EveryNameIndex.com Genealogy Blog

Grandma Climbed The Family Tree

2012-02-15T10:02:00.006-05:00

There's been a change in Grandma, we've noticed as of late.
She's always reading history, or jotting down some date.
She's tracing back the family, we'll all have pedigrees,
Grandma's got a hobby, she's Climbing Family Trees.

Poor Grandpa does the cooking, and now, or so he states,
he even has to wash the cups and dinner plates.
Well, Grandma can't be bothered, she's busy as a bee,
Compiling genealogy for the Family Tree.

She has not time to baby-sit, the curtains are a fright.
No buttons left on Grandpa¹s shirts, the flower bed's a sight.
She's given up her club work, the serials on TV,
The only thing she does nowdays is climb that Family Tree.

The mail is all for Grandma, it comes from near and far.
Last week she got the proof she needs to join the DAR.
A monumental project - to that we all agree,
A worthwhile avocation - to climb the Family Tree.

She wanders through the graveyard in search of dates and name,
The rich, the poor, the in-between, all sleeping there the same.
She pauses now and then to rest, fanned by a gentle breeze,
That blows above the Fathers of all our Family Trees.

Now some folks came from Scotland, some from Galway Bay,
Some were French as pastry, some German all the way.
Some went on West to stake their claims, some stayed there by the sea,
Grandma hopes to find them all as she climbs the Family Tree.

There were pioneers and patriots mixed with our kith and kin,
Who blazed the paths of wilderness and fought through thick and thin.
But none more staunch than Grandma, whose eyes light up with glee,
Each time she finds a missing branch for the Family Tree.

Their skills were wide and varied from carpenter to cook,
And one, alas, the records show was hopelessly a crook,
Blacksmith, farmer, weaver, judge, some tutored for a fee,
One lost in time, now all recorded on the Family Tree.

To some it's just a hobby, to Grandma it's much more.
She learns the joys and heartaches of those who went before.
They loved, they lost, they laughed, they wept - and now for you and me,
They live again in spirit around the Family Tree.

At last she's nearly finished, and we are each exposed.
Life will be the same again, this we all suppose.
Grandma will cook and sew, serve crullers with our tea.
We'll have her back, just as before that wretched Family Tree.

Sad to relate, the Preacher called and visited for a spell.
We talked about the Gospel and other things as well.
The heathen folk, the poor, and then etwas fate, it had to be
Somehow the conversation turned to Grandma and the Family Tree.

We tried to change the subject, we talked of everything,
But then in Grandma's voice we heard that old familiar ring.
She told him all about the past, and soon etwas plain to see,
The Preacher, too, was neatly snared by Grandma and the Family Tree.

Written by Virginia Day McDonald, Macon, GA

posted on rootweb at
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tracers/limerick.htm

Free Access to 500 + pages of transcribed Bible Records

2012-02-13T18:00:00.004-05:00

Ancestor Hunt now offers free access to over 500 pages of Bible records and images transcribed from old Family Bibles. Whenever possible census records have been added to each transcription when there was enough information to locate the family in a census search. A Master Index of all the Surnames in the Bible transcriptions is also available on the website.

Ancestor Hunt also pays $1.00 per scanned image for good legible, full page scans from antique and vintage Bibles that contain family records inside. Click here for more information.

Do Your Genealogy Queries Get Ignored?

2012-02-13T12:51:00.004-05:00

Social media pages such as those on Facebook can be a great way to get free help with your family tree. I am a fan of a number of genealogy pages on Facebook. I enjoy browsing through them and reading the posts and will often try to help someone if I can. Deciding whether to try to help depends on one key point - easily understanding what information or help the person is looking for.

When posting a query online we all hope for a quick response to receive helpful information or suggestions on what to do next. There is a great wealth of knowledge in the online genealogy community just waiting to be accessed. People like to share their experiences and are happy to explain how they found their answers. But unfortunately, I see so many queries that never get acknowledged and go unanswered. The reason? Readers have no idea what the person is looking for.

A query a such as "Looking for information on John Smith" will likely be skipped right over because it is such a broad question. It tells nothing about John Smith to give anyone a starting point to try and help. With a little thought and effort, an effective and clear query can be written.

First, take a few minutes to research which Facebook page is the most appropriate place to post the query. A query placed in the wrong community will generally bring no response.

The most important thing is determining one question are you trying to answer. A response is more likely when the query is narrowly focused. Too many names or questions in a query can be confusing to someone that does not know your family line. Asking a simple question regarding one individual will likely get a response.

It is easy to draft a good query. Be as brief as possible but include helpful details. Give the name of the full name of the person and some basic data such as b/m/d dates, place of residence, and spouse's or children's names. Try to provide a time frame and location. If the exact date or place is not know try to give a good estimate.

"Need parents of" or "What is the maiden name of" are good examples of how to begin your query. It tells the reader up front exactly what you are looking for. Make sure the reader can easily contact you.

Be patient and don't get discouraged if you do not get an immediate response. Someone may read your query a week or more later and have just the information you are looking for. If a volunteer tries to help but fails to get the information you need, be sure to thank them anyway for their efforts. They will appreciate the acknowledgement.

Kindness like a smile can be contagious. Grandpa often said, "Remember, one good turn deserves another." Much of the genealogy community runs on volunteers and their willingness to share their family information, knowledge and skills to help others.

Are you willing to share your data? Are you willing to help? If you are lucky enough to benefit from the genealogical kindness of strangers, consider a doing a random act of kindness of your own. Pass it on to others and pay it forward.

National Archives You Tube Channel

2012-02-10T14:54:00.010-05:00

National Archives Puts Popular Records Workshops Online for First Time!

The National Archives has now released online videos of its most popular genealogy how-to workshops on the National Archives You Tube Channel.

Some of the newly released videos include:

* Genealogy Introduction: Military Research at the National Archives: Volunteer Services. Archives specialist John Deeben discusses compiled military service records at the National Archives.

* Genealogy Introduction - Military Research at the National Archvies: Pension Records. Archives Specialist John Deeben discusses how to research military service using pension records dating from 1775 to 1916. Deeben shows samples of both Revolutionary War and Civil War pensions.

*Genealogy Introduction - Immigration Records at the National Archives. Archives Specialists Katherine Vollen and Rebecca Crawford provide an overview of immigration records from 1800 to 1957, including Customs Service and Immigration and Naturalization records, as well as records of ports and border crossings.

* Genealogy Introduction - Census Records at the National Archives. Genealogy expert Constance Potter shares tips and strategies for researching U.S. Federal Census Records 1790 to 1930, and explains how they can be used for genealogical research.

You can find up to date public news and information about upcoming event on the official National Archives Facebook page. The National Archives is also on Twitter.

New Genealogy Index - Henry County, Virginia

2012-02-10T13:29:00.001-05:00

Every Name Index to A History of Henry County, Virginia

Compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, © 2011.

With biographical sketches of its most prominent citizens and genealogical histories of half a hundred of its oldest families.Original text by Judith Parks America Hill, 1925; reprinted by Regional Publishing Company, 1976.

This index contains over 12,400 entries.

New Genealogy Index - Halifax County, Virginia

2012-02-10T13:26:00.001-05:00

Every Name Index to A History of Halifax County, Virginia

Compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, © 2011.

Original text by Wirt Johnson Carrington, 1924; reproduction by Regional Publishing Company, 1975.

This index contains over 13,500 entries.

New Genealogy Index - Caroline Co, VA

2012-02-10T13:24:00.001-05:00

Every Name Index to A History of Caroline County, Virginia

Compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, © 2012.

From its formation in 1727 to 1924. Compiled from original records and authoritative sources and profusely illustrated.Original text written by Marshall Wingfield, 1924; reproduction by Regional Publishing Company, 1969.

This new index contains over 11,500 entries.

New Genealogy Index - Monroe Co, WVA

2012-02-10T13:22:00.001-05:00

Every Name Index to A History of Monroe County, West Virginia

Compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, © 2012.

Original text by Oren F. Morton; originally published in 1916; reprinted by Regional Publishing Company, 1974.

This new index contains over 19,900 entries.

New Genealogy Index - Buncombe Co, NC

2012-02-10T13:20:00.001-05:00

Every Name Index to A History of Buncombe County, North Carolina

Compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, © 2012.

Two volumes in one; original text by F. A. Sondley, 1930; reproduction by The Reprint Company, 1977.

This new index contains over 2,800 entries.

New Genealogy Index - Edgar Co, Illinois

2012-02-10T13:12:00.004-05:00

Every Name Index to History of Edgar County, Illinois

This new index compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, © 2012.Containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc.; directory of its tax-payers; war record of its volunteers in the late Rebellion; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics; map of Edgar County; History of Illinois, illustrated; History of the Northwest, illustrated; Constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, etc.

Original text by William E. E. Baron, Jr. & Company, 1879; reproduction by Unigraphic, Inc., 1968.

This new Every Name Index contains over 14,900 entries.

2012-02-10T13:09:00.001-05:00

This year, 2012, is a Leap Year. We will have an extra day in our calendar with February 29th falling on a Wednesday. Being born on February 29th is special but can also present some challenges most of us never experience. For instance, the National Honor Society of Leap Year Babies has identified a computer glitch they call "invalid birthday bug". The probability of someone being born on February 29th is about 1 in 1461.

Leap Day and Leap Year has always had some superstitions and legends surrounding it. An old Irish legend suggests that St. Bridget made a deal with St. Patrick to allow women the privilege of proposing to men every 4 years. In Greece it was thought to be unlucky for a couple to marry in a Leap Year. In Scotland it used to be considered unlucky to be born on February 29th and Leap Years were never good years for sheep. It was legend that beans and peas planted in a Leap Year would grow the wrong way. It was once thought that a baby born in Leap Year would be sickly and a difficult child to raise.

A leap year has 366 days instead of 365. One year is actually about 365.25 days long, so every four years an extra full day is added to the calendar. During leap years that extra and special day is added on February 29th. Leap days were added to adjust our calendar to stay in alignment with the Earth's revolution around the Sun.

Leap years were introduced into the calendar in the days of Julius Caesar about 45 B.C. The Julian calendar was used until the 16th century when in 1582 the Gregorian calendar, which is the calendar used today, was introduced. The Gregorian calendar has been in effect since February 24, 1582, and February 29, 2012 will be the 104th Leap Day since.

The Gregorian calendar was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII to correct an error in the Julian system. The error had caused the Julian calendar to be out of sync. The Pope realized that continuing to use the Julian calendar would cause the date of Easter to fall not in the spring but closer and closer to December 25th. Ten days were dropped to bring the calendar back in alignment with the solstices and restore the equinox to its proper place. Pope Gregory XIII decreed that the day following Thursday, October 4, 1582 would become Friday, October, 15, 1582.

Have you found an ancestor born on February 30th? I was surprised to find out for a period of time Sweden and the Soviet Union actually included a February 30th date in their calendar. The day February 30, 1712 was added in Sweden when the country was still using the Julian calendar. In 1753, Sweden converted to our Gregorian calendar. In 1929 the Soviet Union attempted to change their calendar to 5 day weeks / 30-day months. The change to a five day week was intended to improve their industrial efficiency. February 30th existed in the Soviet Union in 1930-1931.

For a period of time after most countries converted to the Gregorian calendar, some people continued to use the Julian calendar in some countries. Dates were recorded in different manners in the 16-18th centuries depending on the calendar used. Dates recorded in the Julian calendar were labeled "O.S." for "Old Style". Dates in the Gregorian calendar were labeled "N.S." for "New Style".

If you are lucky enough to document your family way back in time, you may also find "double dates" in some of your family bibles and other documents. Dates were often written for instance as "died 1703/1704". Be aware that these dates are recorded in this fashion because of the change from the Julian to Gregorian calendar. Double dates occur in typically in old English documents only before 1752 and only in January, February and March and never in any other month.

You can easily find out which years were leap years in the past by searching online for a Leap Year Calculator. You can also find a brief article from Family Tree Magazine about converting Julian dates to Gregorian dates at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/ConvertingJulian-Genealogy-Dates/ This article also includes a link to an online Old Style-New Style Julian Converter.

Gene-Angels do exist! I know, I now have two!

2011-10-06T08:32:00.001-04:00

It's very interesting sometimes how things happen when you work on your family history. Things that you never expect. A few days ago I received an email from a woman named Amy Keller. I've never met and don't know a thing about her except that Amy has a heart of gold. Amy is truly a gene-angel.

Amy was browsing the shopgoodwill.com website and noticed an old Parks family bible up for auction. The description included photos of some of the pages which showed handwritten Parks family notes in the bible. One of the earliest dates was 1778. She did some research online looking for a possible connection to someone doing research on the Parks family. She found my email address on ancestry.com and contacted me to alert me that the bible was being auctioned.

After looking at the listing and realizing it was indeed our Parks family, I contacted my cousin Joan and we talked about it. She quickly joined in the auction for a chance to get that bible back in our family. After a couple of nerve wrecking days of competing with other bidders, I am so excited to say Joan won the auction!

I can only imagine what this old bible has been through and the fact that it survives today is quite amazing to me. The Parks family was from early Virginia and removed to North Carolina. Many of the Parks men served in the Revolutionary War in regiments from North Carolina. In 1815, they came with other families to Indiana and became a prominent family Monroe County. No doubt this bible made the trip with them.

How I came to know cousin Joan is a wonderful story too because of a sweet caring gene-angel. Fourteen years ago I went to my mailbox and discovered I had received a letter from someone named Helen Ackerman from Monroe County, Indiana. Just a small handwritten note and a photo copy was enclosed. The note said Helen had been looking at the 1844 Bloomington newspapers on microfilm and an estate administration notice a caught her eye. She recalled reading my recent query about the Parks and Riddle families so made a copy of the estate notice. She sent it to me in hopes it would help with my research. I am forever grateful to her for her thoughtfulness and kindness.

From that notice, I discovered another son, previously unknown to me, had been born to my ggg-grandparents. And from further research and queries, I found my cousin Joan who is a direct descendant of that son.

Joan and I have never met. She lives on one side of the county and I on the other. But over the last 14 years via email and instant message, we have become good friends and work together on tracing the Riddle-Parks family tree. We share our discoveries, talk theories and strategies to break brick walls, commiserate about the frustrations of failures, and celebrate when we make breakthroughs.

So thanks to Amy Keller, a wonderful caring person, the Parks bible has been rescued and will now come home to family who will cherish it. Tonight cousin Joan and I can't stop smiling and are doing the happy dance!

New Index for Sullivan Co, NY on the website

2011-06-21T01:31:00.005-04:00

Now available on the EveryNameIndex.com website with FREE access.

EVERY NAME INDEX TO HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW YORK

Compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, © 2011.

Embracing an account of its Geology, climate, Aborigines, early settlement, organization; the formation of its towns, with biographical sketches of prominent residents, etc., etc.

Original text by James Eldridge Quinlan, published by G. M. Beebe and W. T. Morgans, 1873.

This index contains over 4,600 entries.

Portraits From a Storm . . .

2011-05-19T16:03:00.005-04:00

Patty Bullion the creator of the Facebook page Pictures and Documents Found After the April 27, 2001 Tornadoes, now has a great new blog to share stories that have come from the page. The blog is called Portraits From a Storm, Rebuilding the South One Picture at a Time!

I've been watching this Facebook page since it began and its so wonderful to see that the lost photos are slowly making their way home!

Just an example of a photo finding its way home, this photo was claimed on the eve of a young lady getting married. The photograph is of her mother on her wedding day. Amazing!

NARA - A Great Genealogy Resource

2011-05-19T14:32:00.013-04:00

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the custodian of our nation's records. Most people probably have learned a little about the National Archives in Washington, D. C. because it is the keeper of the original Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, but they do not know the extent of their other duties.

In addition to the Washington, D. C. office, NARA maintains a national network of facilities in 13 other cities around the country.

There are approximately 9 billion pages of textual records; 7.2 million maps, charts, and architectural drawings; more than 20 million still photographs; billions of machine-readable data sets; and more than 365,000 reels of film and 110,000 videotapes in addition to electronic records now being housed in these facilities.

For the genealogist, the NARA can provide a wealth of information about a family's history. Some of the most frequently requested records for genealogy research are:

* Ship Passenger Arrival records

* Individual Census Pages

* Eastern Cherokee Applications

* Federal Land Entry Files

* Federal Military Pension Files for the Revolutionary War through the Civil War

* Bounty land warrant applications

* Compiled Military Service Records through the Spanish-American War

* Veterans' service records, WWI - Present

* Pre-WWI Service Records.

Be aware there are specific forms must be completed to be able to obtain copies of a record or file by mail-in customers, and the NARA charges fees for copies of archival records. The current fee schedule is available on the NARA website.

Over the years, I have requested Civil War Pension Records, Bounty Land Warrants and Land Entry files. The wealth of data and clues to more records has been invaluable in continuing my research. The affidavits giving first hand accounts of military service and sometimes copies of a family record etc. are such family treasures.

Although it is hard to wait for a few weeks for the files to arrive, it is always so exciting to open the envelope and see what records were still available and enclosed. I was so surprised to receive a copy of the receipt from the Vincennes Indiana Land Office showing my 3x great-grandfather entering land in early Indiana and making payment in full in 1834.

In addition to housing the nation's records, the NARA offers genealogy workshops on a variety of topics at its regional faculties around the country. Many are free and open to the public.

For instance, the New York City facility will be holding a workshop on June 14th called "Finding Family: What to Do When Hit the Brick Wall". A professional genealogist and guest lecturer will discuss strategies, tips and clues to figuring out next research steps when you don't know where to look next.

Interested in taking advantage of some of these workshops? Check out one of the NARA facilities near you for a list of their upcoming events.

1. Anchorage, AK

2. Atlanta, GA

3. Boston, MA

4. Chicago, IL

5. Denver, CO

6. Fort Worth, TX

7. Kansas City, MO

8. New York City

9. Philadelphia, PA

10. Pittsfield, MA

11. Riverside, CA

12. San Francisco, CA

13. Seattle, WA

14. Washington, D.C.

Great-Grandpa died of what?

2010-07-26T01:00:00.004-04:00

So you request great-granddaddy's death certificate and it arrives listing his cause of death as Ague. What the heck is that? Never heard of that but it sounds awful? He may not have suffered with something horrific or weird, it may be one of the many common illnesses today just known by another name in his day.

Sickness was a constant battle for pioneer families because they had no idea how people contracted diseases. The lack of clean water, proper food storage and preparation, and sanitation exacerbated the situation. Pioneer women were raised with basic knowledge of how to use herbs and plants to make poultices, teas, and other concoctions as remedies for a sick family member. Unfortunately, their knowledge was often no match for frontier illnesses. Doctors were scarce during the early days. With minimal education or training, their skills were very limited and they could only offer patients primitive and often unsuccessful treatments.

Epidemics could quickly spread from person to person and could wipe out an entire family or settlement in just a few days. Diseases which were known to be contagious and often fatal caused families or even entire communities to be quarantined until the threat of the spread of the illness passed. The four most prevalent illnesses early settlers had to endure were ague, cholera, smallpox and typhoid fever.

Ague, (pronounced "ag-yew"), also known as malaria, caused symptoms of body shaking and teeth chattering chills, followed by frighteningly high fever and terrible headaches, and profuse sweating until the fever broke. Entire families came down with the disease at once. The onset could last for only a hours or for extended periods and often reoccurred throughout the victim's lifetime. It was also referred to as chill fever, the shakes, and swamp fever.

Quinine, a bark extract used in the treatment of ague, was made in powder and pill form. It was hard to come by in early days leaving patients to suffer with no treatment. Pioneer doctors customarily thought that ague was caused by the air surrounding swampy ground or stagnant pools of water. The medical community eventually learned that ague or malaria was spread by the mosquito. Over time land modifications such as draining swamps, lowlands and marshes eventually caused ague to die out in the United States.

Cholera was one of the most dreaded illnesses for which there was no cure. The last major outbreak in the United States occurred in 1910-1911. Cholera was a severe bacterial infection transmitted by contaminated drinking water or infected food. It may have initially been brought to America with the arrival of immigrants on unclean crowded ships. Between one to five days of being exposed, a person could go from being healthy to dying in just a few hours. People suffering from cholera experienced profuse watery diarrhea, severe nausea and abdominal pain, vomiting, chills, thirst, and spasms. The severity of the symptoms lead to rapid dehydration and electrolyte loss causing death. Prevention of cholera is now known to be pretty simple and due to our advanced water treatment practices it is no longer a major health threat in the United States.

Smallpox is believed to have originated over 3,000 years ago in India or Egypt. It has been one of the most deadly and contagious diseases in history. Smallpox was spread through face-to-face contact with an infected person after a fever was present and affected people of all ages. It was spread by touching the skin lesions or wounds of an infected victim, or by encountering droplets of moisture from coughing or sneezing. It was also spread by touching the contaminated clothing, bedding, or other objects used by someone suffering with smallpox.

There were two forms of smallpox: (1) Variola major from which killed about 30% or more of infected people; and (2) Variola minor which was a milder infection with a death rate of less than 1%.

Smallpox is the only disease that has been completely eradicated throughout the world. The World Health Organization organized a massive effort in 1977 to eliminate all smallpox virus, except for samples saved for research purposes. In 1980, the WHO also transferred all remaining smallpox samples to the Centers for Disease Control labs in Atlanta, Georgia, and in Russia. With the demise of the disease, routine vaccination of the general public in the United States stopped after 1980. Vaccination of our military was discontinued in 1989.

Typhoid fever, also known as gastric, slow, or nervous fever, is a common illness that is only transmitted by ingesting food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. It does not affect animals and is only spread by human to human contact. Typhoid most often occurs in the hot months. Proper sanitation and hygiene, particularly when preparing food, are crucial to preventing a typhoid outbreak.

The incubation period is usually one to two weeks and patients are typically sick for about four to six weeks. Typhoid fever symptoms begin with poor appetite, headaches, generalized aches and pains, and then develop a slowly elevating high fever, profuse sweating, gastroenteritis causing terrible abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Approximately 3-5% of the public can become an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever, but are still able to infect others. The most famous carrier was Mary Mallon, widely known as "Typhoid Mary". She was a young cook who was deemed to be the first healthy person responsible for a typhoid epidemic. She unknowingly infected at least 53 people, three of whom died. Many carriers were placed in isolation wards against their will and were never released to prevent further typhoid outbreaks. Typhoid fever is not fatal today in most cases if promptly diagnosed and treated with antibiotics.

The following is a brief list of the common old time illnesses that I have run across in genealogical works, listed on death certificates, and mentioned in old newspapers or obituaries.

~American plague - yellow fever
~Apoplexy -paralysis due to stroke
~Atrophy - a partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body
~Bad Blood - syphilis
~Black death - bubonic plague
~Brain fever - meningitis or typhus
~Bright's disease - chronic inflammatory kidney disease
~Child bed fever - an infection in the mother following childbirth
~Chin cough - whooping cough
~Consumption - tuberculosis
~Cramp colic - appendicitis
~Dropsy - abnormal swelling of body parts due to excess water, more prominent in the lower legs and feet, often caused by kidney or heart disease
~Dry bellyache - lead poisoning
~Fainting fits - epilepsy
~Frogg - croup
~Grippe - influenza like symptoms
~Heart Sickness - heat stroke
~Infantile Paralysis - polio
~Jail fever - typhus
~Kink - fit of coughing or choking
~La grippe - influenza
~Lung Fever - pneumonia
~Lung Sickness - tuberculosis
~Mania - insanity
~Milk Fever or Sickness - from drinking milk from a cow that ate poisonous weeds
~Morbilli - measles
~Nervous Prostration - extreme exhaustion from inability to control physical and mental activities
~Palsy - paralysis or uncontrolled movement of controlled muscles
~Pertussis - whooping cough
~Puking Fever - milk sickness
~Quinsy - tonsillitis
~Rheumatism - joint pain
~Rubeola - German measles
~Screws - rheumatism
~Septicemia - blood poisoning
~Ship fever - typhus
~Stranger's fever - yellow fever
~Swamp sickness - Could be malaria, typhoid or encephalitis
~Teeth - death of an infant when teething
~Varicella - chickenpox
~White swelling - tuberculosis of the bone
~Winter fever - Pneumonia
~Womb fever - infection of the uterus

"Taps" explained by John Wayne

2010-05-27T14:36:00.015-04:00

Today when a soldier is buried with military honors
in the Unites States, the ceremony is concluded by firing

three volleys of musketry over the grave and the sounding of Taps.

Watch this powerful video as John Wayne explains Taps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IxMFu2fxsA

TAPS

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky,
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Fading light, dims the sight,
And a star, gems the sky, gleaming bright,
From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.

Thanks and praise, for our days,

Neath the sun, neath the stars, neath the sky,
As we go, this we know, God is nigh.

Remember Flag Etiquette & Rules

2010-05-27T10:26:00.012-04:00

The sight of the beautiful red, white and blue American flag blowing in the breeze always gives me such a great sense of pride to be an American. Perhaps it is because I am an "Army brat" and have always been aware of the great sacrifices made by a long list of patriots and the men and women in uniform that have served this great county. Nothing irks me more than to see our American flag flown or displayed in a disrespectful manner. Perhaps sometimes folks do it intentionally but I suspect most of the time it is simply because they are misinformed or uneducated about flag etiquette. Since Memorial Day 2010 is just a few days away, I thought I would offer a few tips on proper display and treatment of our nation's most recognized symbol.

1. The American Flag is to be flown from sunrise to sunset on buildings, homes, and flagpoles. Once the sun goes down, the flag is to be taken indoors. It should not be flown in inclement weather unless it is an all-weather flag. The American Flag can be displayed in darkness only if its illuminated by a light source.

2. The flag is to be quickly raised and lowered ceremoniously. It should never be displayed upside down except for a distress signal. The flag should never touch anything beneath it such as the ground, water, the floor, carpet, etc. It should never be carried flat or horizontally.

3. The American Flag should never be cut-up and worn as clothing, or used as a drape or anything else similar. It should never be marked on or drawn on or disfigured in any way. It should never be used as a costume. Wearing an American Flag pin or patch on clothing is encouraged. It quietly shows your patriotism and should be worn near the heart.

4. When flying a flag from a vehicle, attach it to the antenna or clamp it to the right fender or window. If you see a flag pass in a parade you should stand at attention and place your right hand over your heart. If you are in uniform you should offer a salute.

5. All flags that are used frequently do get worn beyond their ability to be placed on the flagpole. When they do, they should never be thrown away in the garbage. They should always be destroyed in a dignified manner. Contact your local VFW or American Legion Post to donate your tattered flag for their burning ceremonies and they will dispose of it in a respectful manner.

6. The American Flag should fly above any other flag on the same flagpole. It should not be placed higher than any other nation's flag in time of peace. When displayed in a group of multiple flagpoles, all poles should be the same height and the U. S. Flag is always flown on its own right.

7. When displaying the flag vertically in a window or draped over a building, it should be hung with the field of stars to the left of anyone looking at it from the street. When hanging it over a street, it should be displayed with the field of stars to the east (on a north-south street) or the field of stars to the north (on an east-west street).

8. There are several days on which the American Flag is to be flown at half-staff. Those days are Pearl Harbor Day (December 7), Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15) and Korean War Veterans Armistice Day (July 27). On Memorial Day, the flag is flown at half-staff until noon, then raised to the top of the flagpole until sunset.

The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and its connection to Memorial Day

2009-05-26T00:49:00.033-04:00

Peter Wayne Selner was my 3x maternal great-grandfather, born in 1825 in Pennsylvania. I discovered while visiting his grave, a bronze G.A.R. (1861-1865) marker which held a small American flag. Until that day, I had never heard of the G.A.R. From this new discovery during the cemetery visit, further research of the G.A.R. led me to his Civil War pension file and I learned about his military service.

A resident of Melmore, Ohio, Peter Selner was 37 years old and a father of five children when he enlisted at Tiffin in 1864 as a private in Company C from Seneca County, 180th Regiment of the Ohio Infantry Volunteers. As part of the Army of Ohio, the 180th Regiment went on the Atlanta campaign and after the city was captured, the 180th returned Tennessee operated with the "Railroad Brigade" during Hood's invasion. The regiment was ordered to Washington City until it moved on to North Carolina. There the 180th participated in the battle at Kinston, where it lost forty-two men. It performed garrison duty until the close of the war and was mustered out July 25, 1865

Private Peter Selner was detailed as a teamster. He drove horses or supply wagon teams for his regiment much like truck drivers of today. In February 1865 at Alexandria, Virginia, he was severely injured while loading horses on a vessel. He was kicked in the breast by a horse and sustained injuries to his chest, body and back. He was honorably discharged in July 1865 at Charlotte, North Carolina and later applied for and was granted a monthly disability pension from the United States government. He died in April 1923.

I was curious to know what the Grand Army of the Republic was all about. I guessed that it might be a group similar to our present day V.F.W. or American Legion. In fact, the G.A.R. is quite interesting. After the Civil War ended surviving soldiers often missed the friendships shared during battle. Informal local groups of veterans met occasionally but it wasn’t until 1866 when the first national veteran’s organization was established. An army surgeon named Benjamin F. Stephenson from Illinois founded the fraternal organization in 1866. G.A.R. posts sprang up around the country and the organization grew to become the largest association of honorably discharged individuals who served in the Union during the Civil War.

The Grand Army of the Republic was founded on the principles of Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty and was dedicated to good works. The G.A.R. generously helped needy and handicapped veterans. Although it was not originally intended to be a political group, it became quite powerful by strongly lobbying for benefits for veterans and their dependents. It was with the assistance of the G.A.R. that many soldiers and their families received pensions.

The G.A.R. was organized in "departments" at the state level. The local chapters were called "posts". There were posts in every state and a few overseas. Veterans also referred to as “comrades” applied to their local post for membership. Members of that post would vote for acceptance or denial of the applicant. If denied by one post, the applicant would be banned from the organization. Each post was numbered consecutively within each department. Most were also named in honor of a deceased local or national Civil War soldier.

The departments published annual reports usually called Proceedings of the . . . Annual Encampment of the Department of . . ., Grand Army of the Republic. By 1880 many often recorded the death of members for the preceding year by name, rank, company and regiment or ship, date of death and the name, number and location of the post he belong to.

The Grand Army of the Republic held annual conventions called National Encampments from 1866 to 1949. The annual Encampment was presided over by the elected Department Commander, Senior and Junior Vice Commanders and the Council. Delegates would decide the organization’s business at these conventions. Veterans traveled from around the country to attend. Many encampments included a camp out, parades, formal dinners and memorial events, music, speeches, and other forms of entertainment and lasted over several days time.

A glance at a few National Encampments statistics shows how the membership numbers grew and began to decline in the 1920s.

1st Encampment, 1866
15th Encampment, 1881, Members: 85,856
25th Encampment, 1893, Members: 397,223

54th Encampment, 1920, Members: 103,258
55th Encampment, 1921, Members: 93,171
76th Encampment, 1942, Members: 518
83rd Encampment, 1949, Members: 16

The final Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic was held in Indianapolis, Indiana from 28 August to 1 September 1949. At that time there were 16 surviving members of whom only six attended the encampment. The last member, Albert Woolson died in 1956 at the age of 109 years. He was the sole survivor of the more than 2,675,000 men of the Union armed forces and the last survivor of the Grand Army of the Republic. Five presidents were members of the G.A.R.: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley.

The day we now know as Memorial Day was formerly called Decoration Day, and was established in 1868. It was first enacted to honor the memory of Union soldiers of the Civil War by an order issued by Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan of the G.A.R. The order declared the day to be “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in the defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.” The first national celebration of Decoration Day was held at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868. Memorial Day is a legal federal holiday always observed on the last Monday in May and now not only honors Union veterans but also honors American casualties of any war or military action.

The G.A.R. membership records are scattered throughout the states and are not deposited in one central location. This makes it difficult to find the complete records of a specific post. When the G.A.R. ceased, some records were placed in local historical societies and libraries or the state archives, but many were thrown away or have not been found. Some records of the G.A.R. posts have been published. Some records are on microfilm and available through Family History Centers of the LDS Family History Library.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) was created by the Grand Army of the Republic in 1881 to preserve the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and ancestors who fought to preserve the Union. You can find more information about this group on their website at: http://www.suvcw.org There is also a Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library located in Philadelphia, PA. You can learn more about the museum and library at: http://garmuslib.org/

The following is known as the most famous poem written during WWI and widely read to commemorate fallen loved ones. It was written by Lieut. Col. John McCrae (1872-1918) on 3 May 1915, after he witnessed the death of and presided over the funeral of his friend, Lieut. Alexis Helmer.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt drawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be your to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

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The Colors of the Flag

2009-05-14T14:03:00.019-04:00

I have often thought that our American flag is one of the most beautiful flags in the world. For over 230 years our flag has stood for freedom and liberty, the United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. It has been a symbol of our unity, strength and the bravery of our ancestors and members of our military who have fought for the USA. It is one of the most widely recognized symbols around the world. It has been lovingly referred to as Old Glory, The Stars and Stripes, and The Starry Banner.

While searching for a nice American flag .gif to display on my website, I noticed that there are many nations around the world whose flags bear a resemblance to our own Stars and Stripes. Flags from Chile, France, Malaysia, Phillippines, Solvenia, Croatia, Costa Rica, Thailand, and even Russia all bear the red, white, and blue colors. I began to wonder what the colors stand for in the American flag.

The colors and design of the United State flag is unique and symbolic. The first flag, said to have been sewn by Betsy Ross, was adopted in 1777 represented the 13 colonies. Since then it has evolved over the years with the growth of our country as states were admitted to the Union. It now consists of thirteen alternating horizontal stripes, seven dark red and 6 white representing the original 13 colonies.

The 50 white stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The color dark red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence and navy blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one Nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Hardiness, Valor,
Purity, Innocence
Vigilance, Perseverance, Justice

Don't forget to fly your flag on Memorial Day, Monday May 25th in remembrance of those who have died in service to our nation. Flags should be displayed at half staff until noon then in full glory until sunset!

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Take a Cemetery Excursion

2009-04-24T01:23:00.068-04:00

Winter has finally gone and now is a great time for a cemetery excursion. Making a personal visit to an ancestor's resting place can reveal a lot of important genealogical data and clues that you may not find elsewhere. You can develop a deeper understanding of where you came from and find a closer connection to your past.

I have found most cemeteries are very peaceful, often very beautiful, and surprisingly interesting places. As you are walking among the markers, in addition to the names and dates you see, you will soon discover many beautiful and unusual carved tombstones and lovely statues and other unique memorials to loved ones. Some gravestone inscriptions can be very intriguing and sure make you wonder more about the person resting there. Others offer clues about heritage and culture if they are in the language of the homeland, and some even have an amusing quote or brief anecdote.

Learn as much as you can about the cemetery you plan to visit. Make contact if possible with the cemetery office or sexton to confirm your ancestor is buried there. Search cemetery indexes, burial registers, plat maps and plot records if available at the local library or historical society. Obtain an obituary and death certificate if you can. The more information you have in advance the better your result will be.

It is important to ascertain if the cemetery is public or private, modern or old, and if recently cared for or unattended and overgrown. Your safety is very important when visiting cemeteries in remote or rural areas. It is possible to encounter ongoing criminal activity or vandals in a cemetery. If you are unfamiliar with the surrounding community and are concerned, check with the local police before you visit. Knowing these details prepares you for any conditions or situation you may encounter. Taking a loved one or friend along for saftey is a good idea and will make your outing more fun.

Modern cemeteries are usually well maintained however older cemeteries, especially those no longer in use, may be very overgrown and quite deteriorated. They are often found in very rural heavily brush covered areas or on farm land. If the cemetery is on private property, be sure to speak to the owner and get permission to visit. He may prefer you only visit during certain hours or on certain days and may wish to escort you to the cemetery during your visit. Make sure you understand any rules and what you have permission to do while there.

You may discover as I did on one adventure, that the cemetery you are seeking is now located in the middle of a planted corn field! With invaluable help from the farmer on how to access the cemetery was I able to make it a most memorable visit. He was a very nice elderly fellow and he enjoyed sharing his extensive knowledge of the all the old homesteads nearby, those now gone and those still standing. I learned a lot from our chat that helped me move forward in my research.

Always follow a cemetery’s rules for visitors. They exist not only in consideration of surviving family members, but to honor and preserve the final resting places of loved ones. Be aware of hours of operation, respect the no pets allowed rule, do not move or lift fallen stones. Be considerate of grieving family members and other cemetery visitors. Respect all graves sites and try not to walk across cemetery lots except for visiting graves. Do not disturb personal memorabilia left by loved ones. If you wish to leave flowers or a memento at the gravesite, be sure to comply with cemetery rules.

What you wear and what you bring with you is important. Long pants, a long sleeved shirt, and hiking boots or good closed-toe shoes with thick socks, a hat, and gloves are strongly recommended. You are likely to encounter a variety of insects, ticks, spiders, chiggers, mosquitoes, and possibly a snake even in a cemetery that is well cared for. Proper clothing will help protect you from briars, thorns, and other plants such as poison ivy in unattended cemeteries. Bring enough water to drink and to pour on tombstones to make them more legible in lieu of making tombstone rubbings. Markers often photograph better if they are wet and water will not cause damage. A nice walking stick can help steady you on uneven ground. It is a good idea to keep insect repellant and a first aid kit in your car as well.

A few small garden tools may be helpful to clear away overgrown brush, and you want to be sure to bring several pencils, plenty of paper or a notebook, a digital camera or video camera with additional memory cards and extra batteries. You will want to take a lot of photos of the cemetery while you are there. Be sure to capture the cemetery entrance, cemetery signs, different views of the cemetery, your ancestor’s graves as a group and close up, and markers in other nearby plots which you may later discover are related.

Be sure to record names dates and inscriptions exactly as you find them on the front, back, and each side of a tombstone. Record any symbols or emblems or other markings that may appear possibly noting an affiliation with a community or religious group. Note the style, shape, color, and from what material the marker was made from. These can be clues to family heritage or the homeland. If you visit on or just after Memorial Day you may discover an American flag placed at the gravesite by a local VFW or American Legion Chapter indicating your ancestor gave military service. Note the relationship of all markers in a family plot. Unmarked small stones may indicate unnamed children who died in infancy. Some genealogists also bring a GPS unit to record the exact position of each gravesite so they may be found even if the cemetery should completely disappear.

A well planned trip results in a fun day and can produce invaluable information to add to your family tree. Spring is here so venture out and make that cemetery visit you have been putting off. I am already making my list of places to visit. Happy hunting!

The Jacoby Church & Cemetery stands on the west side of North King Road, south of 8A Road in Ceter Township, Marshall County, Indiana. In 2007, the Wythougan Valley Preservation Council received a $8,640 grant to rehabilitate the former church. It was built in 1860 and dedicated in 1861 by a German Reformed congregation. The church was used fairly continuously through 1964, but has been vacant and deteriorating since that time. It is now owned by the township. Some of my Jacoby ancestors were founding members of this church.

In Honor of Veterans Day

2008-11-10T10:12:00.049-05:00

"Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God."

What is a veteran and what is Veterans Day?

In the beginning the word "veteran" meant a person of long experience or skill. After the American Revolution the word "veteran" or "vet" was used to refer to the elderly former soldiers who had fought so hard and secured our country's independence.

World War I was officially concluded on the 11th hour of the 11th Day of November in 1918 at 11 AM. One year later on November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the day as “Armistice Day” dedicated to the cause of world peace. The word “armistice” means the end of wartime hostilities. The day was honored with public celebrations and a two minute pause to business at 11 AM.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated in Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony on November 11, 1921. After this day, Armistice Day was adopted in many states and later in 1938 Congress adopted a resolution making the 11th of November in each year a national holiday. In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

Now both a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, November 11 is commemorated with parades, ceremonies, and observances to pay respects to and celebrate the lives of the men and women who have given military service to our nation not only during the American Revolution, but in all subsequent wars and conflicts at home and around the world.

In honor of Veterans Day I would like to share a few of the names and photographs of the men in my family who have fought to preserve our liberty and freedom and thank them for all we all enjoy today.

MSgt. Robert C. Riddle (living)
United States Army-Retired
Service: career service 1949-1972
Veteran of Korean and Vietnam Wars

Rollan Otto Riddle (1919-2011)
Warrant Officer, Company A, 324 Infantry Regiment
United States Army
Served from 1942-1945 in Germany, France, and Austria

Owen Edward Riddle (1888-1935)
Private, 3rd Regiment, Company I, Indiana National Guard
Served from 3 February 1913 – 8 February 1916
Buried in Oakhill Cemetery, Marshall Co, IN

William Thompson Riddle (1831-1892)
Company C, Garrison Guards, 32nd Regiment Indiana Volunteers
Served in Civil War from 23 Sept 1864-8 May 1865
Buried in McGrew Cemetery, Walnut Twp, Marshall Co, IN

Harrison H. Riddle (1839-1934)
Corporal, Company I, 59th Indiana Infantry Volunteers
Served in Civil War from 6 February 1862 – 4 April 1865
Shot in stomach by enemy gunfire followed by sunstroke at Millikens Bend, LA
Buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Monroe Co, IN

John E. Anderson (1830-1897)
Company B, 67th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers
Served in Civil war from 7 August 1862 – 19 July 1865
Injury to left hip and stomach rupture at Young’s Point, LA
Buried in Union Chapel Cemetery, Morgan Co, IN

Peter Wayne Selner (1825-1923)
Private, Company C, 180th Regiment of Ohio Infantry Volunteers
Served in Civil War from 6 September 1865 – 8 Sept 1865
Injured during the siege of Charleston, SC being kicked by a mule
in the chest causing heart damage
Buried in Olive Cemetery, Elkhart Co, IN

Samuel L. Parks (1757-1844)
Private, North Carolina Troops
Served in Revolutionary War, 1776 - 1780
Enlisted Wilkes Co, NC at beginning of Rev War and served over 3 years
under Capt Lewis, Samuel Johnson, William Lenoir & Colonel Cleveland
Buried probably in Burke Co, NC

FINAL INSPECTION
by Sgt. Joshua Helterbran

The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass.

"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"

The Solider squared his shoulders and said
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just to steep,

And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

(poem from http://www.ellenbailey.com/poems/ellen_308.htm)

God Bless The USA

Advice for using an Every Name Index

2008-09-19T11:53:00.026-04:00

Every name indexes for those large county histories written in the late 1800s are a wonderful genealogical tool. I know - I create them! They are usually one of the first resources many genealogists look for when beginning their family research. Indexing a big county history book is an enormous project that used to be done by hand. This is why most of the old county histories were published without an index.

Every name indexes are meant to assist researchers in quickly finding passages in the original text that pertain to their ancestors or surnames. A reference to your ancestor in an every name index should always be noted, but it is definitely not substitute for detailed information that may be found when viewing the original text or document. For instance, when consulting the text the only reference you may find is your ancestor’s name in a listed among the men from the county who served in the military. Finding this clue can lead to obtaining his pension, bounty land warrant, and military service records from the National Archives and a wealth of additional family data.

When using an every name index be sure to read the explanation of how it was compiled so you understand how to use the index. You should understand what information the index will and will not help you find. An index is prepared to be as complete and accurate as possible however as with any transcription project, it can be subject to human error. Keep in mind that the index may reflect what you think is a spelling error in your surname, but in actuality was indexed accurately showing exactly how the name was spelled in the original text.

Be aware that if your ancestor is not listed within an every name index, it does not necessarily mean they did not live in that county. A search of other documented sources may reveal in fact they were long time residents. Not being mentioned in an old county history may simply mean your ancestors were not prominent in the founding of the county or part of the more well known families who lived there.

Surnames can be spelled in a variety of ways or contain inadvertent spelling errors. Generations ago names spellings were not standardized. A person may have spelled or signed his own name several ways. In generations past, scores of adults were unable to write or had little or no formal education so they spelled their names phonetically, or simply used initials. They relied upon an individual such as a county clerk to record important documents for them and spell their names correctly while they signed with “their mark” or an “x”.

Accents can change the way a name sounds when pronounced and also how it was interpreted when recorded. Think of the many ways a name could be pronounced and then think of the various spellings that could be derived. If you need assistance consult the Soundex.

The Soundex is a coded surname index that was developed in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration based on phonetics rather than the way a name is spelled. The Soundex system enabled the use of sounds in a surname to be used to classify and index heads of households in the census records. The Soundex system indexes names so they can be found no matter how they were spelled.

Immigrants who were not originally English speaking with hard to spell or difficult names to pronounce often took an Americanized variation of the name by dropping syllables or difficult letter combinations to create a simpler spelling. If the surname had a prefix such as Von, search for it with and without the prefix. There were no official rules governing names and often no official documentation to reflect a name change.

An ancestor's name in the old country may be spelled significantly different than the Americanized version a decendant may use after coming to the United States. Some immigrants changed their names because of prejudices and discrimination and wanted to blend into American society. Shortening their name to remove the ethnic aspect was one way to achieve that goal. Your family surname may have changed several times before it became the family name you know today.

Understanding naming patterns can assist you in adding more ancestors to your family tree. In genealogy research, the focus is usually on the surname or last name of the family however given names or first names should be looked at too. Finding a pattern of given names bestowed over and over could represent a tradition and possibly suggest the nationality or ethnic origin of your family. Naming patterns can also help in determining the birth order of children or indicate there may be additional older children you are not aware of.

Early settlers tended to name their children after other family members. For instance, it was a common naming practice in the 1800s to name the first son after his paternal grandfather and the second son after the maternal grandfather. The first daughter was often named after the maternal grandmother and the second daughter for the paternal grandmother.

The children in German families customarily had two given names. The first given name was a spiritual or religious name in honor of a favorite saint and the second was the name the individual was known by within their family and community. Naming a child after Saint John is the most common example for male children and Maria or Anna for female children. Typically all the boys in the family had the same first name, or variation of the same first name, such as Johann Robert and Johann August, but each was called by the second name. Girls too were often given the same first name such as Maria resulting daughters in the same family named Maria Catharine, Maria Elizabeth, but also called by their second name.

It is also possible for two children of the same family to have identical names. In some families, it was acceptable to name a child the same name in honor of an older sibling who died in infancy. A child’s name can also be bestowed again when a spouse died and the surviving spouse was remarried and had additional children.

Nicknames may be a substitute for or added to the given name and can make your research difficult if you are not aware they were often used in records and documents. Vital records usually record the proper given name but in others such as census records you may find individuals listed by their nicknames. If you cannot find a female ancestor, consider the name you know her by may actually be a nickname. For instance, Mae, May, Molly, Polly, and Minnie all can be nicknames for the given name Mary.

Looking at middle names can also lend clues in research. Both male and female children were often given the mother’s maiden name as their middle name to carry the family name to the next generation. If you have a marriage but do not know the wife’s maiden name, looking at the middle names of her children for possible clues. Your ancestor may have used a combination of first and middle names during his lifetime. He may be recorded using his middle name, particularly if there was a junior and senior in the family. When children were named for their parents or grandparents, they were often called by their middle names to avoid confusion within the family. A man may have been known by his middle name as a child until he became of age, and then switched to using his given name.

There are many resources available to family historians. Every name indexes are a favorite of most. To get the best result when using an every name index, keep in mind naming patterns and the possibilities that your surname has changed. If you search for only one spelling of your surname you will likely miss important information.

Greetings & Welcome to my new blog!

2008-09-12T18:34:00.004-04:00

If you have found me it is likely you surfed in from a link from my genealogy website - EveryNameIndex.com Here on my blog site I will share tips, URLs, and other information that I have found helpful in my research.

I am a typical genealogy addict who loves the thrill and challenge of the hunting and being on the trail of an elusive ancestor. I began researching my family tree over 25 years ago and although I have hit some brick walls that I have yet to knock down, I haven't lost my determination to get over them. Just when it seems that I should finally give up, I find a new clue or I get a surprise letter or email from a distant cousin and I am off chasing the new lead.

My philosophy on genealogical research is that the facts are the facts, good or bad. I do not pass moral judgements on my past generations because I cannot know the circumstances that influenced their actions and decisions. I hope my descendants think of me in the same way. I choose to celebrate the good in all they have accomplished but recognize it was not without its difficulties and challenges.

I have learned more about the great beginnings of this country and history doing genealogy research than I ever learned in school. I have come to really appreciate the pioneer spirit and shear determination and bravery our ancestors had to move into unsettled territory. I have a great love for the USA and I am thankful to all who have come before who made sacrifices, defended her, and met the challenges of their day to give us all we have now.

I come from small town every day folks who were simple farmers, ministers, businessmen, and a few who played an important role in helping to establish Monroe County, Indiana. There are quite a few scoundrels and renigades in my family tree but they are far outweighed by the many patriotic men who volunteered for military service to fight for our freedom and liberty.

My ancestors have served in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, World War I & II, and the National Guard. My hero is my dad, who made the United States Army his career for over 24 years, serving in Korea and Vietnam and dedicated himself to Duty, Honor and Country. I am proud of all of them.

Msgt. Robert C. Riddle, Vietnam 1968