30 April 2012

Goal Assessment 2012

It is time again to assess how I am doing on my 2012 goals.  My research has gone in a couple of different directions.  I have been corresponding with three Fredrick cousins, so my research has been on that line of my family.  Education seems to be the easiest to complete.  There are always webinars available.  I have had to start limiting the ones I attend, or that is all I would do.  I was successful in completing my organizational goals so that is good.  Here are my goals and how I am progressing.
Research
  • Research, record, and source vital record information for my mother's 11 brothers and sisters.
    • I haven't done anything new in March or April. 
  • Research Vinera Eglantine Powers parentage.
    • No new progress has been made.  I need to verify a couple of things before I confirm and post the information.
Plus, I went to Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana for a day of research.  I met up with other Midwestern Geneabloggers and had a great time.

Education
  • View two webinars per month.
    1. Irish-American Catholic Genealogy by Michael Brophy. This webinar covered everything you need to know about Irish American Catholic Genealogy.  From lost records, to available records, to cemeteries, church records, newspapers, fraternal organizations and more.
    2. The 1940 Census by Thomas MacEntee  Thomas gave a great webinar on the 1940 Census.  He explained what is new in the 1940 Census, how to acquire the enumeration district using Steve Morse.org and more.
    3. Using a Blog as Your Online Research Log by Drew Smith.  This was an informative webinar on blogging.  It wasn't what I thought it was going to be, but it was a refresher for me on the use of blogger.
    4. Top 20 Lessons Genealogists Need to Know by Barry Ewell  This very informative webinar came with great handouts.  Barry covered everything from verify your data, to cite your sources, think like a historian, organize your data, to technological helps. 
    5. Making the Most of the Canadian Census by Kathryn Lake Hogan  Kathryn does an excellent job presenting Canadian information.  I was sorry I had to miss her webinar on Canadian Ports.  The Census webinar presented where to find the records and the schedules that are available for Canadian census research and more.
    6. Obituaries:  Clues to Look For by Tom Kemp.  Ok, Mr. Kemp, you did such a good job you cost me money!  After viewing this webinar I signed up for a Genealogy Bank subscription.  I haven't found any obituaries yet, but I have found other articles I will be sharing soon.
    7. Researching Your Scottish Ancestors by Marie Dougan.  I loved this webinar!  Marie did an excellent job with this webinar.  Starting with the differences between, British Isles, United Kingdom and Great Britain and going on to resources for Scotland research, gave me lots of places to go and continue my Scottish research.  This is a must see webinar if you have Scottish ancestors.  But, hurry as it is only free through today. (April 30th)
    8. Reverse Genealogy:  Finding the Living by Megan Smolenyak  If you have ever wanted to find living relatives than this webinar is for you.  I couldn't believe that it was Megan Smolenyak's first webinar. 
  • Read research wiki's or courses twice a month.
    • Sections, Ranges, Townships by Bobbi King.  I should have watched this course last year when I was using the Bureau of Land Management records.  Ms. King gives an excellent presentation on Metes and Bounds and the Rectangular Survey system.  I remember learning this in junior high, but didn't retain a lot of it.  Ms. King walks you through the reading of legal land descriptions.
    • U.S. Courthouse Research by Christine Rose.  This was a fun course to view.  It includes an interactive visit to a courthouse with helpful tips on researching in a courthouse.  A handout was included with this research course.
And, I attended a genealogy class at Helen Warner Branch of Willard Library on "Finding Military Records".

Do you have any suggestions for research wiki's or courses?  Please share your ideas in the comment section.

Organization
  • Finish the Glover surname file labels, using Family Roots Organizer System.
    • I am done!!  Of course, I had to buy another file cabinet for all my red folders.
  • Add information received from a Glover researcher to my Roots Magic software.
    • Completed!  Whew!!

26 April 2012

Waiting for Genealogy

We live in a world where we get impatient when we have to wait.   We don’t want to wait in line at the store, the drive-through or in traffic.  The same can be said for genealogy.  We want it now!  A popular genealogy business perpetuates this with its’ latest commercial and its’ shaking leaves.

In order to grow as a genealogist you, and I, must learn to wait.  Waiting for genealogy will give us our best research.   It will give us an accurate direction to go in.  If we rush ahead without using solid research principles we will make mistakes, some of which we may regret.
Don’t be impatient to gather names, facts or sources.  Take your time, be patient, and keep researching.  You will be thankful you did.  When I first started my research, I made a few mistakes.  If I had waited and taken the time to thoroughly evaluate the information, I wouldn’t have had to re-do some of my research, or go back to find what source I used.   
There are consequences for not waiting: 
·    You will be disappointed.   No matter how great you think the information is-if you don’t thoroughly evaluate it, later on it will lead to disappointment.
·    You will have lost the best information.  It’s like settling for second best, and I use that term 'best' loosely.
·    You will bring upon yourself extra work.  You will have to go back over your research, correct mistakes and source it.  This takes away from time that could be used for new discoveries.
·    Other people get hurt.  They will use your information, put it on an online tree for all to see, forever!, and that affects all genealogists.
A minister once said, “Our willingness to wait reveals the value we place on the object we are waiting for.”   Do you value your family history enough to wait?  Waiting will give you what you really want, not what you think you want. Waiting will give you the best and that is what you are waiting for.   You and other genealogists will benefit from waiting.

23 April 2012

Adda L. Dyer's Birthdate Found in Census File-Military Monday

I have found a lot of information in Samuel S. Glover Jr.'s Civil War Pension File, but the information I treasure the most is the pages that his wife, Adda L. Dyer Glover submitted herself. 

The only information I had on Adda L. Dyer, prior to ordering the pension file, was found in her marriage record. I had her maiden surname and date of marriage. Samuel's pension file filled in a few blanks for me.  The letter below is one that Adda L. Glover wrote asking for an increase in her widow's pension.  She gives her date of birth, place of birth and residence in 1916.  This is the only proof I have of Adda's birth, so far.  All great information that led me to other resources on Adda L. Dyer. 

The letter and transcription are below.  (Please click on the letter to get a better view.)  Sadie W. Glover signed for her mother.  Sadie was born Sarah in 1871, she would have been 45 at the time of this letter.
 Source:  Glover, Samuel Stillman; Pension File No. 28715, Civil War Pension File,
  (Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration), p 40.

(TRANSCRIPTION)

                                                            Milwaukee, Wisconsin
                                                            September 26, 1916

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
           Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:-
     Regarding the increase in pensions of soldiers' widows
to $20.00 a month, I beg to state that I am a soldier's widow
drawing $12.00 a month.  My pension certificate is No. 576010,
issued to me, Adda L. Glover.  I was born in New York City on the
6th day of March, 1838.  My present address is 167 Lee Street,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
     My husband, Samuel Stillman Glover, Jr., was a private
in Co. H. 1st. Regt. Michigan Vol. Engineers & Mechanics.
     I trust that if this bill has been passed and signed
I may receive the benefits of same.
                                       Very respectfully,
                                                            Adda L. Glover
                                                       By Sadie W. Glover

18 April 2012

A Piece of Crystal Downs Golf Course History: Hattie's Bible

 Envelope addressed to Mr. Claude Glover, Munising, Michigan
from Roy Oliver, Crystal Downs Country Club, Frankfort, Michigan. 
 Postmarked Feb 24 1956, 6PM sent with three cents postage stamp.

The above envelope and letter, below, were found in Hattie's Bible.  Claude Glover is the son of Frank H. Glover and Hattie Fenn Glover.  Mr. Roy Oliver was the owner of part of the land that Crystal Downs Country Club was built on.  He also was the grounds keeper of the golf course.  My dad remembers Mr. Oliver, as he was a friend of his dad's, Harry Glover.  Mr. Oliver gave my dad an open invitation to play at Crystal Downs during his time there.  Crystal Downs Country Club, a private golf course, is north of Frankfort, Michigan off of Scenic M-22.  My husband and I drove through there two summers ago.  It is a beautiful course on Lake Michigan.  

Transcription:
Feb. 24 1956
Dear Claude;
I am sending a picture from our Frankfort paper of Gentlemen of the Jury, which must of been taken about 1896 or 97.  I think you will know one of there men, the third one from the left standing.

Not many of the old timers left here.  George Slyfield is here yet and gets around some.

See Louie Spencer most every Summer he has a cottage on Platte River.

I am looking after Crystal Downs golf course and this will make my 30th year at it, it takes in our old farm and the Lockhart farm.  I looked after the building this course and it is one of the best.  I hope this finds you well and enjoying life, hope you can come and see us and spend a few days looking around  we have lots of room at our house and would like to have you and your wife come when ever you can.  Yours Truly Roy Oliver

The newspaper clipping Mr. Roy Oliver sent along with the letter to Claude Glover.  Claude's father, Frank H. Glover is third from left, standing.

13 April 2012

Where in the World is Otto August Fredrick?

Census Data Table for Otto August Fredrick
FACT
DATE
PLACE OF RESIDENCE
ENUMERATION DISTRICT/PAGE ID./DWELLING
Birth
1 Nov 1878
Manistee County, Manistee, Michigan, United States

Census
1900
Manistee, Manistee, Michigan, United States
33/9A/133
Census
1910
?

Census
1920
Dickson Township, Manistee, Michigan, United States
61/4A/72
Census
1930
Dickson Township, Manistee, Michigan, United States
7/2B/42








My maternal grandfather, Otto August Fredrick, can be found in the above census records. I have not been able to find him in the 1910 Census.  I know my grandfather worked/sailed on the Great Lakes.  I would guess he was missed in the Census when he was out on the Lakes, but I don't know that for certain.

11 April 2012

Sisters at the Zoo-Wordless Wednesday

L-R:  Me, age 4 1/2, and  Linda, age 8 1/2 at the Detroit Zoo,
Royal Oak, Michigan, taken Summer 1962

09 April 2012

Louise Zastrow Fredrich-9 April 1856


156 years ago today, my great grandmother, Louise Zastrow Fredrich, was born.  She is pictured here at the age of 61 with five of her grandchildren.  From left to right:  Kathryn Louise Fredrick, age 9, Daisy Marie Fredrick, age 6; Otto Robert Fredrick, age 4; Lola Mae Fredrick, age 7; and Richard Lewis Fredrick, age 2.

05 April 2012

Sindecuse Health Center at Western Michigan University-Those Thursday Places

Sindecuse Health Center, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan

I spent many hours, at least ten hours a week, at the Health Center on the campus of Western Michigan University(WMU) in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  I entered WMU in the fall of 1975 fully believing I was going to graduate with a degree in Medical Technology.  Little did I know I would have to take chemistry for 8 semesters.  Chemistry was not my friend. 
 
 
Since I had declared a major in Medical Technology I was happy when there was an opening in the lab and x-ray department at the health center.  I was granted work study at Western and this seemed like the perfect fit.  Although, I changed my major to Home Economics and Health Education I kept my health center job for four years. 
The lab and x-ray department was in the basement of the health center.  I learned so much during this job.  I drew blood, ran pregnancy tests, did throat cultures, cleaned test tubes, and a few other menial tasks in the lab.  In x-ray, I developed the x-rays.

I had great people to work with and didn't mind going to work.  It's too bad chemistry got the best of me because I think I would have made a good medical technologist.

04 April 2012

Addie Glover and Sadie Glover 1905 Wisconsin

Source:  Wisconsin State Census, 1905, Milwaukee, population schedule, Milwaukee, Ward 13, Wisconsin, p39, Family number 802, Addie Glover; FHL microfilm FHL Microfilm 1020994.


My second great grandmother, Addie (Dyer) Glover and her daughter, Sadie, can be found living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1905.  Addie was head of the household; Sadie was working as a stenographer.  Addie moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin after the death of her husband, Samuel S. Glover, Jr.  Samuel died in 1904.  She lived in Wisconsin until her death in 1917.


03 April 2012

Harry and Maggie Klingelsmith: Tombstone Tuesday

KLINGELSMITH
HARRY L     MAGGIE J
1890   1964      1899    1986

Harry and Maggie Jane (Graf) Klingelsmith are buried in Brethren Cemetery, Brethren, Manistee, Michigan.  Maggie Jane Graf is the daughter of Valentine and Nancy (Mast) Graf, my maternal great grandparents.  Maggie and my grandmother, Daisy Graf Fredrick are sisters.

Harry and Maggie were married 21 November 1916 in Manistee, Michigan.  They were the parents of five children:  Doris, Ernestine, Rachel, Margaret and an infant son who died at birth.