MyJennealogy

Midwestern Roots 2012 - A Great Line-Up

2012-07-11T23:52:00.002-04:00

Midwestern Roots 2012
Family History and Genealogy Conference
July 20 and 21, 2012

It is almost time for the Midwestern Roots 2012 Family History and Genealogy Conference presented by the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The line-up of nationally known speakers is amazing! In just 2 days -- the conference will offers more than 30 sessions including presentations fro Dick Eastman, Shamele Jordon, J. Mark Lowe, Thomas MacEntee, Daniel S. Poffenberger, Juliana Smith, Megan Smolenvak, D, Joshua Taylor, Patricia Van Skaik, Curt B. Witcher and more.

ALSO pre-conference activities on July 19 include a workshop for genealogical librarians and volunteers, computer labs, writing workshops and other research opportunities in Indiana’s capital city AND a behinds the scenes view of working on Who Do You Think You Are?, for the day’s closing program. .

Lots of GREAT genealogy lined up for everyone! Hope to see you there! Here is the link to the CONFERENCE if you want to know more, register,or check out the brochure.

Want to learn to use WORDPRESS for your own Genealogy website?

2012-07-11T21:32:00.000-04:00

DearMYTLE just placed Part 1 and 2 of her Workshop Webinar about WORDPRESS into her webinar archives. Plug-in now - if you missed it the first time on June 25th -- CLICK-here Then get ready for Parts 3 and 4 to be aired on July 16th and 23rd respectively at 9 pm EST. This and many other great genealogy webinars can be found on the GeneaWebinars calendar.

Virginia Vital Records

2011-10-22T13:31:00.002-04:00

The National Genealogy Society is asking for everyone’s assistance in writing to the Virginia General Assembly’s Legislative Commission before November 22^nd. Here is the posting that they have provided regarding this critical request.

"The genealogical community has been trying to improve access to vital records in Virginia. SB 865 which was introduced in the General Assembly earlier this year was referred to a legislative commission for further study. The Joint Commission on Health Care issued a report in September which proposes even worse restrictions on Vital Records access in Virginia.

The genealogical societies have responded, but the members of the commission need to receive personal emails from many genealogists before 22 November 2011. Even If you are not a resident of Virginia but have ancestors who lived in Virginia, mention where your ancestors lived and why it is important for you and your extended family to have access to death records to determine your family's health history.

This is a serious threat to vital records access in Virginia. The Virginia Genealogical Society has been actively involved and has provided the attached detailed summary about the status of the legislation and how you can help. The names and email addresses of the members of the commission are also included in this summary – reproduced below in its entirety."

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2011-10-22T12:15:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday to my Dad today! Charles William Norman was born October 22, 1932 in Southport, Maury County, Tennessee. He is the son of William Henry Norman (1894 – 1975) and Mary Caroline Gibson Norman (1898 – 1968). Charles was one of three (3) children. His older sister Susie Helon Norman Duncan was already 12 years old when he was born and his younger brother arrived a few years later.

Charles, also called “Sonny” by his family, was always a bit of a prankster. It seems that his “fun-natured” side may have been influenced greatly by his mom. He looked for ways to have fun, pull off a joke or two and laugh a little.

Charles served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. While serving he was about 30 years old. He wrote letters home and sent some pictures. He was proud of his service and always honored America.

After returning from the war, he married Jo Evelyn Gilliam on January 17, 1953. They had one child and later divorced.

On December 8, 1956 Charles married Dalsie Mabel Mills. They married in Corinth, Mississippi. Dalsie already had two children from her prior marriage to William Marcus Byrd. They bought a house in Columbia, Tennessee but only lived there briefly before moving to Gibsonton, Florida. Gibsonton was a small community in the Tampa-bay area. Charles and Dalsie had two children that were born in Florida and continue to reside there today.

Charles quit school after completing the 8^th grade. An 8^th grade education was not so very abnormal at the time. Much of the population at the time did not have a high school diploma, but I believe that this was something that he later regretted. He raised his children to appreciate the importance of an education. I remember him saying, “Stay in school and get your education because it is the one thing that no one can take away from you.” He was a very smart man.

He drove semi-trucks for a living much of his life. He also worked as a deputy sheriff for the Pasco County, Florida Sheriff’s and a police officer/detective for the Dade City, Florida Police Department in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He then worked as the Assistant Public Works Director for Dade City and later the Public Works Director for Adel, Georgia.

Charles and his family moved back to the Dade City, Florida area after leaving Adel, Georgia around 1975. Times were hard and there were few jobs to be found. Charles returned to driving a semi-truck.

On November 21, 1979, at the young age of 47, Charles was killed in a tragic vehicle accident in Dennison, Iowa. He is buried at Floral Memory Gardens Cemetery, Dade City, Florida.

2011-09-27T21:40:00.000-04:00

"So much of what is best in us is bound up in our love of family, that it remains the measure of our stability because it measures our sense of loyalty." Poet Haniel Long

Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society & Tennessee Historical Society Workshop

2011-08-23T01:28:00.003-04:00

The Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society and Tennessee Historical Society presents its 25th annual genealogy workshop - SOUTHERN RESEARCH: SOURCES & SOLUTIONS. This all-day genealogy workshop will be held on Saturday, November 19th and offers quite a line-up of experts!!

The workshop will be held at the Brentwood Public Library in Brentwood, Tennessee (very close to Nashville), beginning at 9:00 am and running until 4:00 pm. Guest speakers include:

Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FNGS, FASG and FUGA will speak on: "Problem Solving in the Problem-Riddled Carolina Backcountry".
J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA, a professional genealogist, lecturer and author, Topic: "Inheritance Laws and Estate Settlements in the Carolinas".
Charles A. Sherrill, M.A., M.L.S., State Librarian and Archivist of Tennessee, Topic: "Service Records/Civil War.

For more information or to register for the event, visit the Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society's website at www.mtgs.org .

Family Reunions on GeneaBloggers Radio this week!

2011-07-21T20:56:00.000-04:00

Hey --- if you get a chance to tune in to the GeneaBlogger Radio this Friday (July 22nd) they will be talking about family reunions. Their guests will include: Edith Wagner, founder, publisher and editor of Reunions magazine and reunionsmag.com; Marilyn Stewart, better known as “Aunt Mo” who runs the Family Reunion Helper website; and Lorine McGinnis Schulze of the Olive Tree Genealogy Website.

The show promises to talk about reunion activities for the whole family and sharing your genealogy research. Sounds like a great show! Tune in at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/geneabloggers/2011/07/23/until-we-meet-again-family-reunions-and-genealogy

Friday, July 22, 2011
10pm-11:30pm Eastern US

You can sign into BlogTalkRadio with your Facebook account or set up a free BlogTalkRadio account to join in the fun.

Let us remember! Be thankful and Uphold Liberty

2011-05-30T20:11:00.002-04:00

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." John F. Kennedy

Don't forget to thank a soldier for his/her sacrifices that have been made for your freedom and remember the generations before us that understood the price of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

This is my dad, Charles William Norman, son of William Henry Norman and Mary Caroline Gibson Norman on Maury County, Tennessee. My dad served in the Korean War as a member of the U.S. Army. He entered into active service on February 20, 1953 in Nashville, Tennessee as a Private - 2 Class. He was promoted to Corporal (T) June 29, 1954. He was transferred to the US Army Reserves on December 18, 1954 through Fort Knox, Kentucky. He remained in the US Army Reserves, in standby mode, until he was fully released and honorably discharged on February 24, 1961. He received several metals for his service, including National Defense Service Metal (NDSM), United Nations Service Metal (UNSM), Korean Service Metal (KSM) and Good Conduct Metal (GCM).

This is my grandfather, Floyd Mahue Mills, son of Milton Everett and Lunie Mae Gilliam of Maury County, Tennessee. My grandfather served in World War II as a member of the U.S. Army. He was enlisted on April 8, 1944 in Camp Shelby, Mississippi as a Private. I know from stories by my mom and grandmother that at some point my grandfather was stationed in Texas and later served in Germany. Details of his service record are on my research list to locate.

Thank you one and all who have served and those that continue to serve in the United States military. God bless America.

Want to know more about the Military Records available on your family members?

2011-05-26T20:33:00.003-04:00

THIS FRIDAY night (May 27th) - GeneaBloggers Radio host Thomas MacEntee will be talking about Military Records and Genealogy. This is certainly a timely topic for discussion on the Memorial Day holiday weekend when we honor veteran family members and friends.

Thomas will be talking with Curt Witcher of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana about the War of 1812 pension files and the Preserve the Pensions campaign aimed to digitize all 7.2 million images from the War of 1812. Also Thomas will be talking to Jeffrey Vaillant about Civil War records available to researchers/genealogist.

The event is scheduled to begin at 10 pm EST. Tune in by clicking here: GeneaBloggers Radio

Sounds like a GREAT show --- for genealogist!! or just those with an historical interest.

Finding Your Female Ancestors - listen in on GeneaBloggers Radio

2011-05-04T22:18:00.003-04:00

Hey -- TUNE in THIS FRIDAY a hear Thomas MacEntee of GeneaBloggers talking about "Finding Your Female Ancestors" on GeneaBloggers Radio. This event is scheduled to begin at 10 pm EST and you can tune in by clicking here:

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=222371341112621

Colonial Period Genealogy Mayflower Ancestry and more by GeneaBloggers | Blog Talk Radio

2011-04-11T22:23:00.001-04:00

Hey last Friday night (April 8th) Thomas MacEntee of GeneaBloggers Radio was talking about the Colonial Period Genealogy and Mayflower Ancestry. If you didn't get a chance to log-in --- click this link and tune in: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/geneabloggers/2011/04/09/colonial-period-genealogy-mayflower-ancestry-and-more Good talk radio!

Scanning Family Photos

2011-03-29T01:29:00.008-04:00

LtoR Mildred, Floyd and Ethel Mills

This year at the onset of a new year, I sat down and established my new goals. The goals were divided among several areas of my life that I consider important. One particular goal that I established in the area of genealogy was to begin using that wonderful scanner that my husband bought me a couple of years ago. Then life sets in and as with many New Year's goals, the busy-ness of life can lead one to believe that there is no extra time to get things done; and especially no time for jobs that take a considerable amount of time like photo scanning (I think that photo scanning is related to filing).

But, I was determine to get the scanner manual out, get the scanner hooked up and connected to my computer and at least get things started. I kept reading about the SCANFESTs created by Thomas MacEntee at the Geneabloggers and knew that I must make time to scan my old family photos (at least a good part of them) this year.

Dalsie Mills Norman

SO -- GUESS WHAT? I did it! I finally started this part of the mission. Over the weekend, a friend asked me to assist them with scanning a small handful of their old family photos. It seemed to be the motivation I needed to break out the scanner and the manual and just get it done. After scanning my friends few photos, I scanned for another 3 or 4 hours.

I have included a couple of the new scanned photos in this article. I have also added some of the photos to the "slideshow" feature on this blog page. I plan to scan a little more, provide an update, plus feature some of the family members in the photos each month. Wish me well.

Now -- here's a challenge for you -- get busy and scan some of your own family photos to assure that they are preserved and not lost. Share them with other family members or on-line with other genealogists.

Just thinking . . . . if a picture is worth a thousand words . . . . .

Anne Cole Mills - Happy Birthday!

2011-03-26T10:40:00.003-04:00

On March 9, 1914 in Maury County, Tennessee Anne Elizabeth Cole was welcomed into the world by her proud parents Edward Dunnagan and Cordelia Tucker Cole. There to greet her were her older brothers and sisters: Whitt Hight (born Aug 2, 1900), Berta Mae (born Oct 1, 1902), Nora Myrtle (born Aug 13, 1904), Ruby Irene (born Aug 17, 1906), John Arelous (born Apr 22, 1909), and Edward Lee (born Sept 13, 1911).

Anne was born the seventh child of twelve.  Following her birth were five (5) younger brothers and sisters: Margaret Euginia (born Feb 19, 1916), Rose Itaska (born Apr 16, 1918), Mahlon Eldin (born May 16, 1920), William Lawrence (born Mar 14, 1922), and the baby of the family who is still living.

Anne was my grandmother. We called her Mama Anne.

Mama Anne always talked about her childhood very fondly.  There were times that she talked about how the entire family farmed their small piece of land; each having their own chores or contributions to the efforts. She told stories about her and her siblings playing music with their father. Mama Anne played the spoons. Her father was quite an accomplished fiddle player and well-known in the area for his talent, playing at many local barn dances. Hight, Eddie and Eldin were also talented musicians and accompanied their dad as a band.

She and her siblings remained close all of her life. Today one might think, twelve children, how could they all remain close? Surely with that many siblings, there would be a "falling out". Well - if there ever was, I never heard of it and Mama Anne generally spoke her mind. Her love for her family and their love for each other was real and truly amazing. As a child, I enjoyed just being in a room (usually my grandmother's dining room or kitchen) and just watching and listening to the sisters when they were together. I admired them all.

Mama Anne, like all of her sisters and brothers, had a very gentle nature. She was loving and soft spoken. She was a bit of a prankster, always funny and had a contagious laugh.

If you talked to friends, neighbors, people from her church or other family members, I am sure that some -- if not all -- would have to tell you that Mama Anne was a great cook.   She canned jams, jellies, pickles, ketchup, pickled okra, tomatoes and more.  These were all favorites for anyone lucky enough to get a taste. She baked cakes, breads and "angel" biscuits.

I loved the way that Mama Anne would put a meal on the table.  She would have a small bowl of this and a small bowl of that. Upon first glance, I would think - I am not sure there will be enough for everyone, but there were was and sometimes even leftovers. She would place the small bowls on the dining room table and announce - "well, I not sure if it will be fit to eat, but ...."

I believe that Mama Anne enjoyed cooking and she knew that she was a very good cook, but mostly, I believe that she cooked to bring delight and joy to others. She loved helping others and showing love through baking a special cake or sharing a simple meal. It was her gift and she most enjoyed the smiles on others' faces or being able to contribute "a little something" at a time of need or crisis.

Cooking was one of Mama Anne's many talents that she shared with others. She also wrote poetry.  From time to time would mail a poem to my mother or one of us “girls” (the way she referred to the granddaughters). In future blogs, I will publish some of her poems.

I long to hear her laugh, see her smile and hear her talk about the "old times" and the things that she had seen in her life. She was my inspiration. She and my grandfather, Floyd Mills, are the reason that I love genealogy. I long for the stories and my source of much family information that Mama Anne could perfectly recall up until about the last six months of her life. I wish that she and I could take another drive over to find some of the old cemeteries for the Cole's and Harris' ancestors in Marshall County. I miss her dearly.

A Family Valentine of Joy & Love

2011-02-16T22:39:00.001-05:00

Joy and Love

The sweetest joys in life to me

Are the ones more felt than seen

The joy that is within my soul

With nothing in between.

The Lord has given me this day

This precious love to share

And with this love He’s given me

Friends who really care.

Each tender moment of my life

Is giving and forgiving

And with each tiny bit of love

I learn the joys of living.

Anne Cole Mills

To my valentines

This poem was written by Anne Cole Mills on April 12, 1988. It was written on the back of a card

that she mailed to me in 1989. Unknowingly, I had lost the card. In 2004, it was unexpectedly returned

in the mail by a friend a couple of weeks before Valentine's Day. The return of the card touched my heart. It was like the return of a long lost friend. I created and mailed a Valentine's card with the poem to many friends and family members in 2004, hoping to spread the love.

Anne Cole Mills is the mother of Dalsie Mills Norman. Anne & Dalsie are the two women that I admire most in my life. They continue to touch my heart and bless my very soul, although I long for their company, their words of wisdom, their voices and their laughter. Everyday I miss their overwhelming gifts of joy and love shared only in the simple things of this life and through moments that change your very being and who you are.

Anne is my grandmother; Dalsie my mother.

I wish you …. Joy & Love

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Southport, Maury County, TN

2011-01-25T02:12:00.000-05:00

SOUTHPORT "Southport is nestled among the spurs of the Elk Ridge, on the extreme southern border of Maury County; in 1/2 mile of the post office is Giles County line . . . This is claimed to be the highest location in the county . . . fifty years ago this place was nearly a virgin forest. Among the early settlers were A. J. McKnight, Thomas Wortham, William Garrett, W. H. Matthews, William McConnell, James Galloway -- all of whom have crossed "over the river." At that time it was customary to make your own whiskey. When a very small boy I recollect being hold up and given a chance to drink beer out of a barrel at the Wash Campbell's distillery . . ." Maury County Democrat, January 1, 1891

Many branches of my family settled in and around Maury County, Tennessee in the early to mid 1800s. Southport is one of the areas where my family has lived for several generations.

The Normans were one of the families that called the Southport area home, starting with my 3rd great-grandfather, Francis Norman, who settled into the area before 1840. He is listed there in the 1840 Federal Census. Records show that he and several of his brothers journeyed from Orange County, North Carolina to their new homelands found in Maury, Marshall and Giles counties. My 2nd great-grandfather and son of Francis and Susan Pettern Norman, Benjamin Franklin Norman was born in 1853 in the Southport area.

Ben married Cecilia "Seley" Howell on December 27, 1872 in Giles County and remained in the area when their two (2) sons, William Franklin and John Henry were born in 1873 and 1876 respectively. Seley died early in 1880.

My great grandfather,William Franklin "Frank" Norman, was born in Southport in 1873. He later married Mary R. "Mollie" Grissom and my grandfather, William Henry Norman, and his brothers (John Benjamin and Albert Jack Norman) were born and raised in the Southport area.

Then in 1932, almost 100 years after the first Normans settled in the area, my father, Charles William Norman, was born in Southport, Maury County, Tennessee.

My father continued to live in the Southport area while he was growing up. I have heard many stories of fun days and good times that my dad spent with his family there.  Some of his "adventures" as a boy included time spent in and around Saltpeter Cave.   Saltpeter Cave is considered one of the largest caves in the state of Tennessee and has long been a destination. During the Civil War, the cave was mined for nitrate and it also housed Confederate troops in hiding.

Today, the Southport area remains fairly rural.   The rolling hills, scenic views and familiar farmlands call me back to a simpler time. I have a longing to know more about my family and the other early Tennessee pioneer families that have called Southport home.

The next few blogs I will dedicate to recording more information on my family members and others that have lived in the Southport area.

My First Post for MyJennealogy

2010-11-14T00:05:00.000-05:00

Hello! this is my first posting to my new blog MyJennealogy. I am starting this blog following my attendance at the FamilyHistoryExpo held in Atlanta November 12-13, 2010. I have been working on my family genealogy for many years and have attempted some blogging in the past, but after a couple of classes at the Expo, I am convinced that a connection through all the Social Media opportunities is the new way to "do genealogy." So --- I will begin.

I am starting here with BLOGGER, as I am a little familiar with it, I will then establish a FACEBOOK page and a TWITTER account -- I have never Facebooked or Tweeted ......and we will see what happens after that.

I am interested in hearing from others that have stepped into this river of "social journaling" in the field of genealogy and their own family tree and/or history. Also I would appreciate any and all comments on this blog page as I try to move forward in this modern age of unlimited opportunities and libraries without walls.

Let the blogging for genealogy begin!