Why Genealogy Conferences?

Tina Lyons asked this question of Ambassadors to the FGS conference that will be held in August in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

Unfortunately I'm unable to attend FGS this year but I am going to two other conferences.  I'll be at NGS (next week)  and Jamboree (next month).   So, why do I go?  I go

1)  To learn.  I consider myself an intermediate researcher, but I have numerous "brick walls."  And I'm not comfortable with some types of records.  So I go to attend sessions to help me with the "gaps" I feel I have.  And I've been know to attend 3 sessions during 2 conferences on the same or similar topic because I want to get different perspectives.

2)  To find out what's new.  The exhibit/vendor hall is an important part of my conference experience.  Where else can I learn about what's new?  And I can ask questions about what it does, how it works, what I can gain from using it, etc.  Reading blogs is another way I learn about what's new, so I look forward to reading other's blogs to see what they have learned.  Because I definitely don't always know the "right" questions to ask.

3)  To buy books, CDs, DVDs,  postcards and stuff.  I have to set a budget, but this is the place where I can touch and look through books to see if they have info that I want.  (I really have trouble buying books without touching them first.)  The CDs and DVDs are for my continuing education.  Postcards and other stuff help me add interest to my writing.  (And I really don't like to shop.  But this is different!!)

4)  To be around others who have a passion for genealogy.  I've met great people.  But I haven't been very good at getting the meeting into the start of a long-term relationship.  I'm not really a "party" person, and I don't function well staying up late.  Because I attend sessions almost every time period, I'm not networking.  This is something I really want to get better at.

5)  To return home energized.  Oh, I'm often so tired when I get home.  My mind is on overload with all of the new information.  I have these new ideas, new techniques to try, new web sites to look at, etc.  BUT, I also have so many ideas to help me with my research and my writing.  Too bad that life still interferes with genealogy once I return.

So why are you going?  Or why aren't you?  Hope to see you in a session or in the exhibit hall.  Please say Hi.

Tuesday's Tip - Backup, Backup, Backup

I know you’ve heard this before.  You’ve read this before.  Perhaps you have even written about it.  However, are we following our own advice and the advice of our friends?  (I know I haven't been as conscientious as I probably should.)

Many of our friends and neighbors have survived tornados, hurricanes, forest fires and floods.  Every day some of them have fires in their homes.  Some of them have insurance and can rebuild.  That’s the physical building.   But how do you replace the memories, heirlooms, photographs, school papers, certificates, passports, etc, etc, etc.  We never know when the natural or man-made disaster may meet our files. 

There are so many ways to backup now.  We aren’t limited to an external hard drive or making a CD copy of our files and sending it to a friend or taking it to our Safe Deposit box.  So, are we following our own advice? 

So, backup regularly and especially every time before you leave home with your computer. 

Tuesday Tips - Spring Cleaning

Taxes are finished (a day early).  This morning I cleaned out email inboxes (YES, boxes).  Then, I also cleaned out the "sent" files.  AND, then I emptied my Recycle Bin. 

I still have many files, copies of old emails, etc. that need to be tossed.  I know, or at least I've heard, that you should only handle each piece of paper once.  But I just can't seem to do that.  But I found a way that works for me.  I take a stack of papers, about 4 inches, and sort it into piles.  Your piles would probably be different than mine, but mine are quilting, tatting, knitting/crocheting, recipes, exercise/health ideas, and then my genealogy files (2 or 3, depending).  Of course, I also generally throw out at least 1/3 of the pile. 

What do I do with each stack?  Well, I put many of the papers into their own folders, just as they were meant to be.  Other papers (those that may need a little more sorting) I put into pocket file folders.  When I've worked through more papers, then I sort through each of these pocket folders and actually file these where they belong, or make new files if necessary.  This method works for me.  Perhaps it's not the most efficient, but I'm reducing the stacks; cleaning up the drawers; and I'm able to find what I want.  Even having a shorter "pile" of papers, or papers actually in a pocket folder, makes what I'm looking for easier to find.

I'm just presenting this method in case it helps you discover your own.

Good luck to you and your efforts. 

Surname Saturday - Doyle and Johnson

This is the seventh (and last) section of a booklet that I put together for my father-in-law’s 96^th birthday.  His parents were Clifford Franklin and Bertha Bryan Blackmore.  Section seven is about Bertha’s maternal grandparents.  Other postings included the other parents and grandparents of Clifford and Bertha and will include Blincow and Doyle surnames.  I have also included information about the siblings of these direct ancestors. 

John W Doyle and Rebecca E Johnson

            John William Doyle was born on 3 February 1829 in St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio.  He married Rebecca Elizabeth Johnson on 27 October 1850 in Moundsville, West Virginia;  however the area was part of Virginia in 1850 because West Virginia was not a state at that time.  Rebecca was born about 1833 in Virginia (now West Virginia).  She was probably the daughter of Alexander Johnson and Sarah Almeda Root. 

            John and Rebecca had four children.  Wiley and Mary Emma were born in Virginia (now West Virginia), while William Franklin was born in Ohio and James Bruce was born in Illinois.     

            Rebecca died in 1858, probably as a complication of the birth of James Bruce Doyle.  In the 1860 census Rebecca’s mother Sarah was living with John and his children, ages 8, 5, 4 and 2.  The value of John’s property was $200.  John joined the Union forces during the Civil War and was mustered in on 11 September 1862.  He mustered out on 8 June 1865.  John was in Company A of the 110^th Illinois Infantry.  John was a farmer in Illinois until at least 1870.  All four of his children were living with him and at this time the value of John’s property was $1200.  Sometime between 1870 and 1880 he moved to Kansas.  Depending upon the route, the distance between Jefferson County, Illinois, (1870) and Rawlins County, Kansas, (1880) is around 730 miles.  What a journey!!  John had another farm in Kansas. 

Brothers and Sisters of Mary Emma Doyle

            Wiley Augustus Doyle was born on 18 August 1851 in Moundsville, Virginia (now West Virginia). He moved with father and siblings to Illinois before 1870 where he worked on a farm.  On 21 September 1873 he married Melissa Jane Adams in Mount Vernon, Illinois.  In some records she was listed as Melissa and in others she was listed as Jane.  They had two boys, James Ivan, who was born in Illinois about 1878 and Arthur Gilbert, who was born in 1884 in Kansas. 

            In the 1880 census in Kansas, Wiley and Jane were living with Wiley’s father John.  Jane was listed as step-daughter and son James was listed as nephew.                 

            Melissa (or perhaps Malissa) died on 4 March 1895 in Achilles, Kansas. Wiley continued to be a farmer in Kansas until at least 1905.  In 1910 Wiley was a widow living in Delta County, Colorado and he was still a farm operator. In the 1920 census, it showed that he was a retail merchant for a feed and hardware store.

            Wiley died on 6 December 1924 in Delta, Colorado and he was buried in the Delta Cemetery. 

            Mary Emma DOYLE married Oliver Bryan on 30 December 1880 in Achilles, Rawlins County, Kansas.   Mary was born on 16 December 1853 in Wheeling, Virginia.  At the time of her birth this area was in Virginia, but it is now in West Virginia.  More complete information about this family is found in the 5^th section of this series of blog postings.

            William Franklin Doyle was born on 21 February in St. Clairsville, Ohio.  He married Dora Cleo Speckelmire (or Specklemire) on 19 February 1887 in Achilles, Kansas.  Dora was born on 1 November 1871 in Boone County, Iowa.  She was the daughter of John Calvin and Charity Mullen Speckelmire.  (Dora’s  sister Della Ann married Frank’s brother James Bruce Doyle.)  In 1880 Charity Speckelmire and her children (her husband John died in 1880) were living on a farm near the John William Doyle family. 

            William and Dora had three children, two boys, John Wiley and Peter Edward, and one girl Amy.  John may have died during World War I.  Frank was a farmer in Kansas until at least 1900.  In the 1910 census it shows that he is a farm operator for a fruit farm and in 1920 he owned a farm but there were no specific listings. 

            Dora died on 30 August 1927 in Read.  William “Frank” died on 18 August 1928 in Read, Colorado.  Both of them were buried in Delta City Cemetery, in Delta, Colorado.

            James Bruce Doyle was born on 7 January 1858 in Chester, Illinois.  He married Della Ann Speckelmire (or Specklemire) on 3 October 1886 in Achilles, Kansas.  Della was the sister of Dora Cleo who married James’s brother William Franklin Doyle.  In 1880 Charity Speckelmire and her children, including Della and Dora, were living on a farm near the John William Doyle farm in Achilles, Kansas. 

            They had three children; two girls, Susan Ethel and Nora May, and one boy Thomas Julius.  James was a farmer in Kansas and then later in Colorado. 

            James died on 21 November 1911 in Read, Colorado.  He was buried in Cory Cemetery in Colorado.  Della then married William Ira Adams, about 1913.  Della died on 17 September 1929 in Pueblo, Colorado.  She is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, in Pueblo.  More information about William Adams is not available.

 

 

GRIP 2013 - 100 days from now

I just received a notice that said that GRIP 2013 starts in about 100 days.  I'm really excited.  So, what am I doing to get ready?  I'm playing CDs and DVDs that I have that are reminding me of some research techniques and ideas to refresh my brain.  Yes, I've heard or seen the info before, but I sometimes forget small (even large) techniques if I don't use them. 

Don't we all get in a rut and only look at a few web sites, or a few types of sources?  I sometimes need to be reminded that there is more out there.

If you aren't registered for the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburg, check out their web site and consider attending.  The LaRoche campus is beautiful.  But even better is the chance to meet people and REALLY talk to those who are attending. 

I hope to see you there. 

Surname Saturday - Bryan and Parker

This is the sixth section of a booklet that I put together for my father-in-law’s 96^th birthday.  His parents were Clifford Franklin and Bertha Bryan Blackmore.  Section six is about Bertha’s paternal grandparents.  Future postings will include the other parents and grandparents of Clifford and Bertha and will include Blincow and Doyle surnames.  I have also included information about the siblings of these direct ancestors.   

Albert and Ann Parker Bryan

            Albert Bryan, the son of Morrison BRYAN and Rhoda JOHNSON, was born on 29 July 1815 in Greene County, Ohio.  Albert was one of seven children:  four boys and three girls.  One boy, Austin died as an infant. I believe one girl died about 1840, while another girl died about 1852. 

            Albert was granted a land patent #13551 (80 acres) in Jefferson County, Iowa, issued 1 January 1847.  This does not seem to be the land where he lived most of his life, even though the land is in Iowa in Mahaska County.  Albert lived in Poweshiek County and Mahaska County is just south of Poweshiek County. 

            Albert married Ann PARKER on 12 November 1850 in Jefferson County, Iowa.  Ann was born on 20 February 1830 in Illinois.  Albert and Ann had three boys and two girls:  Oliver, William Morrison, Sarah Emily, Alice Edna and Joseph Theodore.

            In 1860 Albert’s occupation was listed as a master carpenter.  The family owned property with a value of $350.  In 1880 Albert’s occupation in the census records was listed as farmer. 

            Albert died on 9 September 1902 in Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa at the age of 87. After Albert died, in the 1910 census Ann is living with Katherine M Brown and Katie R Brown.  Katie was the daughter of Katherine.  Ann was listed as a boarder.  If Katherine and Katie were related to Ann, I have been unable to find the connection.

            Ann died on 24 January 1917 at the age of 87 in Montezuma, Iowa.  Both Albert and Ann were buried in the Masonic and I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa.

 

Brothers and Sisters of Oliver Bryan

            Oliver BRYAN was born on 2 October 1851 in Jefferson County, Iowa.  Oliver married Mary Emma DOYLE on 30 December 1880 in Achilles, Rawlins County, Kansas.   More information about this couple is found in the fifth section of this series of blog postings.

            William Morrison Bryan was the second child of Albert and Ann and was born on 21 December 1853 in Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa.  I don’t know when William moved to Kansas but he married Belinda Niobe Alexander on 18 February 1882 in Rawlins County.  Belinda was born in September 1857 in Indiana.  William and Belinda had seven children, 4 boys and 3 girls:  Jay Beady, George William, Albert, Newton Morrison, Grace, Lucy Eva and Opal Esther Bryan.  In 1900 the census indicated that she had 6 children and all of them were still living.  Then in 1910, the census showed that she had 7 children and only 6 were living.  Grace died on 10 December 1901 in Paso Robles, California and was buried in in Paso Robles District Cemetery, plot 1-5. 

            In the 1900 census it stated that William was a teamster.  Then in 1910 and 1920 it stated that he was a drayman.  Then in 1930, he wasn’t working but William and Belinda owned a house with a value of $2500 at 1918 Pine Street in Paso Robles, California.

            William died sometime about the same time that Belinda did.  She died on 11 August 1938 and they were both buried in Paso Robles District Cemetery, plot 119, 3 and 4.

            Sarah Emily Bryan was the third child of Albert and Ann and she was born on 6 April 1856 in Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa.  No documents have been found after the 1860 census that have Sarah listed.  However, in the 1900 census Ann stated that she had 5 children and 5 are living.  Therefore, I would assume that Sarah lived until at least 1900.

            Alice Edna Bryan was the fourth child of Albert and Ann and she was born on 25 September 1859 in Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa.  Alice married Edward Alonzo Stone on 9 September 1884 in Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa.  Edward was the son of Edward Stone and Sarah Hazen and was born on 15 February 1857 in Dearborn County, Indiana. 

            Alice and Edward had one girl Tillie.  

            Edward was a farmer in Ohio and South Dakota.  Then in 1920 he stated his occupation was laborer; draying. 

            Both Alice and Edward died in South Dakota.  Alice died in 1925 and Edward on 5 December 1928.      The headstone is in the Platte City Cemetery in Charles Mix County, South Dakota.

            Joseph Theodore Bryan was the youngest child of Albert and Ann and he was born on 7 September 1865 in Poweshiek County, Iowa.  Joseph married Mary Jane Good about 1889 in Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa.  Mary was born on 8 December 1870 in Iowa.  Joseph and Mary Jane had three children:  Carl A, Thomas Andrew and Edith E Bryan. 

            Joseph was a farmer in 1880-1900.  Then he became a salesman for a general store.  By 1930 he was the proprietor of a variety store and in 1940 Mary worked in the store.

            Mary Jane Good Bryan died about 1944 and she is probably buried in Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma, Iowa. Joseph died on 1 September 1950 in Orange County, California, and I don’t know why he is in California at this time.  However he is buried in Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma, Iowa.