Where Did I Get That?

Ever find a copy of something and wonder where you got it from? It can happen to anyone. And even if we know now to track all our sources, most of us researched for at least a while before we came to appreciate the importance of tracking where our information originated (for how can we compare and evaluate if we have no idea of the original source?).Even if we keep track of everything we get, a relative can easily send us something and have no idea where they got it. An older article on our site discusses such situations and some ways for determining where a document really came from.

We called it Orphaned Papers.

Lizzie Borden in US Census Records

We've got Lizzie Borden in the US Census from 1870-1920 on our site for those who are interested in the notorious Borden daughter from Massachusetts. We don't have her in 1910 and anyone who can find her in that year is welcome to email me mjnrootdig@gmail.com and we'll add her image to this site.

Wyatt Earp 1850-1920

We've added census images for Illinois native Wyatt Earp to our site from 1850 through 1920. The gunfighter was born in Monmouth, Illinois, but there is some debate as to the precise spot. Since I wasn't around then, I'm not exactly certain where he was born and the specific coordinates of his birthplace are probably not THAT important. I know precisely where I was born, but that's not too important as I'm not famous ;-)

Copies of SS-5 Forms

They aren't cheap, but in some cases, copies of an SS-5 form may be just what your genealogy research needs. The form shown here is for my wife's grandmother. She listed a different father on this form than her children listed on her death certificate, obituary, and other records for which one of her children was an informant.

The SSDI at Rootsweb can be searched for free. It can also be searched on our page which has more information about the SS-5 form, including how to obtain it. I usually only obtain SS-5 forms when I have a big "brick wall" or records created after the person's death are insufficient.

Tagging the Maytags in 1925

Maytag founder Frederick Maytag's 1925 Iowa State census entry makes two excellent points--the importance of looking for neighbors and the fact that some individuals can be listed by their initials.

My initial searches for Frederick Maytag brought no results with the correct age, but viewing the entry for Frederick Maytag (shown as a son in the neighboring household), I quickly saw the grandparents living next door.

Always consider someone being enumerated under their initials and always pay attention to the neighbors.

Those with an Ancestry.com account (either US or World) can access the Iowa State Censuses (and the images) at Ancestry.com as a part of their account. Those without an account can search the database as part of a free 14-day trial (read our free trial "suggestions" before signing up.)

Cleaning Clothes in 1920

The 1920 Census found the Maytags of Maytag washer fame, living in Newton, Iowa. Frederick Maytag isn't living there anymore---and Maytags are made there anymore either, if I recall. At least they didn't move Maytag's remains to Mexico!

You can clean up on your search for your relatives in the 1920 United States Federal Census. Just don't go too crazy during the spin cycle.

Anne Landers and Dear Abby

We've been giving (and getting) advice on the Iowa State Censuses at Ancestry.com . And it finally dawned on me that the queens of advice giving should be in the 1925 Iowa State Census--Anne Landers and Dear Abby--the Friedman sisters and twins, Esther and Pauline Friedman. And sure enough they were--living in Sioux City, Iowa with their sister and parents.

The census entry for their parents indicates they were born in Russia, but the index entry lists this as the Soviet Union---we're not going to get into that mess here. THe parents were married in Nebraska.

Those who want to find the Friedmans in the census and view the complete set of images (remember for the 1925 census there are three images---completing a set of six pages where the second two sets are overlaid onto the first to prevent the names from having to be rewritten)--can search the Iowa State Census Collection at Ancestry.com.

1927 Katharine Hepburn goes abroad

In 1927 Katharine Hepburn returned to the United States on the Leviathan, sailing from France. The 20 year old was apparently travelling without family as no other Hepburns were listed. One may easily find American citizens on passenger manifests, not just the rich and famous.

These indexes to these records and the digitized images can be obtained for your relative by searching Ancestry.com

Wig Maker, Wig Maker, Make me a Wig

His name is now associated with a company, but not one that makes wigs.
And if any makeup was spilled on his card, I didn't see it.
Max Factor indicates he is a wigmaker on his World War I Draft Card, as shown in the image included in this post. The founder of the cosmetics firm was a Russian native who was living in California at the time of the registration for the World War I Draft.
This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com where you can search for your own relatives who might have registered---who knows what their occupation might have been?

Cole Porter-World War I Draft Card

Not everyone listed Carnegie Hall as their employer on their World War I Draft Card, but 25 year old Cole Porter did. The Indiana native is living in New York at the time of the registration.
This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com where you can search for your own relatives who might have registered.

Booker T. Washington--1880 Census

The 1880 census found Booker T. Washington working as a 24 year old school teacher in Virginia. His name was a little difficult to read, but this entry was consistent with known information about Washington.

You can search the 1880 Census at Ancestry.com to search for your relative---just be careful about how her name might be written.

Ft. Wayne Library Trip Update

We have fixed a few minor glitches on our website for the annual research trip to the Allen County Public Library co-sponsored by the St. Charles County, Genealogical Society and St. Charles Community College. The trip runs from 30 May- 3 June 2007. We still have plenty of room--and you can even drive or fly in from other locations besides suburban St. Louis.

For more information visit our updated and corrected website.

1900 Census--Jack Benny

The 1900 census finds comedian Jack Benny enumerated as Bennie Kubelsky, living with his parents in Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois.

The 1900 Census can be searched at Ancestry.com--hopefully your relative did not alter his name as much as Jack Benny did.

Searching the Iowa State Censuses at Ancestry.com

The Iowa State Census search interface at Ancestry.com gives the user many options. It is important to note that not all of these search options are applicable to all the census years in the database. Many of the advanced search options (particularly those related to parents ) are only available for the 1925 census. Earlier census (such as the 1856) may not even give the relationship to the head of household--in fact the households may not even be clearly distinguished on the census. Searchers are encouraged to browse censuses for years they are searching to become familiar with the schedules and the information they contain.

Of course, for 1925, take full advantage of all those questions that were asked. The images of the search interface follow. Those with an Ancestry.com account (either US or World) can access the Iowa State Censuses (and the images) at Ancestry.com as a part of their account. Those without an account can search the database as part of a free 14-day trial (read our free trial "suggestions" before signing up.)

Michael's suggestions if you get a free trial at Ancestry.com

Michael's suggestions to getting a free trial at Ancestry.com .

I have Ancestry.com at home and like it and get a lot of use out of it. I've been known to use it on my lunch hour at work. These suggestions are based upon our experiences and the experiences of other users. Following the directions at the link below will allow you to get a free 14-day trial at Ancestry.com. Before getting the trial, remember to:

1) Get the free trial when you will have time to actually use it.
2) Write or print out any toll-free numbers Ancestry.com gives you.
3) Write the day your 14 days expires.
4) Make a decision about cancelling your free trial BEFORE the 14th day. If you are going to cancel, do so on or before day 13.
5) Consider joining the Gen-Newbie list at Rootsweb if you are new to computers or genealogy--there are many on the list who can help if you have difficulty using Ancestry, the image viewer, or the indexes.
6) If day thirteen is on a weekend, call the Friday before.

Free Trial - Ancestry.com US Deluxe Membership can be had by clicking here.

1925 Iowa State Census

The images on the right are part of the 1925 Iowa state census entries for Ekke and Nanke Behrens, my aunt and uncle. The second image shows an additional part of their entry, whjich includes the names of their parents and where their parents were married.






The images have been reduced here to decrease load time, but one can easily zoom in the images. The larger image shown below is magnified at 100%.

The 1925 State Census for Iowa asks the following questions:

• Surname.
  
  
• Given Name.
  
  
• Relation. Relationship within the family.
  
  
• Sex.
  
  
• Color. When not "White", this information is listed under the title "Various" on the census page view (not on surname search results).
  
  
• Age.
  
  
• Marital Status. S for Single, M for married, W for widowed, D for divorced.
  
  
• Own or Rent. This field applies to the head of household.
  
• Free or Mortgaged. For owned property, whether owned outright or mortgaged.
  
• Home Value. Value of property.
  
• Mortage Debt.
  
  
• Rent Amount.


• Insurance Amount.
  
• Foreign Born Status.
  
• Years Residing in the U.S.
  
  
• Years Residing in Iowa.
  
  
• Highest School Level. R=Rural, G=Grade, H=High School, C=College.
  
  
• Highest Grade Level.
  
  
• Number of Months Attending School. In past year.
  
• Whether Can Read.
  
  
• Whether Can Write.
  
  
• Place of Birth.
  
  
• Father's Surname.
  
  
• Father's Given Name.
  
  
• Father's Age.
  
  
• Mother's Surname.
  
  
• Mother's Given Name.
  
  
• Mother's Age.
  
  
• Parent's Place of Marriage.
  
  
• War Experience. Whether Veteran/Branch or Service in Which Served/State Enlisted or Drafted From. For Civil War, Spanish American War, and World War I.
  
• Occupation. Agricultural, Professional Services, Domentic and Personal Services, Trade and Transportation, Manufacturing and Mechanical, or Laborer.
  
  
• Months Unemployed Due to Illness from Communicable Diseases.
  
• Lost Income Due to Above.
  
• Month's Unemployed in 1924.
  
• Comments. When present, this information is listed under the title "Various" on the census page view (not on surname search results).
  

A wonderful source recently indexed by Ancestry.com. And a great way to spend a lot of time. Those who don't have an ancestry account can read our suggestions for getting a free trial before subscribing.

1856 Iowa State Census

One of the recently added databases at Ancestry.com is the complete set of Iowa state censuses. The image in this post comes from the 1856 state census for Scott County, Iowa. This entry is actually for Peter Freund, but the name was spelled Frent. A soundex search easily caught the entry. An upcoming article in the Ancestry World Journal will discuss using these wonderful records for the Freund family. Meanwhile genealogists can be searching for their Iowa ancestors in this Ancestry.com database.

Using the 1885 Nebraska State Census

Searching for Tamme Tammen in the 1885 Nebraska State Census was not the easiest thing to do. Fortunately for Nebraska in 1885 there are farm schedules and population schedules. While each schedule does not contain the exact same set of names (the farm schedule contains only heads of household who were farmers), the order of the names should be the same.
The problem was that Tamme's name was written in a nearly impossible way to search for on one of the schedules. Tapping Tamme Tammen discusses how I searched for Tamme in these schedules, some general techniques, and samples of the actual census schedules showing Tamme's entry.
And if anyone is related to Tamme...let me know mjnrootdig@gmail.com. His older sister Tjode Anna Focken Tammen Goldenstein is my 3rd great-grandmother.

Articles on French-Canadian Research

I've posted a few articles on French-Canadian research on my site, particularly focusing on my wife's family who came to upstate New York. One series focuses on census analysis of a French-Canadian family from 1850 until 1900. The others discuss beginning your French-Canadian Research.

From now until 31 March 2007, Ancestry.com is offering free access to
its Drouin Collection--used extensively by French-Canadian researchers.

Can You Read It?

This also comes from an early 18th century Amherst County, Virginia deed.

However, this is not exactly someone's name, but a phrase that one will often see on old deeds that describe property in metes and bounds.

It is not all that hard to read.

Can You Read It?

While not a signature, this name comes from an early eighteenth century deed in Amherst County, Virginia. The tail on the first letter of the name got a little long, hence the inclusion of the "said."

This one should not be too hard.

Drouin Collection at Ancestry.com

Ancestry is offering temporary free access to its digitized version of the Drouin Collection. This is an excellent source for those researching French-Canadian ancestors. My only problem is finding time to use the
Drouin Collection--my wife is 1/8th French-Canadian with families that left Canada in the 1840s-1850s to settle in Clinton County, New York. Her great-great-grandfather eventually spent time in Chicago, where his daughter Marie starting meeting husbands.

Name Games

First and last names can create all kinds of problems for the genealogist. Two older articles on our site discuss concerns family historians need to keep in mind with both last names and first names. Phonetics can be a problem with either one, but there are differences--particularly if your ancestor came from a country where they practiced patronymics as late as the nineteenth century as my Ostfriesens and my wife's Swedes did.

The Last Name Game

The First Name Game

1900 Census--Ty Cobb

The future baseball player is 12 years old and living at home with his parents in Georgia. Like many census enumerations, this one is split over two pages. View the complete image to see what his father's occupation was and other information about Cobb's family. If memory serves his wife was a census taker in one of Cobb's later enumerations as an adult.

The 1900 Census can be searched at Ancestry.com.

New Brunswick Newspaper Database

The Database of Vital Statistics from New Brunswick Newspapers is available on the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick website. The database contains genealogical extractions from New Brunswick newspapers from 1784-1896 and can be searched at the Provincial website. It might have been there for a while, but today was the first time I noticed it. My Neills were in New Brunswick for a short time so I was glad to see it online.

It is wonderful source. Read the background and what it contains before you search.