos' in my possession.

 

 

This unknown lady/girl (age?) was photographed in Blue Earth, Faribault County, Minnesota.... Her identity is a complete mystery.....

It is possible that this unknown lady is related to the Nelson - Grinolds - or Schoonover families...

Pope County Musuem.... Minnesota Research Resource

As a genealogist from Minnesota, I take great pride in the many resources our state has in place to aide researchers! Many, like the death index, are very well known, but many many others are not.

So I've decided to spotlight a few of the lesser known greats here, in hopes that I can connect someone with a tool they can use! Since Saturdays are good days to do genealogy (at least for us workingfolks), I decided to post these links then.

 

While you won't find much in the way of actual data (transcribed records, etc.), the Pope County Museum appears to be a very well organized and put together place! The website if full of information and will certain show you much of what they have to offer... And the blog is a fun, interactive way to be part of their local history and on goings!  I don't even have roots from that area, and I spent a lot time reading and clicking through their links! 

 

Pope County Museum

http://www.popecountyhistory.com/index.html

 

Pope County Museum -- Museum Musings

http://popecountymuseum.wordpress.com/

 

If you have any connection to Pope County, I suggest taking a look at both of these sites... You'll be happy you did!

 

Happy Hunting

Lost Bible... Amund Olesen Flo of Rapidan, Minnesota

I purchased this Norwegian[?] bible at an auction recently.

There was so much writing in the front & back covers that I had to rescue this book, since it went for only $15.00.

**According to a response from Cliff posted below, this appears to be a bible belonging to the family of Amund Olesen Flo, who was from the Stryn Parish in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway.  By 1900 they were residing near Rapidan, in Blue Earth County, MN. See the below comment section for the rest of what Cliff had to say.

Of course, I don't understand Norwegian... so I can't really make out any of the information that's written... I'd love to reunite this book with a family member!

Or if anyone out there can read the pages... it'd be great to have a translation of what is written

 [update- It would appear that this is actually in Norwegian, not Danish, as I originally thought... or was told at the auction. I have made a few updates to this post to reflect the information I received from Cliff, below]

***Update- 2014, this bible was reunited with a Flo descendant living near the original Flo home in Norway***

Early Indexes- Sherburne Co, Minnesota

As a genealogist from Minnesota, I take great pride in the many resources our state has in place to aide researchers! Many, like the death index, are very well known, but many many others are not.

So I've decided to spotlight a few of the lesser known greats here, in hopes that I can connect someone with a tool they can use! Since Saturdays are good days to do genealogy (at least for us working folks), I decided to post these links then.

Sherburne County

Birth
http://www.sherburnehistorycenter.org/birtha.html

Marriage
http://www.sherburnehistorycenter.org/marr.html

Death
http://www.sherburnehistorycenter.org/death.html


These early indexes area  great online resource! And while here, I'd follow some other links and check out the holdings that the History Center has to offer... it looks like a well organized & put together place!

Weerts... My own neglected Surname

It seems funny that after 20 years of genealogy research, my own surname is one I’ve researched the least. Weerts… it is not a common name… German is its origin, though my line comes from Ostfriesland, near the Dutch border.  And besides Weerts, I have Kanngiesser, Funk, Benson, & Kruse surnames that I'd like to pursue....

 

 

One of the other drawbacks is that my family only came to the United States in 1892. Making my Father only the second US born Weerts generation; his Grandfather being only 6 years old at the time of immigration.

 

So, in the beginning it was quite easy to document the family of my Great-Great Grandparents & their 10 children. But it didn’t take long before I was just maintaining births, marriages, divorces and death for the family… not very exciting… and certainly not pedigree expanding research!

 

Years ago,  I was in contact with a cousin who still lived in Germany—he provided some information and even visited here a few times.  As is often the case—we’ve lost touch.

 

The idea of German research can be daunting – I don’t speak the language – and online research is stymied because it appears the Lutheran records of my family are not as nicely indexed and shared as other records.

 

Another frustration – my Great-Great Grandmother was “adopted” – the circumstances of which are a complete mystery. Elizabeth Funk was born 17 September 1862 in Petkum, Ostfriesland, Germany -- I believe Funk to be her adopted name – and have seen her also referred to as Elizabeth Benson – which I take to be her birth name.  Her 1884 marriage to Herman “Harm” Ludolf Weerts is also undocumented.

 

My immigrant Grandfather was Herman “Harm” Ludolf Weerts born 29 November 1864 in Petkum, Ostfreisland, Germany, the son of Ludolf Weerts (1834-1897) & Helena Kruse. The children of Ludolf & Helena include: Foelke, Antje, Harm, Wiegert, Ludolf, and Wilke.

 

Ludolf Weerts was the son of Jann Jurgens Weerts & Antje Kanngiesser. Information on these older lines is floating around Ancestry, though the sources remain unclear to me.

 

And because I know so little about these people, my research is drab... heck, even this posting is dull! But I don't have anything interesting little tidbits to spruce this up.... so I apologize that it feels rather clinical...but I digress.

 

I wish I was a whiz at German research, but I'm not comfortable with it... and I'm still not even sure how to go about trying to find the records I could really use to further my research... like the 1884 marriage of my Great-Great Grandparents, for one.....

 

I’d love to connect with anyone else researching the Weerts name… or the female lines that married into the family. German cousins still residing in Germany would be an added treat!  And the mysterious "adopted" Grandma is another female ancestor whose pedigree I would enjoy furthering.

 

Mystery Photo Sunday... Winnebago, Minnesota

Mystery Photo Sunday

I have such a large photo archive... of both relative & non-relative photos... that I've decided to do a weekly spotlight of one the 'mystery photos' in my possession.

This nice wedding portrait was taken in Winnebago, Faribault County, Minnesota.... I have no idea who they could be... they are no connection to me, I actually purchased the photo for a few dollars, hoping I might one day ID this couple!
 

Hubbard County, Minnesota-- Cemetery Records

As a genealogist from Minnesota, I take great pride in the many resources our state has in place to aide researchers! Many, like the death index, are very well known, but many many others are not.

So I've decided to spotlight a few of the lesser known greats here, in hopes that I can connect someone with a tool they can use! Since Saturdays are good days to do genealogy (at least for us working folks), I decided to post these links then.

Hubbard County

Cemeteries

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnhubbar/Cemeteries.htm


There is a nice listing of the cemeteries in Hubbard County, and a bunch of transcribed cemeteries there as well!

A great research aid to anyone with roots in this county!

Mystery Photo Sunday... Southern Minnesota

Mystery Photo Sunday

I have such a large photo archive... of both relative & non-relative photos... that I've decided to do a weekly spotlight of one the 'mystery photos' in my possession.

This very nice photo, is almost certainly a family portrait...

The middle aged parents with their 6 fine looking children.....

I bought it at a garage sale, because I liked the frame it was in... but have held onto the photo for a few years now, hoping somehow I might return it to someone who would treasure it.

The photo was purchased in Southern Minnesota... but that certainly doesn't mean it was taken here... or that the subjects lived here.... The photo was trimmed away from the cardboard folder, so there isn't even a photographers name/city stamped on it.

Hopefully someday, someone will recognize this family...

I wish it was mine!

Organization... a dirty word in my genealogy world...

[I originally began this entry over a month ago... but my progress was so slow, I put off the completion and posting until now...]

Last night [almost 2 months ago...] I heard a terrible crash and sound of breaking glass from my study/office. Upon investigating, I found that one of my many precarious book stacks had fallen over (thank you gravity)... and unfortunately, landed on a bunch of picture frames I had dragged out of a cabinet the other day... and of course left out all over the floor (well, actually the floor was buried, so I left them on top of piles of stuff)... so anyway, the books broke some of the picture frame glass (nothing important, so no tears).... But still messy. Ugh.
 

So today, I have managed to pick up glass, gather up frames, and restack said books. And now I'm on a quest to find one of the 3 pair of scissors I own, that have all disappeared... swallowed up by office clutter.
 
I had taken a photo of the "accident" to post with this, but decided the humiliation of claiming that disaster area as my own was too much... so your imagination will have to do (and I assure you, it will be far kinder than reality!).
But I digress... and am off to find one of my scissors! 
 
[fast forward 7 weeks]

Organization… something all genealogists strive for… yet many fail to accomplish! The fellow genealogists in my life have all heard me talk of “trying to get organized” for ages! [My cousin Jamey could say Years!]    And I know I’m not alone~

The sad/frustrating part is, once upon a time ago—I was incredibly organized! Which was no small feat, because I am a “paper genealogist” – printing forms & charts and creating binders with actual, tangible documents, photos, etc.  Of course, way back then, my binders & file folders were all organized and up-to-date as well!

Fast forward a few years – I took a couple of years off from active research – and basically just collected new data – without really organizing and keeping on top of the new stuff I acquired. Fast forward a few more years and the data collecting continued – and add in a computer crash [and total loss of data], a move to a new home [Hello, office chaos!] , and other projects & responsibilities that put research on a low priority…. [sigh]
 

Now today—the realization that enough is enough – I can no longer tolerate the home office/study that is in such disarray, that it is left totally non-functioning. And the desire to re-examine old brick walls & other lines is hampered by the lack of organization.

So, I’ve been sorting, organizing, filing, purging, and otherwise making some headway in my quest to be the organized superstar I once was!  But it sure is a daunting task to overhaul 20+ years of research! Ugh. Of course, a bonus part of sorting through mounds of papers, sheet by sheet, is that you find all of this great stuff you had forgotten about!  So now, not only am I now filing these items correctly, I have a notebook where I’ve been jotting down notes regarding items I want to research further….  I’m trying not to get waylaid from organizing by new research quests… That’s the carrot keep dangling in front of myself… my reward for finally ‘getting the job done’!

New Bookcase, already loaded with books
that previously lived on the floor

 

It’s no secret, lack of organization is unhealthy for people—the chaos is stressful and wastes many hours of a one’s life ‘trying to find stuff’. Lucky for me, I have the skills and a system that previously worked for me [when I used it] – and finally have what’s been missing for years now – Motivation!

I’ve read articles on organizing genealogy – pursued other blogs posts – and joined a great Facebook group “The Organized Genealogist” which is full of folks who are motivated to be organized and share ideas and dilemmas with one another. If organization skills & ideas are an interest to you… you might think of joining the group! I know you will be amazed at all of the ideas, as I am!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/organizedgenealogist/
This link will get you right to the page!

And now, as of today, I have organized enough that I am even ready to change furniture (already swapped out to old bookcases for two nice sleek new ones)... and picked up paint swatches to decide on new color for the walls! Woo Hoo!  Progress

Minnesota Research Resource... Anoka County

As a genealogist from Minnesota, I take great pride in the many resources our state has in place to aide researchers! Many, like the death index, are very well known, but many many others are not.

So I've decided to spotlight a few of the lesser known greats here, in hopes that I can connect someone with a tool they can use! Since Saturdays are good days to do genealogy (at least for us working folks), I decided to post these links then.

Anoka County

There are really very few resources online for Anoka County... Both the Historical Society & Genealogical Society have websites...

Anoka County Historical Society
http://anokacountyhistory.org/

Anoka County Genealogical Society
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~relativememory/

If you have relatives from Anoka County, or have research interests there, I'd suggest you have a looksee at what they have to offer.... Anyone local might find some of the classes the Genealogical Society offers of interest.

If anyone knows of other Anoka County resources, feel free to add them in the comment section!

My Ancestors were Slave owners... Among other things

Yes… my ancestors owned people – as early settlers of Kentucky, they were slave owners… And while I realize that this is a fact of history, I still find it somewhat disturbing when reading the will of a fore bearer and listed among the pots, pans, and furnishings is a “Negro Woman named Peg”.

Unfortunately, this branch of my family is one I’m not well researched or informed on – so I don’t know what their beliefs were regarding slavery – or the Civil War. Also, my direct ancestors ended up leaving Kentucky for Missouri – and I don’t know much about them during the 1840-1860 time frame, or even if they maintained their "slave holdings" up to that point.

Personally, I’d love it if they were vehement abolitionists but since they were slave owners who went on to will their slaves to other family members – it goes without saying they were in favor of slavery.

So I’ve become curious as to the lives of these people my family owned – I hope they were treated well – and at what point, if any, were they freed?

And I’ve also wondered what happened to them after they became free – what their lives were like (though I can imagine) and also what their descendants are up to today… and what, if anything, they know about their history.

While reading the will of one slave owning Grandfather, I noticed among the "inventory", some younger slave women & their "mulatto" children. There is, without a doubt, a strong likelihood that these "mulattoes" were fathered by members of my ancestors household. While not uncommon, it adds another dimension to the story.

If I had fewer genealogy quests and the knowledge on how to begin, I’d be tempted to try and research these people, and find some answers. I see their names listed on inventory lists – and I feel a connection -- and sense of wondering --  though even if I did find descendants of these slaves today… I don’t know how I would even approach them… “Hi, I’m Nick… My family used to own yours… And I think we actually may be blood kin...”

Has anyone else experienced this research issue? Have you ever delved into slave research? What about groups documenting slave history? I’m sure they must be out there….

Metamora & Pekin, Illinois... Mystery Photo Sunday...

Mystery Photo Sunday

I have such a large photo archive... of both relative & nonrelative photos... that I've decided to do a weekly spotlight of one the 'mystery photos' in my possession.

 

 

 

 

 

This photo was taken in the areas around Pekin & Metamora, Illinois... the man seated on the right front (not the groom) is William Weber... I assume that either the bride or groom is related somehow to the Weber or Krumholz families that lived in rural Woodford, Tazewell, and Peoria Counties.

 

Everyone in the photo, other than William is unknown to me... but I'd love to be able to ID the rest of these folks, who are likely relatives!

Minnesota Research Resource--- Updated Marriage Index

As a genealogist from Minnesota, I take great pride in the many resources our state has in place to aide researchers! Many, like the death index, are very well known, but many many others are not.

So I've decided to spotlight a few of the lesser known greats here, in hopes that I can connect someone with a tool they can use! Since Saturdays are good days to do genealogy (at least for us working folks), I decided to post these links then.

Minnesota Official Marriage System

The State of Minnesota now recognizes the legality of same sex marriage, and the state wide marriage index has now been updated and will include those marriages as well.

The index format and website layout has changed slightly... If you previously bookmarked the website, you may need to update your bookmarks.... and if you have Minnesota relatives and have yet to check out the site, please do!Minnesota Official Marriage System

Mystery Photo Sunday.... Freeborn County, MN.... ?

Mystery Photo Sunday

I have such a large photo archive... of both relative & nonrelative photos... that I've decided to do a weekly spotlight of one the 'mystery photos' in my possession.

 

 

This photo was included in an album from the Twin Lakes, Freeborn County, Minnesota area....

Most were members of the Nelson - Grinolds family..... I'd love to know who this is and how they might connect to the family!

Thanks for looking... and stop back next week if you'd like another Mystery Photo... mystery...

Maintaining Family Relationships... Or To Do Better...

Years ago, I did better at maintaining familial relationships – whether via snail mail letters, phone calls, email, or actual person to person visits – it seems then I was much closer to ‘family’ than in recent years. I can’t pinpoint exactly what happened that caused my drift… Business of life, I guess.
 

When plotting my “New Year’s Resolutions” a few months back – family members [living, breathing] were one of my priorities – great in theory, but apparently harder in reality.
 

I was reminded of the importance of maintaining relationships with extended family, just a couple of weeks ago, at the funeral of a “cousin” – this relative was a lovely lady – 80 years young – who I’d been in contact with many years ago – in my early research days – and we’d cross paths fairly often at family events [funerals usually] & have a chat.  We only lived 20 miles apart and when we first met, she was about 60 years old… and I guess I thought she’d be around forever…. So it was with some sadness that I attended her funeral… and listened to wonderful stories of her and her life… and felt a sense of disappointment that I didn’t better nurture a relationship with her and her family.
 

As a ‘younger genealogist’ there are many more members in my ‘older generation’ than in the families of many other genealogists. In fact, there are still ‘relatives’ around from the generation of my Great-Grandparents— though these numbers are quickly waning.
 

With today’s technology and the age of the “internet weekend warrior genealogists” – I think it’s easy to let these relationships languish or never truly develop them in the first place – as so much research is now done without the older family members it once required — and in today’s busy world it is even more of a challenge!

Visit last month with my favorite Great-Aunt, age 89 years!

 

Now that Summer is into full swing and the year is already half over, I have created a list of family members to visit! It is easy to put off these visits [some I’ve put off for years!]… and it’s not like it is really a chore… these are people I care about and enjoy… it is just a matter of coordinating schedules and a little planning!
 

It is important to me… and I’m looking forward to it! I don’t want to be sitting at another funeral feeling regret over a relationship I let languish. 

 

What about you? Do you have relatives you have been meaning to visit? I encourage you to do that… in fact I challenge you to prioritize some of the family visits as well!

Don’t put it off… you’ll be happy you didn’t!

 

Cemeteries... Some of my Favorite Places...

From the time I was a young child, I had a fascination with cemeteries. I would ride my bike just outside of town to a nearby cemetery, just to wander about the headstones… reading names and dates…. and pondering what their lives were like. I never found them scary or my interest peculiar in any way.

It was on one of my little cemetery jaunts that I stumbled across a small headstone for a baby girl with my Mother’s maiden name. At this point I was 12 years old… and intrigued as to who this baby was… I didn’t recognize her parents as any relatives I’d ever heard of…. Later I would visit the local museum, which I knew had newspaper archives, and asked a volunteer to help me find out who this baby was!

A quick search of an old newspaper located a small burial announcement for this stillborn baby… who ended up being the daughter of my Grandfather’s cousin…. That was
my first taste of genealogy! And I’ve been hooked on it ever since!

Even today, I have a love of cemeteries… and frequently visit them. As a huge supporter of the wonderful site findagrave.com, I ‘ve entered in 1,000’s of burials and taken just as many photographs. I’ve photographed five entire cemeteries and large portions of three others.

It is a wonderful way for burial records and headstone photographs to be forever maintained! Unfortunately, we have all seen the news stories about vandals destroying old grave markers and other tragic events that threaten our old burial grounds.

If you are not a person who utilizes Findagrave, you must visit the site! You may find long lost ancestors (I’ve found countless there!) or living breathing cousins (I’ve found those too!)… And when you come to appreciate this great site, you might even become a member…. And enter in your own family and volunteer to photograph graves in your local area.

It is important that we protect and honor the final resting places of our fore bearers! I encourage everyone to get involved and protect these pieces of history! Besides continuing my work with Findagrave, I hope to find a local organization that is involved with cemetery preservation or restoration!  Do any of you know of any such organization?