52 Weeks to Better Genealogy: Week 8

The 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy challenge was written by the author of a Family Tree Magazine Top 40 Genealogy blog (woot!) and is graciously hosted each week by Geneabloggers.com. You are welcome to join in the fun.

This week's task:

Discover online map collections. Historical maps are wonderful tools for historical research. Fortunately for genealogists, many map collections are located online. Some of the more prominent collections are the American Memory Collection at the Library of Congress, the David Rumsey Map Collection, and the Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection at the University of Texas at Austin. Take some time to browse each of these collections. You may also want to check the library web site of your local university (or one near your ancestral home) to see what maps they have online. If you have a genealogy blog, write about any special maps you find during this activity.

I looked at all of these sites, but spent the most time with the Perry-Castaneda collection. Did you know they have bird maps? I do now. I also looked at pre-1900 Galveston just for the heck of it to see what the city look like at its peak before the hurricane destroyed it. I looked at my part of Texas to see what it used to look like before it was houses. I looked at maps of downtown Houston, Los Angeles and other big cities of personal interest.

I spent some time looking at historical maps of Germany because I need a little assistance in learning about the history of that country and the surrounding region.

I didn't try to do any genealogy work during this lesson because I just wanted to browse the maps and see what I could find. Some of the maps featured in these collections were from other collections. Thus, this challenge introduced me to new regional repositories.

Finally after several hours of browsing in several sittings, I just had to stop. I could look at maps all day.

I wonder what the next challenge will be? I guess I could go look it up in my files, but it's funner to be surprised with everyone else.

Yet Another Rung on the ProGen Ladder

I just turned in my 11th assignment for ProGen. This one was definitely not my favorite task. It had to do with contracts and rates. If you do genealogy as a business, you really need a contract and this month we had to write our own.

Do you know what I learned? I have no business writing contracts. I'm a little surprised this was a task at all because I think contract writin' should be left to the legal professionals. However, I have a zillion questions as to why things are different in the genealogy world so this one just has to get in line.

The second portion of the task had to do with setting rates and studying one's local market. This was an eye opener for me. The Houston-area market was not as packed and saturated as I thought it was.

I am glad I had to do this assignment because I learned a lot. I am also glad it's over.

Can't wait to see what's next.

Family ChArtist Coming Soon

[Here's a bit of news. I was fortunate to see the beta site for this and it's pretty neat. ---Amy]


For Immediate Release:Generation Maps announces release date for Family ChArtist. 
New website will help you quickly and easily create beautiful genealogy charts.

Cedar Hills, Utah. — February 22, 2010 — Generation Maps today announced the release date for Family ChArtist, an exciting new genealogy chart creation tool. Family ChArtist is a new web application that will make creating and designing beautiful genealogy charts easier and faster than ever before. Family ChArtist is being showcased this weekend at the Family History Expo in St. George, Utah (www.familyhistoryexpos.com) and will be released to the general public with an all new Generation Maps website at 12 noon Mountain Standard Time on March 8th. 


Continue on to the press release and read all the great details here.


For more information, visit www.generationmaps.com or www.thechartchick.com, or email info@generationmaps.com.

In the Family Tree Magazine Fab Forty

Wow! I was quite surprised to find out that this little blog was part of a very special group: the Family Tree Magazine 40 Best Genealogy Blogs. You can see the complete list on Diane Haddad's Genealogy Insider blog, as well as a nice write up of each winner by Maureen Taylor.

Thank you to those who voted. I deeply appreciate it. 

I also want to say thank you to my readers and those who leave comments. Your kind words keep my writing brain churning and my blogging mind going. Thank you for your support. 

Now I must go pinch myself. I still can't believe I'm on a list with such an amazing group.

Anatomy of a Military Pension File, Part 11

Previously, I reported on the acquisition of my great-great-great grandfather's military pension file. The documents contained within paint 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 26: Cover of Hospital Statement

This appears to be a cover page for a statement Max Baerecke's own words.

Page 27: Disability Affidavit for Max Baerecke

This document is dated October 14, 1885 and states that Max is 58 years old. Much of this document is handwritten. I have included those portions in quotes.

For "three" years immediately preceding my enlistment into the service of the United States on the "15th" day of "August, 1847", I resided in the following named places: "one year immediately preceding my enlistment, at Milwaukee, Wis. and for two years next prior thereto at Eisenach, Germany. In Milwaukee, next prior to my enlistment, my occupation was none and for two years any more next prior thereto, at Germany" my occupation was that of a "farmer."


Since my discharge from said service on the "30th" day of "April, 1848" I have resided in "the city of Milwaukee, in said county and state (except ten years thereof namely 1850-1860 when I have resided at the village of Humboldt in the town of Milwaukee, in said county and state. During the 10 years at Humboldt, my occupation was that of a miller and during all the rest of time since my discharge" my occupation has been that of a "barkeeper."


This is a long document with lots of good details. Therefore, I broke it in half and will put it in two blog posts.

So what did I learn from the first half of page 27?

This page was a gold mine. I learned the residences of Max Baerecke from his adult years in Germany all the way up to 1860. He lived several places and had several positions. I knew he had been a barkeeper, but without this file, I may have never known about his years in Humboldt village as a miller.

I'm pretty confident someone else other than Max wrote this document. Though he provided the facts, this isn't the language of a German-speaking immigrant farmer/miller/barkeeper.

Next up, the second half of page 27. Go to part 12 of the series here.

Are You Going to Jamboree?

The Southern California Genealogy 2010 Jamboree runs from June 11 through June 13. Will you be joining in the fun? If so, please let Geneabloggers know, as a head count is needed. There are plans for social events and a little something special, too. Check out the Meetup page for the Jamboree and RSVP.

One thing I'd like to add: I went to my first Jamboree last year. I also went to the NGS and FGS conferences. Though all were high-quality events, only Jamboree I felt was a must-see event for me this year. NGS and FGS are great, but looking back I wasn't left with the need to be there every year. I can go to those every few years and stay current. Jamboree is just plain fun and very informative. For educational and networking purposes, I'm back at Jamboree this year--even though it runs concurrent to Samford. That's how much I enjoy Jamboree.

Though the Southern California Genealogical Society hosts Jamboree, the topics are on a global level. Do not think this is simply of regional interest. This conference is every bit the quality and size of the annual NGS and FGS events. However, there's something about the Geneabloggers presence that is the icing on the cake.

Do consider a trip to Jamboree (it's across the street from the Burbank airport). Do RSVP at the Meetup page. Do expect to have a great time. I look forward to seeing you.

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy: Week 7

The 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy challenge was written by a lady with too many ideas and is graciously hosted each week by Geneabloggers.com. You are welcome to join in the fun.

Week 7 of the 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy is as follows:

Play with Google Maps. This is a helpful tool for determining the locations of addresses in your family history.  Where your ancestral homestead once stood may now be a warehouse, parking lot or field. Perhaps the house is still there. When you input addresses into Google Maps, don't forget to use Satellite View and Street View options for perspectives that put you right where your ancestors once stood. If you've used this tool before, take some time to play with it again. Push all the buttons, click all the links, and devise new ways it can help with your personal genealogy research. If you have a genealogy blog, write about your experiences with Google Maps, or suggest similar easy (and free) tools that have helped in your own research.

The very first way I ever used Google Maps for genealogy was to mark six cemeteries for an upcoming road trip to Pope County, Arkansas. I planned on visiting these cemeteries during my visit and want to see exactly where they were in relation to each other. The map I made really helped me save time and get to each of these places, even though I was not familiar with the area.

This week, I used Google Maps as an armchair traveler. I entered in addresses of my ancestors to see what the places look like in the present day. I spent a good half hour using "Street View" and roaming the roads of Rayne, Louisiana where my great-great grandparents are buried.

I have another set of great-great grandparents who owned a waterfront tavern in mid 19th-century Milwaukee. I took a look at what the address holds today. It appears to be a warehouse district.

In the future, I plan on creating custom maps based on family history: migration patterns, locations of families living in the same neighborhood, etc. I also hope to document the events leading up to a murder, but I need a little time to learn where all the players lived.

Sometimes Google Maps will surprise you, especially when the cars responsible for the street-view images capture life along the way. Once upon a time, when I viewed my sister's house in street view, one could see my dad in the driveway. Google has since updated the image, but it was funny while it lasted.

Digital Cameras as Notepads

I have a digital camera with me most of the time. One of the ways I use my camera is for notes. If I take a picture at a certain location--let's say of an ancestor's house--I first take a picture of the street sign. When I add the photos to my computer, they will be in order. The street sign photo will tell me where the house is until I can get notes and tags on the photo.

When I went to the Family History Center yesterday, there were four films waiting for me. When I found the marriage record I was seeking, I took a picture of the film case first:

Now that I am back home and getting ready to add this record to my database, I have the information on the film including the unique 7-digit number. I also capture images of the spine and introductory pages of a book so I know everything I can about the record for input when I get home.

Cameras aren't just for pretty pictures. They're also good for taking notes in a pinch.

Success at the Family History Center

Yesterday, I went to my Family History Center to see the films I ordered. What did I find? A marriage record for my great-great grandparents.

Even better, it has information on their parents (including maiden names) and birthplaces.

Though I had clues to this information via an email from someone else, I did not have the record for myself.

The names of the groom's parents I knew. The groom's father is the subject of my Military Pension series.

The names of the bride's parents (my third great grandparents) are new to me: Joseph Schmitz and Elisabeth Reichsdorf.

The birthplace of the bride is new to me as well. I always joke that she is the lady with many names (Marie, Mollie, Mary, Amalie and last names Schmitz, Baerecke, Hayward and Sutherland) and many birthplaces (London, Belgium, France, Germany, Alsace-Lorraine). This record is the most official one I have (the others are secondary with the info provided by family members). Therefore, I'll list Rachen, Prussia as her birthplace and make notes of all the others.

Naturally, this document that answers so many questions also raises some big ones: where is the Schmitz family in America? Surely my great-great grandmother didn't come here by herself.

I also was hoping to get a death record for the groom. He died five years after this wedding. However, the film went to September 1896 and he died in October 1896. Story of my genealogy life. Time to order another film.

I an really happy to have this marriage record. Now I need to get the citation straight so I can add it to my 100% sourced database. Yay me.

The Films are In

When you order items from the Family History Library, it takes a few weeks for them to arrive at your local Family History Center. So you wait and wait to hear the four magic words: "The Films are In."

That's the call I received this Saturday. The films in question are marriage and death records for 1890's Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My great-great grandparents were married there April 25, 1891 and my great-great grandfather died there October 27, 1896. I received these details from indexes at Ancestry.com. I am hoping these films provide the records I need.

I haven't had good luck at the Family History Center lately. I can't find a will for John Laurens Williamson. There are lots of references to a will, but no will.

Last week, I poured over the early 20th century marriage records for Duncan, Oklahoma. I need the marriage dates for six daughters: my great-grandmother and her five sisters. The records began in November 1907. My great-grandmother was married in October 1907. Ouch. I found records for two of the ladies. 2 out of 6. Also, the records were computerized, which was disappointing. I was hoping for microfiche of the originals.

So now I sit here and wait for the FHC to open so I can look at the Milwaukee films. Will my great-great grandparents' marriage record be there? Might it hold the previously unknown identity of my great-great-great grandfather? I guess I'll just have to wait and see, cross my fingers and hope.

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy: Week 6

I'm fashionably late with week 6's task. That's ok, because my day job comes first. I am Director of Child Development in the Coffin household. I also am a taxi driver, a cook, a laundress and a "very unfair parent" according to a certain tween. This week, life got in the way, but now I am ready.

Week 6 of the "52 Weeks to Better Genealogy" written by said unfair parent and graciously hosted at Geneabloggers.com is as follows:

Online databases at your public library: Search your library's web site and see if your card grants you access to online databases. Libraries (even small ones) often have wonderful online tools including genealogy databases, historical newspapers and more! Take some time to play with these little perks that come with a library card. You just may get some help in your own genealogy research and gain some free research tools to boot. If you don't know how to access online library databases or you're not sure if your branch has them, ask a librarian for guidance. If you have a blog, discuss which databases (if any) to which your library subscribes.

The Harris County Public Library web site makes it very easy to access online databases with a tab that says "Databases." If you search by subject, there's a link just for genealogy! They feature library editions of ancestry.com and HeritageQuest.

But enterprising researchers know that not all the answers are found in the genealogy sandbox. I used this challenge to examine other databases and other subjects. There is a Texas section that has the Texas Almanac and Texas Sanborn Maps. I had completely forgotten about the library having these maps in their collection. This is why it's good to go back and take a resource refresher course. 

I also checked out the historical newspaper access provided by the library. I entered some unusual surnames and found some different articles than those I've acquired through paid sources. None of the pieces fit my genealogy, but I was impressed to see that they had some different papers. I must remember to keep my library databases in the loop when it do a newspaper search.

What did I learn from this task? I learned that there is always more to learn about resources. And Sanborn Maps are really cool to look at.

First Carnival of Genealogical Societies

There is a call for submissions in the first ever Carnival of Genealogical Societies. To participate, you just need to be part of a genealogy society that has a blog. [Correction: apparently anyone can participate as long as they stay on topic. Good news! Sorry for the confusion and thanks to Kathryn Doyle for the clarification.] If your genealogical society does not have a blog, this would be a great time to start one.

All of the details can be found at the California Genealogical Society blog. Ideas for blog topics and reasons for having a society blog are also available. Submissions are due March 7th.

Please spread the word to your local genealogical societies. I look forward to reading all of the entries.

From the Clayton: I Ask Questions, You Get Answers

Yesterday, on my way out the door of the Clayton Library, I stopped by the bookshelves that hold the "World" genealogy books, but the shelves were half-empty, half-filled with the "United States" books. The staff were moving the U.S. books, but where were the World ones? The librarian at the desk said they were in the back on the first floor. The staff member didn't give a specific location and I didn't press. I'm just glad to know they're still with us. There are some empty shelves, though, and that always makes me nervous that they're weeding the exact items I need. So if you're looking for the World books, they're in a new place.

I also asked the desk librarian if the Family History Library films on permanent loan at the Clayton are in the Houston Public Library Catalog. Let me explain: the Clayton library recently became a designated Family History Center, meaning you can order films from the FHL and have them delivered to the Clayton where you can view them. If you re-order/check-out your films twice, they are designated as on permanent loan and stay at the Clayton. I wanted to know if I can see what's on permanent loan through the Clayton's online catalog (which is the Houston Public Library). The answer the staff member told me was no, since the items belong to the Family History Library. However, there is a list of permanent loan items on the Clayton library premises, so you can see it there. Because Clayton's FHC designation is pretty new, they don't have a big collection of permanent-loan films. Expect that to change as time goes on.

When Good Copiers Go Bad

Today I went to the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research. It's part of the Houston Public Library system, yet it's a stand-alone 100% genealogy library. I am quite fortunate to live 30 miles from it.

The trip was successful, but not complete. I'm going to enter the information I found into my database and then go back for more. Because this project is for someone else, I can't really talk about it. Therefore, I've decided to introduce you to Newman.

On the first floor of the main building, there is a room full of copiers. Here are a few:

I have a chilly relationship with the copier in the corner. It behaves poorly, breaks down (making me look like the bad guy) resets itself and just does what it darn well pleases. It annoys the heck out of me, so I call it Newman just like the Seinfeld character. Every time I go to the Clayton, I welcome a show down. Here is what Newman looks like when others are in the room:

But when I am all alone, Newman shows his true colors:

Today, Newman tried to annoy me with a delay between copies, taking just a few more seconds each page than was really necessary. It also started asking funny questions about templates, trying to get me to fail at making copies, but I wasn't fooled. At least the machine worked, though, and that makes me suspicious. It's clearly trying to lure me into a false sense of security while hatching Plans of Destruction for my next visit.

Book Review of Presentation Zen

 Presentation Zen is a crash course in simplicity for speakers. Author Garr Reynolds offers a philosophical approach to preparation, design and delivery of presentations that is beneficial to both speaker and audience.

Reynolds has clearly attended more than his share of seminars. His description of endless streams of bullet-point riddled slides resonates with readers and draws them into the message of the book: simple is better.

Preparation is the theme of the first section of Presentation Zen. Reynolds encourages readers to get back to pen and paper in the idea stage and offers suggestions on ways to do so.

In the second section, design is the focus. Preventing “death by PowerPoint” is the goal here. Examples of slides are provided in side-by-side format to show how simplification or minor edits can maximize a message.

Connecting with the audience through good delivery is the book’s third main point. This portion does not create new speakers, but provides paths for improvement.

Genealogy speakers, writers and presenters can benefit from the message put forth in Presentation Zen. The lessons on slide design alone will enhance genealogy conference sessions and make sense of all the overwhelming information provided.

Critics will find fault with the book’s lean formula, and the $34.99 cover price makes it hard to argue. However, though the statements are basic, the lesson learned is a good one: less can be more and lead to better presentations. Reynold’s is true to the book’s point that audiences can only remember a handful of items in a given session. Presentation Zen delivers just enough to be valuable and expand readers’ thinking on the subject.

Presentation Zen is definitely a good read if you can find it on the library shelf. It’s not an essential genealogy book for your own personal collection, but can be a valuable asset to professional genealogists looking to enhance their own presentation skills. 

Presentation Zen 

by Garr Reynolds

ISBN 13: 978-0321525659

[Disclosure: I did not receive a review copy of this book. I got it at the library. Libraries are good that way. Also, the link takes you to the Amazon web page for this book. It is attached to my affiliate account.]

WHO DAT in the 1920 Census?

Since this is Superbowl Sunday, I thought I'd point out ancestral connections I have to the two teams in the game. I struck out with Indianapolis, since I have zero family history in Indiana. I did find a connection to New Orleans, however. 

My great-grandparents, Noel Thibodeaux and Josephine Bourgaux were born in Acadia Parish, Louisiana. They moved around a lot, probably to find work, but Noel's penchant for gambling and the temptation of quick buck may have also played a part.

Here is part of the census page on which my great-grand parents were enumerated. They lived in the 9th ward of New Orleans:

 

In the household were my great-grandfather, Noel Thibodeaux, his wife Josephine, their son Elmo, and Noel's nephew Clarence McGee. They lived on Bartholomew Street. What this census doesn't show is that there was another baby on the way. They would eventually have seven kids.

Noel and his nephew worked in the ship yards in New Orleans. I imagine many men did at that time.

Noel would also work in the ship yards in San Pedro, California, during the World War II era.

In the 1930 census, Noel and family were living with his in-laws in Acadia Parish, Louisiana. After bouncing back and forth from California and Louisiana, they would eventually stay in California, where they raised their family and are buried today. But for a short time, they were in New Orleans and that's why their featured here on Superbowl Sunday.

[Items cropped from a page of the 1920 US Census Population Schedule. Enumeration district 161, page 19B, image 38 of the New Orleans Ward 9 set. You can see this page and the complete census at ancestry.com.]

Going to the Family History Expo in St. George?

The 6th Annual St. George Family History Expo is February 26 and 27. If you plan on going, check out the Find My Ancestor blog where there is a contest going for 2 free tickets to the Expo.

I had a great time at the Family History Expo in Mesa. I expect St. George will be just as much fun.

Follow Friday Starring Elyse's Genealogy Blog

This week's choice in my not very regular Follow Friday series was an easy one to make. The author of this blog is one of the most enthusiastic people I know. She's very passionate about genealogy and possesses a natural ability to teach others about genealogy as well. Technically, she's one of the younger genea-bloggers out there, yet I never seem to notice her age because she is beyond her years in maturity and experience.

Elyse Doerflinger is the author of Elyse's Genealogy Blog. She uses her blog as a platform to share her own genealogy research as well as help others. She comments on the latest news and even tests products. It's a little bit of everything. Maybe that's why I like it so much.

Elyse is also creates very helpful genealogy videos, which you can see at her YouTube page.

Also, Elyse will be speaking at the Southern California Genealogical Society's 2010 Jamboree in Burbank this June. I am very happy for her and excited to see her session.

I hope you check out Elyse's blog and her videos. Then you will see why she is worthy of my Follow Friday mention. Enjoy!

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy: Week 5

We are already on week 5 of 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy, a series written by a vertically challenged book nerd and graciously hosted at Geneabloggers.com.

This week's task is as follows:

Play with WorldCat.org. WorldCat is a massive network of library content that the public can search for free (user name and password not required). Not every library is a part of WorldCat, but the vast size of the network makes it an important genealogy tool. If you are looking for a specific book or publication, enter the identifying information into the WorldCat search box and see which libraries hold the item. You may even find that you can get the item through your library’s inter-library loan program. Don’t forget to search for some of your more unusual surnames and see what comes up. The goal is to play with WorldCat and examine its possibilities for your own research. If you’re already familiar with WorldCat, play with it again. The network and collection grow and change constantly. If you have a genealogy blog, write about your experiences with searching WorldCat for this exercise


One reason I wrote this task was to introduce others to the magical WorldCat tool. The other reason I wrote it was to force me to spend some time browsing the site without a specific search need. I always go in to WorldCat, get what I need and leave. This task made me explore more, and I found some real gems.


1. I found my mom's dissertation. The school where she got her doctorate has a copy in the library.


2. I put the surname "Baerecke" in the search box for fun. There were articles and books authored by people named Baerecke, but I found something else. There was a publisher 190 years ago in Eisenach, Germany named Baerecke. Well, I have clues that my own Baerecke came from Eisenach in 1850, so there's an avenue to explore.


3. I found a music file for a song written by someone with the surname Lenertz. The file was from an Australian Library and it's an old radio jingle. I've knew about the song, but it was really cool to hear it. WorldCat led me there. The jingle is for Aeroplane Jelly and it was written by Albert Lenertz. I have no idea if we're related or how. You can hear it too, at the official Aeroplane Jelly web page (the song will start on its own).


4. For libraries and archives that don't have an online catalog (Louisiana, I'm talking to you), WorldCat is a great substitute. I plan on exploring these collections further, so I can finally plan a research trip to the LA state archives. 


5. I found several digital images through WorldCat. Again, I've been so busy just getting what I need from WorldCat, that I never really took the time to explore. I've had so much fun looking at old Louisiana pictures.


WorldCat also led me to an awesome newspaper find. It's so good, it's worth it's own post.


So what did I learn from my own challenge? Don't just go to WorldCat when you need to find something. Sometimes the best time to explore is when you have nothing to find. That's when the best treasures make themselves known.

Anatomy of a Military Pension File, Part 10

Previously, I reported on the acquisition of my great-great-great grandfather's military pension file. The documents contained within paint 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 25: Statement as to Hospital Treatment While in Service. This document appears to be the statement of Max Baerecke himself. Based on the handwriting compared to the signature, I believe someone else wrote the document for Max, then Max signed it. Below is the text from the document, handwritten portions of the record are in quotes:

In the matter of the Claim for Original Invalid Pension No. __[blank]__ of "Max Baerecke" late "Private" of Co "15th" Reg't "Inf U.S.A. commanded by Captain Wofford."

I was treated as follows: "At Newport, Baerecke (Newport Ky.) about one month or more (think it was in month October) in the fall of 1847; From Newport barracks I was transferred to general hospital at New Orleans La. where I remained until my discharge April 30th, 1848.

At Newport barracks I was treated for chronic diarrhoea. At New Orleans I was treated for yellow fever.

1862-1865 after my re-enlistment in 26th Regiment Wis. Vol. and until my discharge was treated by regimental surgeon Dr. Francis Huebschman for disease of eyes."

"Max Baerecke"

Claimant's Signature.

This statement must be signed by claimant himself and NEED NOT BE SWORN TO.

What did I learn from this document? I learned great details about Max's military history and health history. Without this pension file, I may never have known Max was in Newport, Kentucky or a hospital in New Orleans. I also learned that, based on Max's own timeline, he served about 2 months in the Mexican War before falling ill.

Coming up next, a disability affidavit and more medical details. Stay tuned...


On to part 11.

One More Rung on the ProGen Ladder

Today was the January chat for my ProGen 3 peer group. The topic was evidence analysis. The assignment was to collect and analyze the records you have for an upcoming proof argument. It's a future assignment. All we had to do this time was list the records, talk about their validity, credibility, etc. This was a good lesson for separating the puzzle pieces and analyzing each one.

My records have to do with a research issue I plan on using for my own proof argument down the road.

My great-grandmother's death certificate says she was born in 1892 in Chicago, Illinois, and that her father was H. H. Baerecke, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My issue: trying to find the identity of H. H.

I have found documentation of a Harry Baerecke that fits this age range and location. I have numerous city directories that show Harry Baerecke/Barecke/Barrecke in Milwaukee and/or Chicago. Harry is never in both directories at the same time, except for 1891, the year he supposedly got married. I have a marriage date (1891) and death date (1896) by Ancestry.com index only. I have a couple newspaper clippings about an H. Baerecke. The occupations in both Chicago and Milwaukee records say "electrician" or something related.

Here's the deal: in my own research, I feel very strongly that my H.H. and this Harry are the same person. So much so that I dropped the cash for his father's military pension file. Harry isn't in it because he died before the document was filed. He's not listed as living descendant of Max. BUT he's listed in the 1897 Milwaukee directory as deceased, and part of the Clara Baerecke house. Clara is the daughter of Max.

Here's the other deal: for a proof argument, these records are weak sauce. Hunches and gut feelings don't fly. There is a gap between my H.H. Baerecke and the Harry Baerecke in all the records. The 70 year-old baby book I have that says H.H. is Harry Baerecke won't cut it, because the lady that filled it out never met the Baerecke family. I need more, better, stronger information and some vital records would help, too. This is one of those cases where the 1890 census--if it was available--would have really come in handy.

I'm still trying to get marriage and death records for Harry. The films are on order. Apparently Harry is buried in the Baerecke family plot in Milwaukee, but the person that told me that says the cemetery is not in a good area. Sooooo.....I need to find someone who doesn't mind an inner-city adventure and is willing to take a picture for me.

I don't know if I will have a case for my proof argument. I have a lot of indirect evidence, which is like a bunch of puzzle pieces that fit together nicely along the outside, but the whole center portion is still missing.

And that, folks, is the status of my ProGen day.