Janet the researcher

2012 - what are my goals?

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:46:00 +0000

I am glad to see that I am not the only one who is late in posting their goals for 2012.

I was successful last year in publishing In Grateful Remembrance: Honouring the Men from Knox, who Paid the Supreme Sacrifice. Sales haven't been great but my main goal was to honour these men but of course, I would very happy to sell some more. This took the first eight months of the year.

I had several speaking engagements that I really enjoyed and I did some client work that included some challenges.

During the last four months of 2011, my focus was the sell of my house and purchase of a brand new home. I have been moved in now for two weeks but oh the boxes that are beckoning to be unpacked. The majority of what remains to be organized relates to genealogy. The new shelving units need to be anchored to the wall before I can fill them and I need new filing cabinets.

My main goal for this year will be organizational in nature: my office, desk, files, books, etc. so that I can be very productive in pleasant surroundings.

I still would like to update my family history that was put aside last year.

I also look forward to helping others with their genealogical research. I always learn something new with each project.
© 2011 Janet Iles

January 1, 2012 - An ending and a beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:43:00 +0000

January 1st is often a day of reflection on the year past and looking forward to what the new year will hold. Today, I am reflecting on not only one year but many years. Today, is a day of mixed emotions.

Today, at about 11 a.m. Knox United Church, Owen Sound will cease to exist as a place of worship. Since 1873, when the congregation of Knox Presbyterian moved into a brand new building, this building has been the church home for many. They had outgrown the frame building, several blocks away.

The congregation has its roots in a Free Presbyterian Church that was officially recognized in the village of Sydenham, as Owen Sound was then known, in 1846. That church became known as Chalmers' Church. In the early 1850s, changes were happening. Some left to establish a church below the hill. Some were likely not comfortable being part of the Free Presbyterian because they had been members of the Church of Scotland and as the community was growing in size, there were enough people to have an another place of worship for Presbyterians/Church of Scotland in the village. Amongst the folk of Chalmers, some wanted the church to be closer to the country as Chalmers had drawn people from the countryside. The ministers from Chalmers had also travelled to different parts of Grey County to provide the Sacraments.

In about 1855, Knox Presbyterian Church was formed and in 1857, the congregation of Knox moved to a frame building on Boyd's Street (5th Avenue East), which was located below the hill. Because of missing documents, the earliest records that I have found so far, that show the name Knox in existence were from 1863. The congregation outgrew the frame church building and thus the move to the present building in 1873.

The church building was enlarged in 1886 and a Sunday School wing added in 1908. Some structural changes were needed when the Casavant organ, opus 794, was added in 1919. It was dedicated to the memory of the soldiers from Knox who had paid the supreme sacrifice in the Great War.

For some people, they say it is just a building. The church is a people and that we shouldn't get attached to a building. I say it is like your family home. When you leave your home even if it is for a happy reason, it is still a change. You are leaving a place of many memories -- happy and sad.

For me Knox has been my church home all my life. Even when I went away to attend school and to teach in Northern Ontario for one school year, I never left Knox as a church member. The last few years, I have spent many hours in researching the church's history. I am a third generation member of Knox. Some have been a part of this church family as a fifth generation member.

Talk of amalgmations and closing of churches is not a new thing. Even when I was a teenager, some suggested that Owen Sound had too many United Churches (five in a city of less than 20,000 people). Some thought Knox should close back then. Owen Sound currently has four United Churches and in a couple of hours, there will be three. The large number was due to the formation of the United Church of Canada in 1925, some had been Methodists while others had been Presbyterian.

During the last couple of years, Knox has been looking at is options. On May 15, 2011, the congregations of Knox United and Division St. United both voted to amalgamate with each other. It was not to be a merger but an amalgamation. It has been compared to a marriage where there has to be give and take on both sides. Like in some marriages, one will go to live in the home of the other.

Since May, two committees have worked very hard to make this transition go as smoothly as possible: the Joint Amalgamation Committee (composed of members of both congregations and a representative of Northern Waters Presbytery) and the Joint Needs Assessment Committee [JNAC] (composed of members of both congregations and two representatives of Northern Waters Presbytery). I served on JNAC.

This morning, both congregations will begin their services in their own buildings. Part way through the service, both congregations will exit their buildings. Let's hope the weather will cooperate. Some special items from Knox will be carried down the street to the former Division St. building.

We will gather together outside and enter together into Georgian Shores United Church to conclude our time of worship. There will be a New Years Levee to follow with light refreshments.

On January 1, you also look ahead. We know the months ahead will be a time of adjustment for members of both former congregations. There will be times, we will say but we did it this way in my church. As in a marriage, you choose to honour traditions of your birth family but you also develop your own traditions. So it will be with Georgian Shores.

I am sure that some tears will be shed today as we say goodbye to our church building (I have shed some already this morning) but we look forward to new possibilities for service and worship with a larger congregation. May God bless this union and each one who will be part of it.

© 2011 Janet Iles

Carnival of Genealogy: A Charles Dickens Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:14:00 +0000

Charles Dickens Christmas - Christmas Past, Present and Future

I have lots of memories of Christmas past but I will share one. When I was a young girl, our family lived across the road from my paternal grandparents. We could visit them often. Of course, we went over either on Christmas Day or Boxing Day to visit them. Often we would see our other aunts and uncles and cousins who also had come to visit.

I am not sure when this photo was taken of my grandfather William Iles and my grandmother Emily Lily Iles nee Dudley (seated) and my aunt May. I would think either late 1950s or early 1960s. It is interesting to note the items in the background: the record player, the Christmas Cards, the TV. etc. On the wall are photos. The one in the upper left corner is of my Dad in his army uniform.

Christmas Present
This Christmas my focus is on getting ready to move in a couple of weeks. I did not decorate at all. Christmas I will attend the last Christmas Eve Service at Knox United.

Christmas Day, I will spend with my nephews and their partners/spouses and their mom and uncle. As I write, I don't know the details but I am looking forward to getting together. Update: Christmas morning, I will attend the church service at Knox. Then in the afternoon, I will get together with the family.

Christmas Future
I would like to host a Christmas get together at my new home with my siblings, nieces and nephews and great niece(s) and great nephew(s) present. The place would be decorated and we would enjoy good food. I don't know if all could come but I can dream.

© 2011 Janet Iles

Advent Calendar of Memories - December 4 - Christmas Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:59:00 +0000

Christmas Cards were always welcomed at our home. Sometimes they would be put on a table or on a television, or perhaps posted on the wall and sometimes on an iron Christmas tree for showing cards. My mother sent many cards to family and friends. She had a Christmas Card book that had the addresses with a place for check marks for those sent and received. It was interesting to see the changes of address as people moved or were married. It was sad to see a name erased due to their passing.

There are still some boxes of cards received that I will pack up and take me with to my new home. From time to time, I got through me and discard some but I still have those that are special that I want to keep.

I look forward to receiving cards, especially where a Christmas letter is enclosed. I still need to make my list for this year.

In my postcard box, I have some special cards that I have kept. The following is an old Christmas postcard. It says to Jack to Will. I am not too sure who each of these people were but I liked the photograph and thought.

Advent Calendar of Memories - December 1 - Christmas tree

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:21:00 +0000

During the early years, our family had a real Christmas tree. Eventually, we purchased an artificial tree. The quality of these improved over the years. We also had favourite ornaments that we loved to place on the tree. Over time new ones were added. Special are the ones that my mother made as part of the women's group.

I haven't put a large Christmas tree for a number of years. It is a lot of work for only one person to enjoy. I have put up my yarn Guatemalan wall tree with its minature ornaments. This year, I am preparing to move in January so I am not sure whether it will go up.

Below are a couple of Christmas trees that I got to enjoy over the Christmas holidays last year.

at my sister-in-law's place

at my sister's

Remembrance Day - In Grateful Remembrance

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:40:00 +0000

Yesterday's Owen Sound Sun Times had a special section with photographs of area men and women who served our country that were submitted by their family. Eight bear the name Iles. All are my relatives. My grandfather and his two brothers, Harold and Emmanuel are shown. Harold Edward Iles never returned. He was killed August 8, 1918.

My father, Harold "Bob", and four of us brothers served: Wilfred, Emmanuel Kenneth "Manny", Clifford and William "Bill". Here is a photograph of the boys in uniform with their parents.

Lil Iles nee Dudley, William George Iles

Wilf, Manny, Bob and Cliff. Insert: Bill

Do you have a Canadian Doctor on your Family Tree?

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:03:00 +0000

I have been working on my Johnston family tree to send to a cousin. It will not be a polished work as there is so much to do to get all the necessary citations. Lots of secondary sources that need to be verified but I don't want to wait until I get that done to share the information. I have sending only the first four generations. As I am going through, I can't help myself from trying to get as many births, marriages and deaths entered that I can easily find on Ancestry. I also found some citations that need to be cleaned up from when they were originally entered into my software.

Okay - now the topic at hand - A Canadian Doctor -

Ralph Ernest Johnston b. 4 January 1887 in Sandfield Township, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, d. 1 November 1958, occupation teacher / Doctor. On 17 April 1916, Ralph enlisted. He was living at 808 3rd Avenue West in Calgary. In 1928, Ralph was living in Edson, Alberta. He lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They had two children.

Ralph Ernest Johnston is my first cousin, twice removed on my mother's side. I knew very little about him before I began my research. My mother knew that he had gone west and my aunt told me, he had become a doctor. In his sister, Eleanor's obituary, he is listed as being in Edson, Alberta. His attestation papers say he was living in Calgary and that he was a teacher.

As I was cleaning up the information, I decided to follow through on a reference I had noted.

Johnston Ralph E. CMAJ 1958 volume 79 page 1026 reference from obituary database for doctors

Canadian Health Obituaries Index File http://osler.library.mcgill.ca/cfstand/

Fortunately, I discovered this weekend that the issues are online for the time period I am interested in.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/journals/188/ I couldn't find it on page 1026 as listed but it turned out that the obituaries continued on the next page in the issue that I wanted.

DR. RALPH E. JOHNSTON, 71, died on November 1. [1958] He was born in Ontario and went to Edmonton, Alta., in 1912. He graduated from the University of Alberta in 1924, later graduating in medicine from McGill University, Montreal. He served overseas with the 49th Battalion during the First Great War, returning to Edmonton in 1919. He began to practise in Sangudo, Alta., in 1925.Dr. Johnston is survived by his widow and two daughters.

This was found at the Archives Canadian Medical Association Journal. By looking at the appropriate issue, I located his obituary.

If you are searching for an obituary for a Canadian doctor, check out the index. You may be as lucky as I was to find some more information on my cousin.

© 2011 Janet Iles

German Pioneers Day, 2011 in Ontario - on October 11

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 13:18:00 +0000

The Tuesday following Thanksgiving is German Pioneers Day in Ontario. This day was established by legislation that took effect in 2000.

In Toronto and Kitchener, there will be a special flag raising. Markham, Ontario has also proclaimed it as well but the Town has no special events planned.

On my mother's side, I have Germanic ancestors. In 1993, I made this discovery. Since 1994, I have been a member of the Markham Berczy Settlers Association. In 2009, I became President. Our membership is widespread and consists mostly of descendants of the German pioneers who came with William Berczy to the Markham area of Ontario in the late fall of 1794.

Johann Niclaus Stoeber (Stiver) and his family came to Canada as part of this group. I have written some blog articles on the family.

This year on October 11, the association will meet. At 3 p.m. we will have a tour of the new collections building and see some of the exhibits. Enter by the new glass doors. In the evening, we will meet at 7 p.m. at the Bethesda Lutheran Church, Unionville. Note: This is different to the original plans outlined in the August newsletter.

View Markham District Historical Museum in a larger map

The Association's website can be viewed to learn more about the group. The website includes an index of the newsletter. The Association is now also on Facebook.
© 2011 Janet Iles

2011 Goals - How have I done so far?

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 23:02:00 +0000

Over at Turning of the Generations, Michelle Goodrum has done a nine-month update on her resolutions for 2011, so that reminded me to check to see how I was doing.

Goal 1: Complete the book on the Soldiers from Knox United (then Presbyterian) in the First World War. Most of the research is done, I think. I may find out differently when I go to work on writing about each one. I have started the writing on about four or five. There are 23 men involved with two being siblings

Done! Copies are now available through Unibook.com. In the next couple of days, In Grateful Remembrance will also be available locally at several venues. Two boxes arrived today with fifty copies of the book. I will update this posting with the information. This project took over five years, working on and off but I worked very hard on it this year so that it would be finished.

Goal 2: To update the family history that I did for first for my brother and sister and then updated it again for my four Iles nephews. This is not a full blown history but it focuses on the main people in my parents' lines. My parents are the focus in the book. The first two versions were done for 3 ring binders done on my computer and printed out on my ink-jet printer. This time it will be for all my nieces, nephews and my siblings.

Well, I haven't started on this project yet. It may a gift for 2012 as I need to focus on client research. I am also involved with several organizations that also require my attention. I also need to make choices for my new house and in a few months, I will be packing up. The genealogy binders and files are heavy so I will need many small boxes. I have great plans for my new office (genea-work space).© 2011 Janet Iles

Knox congregation celebrates 165th anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:48:00 +0000

Although, June 4, 1846 is the official date that the congregation at Knox celebrates as its beginning, the congregation celebrated its 165th anniversary this morning. It was bittersweet as this will be its last anniversary as Knox.

In 1846, the congregation of Free Presbyterians that were worshipping in the then village of Sydenham in Grey County, Ontario was recognized by the Presbytery of Hamilton. It eventually took the name of Chalmers. Around 1855, some left to form a congregation in the valley that became Division St. Knox formed and it too went below the hill where first a frame building was built. The congregation grew and there was a need for a larger building so the current building was erected. The congregation continued to grow so an addition was added. The last addition was in 1908 with the addition of the Sunday School wing.

When the United Church of Canada was formed in 1925, some members wished to remain Presbyterian so they established St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.

Times have changed. The building is too large for the current congregation. On January 1, Knox and Division St. congregations will form a new congregation.

Here is a collage of photos taken this morning prior to and during worship. Many former members of the choir joined the joint Knox-Division Street choir to sing an arrangement of three hymns.

I need help determining John A. Thompson's military service

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:29:00 +0000

Click on the photo to enlarge.
The above is an excerpt from the attestation paper for John A. Thompson. He is one of the men in my research project. I am having difficulty determining all of his military service. What did he do for two years? I first thought it was KCK but that doesn't make sense and I have not found anything that would match. It is likely R for Royal and C and then ?. What is this an acronym for?

The book is almost ready to go to print and it would be wonderful to have the needed information.
© 2011 Janet Iles

Updates

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:51:00 +0000

I've updated my Books and Article page. In September, details will be there about how to purchase In Grateful Remembrance.

I've also updated the Upcoming Presentations page. I have included more information about two upcoming presentations.

Both the book and presentations are occupying much of my time these days.

© 2011 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday (Almost) - Rural Gardens of Grey and Bruce Counties pt. 4

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:15:00 +0000

I promised I would post more garden photos today. After lunch at the Great Books & Cafe at the old Williamsford Mill, we headed to My Heart is in it. We made a few wrong turns so we had to get instructions but it was worth the drive out into the country to see these beautiful gardens. There is lots to see here. Here are some examples from our visit. Edith was our guide throughout the extensive gardens.

Our last stop was Grange Hollow Gardens and Nursery. It was get near closing so we only had a short time to lok areound.

Wordless Wednesday (Almost) - Rural Gardens of Grey and Bruce Counties pt. 3

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:39:00 +0000

Day Two of this year's trip - July 12
We had a beautiful day for our excursion to places in Grey County, south of Owen Sound.

Blossom Hills was our first stop out in the country. Marilyn toured us around their beautiful gardens.

Here are a couple of the photos that I took.

Footloose Too was our next stop. Vicki gave us a tour. Here are some of the photos that I took.

More photos to come next Wednesday.

© 2011 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday (Almost) - Rural Gardens of Grey and Bruce Counties pt. 2

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:01:00 +0000

More photos from Day 1 of this year's excursion.

Chimney Ridge Buckets and Blooms

Moreland Place

Tranquility on the Rock

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - My Heritage Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 22:03:00 +0000

Saturday Night Challenge by Randy Seaver

16 Great Great Grandparents

16. James Iles, b. abt 1823 in Brimpsfield, Gloucestershire, England, d. 19 Jun 1907 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. He married Louisa Belcher, married 10 Jul 1845 in Brimpsfield, Gloucestershire, England.

17. Louisa Belcher, b. abt 1826 in Withington, Gloucestershire, England, d. 1 Mar 1903 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.

18. Charles Pugh, d. bef 1881. He married Hannah Cowley, married 13 May 1850 at King's Sutton, Northampton Parish Church.
19. Hannah Cowley, b. abt 1826. She married (1) Charles Pugh, married 13 May 1850 at King's Sutton, Northampton Parish Church, d. bef 1881. She married (2) William Clifford, married 7 October 1865 in Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire, b. abt 1825 in Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire.

20. unknown.
21. Ann Dudley, b. abt 1820 in Bromsgrove Worcester, England. She married? (1) unknown. She married (2) Thomas Niblett, married 10 Mar 1881 in Alcester, Warwickshire, England.

22. John Mucklow, b. in Oversley, Alcester, Warwickshire, England. He married Hannah James, married 11 Sep 1843 in Alcester, Warwickshire, England.

23. Hannah James, b. in Exhall, Warwickshire, England.

24. Thomas Love, b. in Aberdeen, Scotland?, d. 1852 in Dundas, ON?. He married Agnes Hamilton, married 26 Mar 1842 in Ardrossan, Ayr, Scotland.

25. Agnes Hamilton, b. in Ardrossan, Ayrshire Scotland, d. 17 May 1885 in Carnarvon Twp., Manitoulin Island, Ontario, buried in Mindemoya Cemetery, Carnarvon Twp., Manitoulin Island, Ontario. She married (1) Thomas Love, married 26 Mar 1842 in Ardrossan, Ayr, Scotland, b. in Aberdeen, Scotland?, d. 1852 in Dundas, ON?. She married (2) Henry Vincer, b. 1811 in Herne, Kent Co. England, d. 11 Jan 1897, buried in Mindemoya Cemetery, Carnarvon Twp., Manitoulin Island, Ontario.

26. John Robinson, b. 3 Mar 1828 in North Allerton, Yorkshire, England, d. 5 June 1905 in Manitoulin Island. He married Jane Fields.

27. Jane Fields, b. 17 Mar 1829 in Leeds, England, d. abt 1901 Ontario.

28. David Johnston, b. 26 Oct 1816 in Annan, Dumfries, Scotland, d. 6 Nov 1892 in West Toronto Junction, York Cty., ON, buried in Hagerman East Cem. Markham Twp. ON. He married Hannah Hemingway, married 26 Feb 1840 in Toronto, Ontario.

29. Hannah Hemingway, b. 4 Mar 1819 in Markham Twp., York County, Ontario, d. 13 Oct 1887 in Unionville, Markam Twp., Ontario, buried in Hagerman East Cem. Markham Twp. ON.

30. James Chambers, b. abt 25 Jan 1826 in Scotland, d. 19 Jun 1858, buried in Altona Mennonite Cemetery, Pickering Twp., Ontario. He married Mary McKenzie.

31. Mary McKenzie, b. 26 Oct 1826 in Dumfries, Scotland, d. 12 Sep 1875 in Ontario, buried in Altona Mennonite Cemetery, Pickering Twp., Ontario. She married (1) James Chambers, b. abt 25 Jan 1826 in Scotland, d. 19 Jun 1858, buried in Altona Mennonite Cemetery, Pickering Twp., Ontario. She married (2) James Wilson, married 10 Feb 1860 in Ontario County, b. 16 Nov 1816 in Scotland, d. unknown

At Birth:
1 unknown but most likely England
5 Scotland
1 Canada
9 England

My Heritage Graph

My Gernanic Ancestry requires going back another generation. Graph created with KidsZone

© 2011 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday (Almost) - Rural Gardens of Grey and Bruce Counties

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:21:00 +0000

Yesterday and today, my sister, Nancy and her friend Marie and I went on our 3rd Annual Tour of rural gardens in Grey and Bruce Counties. This year our focus was northern part of Grey County. For more on this organization visit Rural Gardens. Most of the gardens are at private homes. Some provide sales of items. The entry fee is usually $3 or $4. Each one is very different.

Here is a sample from each of the gardens that we visited yesterday. At two we were given personal tours by the owners. We certainly appreciated them taking the time to talk to us about their gardens.

Moreland Place

Tranquility on the Rock

Chimney Ridge Buckets and Blooms

In Grateful Remembrance - Cemeteries in France and Belgium (map)

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:02:00 +0000

For the book, "In Grateful Remembrance," I will draw a map to roughly show the location of the cemeteries where those from Knox are buried or remembered in a memorial. This Google Map shows the areas. Not all are exactly at the location of the cemetery. It will help me place them on a map.

View Cemeteries World War I for our Knox soldiers in a larger map

Go to the larger map and zoom out a little to see the places that I have marked for the cemeteries in France. I hope it will help the readers put these places into context.

© 2011 Janet Iles

Wordless Wednesday - Flowers at Riverside Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:08:00 +0000

Wanted Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:24:00 +0000

In my previous post, I described the progress I am making on my soldiers' project. What I need now is some more photographs. I went through the manuscript to see what I had and what I needed.

I have great photos of Seth Enos Rawn (contact from Ancestry.ca), William Ira Fulford (contact found through Find-a-Grave) and John A. Thompson (contact to the Regimental Museum of the 48th Highlanders found through the Canadian Virtual War Memorial website).

I have received permission from each of these contacts to use these photos.

For some, I have photos that I found in the newspapers of the time. The quality varies. I have found photos for the following World War I soldiers in the newspapers: William Oswald Fraser, John Gershin Galbraith, Alexander McKay Gunn, Allen Beatty Malcom, Charles Edgar Orford and James Dawson Sheffield. It would be great to have better copies.

Then there are those for whom I don't have any photos. These include the following soldiers: Norman Birge, William Fawcett Campbell, Albert Edward Gaskell, Joseph McDonald, Robert Edward McDonald, Roy Brown McKenzie, Clarence Russell Porter, Cyril Slade, Arthur Frederick Thompson, James Watt and Louis Zeiggel.

"In Grateful Remembrance: Honouring the Men From Knox United, Owen Sound Who Paid the Supreme Sacrifice" will include photographs showing the church buildings through the year and photographs of the church organ, church plaques and local monuments.

Not mentioned in the previous posting is that Knox United Church, Owen Sound will cease to exist at the end of this year. It will be amalgamating with Division Street United Church, Owen Sound to create a new congregation with a new name. This has added to the urgency to have this story documented.
© 2011 Janet Iles

Goal set during the 101 Carnival of Genealogy - Revisted mid-year

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:20:00 +0000

At the beginning of the year during the Carnival of Genealogy, we were asked what were our goals for the year. I only set two. One was for the first nine months and the other for the last three months. Here is the first goal.

Goal 1: Complete the book on the Soldiers from Knox United (then Presbyterian) in the First World War. Most of the research is done, I think. I may find out differently when I go to work on writing about each one. I have started the writing on about four or five. There are 23 men involved with two being siblings.

Plan: To focus on one a week, finishing research and writing. That will take me to the end of June.

To decide how I am going to publish it and distribute it. It is not meant to be for a large distribution but I wanted the information about them in writing so that it is preserved for future generations.

Publish by September 14, 2011 (92 years after the organ was dedicated in memory of these men).

So, how am I doing. I am doing really well. I am almost finished all the writing. I have finished all but one man. I have included some church history. My sister has done copy editing of what I have given her. I do keep looking at it to make sure I am happy with everything.

At the end of last week, I downloaded a software (free version) that reads back what you have written. It is good to hear what you have read out loud. It is called to Natural Reader. I had done a search on the Internet to see what is available that I could try. [Warning that when you go to the site it will have a voice explaining that software.] Have you tried any? How are you using them?

I found it good to hear someone read it as I did another run through of what I had written. I went through about one half of the introductions to the soldiers. I will likely go through the last half today or tomorrow.

What I have left to do this week:
1. Finish writing about the one soldier - Alexander McKay Gunn - I wrote about him when I discussed Elizabeth Shown Mills - FAN club methodology. In it I talked about information that I learned about other people in the documents. In Alexander's obituary, it says that his parents died when he was young. Now, I had found the death of his mother when Alexander was only two weeks old. What happened to his father and why did he end up with his aunts? Where was his older sister, Bessie?

I found a marriage for a John Gunn to a Margaret Ireland 7 December 1887. [1] I thought it was likely Alexander's father but I wasn't a 100% sure. I also found a John Gunn with wife Margaret in the 1891 census. In the household, there are the following people: John, 45; Margaret, 34; Betsy, 9; Christena, 2; John 7/12 and Betsy, 84. [2]

It is Bessie's obituary that made me realize that the above must be the correct family. I found her obituary in volume 1 of the "Surname Collection" prepared by the Bruce Grey Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society and put on microfiche. The date written on it is 20 April 56. It mentions her brother, Alexander McKay Gunn, being killed in action in 1917. It mentions a brother Wesley Gunn of Sault Ste. Marie, a sister, Christina, Mrs. George Harbottle of Sault Ste. Marie and another brother who predeceased her, John Gunn of Richard's Landing.[3]

Having found Bessie's obituary, I feel that I can add the information about her father's second family. [I have now finished Alexander Gunn's section with information that I have presented here.]

2. Write about the church organ's history and its connection to this project.
3. Find more photographs if I can.
4. Finish putting it together.
5. Indexing
6. Have it proofread
7. Finish getting it ready for printing.
Although, there is still work to be done, I am on track with my planned schedule.

[1] John Gunn – Margaret Ireland Ontario marriage registration 004137 (7 December 1887); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 12 April 2011), citing microfilm MS 932 reel 56, Archives of Ontario, Toronto.

[2] 1891 Census of Canada, Ontario, North Grey (district 68), Keppel (sub-district A), division 2, p. 25, family 2, John Gunn household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 10 June 2011), citing microfilm, T-6338, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa.

[3] “Mrs. Leslie Penner Dies in Hospital,” [Owen Sound Sun-Times, 20 April 1956] in Bruce Grey Branch Ontario Genealogical Society, “Surname Collection” [microfiche]

Note: I have no connection to the software company that created Natural Reader.

© 2011 Janet Iles

Can't find church baptismal records? - Perhaps there is an explanation

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:01:00 +0000

Church records are examined regularly by someone from the Presbytery. When the records of the then Knox Presbyterian Church, Owen Sound, were checked, the above note indicates the baptismal records from June 12, 1907 to November 16, 1915 were not in the records examined.

Later in the session minutes, I noticed that they had asked the minister who had recently left, Rev. Rodger, if he still had the records in his possession. He had replied that he had left them with a couple of the elders.

It would appear from the following that at some point these records had been found as the missing dates are included in the finding aid at the United Church Archives in Toronto. If a person was interested in that particular time period, it would be worthwile to check if the missing dates were actually found. These records are not avaiable on microfilm.

Wordless Wednesday - Grey Roots schoolhouse - cupola addition

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:30:00 +0000

© 2011 Janet Iles

Cupola added to the schoolhouse at Grey Roots Archives and Museum. The schoolhouse was officially opened 1 July 2010. The cupola was added 21 June 2011.

The bell was put in place first and then the cupola.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Wordle

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Sun, 22 May 2011 00:47:00 +0000

It is Saturday night and I am listening to the hockey game on the radio with Owen Sound Attack and Kootenay Ice playing in the Memorial Cup Hockey Series . I did the following Wordle from Wordle Net. I used the URL for this blog. I did a print screen and put it in PowerPoint and saved it as a jpg

Update: For some reason, I lost the feed for the online broadcast so I watched the last exciting period on TV. The Attack won!

Goal set during the 101 Carnival of Genealogy - Revisted

noreply@blogger.com (Janet Iles) — Sun, 01 May 2011 21:41:00 +0000

For the 101st Carnival of Genalogy, I set two goals. The first is what I have been working on and as today is May 1, I thought this would be a good point to assess my progress.

Goal 1: Complete the book on the Soldiers from Knox United (then Presbyterian) in the First World War. Most of the research is done, I think. I may find out differently when I go to work on writing about each one. I have started the writing on about four or five. There are 23 men involved with two being siblings.

Plan: To focus on one a week, finishing research and writing. That will take me to the end of June.

To decide how I am going to publish it and distribute it. It is not meant to be for a large distribution but I wanted the information about them in writing so that it is preserved for future generations.

Publish by September 14, 2011 (92 years after the organ was dedicated in memory of these men).

Status:
At the first of the year, I kept to one a week. Some soldiers required more work. It was all dependent on how much I had already done on them. I am ahead of schedule at this point. I am working on the brothers now. I should finish them up in the next day or two if I remain focussed.

I need to read each one carefully again and check the source citations. I will also prepare a list of anything I need to check on at the library or online or do I need check elsewhere.

I have several emails to write. I have found some private family trees online at Ancestry and I want to find out if they have any photos of the soldier. I have contacted one who had a public tree and I have permission to use the photo. I found also a photo on Find-a-Grave and I have been in contact with the person who posted it. Now, I not only have a copy of the photo of the soldier but also the first cross on the grave and the monument that was placed on his grave later and a copy of one of the documents concerning him.

My sister is going to edit what I have written so she will get the material on the soldiers next week. I still have several more chapters to write. I need to get the information off to get Cataloguing in Publication for the book but I need to make a couple more decisions first. I also have to check concerning my ISBN. When I published my first book in 2007, I thought I requested a block of 10 but I only received one. I just see that there is a new system in place here in Canada so I will check this out too.

What I need to do soon is to decide where it will be printed and in what format. Should I go with 6 x 9 or 8 x 10?

Then of course, the book needs to be indexed.

I still have lots to do but I am pleased that things are moving along and I should reach my goal.

I hope that you are doing well on your goals.

© 2011 Janet Iles