Thursday, December 31, 2009
Last Chance for Early Bird Registration
We Have a Winner!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
COG 87 - New Year's Genealogy Resolutions
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Win Tickets to Arizona Family History Expo in Mesa
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Anatomy of a Military Pension File, Part 6
Previously, I reported on the acquisition of my great-great-great grandfather's military pension file. The documents contained within pant a picture of a man and his family about which I knew very little. I've decided to share this 103-page treasure chest of information with you a few pages at a time.
Page 15: Examination Report
Page 16: Cover of Examination Report titled "Examination by Civil Surgeon"
Page 15 of the file appears to be a report of a medical examination for Max Baerecke. It says that he "was late a Private in Company 15th Reg't U.S. Vols." This means that this document pertains to Max's application for a Mexican War pension.
At the time of the examination (the doctor signed the document 9 March 1888), Max was afflicted as follows:
His eyesight is impaired. (myopia) V. - 15/200. Has staphyl__ p_____ of both eyes (tear in document and condition of the copy make the medical terms difficult to read).
Hearing is impaired by the presence of hardened ears' wax in both ears, especially in the left. The left ear passage, after the removal of the wax, exhibits an inflamed ___ with a chronically inflamed membrane of the tympanum, thickened + not any more transparent.
Suffers from Pharyngeal + Laryngeal ___ of long ___.
The report concludes with the statement that Max Baerecke "is incapacitated for the performance of manual labor by reason of aforesaid disabilities in about the following degree: 3/4 according to the usual rating of Pension __?___ ." I can't read the last word, but the diagnosis is understood.
The document is signed by the doctor (signature looks like it might say "E. Kramer"), and dated 9 March 1888. There is also an official notary public signature.
What did I learn from this document? Well, it describes the aged condition of my third-great grandfather. He apparently has a problem with his eyes, which is mentioned several times throughout the pension file. The ear wax, and subsequent remedy by the pension doctor, suggests that Max did not have regular access to medical attention. I suspect the family was quite poor.
Page 16 of the pension file is the cover page of this document. It confirms that the purpose of the examination is for a Mexican War pension.
Coming up, more details on the medical history of Max Baerecke. Stay tuned...
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 24
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 23
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Friendly Reminder
Advent Calendar: December 22
Monday, December 21, 2009
Anatomy of a Military Pension File, Part 5
Page 14: Certification of Marriage
The top left corner of this document says it's from the State of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, which is where Max Baerecke lived most of his American life.
The text of the document says:
I, Otto Seidel, Jr., Register if Deeds in and for said County, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript from the records in my office as recorded in volume B of Marriages page 480; that I have carefully compared the same with said Records, and that it is the whole thereof.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal this 29th day of March A.D. 1905.
Advent Calendar: December 21
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 20
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 19
Friday, December 18, 2009
Somebody is Following Me
Advent Calendar: December 18
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Win Tickets to the Arizona Family History Expo

Advent Calendar: December 17
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 16
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 15
Monday, December 14, 2009
Finding Answers Brick by Brick

Advent Calendar: December 14
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 13
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 12
Friday, December 11, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 11
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Anatomy of a Military Pension File, Part 4
Page 13: Mexican War Pension Survivor's Brief
Advent Calendar: December 10
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 9
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
A Family History Expos Honor

Advent Calendar: December 8
Monday, December 7, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 7
Book Review of The Genealogist's Address Book
The Genealogist’s Address Book provides almost 800 pages of state and local genealogy resources. Elizabeth Petty Bentley has compiled an amazing amount of information and genealogy contacts in this recently updated 6th edition.
The Genealogist’s Address Book – 6th Edition
Elizabeth Petty Bentley
ISBN 978-0-8063-1796-0
Genealogical Publishing Company
[Edit 12 Jan 2010: Comments on this post are currently suspended due to spam (in Spanish, no less). If you have any comments, you can email me at the address I listed in the sidebar of this blog. Thanks. --Amy]
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Advent Calendar: December 6
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Surname Saturday: Turk / Türk
Advent Calendar: December 5
Prompt: December 5 - Outdoor Decorations
Did people in your neighborhood decorate with lights? Did some people really go "all out" when decorating? Any stories involving your ancestors and decorations?
We lived on a hill and had a yard that--to me as a kid--looked like a jungle. That made traditional decorations impossible. We did have strings of those old big, painted glass Christmas light bulbs running along the front and back of our roof line. Do you remember those lights? You could scrape the paint off them and they were hot to the touch.
My dad set up the back Christmas lights so they turned on and off with a light switch. At some point, they lights just stayed up all year and acted as patio lights.
The neighbor at the top of the hill used to line his whole house in white Christmas lights. He even had a big tree made of a pole and strings of lights. Because of the location on the top of the hill, you could see that all-white house from far away. I always liked that.
Friday, December 4, 2009
New and Improved
Follow Friday Starring Bayside Blog
Advent Calendar: December 4
Prompt: December 4 - Christmas Cards
Did your family send cards? Did your family display the ones they received? Do you still send Christmas cards? Do you have any cards from your ancestors?
Remember how I told you there would be days in this Advent Calendar series where I wouldn't have very good answers for the questions? This is one of those days.
My parents were not card senders. As far as I can remember, neither were my grandparents.
We did receive cards. They were propped on the book shelves in the living room. Later on, my mom kept cards in a basket. In fact, she still does this.
Normally I send cards, but I think I'll take this year off. When the holiday gets to be a chore, it's time to cut back. The cards are part of that effort. Sorry. :/
Thursday, December 3, 2009
New Acquisition: The Sigel Regiment
Advent Calendar: December 3
Prompt: Day 3 - Christmas Tree Ornaments
Did your family have heirloom or cherished ornaments? Did you ever string popcorn and cranberries? Did your family or ancestors make Christmas ornaments?
(This post desperately needs a picture, but the subject in question is packed away in a box in my parents' house and I'm not going to bug them to get it out.)
You know those perfect holiday trees with fancy matching ornaments? We didn't have one of those. Our family tree was decorated with a mish mash of ornaments--some made, some bought, each attached with a hook and a memory.
One of *the* best ornaments on our tree was my first pre-school Christmas art creation, circa 1976. It was a piece of white yarn, maybe 24 inches in length, dipped in starchy glue, then covered with glitter and fashioned into abstract art (or maybe just a flat blob). This was the first evidence of my stellar creative expression.
That ornament still exists today and my parents still hang it on the tree. Most of the glitter has fallen off of the yarn, and the tape that says AMY ripped off. Luckily, my mom re-attached it with more tape.
My parents laugh every year that ornament comes out of the box and goes onto the tree. Of course I know their laughing with me and not at me because that's their job.
Now I'm all grown up with my own house, and we've started our own traditions.