A baby recently joined our family. A perfect little human! Nowadays, the hospital provided the parents with a form to fill out to receive the child’s birth certificate and social security number. In most states you can click Vital Records online and receive a copy of your birth certificate. It hasn’t always been like that.
Indeed a record of birth is one of the most important genealogical facts. Generally birth records give the child’s name, sex, date and place of birth and the names of the parents.
There are MANY birth index records online (paid sites) and a few states who have free indexes including: Arizona, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Dakota. The dates vary but worth a look!
As a historian I have learned that before 1900 it was not mandatory to report a birth to the State. Sometimes Doctors or midwives kept a journal and they are treasures. Sometimes a newspaper reported the birth. But how can you find record of birth in other ways?
Here are some other ideas of where to gain information about a birth: Family members Hospital delivery record Newspaper birth announcement Hospital birth certificate with baby’s footprints Midwife Journal Doctor Records Church baptismal certificate Church newsletter announcements Adoption Decree School Records Family bibles City and county registrations Death records Marriage records Census records some years had the month and year of birth Census mortality records (1850, 1860, 1870, 1880) Obituaries Cemetery records / gravestones Funeral home records Emigration and immigration records Military records Probate records Land and property records Social Security Administration Records City Directory may list children and year of birth Find A Grave.com Civil War, WWI and WWII Draft Registration Cards Passport Wills
Oh that reminds me I need to go add the new person in our family to all my family records! What joy!
Happy Holidays – I wanted to share my favorite Christmas poem. My family always reads this on Christmas Eve. But have you thought about your family Christmas letter – does it give clues for future genealogist? Give this some thought.
“’Twas The Night Before Christmas” ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. Genealogy Clues: It’s Christmas eve, there were no rodents, this home was well built and insulated, they believed in Santa and the stockings were hung!
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. And Mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. Clues: Children had their own beds (would be nice to know their names), parents slept with caps to keep their head warm.
When out on the roof there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash. Clues: There will likely be a story in the paper the next day about the “clatter,” the home had shutters – for storms or coastal weather.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of midday to objects below, when, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. Clues: Full moon, it’s winter time of year, recent snow, wife must be a heavy sleeper because she didn’t wake up.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name: “Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky so up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. Clues: they had a good roof and a chimney!
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes–how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. DNA will verify he had twinkly eyes, dimples and his cheek like roses, his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth, and beard.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. Clues: Santa had a good disposition. A man of few words.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. Clues: Santa likes to work alone.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
What clues are you sharing in your Holiday Letter? What other clues do you read into this story?
What we wish for: Dates, places, names, details, stories, events, thoughts and feelings.
What’s next after the Christmas letter: Check the city directory or phone book. Check for Birth records for children. Census records for a husband, wife and children. Check land records for the purchase of their home. Encourage Santa to join a gym and stop smoking.
As I write this, it is Veteran’s Day 2020, I want to share my appreciation to all who serve and those who have served. As I explore my own family members who have served in the past, one story jumps out at me. One great great grandfather served in the lesser-known “Spanish American War.”
The Spanish American War started April 25, 1898 and lasted until August 13, 1898. The ten-week conflict was between Spain and the US due to worsening socio-economic and military position of Spain after the Peninsular War.
My great great grandfather, Frederick William English, enlisted in the Navy, North Atlantic Fleet at Detroit, Michigan with the rank of Private Landsman. When the “Spanish Conflict” began he was involved.
Information from Navy Records Frederick William English enlisted in the navy August 13, 1896, at Detroit, Michigan, to serve three years, as landsman. Born in Ripon, Wisconsin, February 2, 1872; occupation, laborer; height 5’10”; eyes, blue; hair, black; complexion, ruddy; “Lou” r.f.a; scar left big toe and below right knee. Served as followed” “Michigan” to Mar. 25, 1898 “Minneapolis” to Aug. 20, 1898 “Yosemite” to Nov 7, 1898 “Richmond” to Nov 14, 1898 “Dixie” to Mar 7, 1899 “Vermont” to Mar 8, 1899 “Newark” to Sep 12, 1899 “Franklin” to Sep 18, 1899 When discharged, expiration of enlistment. Rating changed to ordinary seaman, May 5, 1897. The file also included a detailed medical history. “June 5, 1899, Contusion, Right thigh, leg and ankle. Origin duty hit by falling tree while cutting wood for ship.” He suffered with leg and knee pain for the rest of his life. The pension papers were filled out by my ancestor including a detailed questionnaire. When, where married, a copy of the marriage certificate. Names and dates of birth of all children. Description about his health and accidents while in service. And his signature!
You may be thinking how would I learn about my ancestor and their service record.
To begin you can check with your family member and record the “stories” they know. Record all places and dates as they know them.
Military personnel records are open to the public 62 years after they leave the military.
National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records 1 Archives Drive St. Louis, MO 63138 PHONE: 314-801-0800*
Most records are free. *Due to covid-19 the Customer Service Line is sometimes unstaffed.
Once you have established what unit your ancestor served in you can search that specific until for clues.
Preparations for the Spanish American conflict started in October 1897 with the main issue being Cuban Independence from Spain. President McKinley resisted the idea of war but finally on April 11, 1898 he asked Congress for authority to send American troops to Cuba and on April 25th that year, the Spanish American War was declared. It would be one of only 5 American wars to have been formally declared by Congress. And it would be one of the shortest wars in history, lasting just 3 months, 2 weeks and 4 days.
Aboard the ship USS Michigan in 1898, my ancestor patrolled up and down the Atlantic Coast while heavy fighting was taking place in and around Cuba.
Frederick was serving on the SS Minneapolis at the time the war officially ended but peace-keeping activities would continue on the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.
Aug 13, 1898 – Over the next 7 months Frederick served on the SS Yosemite
Picture of the Yosemite and crew, wouldn’t it be awesome if that was your ancestor.
The next vessel is the SS Richmond
And then the SS Dixie to Mar 7, 1899
and the SS Vermont to Mar 8, 1899.
On March 9, 1899 Frederick transferred to the SS Newark. By that time the conflict was called the Philippine-American War.
Aboard the Newark, Frederick made the trip down the eastern coast of South America on patrol, stopping at numerous ports along the way. His heavy wool uniform became increasingly uncomfortable as the climate warmed. Reports state the temperature was high (108 degrees) and high humidity. The men slept on deck when possible, but there were bugs, irritating bugs.
By April 7 the ship sailed through the Straights of Magellan and headed north towards San Francisco. The ship became low on coal and was forced to put into Lowe Bay, Chili, just north of the Magellan Straights where the sailors were required to cut wood for fuel. It was while on shore cutting wood that a tree fell on Frederick causing a serious contusion of his right thigh, leg and ankle. He was admitted to sick bay for 8 days. On arrival in San Francisco in September of 1899 he would transfer to the USS Franklin
The USS Franklin provided his transport back to Norfolk, Virginia for discharge after serving 3 years in the Navy.
April 25, 1898 The U.S. Congress declares war on Spain.
May 1, 1898 First major battle between Spanish and U.S. Forces: U.S. Commodore Dewey and his Asiatic squadron defeat the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in the Philippines.
June 22, 1898 U.S. troops land in Cuba.
July 1, 1898 U.S. forces defeat the Spanish at the Battle of San Juan Heights.
July 3, 1898 U.S. forces destroy the Spanish Fleet off Santiago Bay, Cuba.
July 17, 1898 The Spanish surrender at Santiago.
August 12, 1898 The U.S. and Spain sign the Protocol of Peace, ending hostilities between the two countries.
December 10, 1898 The Treaty of Paris is signed by representatives from the U.S. and Spain, ending the Spanish-American War.
February 6, 1899 The Treaty of Paris is ratified by the U.S. Senate. Under the treaty, the U.S. acquires control over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.
I find it so interesting to line up my ancestor’s service, the military timeline and resources from newspapers. How will your history come alive?
Every once-and-in-while I stumble across an obscure find and think “no one would know to look here for that.” Usually I copy it or print it thinking “maybe someday I will share this, or someone will need it.” Even if it isn’t helpful for me, I can’t overlook unique, obscure records, can you?
Here is an example. While searching for a friend recently I found his great-great grandfather in the 1870 Ohio Census. I discovered that he lived in the Cincinnati Infirmary. “Sick” I thought, “he must have been sick.” But as I did some research I realized the Cincinnati Infirmary was designed to help the poor. His occupation was “Pauper.”
1870 US Census, Eastern One-Half Springfield Township in the County of Hamilton, State of Ohio 24th June 1870 Post Office: Glendale Page 97, Line 2
Name Age Race Occupation Place of Birth Philip DIESTADT 69 white Pauper Deutschland
The 1870 census lists about 400 names at the Cincinnati Infirmary, including the Superintendent and Staff. Their place of births range from United States to Germany, Ireland, England and Switzerland. Residents ages ranged between 1 and 105. One can only imagine the circumstance that led folks to be housed here.
Upon further search I found a Google book that described the Cincinnati Infirmary. The Annual Report of the City Departments of the City of Cincinnati in 1865 posted a lengthy report and in Table 9 it listed the Name, Age, Nationality, Date, and Cause of death for all who died in the City Infirmary for the year ending Feb 28, 1865. [Annual Report of the City Departments of the City of Cincinnati. Page 242.]
Likely the names listed were not in a position to have a probate record, sale of land, or even an obituary in the local paper. So what a treasure to find this resource.
There is a similar list for the year 1889. I am attaching these lists in hopes that someone, somewhere will find the name of their obscure ancestor.
The City Infirmary was a municipal institution affording relief to both in-door and out-door paupers. The buildings, which are spacious and extensive, were located on the Carthage Road, 8 miles north of the city. It was situated on a farm belonging to the institution which contained 160 acres of beautifully rolling land. This position commands a fine view of the surrounding country. During the year ending 1873 large additions were made to the buildings, and there was a larger number of inmates than were ever before gathered within its walls. [Illustrated Cincinnati: A Pictural Handbook of the Queen City, By Daniel J. Kenny, p. 50]
In 1874, there were 330 patients admitted, and the cost of supporting each was 22 cents per day. The report states: lodgings and meals have been supplied to 616 “tramps,” or men on the road. 746 patients received medical treatment during the year. In the City Infirmary School there were 30 pupils and the farm and garden produced $12,403.28. [Representative Citizens, Volume 1, p. 1031]
Other tables include information such as the Ages of the Inmates Remaining, Mix of White, Black, Males and Females and a long list of “ailments they were admitted for.”
Often called the Poor House, the County Home, the Insane Asylum or the Infirmary, these places provided a safe place for folks in need. Sometimes home to abandoned children, the injured, the sick, and folks with hardships or illnesses. Maybe it was just misfortune – we can only wonder.
Here are a couple of links to other “List of Paupers” you may find useful.
See below for the full index of all names found in the three records, 1864 deaths, 1870 census, 1889 deaths. Click on the link to download the file to be able to search.
It’s back to school time and it got me thinking how to encourage kids to enjoy their family history.
In my mind it’s never too early to start sharing family history with children. Often one of the first words a child says is “daddy” or “mommy.” That is the first step in understanding how your mother and father fit in your family tree. Before long they understand a sibling fits in and the grandparents and aunts and uncles too.
Start with what you know. Use a simple family tree chart to start.
Keep it simple. Start with one person, one generation at a time. What a thrill for a grandparent to be asked about their life ‘way back then.’
Talk with your family, aunts, uncles. Ask them questions about what they know about your family.
School age children may enjoy seeing their own certificates, birth, baptism or from the hospital. Show them marriage certificates and death certificates.
Junior high age students will enjoy a visit to local FamilySearch Center, the local library or history center. Staff will direct you to local and online resources.
Let the kids decide how you will preserve and store the items.
One great resource is “My Family Tree Workbook” (Dover Children’s Activity Books) by Rosemary Chrozempa.
Easily accessible to the youngest of historians, this volume assist in learning fundamental research principles and beginning the search.
This book has a “me” page. It starts with the child’s name, nickname, address and the date family history started.
I think it is neat that I started family history research early. I got interview all my aunts and uncles, and many of great aunts and uncles. What a treasure to hear their perspective of family history. I’ve learned much more since the internet and increased records being indexed, but I treasure those early cassette recordings and notes.
Have a child “draw” their family. Paying attention to their hair color, eye color and height. They can include as many or as few members as they wish.
How fun for a youngster to connect with a grandparent who played the same sport they play.
Perhaps you can find diaries written by other kids about a place your ancestors came from.
Maps are a good way to learn current and historical information.
Did you know there is a Boy Scout honor?
Cousins can make excellent penpals or ipals. Cousins share your grandparents.
Photos are fun ask your child – what can we learn from looking at a photo. Become detectives and look at the photo for dress, hair style, furniture, cars and other descriptive details.
There are many online puzzles and games. Make a Word Scramble or Word Search using your family names.
Fun ideas to do as a family: Create a time capsule, plan a Family Reunion
Another good book: Do People Grow on Family Trees? Genealogy for Kids & Other Beginners: the Official Ellis Island Handbook. By Ira Wolfman, Workman Pub 1991. 179 pages of interactive genealogical guide.
Let me know how your children respond to these ideas!
I’ve been asked to define the “value of an obituary.”
In my mind an obituary is the lasting, printed legacy of someone. It is the historical record that should last forever. Telling us the name, age, location, education, employment and survivors of someone who has passed.
Some have suggested you plan ahead and write your own obituary, I think that is a great idea. It is not narcissism, it is taking hold of your life story. It is not morbid, we all know that’s how the story turns out.
So would you consider writing your own obituary? Beyond the obvious use after your life, it’s a wonderful reflective process to consider where you came from and what you have accomplished in this life. What a blessing to your family who may be at a loss for words after your passing. Another value is accuracy, no one better than you to get the facts correct.
A few years back, I was in a situation where I had to accompany a friend to the funeral home after his mother died expectantly. The caring staff slipped a “form” in front of my friend whose eyes were full of tears.
“Fill this out,” they said. He began with her name, date of death, town she lived in, etc.… then the form asked about her birth, birthplace, her parents and their birth place. He slid the form back “I don’t know” he said. I grabbed the clip board back toward us – wait I said let’s see what we can figure out. I knew this information would be used in her obituary and perhaps her death certificate.
After some research online we found some info to include. Her birth was recorded in the California birth index (Ancestry), her graduating high school class was noted (Classmates), her marriage was posted in the newspaper (Newspapers), and her mother and father’s obituaries (state historical society) yielded much needed information.
Printed obituaries trace back to the 1700’s. Today more than 6,000 US newspapers and many online sources post death notices. For a fee anyone can have a descriptive obituary, right along with the obituaries of the rich and famous.
There are many online sites with info about how to write your own obituary. For some it’s easy to sit and tell the story or recite the facts. It will be unique for each person. Perhaps you should read some obits in the paper now, do some of them tug on your heart strings? Why?
Be Pandemic Prepared
There has never been a better time to consider this project – due to the Pandemic which has recently taken so many loved ones. An interesting obituary project related to COVID-19 is the New York Times’ “Those We’ve Lost.” This aggressive project attempts to put names and faces to the numbers who have lost their life due to the virus.
A coworker once told me she got her Journalism/Marketing career started by “writing obituaries for the local paper.” She was determined to make ‘em readable!
Really it’s our “Origin Story” – and the long or short of it is a “boy (or girl) makes good opportunity.” Telling the tale of a persons origins, education, education, hardships and successes and survivors.
Now in its second season, Rocca shares informative, and often humorous obituaries. Rocca stated “A good obituary should be like a trailer for an Oscar-winning movie – there should be highs, lows, triumphs and tragedies.”
If you are writing notes for your loved ones to use, perhaps you want to tell them what inspired your life? Did you survive a catastrophe? What words do you think describe you? Do you have a charity or cause that is important to you?
When writing your own story be sure to include: full legal name, marriages, career, family. Include nicknames, place of passing, place of residence, education, employment, high school, college, degrees and survivors.
SOCIAL MEDIA
In our modern world we often learn of the passing of loved ones, friends or acquaintances through social media. If you are writing the post of someone’s passing, I encourage you to keep in mind that family, close loved ones, friends may not know what you know. Avoid being cryptic and confusing. Avoid over-sharing until the family has a chance to share the information. There is no rush, take a breath and consider your words carefully before you post.
In researching for this blog, I was surprised to learn of the multiple online obituary sites where you can post the obituary of a loved one. Sometimes for free, sometimes for a fee. (And of course as a researcher you can find someone you’re seeking.) Do remember that when you type in the name of someone who has passed you might receive 28,900,000 results – so hopefully the obituary has something interesting and unique in it … so they can be found for all time into the future!
As a reminder you can learn more about a person from asking family, friends, coworkers, church pastor, volunteer groups, photo albums, scrap books, online and libraries.
Having someone else proof-read the obituary is a good idea to ensure an accurate announcement of passing and a forever record of a life.
I wouldn’t want you to end up like Mrs. Philena Walker who at her death was the oldest person who was born in town and yet they could find no more than 7 lines of text to describe her life. [Aurora of the Valley (Newbury, Vermont) 02 Jul 1870, Sat, pg 4]
Better to be like Mazie Ford, 112, with a photo and 3 full columns of life history. [Miami Herald (Miami, Florida) 09 May 2019, Thu, Page A8]
PS/ It’s a joke in my family to read the obituaries in paper “and see if I am in there.” ‘Til then I’m available to discuss your family history questions.
Have you been to the doctor’s office and wonder why it matters whether or not your grandmother had high blood pressure or diabetes? According to WebMD “These details about your family health are vital to doctors because some diseases run in families.”
The online Mayo Clinic states that Doctors use genetic medical information to:
Assess your risk of certain diseases
Recommend changes in diet or other lifestyle habits to reduce the risk of disease.
Recommend medications or treatments to reduce the risk of disease
Determine which diagnostic tests to order
Determine the type and frequency of screening tests
Identify a condition that might not otherwise be considered
Assess your risk of passing conditions on to your children.
Illnesses that may have a genetic component include: Cancer, Heart disease, Diabetes, High blood pressure, High cholesterol and Stroke.
Medical history is vitally important for your doctor to know what you are at risk for and often family medical history is challenging to find. But do not give up hope, here are some resources that might be helpful. And be sure to start recording your medial history now for future generations!
Sources of Medical History
You might find these at Home
Church Bulletins – sometimes announcements about illnesses are included in the requests for prayer.
Correspondence – someone may have written about an illness, or asked how someone was doing who was sick.
Diary/Journal – often people record information about their illnesses or the condition of others.
Family Bibles – people often recorded information about illnesses and deaths in their Bible.
Family Tradition – maybe someone recalls that uncle Fred had TB?
Life Insurance Records – this would be a gold mine to know what was included in application, or payout of life insurance.
Photos – sometimes photos may reveal visible disabilities or pictures of a funeral/burial.
Funeral Cards – these were very popular in the early 1900’s
Example: Funeral Card for Our Dear Father – Jacob Oertli 05 Jun 1839 – 20 Jul 1912
Records you may need to write for
Burial Records – each cemetery recorded the purchase of burial plots and each person buried there.
Civil Records – could there be legal papers filed in the county related to your relatives death? Was the death an accident?
Online Records
Cemetery Records – often cemeteries have excellent records of people buried there. FindAGrave.Com is a start! I found this amazing tombstone on Find A Grave. It lead to information about how small-pox affected our family at one time.
US Federal Mortality Schedules Index (1850-1880) varies by state
Church Records – As seen in this church newsletter obituary:
This example is William Steiner’s obituary stating he died suddenly from heart failure. Source: The Evangelical Messenger – Church paper for the Evangelical Association. Index is available online at https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_evanmessenger.php
Death Indexes – many states now have death indexes online
Employment records (Railroad) – may describe death and cause
Death Certificate – most states began requiring death certificates around 1900.
Example is a Washington State Death Certificate for ROY ALLISON SMITH who died June 18, 1913 – Cause of death: DIABETES
Find At A Library
County Histories – some histories give detailed accounts of a persons life.
Family Histories – privately published family histories often share information about a persons death.
Cemetery/Funeral Home
Guardianships – if a person died with young children there could be detailed guardianship papers filed with the county.
Hospital Records – if a person died at a hospital, it would record the details, IF you could get copies.
Mortuary Records – The business that handles the body after death will have detailed information including biographical and personal information.
Cemetery Record – The cemetery where a person is buried will have records of who is paid.
Example: St. John’s Cemetery Book, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. States Valentin Schlegel died 30 Jun 1863 of complication of Asthma.
Online Newspapers
Newspaper clippings – these can be full of useful information
This example describes Arthur G. Stiles’ death on the same day as his daughter Virginia Hanan. Her cause of death: Cancer
Obituaries – many obituaries in newspapers are available online or by writing to a library.
Less Common Records
Coroner’s Record – a legal record of an autopsy report, they are available in some areas.
Pension Records – pension records may describe information about their death, particularly if they died in service.
Permit to Transport Deceased Persons – requirements vary but you can inquire with the funeral home and state regulations
Real Estate Records – a home may be sold due to a person passing.
Veterans Papers – pension records may describe information about their death, particularly if they died in service.
Wills/Probates – probates filed with the county may reveal details.
US Census Mortality Index (deaths within 12 months of a census) – these rare finds describe date, place and cause of death.
A family medical history can’t predict your future health. It only provides information about risk. Good luck as you ask your relatives, cousins and family historians. Let me know if you find something interesting in your family medical history. Or if you need help getting started.
There are some online tools to help you gather info, including this one from the Surgeon General and the CDC.
And remember you have a right to ask for your own medical records. You may need to pay for them, but think what a blessing that would be to future generations!
You might want to consider: Drug sensitivities, Chronic Conditions, Disabilities and Allergies.
PS/ Adoptees may want to contact the State Adoption Unit, Coordinating Agency, Hospital or their baby books – sometimes adoptive parents are told “non identifying facts which may include medical history.” You might also want to consider DNA genetic testing.
How many first cousins do you have? Most people have 4-6 first cousins. Those are your parents-siblings-children. You know your aunt and uncle’s kids. The ones you played with when you were a kid but kinda lost contact with except for at your grandparents funeral.
Ok let’s assume each family has 3 kids (we know way-back-when the families were WAY bigger) look at how our cousins list grows! And an example of 6 kids per family to boggle your mind. It’s amazing how fast our families grow when we consider this.
3 kids per family 6 kids per family 1st cousin 9 36 2nd cousin 27 216 3rd cousin 81 1,296 4th cousin 243 7,776 5th cousin 729 46,656 6th cousin 2,187 279,936 7th cousin 6,561 1,679,616
When God said go forth and multiply he wasn’t kidding.
Now, not all those cousins are alive in your life time, but if your family kept good records (like mine did) you have a chance to know your 1st, 2nd, 3rd cousins. And now with DNA test results I have made connections with 7th cousins!!!!
Long ago, I learned a lesson about cousins. Originally from the Pacific Northwest I spent one year in Denver, Colorado. I attended a music history class at a local community college. The story is published in the July/August 1990 Genealogical Helper.
My Cousin, Jeanette hadn’t always lived in Denver either. We were both so surprised our paths crossed there. While The Genealogy Helper Magazine is no longer being published you can find an index to some years on MyHeritage.
So, you’re guessing you have cousins by the dozens who you want to get to know or you think may have genealogical information that you don’t. Here are some tips:
Ask the cousins you do know.
Read the obituaries of your great grandparents looking for names listed.
Research on line.
Contact your local genealogy society.
What a small world it is. I bet you have a relative living your town and you didn’t even know it. That makes a good reminder to treat everyone like your cousin, it is basically a good way to treat all people. After all what the world needs now is love, more love and kindness.
Here is one example of how to find family history information about your people. I know my family lived in Waumandee, Buffalo County, Wisconsin so let’s look at Buffalo County Online. bchsonline.com/web/family-history-list/
The Buffalo County Historical Society has many resources available for viewing in our office. You can look at newspapers or Buffalo County Census Records on microfilm. We also have many family histories on file.
From their webpage – Family History List
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF FAMILY HISTORIES THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED IN THE BUFFALO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFICE. THESE HISTORIES RANGE FROM SHORT NEWS ARTICLES TO PROFESSIONALLY PUBLISHED BOOKS.
There are hundreds of books and documents listed – here are the ones related to MY family tree.
Double Cousins By the Dozens; by Roger M. Goetz, (1982), names: Heck-Heike, Horn, Kuehn, Lauterbach, Linse, Otto, Pfund, Richter, Rick, Schultz, and Steinke primarily of Buffalo and LaCrosse Counties
Linse-Schlegel/Schlagel from Germany With Love To…Ontario, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Washington; by Bette Schlagel Rogers and Jan L. Rogers Jorgenson, (June 1984), names: Linse-Schlegel/Schlagel
Oral History Interview with Lois Linse Gleiter; by Dale E. Treleven, (1974), names: Gleiter
Events of My Life. Born February 14, 1913 To ?; by Hilbert George Michael Kochenderfer, names: Kochenderfer
Kochenderfer House “Oldest Building in County Nominee”; names: Kochenderfer
Excerpts from Trempealeau and Buffalo County Papers in doing Family History and Helping Others; by Millicent A. Hild, (January 1997), names: Faulds, Luetscher, Buehler, Ristow, Saxer, Muhleisen, Genealogy in Buffalo and Trempealeau counties of the authors own families.
Johannes STEINER Family in Wisconsin (1846-1996); by Mary Anne Falk, (August 1996), names: Steiner
Leonard and Katherine Hardt Blank Descendants; by Alethea Blank Keller, (2002), names: Blank
Note: The Buffalo County Historical Society also can do genealogy research for you for a fee! The research rates are $10.00/hr if you are a current member of the society and $15.00/hr if you are not a member (there is a one hour minimum). We also charge $0.50/copy for the first 10 copies made and $0.25/copy for each copy after that as well as postage. If you would like to have some research done, please contact us by e-mail or you can send your check or money order with your request to: BCHS, PO Box 394, Alma, WI 54610.
If you’d like my help finding your cousins, drop me a line! And, of course, once you have your story written up share it with your local genealogy library for others to learn from!
Searching historical records for a relative who was a North Dakota farmer can be a challenge. The reasons include #1 Limited public records, #2 Many Scandinavian names are similar, such as Olson, Olsen, Oleson, Olsson, #3 Shorter life span due to hazards.
Thankfully we have the 1900 federal census as a place to start!
The 1900 United States Census was conducted on June 1, 1900. There were 76,212,168 persons enumerated (counted) in the United States.
Questions asked and recorded include: Address, name, relationship to head of family, Sex, race, age, month and year born Marital status and, if married number of years married. For women, number of children born and number now living. Place of birth of person, and their parents If foreign born, year of immigration and when naturalized Occupation Months not employed Attended school Ability to speak English Whether on a farm, farmer Home owned or rented, and, if owned, whether mortgaged
There were 319,146 people living in North Dakota in 1900. Some tips for successfully searching census’ include:
· remember names had variations, often people used initials. · Enumerators wrote what they heard, they had poor penmanship. · sometimes they missed people in the index so don’t be afraid to read for yourself. · knowing where your ancestor lived is important, learning about their neighbors might reveal relatives, friends.
If you slow down long enough the answers are there, or not there.
It’s like asking your ancestor “what was your occupation?”, Did you attend school that year? Could you read or write, speak English?
A blank line may mean as much as a filled in one. Example: did they did not own their home, whether they lived in a home or on a farm, was the home mortgaged.
Where can you find the census records? Many libraries offer these inhouse for free. Or subscribe! · FamilySearch.org · Ancestry.com · National Archives · Fold3.com · My Heritage · Do a google search for your county and year sometimes they have been typed in by a local genealogist.
For 230 years the US has captured Census data every ten years. There is a 72-year privacy period meaning this 2020 census will be available in 2092. Just think of that in the future your descendants and relatives maybe looking for you! (Sadly, the 1890 census was lost in a fire.)
In the beginning of my research days I was so excited to find names and ages, I hurried through some of the closer-look-details. I now realize the Census reveals personal information as well as migration information, often families followed friends to a new location.
Did your family include a woman working “before her time.” Was she widowed, single, or abandoned?
Take a moment and imagine what was it like for that family to gather around the dinner table. How many, what ages, what languages, what stories were told from work or school. Perhaps you can get a sense of the family economy. Working or unemployed. Living in a city or rural.
By 1910 census they were asking when the person immigrated and had they been naturalized or applied for first papers. You can learn if your family suffered child mortality.
The 1930 census asked about Rent, Radios and Relocation – more about that another time.
Here is an example – I will explore several sources to learn about Charles Olsen who lived in rural North Dakota. Here he is in the 1900 census.
1910 North Dakota, Barnes, Rosebud, District 0013
Name Age married children birthplace arrived in US, naturalized, occupation.
Charles Olson 50 m 24 Norway Norwegian 1881 Na Farmer Julia Olson 42 m 24 10/8 Iowa Carolina Olson 17 MN Alma Olson 14 ND Henrietta Olson 11 ND Carl Olson 8 ND Adolph Olson 5 ND Edna Olson 2 ND
From this record we can note the obvious – names and ages. But behind that we learn about their migration pattern. The father born in Norway. The daughter Carolina age 17 was born in Minnesota and the 14 year old was born in North Dakota.
I found Charles Olsen in the Bureau of Land Management records also:
This record discloses a description of the property as well as the name of the purchaser: OLSON, CHARLY 6/30/1882 ND 4th PM Twp 141N R 051W SW 1/4 Sec 12 Cass County.
Another source available for rural North Dakota is Church records (including membership and baptismal). This example found at Ancestry.com. These can be a gold mine! U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969
Alma Emelia Olsen 7 Juli 1895 Charles Olsen, Julia Olsen Hilda Berthine Olsen 26 Sep 1889 20 Oct 1889 St Thomas Church, Svea Oskar Theodor Olson 21 Sep 1887 6 Nov 1887 St Thomas Svea Hance Caroline 30 Apr 1893 bap 30 Dec 1892 Charles & Julia
Another great resource for rural areas is Find a Grave www.findagrave.com – Cemetery Index Not only did I find a grave stone photo, but someone had posted an obituary for Charles Olson!
Life’s Journey is Ended for Charles Olson Funeral Services Held in Glenwood and at Valley City, N.D. The life journey of Charles Olson Branby came to a peaceful end at the home of his son, Carl Olson, in Barsness Township on Wednesday, June 18. Death was due to the infirmities of old age. The life span of Mr. Olson began in Telemarken, Norway, where he was born on January 6, 1860. He was therefore, past 81 years of age at the time of his death. His parents were Ole O. and Tone Branby. At the age of twenty-one, he left the homeland to seek his fortune in the new world. He came to Pope county in July, 1881. On May 6, 1886, he was united in marriage to Julia Hougen at the parsonage of Rev. Skaar. Shortly after their marriage, he moved to his homestead, three miles north of Litchville, traveling in a covered wagon. He prospered in this new country and acquired considerable farm land, before he left for Pope county again, twenty-three years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Olson took an active part in community life and were charter members of the first Norwegian Baptist Church near Litchville. In Pope county he acquired farm land, having sold his land in North Dakota. Funeral services were held from the Berry Funeral Home at two o’clock on Saturday, June 21st. The services were conducted by Rev. J. Linnevold. Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church of Valley City, N.D., at two o’clock P.M. June 21st, Rev. F. H. Swanson officiating, and burial at St. Thomas cemetery near LItchville. Pallbearers were six grandsons of the deceased: Homer, Malcalm, and LeRoy Hanson, Clayton Olson and Harvey and Gordon Gudmestad. Dr. R. G. White and Malcalm Hanson sang two duets, accompanied by Miss Elvera Cedergreen and four granddaughters, Joan, Shirley and Rosemary Froemke and Doris Olson, sang “Nearer My God to Thee,” accompanied by Mrs. Gene Bong. Besides his wife, he is survived by the following children: O.T. Olson, New Rockford, N.D., Hilda (Mrs. H. O. Hanson) of Henrietta, N.D., Mrs. A. L. Froemke of Valley City, N.D., Adolf N. Olson of Green Bay, Wis.; and Caroline (Mrs. Peter Fingerson), Edna (Mrs. Chas Squire), Carl J. Olson and Raymond G. Olson of Glenwood. Surviving him also are two brothers and two sisters, Elof and Ole Branby, Mrs. Ole Hammar and Mrs. R. Rasmusson of Glenwood. Charles Olson was a man who lived his Christianity in all his dealings with his fellow men. He was a man of outstanding character and personality and was loved and respected by all those who knew him. He was a loving and faithful husband and father and a good friend and neighbor.
Published in the Litchville Bulletin, Litchville, North Dakota, June, 1941
Look at all the clues we learned from this obituary. where he lived who he lived with when he died where he was born when he was born who is parents were when he came to America when he married, who he married how he moved what church he belonged to who handled his funeral services when and where his funeral was who the pallbearers were (six grandsons) His survivors, his children, two brothers and two sisters. ….a bit about his character.
Even if we are not related to him, we learned he traveled by wagon to ND. Who married them in 1887. They found like-minded immigrant church ties.
Charles Olson b 1860 – 1941 Saint Thomas Cemetery Litchville, Barnes
From his grave we learn when he was born When he died Where he is buried and perhaps an obituary sometimes the submitter is a relative spouse and children (if they are on findagrave)
Turns out there are some records that can be found. Good luck with your farmer research! (ps fill out your 2020 census carefully – someone will be looking for you!)
I was a student at Washington State University-Vancouver, when I listened in Dr. John Barber’s Digital Text and Technology class. As he lectured one day, he described his personal/professional project about the author Richard Brautigan. Discussing the vast works of the author and how Dr. Barber’s website www.brautigan.net chronicled his life and work, Dr. Barber stated “Richard Brautigan had no family.” That comment caught my attention! As a life-long genealogist, I knew that wasn’t true, everyone has family. So, I immediately took to the task of finding his family.
What resulted was a several page report to my professor regarding the Brautigan family history. He was blown-away that this information could be found. And thus began my adventure into “learning about Richard Brautigan.”
Thankfully Brautigan spent most of his life in the west so I was able to use many local sources. Here are the types of records I used to learn about the Brautigan family:
City directories (names, addresses, occupation)
Newspapers (stories, names, dates)
Birth records (names, dates)
Marriage records (names, dates, witnesses, parents)
Death records (names, dates, place of burial)
Obituaries (names, relationships, occupations, final resting place)
Land Records (dates, places, names)
Driving by addresses (age of home, type of neighborhood)
Libraries (local history, online databases such as Ancestry or ProQuest)
Court house (land deeds, birth, marriage, death certificates, divorce decrees, probate records, tax records, military records, civil and criminal records)
Archives (Cemetery Records, Census Records, Map Records, Minutes and Meeting Records, Naturalization Records, Power of Attorney Records, Professional License Records, Superior Court, Trademark Records)
Online sources (Genealogy Websites, Family History Websites, Organizational Directories)
I learned the Brautigan family arrived from Germany in 1899. They made their way west to Winlock, Washington. Combined with a maternal grandmother who was a bootlegger it made for an interesting search!
About Brautigan:
Richard Brautigan (1935-1984) was an American writer. Most popular during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Born 30 Jan 1935 in Tacoma, Washington. Brautigan’s first novel was published in 1956. He died 1984 at home in Bolinas, CA.
From Dr. Barber’s website:
“Richard Brautigan was mysterious about his family, sometimes saying he had none, sometimes weaving them into his writing in imaginative ways. He did not know his real father, had several step-fathers, and abandoned all family ties when he left his boyhood home in Oregon and moved to San Francisco, California. He married twice and is survived by a daughter.”
Throughout my college experience and beyond I have researched the Family Tree of Richard Brautigan. It was Dr. Barber that coined the term “Geneographer” for me. A combination of Genealogist+Biographer.
While the Brautigan novels “aren’t really my style” it never hurts to broaden your horizons and learn something new. The history of San Francisco in the 1960 is interesting for sure!
List of Richard Brautigan novels:
1964 Confederate General from Big Sur
1967 Trout Fishing in America
1968 In Watermelon Sugar
1971 The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966
1974 The Hawkline Monster: A Gothic Western
1975 Willard and His Bowling Trophies: A Perverse Mystery
1976 Sombrero Fallout: A Japanese Novel
1977 Dreaming of Babylon: A Private Eye Novel 1942
1980 The Tokyo-Montana Express
1982 So The Wind Won’t Blow It All Away
1994 An Unfortunate Woman: A Journey
In 2010 I had the pleasure of meeting Richard Brautigan’s daughter Ianthe Brautigan. She attended the dedication of The Brautigan Library in Vancouver, Washington. The Brautigan Library is a unique collection of nearly 400 unpublished manuscripts written by everyday authors. Thanks to a partnership between the Creative Media & Digital Culture Program (CMDC) at Washington State University Vancouver and the Clark County Historical Museum. The Library creation is based on Brautigan’s 1971 novel The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966. Imagine a library where anyone can be published!
At that event I was able to share with Ianthe Brautigan the portfolio of family history I had gathered. She was delighted! It felt meaningful to share history that she never even knew existed or where to find.
Researching a “public figure” is basically the same as my own family although none of my family seem to have archives at a large university.
I’ve driven by every home that Brautigan was known to have lived at. Tacoma, WA, Eugene, OR, San Francisco, CA, Bolinas, CA. I’ve stood in front of the statue that RGB used for a background on the City Lights books. I’ve sat in the Lights coffee shop/bookstore where he is known to have written. It was my pleasure getting to know Richard G. Brautigan and his family history.
Perhaps you have questions about researching a famous person, or your obscure North Dakota farmer, drop me a note and let’s see what we can learn.
Me and Richard Brautigan (cutout on display in Vancouver)
Geneographer 
