Author Archives: Charles Hansen

Friday Serendipity

by Charles Hansen

Spotted a book in the Fiske Library in Seattle: Washington Ghost Towns, by Lambert Florin, 1970, WSU Press. Intrigued, I hauled it back to my table. The index listed 23 different ghost towns! I would never have guessed that Washington had that many. But wait! Doing a Google search for “ghost towns in USA” and then “Washington” I found a list of 55 ghost towns in our Evergreen State!

This was Ruby, Washington, just 13 miles north of Okanogan. Quite a town; did your ancestors struggle to live there? Was it a mining or lumbering town? (Grandma Google knows the answer.)

Thinking ahead to your next summer’s road trip, and if you’re a ghost town nerd, pin that list to your map and away you’ll go!

Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society October Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Overview of Scandinavian Resources, 2 part series

Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society

Jill Morelli, CG will be the guest speaker at the October and November Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS) meetings.| She will be presenting an Overview of Scandinavian Resources which will give an introduction to three major record sets of Sweden, Denmark and Norway in a two part series.  Part one will be Tuesday, October 10th at 1 pm and Part 2 will be Tuesday, November 14th at 1 pm.   Both presentations are free to the public and will be followed by the regular meeting of the SVGS.  Jill lectures and writes about her research and discoveries as a family historian.  She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild, Association of Professional Genealogists and numerous societies. Jill resides in Seattle, WA.

Family Search October Webinars

by Charles Hansen

Free Family History Library Classes and Webinars for October 2017

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, has announced its free family history classes and webinars for October 2017. Participants can attend in person or online. The October schedule includes how-to classes for Canada,UK, US and Venzuela research, using the FamilySearch Family Tree, learning the new web-based indexing tool, and other useful tips and instruction. Some classes are available in Spanish. See the full schedule below. Mark your calendars for events you want to join so you don’t forget.

Online classes are noted on the schedule as webinars. Webinar attendees need to click the link next to the class title at the scheduled date and time to attend the class online. Those attending in person simply go to the room noted. Invite your family and friends. All class times are in Mountain Standard Time (MST).

If you are unable to attend a class in person or online, most sessions are recorded and can be viewed later online at your convenience. To access these, go to the archive for Family History Library classes and webinars.

DATE / TIME

CLASS (SKILL LEVEL)

WEBINAR | ROOM

Monday Oct. 2, 10:00 a.m.

Using the FamilySearch Catalog Effectively (Beginner)

Webinar | 2N Lab

Tuesday Oct. 3, 10:00 a.m.

Tips and Tricks for Using FamilySearch’s Historical Records Collection (Beginner)

Webinar | M Lab

Wednesday Oct. 4, 10:00 a.m.

Italian Language Indexing (1½ hours) (Intermediate)

Webinar | M Lab

Thursday Oct. 5, 1:00 p.m.

Using England Probate Records (Intermediate)

Webinar | B2 Lab

Monday Oct. 9, 10:00 a.m.

Using the FamilySearch Catalog Effectively (Beginner)

Webinar | 2N Lab

Tuesday Oct. 10, 10:00 a.m.

FamilyTree: Correcting Relationships (Intermediate)

Webinar | M Lab

Tuesday October 10, 11:00 a.m.

Figuring Out Place Names for Swedish Genealogy (Intermediate)

Webinar | MF A

Tuesday October 10, 1:00 p.m.

Criminals, Lunatics, and Witches, Oh My! Finding the Less Than Pleasant in Family History (Beginner)

Webinar | B2 Lab

Tuesday October 10, 2:00 p.m.

Starting FamilyTree: Open Questions and Answers (Beginner)

Webinar | M Lab

Wednesday Oct. 11, 3:00 p.m.

Web Indexing Training for Temple and Family History Consultants—Brazil: (1½ hours) (Intermediate)

Webinar | B2 Lab

Thursday Oct. 12, 1:00 p.m.

Finding Jewish Ancestors in England (Beginner)

Webinar | B2 Lab

Thursday Oct. 12, 4:00 p.m.

Web Indexing Training for Temple and Family History Consultants—South America: (1½ hours) (Intermediate)

Webinar | M Lab

Monday Oct. 16, 9:00 a.m.

Using the FamilySearch Catalog Effectively (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Monday Oct. 16, 10:15 a.m.

Canada Research: Canada Census Records (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Monday Oct. 16, 11:30 a.m.

Are You Your Own Brick Wall? Common Genealogical Mistakes and Their Solutions (Intermediate)

Webinar | M B/C

Monday Oct. 16, 1:15 p.m.

United States Vital Records (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Monday Oct. 16, 2:30 p.m.

United States Naturalization Records (Intermediate)

Webinar | M B/C

Tuesday Oct. 17, 9:00 a.m.

FamilySearch Wiki (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Tuesday Oct. 17, 10:15 a.m.

Canada Research: Canada Vital Records (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Tuesday Oct. 17, 11:30 a.m.

Descendancy Research (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Tuesday Oct. 17, 1:15 p.m.

United States Land Records (Intermediate)

Webinar | M B/C

Tuesday Oct. 17, 2:30 p.m.

United States Probate Records (Intermediate)

Webinar | M B/C

Wednesday Oct. 18, 9:00 a.m.

Tips and Tricks for Using FamilySearch’s Historical Records Collection (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Wednesday Oct. 18, 10:15 a.m.

Canada Research: Quebec Research (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Wednesday Oct. 18, 11:30 a.m.

A United States Case Study (Intermediate)

Webinar | M B/C

Wednesday Oct. 18, 1:15 p.m.

Census Techniques and Strategies (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Wednesday Oct. 18, 2:30 p.m.

Great Internet Sites for United States Research (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Thursday Oct. 19, 9:00 a.m.

FamilySearch Memories (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Thursday Oct. 19, 10:15 a.m.

Canada Research: Ontario Research (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Thursday Oct. 19, 11:30 a.m.

The Research Process (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Thursday Oct. 19, 1:15 p.m.

Genetic Genealogy: An Introduction to DNA (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Thursday Oct. 19, 2:30 p.m.

Using LDS Church Records (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Friday Oct. 20, 9:00 a.m.

Freedman Bureau Records (Intermediate)

Webinar | M B/C

Friday Oct. 20, 10:15 a.m.

Immigration and Canadian Border Crossings (Intermediate)

Webinar | M B/C

Friday Oct. 20, 11:30 a.m.

Ask Your United States and Canada Research Question (Beginner)

Webinar | M B/C

Friday Oct. 20, 1:15 p.m.

Canada Research: Canada Military (Intermediate)

Webinar | M B/C

Friday Oct. 20, 2:30 p.m.

Over There! World War I Records over Here (Intermediate)

Webinar | M B/C

Saturday Oct. 21, 1:00 p.m.

Recursos Genealógicos de Venezuela (Beginner)

Webinar | VIP Room

Monday Oct. 23, 10:00 a.m.

Using the FamilySearch Catalog Effectively (Beginner)

Webinar | 2N Lab

Tuesday Oct. 24, 10:00 a.m.

What’s New at FamilySearch (Beginner)

Webinar | M Lab

Tuesday Oct. 24, 11:00 a.m.

Danish Tax Records (Advanced)

Webinar | B1 Lab

Tuesday Oct. 24, 1:00 p.m.

Exploring Probate Records in Norway (Intermediate)

Webinar | MF A

Wednesday Oct. 25, 10:00 a.m.

Spanish Language Indexing (1½ hours) (Intermediate)

Webinar | M Lab

Wednesday Oct. 25, 11:00 a.m.

Online Resources for Finnish Research (Intermediate)

Webinar | B1 Lab

Wednesday Oct. 25, 1:00 p.m.

Tracing Ancestry in Ireland’s Land and Other Records (Intermediate)

Webinar | B2 Lab

Thursday Oct. 26, 1:00 p.m.

Your British and Irish Research Questions Answered (Beginner)

Webinar | B2 Lab

Monday Oct. 30, 10:00 a.m.

Using the FamilySearch Catalog Effectively (Beginner)

Webinar | 2N Lab

Tuesday Oct. 31, 1:00 p.m.

Deciphering Portuguese Script (Beginner)

Webinar | MF B

 

Thursday Query

by Charles Hansen

With the blessing and permission of the Washington State Genealogical Society board, I get to start a new blog posting! Thursday Query will be the title and for this feature to be worthwhile, I shall rely on YOU to submit your query to me for this feature. Here’s the criteria:

  1. Send it to Donna243@gmail.com
  2. Make sure to include a name, a date and a place.
  3. Limit this to queries about Washington history and/or ancestors.
  4. Submit a photo if you have one.
  5. Please know I reserve the right to edit the query.
  6. Queries won’t be posted every Thursday unless I have them!

So on to the first one! I found this wonderful photo in Apple Annie’s Antique Gallery in Cashmere, Washington.

The stamp on the frame says, “Grams, Minot, N.D.” Handwritten across the bottom is ‘Bertha and Gus Monesmith.”

I did some looking on Ancestry, and found a 1920 marriage record for Gus Monesmith from Wenatchee, and Laura Belle Branin, also of Wenatchee. I also found (on Ancestry) an obituary: “Gus Monesmith, age 86, born in North Dakota, came to Wenatchee in 1904, in 1920 he married Laura Branin. He left a son, Thomas Monesmith, Scotts Bluff, NE;  three daughters, Nellie Reeves, Marion Gossman, and Mildred Travis, all of Wenatchee. So who is/was Bertha???

Would love to return this photo to a descendant if I can find one!

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

Perhaps today’s memory item isn’t that old but it’s still nostalgia-evoking to me. This is a “mangle” or Ironrite ironing machine. I remember my Mom sitting at the Ironrite, moving the controls with her knees, and ironing EVERYTHING……shirts and sheets, hankies and hand towels and tablecloths. She explained that it saved both time and her back.  Do you have memories of an Ironrite? Did you ever catch a finger??

Tri-City Genealogical Society October Seminar

by Charles Hansen

25 Sept 2017

Dear TCGS Members and Guests:
The Seminar will be here very shortly, but you only have 5 more days to register for this DNA seminar if you want to have the lunch and the syllabus included with your registration. After September 30th, unfortunately, your registration will not include the lunch or the syllabus; however, you can still register up to the day of the seminar, and the syllabus will be available for $5.00 at the registration table.
So, please give some serious thought about activating your registration this week.  Thank you for your consideration and we hope to see you at the October 14th Seminar (“Understanding Your DNA”).
Sincerely,
Art Kelly
TCGS Seminar Publicity Committee

Tuesday Trivia

by Charles Hansen

I found this totally fascinating:  While at the Fiske Library in Seattle, I browsed some old issues of a New England periodical I’d heard of but had never taken the time to view. The Vol. 1 issue of The Essex Antiquarian was published in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1897. Paging through this first volume, I spotted a query posted by somebody from Castle Rock, Washington! In 1897!

The query read:  “Wanted, date of birth of William Baker, of Ipswich, who married in 1686 to Sarah Fitts.” (Signed) Mrs. E.R.H., Castle Rock, Wash.

Wonder if Mrs. E.R.H. ever found her William Baker??

P.S. Castle Rock was incorporated in 1890.

Report on the WSGS Board meeting.

by Charles Hansen

WSGS, the Washington State Genealogical Society, exists for one reason: To be of assistance to all the genealogical societies in the state. That mission statement was loud and clear at the recent Board meeting in Yakima.

The Board consists of 16 good folks and 13 were present; that’s dedication. They come from all four corners of the state; Ginny Majewski, the president, comes from Sequim…. that’s a 500 mile round trip!

The meetings are kept to agenda, business is accomplished, Parliamentary rules are followed, and everybody participates. It’s a good group!

All projects, plans and programs were discussed. Website problems and updates were discussed. The use of ZOOM for virtual meetings (not just for this Board but any society in the group) was discussed. Questionnaires were sent to all genealogical societies in the state and Ginny is coordinating the returned into; to wit, how can WSGS help YOU?

A new state-wide project was opened for business. WSGS wants to have a listing of all Civil War burials in Washington and will partner with http://www.civilwarvetswastate.com

to create and maintain such a list.

I am proud to be associated with this great group of dedicated workers and  hope that if you are approached to help WSGS that you will not think twice but will answer “YOUBETCHYA!”

 

 

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society October Workshop

by Charles Hansen

 

Fall Workshop - German Research

Saturday, October 7
Fall Workshop – German Research  (Seminars & Workshops)
8:30 am to 3:15 pm
Country Homes Christian Church 8415 North Wall Street Spokane WA
Regisration Deadline:  September 25, 2017 – 5 PM
Presenters: Kent Aggers, Dolly Webb & Renata Wilde
08:30 AM – 09:00 Am – Registration
09:00 AM – 09:15 AM – Welcome
09:15 AM – 10:15 AM German History & Maps – Dolly Webb
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM Break
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Germans from Russia – Kent Agger
11:30 AM –  1:00 PM Lunch (Pot Luck – see below)
 1:00 PM –  2:00 PM Place of Origin: Germany – Renate Wilde
 2:00 PM –  2:15 PM Break
 2:15 PM –  3:15 PM Questions & Answers – presenters
To download a copy of the handout from each presenter click on their name as shown below:
Ken Aggers             Dolly Webb                  Renata Wilde
Potluck: Bring a dish and enjoy a full day of learning. Potluck dishes are based on the first letter of your last name:
A-E Salads  F-I Deserts  J-M Cookies  N-R Appetizers  S-Z Main Dish

To register via Pay Pal 

Registration Choices:
To access the flyer which contains a registration form please download the file  October Flyer
Download: October Flyer