North Star 2016- Minnesota Genealogical Conference

Alright Minnesota Area Genealogists, it's time to plan for the Fall genealogy conference that is sponsored by the Minnesota Genealogical Society.

9th Annual North Star Conference

Friday September 30th & Saturday October 1st 

The Minnesota Genealogical Society always puts on a terrific workshop! The speakers are some of the brightest & most knowledgeable in our field. 

If you're like me, Summer is flying by at break neck speed... already nearly August, and I haven't accomplished 1/10th of the things I'd hoped to... and my genealogy has been no exception. The mini research trips I'd hoped to take & the massive organization projects are all still pending.

However, we all have plenty of time to schedule & plan for the upcoming genealogy conference! Coming after Labor Day & the hubbub of the previous months, it will be a wonderful way to cap off our "Summer Adventures" and maybe even give us some genealogy direction for the upcoming Midwest Winter we will be enduring! 

• Have you attended genealogy workshops before? If not, it's a wonderful way to expand your genealogy education AND meet fellow genealogists!
• Are you a member of the Minnesota Genealogical Society? If not, you should consider it. The price is reasonable, you get access to many resources AND members get a 'discount' for conferences.
• Might you have other genealogist pals who'd enjoy this too? If so, share this with them. Gather a group & carpool. 
• Think you're too much of a novice? Or too much an expert? Trust me. You aren't either of them. There's always something to learn in this great hobby of ours! No one knows too much or too little to find the conference a great time!

You can view the itinerary for the conference & speakers bios right on the MGS website.  Please check it out, there look like some great topics!

Points I should mention:

• Early bid registrations ends on August 23rd. 4 weeks. Don't delay.
• Apparently Minnesota is hosting the Ryder Cup Golf Tournament. If you need lodging, don't delay. 
• The Edina location of the conference is very easy & very accessible.
• Support your hobby & support your fellow genealogists.

See you there! Make sure to say 'hi'

Mystery Photo- Jessie Stowe Scott of South Dakota

I recently rescued this very nice cabinet card photo from a garage sale--- for $1.00. 

It's from a Blue Earth, Minnesota photography studio-- circa 1890.

Someone had written 'Jessie Stowe Scott' on the backside... and a little research found that Jessie Stowe was born in Elmore, MN on 3 December 1885, the daughter of John & Ellen Stowe. 

It seems that the family eventually moved to Hecla, South Dakota. She had a younger sister Marion Stearns and Jessie married William Scott in 1906, and they had a son- Preston Scott (died in 1969).  Jessie died in 1972 and her Findagrave memorial has a pretty detailed obituary... and it seems that she may have a Grandson living on the West Coast.

It would be wonderful to reunite this great photo with a family member who will appreciate &  treasure it!

Mystery Photo- Norwood, Minnesota... Hoelz kin?

This mystery photo comes from a Norwood, Minnesota photography studio

It came from a collection of photos that are connected to the Hoelz & Wagner families that lived in the Young America - Norwood area for many years.

Hopefully someone will recognize this fine looking bridal couple and they can once again be identified.

Mystery Photo- B.L. Miller of Minnesota

I recently purchased this neat photograph from an antique shop.

Someone has written Mr & Mrs B.L. Mill[er] on the front 

And on the backside- Mrs Emma Miller Minneapolis

I haven't looked into trying to figure out the identity of "B.L" or Emma... But it'd be wonderful to reunite this great photograph with a family member to cherish it.

Mystery Photo... Gustie Scheer- Henderson, MN

This recently rescued picture postcard, is identified as-

"Miss Gustie Scheer - Henderson, Minn"

A brief search finds an "Augusta Scheer" who lived in Sibley County, the daughter of William & Bertha. It appears that this Augusta died in 1923, an unmarried woman in her late 30s. Further research would need to be done to confirm these are the same person, though Henderson is a small town.

It's a wonderful original photo.. and hopefully I am able to reunite it with a family member who will appreciate it and be pleased to add it to their collection.

[**Update-- this photo has been reunited with a family member where it belongs!]

Mystery Photo... Peter Pogatschnick

I often spotlight photos or other family memorabilia I've been able to rescue...

I recently found this wonderful framed portrait at a Southern Minnesota antique shop. The backside identified the photo as  "Peter Pogatchnick father of Elizabeth Pogatchnick Schulz".

It is a great print, in a very lovely heavy frame. Unfortunately, it is priced at $69, which is out of my price range to "rescue" items... but I'm hoping to find a descendant of Peter & his wife Ursula, that I can help reunite this print with.

Brief research shows that this family lived in Stearns County, Minnesota... Sometimes the name is spelled Pogatschnick and other times Pogatchnick...

Peter Pogatschnick died in 1927.... at this time I have not actively searched for descendants, though I have shared this photo within other online groups, hoping someone will claim it.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to get this portrait out of the shop and onto the wall of a descendant who will treasure it!


[**Update: Thanks to the efforts of readers, especially Pam, this lovely portrait was connected to a great-granddaughter, who drove to the store & purchased this amazing heirloom!]

Mystery Photo...Budensiek Family?

Budensiek Family? Of  Wabasha & Goodhue Counties, MN

While I often spotlight weekly "mystery photos" from my own collection, today I have some photos belonging to a blog reader, who is hoping to identify some mystery photos of his own!

He states "I have received an old album that belonged to the Budensiek family in the Wabasha and Goodhue counties.  There are several old photos that I can not place a name on."

I'd be great if we could identify some of these great old cabinet cards!

Mystery Photo... Ellen Carlson of Cass County, MN

Ellen Carlson

This photo was in an album belonging to my Great-Grandmother... She was a great collector of photographs... which is wonderful!  However, she would paste her photos in albums with no rhyme or reason... photos of her family, her husbands family, neighbors, friends, church members... you name it, they all share a page!

Luckily, I was able to ask her the identities of many of the photos... though this fine portrait however never was truly explained....

"Aunt Ellen"  Ellen Carlson

When I showed it to my Grandfather, he said "Oh, that's Aunt Ellen"... "Well, we called her that, but she wasn't really our Aunt".

I had family of two different Great-Grandparents settle in rural Cass County, Minnesota (and they often trickled over into Crow Wing County as well). Many different, far flung relatives ended up settling there, especially during the 1900s & 1910s. Many not blood relatives, but relatives of kin by marriage, etc.

After Great-Grandma passed away, I inherited her collection of funeral programs... among them was one for Ellen Carlson... born March 14, 1879.... died February 14, 1965

Doing some brief census research, I find that Ellen was born in Sweden and it appears that she arrived in the USA in 1881 (as a young child). The first census I find her in, is the 1910-- where she is living in Cass County, with Annie Hagen. This is most interesting, because my Great-Great Grandmother was a Hagen. Annie Hagen was born in Norway (as was my Hagen Grandma)... now Hagen is not an uncommon Norwegian surname... but the coincidence is strong....

I'm going to have to do some more research and see if this Annie Hagen is indeed a "relative" or not... but I'm pretty certain "Aunt Ellen" is of no blood relation... They were living together up through the 1930 census, but as Annie was 77, it seems she passed away by 1940. 

As both remained unmarried, I don't expect to stumbled upon any descendants... but perhaps someone out there can claim "Aunt Ellen" as their own!

Yellow Medicine County, MN~ 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.

Yellow Medicine County

Yellow Medicine County Museum & Historical Society

There is also a link to download a spreadsheet with birth records from 1870-1910

Yellow Medicine County Marriages 1870-1920

An incomplete list of early marriages from the county

Yellow Medicine County Obituaries

A handful of transcribed 1900s-1910s obituaries

Unfortunately, there seem to be few online resources for this far Western county. It does look like the Historical Society has a number of resources by their website.

Do you know of any great resources for Yellow Medicine County?

Red Lake County, MN~ 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.

Red Lake County

Red Lake County Historical Society 
Lake Pleasant School House 
Rt. 1, Box 298 
Red Lake Falls, MN 56750 
Liaison: Ann Healy, 218/253-2833 
Hours: Open first Sunday of the month, June thru Labor Day

Red Lake Falls Public Library
105 Champagne Avenue SW
Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
Phone: (218) 253-2992
Email:redlake@northernlights.lib.nm.us


Of all the counties in Minnesota that I've researched, Red Lake County is the one I have found the least resources for. It is one of the smallest counties population wise in the state. 

Hopefully others out there are aware of historical resources and will share them here for others!

Southern Minnesota Mystery Photo.....

This photo came along with a few others belonging to the same family....

The family lived in Faribault County, Minnesota.... and it is very possible that this woman & child are connected to the Hartman, Kelsey, or Roberts families.

Hopefully someone can ID this lovely photo and it can be reunited with a family member who will treasure it!

Hearn Family of Minnesota & Wisconsin Postcard

I recently found this 106 year old postcard, written by George Hearn of Perham, Minnesota, to his sister Bessie Hearn, who at the time was a resident of Superior, Wisconsin.

As with most of the mystery/lost items featured here, I have no connection to the Hearn family.

It is a postcard in very nice condition, written in the hand of someone's relative (possible ancestor if he had children) and it would be wonderful to reunite this little heirloom to a family member who would appreciate it!

Polk County, MN~ 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.

Polk County

Cemeteries-- not sure how the listings here might differ from other sites, like Findagrave, but it's worth a look
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnpolk/cemeteries.htm

Obituaries- a few, limited obits from the 1910s-1920.

Bicentennial History of Polk County, Minnesota Pioneers of the Valley -- appears to be part of  digital project by the UofM

Polk County Historical Society-- not a lot of online resources here, but there is some contact info, etc.  Not sure just what type of genealogy resources they may have in their collection

Southern Minnesota Mystery Photo... Faribault Co

I purchased this photo out of a number of photos and postcards belonging to one family....

The family lived in Faribault County, Minnesota... and it is very possible that this man is either a member of the Hartman, Kelsey, or Roberts family.

Hopefully someone can help ID him and the photo can be reunited with a family member who will treasure it!

Clearwater County, MN ~ 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.

Clearwater County, Minnesota


Clearwater County Tombstone Transcription Project
While not updated since 2008, this cemetery page may have resources on it not found on other sites (aka F.A.G)

2011 Clearwater County obituaries

1912 Clearwater County atlas/platbook


Unfortunately, the do not seem to be many on-line resources available for 
Clearwater County...  if you know of any others, please share!

Rescued 100+ year old photo...hidden behind a needlepoint sampler, needs a home!

While at an auction this Summer, I was bidding on some large frames and prints... Winning the bid, I had my choice of items and I picked a number of antique prints... I chose this one because I liked the large old frame, not so much caring for the modern piece of needlepoint that was framed... but deciding I could use it to frame something else.

After I got it home and got to looking at it closer, I noticed on the back there was some writing.... Which I thought was odd, because while the frame was clearly antique, the needlepoint sampler looked to be from the 1960s or after....

"Adolph Ferdinand Billet

Born April 7, 1887

Died July 8, 1898

only son of Adolph & Emilie Billet

and four sisters Clara, Emma, Alma and Lynda"

The writing was a name and birth/death dates for a young child. At this point I began to suspect there was more to this "sampler" than I first thought.





And so I began to take it apart... and what I found underneath this mid-century piece of needlepoint was a lovely antique portrait!

Adolph Billet

While this young boy would have no descendants, I'm hoping there might be a Billet relative out there who would treasure this large portrait, that deserves to be displayed and not hidden & used as backing!

It seems that this family lived near Good Thunder, in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Hopefully there is someone out there that wants to add this portrait to their family archive!

2014 North Star Genealogy Conference... Coming Soon!

The North Star Genealogy Conference is to be held October 3rd & 4th, in Edina, MN.

Not only is the brilliant Judy Russell (The Legal Genealogist) the featured speaker -- but there are some very good workshops being offered by some very accredited genealogists! [link here to all speakers]

If you aren't familiar with the Minnesota Genealogical Society, they put on some very good seminars -- and there are also many great vendors in attendance, offering about anything you can imagine to aide genealogists. 

You can get all of the information from the MGS home page, which is linked above, and read all about upcoming events. If you are just interested in seeing the program, I've linked that here as well, so you can get an idea of the subject matter.

The MGS also has a Facebook page, if you use that in your genealogy research, you can like them there to get posts about events, etc.... They also have an Events Blog, which you can follow. So a number of ways to keep in touch with Minnesota Genealogy!

Incidentally, the MGS has announced that Judy Russell will be offering a pre-conference lecture on Thursday night as well, all about DNA. The registration link for that is listed on the MGS events page.

If you have any interest in furthering your genealogical education and enjoying a day with other Dead Relative Collectors, strongly consider attending! If you see me there, come say 'Hi'!

[My apologies to the great Judy Russell... I realized that when I posted this at first, I gave her name as Judy Lewis... who was actually the illegitimate daughter of Loretta Young & Clark Cable. Guess I got my movie history mixed up with my genealogy]  

1850s Coffin & Remains Found in Hastings, Minnesota

The recent news that a body was found in Hastings, Minnesota does not come as a complete surprise to genealogists familiar with “frontier ancestors”.

If you haven’t read the articles or seen the news coverage,  I’m including links for a couple of the published stories  Hastings- Star Trib & Hastings- FoxNews.

In my own genealogy research I've stumbled more than one occasion of a "farm" or "non-cemetery" birth. Which is certainly normal... families often buried relatives on the home farm in the early days, especially in 1850s, here in Minnesota there were few established cities, let alone cemeteries.

I imagine countless burials took place on the pilgrimage to the western parts of the United States... people fell ill and died or infant children didn't survive long after birth... and it is only natural that these early folks would have buried people about anywhere they could find a place.

This recent burial, in Hastings, Minnesota, has been aged to a point of the 1850s or so... back when Minnesota was either still a territory or a fresh new state... and Hastings was nearly nothing but an early trading area.

I'm not familiar with research in the Hastings area... but it would be interesting to see if any old plat maps exist and to see what family may have owned that land in the 1860s... perhaps that unknown lady that was found this week, is a relative of early landowners.

I have one situation of an unknown burial for my Great-Great-Great Grandmother, a woman of 44 years of age, who died in 1877, a long time resident of Freeborn County, Minnesota, I've never been able to locate a burial for her.  I still keep hoping she'll turn up in an early cemetery in Nunda Township, but I fear she ended up in a quiet corner of their time... lost and forgotten to time.
 
Do you have any farm burial instances in your family? Or what about your knowledge of the Hastings area... and way to find early plat map listings and perhaps find out what her family name is? I wonder if the examiners of her remains were able to locate and viable DNA? Be interesting to have her run through a database.  If it was one of my relatives, I'd like her to have a proper burial spot. 

Southern Minnesota Mystery Photo... Faribault County?

Mystery Photo Sunday

I have a large number of unidentified family photos... 

and unrelated photos that I've collected over the years. Hopefully I can identify some of my unknown family photos and return some of the lost treasures I've collected over the years to others.

This photo was in an album belonging to my Great-Uncle Don Yore... as far as I can tell, the photos in the album were all from Southern Minnesota... 

most from the Faribault & Martin County areas.

I do not know if they are relatives or just family friends...

It sure would be nice to know who these people are... if they aren't relatives then I could try and track down someone who would appreciate them.

Otter Tail County, MN 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! 

Otter Tail County 

Otter Tail County Historical Society

East Otter Tail County Museum

Linkpendium for Otter Tail County
lots of links here!

Genealogy Trails- Otter Tail County

Otter Tail County Genealogical Society

If you are aware of any other great resources for Otter Tail County, please share!