Friday, December 31, 2010
Don't Let This Happen to You
Two of my favorite posts this year from my own blog, I responded to one of Randy Seaver's SNGF posts, "Who Do I Blame?". I followed that one up with "Who Do I Blame for Not Starting Sooner?". One thing I did not mention in those posts because I was unable to think of some of the dialogue I wanted to convey is, "Don't Let This Happen to You". Another one of the many reasons I do genealogy and why do I write these blogs is to think of and relay some of the things going on in my life and some things that have happened to some of my ancestors that I hope my descendants won't have to experience. Up until yesterday, I was thinking specifically of some addictions that are not necessarily genetic, but seem to be running rampant in my family. I'm specifying of alcoholism and nicotine addictions. My father and all of his brothers were alcoholics; then there is nicotine... Many, many of my ancestors smoked cigarettes. That addiction has me by the throat and won't let go. I previously wanted to write more about these addictions but still haven't felt all of the words come through. Recent discussion with a doctor, referred me to a movie of all things. The Insider, starring Russell Crowe and Al Pacino. Good flick, watch it; especially if you are nicotine addicted. For now, all I have to say about nicotine is, if you don't start, you won't have to worry about how hard it will be for you to quit. I know, I know. You are already smoking and you say "you can quit any time you want to". Well, 30 years ago, I said I can quit if I want to and ... Sorry. Addictions are not the point in writing this post.
My point in writing this post today is that hopefully my descendants will read and understand, "Don't let this Happen to You". Sometimes when you get a signal or even just maybe a gut feeling that something is wrong, go check it out!
Earlier this week, the tire sensor light came on in my car. Isn't it wonderful that the newer cars have indicators to tell you when your tire is going flat? In the olden days, vehicles didn't even have turn signals. You had to stick your arm out of the window to indicate turning. Anyway, I did not ignore the tire sensor light, but did put it on the back burner for what turned out to be tooooo looooong! Yesterday, I was on I-75 and headed to the library when my tire blew. I was very lucky. I had a tire blow before and wasn't going as fast as I was yesterday and with less traffic. That other blowout felt more horrific than this one did. Fortunately, by the grace of God, I was in the right hand lane yesterday and rush hour traffic was slowing down to where I had no choice but to slow down also.
My point in writing this post is not about the tire or my near miss, but simply to pass on what I hope is another lesson in life. Anytime that you get into and behind the wheel of yours or anybody else' vehicle, if you or that vehicle are not 100%, your life is at risk. Even if you and the vehicle are 100%, your life is still at risk for the other drivers, all of their circumstances and anything else that you cannot control. Irequest beg and plead that you constantly consider your safety and security as you go throughout your day to day activities. Frequently, I think about my Grandma Clara, when she used to say her prayers at night and she would repeat the Serenity Prayer.
I said, I frequently think about that prayer and I should also mention that I don't think about it as often as I think I should. I may not have been able to control that blowout happening yesterday but I could have taken just a few moments to look at the tire earlier this week.
Let me pass on another lesson learned while I'm at it. While I was at the tire shop today, I asked the young man if there was an extra charge for disposal. He said, $2. I said jokingly, "Great, cause if it were much more, I'd have to take that tire and ditch it on the side of the road". His response, "Yea I always tell my customers you can pay me $2 or take a chance you won't get caught when you ditch it. That will cost you a $5000 fine". Pay the $2. Or even if it were $5, It's still insurance that the tire is taken care of and you are not arrested.
As a closing thought, my Uncle Elmer used to always say, "I hope you have a safe and prosperous New Year".
My point in writing this post today is that hopefully my descendants will read and understand, "Don't let this Happen to You". Sometimes when you get a signal or even just maybe a gut feeling that something is wrong, go check it out!
Earlier this week, the tire sensor light came on in my car. Isn't it wonderful that the newer cars have indicators to tell you when your tire is going flat? In the olden days, vehicles didn't even have turn signals. You had to stick your arm out of the window to indicate turning. Anyway, I did not ignore the tire sensor light, but did put it on the back burner for what turned out to be tooooo looooong! Yesterday, I was on I-75 and headed to the library when my tire blew. I was very lucky. I had a tire blow before and wasn't going as fast as I was yesterday and with less traffic. That other blowout felt more horrific than this one did. Fortunately, by the grace of God, I was in the right hand lane yesterday and rush hour traffic was slowing down to where I had no choice but to slow down also.
My point in writing this post is not about the tire or my near miss, but simply to pass on what I hope is another lesson in life. Anytime that you get into and behind the wheel of yours or anybody else' vehicle, if you or that vehicle are not 100%, your life is at risk. Even if you and the vehicle are 100%, your life is still at risk for the other drivers, all of their circumstances and anything else that you cannot control. I
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
I said, I frequently think about that prayer and I should also mention that I don't think about it as often as I think I should. I may not have been able to control that blowout happening yesterday but I could have taken just a few moments to look at the tire earlier this week.
Let me pass on another lesson learned while I'm at it. While I was at the tire shop today, I asked the young man if there was an extra charge for disposal. He said, $2. I said jokingly, "Great, cause if it were much more, I'd have to take that tire and ditch it on the side of the road". His response, "Yea I always tell my customers you can pay me $2 or take a chance you won't get caught when you ditch it. That will cost you a $5000 fine". Pay the $2. Or even if it were $5, It's still insurance that the tire is taken care of and you are not arrested.
As a closing thought, my Uncle Elmer used to always say, "I hope you have a safe and prosperous New Year".
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas
Our tree before it was disguised with toys and other gifts. Photo taken by the owner of this blog.
Monday, December 20, 2010
An Upcoming Special Event
Those of you who tweet and those on Facebook may already know of this news. Others of you, it might be brand new. You may notice that over a month ago, I put a countdown calendar on my blog. Today it reads 667 days until A Special (Secret) Event. Secret should be revealed in about 7 days. Well here is the reveal.
Drum roll please?
The 2nd International Black Genealogy Summit will be held 18-20 October 2012 in Salt Lake City. Here is the notice I got from the chair, Algurie Wilson, last week.
Well now. My genealogy social calendar for 2012 is filling up pretty quickly. First of all, our HARGROVE-WILSON family meets every other year. This year was Labor Day weekend in Madison, Morgan County Georgia. Madison is about 40 miles east of Atlanta. So the next reunion is scheduled for 2012. It is undecided at this time where the next reunion will be but I had submitted my vote for the location of my choice. Then, browsing around here and there, I found that the 2012 NGS Conference will be in Cincinnati Ohio 9-12 May. I live less than 20 miles away and was planning to attend. Now here is this one. Well, out of the three events, one of them may have to be eliminated. Tell you what, the eliminated one will certainly not be the 2nd Black Genealogy Summit. So, let me figure out how much in airfare and lodging I need to save up to actually attend all three... A Lot!
Decisions, decisions.
Added Note 24 Dec 2010: I forgot to note their website. BlackGenealogySummit.com/. Please be patient, they will update it soon.
Additional Update 29 Dec 2010: I decided to delete Algurie's phone # off of my blog and updated to change her email address to not be phished. Contact her at Chairman AT blackgenealogysummit DOT com.
Drum roll please?
The 2nd International Black Genealogy Summit will be held 18-20 October 2012 in Salt Lake City. Here is the notice I got from the chair, Algurie Wilson, last week.
SAVE THE DATE, OCTOBER 18-20, 2012, FOR THE 2ND INTERNATIONAL BLACK GENEALOGY SUMMIT---Genealogists-Beginner through Seasoned Levels Will Have the Opportunity to Explore The Many Genealogical Resources at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah at the 2nd International Black Genealogy Summit.
The International Black Genealogy Summit Committee will be hosting the 2nd genealogy summit in Salt Lake at the Radisson Hotel. Many people who attended the first summit have been encouraging the committee to regroup and host another conference. Wait no more because plans are in progress to make this another successful summit. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced genealogists will convene for the 2nd International Black Genealogy Summit, October 18-20, 2012 at the Radisson Hotel, Salt Lake City. This conference will continue its legacy to bring innovative speakers, something special and hands-on approach to genealogical and historical research. Docents at the world’s largest repository of genealogical information will demonstrate research strategies, provide useful tips, and explore resources that will open doors to hidden treasures.
The Salt Lake Family History Library is known to have the world’s largest repository of genealogy resources. The comprehensive collection contains more than 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records; 727,000 microfiche; 356,000 books, serials and other formats; over 4,500 periodicals; 3,725 electronic resources including online genealogical databases. The library is open to the general public at no charge. There are approximately 700 trained volunteers who are knowledgeable in genealogical research and are always available to assist researchers.
Summit Planning Committee consists of Algurie Wilson, Chair; Deborah Abbot, Co-Chair, California African American Genealogical Society and a host of others. Any questions can be sent to information deleted from this blog. See 29 Dec 2010 note below.
General information about the summit will be forth coming. Please save the date October 18-20, 2012 for the 2nd International Black Genealogy Summit.
Well now. My genealogy social calendar for 2012 is filling up pretty quickly. First of all, our HARGROVE-WILSON family meets every other year. This year was Labor Day weekend in Madison, Morgan County Georgia. Madison is about 40 miles east of Atlanta. So the next reunion is scheduled for 2012. It is undecided at this time where the next reunion will be but I had submitted my vote for the location of my choice. Then, browsing around here and there, I found that the 2012 NGS Conference will be in Cincinnati Ohio 9-12 May. I live less than 20 miles away and was planning to attend. Now here is this one. Well, out of the three events, one of them may have to be eliminated. Tell you what, the eliminated one will certainly not be the 2nd Black Genealogy Summit. So, let me figure out how much in airfare and lodging I need to save up to actually attend all three... A Lot!
Decisions, decisions.
Added Note 24 Dec 2010: I forgot to note their website. BlackGenealogySummit.com/. Please be patient, they will update it soon.
Additional Update 29 Dec 2010: I decided to delete Algurie's phone # off of my blog and updated to change her email address to not be phished. Contact her at Chairman AT blackgenealogysummit DOT com.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
A Little Christmas Story
This is a guest post from my friend PM. You know how you get those email funnies? I read most of them but don't pass most of them on. This one is a keeper.
When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure.
Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.
When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.
Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.
Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drunk all the cider and hidden the liquor.. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.
Just then the doorbell rang, and an irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.
The angel said very cheerfully, 'Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?'
And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.
Not a lot of people know this.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
ALA Celebrity READ Posters
Three weeks ago when I had my blogiversary, I posted an additional post. Before I continue this post, I want to thank those who came by to congratulate me and wish me continued blogging success. I even got a singing one from Sheri, The Educated Genealogist. Sheri, I hope I get to meet you some day. You are a riot!
Anyway, in the additional post I wrote was about my visits to the Boone County libraries. I described a poster showing one of my favorite actors of all time, Denzel Washington. I really wanted to show that poster to you but of course I could not. This evening while I am doing some blogger maintenance, I get an epiphany and decide to go check out the ALA's website. I first thought that I could write the ALA and ask for a copyright release and post a pic of their poster. Then realized that they may have a copy of it on their site. They DO! Here it is and is available for only $16. You might want to go check this out, your favorite celebrity may also have a READ poster. Go on.... Posters at the ALA Store
Anyway, in the additional post I wrote was about my visits to the Boone County libraries. I described a poster showing one of my favorite actors of all time, Denzel Washington. I really wanted to show that poster to you but of course I could not. This evening while I am doing some blogger maintenance, I get an epiphany and decide to go check out the ALA's website. I first thought that I could write the ALA and ask for a copyright release and post a pic of their poster. Then realized that they may have a copy of it on their site. They DO! Here it is and is available for only $16. You might want to go check this out, your favorite celebrity may also have a READ poster. Go on.... Posters at the ALA Store
Monday, November 22, 2010
Agnes & Elmer
Agnes Grayce HARGROVE and Elmer WHITE. That is them on the left. This photo was taken late 1940s or early 1950s. The couple on the right may be their friends, Mr & Mrs Smith. Mrs Smith's name is Katherine and Mr Smith was always called UC; his first name was Ulysses. If that couple is not Mr & Mrs Smith, then I have no idea who else it might be. I recently got Agnes' & Elmer's marriage certificate from Montgomery County Probate Court. They married 22 November 1952. Agnes was my mother's oldest sibling and only sister.
Happy Anniversary Aunt Ag and Uncle Bo.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
My New Library Cards
I have recently moved from Ohio to Kentucky. I actually moved several months ago but had not changed my address until recently for legal reasons. Anyway during the transition, I have found most of the libraries in Boone County and Kenton County Kentucky. They have reciprocal agreements, and I was able to get library cards with both of them. See? During my inaugural visit to one of the Boone County Libraries, I was visiting during the after school hour. This specific branch library is really close to an elementary, junior high and a high school. Since the library is pretty small and with just a few patrons, the tables were nearly full. Through my browsing, I find the genealogy section. It was down the left aisle on the left photo. Genealogy books are on the left side near the bottom. I had already seen that there was a side chair near one of the windows. See the chair in the last photo? The chair is near the opposite end of the same aisle where the genealogy books are. The opposite end 
of the same aisle is the first aisle on your right across from the chair. I was scanning through a couple of reference books I had not seen and another one that is area specific: A Guide to Genealogical Resources in Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Ohio.
I looked up from where I was sitting in the chair and whatever book I happened to be scanning at that moment. I was in deep thought about whatever tidbit I had just read. I didn't look up to look at anything, I was just thinking. Looking up, I did see a poster, but had not focused on it. See the poster in the last photo? Reading some more, I looked up again, this time I happened to focus on the poster. Guess who is in the poster? If you have never seen the poster before, I'm going to hold you for a few more moments. I wish I could show you the poster full front, but of course I cannot because of copyright. When I looked up at the poster the second time, those eyes were looking right at me. And that billion dollar smile... I studied the poster some from where I was sitting to the left and then got up and walked over to the end of the genealogy aisle on the other side of the poster. He's still looking straight at me. I went back to my original position, yep he's still looking straight at me. That photographer is goooooood! I wondered how did he do that? OK, for those of you who have spent just a few incidences on my blog, probably know who it is. Those who haven't, give me one more minute. What is the caption of the poster? I think you can see that. READ. He is holding a book and what book is it? Dr. Suess' Green Eggs and Ham. Are you ready for the reveal? The sub-caption says, "Denzel Washington for America's Libraries". I am just a fan.
Happy Blogiversary To Me!
Today is the 1st anniversary of the My Colored Roots blog. I am so happy to have survived a full year. You can see over the summer that I have slowed down my blogging. I noted that, but I didn't stop.
I also noted a few other things, some of which you may have noticed as well. I have posted a couple of blogs here and here that are multi-part articles. I still owe you those posts. In the future, to continue posting multi-part blogs, I will post them all by insuring when I post the first one, that all of them are completely written.
I have known for well over a month that my Blogiversary was coming. Somehow I was thinking it was on the 9th. I look back at my first post and saw it is today. Oh boy. What kind of kewl post do I put up? I wanted to thank my readers, (no, I'm not going to do the Emmy & Oscar thing). I want to thank those who provided me awards, including the ones I have not acknowledged and thank Druscilla Pair at Find Your Folks for
You may have seen before the movie War Games with young Matthew Broderick, 1983. Near the end of the clip, young Airman Dougherty(sp) says, "Jesus H Christ! We're still here!"
I am remembering the clip to say, "Hot damn! We're still here!" Oh well, I hope you get the point. We're Still Here!
Friday, October 29, 2010
A Rock
To you, it's a rock. To me, it's a piece of the Berlin Wall. I was in Germany from November 1989 to October 1990. The Berlin Wall fell in August 1989. I didn't get this piece myself, someone went to Berlin and brought me this piece and another smaller one with some paint on it. Sad news is, that I didn't have it authenticated. Give me a break, I wasn't doing genealogy then. Daryl, if you Ever see this blog, I would really appreciate a letter of authentication. Well... you kinda can't do that since I didn't get it then. But I would still appreciate a letter saying you did give me a piece.
Ha, if I were a Facebook user, I'd probably be able to find Daryl.
Ha, if I were a Facebook user, I'd probably be able to find Daryl.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Who Do I Blame for Not Starting Sooner?
This is Part II for my previous post Who Do I Blame?
LOL. I think I am going to revise that December 2003 chapter in my book. I'm going to call it The Fever and the Bug.
Who do I blame for not starting to study genealogy sooner? I have nobody to blame but myself. When the mini series, Roots, came on TV, I had just started my first quarter at Vernon Regional Junior College. Before I started college, I created some ground rules for myself that were non-negotiable. I had a study schedule that I decided would be strictly followed and failure to follow would mean potential disaster for my college career. I decided early on that I had to have a study schedule. I was working full time; a young airman in the Air Force, single and had previously gone to the Airman's Club to party, sometimes, even every day. I didn't need that kind of attitude or lifestyle bleeding into or disrupting my studies. I decided that if I made an exception for Roots, then I'd probably find an excuse to make exceptions for other good reasons. So when Roots came on, even though I could have taken just that one week to watch Roots, I decided not to because I was studying every evening from 7-9 unless I was in class that night.
Correction: ...every Sunday through Thursday evening from 7-9 unless... That still left Friday and Saturday for partying.
I could also blame the Youngstown Public School System and all of my teachers for not being more stimulating or motivating to offer some kind of genealogy project in the curriculum. Oh wait, there I am blaming myself again. It is not the fault of my educators that I wasn't motivated or stimulated towards that area of study. Here's a quote, "You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself." Galileo Galilei
Actually, I can think of occasions where a couple of specific teachers offered some sort of stimulation, I just did not run with it as I could have. First grade, learning to read. My life was certainly more exciting than Dick, Jane and Sally with their pets, Spot & Puff. I don't know if you had the same first grade readers that I had, but "See Dick and Jane. See Spot. See Spot run. Run, Spot, run." was not interesting reading. Third grade, tracing silhouettes of each other and cutting them out, then shuffling them to try determining who was who. Fourth grade, studying geography for the first time. Pedro and Maria were a brother and sister couple that were living in Argentina. Why didn't I take that opportunity then, to start learning more about my own life, culture and environment? Seventh grade; studying the Aztec Indians (or was it the Incas?)... I remember creating a diary project that aged the paper with tea and burned edges to look old. Or even eighth grade, memorizing and reciting The Gettysburg Address.
Still blaming myself, why did I not take lessons from life and death that were not part of my school curriculum? Lessons like remembering the I have a Dream Speech, or deaths of notable people like Martin Luther King Jr, John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy. Why didn't I want to pay more attention to remember stories of my father or my Grandmother Clara? Another great opportunity to have started sooner is recounted when my Grandma Ella died in 1969. I could have take the 'discussion' "When was she born?" and ran with that. What about when I was in college? Attending Wayland Baptist University after Vernon, I had to take two religion classes. I took Old Testament and New Testament History. In the Old Testament History, the instructor, who was a Baptist Minister's wife, took us through the genealogy of Jesus. All that is time or opportunities that I cannot take back or relive. Right now, I cannot think of any other opportunities that I have passed or missed. But isn't that enough? That's more than enough. All I can say about that is that I'm so happy I'm on it now!
Are there any missed opportunities in your life?
LOL. I think I am going to revise that December 2003 chapter in my book. I'm going to call it The Fever and the Bug.
Who do I blame for not starting to study genealogy sooner? I have nobody to blame but myself. When the mini series, Roots, came on TV, I had just started my first quarter at Vernon Regional Junior College. Before I started college, I created some ground rules for myself that were non-negotiable. I had a study schedule that I decided would be strictly followed and failure to follow would mean potential disaster for my college career. I decided early on that I had to have a study schedule. I was working full time; a young airman in the Air Force, single and had previously gone to the Airman's Club to party, sometimes, even every day. I didn't need that kind of attitude or lifestyle bleeding into or disrupting my studies. I decided that if I made an exception for Roots, then I'd probably find an excuse to make exceptions for other good reasons. So when Roots came on, even though I could have taken just that one week to watch Roots, I decided not to because I was studying every evening from 7-9 unless I was in class that night.
Correction: ...every Sunday through Thursday evening from 7-9 unless... That still left Friday and Saturday for partying.
I could also blame the Youngstown Public School System and all of my teachers for not being more stimulating or motivating to offer some kind of genealogy project in the curriculum. Oh wait, there I am blaming myself again. It is not the fault of my educators that I wasn't motivated or stimulated towards that area of study. Here's a quote, "You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself." Galileo Galilei
Actually, I can think of occasions where a couple of specific teachers offered some sort of stimulation, I just did not run with it as I could have. First grade, learning to read. My life was certainly more exciting than Dick, Jane and Sally with their pets, Spot & Puff. I don't know if you had the same first grade readers that I had, but "See Dick and Jane. See Spot. See Spot run. Run, Spot, run." was not interesting reading. Third grade, tracing silhouettes of each other and cutting them out, then shuffling them to try determining who was who. Fourth grade, studying geography for the first time. Pedro and Maria were a brother and sister couple that were living in Argentina. Why didn't I take that opportunity then, to start learning more about my own life, culture and environment? Seventh grade; studying the Aztec Indians (or was it the Incas?)... I remember creating a diary project that aged the paper with tea and burned edges to look old. Or even eighth grade, memorizing and reciting The Gettysburg Address.
Still blaming myself, why did I not take lessons from life and death that were not part of my school curriculum? Lessons like remembering the I have a Dream Speech, or deaths of notable people like Martin Luther King Jr, John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy. Why didn't I want to pay more attention to remember stories of my father or my Grandmother Clara? Another great opportunity to have started sooner is recounted when my Grandma Ella died in 1969. I could have take the 'discussion' "When was she born?" and ran with that. What about when I was in college? Attending Wayland Baptist University after Vernon, I had to take two religion classes. I took Old Testament and New Testament History. In the Old Testament History, the instructor, who was a Baptist Minister's wife, took us through the genealogy of Jesus. All that is time or opportunities that I cannot take back or relive. Right now, I cannot think of any other opportunities that I have passed or missed. But isn't that enough? That's more than enough. All I can say about that is that I'm so happy I'm on it now!
Are there any missed opportunities in your life?
Who Do I Blame?
Last Saturday, Randy Seaver posted his SNGF post Who's To Blame.
Hey geneaphiles - it's Saturday Night, time for more Genealogy Fun for all Genea-Musing readers.
Your mission, should you decide to accept it (and we need more of you to do this, otherwise it may end...), is to:
1) Read Brenda Joyce Jerome's post Who or What Do You Blame? on the Western Kentucky Genealogy blog. She asks these questions:
* Can you identify person or event that started you on this search for family information?
* Did you pick up researching where a relative had left off?
* Did your interest stem from your child's school project on genealogy?
* If you have been researching many years, it may be hard to pinpoint one reason for this journey.
2) Write your responses on your own blog, in a comment to this blog post, or in a note or comment on Facebook.
Below you will find an excerpt from my 'book'. It's not the first chapter, but is the first chapter that I wrote almost seven years ago.
Written December 2003:
As I reread this story, I see that the part about my great grandparents, Smith and Pinky are missing. All my life, I had known my grandmother Clara and had seen younger pics of her. I didn't know her husband but had seen a picture of him. I had never seen this picture of his parents.
Here is an excerpt from my blog, Sunday, January 17, 2010.
Further explanation goes that this is among the photos that were sent. Matter of fact, my cousin, FHNM (Fran) sent the Smith & Pinky photo about a week ahead even though she was coming to the wedding herself. I had been bitten by the bug in March; expecting that I would have descendants one day. The day I got that photo in the mail was THE day that I got the fever. If you take a look at the libation table photo, you can hardly tell, but Smith & Pinky are in the center back of the photos on the table.
Now, I blame my determination for finding the answer to My Simon and determination to write these stories; mine and my ancestors', to keep me on the genealogy path.
Thank you, Brenda, for providing the idea for last week's SNGF! And thanks to Randy for passing it forward!
Stay tuned for Part II.
Hey geneaphiles - it's Saturday Night, time for more Genealogy Fun for all Genea-Musing readers.
Your mission, should you decide to accept it (and we need more of you to do this, otherwise it may end...), is to:
1) Read Brenda Joyce Jerome's post Who or What Do You Blame? on the Western Kentucky Genealogy blog. She asks these questions:
* Can you identify person or event that started you on this search for family information?
* Did you pick up researching where a relative had left off?
* Did your interest stem from your child's school project on genealogy?
* If you have been researching many years, it may be hard to pinpoint one reason for this journey.
2) Write your responses on your own blog, in a comment to this blog post, or in a note or comment on Facebook.
Below you will find an excerpt from my 'book'. It's not the first chapter, but is the first chapter that I wrote almost seven years ago.
Written December 2003:
The story behind this picture is one of several reasons that I chose to start studying genealogy. This picture was taken at Jerome's & Diana's (my son & daughter-in-law) wedding. The story behind the picture goes back of course to the planning of their wedding. Diana's father, Ray was deceased when Diana & Jerome married. I can tell Diana loved her father so much, she spoke of him often. So to honor Ray, Diana chose to walk down the aisle alone and to be not given away by a living person. Also as a tribute to Ray, along with all the other deceased relatives who couldn't come to the wedding in body, Diana decided to have a table of pictures. The pictures were of those folks to show how many were attending in spirit. The only living souls' pictures on the table were those of Diana and Jerome when they were younger.
I'm sure I heard of the plan to do this table tribute before that, but on 24 March prior to the wedding is when I can put a date to the plan of this table. I called family members to tell them to "bring pictures" and explained to them why. Among the calls I made were to my sister in law, YSB (Vonnie). During that conversation, Vonnie gave me a definition for this tribute. She said it's called libation and was derived from Swahili. I was so thrilled for the tribute to have a name, I had to go home and look up this word, libation.
Essentially the meaning of the word in context of the picture was spelling out the act of libation that I remember seeing in old movies and also on the streets of Youngstown as I grew up. The scene in the old movies would go something like this. A bunch of drunks would stand around as they were drinking a bottle of their favorite beverage. They would pour out a bit of the liquid; usually before they took the first sip themselves. And they would do so to commemorate those who were not in attendance; most often because they were deceased. I'm sure the original meaning was not for bunches of drunks to pay this tribute. As I looked at the definition, there were other meanings. Some religious in nature, as well as secular. As for the folks in Youngstown, they created their own meaning. Added to those who were deceased were those who were at that time in Viet Nam or those who were incarcerated.
As I start to write my personal & family history, you can see that I'm starting in the middle or you might even say near the end. Since the wedding of Diana & Jerome was only a year and a half ago, and there's no telling how much longer, I'm going to live… Farther along in the story, I'll share with you other reasons my love for genealogy is still going strong after a year and a half. Heck I can remember when I didn't even know how to spell the word, somehow I was trying to stick another o in it; a common misspelling of genealogy is geneology. And you know what? I didn't want to start the story with "I was born…" or "Once upon a time…". That's boring. I want this story to be one that will hopefully live on. And those who know me know that I love to tell stories.
As I reread this story, I see that the part about my great grandparents, Smith and Pinky are missing. All my life, I had known my grandmother Clara and had seen younger pics of her. I didn't know her husband but had seen a picture of him. I had never seen this picture of his parents.
Here is an excerpt from my blog, Sunday, January 17, 2010.
They are my favorites! When I first saw their photograph almost eight years ago, I said "Who are these people? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?" And wondered why I had never seen this picture before. That was the beginning for me. Almost eight years of finding more about my folks and finding more about myself that I didn't know before.
Further explanation goes that this is among the photos that were sent. Matter of fact, my cousin, FHNM (Fran) sent the Smith & Pinky photo about a week ahead even though she was coming to the wedding herself. I had been bitten by the bug in March; expecting that I would have descendants one day. The day I got that photo in the mail was THE day that I got the fever. If you take a look at the libation table photo, you can hardly tell, but Smith & Pinky are in the center back of the photos on the table.
Now, I blame my determination for finding the answer to My Simon and determination to write these stories; mine and my ancestors', to keep me on the genealogy path.
Thank you, Brenda, for providing the idea for last week's SNGF! And thanks to Randy for passing it forward!
Stay tuned for Part II.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
I know, today is Monday
From Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings
Hey, genealogy readers and champions - it's Saturday Night - time for more Genealogy Fun!
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) Pick one of your ancestral lines - any one - patrilineal, matrilineal, zigzag, from a famous ancestor, etc. Pick a long one if you can.
2) Tell us which position in the birth order that your ancestor was in each generation. For example "third child, first son." Also list how many children were born to these parents.
3) Share your Birth Order work with us on your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, in a comment on Facebook, etc.
Mine is short and sweet:
Please visit Randy's blog at http://www.geneamusings.com/
Hey, genealogy readers and champions - it's Saturday Night - time for more Genealogy Fun!
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) Pick one of your ancestral lines - any one - patrilineal, matrilineal, zigzag, from a famous ancestor, etc. Pick a long one if you can.
2) Tell us which position in the birth order that your ancestor was in each generation. For example "third child, first son." Also list how many children were born to these parents.
3) Share your Birth Order work with us on your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, in a comment on Facebook, etc.
Mine is short and sweet:
- Me (195? - ) only child of Pinkie Ann HARGROVE & Clovis Lee DRAPER
- Clovis Lee DRAPER (1926 - 2000) fifth child, of six sons of Ella Lee BRIMMER and John Pink DRAPER 6 boys, 0 girls (John had 1 boy and 5 daughters from his first marriage)
- Ella Lee BRIMMER (1890 - 1969) first child, one of three daughters born of Florence STEWART and Sing BRIMMER, 3 boys and 3 girls
- Florence STEWART (1873 - bet 1900 & 1910), one of one children born of Ella STEWART and father not found
- Ella STEWART (1855/6 - unknown) oldest child, one of five children born of Pollie STEWART and father not found, 4 girls and 1 boy
- Pollie STEWART (1840 - unknown)
Please visit Randy's blog at http://www.geneamusings.com/
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Uncle Obie
Uncle Obie was born 16 Nov 1923 of Oliver Turner HARGROVE and Clara DUNCAN. He was the youngest son and the fourth born of five living children. I wasn't told much about Uncle Obie when I was a child other than he was in the army, died bathing in a Korean river and I had seen this picture of him. One other item of info I knew as a child is that he gave my Mom her silver service as a wedding gift. It must have been an engagement gift because they weren't married yet when he died. Now that I am researching, I find a bit more information about him. Just as I have other family members, I followed him around the city of Youngstown and also away from Youngstown. After high school graduation, he and at least one other brother, worked at CCC. CCC is Civil Conservation Corps. I have to do more research about CCC but not before I complete my 1940 census preparation work.
I don't know what all kinds of work CCC trained, but Uncle Obie and Uncle James appear to have learned construction trades there. Heck maybe my Dad did also but I have not yet found evidence that Dad was a CCC worker. Last week while visiting the new OGS facility, I found Uncle Obie in the 1947 Cleveland City Directory. He lived two blocks away from Uncle James. Funny thing is that I didn't know either of them ever lived in Cleveland. It appears that both of them left Youngstown, moved to Cleveland and then to Pittsburgh. They may have possibly moved back to Youngstown before Pittsburgh.
I also didn't know Uncle Obie ever lived in Pittsburgh until I found him on the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).
That was also when I found that he has two death dates; 7 July 1950 and 12 February 1951. I found his 7 July 1950 death date on his headstone when I went to Youngstown for another funeral. I found his 12 February 1951 death date on the ABMC website about five years ago. All this time I wondered why did he have two death dates and how could there have been a mistake like that? I did figure, actually guess that the 7 July date was correct because it was the earlier one. How could anybody die after they were already dead? And besides, his mother would have been the one ordering his gravestone and would not have allowed a mistake there to go uncorrected. So now I have determined that the 7 July is the correct one because of two things. There is this newspaper obituary, copy obtained from my cousin and also recently found that the 12 February date was coincidentally his parent's wedding anniversary.
Last January, I sent to the ABMC to correct the spelling of Uncle Obie's middle name as well as sent them his photo to post on their website. I have been wanting to add the photo for a long time but didn't get a copy until late last year. I do still need to write them again and correct his death date. I'm going to do that after my next trip back to the Ohio Historical Society where I can view for myself when his obit was published. It was most likely published sometime between Monday the 10th and Friday the 14th. For your reference, if you apply to the ABMC, they will send you a full color page memorial of your veteran like the one shown for Uncle Obie. Allow plenty of time. I sent the correction and photo on 28 January and got the memorial page back about the end of May.
Being the next older in age to my Mom, I believe she was closer to Uncle Obie than to any of her other siblings. I also believe that his death really affected her in some ways. Uncle Obie passed before any of his nieces and nephews were born. My guess is that he would have been the koolest Uncle. Rest in peace Uncle Obie.
I don't know what all kinds of work CCC trained, but Uncle Obie and Uncle James appear to have learned construction trades there. Heck maybe my Dad did also but I have not yet found evidence that Dad was a CCC worker. Last week while visiting the new OGS facility, I found Uncle Obie in the 1947 Cleveland City Directory. He lived two blocks away from Uncle James. Funny thing is that I didn't know either of them ever lived in Cleveland. It appears that both of them left Youngstown, moved to Cleveland and then to Pittsburgh. They may have possibly moved back to Youngstown before Pittsburgh.
I also didn't know Uncle Obie ever lived in Pittsburgh until I found him on the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).
That was also when I found that he has two death dates; 7 July 1950 and 12 February 1951. I found his 7 July 1950 death date on his headstone when I went to Youngstown for another funeral. I found his 12 February 1951 death date on the ABMC website about five years ago. All this time I wondered why did he have two death dates and how could there have been a mistake like that? I did figure, actually guess that the 7 July date was correct because it was the earlier one. How could anybody die after they were already dead? And besides, his mother would have been the one ordering his gravestone and would not have allowed a mistake there to go uncorrected. So now I have determined that the 7 July is the correct one because of two things. There is this newspaper obituary, copy obtained from my cousin and also recently found that the 12 February date was coincidentally his parent's wedding anniversary.Last January, I sent to the ABMC to correct the spelling of Uncle Obie's middle name as well as sent them his photo to post on their website. I have been wanting to add the photo for a long time but didn't get a copy until late last year. I do still need to write them again and correct his death date. I'm going to do that after my next trip back to the Ohio Historical Society where I can view for myself when his obit was published. It was most likely published sometime between Monday the 10th and Friday the 14th. For your reference, if you apply to the ABMC, they will send you a full color page memorial of your veteran like the one shown for Uncle Obie. Allow plenty of time. I sent the correction and photo on 28 January and got the memorial page back about the end of May.
Being the next older in age to my Mom, I believe she was closer to Uncle Obie than to any of her other siblings. I also believe that his death really affected her in some ways. Uncle Obie passed before any of his nieces and nephews were born. My guess is that he would have been the koolest Uncle. Rest in peace Uncle Obie.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
James HARGROVE's Slaves' & Family Members' Names
Back in January, I posted one page of three pages that comprise the will of James HARGROVE. Not specified there is that this is James HARGROVE Jr. James Sr was born 1757/8 and died 1817.
For reasons to not violate copyright, I am not publishing the entire content of the will transcription, but I am publishing the names listed in that will in it's entirety. I am also providing the title of the book, maybe you would be able to access via ILL or could order the microfilm from the Family History Library for 75 cents (5 microfiche at .15 per sheet).
Transcribed will of James HARGROVE
FHL book 975.8145 P28 and microfiche 6038344, fiche 3/5
Scanned microfiche and saved by Darlene on 15 May 2009.
Transcribed from scanned copy on 16 May 2009.
Jackson County Georgia
Will Abstracts, Books A & B 1803 - 1888
Transcribed by Faye Stone Poss
Will Book A 1803 - 1860
Faye Stone Poss
Pages 179-181
Will of James HARGROVE dated 14 February 1857 and probated 2 March 1857
SLAVES' names
negro man HARRY
negro man LEWIS
negro man AMIS
negro woman ANNY
negro woman WATTON
a boy JACKSON
a girl NANCY
one negro girl CLEMENTINE
one negro girl AMANDA
one negro girl ARMINDA
(I believe AMANDA & ARMINDA are twins)
a negro girl ADALINE
one negro boy by the name of McNEESE
one man ALEXANDER
a man SIMON (My SIMON!)
a girl ISABELLAR
Family members' names of James HARGROVE
JAMES HARGROVE Jr.
ELISABETH HARGROVE my wife
POLLY PRICKETT
WILLIAM F. HARGROVE my Son
HESTER ANN BUTLER my Dau.
JOHN W. HARGROVE my son
SEABORN Y. HARGROVE my son
HENRY S. HARGROVE my Son
MARTHA R. HUDSON my step Dau.
Executors: Sons, Asbury Hargrove, John W. Hargrove & Seaborn Y. Hargrove.
Witnesses: WBJ Hardman, John N. Prickett & Seaborn M. Shankle
Stay on the lookout. I have another surprise for you. This one is a teaser. Just wait until you see the next one.
I sincerely hope that this and the next post will be of use to someone; geneablogger or not, African American or not.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
It's Saturday Night
From Randy Seaver's Geneamusings:
Hey genealogy connoisseurs, it's Saturday Night, time for more Genealogy Fun!!
Your mission, if you decide to accept it, is:
1. Go to the Wayback Machine at http://www.archive.org/ (it's right in the middle of the web page)
2. Enter the URL (web address) of your first genealogy blog or website into the search field. [If you don't have a blog or website, then enter your favorite blog or website.]
3. Tell us about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or in a comment on Facebook. Show us the image of your web page if you can.
I checked back in March to see if my blog was on the Internet Archives yet. It wasn't then and isn't there yet. I am not anxious on this one because I guess it will eventually get there.
And if you look at my next most recent article, maybe you'll see some more to consider when you visit the Wayback.
Internet Archives
16 Mar 2010
I have seen several instances of Dick Eastman's mention of the Wayback Machine or Internet Archives. WOW! Ancestry.com's website sure was plain back in 1997. But then, so were most websites during that time. I didn't know until I reviewed one of Dick's posts again that The Internet Archive Wayback was named after the Mr Peabody and Sherman cartoon WABAC (time) Machine. Besides being an Internet Archive of web pages, the Internet Archives also is a search engine for documents, books and images.
Do you use the Internet Archives for your genealogy research? You should at least try it. I have seen on so many blogs and forums, that people have brick walls in places like New York during certain time periods. Today I saw a NY City Directory for 1786. My point is that you will never know what you find in the Internet Archives until you look. And since it is one of those sites that are frequently being updated, you will want to check back often. For example, using city directories and phone directories, I will soon be able to determine within one to three years when did my uncles move to Pittsburgh and to Cleveland.
Other directories I saw today are Manhattan 1906, Wooster and Wayne County, Ohio directory for 1900.
As I mentioned before, you do want to check back. Today while I was browsing around the Wayback, I saw a 1946 Pittsburgh phone directory. That is no big event, except that I was there in December searching for Pittsburgh city and phone directories and missed the 1946 even though I found the 1951. So in addition to checking often, you want to try various sort strategies. That's probably why I missed 1946 in December. See for yourself. Search for text between [ ]. [pittsburgh phone directory] shows results with only the 1946 directory but [pittsburgh telephone directory] shows you 1936, 1946 and 1951 telephone directories for Pittsburgh.
You can reach the Internet Archive Wayback machine by going to http://www.archive.org or to http://www.waybackmachine.org
Something I noticed while browsing around the Internet Archives to write this post is that they have kindle output for some of the content. If you have a kindle or thinking to get one, you may keep an eye on this site.
Note: I actually wrote this article in March to go with the Wordless Wednesday for 17 March 2010.
I have seen several instances of Dick Eastman's mention of the Wayback Machine or Internet Archives. WOW! Ancestry.com's website sure was plain back in 1997. But then, so were most websites during that time. I didn't know until I reviewed one of Dick's posts again that The Internet Archive Wayback was named after the Mr Peabody and Sherman cartoon WABAC (time) Machine. Besides being an Internet Archive of web pages, the Internet Archives also is a search engine for documents, books and images.
Do you use the Internet Archives for your genealogy research? You should at least try it. I have seen on so many blogs and forums, that people have brick walls in places like New York during certain time periods. Today I saw a NY City Directory for 1786. My point is that you will never know what you find in the Internet Archives until you look. And since it is one of those sites that are frequently being updated, you will want to check back often. For example, using city directories and phone directories, I will soon be able to determine within one to three years when did my uncles move to Pittsburgh and to Cleveland.
Other directories I saw today are Manhattan 1906, Wooster and Wayne County, Ohio directory for 1900.
As I mentioned before, you do want to check back. Today while I was browsing around the Wayback, I saw a 1946 Pittsburgh phone directory. That is no big event, except that I was there in December searching for Pittsburgh city and phone directories and missed the 1946 even though I found the 1951. So in addition to checking often, you want to try various sort strategies. That's probably why I missed 1946 in December. See for yourself. Search for text between [ ]. [pittsburgh phone directory] shows results with only the 1946 directory but [pittsburgh telephone directory] shows you 1936, 1946 and 1951 telephone directories for Pittsburgh.
You can reach the Internet Archive Wayback machine by going to http://www.archive.org or to http://www.waybackmachine.org
Something I noticed while browsing around the Internet Archives to write this post is that they have kindle output for some of the content. If you have a kindle or thinking to get one, you may keep an eye on this site.
Note: I actually wrote this article in March to go with the Wordless Wednesday for 17 March 2010.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Pinkie and PeeWee's Photo
And here they are. I understand that this was their engagement pic.
I did that backwards didn't I? I should have put the pic up as a Wordless Wednesday post and then the text. I guess it's OK anyway cause this post is not wordless.
What do their expressions say to you?
Hers: I got me a Man!
His: How in the heck do I get out of this?
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Pinkie and PeeWee's Anniversary
About two years ago, Karen, the director of my local Family History Center was helping me with some research. The question came up of my parents' marriage date and I didn't specifically know what the date was. My mother's older sister, who provided the information for Mom's death certificate, provided that their marriage was April and two years ago, I didn't remember if it were 1951 or 1952. So up until now, I had used only Apr 1951/52 as documentation of their marriage. I had looked when Karen was helping me and last week I looked again at the Mahoning County Ohio Probate Court site looking for information to send for their marriage license. In the meantime, on one of my research trips to OHS where they have a lot of Ohio newspapers, I found their license application date was 5 April 1951. I finally emailed the Probate Court last week and got their marriage date and the citation info. Their wedding was 28 April 51, Volume 88 – Page 302. The great news is that Mahoning County Probate will send me a genealogy copy for ten ¢ (that is 10 cents) plus a SASE or a certified copy for $2 plus SASE. Isn't that Awesome? I expected around $10 and no genealogy copy.
So, while celebrating this couple of folks, let's take a look at some parts of their lives.
PeeWee was born 27 September 1926 in Fitzgerald, Ben Hill, Georgia. He was the son of a sharecropper, John Pink DRAPER and Ella Lee BRIMMER. His name at birth was Clovis Lee DRAPER. He was the fifth son born of this union, also having several sisters and a brother from John P's first marriage to Minnie Lampkin. John was quite a bit older than his second wife, so his father was 52 when PeeWee was born. PeeWee went to public school up until the sixth grade. I often heard of that story. I think his intent to relay that was not that he was bragging but quite proud of what he accomplished in life with only a sixth grade eduacation. I also often heard the story of how he got his nickname, that we was twelve years old and weighed 90 pounds. Not included in the story but was also true is that he was relatively short as most men go, about 5' 6" or 7". He was a veteran of WWII, serving as a cook in Germany and at Fort Benning Georgia. I have attempted to send for his service record but have to take another shot at that because of the fire at the National Military Records Center. Without sending for those records, I have a suspicion that he lied about his age and somehow got into the US Army as maybe a 16 or 17 year old.
That suspicion is based on that he was in the army and back out again, serving a full enlistment (two years?) before his father died in 1948. OK, I know it's not necessarily so bc in 1948 PeeWee turned 21, but his father died in February, PeeWee was 20 1/2. Regardless how old he was, it's a genealogical question that I didn't bother to ask, nor cared to know until I started researching. I will most likely find the answer when we eventually meet again. After John Pink died, the family moved to Youngstown Ohio in the vicinity of one of Ella's sisters and brothers. I have traced the DRAPER and BRIMMER Families from the 1920s through the 1950s around Youngstown using city directories. At one point, for maybe three or four years, PeeWee disappeared. That will have to be another blog someday. PeeWee was a construction worker employed by the Torrello Construction Company for over twenty years. Chester Torrello owned a small company, and PeeWee was one of his cement finishers and laborers.
Pinkie Ann HARGROVE, was the second daughter, fifth living and youngest child of Oliver HARGROVE and Clara DUNCAN. Pinkie Ann renamed herself to Anna Mae at some time after the age of maturity, so at that point Pinkie became more like a nickname. In actuality, I thought it was her nickname until she died. That's one of the many things I am looking into. I may never know specifically why until we meet again. I am trying anyway to decipher when was that occurrence. If you are one of my faithful blog readers, please do not confuse Pinkie Ann with Pinkie Ann HOPE HARGROVE, that's her grandmother after whom she was named. So for clarity of the two, I will call mom Anna Mae. Anna Mae was unique among her brothers and sister, the only one not born in Jackson County Georgia. Sometime after the birth of her next older brother in 1923, the family moved to Pricedale, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Anna Mae was born there, 20 September 1927. In 1929, the family moved again to Youngstown. I have also tracked the HARGROVEs around Youngstown from 1929 through to the 1960s. LOL My memory can pick a lot of it up from there.
Besides when did Anna Mae change her name, something else I was curious about for this couple is 'how did they meet?'. Only because I have been researching have I come up with a few conclusions. One is that one of his aunts lived on Park Ave at the same time as one of her sister in law's family. Another is that one of his cousins lived on Oak Hill Ave at the same time as somebody else that she knew. I have to look again to see who that person was. A third conclusion is that they were both out, maybe at some weekend event or maybe that they both happened to be celebrating their birthdays in the same establishment. You notice that their birthdays are a week apart, or actually a week short of one year apart. My most plausible guess is that they met at some combination of the three; birthday celebration, aunt's neighborhood and cousin's neighborhood. In other words, I remember meeting my husband through a mutual friend, then ran into him somewhere else and remembered from where we were introduced previously. Then once more, I 'ran into him' again, with all three of these events being within about thirty days. I should have known by that time that I was being stalked.
PeeWee and Anna Mae's marriage did not last very long, but long enough to have bore one live birth. According to my birth certificate, there were two miscarriages before me. That's enough for now. Happy Anniversary Pinkie and PeeWee.
So, while celebrating this couple of folks, let's take a look at some parts of their lives.
PeeWee was born 27 September 1926 in Fitzgerald, Ben Hill, Georgia. He was the son of a sharecropper, John Pink DRAPER and Ella Lee BRIMMER. His name at birth was Clovis Lee DRAPER. He was the fifth son born of this union, also having several sisters and a brother from John P's first marriage to Minnie Lampkin. John was quite a bit older than his second wife, so his father was 52 when PeeWee was born. PeeWee went to public school up until the sixth grade. I often heard of that story. I think his intent to relay that was not that he was bragging but quite proud of what he accomplished in life with only a sixth grade eduacation. I also often heard the story of how he got his nickname, that we was twelve years old and weighed 90 pounds. Not included in the story but was also true is that he was relatively short as most men go, about 5' 6" or 7". He was a veteran of WWII, serving as a cook in Germany and at Fort Benning Georgia. I have attempted to send for his service record but have to take another shot at that because of the fire at the National Military Records Center. Without sending for those records, I have a suspicion that he lied about his age and somehow got into the US Army as maybe a 16 or 17 year old.
That suspicion is based on that he was in the army and back out again, serving a full enlistment (two years?) before his father died in 1948. OK, I know it's not necessarily so bc in 1948 PeeWee turned 21, but his father died in February, PeeWee was 20 1/2. Regardless how old he was, it's a genealogical question that I didn't bother to ask, nor cared to know until I started researching. I will most likely find the answer when we eventually meet again. After John Pink died, the family moved to Youngstown Ohio in the vicinity of one of Ella's sisters and brothers. I have traced the DRAPER and BRIMMER Families from the 1920s through the 1950s around Youngstown using city directories. At one point, for maybe three or four years, PeeWee disappeared. That will have to be another blog someday. PeeWee was a construction worker employed by the Torrello Construction Company for over twenty years. Chester Torrello owned a small company, and PeeWee was one of his cement finishers and laborers.
Pinkie Ann HARGROVE, was the second daughter, fifth living and youngest child of Oliver HARGROVE and Clara DUNCAN. Pinkie Ann renamed herself to Anna Mae at some time after the age of maturity, so at that point Pinkie became more like a nickname. In actuality, I thought it was her nickname until she died. That's one of the many things I am looking into. I may never know specifically why until we meet again. I am trying anyway to decipher when was that occurrence. If you are one of my faithful blog readers, please do not confuse Pinkie Ann with Pinkie Ann HOPE HARGROVE, that's her grandmother after whom she was named. So for clarity of the two, I will call mom Anna Mae. Anna Mae was unique among her brothers and sister, the only one not born in Jackson County Georgia. Sometime after the birth of her next older brother in 1923, the family moved to Pricedale, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Anna Mae was born there, 20 September 1927. In 1929, the family moved again to Youngstown. I have also tracked the HARGROVEs around Youngstown from 1929 through to the 1960s. LOL My memory can pick a lot of it up from there.
Besides when did Anna Mae change her name, something else I was curious about for this couple is 'how did they meet?'. Only because I have been researching have I come up with a few conclusions. One is that one of his aunts lived on Park Ave at the same time as one of her sister in law's family. Another is that one of his cousins lived on Oak Hill Ave at the same time as somebody else that she knew. I have to look again to see who that person was. A third conclusion is that they were both out, maybe at some weekend event or maybe that they both happened to be celebrating their birthdays in the same establishment. You notice that their birthdays are a week apart, or actually a week short of one year apart. My most plausible guess is that they met at some combination of the three; birthday celebration, aunt's neighborhood and cousin's neighborhood. In other words, I remember meeting my husband through a mutual friend, then ran into him somewhere else and remembered from where we were introduced previously. Then once more, I 'ran into him' again, with all three of these events being within about thirty days. I should have known by that time that I was being stalked.
PeeWee and Anna Mae's marriage did not last very long, but long enough to have bore one live birth. According to my birth certificate, there were two miscarriages before me. That's enough for now. Happy Anniversary Pinkie and PeeWee.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
A Model Grandma
The first memory I have of Grandma Clara was that we that 'we' called her Nanny. That applied to one of my first cousins and I. She had five other grandchildren who called her Grandmother or Grandma. The other first cousin and I caught on and we started calling her Grandma also. Now that I am a grandmother myself, I can see that the Nanny thing was most likely to distinguish this grandmother from that one. I didn't see my other grandmother as often and when I did, they were never both together, so the part about distinguishing one from the other became a non issue.
Grandma Clara was a model for all grandmothers to follow. She made every one of us feel that 'we were the special one'. Although, now as an adult, I know it isn't so. When I was let's say ten and younger, you would not have been able to convince me or my other six cousins that it wasn't the absolute truth. Certainly could not convince me because I was her baby's baby; regardless of any other factor, you can't change that.
Something else about Grandma is that she had glaucoma. For those who don't know, it is a blinding disease where seeing shadows eventually become total darkness. Her oldest child, Agnes was her caregiver. Aunt Agnes' her husband, son, three others of my cousins and myself all lived at Grandma Clara's house on Myrtle Ave. Now and then I think about that and it makes me snicker. Eight people and one bathroom! I tell you what, we had it down to a science. The five of us kids were six years apart from the oldest to youngest. School mornings we had a routine that was strictly followed by all five of us. You better be waiting outside the bathroom door when your turn came or you got skipped and even went to the end of the line.
Back to grandma. When she got her social security check, she would often slip all of us a 'piece of change'. It's no wonder she didn't always give us a little every month and I don't blame her. I have observed occasions where one, maybe two of my cousins stood there waiting for their money and grandma would ask for confirmation "Is that a five?". "No, Grandma, that's a one". I tell you what, Grandma couldn't see but she knew exactly how much money she had.
You see this photo of her standing in front of her church? I'm positive it was Mother's Day. See the white carnation? I had one of my cousins help me to decide when was this pic taken and we figure it was about 1965 and she would have been about 76 years old. Well, eventually she got to where she didn't want to 'bother anybody' to drive her across town to go to her church on Wilson Ave, so she started attending the Seventh Day Adventist Church. It was coincidentally down the street about a 10 minute walk. Even though it wasn't very far, she still needed assistance getting there and back. Any one of my other cousins could have taken her (an they may have now and then) but I think I remember taking her most often. I said it was a ten minute walk, any one of us kids could have gotten there and back in five minutes but you had to walk a little slower if you were walking with Grandma. You had to alert her to the cracks and the uneven sidewalk slabs.
I hope I don't sound like I was her little angel. I must admit, that I did her wrong once. She told me not to go anywhere and I did anyway. I made the mistake of taking her blindness for granted once and I paid for it when I got back. I have asked forgiveness for that dirty deed. She assured me I am forgiven but don't do it no mo. I also remember when there was a thunderstorm, we had to turn out the lights and sit there quietly while the Lord was doing his work.
One of my cousins and I shared her bedroom. Hers was the largest bedroom in the house and fit three twin beds, dressers and a desk very comfortably. The one thing I remember best about Grandma is that when she went to bed at night, she got down on her knees to pray most nights before she went to sleep. Now and then, she'd get in bed then pray but she did pray every night.
At the end of her prayers she would say the first verse of The Serenity Prayer:
Added inspired note after reading Sandra's article My Grandmother Always Said…… :
My Grandma used to always say, "Keep on living, you'll be old someday." I do get it.
Grandma Clara was a model for all grandmothers to follow. She made every one of us feel that 'we were the special one'. Although, now as an adult, I know it isn't so. When I was let's say ten and younger, you would not have been able to convince me or my other six cousins that it wasn't the absolute truth. Certainly could not convince me because I was her baby's baby; regardless of any other factor, you can't change that.
Something else about Grandma is that she had glaucoma. For those who don't know, it is a blinding disease where seeing shadows eventually become total darkness. Her oldest child, Agnes was her caregiver. Aunt Agnes' her husband, son, three others of my cousins and myself all lived at Grandma Clara's house on Myrtle Ave. Now and then I think about that and it makes me snicker. Eight people and one bathroom! I tell you what, we had it down to a science. The five of us kids were six years apart from the oldest to youngest. School mornings we had a routine that was strictly followed by all five of us. You better be waiting outside the bathroom door when your turn came or you got skipped and even went to the end of the line.
Back to grandma. When she got her social security check, she would often slip all of us a 'piece of change'. It's no wonder she didn't always give us a little every month and I don't blame her. I have observed occasions where one, maybe two of my cousins stood there waiting for their money and grandma would ask for confirmation "Is that a five?". "No, Grandma, that's a one". I tell you what, Grandma couldn't see but she knew exactly how much money she had.
You see this photo of her standing in front of her church? I'm positive it was Mother's Day. See the white carnation? I had one of my cousins help me to decide when was this pic taken and we figure it was about 1965 and she would have been about 76 years old. Well, eventually she got to where she didn't want to 'bother anybody' to drive her across town to go to her church on Wilson Ave, so she started attending the Seventh Day Adventist Church. It was coincidentally down the street about a 10 minute walk. Even though it wasn't very far, she still needed assistance getting there and back. Any one of my other cousins could have taken her (an they may have now and then) but I think I remember taking her most often. I said it was a ten minute walk, any one of us kids could have gotten there and back in five minutes but you had to walk a little slower if you were walking with Grandma. You had to alert her to the cracks and the uneven sidewalk slabs.
I hope I don't sound like I was her little angel. I must admit, that I did her wrong once. She told me not to go anywhere and I did anyway. I made the mistake of taking her blindness for granted once and I paid for it when I got back. I have asked forgiveness for that dirty deed. She assured me I am forgiven but don't do it no mo. I also remember when there was a thunderstorm, we had to turn out the lights and sit there quietly while the Lord was doing his work.
One of my cousins and I shared her bedroom. Hers was the largest bedroom in the house and fit three twin beds, dressers and a desk very comfortably. The one thing I remember best about Grandma is that when she went to bed at night, she got down on her knees to pray most nights before she went to sleep. Now and then, she'd get in bed then pray but she did pray every night.
At the end of her prayers she would say the first verse of The Serenity Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Amen
Added inspired note after reading Sandra's article My Grandmother Always Said…… :
My Grandma used to always say, "Keep on living, you'll be old someday." I do get it.
You Must see The Generations Project
Durrell's episode is on The Generations Project this week. IMHO it is one of the most fascinating of all the Generations Project episodes I have seen. You have to watch this. Just to pique your interest without giving away the story, I was captivated by the mention of his ancestor's involvement with the mayor and chief of police. I find The Generations Project even more fascinating than the Who Do You Think You Are series. For one, there are no commercials! You get a full hour of entertainment for your genealogy fix. Another, as stated before, these are 'regular people'! I got the expression regular people from someone who commented on Dr Henry Louis Gates, Jr original episode, African American Lives that it was a great show. But how about featuring us regular people?
Maybe noncelebrity would be a better expression of who they are. I missed one or two of these episodes but I now look forward to every Monday when I can watch to see what's coming next. Another episode is Deanna, whose great grandparents died in a house fire. I have figured out that 'coming soon' might really mean already broadcast. There was at least one episode where it showed the nugget of an upcoming show I had already seen. So it seems that all these shows have already been taped and are not necessarily shown in order. I'm glad that I was able to actually view Durrell's episode since I was really pumped and have been waiting anxiously, since March 2 to see it. One point you might note is that even though The Generations Project is online, it looks like viewing missed episodes is not possible unless you have satellite service and have saved it via dvr.
I think I may apply. Maybe I can get some help identifying Smith's parents and siblings. Or maybe to confirm my newest conclusion is that Smith's wife, Pinkey Ann HOPE, is the half sister of John HOPE. John HOPE was an educator and first black president of Atlanta Baptist College, now known as Morehouse College.
Maybe noncelebrity would be a better expression of who they are. I missed one or two of these episodes but I now look forward to every Monday when I can watch to see what's coming next. Another episode is Deanna, whose great grandparents died in a house fire. I have figured out that 'coming soon' might really mean already broadcast. There was at least one episode where it showed the nugget of an upcoming show I had already seen. So it seems that all these shows have already been taped and are not necessarily shown in order. I'm glad that I was able to actually view Durrell's episode since I was really pumped and have been waiting anxiously, since March 2 to see it. One point you might note is that even though The Generations Project is online, it looks like viewing missed episodes is not possible unless you have satellite service and have saved it via dvr.
I think I may apply. Maybe I can get some help identifying Smith's parents and siblings. Or maybe to confirm my newest conclusion is that Smith's wife, Pinkey Ann HOPE, is the half sister of John HOPE. John HOPE was an educator and first black president of Atlanta Baptist College, now known as Morehouse College.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Ohio Birth and Death Certs in Today's Headlines
One of yesterday's headlines in the Dayton Daily News says "Ohio birth, death data to be more accessible". That's great news! If you look at the article and read it, you may notice that the author mentions several times the Greene Room and the Greene COUNTY Room. The Greene Room is the correct reference. Xenia is a smaller town due east of Dayton, and located in Greene County. The Greene County library system is very nice, efficient and genealogy friendly. The main branch of the library is in Xenia, the Greene County seat that has a fabulous genealogy department. The Greene Room layout is similar to the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) main branch Genealogy Center in that the Greene Room is on the second floor and is a genealogy reference area, meaning no checkouts. Of course it is much smaller than the ACPL but is very much Greene County and Ohio friendly.
Well now, the article was about Ohio birth and death certs. It reminds me of a statement Curt Witcher, director of the ACPL Genealogy Center made in one of the several speeches of his posted on Roots Television. He was discussing the vital records system in the State of Indiana that was not standardized in any way, but needed to be standardized in some way or another. Sounds like from his reference of getting direction from the state about how to manage such a system is just what is being described here. I look forward to see what happens. Dick Eastman is very alert to these kinds of things. I sent him an email. I'd be interested in his view on the topic.
You can read more about the article at the Dayton Daily News website. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/ohio-birth-death-data-to-be-more-accessible-625367.html?cxtype=rss_local-news
As I went to look for the Curt Witcher video, The Future of the Past on Roots Television, I thought, "Ha, maybe some head honcho in Ohio has seen this video, to make sure each of Ohio's 88 counties is not doing it's own little thing. Probably a more plausible thought is that the Ohio Genealogy Society is of some influence. In any case, I highly encourage you to watch all of Mr Witcher's 49 minute video if you have not seen it before. For those of you who have seen it and maybe want to refresh your memory on the specific topic, fast forward to 22:55. Or even better, because you question that maybe Ohio doing this database thing may not be a good idea, try starting at 15:05. In either case, please listen through at least to 30:50. Again, suggesting you watch the entire video, imho, this is one of his best, and those of you who do know Curt Witcher or heard him speak, already know that he is a great speaker.
A final thought to ponder, I wonder why marriage records are not included in the database.
Well now, the article was about Ohio birth and death certs. It reminds me of a statement Curt Witcher, director of the ACPL Genealogy Center made in one of the several speeches of his posted on Roots Television. He was discussing the vital records system in the State of Indiana that was not standardized in any way, but needed to be standardized in some way or another. Sounds like from his reference of getting direction from the state about how to manage such a system is just what is being described here. I look forward to see what happens. Dick Eastman is very alert to these kinds of things. I sent him an email. I'd be interested in his view on the topic.
You can read more about the article at the Dayton Daily News website. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/ohio-birth-death-data-to-be-more-accessible-625367.html?cxtype=rss_local-news
As I went to look for the Curt Witcher video, The Future of the Past on Roots Television, I thought, "Ha, maybe some head honcho in Ohio has seen this video, to make sure each of Ohio's 88 counties is not doing it's own little thing. Probably a more plausible thought is that the Ohio Genealogy Society is of some influence. In any case, I highly encourage you to watch all of Mr Witcher's 49 minute video if you have not seen it before. For those of you who have seen it and maybe want to refresh your memory on the specific topic, fast forward to 22:55. Or even better, because you question that maybe Ohio doing this database thing may not be a good idea, try starting at 15:05. In either case, please listen through at least to 30:50. Again, suggesting you watch the entire video, imho, this is one of his best, and those of you who do know Curt Witcher or heard him speak, already know that he is a great speaker.
A final thought to ponder, I wonder why marriage records are not included in the database.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
I Remember Dr Enriquez
The delivering doctor's name on my son's birth certificate is Col. (military abbreviation for Colonel) Buttmiller. When I picked up his birth certificate, I burst out, "Who in the HELL is He?" I specifically remember that Saturday afternoon, Dr. Enriquez is who delivered my baby! (That's pronounced "Enrique" like Enrique Iglesias, but I've verified his name had a Z at the end). I considered to have his birth cert 'corrected'. Turns out that Dr. Enriquez was a resident. On this day at 1:08 pm every year, I think about him. Even though the official papers don't recognize his contribution to my life, I sincerely appreciate it and will never forget him. One thing I specifically remember about him is that he was Hilarious! I guess a sense of humor is not a prerequisite to be an ob/gyn. But then again, it's a requirement isn't it?I have to tell you this to setup the story of how funny he was. Since this was my first child, I depended a lot on friends to tell me what to expect. Somebody advised my that I wouldn't get anything to eat regardless how many hours I was in labor. So I planned as I packed my bag, I was going to get something to eat before I left home. I was even at my bff Mary's house one day when false labor started and I literally ran home to get something to eat. Well that was a great plan that went out the window when labor awakened me about 3:30 Saturday morning. I paced, laid back down, got back up and paced some more. Back and forth, in and out of bed for about three hours.
Fast forward to the hospital about noon. Dr. Enriquez came to check on me and found I was only (some #) centimeters. He announced that he was going to lunch. I asked him to bring me a ham sandwich. He snickered, "Sure I will". Fast forward again to when Dr. Enriquez came back from lunch. He said that he 'forgot' to bring my sandwich, then he sounded out "Whoa, it's Time to Go!!!". At 1:08, pop pop, it was all over. Then again, that was just the beginning.
Happy Birthday, my son. And thank you Dr. Enriquez.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Lovejoy Company
I found this photo at the Georgia Virtual Vault. This picture is of Main Street, Hawkinsville, Pulaski County, Georgia in 1908. My Great Great Grandmother Ella STEWART, was a domestic servant in the household of Pleasant LOVEJOY in 1880.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Generations Project
I sincerely wish I could tell you from where I got the link to go to this page but right now it slips me. I must admit I do a lot of aimless surfing and it could have been any number of other sites or blogs. Anyway...
This is a TV program a lot like Faces Of America but is produced by BYU Broadcasting. It's called The Generations Project and like Faces is also available online. But unlike Faces, this show is about us regular people. LOL I like that expression referring to those of us who are not celebrities. And if you look, right above the screen, you can Apply To Be On The Show.
The end of the current episode (Andrea) where this points gives us a nugget preview of an upcoming episode; Durell(sp) Daniels. You should know that Durell is not the next two upcoming episodes. I already checked the program guide and found that Gloria and Boyd are the next two upcoming. Anyway, I'll be watching out for it and will post here when I see it. For your reference, the show premiers on Mondays with repeats throughout the week and is available online the same day or the next day. Text below is a quote from the end of Andrea's show. And check this out. Andrea goes to Ireland in her episode and learns about digging fodder, aging and burning it.
This is a TV program a lot like Faces Of America but is produced by BYU Broadcasting. It's called The Generations Project and like Faces is also available online. But unlike Faces, this show is about us regular people. LOL I like that expression referring to those of us who are not celebrities. And if you look, right above the screen, you can Apply To Be On The Show.
The end of the current episode (Andrea) where this points gives us a nugget preview of an upcoming episode; Durell(sp) Daniels. You should know that Durell is not the next two upcoming episodes. I already checked the program guide and found that Gloria and Boyd are the next two upcoming. Anyway, I'll be watching out for it and will post here when I see it. For your reference, the show premiers on Mondays with repeats throughout the week and is available online the same day or the next day. Text below is a quote from the end of Andrea's show. And check this out. Andrea goes to Ireland in her episode and learns about digging fodder, aging and burning it.
On an upcoming episode of The Generations Project, entrepreneur Durell Daniels learns about his great grandfather. A post civil war African-American man who was a substantial land owner in the south. And in the process finds inspiration to leave his own legacy for generations to come.
Friday, February 26, 2010
2010 GeneaBloggers Games Results
2010 GeneaBloggers Games Final Results
Here are my final results for the 2010 GeneaBloggers Games. I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the 2010 GeneaBloggers Winter Games and look forward to participating again if I have the opportunity.
Category 1 None
Category 2 Silver
Task B 16 February 2010
Task C 16 February 2010
Category 3 Diamond
Task B 22 February 2010
Task C 16 February 2010
Task D 16 February 2010
Task F 16 February 2010
Category 4 Gold
Task A 16 February 2010
Task D 16 February 2010
Task E 14 February 2010
Category 5 None
Category 6 Bronze
Task A 15 February 2010
I have learned a valuable lesson here. Remember the story of The Hare and the Tortoise? I expect I will do better next time.
Here are my final results for the 2010 GeneaBloggers Games. I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the 2010 GeneaBloggers Winter Games and look forward to participating again if I have the opportunity.
Category 1 None
Category 2 Silver
Task B 16 February 2010
Task C 16 February 2010
Category 3 Diamond
Task B 22 February 2010
Task C 16 February 2010
Task D 16 February 2010
Task F 16 February 2010
Category 4 Gold
Task A 16 February 2010
Task D 16 February 2010
Task E 14 February 2010
Category 5 None
Category 6 Bronze
Task A 15 February 2010
I have learned a valuable lesson here. Remember the story of The Hare and the Tortoise? I expect I will do better next time.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Hellen O’Neal McCray R I P
I don't subscribe to my local newspaper but I do have the headlines as a widget on my iGoogle. This obit appeared this morning in the online edition.
Local teacher, civil rights Freedom Rider dead at 68
By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer
Updated 10:55 AM Thursday, February 25, 2010
YELLOW SPRINGS — Teacher and veteran civil rights marcher Hellen O’Neal McCray died Wednesday, Feb. 24. She was 68.
A Yellow Springs resident since 1966, she taught English and literature at Wilberforce University. She also taught school in Springfield for 29 years.
As a college student, she was jailed in Mississippi as a Freedom Rider in 1961, the first of four arrests for her civil rights work, which included several years with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
The Freedom Rides were a series of demonstrations in which volunteers, many of them college students, rode buses into the segregated South to test civil rights law.
She is among the Freedom Riders featured in a documentary, “Freedom Riders: The Children Shall Lead,” produced by The William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation at the University of Mississippi.
She was born in Clarksdale, Miss., and attended Immaculate Conception School, Myrtle Hall Colored School and Holy Rosary School in Lafayette, La., according to her biography for the online African American HistoryMakers Website.
In a 2007 interview, she said, “One of the things I find really frightfully lacking, especially in the young, is that they really don’t know much about the story of the ’60s. It was a time in American history that changed a whole way of living, and they know about Dr. Martin Luther King and that’s about it,” she said. “Young people have no history because the history has not been taught.”
Of Black History Month, she said she’s often disappointed.
“Although I think their lives should be celebrated, we celebrate the same three or four people every year. There is no depth to what we know about or teach about the civil rights movement.”
Funeral arrangements are pending at Porter-Qualls Funeral Home, Xenia.
Local teacher, civil rights Freedom Rider dead at 68
By Steve Bennish, Staff Writer
Updated 10:55 AM Thursday, February 25, 2010
YELLOW SPRINGS — Teacher and veteran civil rights marcher Hellen O’Neal McCray died Wednesday, Feb. 24. She was 68.
A Yellow Springs resident since 1966, she taught English and literature at Wilberforce University. She also taught school in Springfield for 29 years.
As a college student, she was jailed in Mississippi as a Freedom Rider in 1961, the first of four arrests for her civil rights work, which included several years with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
The Freedom Rides were a series of demonstrations in which volunteers, many of them college students, rode buses into the segregated South to test civil rights law.
She is among the Freedom Riders featured in a documentary, “Freedom Riders: The Children Shall Lead,” produced by The William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation at the University of Mississippi.
She was born in Clarksdale, Miss., and attended Immaculate Conception School, Myrtle Hall Colored School and Holy Rosary School in Lafayette, La., according to her biography for the online African American HistoryMakers Website.
In a 2007 interview, she said, “One of the things I find really frightfully lacking, especially in the young, is that they really don’t know much about the story of the ’60s. It was a time in American history that changed a whole way of living, and they know about Dr. Martin Luther King and that’s about it,” she said. “Young people have no history because the history has not been taught.”
Of Black History Month, she said she’s often disappointed.
“Although I think their lives should be celebrated, we celebrate the same three or four people every year. There is no depth to what we know about or teach about the civil rights movement.”
Funeral arrangements are pending at Porter-Qualls Funeral Home, Xenia.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
2010 GeneaBloggers Games Post 2
Hey fellow Bloggers.
Category 2 Task B
Category 2 Task C
Category 3 Task C
Category 3 Task D
Category 3 Task F There's one gold medal right there.
Category 4 Task A
Category 4 Task D These 2 and a previous task makes another gold.
For Category 4 Task D, I went instead to tutor on Evernote. Watched several of the videos, downloaded and installed it on my laptop. Will install on my desktop tomorrow. Dick Eastman reviewed Evernote again recently and this time I decided to go for it. I think it will help me, especially with my journal situation Check it out at Evernote.com.
Category 2 Task B
Category 2 Task C
Category 3 Task C
Category 3 Task D
Category 3 Task F There's one gold medal right there.
Category 4 Task A
Category 4 Task D These 2 and a previous task makes another gold.
For Category 4 Task D, I went instead to tutor on Evernote. Watched several of the videos, downloaded and installed it on my laptop. Will install on my desktop tomorrow. Dick Eastman reviewed Evernote again recently and this time I decided to go for it. I think it will help me, especially with my journal situation Check it out at Evernote.com.
Monday, February 15, 2010
2010 GeneaBloggers Games Post 1
Before I brag on my accomplishments so far, I want to congratulate all of the competitors on the creation of some of the most beautiful and creative flags I have ever seen. Even if you aren't competing, you should get over and view the parade of flags.
Winter Games Category 6, Task A: Comment on a new (to you) genealogy blog. See the New Genealogy Blogs tag at GeneaBloggers for the newest blogs.
I'd like to introduce you to Family History Publishing. I was introduced to these folks about two years ago through one of my volunteer coworkers at our local family history center. John was a student at BYU many years ago and according to him, the Stevenson's Genealogy Center products and copy center are staples on campus. Family owned business, very reasonable prices and downright friendly folks.
Today while I was browsing around, I found their publishing tips blog. Hopefully 'whenever' the time comes that I publish my book, they'll still be around and still be reasonable. In the meantime, I can still follow their tips blog.
Ha! This is very sad. I just remembered that I went to their site because somebody wrote on their blog that she was in need of a solution for printing and storing her legal sized pages. This person needed page protectors and this place is the only place I know of that has legal sized page protectors. The sad part: Then I forgot whose blog I was reading. Whoever it was, is a person who'd had all her stuff online and has now decided to store print copies as well. What can I say? It was the first time I'd been to her site. Hopefully, I'll find it again.
Disclaimer: I have no interest in this company or association other than being a potential customer in the future.
Category 4, Task E: Create a surname visualization using Wordle, Word It Out or a similar application. Post the graphic to your blog.
See why I don't participate in Surname Saturday? I'll probably get a couple more in there when I add my database entries. Then I look forward to doing it again. Wordle was a Lot of fun.
Winter Games Category 6, Task A: Comment on a new (to you) genealogy blog. See the New Genealogy Blogs tag at GeneaBloggers for the newest blogs.
I'd like to introduce you to Family History Publishing. I was introduced to these folks about two years ago through one of my volunteer coworkers at our local family history center. John was a student at BYU many years ago and according to him, the Stevenson's Genealogy Center products and copy center are staples on campus. Family owned business, very reasonable prices and downright friendly folks.
Today while I was browsing around, I found their publishing tips blog. Hopefully 'whenever' the time comes that I publish my book, they'll still be around and still be reasonable. In the meantime, I can still follow their tips blog.
Ha! This is very sad. I just remembered that I went to their site because somebody wrote on their blog that she was in need of a solution for printing and storing her legal sized pages. This person needed page protectors and this place is the only place I know of that has legal sized page protectors. The sad part: Then I forgot whose blog I was reading. Whoever it was, is a person who'd had all her stuff online and has now decided to store print copies as well. What can I say? It was the first time I'd been to her site. Hopefully, I'll find it again.
Disclaimer: I have no interest in this company or association other than being a potential customer in the future.
Category 4, Task E: Create a surname visualization using Wordle, Word It Out or a similar application. Post the graphic to your blog.
See why I don't participate in Surname Saturday? I'll probably get a couple more in there when I add my database entries. Then I look forward to doing it again. Wordle was a Lot of fun.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
2010 GeneaBloggers Games
Da da daaaaaaa (horns blowing)
I want to play! I followed along during the last games, watching from the sidelines. It looked like a lotta fun.
You see my badge and my flag to the right? The flag stands for the USA (red white & blue), for Cameroon (yellow green & red with the star) and Nigeria (supposed to be green white green according to Wikipedia and others). Cameroon and Nigeria are both in East Africa.
I chose Cameroon because I used to work with a young man from Cameroon. Hi Landry! I chose Nigeria only because it is a prominent country on the west coast of Africa. It seemed logical to me that we were taken/kidnapped from the African west coast. But sources, including Landry and others, confirmed we were also taken from the east coast of Africa. See how ignorant we might be if we didn't study genealogy? Too bad I don't have my dna done, I could name an ancestral country.
I plan to participate in all six categories as described in the rules page. I can't positively say that I'll post every day but I'll do my best. If I do publish accomplishments daily, it will probably be very short and sweet like category # and # of tasks. I think I'll try that stand alone page thing. It looks appropriate for this kind of activity. Maybe I'll post on the front, then move them as I progress. Keeping only the most recent on the front. Interesting thing about our games. Everybody who participates, wins!
I expect Thomas will make some appropriate announcement like, L T G B! Hey. I found his response to my entry. Looks like he is going to parade the flags.
Hooray for the United States.
Hooray for Cameroon.
Hooray for Nigeria.
Hooray for all the Geneabloggers.
Good luck everybody.
Let's have some fun.
I want to play! I followed along during the last games, watching from the sidelines. It looked like a lotta fun.
You see my badge and my flag to the right? The flag stands for the USA (red white & blue), for Cameroon (yellow green & red with the star) and Nigeria (supposed to be green white green according to Wikipedia and others). Cameroon and Nigeria are both in East Africa.
I chose Cameroon because I used to work with a young man from Cameroon. Hi Landry! I chose Nigeria only because it is a prominent country on the west coast of Africa. It seemed logical to me that we were taken/kidnapped from the African west coast. But sources, including Landry and others, confirmed we were also taken from the east coast of Africa. See how ignorant we might be if we didn't study genealogy? Too bad I don't have my dna done, I could name an ancestral country.
I plan to participate in all six categories as described in the rules page. I can't positively say that I'll post every day but I'll do my best. If I do publish accomplishments daily, it will probably be very short and sweet like category # and # of tasks. I think I'll try that stand alone page thing. It looks appropriate for this kind of activity. Maybe I'll post on the front, then move them as I progress. Keeping only the most recent on the front. Interesting thing about our games. Everybody who participates, wins!
I expect Thomas will make some appropriate announcement like, L T G B! Hey. I found his response to my entry. Looks like he is going to parade the flags.
Hooray for the United States.
Hooray for Cameroon.
Hooray for Nigeria.
Hooray for all the Geneabloggers.
Good luck everybody.
Let's have some fun.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Celebrating Ancestors
Ella Lee BRIMMER was born 1890 in Hawkinsville, Pulaski, GA. She was the oldest of her three brothers and two sisters. Both of her sisters always called her by her nickname, Sister. I remember when she died, 5 February 1969, there was a discussion as to when she was born (ha, that means my dad didn't know how old his mother was). I don't remember in the discussion aka argument who else sided with my dad for her birth to have been in 1891 but both her sisters argued that it was 1890. Their logic was that because she was the oldest and that Uncle Willie was born in 1891. I think to myself now, that it's a wonder I didn't get the geneabug then. I vividly remember my thoughts as I was listening to this 'grown folks conversation', "How do any of you know when she was born? None of you were there!" Well the sisters won the debate and they were correct. I have confirmed that:
parents marriage 18 Oct 1889
Ella born 5 Aug 1890
Willie born 10 Aug 1891
Something else I remember from the day of the 'discussion'. There was the accusation that the sisters raped our house of most of her mementos. Well, I have Ella's bible.
Since Sister is the focus person for today, I'm looking at the copy of the map that I got from the cemetery. The sexton's secretary wrote the note for Ella and four others of my folks buried in this cemetery. The note reads, "Ella Draper - Greenlawn Rg 2 Gr 37" and the date of her death. I was adding this detail info to my Legacy, when I thought to myself, "What is Rg?" It almost looked like Pg to me. So I called the cemetery today and got the scoop. It is Rg, which is Range; their designation for 'Row'.
Also since I'm focused on Ella today, I linked the original unmarked copy of cemetery map shown here to the cemetery address in Legacy and the copy shown here is now linked to Ella and the other three of my folks you see here. You like how I marked the grave with the colored dot along with the RIN # of the person buried there? I am thinking I may link the saved census images and city directory pages to her Legacy record. I wonder does anybody else do this.
parents marriage 18 Oct 1889
Ella born 5 Aug 1890
Willie born 10 Aug 1891
Something else I remember from the day of the 'discussion'. There was the accusation that the sisters raped our house of most of her mementos. Well, I have Ella's bible.
Since Sister is the focus person for today, I'm looking at the copy of the map that I got from the cemetery. The sexton's secretary wrote the note for Ella and four others of my folks buried in this cemetery. The note reads, "Ella Draper - Greenlawn Rg 2 Gr 37" and the date of her death. I was adding this detail info to my Legacy, when I thought to myself, "What is Rg?" It almost looked like Pg to me. So I called the cemetery today and got the scoop. It is Rg, which is Range; their designation for 'Row'.Also since I'm focused on Ella today, I linked the original unmarked copy of cemetery map shown here to the cemetery address in Legacy and the copy shown here is now linked to Ella and the other three of my folks you see here. You like how I marked the grave with the colored dot along with the RIN # of the person buried there? I am thinking I may link the saved census images and city directory pages to her Legacy record. I wonder does anybody else do this.
Calling all Ohioans!
I need to go to the Ohio Historical Society soon(er or later). So that I could make a swag guess as to when I might go, I checked their website to find that the "The Archives/Library will be open only on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m." I am thinking "oh no", another sign of "these tough economic times" (I'm getting tired of using that expression). I looked again and saw that they are "temporarily changing hours starting January 2, 2010, as it transforms into a collections learning center." Yay!
So they have a discussion board and are trying to come up with a new name for the place. The interim name until an official name comes up is the collections learning center. Anybody is welcome to view the forum but only registered Ohio voters are allowed to comment. I thought that was interesting.
btw, This Is The Best Place to get microfilm copies of Ohio newspapers that are not online.
So they have a discussion board and are trying to come up with a new name for the place. The interim name until an official name comes up is the collections learning center. Anybody is welcome to view the forum but only registered Ohio voters are allowed to comment. I thought that was interesting.
btw, This Is The Best Place to get microfilm copies of Ohio newspapers that are not online.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
It's Saturday Night!
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) Open your genealogy software or family tree program of choice and make yourself the highlighted person.
2) Find out how to create a Calendar to show birthdays and/or anniversaries of yourself and all of your ancestors (or all relatives, or all persons - your choice!). The "Help" button is your friend here!!! It can be done in all of the current software programs.
3) Create your calendar. Pretty it up if you want. Save it. Can you show us a page from your calendar - say January 2010?
4) Which of your ancestors (or relatives, or descendants - your choice!), if any, were born on 30 January?
Have fun with this. How can you use this information during the coming year?
Here's a SNGF activity I get to participate in. Why? Because I already have it done. Yeah! Welllll, I did have to make a screen shot but the calendar was done. I noticed that Legacy did not have a way to include the death dates. It's OK, there are only about twenty of them already done out of 112. About 25 are still living. The other 67? About fifteen are death dates that I know but don't have entered and the other fifty or so still have to be researched. But of course, that is the reason for my focus on ancestors day. I decided to call it Celebrating Ancestors. Again, I got the idea from Michael Neill Use their Birthdays and decided to take it a step farther.
You can see here that I have two birthdays and one anniversary. Not showing are two death dates in January. I penned them in and they show up here in red text for visibility. That completes January except for Elizabeth's death in January. I don't know the date of her death. It's on my list of research to do next time I go back to OGS.
How can you use this information during the coming year?To sum it up, I have those fifty or so death dates to do, about twenty birth dates that I have no clue and about 85 marriage dates I don't know. WOW! When you look at those numbers like that, maybe I'm being too ambitious to complete this birthday thing this year. I already wrote when I realized in my last post that I couldn't do more filing until I rearranged a little bit and I couldn't do the Celebrating Ancestors thing until I did more filing. OK. I'll just do the best I can. Filing, is after all, the priority for this year along with identifying brick walls. See? This stuff is in my head but not documented.
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