The Cornerstone of My Research

The newspaper article below is about a Duncan, Oklahoma DAR chapter member finding a scrapbook that shed some light on the history of the town's post office:

Scrapbook reveals history of post office (originally published by the Duncan Banner on August 20, 2009).

What's nifty about the article is that it says my great-great grandfather, Frank Jones, assisted in the placement of the cornerstone of the post office. In that stone is a time capsule of sorts. I would love to see what's in there!

This article is a few months old. When I get back from Mesa, I'll try to track down someone at the Duncan DAR chapter and see if I can learn more about the scrapbook, and maybe more about Frank Jones.

Now I simply must plan a road trip back to Oklahoma. On my to-do list will be a visit to that Duncan building and its corner stone.

[Note: I found this article somewhat by accident. An impromptu search of "Frank Jones" "Duncan Oklahoma" (quotations included) and scrolling through many irrelevant links finally led me to the piece. Sometimes patience and creative searching is what it takes to find little treasures like these.]

Anatomy of a Military Pension File, Part 8

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 20 - Notations on the back of another page. It is difficult to read the handwriting. On top of that, someone has crossed out what was written. This looks like a note regarding information needed for Max's veteran pension to turn into Amelia's widow's pension. There are comments regarding marriage and proof of marriage.

Page 21 - Examination cover page. This document (photo below) appears to be an introductory page regarding a physical examination of Max Baerecke for pension application purposes. Part of the small print reads: It is desired in this case that the examination be made with special reference to "disease of eyes" [portion in quotes was handwritten]. There is also a handwritten note which states:

Make a careful examination of both eyes and describe all abnormalities present of structure and function. Do you find any incident of vicious habits.

Page 22 - Notes from widow's words. The handwritten notation states:

Claimant owing to her age, alleges she can't remember dates of enlistment and discharge, but remembers soldier's service in Civil War as in Co. "I" 26 Wisc. Inf. As she was married to soldier in 1850 her statements to the effect of the above named service being all soldier performed in Civil War would appear to be sufficient. [Signature looks like "Holden."]

What do these documents tell me? I learned about what pension applicants have to provide in order to request a pension. Max had to be examined to prove he had a real ailment. Amelia had to prove she was married to a veteran (and was the only wife). This is an interesting side note in history.

Coming up: Max's physical examination. What will the doctor find? Is it enough to qualify Max for a disability pension? Stay tuned....

On to part 9.

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy: Week 2

This is my entry for Week 2 of the "52 Weeks to Better Genealogy" challenge, created by a crazy lady with too many cats and graciously hosted by GeneaBloggers.com.

Go to your local public library branch again. Examine the local history, archives and/or special collections section. Ask a librarian if you don’t know if your library has special collections or where they are located. Be sure to check the reference section, too, as many of the newer and more valuable books are held in that area. If you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s local history and special collections.

If you read my week 1 entry, you know my closest library is just a suburban baby branch in a large county system. With that in mind, I knew there wouldn't be much in the special collections department. The area's "history" is about 30 years old and is marked by the first houses being built. There is no real past here, just a lot of trees.

I did inquire about newspaper archives, however. We have a little community paper and I was wondering if back issues exist and are accessible at the library. The answer I got was that the collection was "sporadic" depending on what they received.

Soon, the library will move to a new building that is 2 1/2 times larger than its current size. I am hoping this means that we'll get a little more room for unique collections. Until then, I have to mosey down the road to Humble for my local history fix.

Sticking Another Toe in the DAR Pool

Wow! I'm really surprised at the interest generated by my post titled Sticking My Toe in the DAR Pool. Based on the feedback, I have a little update.

I was contacted yesterday by a representative from DAR. I can't tell if it's a national membership committee, a Texas-based committee, or something else. It appears that my declaration of interest I submitted to the national web site was delivered through proper channels to someone who is familiar with the chapters in my state and that's the person who contacted me.

She shared with me four chapters in my area that I may be interested in. Actually, given this massive city, there are probably a dozen chapters I could join, but I'll concentrate on these four. Several people have told me to attend different chapters' meetings and see which one fits me. I'm not quite sure how you get permission to attend a meeting, so I asked that question in my return email. We'll see what happens next.

I'd like to attend a meeting of each local chapter. I'm still not quite sure what is emphasized. Is it history? Patriotism? Volunteer service? What is expected of me? Without the details, I will continue to get in this pool one digit at a time instead of just diving in with a full commitment.

Sticking My Toe in the DAR Pool

Yesterday I went to the national Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) web site and filled out a Prospective Member Information Request Form. There are two reasons I did this:

1. My great-grandmother was a DAR member. Based on this fact and other records I hold, it's clear this ancestral line held family history in high regard. I know my grandmother would be pleased with my actions, so I did it for her.

2. Elizabeth, model DAR member and author of the wonderful Little Bytes of Life blog, was kind enough to locate and give me a copy of my great-grandmother's DAR application. I am so grateful for her gesture. I'm hoping this makes my application process easier, though I don't quite know what to expect. Without Elizabeth's efforts, it may have taken much longer for me to be ready to do this.

I filled out the basic contact information, patriot name and great-grandmother's DAR number. The form also asked about when the best time is for me to attend meetings. Um...hardly ever. I'm overextended as it is. I'm hoping I can fit this into my schedule.

After sending in the electronic form, I was given a reference number and the promise that someone will get back to me at some point. That works for me.

What does one do at a DAR meeting anyway? My local chapter websites don't give many details.

D-I-V-O-R-C-E

I have an informal one-name study of sorts for the surname Lenertz. I just want to keep track of the U.S.-based clusters and see of I can connect them.

Last night I was poking around GenealogyBank.com and I found a Lenertz hit on an Oklahoma newspaper. I thought my line was the only Lenertz in Oklahoma, but apparently not. I have to idea who these people are, but I got a kick out of the article, so I'm sharing the text of it here:

(The Tulsa Daily World, Friday, July 2, 1915. Courthouse Notes.)

Harry L. Lenertz yesterday filed suit in the superior court against his wife, Emma Lenertz, alleging that she had neglected her duty as a wife. The petition shows that on numerous occasions Mrs. Lenertz failed to leave the meals prepared when he returned from his work, and that sometimes it would require thirty minutes for her to cook the meal. This all helped to make life unpleasant, says the action, and together with her apparent lack of affection for him made his domestic life unbearable.

Hmm....there's more to this story than what is told in this blurb. I might be Team Emma here.

You know what I like? Harry's main complaint is that she won't cook his meals. The "apparent lack of affection" is secondary.

I thought I knew all the Lenertz's but apparently not. If I had all the money and time in the world, I'd research this case and find out what happened. Did Harry find a new woman who would put up with him? What happened to Emma? Maybe the answer will come out in time. Until then, I better get my hiney in the kitchen so I don't meet a similar fate.

Anatomy of a Military Pension File, Part 7

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 17a (left): Document pertaining to an "Old War Invalid" pension. Possibly a cover for a file.

Page 17b (right): Document pertaining to Max's Civil War service pension.

Though document 17a refers to the "Old War," the information provided refers to Max's service in the Mexican War. It provides his name and current address in Milwaukee. It says he was a private in the 15th U.S. infantry. He enlisted 15 August 1847 and was discharged 20 April 1848. He filed his pension application on 8 October 1885, claiming "yellow fever and disease of eyes" as disabilities. A secondary notation says Max re-enlisted "I 26 Wis. Inf. Late War."

Page 17b is the same format. Max's name and address are provided again. His service is listed as "Private 'I' 26. Wis. Inf. [and] Mex War." He enlisted on 15 August 1862 and was discharged on 13 June 1865. He filed a pension application on 10 July 1890 citing "old age, disease of eyes, deafness."

It may seem confusing, but Max was a veteran of two different wars and sought pensions for both.

Page 18 contains two documents that appear to be the backs of the pages above. There are some notations, but they don't provide any valuable genealogical information.

Page 19 contains most of the same information as page 17.

The date of receipt for the Mexican War pension application is 25 March 1887. It is unclear of the difference in dates is due to a problem with the application or just part of government bureaucracy.

Page 19b (below) is another cover for an application. This time, Amelia Baerecke's name is on the front. The date of Max's death (15 Dec 1904) is on this page. This document may possibly be the cover to Amelia's widow's pension application. The date of filing is 23 December 1904.

What do these documents tell me? They show the grounds on which Max was requesting a pension. It is interesting that Yellow Fever is mentioned in the earlier document on page 17, but not later. I wonder why? Perhaps there is correspondence or records deeper in the pension file that will explain the change of heart.

Coming up, documents submitted to turn this veteran's pension into a widow's pension. Stay tuned...

On to part 8.

Surname Saturday: Baerecke / Barecke

The subject of this week's Surname Saturday is Baerecke, sometimes spelled Barecke. It is the maiden name of my great-grandmother, Gertrude Eleanor. I have traced the name back two more generations to my great-great-great grandfather Maximilian "Max" Baerecke.

If Max sounds familiar, it's because he is the subject of my Anatomy of a Military Pension File series.

Based on records in my possession, Max was born 24 August 1827. He gave his birthplace as Eisenach, Saxony, Germany. I have not yet done research across the pond. Max came to America, married and raised a family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Baerecke / Barecke is an unusual surname (in the U.S.) that is misspelled countless different ways. In my research, I have seen other Baerecke records and people that don't appear to be related to my Max. Nonetheless, I am interested in corresponding with any other researchers who have Baerecke / Barecke / Barrecke or similar names in their lines.

Two Weeks and Counting Until the Arizona Family History Expo

Two weeks from today, I will be in Mesa for the Arizona Family History Expo. This is my first one and I am very excited. I have been looking at the schedule, trying to decide which sessions to attend. Some slots are very tough to choose. I want to learn more about German research and resources. Yet at the same time, I want to see my friends speak. What do I do when two friends are speaking at the same time? I may have to flip a coin.

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy: Week 1

This post is part of the "52 Weeks to Better Genealogy," written by a brilliant princess and graciously hosted by Geneabloggers.com. The week 1 challenge:

Go to your local public library branch. Make a note of the genealogy books in the collection that may help you gain research knowledge. Don’t forget to check the shelves in both the non-fiction section and the reference section. If you do not already have a library card, take the time to get one. If you have a genealogy blog, write about what you find in your library’s genealogy collection.

When I moved to Texas, I went and got a library card even before I got a new driver's license. Here is what mine looks like:

My nearest library is a small suburban branch that's part of the larger Harris County Public Library system. For most of the year, the bushes on the right are part of a glorious garden. In winter, not so much. The pointy green thing is a dragon. In a few weeks, the library is moving to a much larger brand new building. I do not know what will happen to the dragon.

This is my library's genealogy collection. I've circled the basic genealogy books in orange. They are all ones you've heard of, with no unique or unusual books on the shelf. We do have Emily Croom's works, including Unpuzzling Your Past, because she is a local author.

There are no genealogy books in the reference section, but there are a couple almanacs that might come in handy in my research.

Though the pickins are slim, this isn't a bad genealogy collection. The library is part of a bigger system, so I have access to all their books, too. Also, we are near the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, so it's not like there's a shortage of genealogy books in the area.

Every few months, I go back to the little genealogy shelf and see what they've added. There's always a rotation. Always something new to learn.

Book Review: How to Do Everything Genealogy

“How to do Everything ___” is a popular series of books in the same vein as the “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to___” and “___For Dummies” introductory subject guides. George G. Morgan wrote the original How to Do Everything (with Your) Genealogy and also updated the second edition featured here.

The title is no joke. Morgan somehow manages to touch on every aspect one might encounter in the general genealogy field. Chapter subjects include topics on why one should do genealogy, family tree organization, traditional & electronic resources, accessing different types of records (military, land, etc.), DNA, problem solving, research trip planning, technology and more.

Each chapter includes “Did You Know?”text boxes with handy facts for benefit of readers. Morgan also shares documents from his private collection and features them as examples throughout the book.

The center of How to Do Everything Genealogy contains a highlighted section that includes a brick-wall research problem. In “Getting Past Penelope Swords,” Morgan shares some hurdles in a genealogy quest and provides alternative research strategies readers can employ in their own family history pursuits.

The vast level of content covered in this book makes it a good starting point for those just beginning their genealogy quests. Morgan does not go into depth with these topics (there’s simply not enough room), but he introduces the terms, explains them and provides suggestions for further information. Intermediate researchers may also learn some new tricks and be reminded of old ones.

“Become an expert genealogical researcher,” claims the book’s cover. This ambitious statement is more likely from the publisher’s art department than the author himself. Reading How to Do Everything Genealogy will not make you an expert, but it will provide a solid foundation on which new genealogists can build.

How to Do Everything Genealogy by George G. Morgan

McGraw-Hill Osborne Media

ISBN-13: 978-0071625340

I May Already Be a Winner

Remember my super sad tale of Amy and the Empty Empty computer? I wrote it as an entry into a Geneabloggers.com drawing for a free copy of Handy Backup.

Well I received word today that I won! Granted, it was a random drawing, but I think the random gods just felt sorry for me. I'm lucky the library police didn't confiscate my degree for operating with a duct-tape backup system. Now I'm going streamlined!

Thank you Geneabloggers.com and Novosoft LLC (makers of Handy Backup).

2010 is already better than 2009.

Genealogy Gems Podcast App Now Available

[This press release came down the wire and I thought you might be interested. --Amy]

SAN RAMON, Calif. – January 4, 2009 - The Genealogy Gems Podcast, the #1 podcast in the genealogy category in iTunes has launched the first ever genealogy podcast app for iPhone and iTouch (in partnership with Wizzard Media). The Genealogy Gems Podcast app provides users with streaming genealogy audio and video on the go, and exclusive Bonus Content.

A free “online genealogy radio show,” The Genealogy Gems Podcast has provided innovative research strategies, family history expert and celebrity interviews, and genealogy news since 2007. These “gems” of genealogical information inspire family history researchers of all experience levels and helps them make the most of their valuable research time. The new app provides one more way for the popular podcast to reach it’s worldwide audience.

“Mobile technology is the wave of the future,” says Producer and Creator Lisa Louise Cooke. “At Genealogy Gems we strive to be out in front bringing the highest quality genealogy education to those seeking to enrich their lives through family history research. The app makes this possible on a whole new level.”

The app streams all the episodes (including show notes!), and new episodes are downloaded automatically. Bonus content on the new app includes exclusive material such as audio files and custom genealogy themed wallpaper, as well as Cooke’s 20 page pdf e-book 5 Fabulous Google Research Strategies for the Family Historian. New bonus content will be added as episodes are published. Cooke says users have much to look forward to, “There’s always something new coming to your iPhone and iTouch with the Genealogy Gems Podcast app!

About Genealogy Gems

Genealogy Gems is one of the leading producers of online quality genealogy-related media. Also found at the Genealogy Gems Web site http://www.GenealogyGems.TV , recognized as one of the 101 Best Web Sites for Family History 2009: The Family History: Genealogy Made Easy Podcast, the Genealogy Gems TV Channel at YouTube, the Genealogy Gems News Blog, Genealogy Gems Premium Membership including exclusive podcasts and videos, and The Genealogy Gems Podcast Toolbar.

Lisa Louise Cooke is the author of Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies, and national genealogy speaker. She also produces and hosts The Family Tree Magazine Podcast, teaches online webinars, and writes and produces videos for the magazine.

[Note: if you do not have an iPod Touch or iPhone, you can still access these podcasts through iTunes or play them straight from the Genealogy Gems Podcast page. I did not receive compensation for this plug. I'm just a fan and a friend. --Amy]

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy

Oops, I did it again.

Last year, I published Jump Start Your Genealogy Blog: 52 Ideas. 52 Weeks.

This year, with the support of GeneaBloggers.com we collectively bring you 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy. The first week's challenge is already up.

The goal is to get genealogists to stretch their brains a bit. Beginning researchers will discover some new resources. You are encouraged to push buttons, click links and study all corners of the web sites. Some of you will be familiar with all of the tools used in the challenges. If that's the case, approach them from a different angle. Don't use them to search your ancestors, experiment with other ideas and explore the different ways the tool can be used.

I tried to make this a no-cost challenge. One week's task requires a stamp and most require access to the Internet. Do as many or as few weeks as you like. It's supposed to be fun.

Feedback from this challenge has been positive and that makes me happy. When I was writing it out (on the tray table of an airplane) I wasn't sure how it would be received. I should have known...genealogists are the nicest most supportive folks out there.

P.S. I plan on doing my own challenge. Look for the first post soon.

P.P.S. You know you can still use the blog topics from last year, right? If your ever in a pinch and stuck for a blog idea, just borrow from the list. That's why it's there.

Don't Know What You Got Till It's Gone

I apologize for using Cinderella lyrics as a title post, but hear me out:

Remember that little computer problem I had? Well, I sent my laptop into HP and they replaced the broken part. They also gave me new hinges, a new screen and a new EMPTY hard drive. Yeah, they took mine out and put in a new one. And the small print says they can do that.

So I've got that going for me.

The past few weeks, I've been piecing together everything and trying to make my computer whole again. I lost a lot, but not everything. My genealogy is on a private tree at Ancestry.com. Many of my old pictures are saved in the Ancestry tree or on Geni.com. My dad also has copies.

RootsMagic was easy to re-install, so I'm back in business there, but I lost the art file for my business card so I'll have to try to re-create that.

I lost some more recent family photos and all my quirky cemetery photos. That just means I need to go on more road trips to build up another collection.

What kills me the most is that I lost my ProGen assignment I worked so hard on in November. A fifteen-page business plan that's just gone and I have to start all over. By the way, because I did this assignment in two weeks, it fell through the monthly back up schedule. Something to think about with your important projects.

I do a lot of note taking in Microsoft Word. Because they are "just notes" I never took them seriously in my back-ups. Now I wish I had.

So why am I telling you this? Because I'm entering the Geneabloggers Data Backup Weekend Contest. If anyone is a candidate for a new backup system for my EMPTY computer, it's me. My old system had me storing stuff all over the place. Now I'm trying to hunt it all down again. It's time I streamline the backup process, and this is my next step.

So let this be a lesson to you. Make like a delivery truck and BACK IT UP, kids.