Waiting for Julia

Back in February of 2011 I posted about ordering divorce records for Julia (Rush) and Peter Jacobsen from the Cook County, IL archives. Since I didn't want to make another trip to the Loop (that's downtown Chicago for those who may not know), I was told the archives would notify me of the charges and once I submitted a check they would send the copies.
So I waited and waited and waited. Finally in June I called to check the status. The woman (I should have asked her name, I know) told me the file was in the stack and I would be contacted when she got to it.
So I waited and waited and waited. Finally, last week I called again to check the status. I was told that I "had not replied to the bill that was sent" and the file had been returned. Ummm, I never got a bill but I wasn't about to argue. I just asked that it be reordered and that I be billed by email.
Yesterday, I received the email. Bless their hearts!! The cost might seem a bit pricey but is no more expensive than taking the train, spending the time at the archives, doing lunch and maybe some shopping (hey, I'd be downtown!), and taking the train back home. So, the check went in the mail today and, I think, my wait is almost over.
I'm hoping these papers will shed some light on the the mystery of "Jule's twins".

All I have is their picture and the family story that they died at about 9 months within days of each other - no names, no birthdates, no death dates. I'd been looking for Browns but maybe they were Jacobsen children.
I can only hope:-)

Tomb Stone Tuesday - Charles & Lizzie Stewart

This the the tombstone for my Stewart grandparents. The "Stewart" is on the other side of this stone and around their stone are smaller ones of other family members. The location is the Center Church Cemetery in Center Township, Rush County, Indiana.

Tombstone for Charles S., 1870-1945, & Clara Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Emay) Stewart 1879-1956

My grandmother went by Lizzie throughout her life and, as you can see, to her final rest. It must have run in the family because her mother, Mary Frances (Leisure) Emay, was always known as "Fanny".

I-Phone Addition?

So there I was last night, minding my own business, watching TV with my Dear Husband, my I-Phone resting on the end table next to me. Suddenly, my phone lights up and I think Oh I must be getting text from one of the girls but, no, the message reads "No SIM card installed." What? No SIM card? Of course, there's a SIM card!
I proceeded to do all the things I could think of to correct the problem (TV and DH forgotten). I took the SIM card out and reseated it. No change. I shut the phone down and restarted it. No change. I called my daughter to see if she could think of anything else to try. No help.
Oh, no! It was too late to go to the store for help. I'd have to wait - hours!! - to get my connection back. Hours!! What if someone wanted to talk to me? What if an emergency occurred and no one could contact me (sure there is the land line but would anyone think to use it?) What if I wanted to check Twitter or Facebook or Google+ or my email? I'd have to boot up the computer and be tied to one location!! Oh no!!
Well, I made it through the night with only a little tossing and turning and fortunately no nightmares. This morning I went on the computer, got the phone number of the store, called from the land line for the hours. They didn't open until 10am so the dog would get her walk first. Not being able to check-in on Four Square when we got to the State Park was awful. I mean, if you can't check-in why go, right?
At last, we arrived at the store and within minutes, bless their hearts, a new SIM card replaced the defective one ("It happens sometimes", they said) and I was back in business.
While in those hours of limbo my DH said he felt a bit relieved to be out of contact for awhile. I, on the other hand, felt uninformed, out of touch, and just a little bit naked. Now I ask you, is this an addition or am I just totally adjusted to 21st century technology?

Sunday Obituary - Lizzie Emay Stewart

I only have a photocopy of this obituary from the scrapbook of Eloise Davis (1st cousin once-removed). I can't believe I didn't look it up when I was in Rushville, Indiana last summer but I had so many look-up items I guess I didn't get around to it. I'm sure this or one very similar was published in the Rushville Republican but the photocopy isn't cited. I'll confirm that next time I'm in town.

Mays Resident Dies At Home

Mrs. Clara Elizabeth Stewart, 76, died at 9 o'clock Wednesday night at her home in Mays. She was born in Rush County on September 11, 1879, a daughter of William and Mary Frances Leisure Emay. Her husband, Charles S. Stewart, succumbed February 1945. 

A lifelong resident of Rush County, she was a member of the Center Christian Church and the Mays Study Club. 

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Ralph Beabout of Plymouth and Mrs. George Flanagan of Centerville; two sons, Earl Stewart of Chicago and Wayne Stewart of California; a sister, Mrs. Glen Ging of Greenfield; a brother, Joseph Emay of Knightstown, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

The Rev. Myron Taylor will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Wyatt Moore Memorial with burial in Center Cemetery. Friends may call at the Memorial after noon Friday.

Clara Elizabeth "Lizzie" died 14 Mar 1956 and was buried 17 Mar 1956.(1) Since the article states "friends may call Friday..." the obituary was probably published Thursday 15 Mar 1956.

1. Clara Elizabeth Stewart entry, Rush County Indiana Deaths, Book 8B: 250, no. 5, County Department of Health, Rushville, Indiana

Wordless Wednesday (almost) - EMAY children

The beautiful girl on the left, Lizzie, is my grandmother and the person whose bio I'm currently on. This picture was taken about 1900. Not included in the photo is the children's little brother, Cleveland, who died 24 July 1885 at the age of 10 months. Ola - or as we called her, Aunt Oli - was born 31 Mar 1886, just nine months later.

Updated Blog Page

I'm finished updating my blog site for a while. I changed the look a bit and added a surname page.

Hope you like it.

A New Face for my Pondering

I've been working on changing my blog design this morning. I hope you like it.

There's lots more to do. I plan to add a page or two with static information, include my surnames, etc. At least, I've started.

It's back to work!!

Final Day of FGS2011

I must admit my last day at the FGS conference is mostly a blur. The day was primarily spent working as a volunteer monitoring various sessions or helping out at the ISGS booth. Happily our booth had plenty of traffic.

Monitoring the rooms was lots more fun than I had anticipated and it caused me to sit in on some sessions I might not otherwise have attended. I took away new and useful information for each even when the topic wasn't specific to my personal research.

In the evening after the clean-up, I had the opportunity to dine with genealogy friends, some new, some recently met. How exciting to hear how much everyone enjoyed the four/five days we'd spent together. Most of us had helped in one capacity or another; we all had stories as well as new and exciting information/knowledge to share.

Now it's time to evaluate what we've learned, organized our thoughts, and put some of that newly gained "stuff" into action. As for me, I can't wait to try out me new Flip Pal scanner! Maybe I'll get more of my personal family pictures scanned now that I can do it pretty much anywhere anytime!!

(I have no affiliation with the Flip-Pal company other than being a new owner of the product.)

ISGS Luncheon at FGS2011

In my previous blog post, I promised a few pictures from the ISGS Luncheon.

As mentioned our speaker was Dr. Mike Lockett and here he is in his Union Soldier regalia informing and amusing us with his wonderful, unique stories.

Most important to me - not just because I had the privilege of making the introductions - was the honoring of this year's ISGS award recipients.

Marla Vizdal accepted the Volkel Hall of Fame for Libby Grimm,
Mary Matson Hawk & Donald Schmidt received the Writer's Award
Harold Workman received the Special Recognition Award
Robert Buecher  received the Community Service Award
Nelda Ravens received the Community Service Award

Gary Hargis accepting for Sandra Hargreaves Luebking
the Volkel Hall of Fame Award from
ISGS President Jance Fritsch

For those who may not be aware, the Volkel Hall of Fame is a posthumous award. The names of our two recipients for 2011 will be added to the plaque placed at the entrance to the reading room at the Illinois State Archives.

Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you from ISGS and the genealogy community for all you've giving us in time and effort.

FGS Conference Day 2 and Part of 3

This is going to be short and sweet; well, maybe just short. I'm writing this at the Cyber Cafe at the back of the exhibit hall in the Prairie Conference Center. The interent connection here is very slooow - no pics this time but there will be more later! My computer is back at the hotel and I'm tooo tired to walk across the street to get it.

Yesterday was so full and enjoyable I didn't have time to post an update last night.

The hightlight of our day was the ISGS luncheon. The speaker, Dr Mike Lockett, told some wonderful, unusual stories about the Civil War while dressed as a Union Soldier. Then, during the ISGS luncheon I had the previledge to announce the recipients of this year's ISGS award recipients. It was a grand time and I'll post more about it later.

For the rest of the day, it was monitoring or attending sessions and wondering around the exhibit hall. I had the opportunity to talk with lots of vendors, local society leaders, and happy attendees. I also got the down-low on the Flip-Pal scanner and I broke down and bought one today!! I can't wait to try it out.

Today has been spent working at registration, monitoring sessions, spending more time in the exhibit hall, and having great fun meeting and greeting so many fellow genealogists.

Tonight is the big gala for the 35th anniversary of FGS. I'll post an update on that as soon as I can.

Day One at FGS2011

I had every intention of blogging during the day yesterday but for several reasons - too busy, media area not open until Thursday... - it had to wait until this morning. Fortunately, I have a few minutes this morning before heading over the hear the keynote address from David Ferriero, the Archivist of the United States. Can"t wait to hear what he has to say.

So here I was yesterday morning getting ready to start the day. I'm not going to show you how I looked at the end of the day 'cause that's just too depressing.

The beads are from Geneabloggers as is the large pin - thanks Thomas.

I'm staying at the Hilton which is just across the street from the Convention Center. Once I got over there my day turned hectic - great fun, very information, lots of new ideas to take back to my local society, Elgin Genealogical Society - but hectic.

The evening was the best part, though. The Illinois Genealogical Society (I'm on the board) hosted a Prairie Social with our sponsor FamilySearch. What great fun!! Besides the ice cream sundaes, popcorn, and desserts, there was music from period musicians, a prized wheel, local society tables, and Fox Valley Genealogical Society hosted the Geopardy Game and, of course, our special guests: President and Mrs. Lincoln!

Some a of host members and attendees were attired in period dress as well. You can see for yourself a good time was had by all.

Jane Halderman, Larry Pepper, Janice Fritsch, David Kent Coy,
Dan Dixon, and Suzie Pope

"Mollie" Lincoln, Abe Lincoln, Suzie Pope

And this is me manning the EGS table. We had an excellent turnout with great traffic. It was great to meet so many genealogists!

I Made to the FGS Conference 2011

Well my Dear Husband (DH) and I left home bright and early this morning, dropped the dog, Bessie, at Bark Avenue for her boarding days (This was not without some reticence on her part once she figured out this trip wasn't just for daycare.), and set out for Springfield, Illinois. The FGS Conference starts tomorrow but volunteer orientation was today.

Oriene Springstroh and Becky Higgins

We arrived in Springfield with just enough time to grab a bite of lunch and then head over the the Convention Center for our orientation. While getting briefed on how to man the Registration Desk, Oriene Springstroh of Fox Valley Genealogy Society on I had our picture taken. She wanted to prove to her DH that she isn't the only person wearing a genealogy shirt; not only a shirt but the same shirt!! - I've simply got to remember to comb my hair before the camera is snapped. UGH!!

Later DH and I completed our registration, got our bags - very nice ones - and organized our schedules with the additional information in our Guides.

We've had our dinner and later I'm going to try to find my way into a gathering which includes many of the bloggers who will be here for the next few days. I'm anxious to meet some of the wonderful people I follow on a regular basis.

That's it for now. I'll keep you posted as best I can as the days go on.