This is why your surname is Krapf, not Reichwein.

I am writing this post for my two sons, Jason and Eric Krapf and my sister in-laws Anna Salamatin and Katherine Granillo.  So very little was known about the family, that I just had to do it.

Children who lost their parents before 1935, were generally raised by relatives or neighbors.  Most times those children's surname would be changed to the family that raised them.  Changes in identity were common and simple before 1935 since there were no formal arrangements and no going through the court system, however; legal documents were necessary after 1935 when the Social Security Act was signed.

This is relevant in the case of Elwood (11 Aug 1922 Lavelle, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania) and Gloria Krapf (10 Apr 1924 Lavelle, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania).  Elwood and Gloria were the children of John William Reichwein (1869-1974) and Anna Krapf (1903-1924).  This is their story.

Let's start with Elwood and Gloria's parents, John William and Anna Krapf Reichwein.

Here is a bio for John William Reichwein found on ancestry via The Shamokin News.

Printed in Shamokin News - Oct 2, 2012 - A flag raising ceremony in Mount Carmel, flag presented by his daughter Catherine Fantina.

As you can see John William Reichwein was married 4 times.  We will be looking at John's second wife Anna Krapf.  Anna was born about 1903 in Pennsylvania, the daughter of John Krapf (1876-1940) and Margaret Quinton Eister (1882-1964)

They were married 28 Dec 1921 in Schuylkill, Pennsylvania.  John was 25 and Anna was 18.

John W Reichwein and Anna M Krapf,FamilySearch ( https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KMZM-MGG : accessed 19 Oct 2013)

John and Anna had two children, Elwood in 1922 and Gloria in 1924.  Anna Krapf Reichwein died on 29 Nov 1924 at the age of 21.  

Anna Krapf Reichwein

Mount Carmel Item Tuesday, December 2, 1924 Pin Scratch Kills Woman of Lavelle Anna, wife of John Reichwine (Reichwein), Lavelle, aged 22 years, is dead, the result of a pimple on her face being picked by a pin in a towel as she dried after washing. It was a week ago that she was using the towel with the pin in it. As the pimple was scratched open little was thought of it, but blood poisoning developed and spread through her system, causing death. The funeral will be held Wednesday morning. Services will be conducted in the St Mauritius church at Ashland and burial will be made in the parish cemetery.

Anna Krapf Reichwein Headstone

John married Kathryn Bosche in 1925.  I am not sure when Elwood and Gloria went to live with their grandparents; however, by 1930 they are living with Anna's parents John and Margaret Quinton Krapf.

John Krapf Family 1930 Census
Butler, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania
17 Apr 1930

The names of the family show as:

John Krapf	52
Margaret Krapf	48
Chas Krapf	18
Marie Krapf	15
R Elwood Krapf	7
R Gloria Krapf	5

Notice the "R" in front Elwood and Gloria's name.  Does the "R" stand for their actual last name Reichwein?  If not, then what does it mean?  As you can see they already have the Krapf surname.  

The 1940 census only shows Elwood C "son" and Gloria "daughter" to Margaret Krapf (who is widowed at this time).  

Margaret Krapf Family 1940 Census
Lavelle, Butler, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania
29 Apr 1940

Why were Elwood and Gloria raised by their grandparents?  Why did they not stay with their father and step-mother?  I am not sure if we will ever find the answers to those questions.  

So now you know why you have the surname Krapf and not Reichwein.  

Debbie

I'm Sorry

I have to apologize to everyone, especially those that follow me.  (It still amazes me today that anyone would follow me.  LoL  And I thank you for that!!!)  I have been so busy lately, I have let this blog get behind.

I'm SORRY!!!

Honestly, I do apologize!  My life has been crazy lately.  Family/home, work just to mention a few.  My granddaughter has been in Children's Hospital (It use to be called Cook's Children Hospital) in Dallas.  Doctors are not sure what is going on with her, but she is ok, for now.  They are just running test after test to determine what is going on.  No prognosis, no saying how long she will be there.  Apparently whatever is going on, the Doctors say they have never seen anything like what she has.  And NO, it is not ebola!!  She has about 20 Doctors looking after her, so she is in good hands!  Hopefully, we (and the Doctors) will know what is going on very soon.  Until then, they will continue to run tests and we will continue to pray!

I will be posting my next blog in the next day or so.  Please bare with me!

Debbie

Eli Wren Medlock

On this day 17 September 1862, Union forces halt a Confederate invasion of Maryland in the Civil War battle of Sharpsburg/Antietam. With 23,100 killed, wounded or captured, it remains the bloodiest single day in U.S. military history.

I pay tribute to my 2x paternal great-grandfather Eli Wren Medlock, who was on that Sharpsburg/Antietam battlefield on 17 September 1862 and wounded on that day. The wound "Vul selopeticum leg" is actually a latin term for a gunshot wound, which should read Vulnus Sclopeticum of the leg. Eli was furloughed home on several occasions due to his wound.

Eli Wren Medlock was born 25 August 1839 in Norcross, Gwinnett, Georgia. He married 1) Martha P Edmonson (1842 - 1886), my 2x paternal great-grandmother, 7 July 1859 in Fulton, Georgia. They had nine children together. He married 2) Julia A. Knight (1844 - 1921) 27 May 1886 in Austell, Cobb, Georgia. Eli died 31 August 1904 in Austell, Cobb, Georgia and was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Austell, Cobb, Georgia.

Eli Wren Medlock enlisted in the Confederate Army September 26, 1861 at Camp Kirkpatrick, in DeKalb County, Georgia, by Captain Bower. Eli was a Private of the old Company C, Wright Legion Murphy Guards. By Jan/Feb 1862, the Wright Legion Murphy Guards were Company A. April 1-30 1862 he was with Company L, Wright Legion McCulloch Rifles.

Here is a timeline showing Eli's military service from Fold3:

Eli Wren Medlock enlisted in the (Old) Co. C, Murphy’s Guards, Wright Legion, Georgia as a private Sept, 26, 1861, at Camp Kirkpatrick in DeKalb Co., Georgia.  

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911613/

Jan till Apr 1862 with (New) Co. A, Murphy’s Guards, Wright Legion, Georgia.  

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911624/

April 1862 with Co. L, McCulloch Rifles, Wright Legion1, and was detailed for Waggoner April 20, 1862.

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911638/

September 17, 1862 wounded at Sharpsburg/Antietam.  On a list of killed, wounded and missing, in Ewell’s Division, Aug 22 to Sept 20, 1862.  [Series 1, vol. 12, part 1, pg 810.]  

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911651/

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911717/

September 17, 1862 till June 30, 1863 “home on furlough, wounded”.

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911658/

November 21, 1862  E.W. Medlock, Co. D., 38th Regiment, Ga - vols, made oath that he is without a Descriptive Roll or Final Statement which is impossible to obtain from his commanding officer, for the reason that his company is now with Gen Ewell; that the within account, amounting to forty four dollars, is correct; that he is not in debt to the Confederate States, and that he will present a statement of this payment to his commanding officer.

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911773/

Jan/Feb 1863 at hospital, wounded

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911664/

Mar/Apr 1863 absent, wounded at hospital

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911670/

July 9, 1863 paid - Private E.W. Medlock, Co. D., 38 Ga from May 1, 1863 to June 30, 1863 - pay $22.

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911785/

July 9, 1863   the Confederate States, Dr.

to E.W. Medlock

Co. D, 38, Ga C.S. Army

For monthy pay, from  May 1, 1863 to June 30, 1863

being 2 months @ 11 per month

Sent from Lynchburg Hospital to defend Richmond

Amt paid $22

I certify, that I have enclosed this payment on Medlock’s Descriptive Roll.

Received Richmond this 9th day of July 1863 from Major John Ambler, Quatermaster C.S. Army, the sum of twenty-two dollars, being the amt, and in full of the above account.   E.W. Medlock

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911798/

August 1863, appears on a roll of non-commissioned officers and privates employed on extra duty at Orange C.H.  [Orange Co., Va, Orange Courthouse] nature of service: Teamster 2.  

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911723/

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911727/

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911731/

August 1863, appears on a Receipt Roll for clothing at 1 Division, General Hospital for Camp Winder 3, Richmond, Va.

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911735/

September 1863, appears on a roll of non-commissioned officers and privates employed on extra duty at Orange C.H.  [Orange Co., Va, Orange Courthouse] nature of service: Teamster.

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911745/

November/December of 1863 listed as a Brigade Ambulance Driver until he was furloughed home on an old wound  July 15, 1864

December 1963 appears on a roll of non-commissioned officers and privates employed on extra duty during month of Dec., nature of service: Teamster.

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911695/

May - July 15, 1864 listed as a Brigade Ambulance Driver until he was furloughed home on an old wound.

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911701/

June 18, 1864 appears on a register of C.S.A. Gen. Hosp Danville, Va.

Complaint: vul selopeticum leg

Furloughed: June 19 1864

Confederate Archive, Chap 6, FIle No. 209, pg 600

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911767/

August 8, 1864 appears on a Report of the Medical Examining Board, Dalton, Ga, under the head of “Recommendation for extension of furloughs.”

Brigade: Gordons

Army: Lee

Date: Aug 8, 1864

No. days: 30

Town: Hoganville

State: Ga

Remarks:   Furloughed from Danville, Va June 19, 30 days

Confederate Archive, Chapter 6, File No. 543, pg 124

http://www.fold3.com/image/50911761/

1 Most of the members of this Company were enlisted by Capt. John Y. Flowers in the DeKalb Murphy Guards (subsequently Co. A, 38th Regiment Georgia Infantry, which company becoming too large was divided Apr 1, 1862.  The new company taking the name of McCulloch Rifles.  This company became Co. D, 38th Regiment Georgia Infantry.

2 Teamsters drove horses, oxen or mules to haul supplies to troops and during battle supplied troops with much needed supplies.

3 From the Richmond Sentinel, 8/10/1863

http://www.mdgorman.com/Written_Accounts/Sentinel/1863/richmond_sentinel_8101863.htm

This blog post is in honor of Eli Medlock.

Debbie

Note:  I started this post on the anniversary of the battle of Sharpsburg/Antietam on 17 Sept 2014.  Due to computer freeze ups I was not able to post this until 18 Sept 2014.

 

Family Medical History

It's time for a talk.  A talk about your family medical history.  

Let me ask you a question....you research your family history, right?  Are you a beginner, advanced or somewhere in between?  I have worked hard on researching my family history.  I bet you have as well.  Family history/genealogy is not easy by any means.  If you are like me, then you have names along with dates of birth, marriages and deaths in your head.  I have talked to some people who do genealogy, and they can recite their 4x great-grandparents information ( everything ) perfectly, yet cannot remember their own wedding anniversary date.  I remember growing up and my parents calling or trying to yell at me, but calling me by one of my sister's name.  Or my parents would be saying something while looking at me and kinda stammer with my name, like they couldn't remember it.  I swore that I would never, ever do that to my kids.  I hate to admit it, but I have done the same thing with my boys.  ( Don't hate, a lot of people do it! )

Now, let me ask you another question.  Have you done a family medical history?  A what?  Have you ever even heard of a family medical history, other than at your doctor's office?  Well, then let me tell you!

My oldest son called me today.  ( Yay, good son! )  He asked if I had a family medical history.  Now, if you know my son, that is asking a lot!!  He is always making comments and giving me grief about me doing family history/genealogy research.  When I say something about finding an ancestor on Find-A-Grave, he will say "leave those poor dead people alone" or "there she goes again".  LoL  So for him to call me and ask me that question, well something is up.  He told me that his youngest daughter's ( my granddaughter ) doctor needed it, I about freaked out.  Why would her doctor need a family medical history.  She is 5 years old, and in good health.  My son told me that she has had 3 mini strokes in 5 days, one on Friday, one Monday and one today!  Not good!  I told him that I did have a family medical history and that I would need to find where I put it, and would get him the information in the morning.    

A family medical history is important for several reasons.  1) for your own health - if you are aware of diseases that run in your family, that gives you a heads up on your future health.  Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer runs in families.  2) for your doctor - this will allow the doctor to see anything from your family history that may affect you and/or your family.  

According to the Mayo Clinic:  Your doctor might use your family medical history to:

• Assess your risk of certain diseases
• Recommend treatments or changes in diet or other lifestyle habits to reduce the risk of disease
• Determine which diagnostic tests to order
• Determine the type and frequency of screening tests
• Determine whether you or family members should get a specific genetic test
• Identify a condition that might not otherwise be considered
• Identify other family members who are at risk of developing a certain disease
• Assess your risk of passing conditions on to your children

Thankfully, I did a family medical history about 10-15 years ago.  Once I do find it, I will definitely be up-dating it!  

So, please do your self and your family a favor and make yourself a family medical history today!!   I created mine in a spreadsheet.  This is what my headings look like:

NAME  RELATIONSHIP  GENDER  RACE  DOB  DISEASE/CONDITION  AGE AT DIAGNOSIS

I list a name and will show m-g for maternal grandmother or p-2gg for paternal 2x great-grandfather, etc.

On another spreadsheet I have:

                          STILL LIVING  HEART DISEASE  HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE  STROKE

MY FAMILY

with the row continuing with:

COLON CANCER  BREAST CANCER  OVARIAN CANCER  ALZHEIMER'S  PARKINSON'S

With this spreadsheet I will list a name and put an "x" in the column that affects that person.  Again, here I will show m-g for maternal grandmother or p-2gg for paternal 2x great-grandfather, etc.  In the "OTHER CANCER" column above I will put the type of cancer a person had; pancreatic, lung, kidney, etc.  The list I use above is just a sample of diseases that affect my family.  You can use whatever affects your family. You can customize these charts anyway you like.  You can color code names, a certain color for paternal and another color for maternal.    The most important thing to remember is get the information and record it!

How do you get the family medical history information?  Ask!  Ask your immediate family, ask grandparents, ask aunts and uncles.  If anyone is hesitate about giving you any medical information, explain why you are doing a family medical history, and offer to share your family medical history record with them.  Share the family medical history with everyone in your family!  Share a copy of the family medical history in the "Family Newsletter", share it at the "Family Reunion".  Just share it!  Help your family members to be aware of just how important a family medical history is.  You can also gather information from death records of your family.  Generally, a death certificate will list a cause of death, and sometimes will list a secondary cause of death.  

Be pro-active about your health.  Know what your family medical history is!

Debbie

Updates

Today is all about updating some of my post, while updating my progress.  This gives me the knowledge that I am keeping on track, while staying in my direct line, and actually getting my family tree complete.  (Is there any such thing as a complete family tree??)  I believe everyone should take some time now and then to just step back and see what progress has made.
.

The Progress or not blog posted on 17 June 2014 update.


                     June 2014                                                                August 2014

   Generation   Possible    What I have                        Generation   Possible    What I have

        1               1               1                                              1               1               1

        2               2               2                                              2               2               2                 3               4               4                                              3               4               4

        4               8               8                                              4               8               8   

        5              16              8                                              5              16             12 (+4)

        6              32             14                                             6              32             14

        7              64              7                                              7              64              7

        8             128            10                                             8              128            10

        9             256            10                                             9              256            12 (+2)

       10            512             2                                             10             512             2

Totals
                    1023             66                                                           1023           72 (+6)

I have added 4 new 2x great grandparents and 2 new 6x great grandparent, for a total of 6 new ancestors added to my family tree.  That is not too bad.  I can at least see that I am making progress.  Though percentage wise I am only at 7%.  Better than 2 months ago.      



Update on Cecelia May McGee King post of 30 July 2014.  I have finally found her!  Whew  Now I know why it was so difficult in finding Cecelia.  The 1900 census list her name as Celia McGee.  Lesson Learned -  if you cannot find our ancestor with the name you have - try various spellings of the name.  In my post on Cecelia May McGee King, I tried 40 different variations of her name.  Looks like I missed one.  LoL

The 7 June 1900 census from FamilySearch.org shows:  

Celia McGee in the household of Thos McGee

Head of household: Thos McGee age 31 born May 1869 in Washington DC

Wife: Annie McGee age 18 born Sept 1881 in Washington DC

Daughter: Celia McGee age 0/12 born May 1900 in Washington DC

Thos and Annie married for 1 year.  Annie being the mother of 1 child and 1 child living.  

I now have Cecelia's and her parents name, birth month and year, and birth place.  I will hopefully be able to validate the information and continue with her branch of the family tree.  Only time will tell!  Looks like a small hole in that "brick wall".  

I am feeling more confident these days of my research and my blog.  I am making progress.  I am seeing results.  I am expanding my family tree.  I am feeling good!  If you find yourself wondering about starting a blog, I say go for it!  Just being able to put into words what goes through my mind, and the questions I ask myself has helped me tremendously.  I now ask myself "Why didn't I do this sooner?"

Happy Researching!!!

Debbie

                                      

My DAR Journey - Henry Ware Sr.

I am embarking on another journey along with my Family History Journey.  My journey to become a member of DAR ¹ (Daughters of the American Revolution).  Be sure to watch for my next chapter in this new journey.  It will include more information about the amazing organization Daughters of the American Revolution.  This new journey will be a long hard fought one I am sure, however; I believe will be well worth it!  I have always been proud to be an American, and to find ancestors that fought for the freedoms that we take for granted everyday, means so much to me.  Patriotism runs in my family you see and I am proud of that!  I come from a long line of military men and women, and will always be proud of that fact.  I am after all an "Air Force Brat"!  LoL

Preserving and honoring this country's heritage is so imperative.  The patriots who fought for the freedom of this country must not have died in vain.  Think about that.  What would this country be like without them?  Would there even be an America?

The process of becoming a member of DAR ² is a tough one for sure.  One that I will be sharing here.  From the first step till the last, becoming a full fledged member.  I hope you will follow me on this new adventure as well as my regular Family History Journey.

The first step, is finding an ancestor that fought in the American Revolution.  The American Revolutionary War years were 1775-1783.  If you should have someone in your family tree born between 1726-1767, they may have fought in the American Revolution.  You can always go to the DAR ³ website and search for that ancestor's name.  That is how I found my American Revolutionary Patriot Henry Ware Sr. my 6x great grandfather.  So, if I follow my family line it would look like this: (I am only including my direct line.)

1.) Henry Ware Sr. b.) 1730 Caroline Co., VA d.) 1 Nov 1801 Lincoln Co., GA  m.) Martha Garrett  b.) 1735 in VA d.) Lincoln Co., GA.

2.) John Ware b.) 1756 in VA d.) 10 Aug 1795 in Franklin, GA

3.) Thomas Ware b.) 1770 in Caswell, NC d.) 19 Jan 1859 in Colorado Co., TX m.) Sarah Jemison b.) 17 Jan 1776 in Lincoln Co., GA d.) 1817 in Green Co., GA.

4.) Sarah Jemison Ware b.) 21 Nov 1807 in Green Co., GA d.) 16 Dec 1883 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA m.) John Williams Medlock b.) 4 Apr 1803 in Greenville, SC d.) 5 Nov 1882 in Atlanta, Fulton, GA

5.) Eli Wren Medlock b.) 25 Aug 1839 in Norcross, Gwinnett, GA d.) 31 Aug 1904 in Austell, Cobb, GA m.) Martha P Edmonson b.) 29 May 1842 in GA d.) 5 Jan 1886 in Austell, Cobb, GA

6.) Charles Woodson Medlock b. 5 Apr 1873 in Norcross, Gwinnett, GA d.) 22 Feb 1940 in Fulton Co., GA m.) Willie McGee

7.) Leotra Medlock b.) 20 Jan 1903 in Russellville, Franklin, AL d.) 28 Feb 1985 in Odenville, St. Clair, AL m.) Emmett Sanders b.) 10 Dec 1900 in Barnesville, Lamar, GA d.) 13 Sept 1967 in Atlanta, Fulton, Ga

8.) Frederick Sanders b. 13 Mar 1935 in Birmingham, Jefferson, AL d. 16 Feb 2001 in Sherman, Grayson, TX m.) Shirley King b.) 24 Feb 1937 in Washington, DC

9.) Debbie Lowrance

As you can tell, there are holes in my research which will need to be gathered along with the proper documentation before I will be able to proceed with the next step.  For each person in my direct line I will need: date of birth, place of birth, date of death, place of death, date of marriage, place of marriage, spouse date of birth, and spouse place of death.

Wish me luck!  I better get researching!!

Debbie


You can click on either the references for the DAR website pages I mentioned above or click on them below.

¹ DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Home Page -
http://www.dar.org/

² DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Become A Member Page -
http://www.dar.org/national-society/become-member

³ DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Descendants Search Page -  http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search/

Debbie

Cecelia May McGee King..Where are You??

Cecelia May McGee King is my maternal great grandmother.  My "brick" wall. (Or should I say one of my brick walls.) 

Cecelia Mae McGee

My grandmother, Helen Louise Wise King, who started our family history/genealogy, is wanting information on my grandfather's mother Cecelia May McGee King.  I really don't have any information for her.  Cecelia  has been one of my biggest brick walls since I started my journey back in the 80's.  My grandmother knew Cecelia remarried a man named Jack Monroe, information that I did not know until this week.  That is all the information that we know at this time.

• Cecelia May McGee
• Birth 03 May 1900 in District of Columbia, USA (or so we thought)
• Married Elmer Joseph King Sr in 1915
• 1920 Census lists the family at 11th St. S.W., Washington City, District of Columbia
• Divorced from Elmer Joseph King Sr in 1925
• Married Jack Monroe
• Died 12 Apr 1936

We had a search done for Cecelia's birth certificate and this is what we received.

"Cecelia May McGee - alleged date of event 3 May 1900.  There is no listing under this date of birth, but we may be able to locate siblings with parents names.  This search of six years covers the period of 1898 through 1900, inclusive."

"May be able to locate siblings with parents names"?  If I had that information, I probably would have correct info and a birth certificate.  

Why can I not find you anywhere?  My grandmother told me years ago that Cecelia one day just up and left her family.  My grandfather was very young when she left and never really knew what happened to her.  It's been a mystery, and I intend to find out what happened to her.

Nothing new on Ancestry.com.  

Looking in Find A Grave, I search and search with no results.  As you can see, I have tried all the different variations of her name that I can think of.

• Cecelia McGee, Cecelia May McGee, Cecelia Mae McGee
• Cecelia King, Cecelia May King, Cecelia Mae King
• Cecelia Monroe, Cecelia May Monroe, Cecelia Mae Monroe
• Cecelia MacGee, Cecelia May MacGee, Cecelia Mae MacGee 
• Cece McGee, Cece May McGee, Cece Mae McGee
• Cece King, Cece May King, Cece Mae King
• Cece  Monroe, Cece May Monroe, Cece Mae Monroe
• Cece MacGee, Cece May MacGee, Cece Mae MacGee
• May McGee, May Cecelia McGee, 
• Mae McGee, Mae Cecelia McGee
• May King, May Cecelia King, 
• Mae King, Mae Cecelia King
• May Monroe, May Cecelia Monroe
• Mae Monroe, Mae Cecelia Monroe
• May MacGee, May Cecelia MacGee
• Mae MacGee, Mae Cecelia MacGee

I went to FamilySearch.org and only found the 1920 census, which I already have.

Nothing at Heritage Quest.

The 1920 census on Google, again, I already have that.

( The above list of websites that I researched, are not the only sites I have looked on.  These are just a few. )

I have to expand my search.  Hmm, I am thinking that I will search in Maryland or Virginia.  I don't seem to be getting anything in Washington, DC.

Where are you Cecelia???

I have no idea who the other 2 women are in this picture with my great grandmother.  All I do know is that the woman in the middle is Agnes and the woman on the right is Edith.  Sisters maybe?  Friends?  Cousins?  I wish I knew!  I wish I knew where you went?  Why you left?  So many questions, and not very many answers.

Debbie





      

OK back to work time.

I've been trying to do more Spring cleaning with my "office".  I hate clutter!!  So, I have been organizing and cleaning things up.  

With that in mind I also wanted to get all my research better organized.  Not an easy task, but it must be done.  

I have been hard at work organizing my photos, my computer, my binders and all those scraps of paper that just seem to accumulate everywhere you look.  I sat and thought of how I could better my time and research and came up with several ideas.  

First off, I thought why not make technology work for me.  It would make things so much easier, not to mention quicker.  So I sat down and got to work.  Here's what I came up with: 

I have discovered Google Drive and I love it!!  With Google Drive I can make my own forms/charts/spreadsheets to fit me.  And the best part?  I can pull it all up on my phone, so no matter where I am at I have access to it.  Check it out and see if it is something that could help you and your researching.  You just might be surprised!

Here is what I made, a research log in spreadsheet format.  However; I didn't stop there.  I added several other charts/forms/worksheets/logs to the spreadsheet as well.  All in one place!  No more searching for a particular chart or form.  I am happy with the results so far, and am excited to get back to researching.  This is what my spreadsheet looks like.  

          page/sheet 1 - research log
          Progress  Priority  Date of Search  Name of Person  Research  Website/Book/Place  Outcome

          page/sheet 2 - research check list
          Name  Date searched  Ancestry  Find-A-Grave  FamilySearch  Notes

          page/sheet 3 - research check list 2
          Name  Relationship  Birth  Place  Birth Certificate  Marriage  Place  Marriage Certificate  Death  Place                 Death Certificate  Burial  Place  Obit  Headstone  Will  Deeds  Religion  Immigration  Naturalization

          page/sheet 4 - census check list
          name 1790  1800  1810  1820  1830  1840  1850  1860  1870  1880  1890  1900  1910  1920  1930 etc

          page/sheet 5 - correspondence
          date  name  ancestor  relationship  contacted by  answered  notes

          page/sheet 6 - wars
          name  colonial war  revolutionary  civil  WWI  WWII  Korean  Vietnam

          page/sheet 7 - military service
          name  relationship  branch war  registration card  service years  medals  notes

          page/sheet 8 - books
          title  author  ISBN

All of this is basic and self explanatory.  The good thing about this is you can customize this to fit YOU and the way you research.  It is that easy!  If later on I should decide that I need something more on my pages, I can add it.  Or if I don't use/need something that I do have, I can delete it.  

Now when I come across an ancestor or name, I can gather the information, input the information, and begin the verification process of the data anywhere I am.  Why did I not think of this sooner??  

If you should make your own spreadsheet, please let me know!  I would love to see how other people make their own and how they use it.

I have also been busy copyrighting my photos.  This will take some time as I have over 3000 photos.  And as you can see, I have several copyrighted photos on this blog.  I don't want just anyone taking my personal photos.  So, I protect them with a watermark copyright.  Any good photo editor will work.  

Good luck in your research!

Debbie

Progress or not?

Crista Cowan, aka The Barefoot Genealogist on Ancestry.com, posted a blog titled "Family History All Done?  What's Your Number?" on 16 Aug 2012. 

I thought that this would be a great time to look at my numbers.

                                                             Generation   Possible    What I have

                                                                    1               1               1

                                                                    2               2               2

                                                                    3               4               4

                                                                    4               8               8

                                                                    5              16              8

                                                                    6              32             14

                                                                    7              64              7

                                                                    8             128            10

                                                                    9             256            10

                                                                   10            512             2

Totals                                                                       1023             66

 Wow!!!  66 out of 1,023 that is not even 7%.  Yet I show 2103 people in my family tree!  How can this be?  I thought I've been doing pretty good , boy was I wrong!   That would mean 2037 people I have researched are not even my direct line!  This shows me that I need to start concentrating on my direct line.  

I will admit that trying to stay in your direct line is hard.  Look above at my figures, apparently I have a really hard time doing it!  But, now that I am more aware of it then ever, I will be better.  I have made a promise to myself that I will get those numbers up!  

Since I am so easily distracted I have formed my plan of attack.  I am going to post my numbers above on a note to myself and attach it to my lap-top!  That way every time I am doing research I will see that note and hopefully it will keep me going in the right direction.  Wish me luck!!

There are so many ways to do your family history/ancestry/genealogy research.  What is the best way?  Your way!!  My advise to you, do your research, before your research.  Look around, there are all kinds of blogs, video's, books and magazines out there detailing ways to research.  You need to figure out what will work for you.  Something that you will stick with.  Something that is your style.  Once you know what that is, you are on your way.  What may work for me, may not work for you.  However; don't ever discount something that you come across, because that may just be the thing that you need.  As an example: when I first started out, I had no idea what I was doing.  I just dove in head first.  I got so over whelmed by all the paperwork, names, dates etc. that I was pulling my hair out.  So, I backed off, and just started with what I had.  It helped.  I have seen where people keep index cards, generation sheets, group sheets or whatever to help.  On a earlier post, I told you that I now keep a 9 generation sheet beside me.  This shows where I have holes in my research.  It tells me what family I need to concentrate on.  It works for me, I only wish that I would have done that years ago!  I have tried other people's way of doing research, and realized that I could not do it that way.  It just wasn't me.  

There is a saying in scrapbooking - "You never make a mistake.  No one will ever know a mistake was made because, no one but YOU knows how the page was suppose to be."  How does that apply to your research?  Well, the way you research is your way.  Results are what matters.  There are people out there who will find a family tree and just copy that information down and move on.  Problem with that is most of the time you get the wrong information.  If I see a family tree with info that I do not have, then I write it down.  So that is where I will start my research.  I want proof that info is correct!

I haven't been able to do any research in a couple weeks.  I miss it!!  I did need the break tho.  So, it's time for me to get back to it.

Happy researching!!  And make sure to verify and do your citations!!!


Debbie