©2009-2016 Becky Higgins

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Surname Saturday - My Line

Although my line isn't part of this year's resolution project, I'm posting four generations for this Surame Saturday anyway. Each new surname is printed in blue.
Generation 1: - That's me - Becky Earlene STEWART

Generation 2:
2. Earl Robert STEWART was born on 03 Oct 1915 in Mays, Rush, Indiana, USA. He was the son of 4. Charles Sumner STEWART and 5. Clara Elizabeth EMAY. He died on 11 Sep 1994 in Streamwood, Cook, Illinois, USA. He married Gladys Emma MILLER on 28 Oct 1936.

3. Gladys Emma MILLER, born 24 Jul 1917 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 10 Sep 2002 in Streamwood, Cook, Illinois, USA, married 28 Oct 1936 in Alexandria, Campbell, Kentucky, USA. She was the daughter of 6. Harry Theston MILLER and 7. Sylvia Beatrice WALKER.

Generation 3:
4. Charles Sumner STEWART was born on 28 Mar 1870 in Canaan, Jefferson, Indiana, USA. He was the son of 8. Benjamin A. STEWART and 9. Anna Maria GANS. He died on 04 Feb 1945 in Mays, Rush, Indiana, USA. He married Clara Elizabeth EMAY on 10 Sep 1902 in Center Twp, Rush, Indiana, USA.

5. Clara Elizabeth EMAY, born 11 Sep 1879 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 14 Mar 1956 in Mays, Rush, Indiana, USA, married 10 Sep 1902 in Center Twp, Rush, Indiana, USA. She was the daughter of 10. William Sidney EMAY and 11. Mary Frances LEISURE.

Children of Charles Sumner STEWART and Clara Elizabeth EMAY are:
   i. Chase Emay STEWART, born 11 Sep 1903 in Mays, Rush, Indiana, USA, died 20 Nov 1918 in   Mays, Rush, Indiana, USA.
             Notes for Chase Emay STEWART: Chase was killed in a hunting accident. He leaned his gun against a fence, apparently in order to climb over. The gun fell and discharged, fatally shooting Chase.
   ii. Ruby STEWART, born 18 Aug 1906 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 04 Feb 1987 in Plymouth, Marshall, Indiana, USA, married Ralph H. BEABOUT 26 Dec 1928 in Rush, Indiana, USA.
   iii. Mabel Irene STEWART, born 29 Sep 1910 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 14 May 1991 in Centerville, Wayne, Indiana, USA, married George FLANAGAN 11 Apr 1931 in Rush, Indiana, USA.

6. Harry Theston MILLER was born on 28 Oct 1886 in Rush, Indiana, USA. He was the son of 12. Eliphalet Barber MILLER and 13. Mary C. BLUE. He died on 23 Mar 1955 in Rush, Indiana, USA. He married Sylvia Beatrice WALKER on 05 Nov 1911 in New Salem, Rush, Indiana, USA.

7. Sylvia Beatrice WALKER, born 21 Nov 1892 in Fayette, Indiana, USA, died 12 Jul 1986 in Rush, Indiana, USA, married 05 Nov 1911. She was the daughter of 14. Daniel Jackson WALKER and 15. Rosa Belle KENNEDY.

Children of Harry Theston MILLER and Sylvia Beatrice WALKER are:
   i. Donald Angus MILLER, born 25 Feb 1913 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 15 Jan 1993 in Rush, Indiana, USA, married Cora FULLER 19 May 1934 in Rush, Indiana, USA.

   ii. Dorotha Belle MILLER, born 06 Aug 1914 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 23 Apr 2002 in Connersville, Fayette, Indiana, USA, married Richard Lowell CLIFFORD 14 Aug 1933 in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA.
+ 3. iii. Gladys Emma MILLER, born 24 Jul 1917 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 10 Sep 2002 in Streamwood, Cook, Illinois, USA, married Earl Robert STEWART 28 Oct 1936 in Alexandria, Campbell, Kentucky, USA.
   iv. Richard Walker MILLER, born 24 May 1925 in Fayette, Indiana, USA, died 18 Sep 1956 in Rush, Indiana, USA, married Living

Generation 4:

8. Benjamin A. STEWART was born on 20 Jan 1840 in Jefferson, Indiana, USA. He was the son of 16. Isaiah STEWART and 17. Mary Jane BENEFIEL. He died on 11 Jun 1914 in Carthage, Rush, Indiana, USA. He married Anna Maria GANS on 19 Dec 1867 in Jefferson, Indiana, USA.

9. Anna Maria GANS, born Dec 1845 in Jefferson, Indiana, USA, died 18 Jun 1928 in Mays, Rush, Indiana, USA, married 19 Dec 1867 in Jefferson, Indiana, USA. She was the daughter of 18. John GANS and 19. Sarah Ann TOMLINSON.

Children of Benjamin A. STEWART and Anna Maria GANS are:
   i. Gertrude STEWART, born Oct 1868 in Jefferson, Indiana, USA, died 1910 in Indiana, USA, married John MANSFIELD 27 Dec 1894 in Rush, Indiana, USA.

   + 4. ii. Charles Sumner STEWART, born 28 Mar 1870 in Canaan, Jefferson, Indiana, USA, died 04 Feb 1945 in Mays, Rush, Indiana, USA, married Clara Elizabeth EMAY 10 Sep 1902 in Center Twp, Rush, Indiana, USA.
   iii. Edward J. STEWART, born 1872 in Jefferson, Indiana, USA, died 1935 in Indiana, USA.

10. William Sidney EMAY was born on 26 Dec 1853 in New York, USA. He died on 31 Oct 1901 in Rush, Indiana, USA. He married Mary Frances LEISURE on 12 Sep 1878 in Rush, Indiana, USA. Notes for William Sidney EMAY: William was an orphan train rider from New York.

11. Mary Frances LEISURE, born 26 Oct 1861 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 22 May 1951 in Hancock, Indiana, USA, married 12 Sep 1878 in Rush, Indiana, USA. She was the daughter of 22. Joseph LEISURE and 23. Eliza Jane HINTON.

Children of William Sidney EMAY and Mary Frances LEISURE are:
   + 5. i. Clara Elizabeth EMAY, born 11 Sep 1879 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 14 Mar 1956 in Mays, Rush, Indiana, USA. married Charles Sumner STEWART 10 Sep 1902 in Center Twp, Rush, Indiana, USA.
   ii. Joseph Blount EMAY, born 19 Jun 1881 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 24 Jun 1969 in Knightstown, Henry, Indiana, USA. 
   iii. Cleveland Leisure EMAY, born 18 Sep 1884 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 24 Jul 1885 in Rush, Indiana, USA.
   iv. Ola Blanche EMAY, born 31 Mar 1886 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 28 Dec 1970 in Hancock, Indiana, USA, married Glen Samuel GING 23 Oct 1913 in Rushville, Rush, Indiana, USA.

12. Eliphalet Barber MILLER was born on 10 Jan 1840 in Rush, Indiana, USA. He was the son of 24. Archibald MILLER and 25. Ann BARBER. He died on 19 Mar 1887 in Rush, Indiana, USA. He married Mary C. BLUE on 31 Dec 1868 in Rush, Indiana, USA.

13. Mary C. BLUE, born 09 Sep 1849 in Butler, Ohio, USA, died 28 Oct 1886 in Rush, Indiana, USA, married 31 Dec 1868. She was the daughter of 26. Burwell Spurlock BLUE and
27. Melvina Laura REVELEE REVILEE REVALEE.

Children of Eliphalet Barber MILLER and Mary C. BLUE are:
   i. Stella MILLER, born 24 Apr 1869 in Douglas, Illinois, USA, died Bef. 1950, married Jonathan A KINCAID Abt. 1887 in prob Indiana, USA.
   ii. Orvil H. MILLER, born 19 Feb 1873 in Douglas, Illinois, USA, died 20 Dec 1895 in Rush, Indiana, USA.
   iii. Ayriel “Earl” B. MILLER, born 16 Jun 1875 in Douglas, Illinois, USA, died Bef. 1950, married Mary M. ROGERS 02 Jun 1917 in Howard, Indiana, USA.
   iv. Otis Logan MILLER, born 10 Mar 1877 in Douglas, Illinois, USA, died 13 Nov 1957 in Rushville, Rush, Indiana, USA, married Mary Lue SMITH Oct 1897 in Clarksburg, Decatur, Indiana, USA.
   v. Ethel MILLER, born 05 Jun 1880 in Douglas, Illinois, USA[104], died Bef. 1921.
   vi. Angus Charles MILLER, born 10 Nov 1883 in Richland Twp, Rush, Indiana, USA, died 09 Dec 1950 in New Salem, Rush, Indiana, USA.
   + 6. vii. Harry Theston MILLER, born 28 Oct 1886 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 23 Mar 1955 in Rush, Indiana, USA, married Sylvia Beatrice WALKER 05 Nov 1911 in New Salem, Rush, Indiana, USA.

14. Daniel Jackson WALKER was born on 06 Oct 1866 in Blount, Tennessee, USA. He was the son of 28. Tyre WALKER and 29. Elizabeth CAYLOR. He died on 14 Mar 1896 in Rush, Indiana, USA. He married Rosa Belle KENNEDY on 06 Feb 1890 in Rush, Indiana, USA
15. Rosa Belle KENNEDY, born 16 Jun 1863 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 07 Feb 1952 in New Salem, Rush, Indiana, USA, married 06 Feb 1890 in Rush, Indiana, USA. She was the daughter of 30. Andrew Jackson KENNEDY and 31. Sarah Ann HINES.

Children of Daniel Jackson WALKER and Rosa Belle KENNEDY are:
   i. Maude WALKER, born 10 Nov 1890 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 08 Jul 1891 in Fayette, Indiana, USA.
   + 7. ii. Sylvia Beatrice WALKER, born 21 Nov 1892 in Fayette, Indiana, USA, died 12 Jul 1986 in Rush, Indiana, USA, married Harry Theston MILLER 05 Nov 1911 in New Salem, Rush, Indiana, USA.
   iii. Bertha WALKER, born 03 Dec 1893 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 03 Jan 1896 in Rush, Indiana, USA.
   iv. Sherley WALKER, born 05 May 1894 in Rush, Indiana, USA, died 14 Dec 1895 in Rush, Indiana, USA.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Salome Siegler birth record

For Treasure Chest Thursday, I've posted a copy of Salome Siegler's birth records from Bouxwiller, France and the translation I did made is 1998. Thanks goodness for my highschool Frence classes and a good French/English dictionary!!!




These films from the LDS history center really moved my research along.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Interlibrary Loan

52 Weeks – Challenge #4 - Interlibrary Loan

This week’s challenge: Learn about your local public library’s inter-library loan (ILL) policy. Pick a genealogy-related book that you want to read that is not in your library’s collection. Ask the librarian how to request the book from another library. Find the different library systems from which you can request books through your own library, as this can dramatically increase the number of genealogy books to which you have access. If you have a genealogy blog, write about your experience with requesting items through your library’s ILL service.

This was a great challenge for me because I’ve been putting off – not an uncommon situation – ordering the article, regarding the law in Alsace-Lorraine, I found earlier in the month. I know it isn’t a “book” but I’m sure it still fits the bill for this exercise. I’m looking for:

The Legal System of Alsace-Lorraine
• M. Leon Julliot de la Morandiere
Journal of Comparative Legislation and International Law, Third Series, Vol. 9, No. 1 (1927), pp. 100-110 (article consists of 11 pages)
• Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law
I had hoped to find it on-line but, alas, only one page is available there. If I want the whole article I’ll need to either pay the $34 they’re asking for at http://www.jstor.org/stable/752907 or get it by inter-library loan. Hmmm, I think that’s a no-brainer!

Before heading to my local library, Poplar Creek in Streamwood, IL, I checked out World Cat online at www.worldcat.org/ and got a listing of the libraries where the article might be found. I know I didn’t have to do that but it does save the librarians a little time and effort and I like to help where I can.

At the library, I was told the normal interlibrary loan librarian is on vacation but her stand-in did a fine job. She was very excited that I’d already checked World Cat and set right to placing the order. Though, I think she was unsure when answering my question about what library systems the library used. Her answer had to do with locality; she stated they check Illinois first, move out to surrounding States and finally try anywhere in the US, if necessary.

All in all, it was a pleasant visit and, I hope, a fruitful, one. Time will tell but I have great faith I’ll be reading that article in the next few weeks.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Finding a Tannery

Finally, I can concentrate on the Ruch project again. For the past few days, I’ve been preparing a presentation for my local society, Elgin Genealogical Society, which I gave last night. This was a program I’ve given before but, of course, I needed to review, update and copy handouts. All want well and now I can turn my mind and time back to the task at hand.

In my post of January 15, I spoke of looking for the tannery where Charles would have worked while living in Erie, Pennsylvania. From Erie; a guide to the city and county I had learned that only one such business existed in Erie at the time and in later years but its name or proprietor wasn’t given. At the end of the post, I said I was off to look for city directories on-line.

The listings I needed are at Ancestry so I picked the year 1878 and started right in!! Oh, no, the businesses are not separated from the individual names. Now what? I had no idea where to begin looking.
Taking a step back, I decided to try the 1880 census to see if I could get any hints from it. The only criteria I put in the search box were the location and the keyword “tanner”. The result gave several choices but only one that was listed as tanner/tannery, Emiel Streuber.

Today, I finally found the time to go back to the city directories – this time with a name and this was the listing:
Streuber E & Bros. tannery
w s State bet 19th & 20th
  George Streuber h 1819 Peach
  E. Streuber h 139 w 19th
I also googled the business name and got a hit for Erie, PA historic houses:
...In 1882, Emil Streuber constructed his large Italianate home at 231-233 West 21st Street in the Janes Subdivision. Streuber was a principal in E. Streuber and Brothers, an extensive tannery which began operations in 1861 under the direction of John Streuber, Emil's father. Upon his father's death in 1872, Emil was put in charge of the operations. Under his direction, the business became the leading tannery in the city.
I’m starting to put some flesh on the bones and it feels pretty good.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Remembering My 12th Year

Randy Seaver’s Saturday Night Fun for this week:


1) Remember when you were 12 years old? On a summer day out of school? What memory do you have of fun activities?
2) Tell us about that memory (just one - you can do more later if you want to) in a blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a comment on Facebook.

Now this one is a real challenge for me but I’ll give it a try. You see when I was 12 my family lived in Chicago at the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary on the west side of the city. We had come – when I was 10 – when my Dad took the job in building maintenance for the facility. Very few children my age lived at the Seminary though there were several students with young ones.

The summer of my 12th year was spent babysitting from about 8 am to 8 pm daily. That may not sound like fun but I sure did learn to love the little guy I was tending!! The married student housing had a nice fenced-in area and play ground where Mark and I spent hours having a great time.

When I wasn’t babysitting, I was probably playing with my squirrel monkey, Confucius. Yes, I know we shouldn’t have kept him and probably couldn’t today but he was often times the only friend I had. It was great fun having him on my shoulder as we walked around the facility. Because he would only listen to and obey me, he was a challenge for my Mom.

That would have been a summer day when I was 12 years old.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Surname Saturday - Stephens

Here are some direct ancestor surnames on my husband's maternal line.

..... 1 Thomas STEPHENS (1730 - 1762) b: Bef. 1730 in Roche, Cornwall, England, d: Abt. 1762 in Cornwall, England
..... + Jane MARTYN (1722 - 1812) b: 1722 in Cransock, Cornwall, England, m: 14 Nov 1743 in True, Cransock Parish, Cornwall, England, d: 1812 in Pencrennow, Cornwall, England
........... 2 John STEPHENS (1758 - 1842) b: 1758 in Pencrennow, Cornwall, England, d: Jun 1842 in Pencrennow, Cornwall, England
........... + Jenefer JENKIN (1764 - 1819) b: 1764 in Reen, Cornwall, England, m: 04 Jan 1785 in Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England, d: Feb 1819 in Pencrennow, Cornwall, England
................. 3 James STEPHENS (1789 - 1872) b: May 1789 in Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England, d: 27 Aug 1872 in Platteville, Grant, Wisconsin, USA
................. + Mary MURRISH (1787 - 1864) b: 1787 in Locks, Perranzabuloe Parish, Cornwall, England, m: 18 Sep 1810 in Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England, d: 20 Aug 1864 in Platteville, Grant, Wisconsin, USA
....................... 4 Thomas STEPHENS (1815 - 1905) b: 10 Apr 1815 in Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England, d: 1905 in Unknown
....................... + Elizabeth LETCHER (1811 - 1874) b: Abt. 1811 in Saint Agnes parish, near Truro, Cornwall, England, m: Abt. 1840 in England, d: 1874
............................. 5 Mary Louise STEPHENS (1844 - 1933) b: Abt. 1844 in Wisconsin, USA, d: 13 May 1933 in Larium, Houghton County, Michigan
............................. + Joseph Thomas DAVEY (1843 - 1889) b: 30 Apr 1843 in Lanlivery, Cornwall, England, m: 11 Apr 1863 in Dodgeville, Iowa, Wisconsin, USA, d: 26 Mar 1889 in Dodgeville, Iowa, Wisconsin, USA
................................... 6 Fredrick Francis DAVEY (1877 - 1959) b: 09 Jul 1877 in Dodgeville, Iowa, Wisconsin, USA, d: 31 May 1959 in Oak Forest, Cook, Illinois, USA
................................... + Alice Augusta CHRISTIANSEN/LARSON (1880 - 1948) b: 19 Jan 1880 in Ishpeming, Marquette, Michigan, USA, m: 08 Nov 1906 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, d: 31 Dec 1948 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA

The STEPHENS extended family immigrated from Cornwall, England as a "clan", about 50 of them at once which gave them the local (Dodgeville, Wisconsin) nickname of the "Stephens colony".

Friday, January 15, 2010

Erie Pennsylvania

Once I’d caught up with reading blogs I follow, facebook (otherwise I’d have no idea what my grown family was up to) and twitter, I set out to learn a bit more about Erie, Pennsylvania. I found a great little book, Erie; a guide to the city and county, written and compiled by the Erie County Unit of the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Published by The WILLIAM PENN ASSOCIATION of PHILADELPHIA, Inc., 1938. The book is found digitally at http://www.archive.org/details/erieguidetocitya00federich.

Charles Ruch was listed as a laborer on the ship’s manifest when he immigrated in 1873. Though various sources I know he became a tanner here in America. Through the above book I learned there was only one tannery in operation in Erie during the time he lived there. If I can find a city directory for that time period – I haven’t looked yet – I’ll be able to get the name of the tannery.

Until last year I really knew very little about what a tanner did/does. All I knew was it had to do with turning animal hide into leather. Last season the TV show “Dirty Jobs” did a segment on tanning. Oh, my, how enlightening! and what an arduous line of work! I have much more respect for the labor Charles put forth to support his family.

This book also describes what transportation possibilities would have been available for the couple to reach Erie from New York City. The Erie Canal was still in operation but my money is on the railroad at this point. In town itself, horse drawn street cars provided public transportation.

For now, I’m about to see it any of the Erie PA cities directories are online for the 1860s and/or 70s.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Error Reports and Erie Research

I decided to create at new database in the genealogy software with the Ruch/Siegler family (ancestors & descendants) only. I think in the long run it will be easier to work with this smaller file and not be distracted by other lines.

Once I had the new file, I ran and error report and spent a few hours looking at each entry. As it turned out most of my missing dates (these are the only “potential errors) currently being reported) are for living people or, at least, very recent generations of collateral lines. Since I don’t plan to include the living in my publication, I’m not going to spend too much time on them. I do have a few on the list that I’ll need to put more effort into finding, though.

After working on the error report for time, I decided to turn my efforts in a different direction and look for information on Erie, Pennsylvania. After landing in New York City, Charles and Salome went directly to Erie and, though they only spent a few years there, I want to get a feel for the area. What brought them there? Did they have relatives there? Why did they leave for Chicago?

I’ll also be facilitating my local genealogy society’s computer interest group this Thursday with the topic, “Getting the Most From Cyndi’s List” I figure I can kill two birds with one stone by using that website as part of my research into Erie. (As usual, however, I spent some time Googling first and now I’ll need to concentrate on Cyndi’s List tomorrow.)

Higgins Tombstones

These are the tombstones of Luke and Bridget (Carroll) Higgins, the parents of Thomas Higgins who married Emma Ruch, daughter of Charles and Salome (Siegler) Ruch. Luke and Bridget are buried at the Catholic cemetery in Hampshire, Illinois.

This is the immigrant couple for this Higgins line. Luke was a dairy farmer in Hampshire and Thomas later moved to Chicago where he was a milk dealer. He went to the train station each morning to pick up milk delivered from his father's farm.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Sidetracked with Errors

As I mentioned early on I'm not surprised when I'm sometimes sidetracked doing research. Today is one of those days. I started by looking at some of the reporting options in my Family Tree Maker software; planning to use reports to help  me determine what I have and what I need for my RUCH project.

I started out strong running some individual and anentafel reports (I found the anentafel reports are not creating generations because it's using siblings of generation one instead of children. However, the register reports seem to be working properly. But, that's an aside.)

Then, just for kicks I ran a "data error report" and I was off and running. Now mind you I ran the report on my whole data file which includes mine and my husband's sides of the family containing over 3500 names. What I got was a 37 page report and a bit of clean-up work to do. Lots of the "errors" are missing dates which I'm aware of and really don't plan to enter until I have a date to work with. I know I can guess, using the about, before and after modifiers (and I do that in some cases) but for now I'm ignoring those.
However, there are some corrections I'd like to make while I see them. Things like "illegle characters" and "unsorted children". So, I'll continue working on these for a while (should only take an hour or so) and then I'll get back to the task at hand.

Researching and writing the RUCH family story.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Divorce Papers Reviewed

A trip to the Cook County archives in Chicago back in 1996 uncovered a treasure. Back before no-fault divorce, divorce records often contained information and insight into the lives of our ancestors that would be difficult, short of a diary, to find anywhere else.

After Charles Ruch died in 1888, Salome was left to raise her nine children on her own. It must have seemed an overwhelming task but apparently one she handled very well. I’ve always found this hard to understand but on 06 Apr 1889, Salome married Gottfried Wiedemann. I know it’s not unusual in those times to remarry quickly; my confusion is why a single man with no children would marry a widow with nine. As it turned out, it wasn’t such a good idea after all.

On 31 May 1892, Salome filed for divorce against Gottfried citing drunkenness, threats and violence. Things I learned from these papers:
  • Gottfried either quit his job or was fired for drunkenness, refused to work anymore and drank heavily
  • Salome purchased 40 Tell Place in December 1889 (She put the house in her daughter’s name)
  • On 27 Feb 1890, Henry Wiedemann was born to Salome and Gottfried
  • Charles Ruch (Salome’s son) moved out of the house in 1891 and lived at 355 Chicago Ave.
  • The divorce was issued on July 1892 after two restraining orders sent to Gottfried
 One would hope that Salome had learned to be more discriminating in her choice of men, however, on 15 Jul 1893 she married Anton Ziebel. Sadly, on 11 May 1899, they divorce under much the same circumstances as above.

 

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Wordless Wednesday


Emma and Julia Ruch
twin daughters of Charles and Salome (Siegler) Ruch

born 21 Nov 1874 in Erie, Pennsylvania
They always used their middle names but Emma was baptised as Lisette Emma and Julia was baptised as Louise Julie.

Exact date of photo is unknown. Most likely late 1800s before Julia's marriage in 1901.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Tombstone Tuesday

These pictures were taken at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago. They are of some of the Ruch/Siegler family I'll be writing about.

This is the tombstone for Frederick Siegler; the birth and death dates are written on the side of the stone. You'll note that it is Jennie's (his wife) name that is prominent; however, she is not buried there as she remarried and is probably buried with her second husband. Fred's name is, however, listed on the cemetery plat record.



Salome and Charles are buried next to each other in the plot.
This is the view of the whole plot plus.
I need to return to the cemetery and do a little more reading in the area. I think I might have missed some collateral family members when I went the first time; early in my research.

Reviewing Hardcopy Documents

One of the first things I needed to do was review all the hardcopy information I have on the Ruch/Siegler line. I spent four or five hours all together on this task. Fortunately, all I had to do was pull out the folders for the individuals involved, the Ruch surname folder (which also contains Siegler info), the Alsace folder and, of course, the Ruch/Siegler working binder. All of these items were handily available either in the genealogy file cabinet or on the binder shelf. Once in hand, I methodically reviewed every scrap of paper.

Over the years, I’ve collected some extraneous data which needed to be weeded out - not thrown out - for my purposes. I found also that some of the documents haven’t been scanned and included in my genealogy software. Mind you, the sources have been cited but the images haven’t been added. I’ll need to get that done in the next few days so I can move on to reviewing all my sources for each individual.

Much of what I’ve collected more recently I’ve only kept in digital format as most of it I’ve found on the internet. Though I have many hardcopies of various census records, I won’t be scanning those; I’ll just look them up again and bring the digital copy into my files.

So, I guess it first to scanning, then to a review of all sources in my database. I need to be sure I have all available census records, possible war records, birth, marriage, and death records, etc. I’m hoping to get all my ducks in a row early on so I’ll know what additional research is needed. (I’ll be looking closest at the direct line and siblings, then others will be done later as or if needed.) I’ll get started on that as I begin to write the story.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

The True Work Begins

It’s time to really get started on my project; no more fooling around!! I’m setting out my plan as I see it today. Of course, over time some of this will change and I expect to be flexible where necessary. So, here it goes.

  1. Write the story of our Ruch/Siegler family in America as fully as I can. This narrative will have limited footnoting because I’m writing this for the non-genealogists of the family. Some of them might be intimidated by lots of documentation and may not read the account because of it.
  2. Prepare family group sheets of each unit (including siblings) and be sure to provide as much documentation as possible there.
  3. Prepare descendants chart for the immigrant couple; include as many generations as possible (Somehow this will need to be put into book format).
  4. Prepare a Register Report for the immigrant couple with same generations as above; include all documentation as foot or endnotes.
  5. Prepare scrapbook pages of pictures and documents.
  6. Decide on publication:
    a. Passage Express
    b. CD/DVD
    c. Hardcopy book
    d. All of the above.

 That’s the way I see it now. And so the true work begins. There are documents and notes and such that must be reviewed; lots of scanning to be done; a trip to Erie, Pennsylvania for research purposes; and some actual writing as well. I’d better get to it.