Ancestorsafari

Redirecting My Energy

2011-10-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

Who do you think you are? Oh, an alternative series!!

2011-10-18T10:27:00.000-07:00

While I’ve enjoyed Ancestry.com’s “Who do you think you are?” television series, I was always perplexed as to why so few episodes – especially since viewers seemed to love it. It wasn’t just the short season, and limited episodes, it was the fact they played back to back reruns, before showing the new episodes – during the new season.

The last season was ridiculously brief. I popped into the NBC website today - to see when (and if) the new season starts. According to the website: not until 2012.

One thing I found interesting, they call it an “alternative series.” I guess that is a different name for a kinda sort reality show.

The Marriage Vow and Slavery

2011-07-11T13:04:00.001-07:00

Apparently, there is a bit of a controversy over the marriage vow signed by Republican Presidential candidates Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum. Reportedly, the vow’s intent is to condemn abortion, infidelity, pornography and gay marriage. Yet, one of its passages tends to suggest black families in America were better off during slavery.

The controversial passage, which according to some reports is being removed from the vow, reads: "Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families, yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raised by his mother and father in a two-parent household than was an African-American baby born after the election of the USA's first African-American President,"

I find their lame attempt to gloss over the incident laughable – some such comment about the statement could be “misconstrued” – (no kidding) – but aside from the obvious racial implications, what I find equally troubling is the lack of historical accuracy, AGAIN from this political party.

As an avid amateur genealogist, I recognize and embrace the fact that I am American. I take great pride in many of the accomplishments of my ancestors, who helped found this country, while I also recognized their horrific mistakes. Slavery was a BIGGIE. It was more than a mistake, it was a crime against humanity.

You don’t have to be a history major to understand slavery was devastating for Black families. I cannot even imagine the horror experienced by families, knowing that at any minute your child or parent could be sold away….or brutalized, and you could not protect them.

To even suggest Black families were even remotely better off during slavery is an asinine statement. It doesn’t have racist implications; it is racist.

If anything, slavery (which really was not long ago) is, in my opinion, one of the reasons some Black families today do have some real issues they need to work on, issues our own president has addressed. Issues, whose roots and cause are firmly in slavery and the dynamics of that era.

I don’t want to bash America, but PLEASE, if we are to better ourselves, we must recognize our mistakes and try not to repeat them. Rewriting history is not the answer.

Even if you remove this section from the vow, I still find the vow offensive.

I support gay marriages. I don’t believe gay is a choice – unless you are bisexual – and who am I to deny a gay couple happiness in love? How does their gay marriage hurt me?

While taking a stand against infidelity is okay (I guess) but isn’t it a bit judgmental, especially considering the track record of some in both political parties? I’ve been married for over 35 years, and frankly, the only marriage that is my business, is my own, IMO.

As for the part about abortion – I don’t know if I could personally get an abortion, but I do believe in a woman’s right to choice. I’m not for late term abortion, unless it is a medical emergency, but I would never insist a victim of rape carry the fetus.

Now on the pornography….I am a firm believer of the First Amendment. I totally get making pornography involving children illegal. But, before condemning all pornography, remember what is one person’s pornography is another’s erotica. It is a slippery slope, therefore I wouldn't sign a blanket statement against all pornography.

Born in Alaska, Maybe

2011-06-26T22:31:00.001-07:00

Well, my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter made it to Alaska, where they will be living for the next three years. (He is in the Coast Guard). I was thinking, if my daughter has another baby while there, "Alaska" will look interesting on the family tree....especially since the family probably won't be living there when this maybe grandchild of mine is older. It will be one of those interesting family stories. Being born in a random far away state, with no family ties, always makes for intriguing speculation when researching family history.

New cigarette warning labels and what they have to do with genealogy.

2011-06-23T06:04:00.000-07:00

The other day I saw the report of the new graphic cigarette warning labels, featuring images of dead and dying cigarette smokers. Apparently, the cigarette companies are protesting the labels, basing their argument on the premise it violates their freedom of speech.

I am not sure how the label violates the tobacco companies’ free speech – they should just be delighted the product is not taken off the market. After all, other life threatening products are regularly yanked off the market. And when other products causes harm a person can sue for damages.

The tobacco company has gotten off pretty easy, and continues to kill millions.

Now what does that have to do with genealogy? Well certain loved ones on my family tree would probably still be here today, if not for cigarettes. My dad started smoking as a kid and could never kick the habit. He died far too young from congestive heart failure (also had lung cancer), brought on by a lifetime of smoking. He was just 63. His mother also died too young, another smoker. Mom’s dad died in his early 50’s of a heart attack, also a smoker. My husband’s father died of lung cancer, he was just 32!! Another smoker.

Our son started smoking, a natural hazard of working in the restaurant industry before smoking was banned. He quit while still in his mid-20’s. I suspect the ban on smoking made it easier for him to quit. Yet, I didn’t make it easy on him either. I refused to be in the same room with him when he smoked, the premise being I wasn’t about to watch him kill himself. His wife doesn't like smoking either, they met after he quit, which probably helped him avoid cigarettes.

My daughter refused to date anyone who smoked, after all, she had literally watched her grandpa die, as we lived with my parents that year. Her refusal to date a smoker prompted her now husband to kick the habit. Marrying her may just have added years onto his life.

Smoking and genealogy, do you get the connection now?

Sins of the Father

2011-06-13T10:49:00.001-07:00

The other day I was taking to a friend. She was a victim of abuse, and as a child, regularly beaten and verbally abused by her father. Today she has no contact with her parents.

She told me one of her family members was into genealogy, as I am. This family member discovered that such abuse has been going on for generations in the family, as far back as during the Civil War time. At least, that is as far back as the family member could identify this type of behavior.

I was discussing this with my sister. It seemed such a stark contrast to the cycle of positive mother-daughter relationships, which I have traced back six generations. My sister said something I thought was interesting. She brought up the Biblical reference to the sins of the father being visited on the following generations.

That is so true, when it comes to cycles of abuse, passed from one generation to another. When a person says they don’t care about who their great-grandparents were, or what they did, because it doesn’t affect today’s life…oh, how wrong they are!

As for my friend, I believe she is one of the lucky ones that managed to break the cycle. She has acknowledged the problem and made a decision to raise her own children differently, which she is. She will make mistakes, all parents do. But, she is raising her children with love and affection, as opposed to anger and resentment.

President Obama Exploring his Irish Roots

2011-05-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

I was just watching the President on TV, speaking in Ireland. While he doesn’t look Irish, roots on his mother’s side lead to Ireland. President Obama, like many other Americans, has Irish ancestors, including myself.

Apparently, genealogist at Ancestry.com first uncovered his links to Ireland.

I imagine if we take a closer look, we all have more in common with each other than we realize.

What is a Real American?

2011-05-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

With the election year approaching, I hear more discussion about “real Americans.” If deemed un-American, you are not fit to run for office.

I recently had a glimpse of the “educational” cartoon history films promoted by conservative Huckabee, which presents a prideful-flag-waving-white-washed slant on the US of A.

Personally, I consider myself as American as they come. Whenever I hear of someone I know moving to another country to live….I can never imagine myself doing that. Never, because America is my home, I am an American.

From a genealogy perspective, I have founding fathers (and mothers) in my tree, as well as recent immigrants. I qualify for membership to the Daughters of the Revolution on both my mother and father’s side of the family. And one possible line takes me back to the Mayflower.

As for recent immigrants, my paternal grandmother is a first generation American, as her parents and older sister were born in Canada. Yet, they didn’t come far, moving from Smith Falls Canada to Flint Michigan. My mother’s maternal grandfather traveled farther, as he was born in Norway.

For me, the issue of being a “real-American” is mute. Does this mean our country is the country portrayed in Huckabee’s history bites? No.

I look at my America in the same way as I look at a family. It is somewhat dysfunctional, full of faults and imperfections. Yet, that is okay. It is also beautiful and full of hope, and I accept the good with the bad. I love America as I love my family, yet recognize it is imperfect.

While I respect our country’s founding fathers, I don’t have them on a pedestal, no more than I have my own father, whom I loved dearly, propped up on some unrealistic pedestal. Unlike Michele Bachmann, who claimed our founding fathers worked hard to rid this nation of slavery, I recognize that many founding fathers had no desire to abolish slavery, they embraced it - owned slaves, and some took advantage of their power by impregnating the enslaved women.

How does anyone expect us to progress and improve the country, unless we allow our children to learn from our past mistakes?

Our accomplishments overcoming the transgressions once embraced by our founding fathers (such as slavery and oppression of women), is one of the things that makes America such a great country, IMO.

Reincarnation, I believe in the Possibility

2011-05-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

Today on the Sunday Morning Show, they had a segment on reincarnation, and interviewed psychiatrist Jim Tucker, author of Life Before Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children's Memories of Previous Lives.

It is a study by Virginia University, covering over 40 years of reincarnation research. It is my understanding the focus is on a study of young children, about 3 years or so, who may be more apt to recall a past life experience, than an older child or adult.

One interesting thing (for one who enjoys genealogy) is that some in the study appeared to be reincarnations of ancestors or relatives, yet not all. This definitely puts an entirely new spin on the study of genealogy, and the obsession some of us have in researching specific ancestors. (This is where the spooky and dramatic organ music should begin playing….)

Mother's Day and Mothers and Daughters

2011-05-08T23:18:00.000-07:00

My great-grandma Louisa Bakken was just 16-years old when her mother died. The picture to the top-left is of Louisa, her husband Andrew and children. While I don’t know if Louisa was close to her mother, I know she and my Grandma Hilda (her daughter) were very close.

My mother adored her own mother, Hilda. The picture to the top right is of Grandma Hilda and her daughters Caroline and Margaret. Hilda also had three sons.

The lady in the sunglasses is my own mother, and that is me, next to her in the boat. Like mom and her mother, I am very close to my mother, as is my sister. That’s me as a mom, with my own two children, to the right of the boat picture. The bottom photo is the fifth-generation, my daughter, and her daughter.

There is a special love and bond between all the mothers and daughters in the above photos. It is a family tradition worth repeating.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Naming of Kodak Tennessee

2011-05-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

The other day I received the family history CD I ordered, A Henry Family History, Descendants of Samuel Henry, Sr. “A First Family of Tennessee” by Judy Clerc Henry. I happened across Judy on a genealogy website, and after exchanging several emails with her, I ordered the CD.

The CD is an ambitious project, containing over 900 pages of family history. I’m related to the Henry’s on my father’s paternal side.

Already I’ve come across an entertaining anecdote, about the naming of Kodak, Tennessee. Apparently, the husband of my great-great-great grandfather’s granddaughter is responsible for naming Kodak Tennessee. (He married a Johnson, and Johnson is my maiden name.) He was the town’s first postmaster and found a small box with the word Kodak on it and decided that would be a good name for the town, as it was short and easy to spell and pronounce. According to story, he received permission from George Eastman, founder of the Eastman Kodak Company to use the name.

These are the types of stories that make genealogy research fun. I really appreciate all the effort Judy has put into this informative CD.

Recieved my Family History CD!

2011-05-06T22:51:00.000-07:00

One thing about genealogy research, you probably aren't the only one looking for information on your tree. Chances are, once you start exploring, you'll probably stumble across some distant cousin who has already completed hours of research and documentation on your family's history.

This has happened to me several times. Take for example my father's side of the family. Several years ago I knew very little about my father's paternal side. Yet, the discovery of several of my dad's cousins eventually let me to a published family history book, and recently a 900+ page CD on the Henry side of our family. I just received the CD yesterday, and haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

Scanning Ancestor Documentswith the iPod Touch or iPhone

2011-05-05T10:19:00.001-07:00

Last year I purchased the Brookstone iConvert portable scanner, that looks like a wand which you run over the document. It worked pretty nifty, and I figured it would be an excellent way to scan documents on site, such as at the library, or a family member’s family bible.

I will confess (don’t tell my husband) I haven’t really used it much.

Last week I purchased an iPod Touch, with the built in cameras. I downloaded a free scanning app, and today tried out the gadget. It was easier to use than the portable scanner, as I didn’t have to run the wand over the document, but simply take a picture of the document. Actually, I have done that in the past with my digital camera.

I store my genealogy documents in acid free, clear sheet protectors. I was wondering how the iPod Touch would work, when scanning a document that is in a sheet protector. As you can see by the above photo, it is a little blurred, yet readable.

What is hiding in your family tree?

2011-04-22T23:04:00.000-07:00

Today I was watching a troubling television documentary on the KKK, and its current members.

According to the show, prospective members have to be “white” – and attest to that fact. I wondered how many of those members actually took the time to investigate their family trees. They might be surprised what they discover.

We once knew this guy, who was a rabid racist. He hated blacks. I heard years later, from mutual friends, that he discovered some of his ancestors were black, and even went to a family reunion where he met some of his black relatives.

One of the members interviewed in the show explained how he happened to get involved in the KKK. Apparently when he was younger he moved to a non-white neighborhood where he was severely harassed and singled out, because he was white. I believe they said his brother was even killed.

Ironically, he simply became what he hated – just a different color. Racists come in all colors.

I guess I will never understand how someone can hate someone they never met, simply because of their nationality or religion.

Self-Publishing Your Family History

2011-04-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever considering self-publishing the story of your family's history or your genealogical findings? I've posted several articles on self-publishing, one focuses on family history books. click here if you would like to read the article.

Obituaries and Family History

2011-04-14T15:21:00.000-07:00

When I was kid I didn't understand why my elders would want to cut out an obituary and keep it in a scrapbook. After all, obits were about death, a sad occasion, and I thought of a scrapbook as a place to keep happy mementos.

Today I am grateful for those elders, who took the time to clip and keep those obits. I now understand.

Today I added a page on my Ancestor Safari website, about obituaries and how they help in genealogical research. If you'd like to read it, click here!

Confirming Names

2011-04-07T10:02:00.001-07:00

According to oral history, my paternal grandfather’s middle name was Oscar. Yet, all of the documents I came across only listed his middle initial – O. When I discovered his father’s name was Otis, I began to wonder if his middle name was really Otis, and not Oscar.

I started looking for other documents or letters with his full name. However, everything -from my father’s birth certificate, to my grandfather’s Mason information and will - only used the initial.

Today Mom put this question to rest. She came across the souvenir baptismal book of my father’s – which lists his father’s first and middle name. It was Oscar.

Family History Journey Sweepstakes

2011-04-05T21:22:00.002-07:00

Ancestry.com’s Ultimate Family History Journey Sweepstakes ends in a couple days. I’ve been faithfully entering the contest every day. Grand prize is $20,000 in travel money to explore your family history.

I wonder….could I spend the money on the travel trailer we’ve been lusting over? Then we could take that trip to Tennessee to do a little family research. Maybe we could use it to take that trip to Alaska, to visit my daughter’s family. Lots of places to go.

But first, I need to win!

Family Secrets

2011-03-28T22:45:00.001-07:00

I have a friend who wants me to research her family tree. They’ve hit a brick wall on one branch, primarily because the eldest relative on that branch refuses to cooperate, telling them some things are better left alone.

He has a point. There is always the possibility you will uncover something despicable lurking in the dark branches of your family tree.

I wasn’t thrilled to learn some of my ancestors were plantation slave owners. Instead, I preferred a story told about another branch of the family. That particular story involved an old family quilt, which may link those ancestors to the underground railroad.

But, we can’t pick and choose our ancestors, we have to take the good with the bad, the embarrassing information along with the stories that bring us pride.

Genealogy, better than reality TV

2011-03-22T22:33:00.002-07:00

Our son called Sunday and asked what I was doing. I said genealogy research. He laughed and said “that is all you do!” No, I reminded him I also work, but researching is a hobby and entertainment. After all, lots of people spend hours watching reality TV drama, like the Kardashians. I simply prefer to get my melodrama from the antics of my ancestors.

My Paternal Grandfather – that Son-of-a-Bitch

2011-03-04T16:10:00.002-07:00

Yep, I am talking about my paternal grandfather, Fred Johnson, who I never met. He died when I was in eighth grade.

In my genealogical pursuits, I ordered a copy of his will. I always knew he didn’t leave my father anything in his will. Heck, he never gave Dad anything, not even his love.

But, to see it spelled out so coldly in the will where he specifically excludes my father and dad’s issue (which would be my sister and me.) It pissed me off.

In the will, he leaves it all to his wife, Dad’s step-mom. But, should the step-mom no longer be alive, it all goes to…as he puts it “My daughter…” If the daughter was also gone, it would go to her children.

Technically, it was Fred’s step-daughter, the second wife’s child from a previous relationship. It does make me wonder, did Fred adopt the daughter? Apparently his only two biological granddaughters meant as much to him as his only surviving son…..nothing.

Did I forget to mention, my father once had a brother? His name was Robert, “Bobby.” I was named after my Uncle Bobby. Bobby was just 6 years old when he was hit by a car and killed. Dad was just 3 years old at the time. Five years later Fred and my grandmother divorced.

Fred remarried a woman who had a little girl, born just a few months before Bobby’s death.

In spite of the fact Fred tragically lost his oldest son, it didn’t make him cherish his surviving son. Fred rarely saw Dad, would forget to pick him up on his scheduled days, and never told his friends and some family members that he had a son.

Hell, when he writes Dad out of the will he identifies Dad not just by his name, but that Dad lived in Los Angeles, California. Dad never lived in Los Angeles. At the time the will was made in 1967, Dad was living in Covina California. In fact, as of 1967, we’d been living in Covina for about dozen years.

So yes, my paternal grandfather was a SOB.

Dad deserved better. MUCH better.

Addictive Genealogy

2011-03-01T10:10:00.001-07:00

Genealogy research can be addictive. The puzzle solving and mystery is irresistible. I imagine some people think I’m crazy, being so curious about uncovering distant ancestors.

I am especially curious when it comes to a female ancestor – with no maiden name. For example, my mother in-law’s great-grandma was Mary. Mary Baird. Baird was her married name. But, what was her maiden name? Where did she come from? Do we skip over the women in our line and just focus on the obvious male side with the surname?

Actually, I solved the mystery of Mary Baird over the weekend. While I don’t have her parents yet, I do have her maiden name and the name of several of her siblings.

My genealogy sleuthing on Mary began after a family reunion to Kansas City Missouri, and the family cemetery where Mary and her husband, George, are buried. While there were no clues in the interment papers as to Mary’s surname, the information from the cemetery, paired with census reports from Ancestry.com, gave me the information to identify Mary and George as the parents of my mother-in-law’s paternal grandmother.

This weekend I found several newspaper articles, written in 1891, on newspaperarchive.com. One article was about the travels of two of George and Mary’s children. The second about George’s pending death and the third about his passing. I knew it was *our* George, as our George was buried (according to cemetery records at the family plot) a day or so after the article. Right place, time and names.

The articles also named names, including George’s father and siblings. I didn’t get Mary’s maiden name from those articles. BUT, those articles led me to an early biography of George’s father, which did mention George’s wife Mary, and her maiden name, which was Mary Bell. I may have also found a brother or cousin to Mary. One of George’s siblings married a Samuel Bell. It was common in that era for multiple marriages between families.

Of course, all the information I found is subject to error and misinterpretation. I still need to verify her name. One source does not make a positive ID.

I love a mystery.

Jake and Irene

2011-02-21T23:15:00.003-07:00

This headstone belongs to Jake and Irene Holt. They may or may not be the parents of my great-grandma Sallie Holt Johnson. Information I've uncovered in the census reports indicate they had a daughter named Sallie, born the same year and in the same area as my Sallie.

Daughter Sallie is not mentioned with the death information at the cemetery, that lists the surviving children of Irene. This would make sense, as Sallie died years before her mother. Irene's year of death is also around the time my dad's cousin remembers his great-grandma passing. Unfortunately, he doesn't recall his great-grandma's name.

Will I be able to claim Jake and Irene as family? Time will tell.

I hope.

Who do you think you are?

2011-02-18T20:16:00.003-07:00

I just finished watching one of my favorite TV shows - ancestry.com's "Who do you think you are?" I liked the show last year, during its first season, but I must say, it is MUCH MUCH better this year! Good job ancestry.com!

Last year there was too much extensive recapping after each commercial, and thin on the discovery. This year, they've packed lots of interesting discovery into the hour, and just the right amount of recapping after the commercials.

Last year, only a genealogy geek like myself might be charmed by the show, yet this year, I think they will capture more fans.

Tonight the show featured Rosie O'Donnell. Sometimes the featured celeb is a bit corny with the responses, but Rosie was very natural and did great, IMO. Funny thing, she mentioned the family name Doyle, from Kildare Ireland. I looked in our tree, and we also have a Doyle from that area and time frame in Ireland, who also immigrated first to Canada. Small world.

I understand Friend's star Lisa Kudrow is the show's executive producer this year.

Good job Lisa. I love the show!

Errors on Headstones

2011-02-16T10:15:00.002-07:00

On Valentine’s Day, we visited my mother-in-law’s church (Grace Episcopal in Lake Havasu City), for a morning prayer and to place flowers in the memorial garden for Walter Castro. Water was my husband’s stepfather, and he passed away last year, on Valentine’s Day.

His ashes are at the memorial garden. There is one problem with his plaque – the dates are wrong. He wasn’t born in 1922; he was born in 1921.

I am hoping Doris gets it changed. But, it serves as a reminder that headstone information may be incorrect. When a stonecutter screwed up on the dates or spelling of names, there is no guarantee that a corrected version will replace the original marker.