California: Here I Come (2 Weeks Until Jamboree 2014)

Two weeks from today - I'll be in California.  Last week I talked about the process of actually getting there.  Well, there is a lot of work to do here first.

I have printed off new "business" cards, to share with new friends.  And I put surnames on the back.  Hopefully, I'll run into some cousins and we can work together on some of these problems.  Son and daughter-in-law know that we'll be arriving in Anza on Tuesday, the 2nd, but that Walt will drive me to Burbank on Wednesday.  But then, after Jamboree, we'll have more time to visit and watch the last week of youth baseball. 

I still need to do all of the usual things like stopping the newspaper, scheduling the mail vacation hold, etc.  BUT, more importantly in my mind right now, is getting up to speed on my DNA stuff.  And, oh, do I need help!!!

Last year I attended the DNA day.  I was overwhelmed.  Well, this year I'm a little better prepared.  I've sent in all of the DNA tests and received some of the results.  But I'm very confused about what they are and what to do with them.  So, I'm getting them ready.

I bought or borrowed many of the books regarding DNA that were on last years SCGS Jamboree DNA Day syllabus, and I've been reading them.  Some are fairly straightforward.  Some are still very much over-my-head.  I'm also fortunate to be going to GRIP and I am in the DNA Course there.  So, I have the recommended books for GRIP and I'm trying to read them.  Again, some are fairly easy and entertaining; some are a real challenge.  Anyway, I'm preparing and I know I have two weeks to read/skim them, write down questions, get my DNA numbers organized so that I can, hopefully, understand how to make comparisons before the end of Thursday, June 5.

As I said, there is a lot of work to do here before I leave, but most of it is my preparation for DNA day.  I hope to see you there.  And perhaps we'll find out that we're cousins. 

52 Ancestors: #20 - Jesse Harlan Severs (1901-1968)

Jesse Harlan Severs was born on 14 Jul 1901 in Sumner County, Kansas.  This parents were Jacob Henry Severs and Eliza Teague.  Eliza died in 1906 after the birth of Mary Severs, the daughter born after Jesse. 

Jess was married to Katherine Trice in 1925 in Pittsburgh, Kansas.  They had two daughters, born in 1927 and 1930.  About 1933 the entire family drove from Kansas to California.  They had taken out the back seat of their car.  They then stacked household goods in there and the two girls sat on them. They averaged 400 miles each day and made the trip in 6 days.  I even have a page out of my Grandmother's notebook that recorded the daily mileage and all expenses for this trip.  From that time own they lived in Los Angeles County, in Southern California. 

Jess died in 1968 in El Monte, California, after working in many jobs, including farmer, truck driver, plumber, and school custodian. 

If you are interested in researching this family, I would love to collaborate with you.

These weekly stories were inspired by a blog by Amy Johnson Crow.  As she noted in her introduction,

"In January 2014, I issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. The premise: write once a week about a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, a research problem — any that focuses on that one ancestor. The next week, write about a different ancestor. In 52 weeks, you’ll have taken a closer look at 52 people in your family tree… and maybe learned a little bit more about them in the process. (Oh, yeah, and hopefully develop a regular writing habit in the process!)" 

No Story Too Small

Please also note that every Wednesday Amy posts a recap of all of the blogs that posted for the week.  You can search for a surname and see if someone has been writing about one of your ancestors.  Thank you, Amy.