Tuesday's Tip - Original sources can be WRONG!

We just received the official copies of my father-in-law's death certificate.  AND, his father's name is WRONG!!!!  Being the family record keeper, I provided the information.  BUT, I have a copy of what I gave the mortuary (and the form is filled out correctly) and someone there, or in the county recorder's office, put the middle name as the last name.  So it says that Glenn Chester Blackmore's father's name is Clifford Franklin instead of Clifford Franklin Blackmore.  Now what????!!!

Now a minor problem is that we reported that Glenn had been in California for 93 years, but only in the county for 27.  The death certificate says he's been in the county for 93 years. 

Just another problem for us to solve, but a remember to all of us researchers to question even original, official documents. 

Those Places Thursday - TRICE and Little River County, Arkansas

The following is from page 54 of a book (9" x 12") which seems to be about counties in Arkansas.  Page 53 is Lincoln County.  I only have this one page.  Because C.Y. Trice died in Ashdown, Little River County, Arkansas in 1915 and I believe he moved to Ashdown about 1912, the book must have been published around that time. 

I am looking for more information about the book.  Also, if you have an interest in either Lincoln County or Little River County about this time I would be happy to send you the complete transcription.

LITTLE RIVER COUNTY

            "The writer thought he was familiar with Little River, having made numerous trips there.  However, in gathering figures for this book he made another trip there, and while in Ashdown, the county seat, had the pleasure of meeting one Col. C. Y. Trice, a “land advocate,” as he describes himself.  Colonel Trice knows as much of Little River County as possibly any one man in Arkansas, because he has made a profound study of conditions there.  He is a likable distinguished gentleman, the soul of honor, and came to Arkansas from Clarksville, Texas, although originally from Lamar, Mo.  When he left Clarksville the citizens of that city, over 100 of them, officials, lawyers, merchants, physicians and business men generally, signed an expression of appreciation of his efforts to build that section up.  He is a booster of the first magnitude, and the following is a statement of conditions as he sees them in Little River County, prepared for this publication.  It is with pleasure the Director of Publicity submits it to the world, and suggests that, if you are interested further you write him direct:

            “Little River County is located in the extreme southwest corner of the State of Arkansas, the first county south of the foothills of the Boston Mountains; wedged in, you might say, between the two beautiful streams, Little River and Red River.  Little River on the north and east, is a small stream coming down out of the mountains of Eastern Oklahoma, being fed on the way by numerous small streams and springs.  Red River, on the south and west, is the boundary line between this county and the States of Texas, and Little River County, being between these two streams, is composed mostly of rich, fertile valley lands.

            “Ashdown, the county seat and largest town in the county, is located in the central portion of the county.  Public roads from all parts of the county lead to Ashdown.  It is a town of about 3,000 people, and has three trunk-line railroads (the Kansas City Southern, the Frisco and the Memphis, Dallas & Gulf), which afford very fine shipping facilities to the North, East, South and West.  It also has a stave mill, cotton oil mill, flour mill, two wholesale grocery houses, two banks, two good hardware, furniture and implement stores, several good dry goods and grocery stores, a $40,000 courthouse, a $20,000 school building, four nice churches, a $40,000 brick hotel and numerous other buildings.  Ashdown is a comparatively new place but is growing very fast, there being at least six modern dwelling houses together with a brick store building going up each month.

            “While we have the above enterprises, we have the resources for more, and want them.  Ashdown and Little River County afford resources for a large saw and planing [sic] mill, box factory, furniture factory, spoke and handle factory, brick factory, ice plant, truck gardeners and dairymen."

GRIP - Two Weeks to Prepare

In two weeks I'll be in Pittsburgh, at LaRoche College for GRIP (Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh).  Since I'm a list-maker, my lists are started. 

Don't forget: 
THE BOOK!!...Mastering Genealogical Proof by Dr. Thomas W Jones
ethernet cable - for the room
hair dryer - this isn't a hotel
body wash and hand soap - again this isn't a hotel
drinking glass
umbrella and/or rain jacket - the Pittsburgh weather is a little different from Phoenix weather
dressing in layers - who knows whether the classrooms will be hot or cold
business cards
computer power cord and extension cord

So, what am I forgetting?
Oh, yes.  A list of books I already have so I can shop at Maia's books
the normal clothes, toiletries, etc.
cell phone charger

Now I need to get back to reading the two articles in THE BOOK

I'm looking forward to the week: from the classroom, to the cafeteria, to the evening programs and especially to the people I'll meet, or meet again. 

Sympathy Saturday - Write Your Own Obituary

Why should you write your own obituary?  Well, what do you want to remembered for?  What have you done in your life that you are especially pleased about?  And, and, and....

I just wrote an obituary for my father-in-law.  No, it isn't a sad occasion.  He had a great life; was 96 years old; and died peacefully in his sleep AT HOME.  But....the most difficult part of the arrangements was writing the obituary; not an emotional problem, but one of figuring out what to include. 

Now, being a researcher, I've read lots of obituaries.  But it's different when you start to write one.  I had others "proof read" my drafts, but I still forgot things.

First, I forgot to list the spouses of the children.  Then, I forgot to list surviving siblings.  AND, I forgot to list siblings that predeceased him.  I forgot to include his two wives to predeceased him.  I forgot to list to mortuary (but they helped with that.)

My husband added two great pieces of informatio about Dad's working career.  Dad's caregivers reminded me that he considered himself the original "Cookie Monster," a comment that has made many laugh who read the obituary and remember Dad.  I also needed help with his current and past activities (which I got from his caregivers) since we live almost 400 miles from him and weren't a part of his daily life. 

So, please consider what you would like to have written about you.  If you don't want to actually write one, at least starting a list of things you would like to have mentioned.  Or make a template and add topics as you think of them.  All of these ideas would definitely help anyone who is trying to write a complete obituary and celebrate your life.

Surname Saturday - Olga Engdahl (1894 Sweden - 1954 CA)

Olga Engdahl, possibly with a middle name of Wilhelmina, was my grandmother, who I never met.  She immigrated in 1907 with her sister Hilma.  I believe they were intending to visit an aunt in Montana.  I never found Olga in the 1910 census or her aunt's family in Montana. 

She married Thurman Allen Poe (or Allen Thurman Poe) about 1919 in Sparks, Nevada, and lived there for many eyars.  I found Olga in the 1920, 1930 and 1940 census records in Sparks.  I also found an obituary in 1954 when she died.

If you have information about Olga, her family, or the Poe family, I would be interested in communicating with you.  I am particularly interested in copies of any documents or photos that you may have, since I don't believe I ever met her.

Therefore if you are interested in collaborating with me on this family, please contact me.

Thank you.

Happy Anniversary To Me!!

I am celebrating my blogging anniversary.  Well, it's the 20th or 21st;  the Summer Solistice.  I figured I needed the longest day of the year to get started.

While I don't have a huge number of readers, I appreciate each of you.  I also want to thank Amy and Thomas, especially, for their encouragement in the first few days/months. 

Just for your info, family stuff has been interfering with genealogy.  I'm sure you can all identify with that.  So, for the past month I've been planning on how, starting today, genealogy writing (especially blog writing) would move up in my to-do list..  Unfortunately, I just found out that MORE family stuff is going to take extra time and effort, including being away from home, for some time.  (No, it's not my health or my any of my family member's health, so that's not the problem.)  I don't know how long yet.  I'm grateful that I was able to attend both NGS and Jamboree this year.  I'm still hoping to make GRIP.  We'll see.

Wedding Wednesday - Clifford and Bertha Bryan Blackmore c 1914

Clifford Franklin Blackmore and Bertha Jane Bryan married in November 1914 in Winchester, California. 

 

 

If you know this couple and would like to collaborate, please contact me.  I may have more photos of this family.