GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen
GFO Logo Halo 2 Large

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

September 27, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

Be sure to check our complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
***

October is Archives Month!
Personal Archiving Dec 2017

#AskAnArchivist is October 3rd – Let GFO know how we can help!

Got questions? Well, we’ve got answers!

Our Manuscripts Committee will be available all day on Twitter to lend you advice concerning your personal or professional archives.

We specialize in digitization of manuscript collections, rehousing tips, and more!

Tweet your questions to us at (@GenForumOregon) using the hashtag #AskAnArchivist all day on October 3rd and watch for replies.

~
Archives Crawl 2018

GFO will be at this year’s annual Oregon Archives Crawl!

Oregon’s Archives Crawl theme this year is about how archives are “Changing Attitudes” within societies.

Archival representatives from various repositories around Oregon will be at the following locations in downtown Portland, Saturday, October 20th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

▪ City of Portland Archives & Records Center
▪ Oregon Historical Society
▪ Multnomah County Central Library

Our very own Manuscripts Committee from GFO will be at the Multnomah County Central Library. Come see some of our latest and greatest featured items!

This event is totally free and open to the public of all ages.
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Save the Date – GFO’s African American Ancestry Group
African American SIG

The next meeting of the African American Ancestry Special Interest Group (SIG) will be Saturday, October 27th, from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Emily-Jane Dawson, a reference librarian with the Multnomah County Library system, will speak about general genealogical resources available within the library system. One item she will discuss is the three-volume index Blacks in Selected Newspapers, Censuses and Other Sources by James de T. Abajian. The index covers publications from the 1880’s to about the 1950’s.

This meeting will be held at GFO’s library. Please feel free to email Janice Sellers at African_American@gfo.org with questions.

All our Special Interest Groups are free and open to the public!
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We Regret The Error

Recently the GFO thanked its GFO Star volunteers for breaking down a genealogical brick wall for member Charles Morgan.

We mistakenly reported the relationship of the ancestor he was looking for. Mr. Morgan was seeking information about a great-grandfather, not his father.

The GFO remains profoundly grateful to Mr. Morgan for his generous donation for the Genealogy Problem Solvers’ research.
***

Share Your Stories! Centennial of Women’s Suffrage Approaches

Suffrage

Women picket the White House in 1917, demanding full access to voting rights. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

Next year marks 100 years since the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteed women the right to vote. We’d like to take a look back at this milestone through the eyes of our ancestors.

The Bulletin, GFO’s quarterly publication, is seeking articles about voting in the U.S. and women’s suffrage.

Do you have an American suffragette in your family tree? Did your ancestor fight for (or against) women’s right to vote?

The Bulletin wants YOU to contribute your story.

Submitted articles will be run beginning in June 2019 and will continue (if we get enough stories) through June 2020.

Let your ancestors’ stories be heard!

Submit stories of any length to bulletin@gfo.org.
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Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon – Monthly Program
menorah-Jewish

Last week, we noted this upcoming program from the Jewish Genealogical Society, and now we have a confirmed date!

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon is pleased to announce that the speaker for their October meeting will be Avraham Groll, Director of JewishGen.org. The meeting will run from 2 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 7th.

He has graciously agreed to do a combination of two of his most popular programs: Jewish Life in Poland – Parts 1 and 2. This will be a two hour meeting.

Due to Avraham’s travel schedule this program will start at a later time than our usual programs. The meeting will be held at Ahavath Achim, 3225 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland, OR 97239.

Please note the 2 p.m. start time.
***

This week at GFO…
desk-calendar-12992149

MONDAY, October 1st

Free First Monday 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Come out each first Monday of every month and splurge on all GFO’s wonderful resources for FREE. Explore our online databases like Fold3, Ancestry World Library Edition, Newspapers.com, and many more. Our analog and microfilm collections total some 49,000 items. Don’t miss out!

WEDNESDAY, October 3rd

Learn & Chat 10:00 a.m. – noon

Gerry Lenzen presents “Selecting Software: Features and Foibles.” What program best suits your needs? How to decide. At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jeanne Quan.

DNA Q&A 1 – 3 p.m.

Lisa McCullough will be available to help answer your DNA questions, whether you are new and just getting started or have more involved questions. Questions? Send Lisa McCull a note at dna_qa@gfo.org.

Clark County Genealogical Society October Classes

by Charles Hansen

LEGACY GENEALOGY SOFTWARE USER GROUP

Mon, Oct 1, 2018: 10 am-noon

CCGS Education Center

If you use Legacy Family Tree Software for tracking your genealogy research,
there is a Legacy Users Group that meets monthly to discuss tips, tricks and
problems. You will always come away with some new ideas. The meetings are
held regularly on the first Monday of the month. Members and non-members are
welcome.

FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH BOOK CLUB

Mon, Oct 1, 2018: 12-1:30 pm

CCGS Education Center

There are many “research rich” books of genealogical historical collections,
as well as “how to” books on methods, collection and data storage of
genealogy research. This group delves into one book at a time and discusses
how to make the best use of it. Join this casual group as they delve into
their favorite topic of books on family history discovery and sleuthing.
(Brown baggers welcome!)

FINDING THE WOMEN IN YOUR FAMILY TREE GENEALOGY CLASS

Tues, Oct 2, 2018: 10 am-12 noon

CCGS Education Center

Where are the women in your family tree? Half of your ancestry comes from
women, yet we tend to focus our genealogical searches on men because their
last name seldom changed. This class will focus on the importance of
including all the women in your search as well as the where and how to find
them. Genealogist Barbara Shrag will show you ways to locate your missing
ladies! Classes are $12 for CCGS members and $15 for non-members. To
register in advance call the CCGS library, 360-750-5688. (Classes with
insufficient registration may be cancelled.)

REMOTE RESEARCH IN THE DATABASES OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH SYSTEM WEBINAR

Wed, Oct 3, 2018: 11 am – 12:30 pm

CCGS Library

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has been
collecting genealogical information since 1890 to support both the
application process for membership and to honor the service of Patriots. The
Society operates a marvelous library in Washington, DC. Over the last few
years they have scanned and provided public access to extensive online
resources. This Legacy Family Tree webinar will show you how to tap into
some of those resources for your family history research.

Unfocused Genealogy Discussion Group

Thu, Oct 4, 2018: 1-3 pm

CCGS Education Center

There’s no meeting agenda, no special topic, just a group of curious people
bringing genealogy research notes, questions, brick walls, etc. to share
with the group. Get ideas for the next steps you should take in your
research.

WRITING YOUR OWN OBITUARY Plus FIND-A-GRAVE ONLINE RESEARCH TIPS GENEALOGY
CLASS

Tues, Oct 9, 2018: 10 am-12 noon

CCGS Education Center

How reliable do you think obituary records are? It depends who wrote them
although it is usually the survivors or descendants. They might not know the
decedant’s birth date or birth place. With the help of instructor Lela
Miller, you’ll learn how to write your own or another’s obituary so that it
is factual and published correctly. The second segment of this class is
taught by genealogist Alice Allen and it will delve into using Find-A-Grave
online research, access tips and how to connect with Find A Grave
information providers. Classes are $12 for CCGS members and $15 for
non-members. To register in advance call the CCGS library, 360-750-5688.
(Classes with insufficient registration may be cancelled.

SCANDINAVIAN ROOTS FOCUS GROUP

Thu, Oct 11, 2018: 10-11:30am

CCGS Education Center

If you want to discover your Scandinavian roots, attend this monthly meeting
and learn how to conduct your research. Meet with other like-minded
individuals who have discovered their ancestors going back many generations.
Geographic areas include Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and the
Faroe Islands. This group meets regularly on the second Thursday of the
month, September-May. Members and non-members are welcome.

GENEALOGY AND THE LAW CLASS

Tues, Oct 16, 2018: 10 am-12 noon

CCGS Education Center

Your genealogical research has located an ancestor in documents with terms
such as fieri facias or maybe guardians in socage. What are these words?
Legal terms and the law not only determined your ancestor’s decisions and
actions but also where you may locate them through records in buying and
selling land, writing wills or paying taxes. Instructor Dale Deatherage will
teach you how to navigate some common and uncommon legal terms that
determined your ancestor’s futures. Classes are $12 for CCGS members and $15
for non-members. To register in advance call the CCGS library, 360-750-5688.
(Classes with insufficient registration may be cancelled.

HO TO CALIFORNIA! THE DRAW OF THE GOLD RUSH WEBINAR

Wed, Oct 17, 2018: 11 am – 12:30 pm

CCGS Library

Few events in America have had the impact of the California Gold Rush and
the desire to have a better life; an event that lasted seven short years.
The Gold Rush swelled the population of California by the hundreds of
thousands. And, it was all for the little flecks of gold that shone so
brightly. People rushed in from all over the world. This Legacy Family Tree
webinar will help you find out if your ancestors headed West to make their
fortune.

THIRD THURSDAY EVENING HOURS

Thurs, Oct 18, 2018: 6-9 pm

CCGS Library

Do you find it hard to get to the Clark County Genealogical Library during
daytime hours? Come in on Third Thursday to tap into our richest resource:
knowledgeable librarians who can help you with your family history search.
We won’t do it for you, but we will provide guidance. One librarian has
Scandinavian research expertise. The library has over 10,000 books and
resources, and free access on our computers to Ancestry.com and
AmericanAncestors.com. Bring your own computer and use our free wifi.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING FOR GENEALOGY ENTHUSIASTS

Tues, Oct 23, 2018: 10am – 12 pm

Presentation: “What’s New in the Family Search Website”

FamilySearch.org recently added their two billionth image to their website.
Some images are of microfilm reels; others are newly acquired. This
presentation will assist you in finding the digital records of most interest
to you. Indexing cannot keep up with the volume of records made available
and tips will be given for using sleuthing methods that often yield the best
results. A 30+ year researcher, speaker Tom O’Brien is involved in many
Portland-area genealogy groups and has specialties in Irish and German
Research.

10 EASTERN EUROPEAN GENEALOGY RESOURCES YOU MIGHT BE MISSING WEBINAR

Wed, Oct 24, 2018: 11 am – 12:30 pm

CCGS Library

While church registers are the most popular and useful sources for tracing
most Eastern European ancestors, and civil registration of births,
marriages, and deaths provide even more details, there are other record
groups to be searched that may prove useful, especially in the absence of
church and vital records for your locality. This Legacy Family Tree webinar
will discuss available census, tax lists, land, military, and other records
and how to access them.

RESEARCHING MISSOURI RECORDS GENEALOGY CLASS

Tues, Oct 30, 2018: 10 am-12 noon

CCGS Education Center

Instructor: Brian Runyan

You’ll learn best practices for researching hidden Missouri records to trace
your family history in this class taught by CCGS president, Brian Runyan.
The state of Missouri is a true crossroads state and has an early settlement
history. French Canadians arrived via river travel between 1764 and 1803.
With statehood in 1821, more settlers seeking land arrived from the east.
Chances are, you had ancestors who traveled through or settled in Missouri.
Classes are $12 for CCGS members and $15 for non-members. To register in
advance call the CCGS library, 360-750-5688. (Classes with insufficient
registration may be cancelled.)

PRIVACY ISSUES WITH ONLINE FAMILY TREES

Wed, Oct 31, 2018: 11 am – 12:30 pm

CCGS Library

Privacy remains a huge issue for many genealogists and their family members.
This Legacy Family Tree webinar will discuss the varied approaches to the
question of privacy, focusing on legal and ethical considerations. As
genealogists increasingly utilize public, or semi-public online
collaborative genealogy platforms, these questions are becoming more common.
The lecture will use real-world examples to analyze the problems and
proposed solutions.

Eastern Washington Genealogy Society October Meeting

by Charles Hansen

 

What's New at Family Search?

Saturday, October 6
What’s New at Family Search?  (EWGS Meetings)
12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Spokane Public Library Auditorium, Downtown Spokane
Presenter –  Donna Potter Phillips
Donna will tell us what is happening and what is new with Family Search. This website is evolving daily!!
Donna Potter Phillips has been a member of EWGS since 1976; twice president; now vice-president of WSGS; has given presentations to societies all over the northwest, her passion is genealogy 100%!  She helps her dachshund, TIka, with her Tika Thinks page on Facebook.
Cookies & Social Time: 12:30 PM
Meeting starts at 1:00 PM

2019 International German Genealogy Conference

by Charles Hansen

9 months to go: Was your ancestor a 49er?

In 1848, many Germans were part of a larger movement in Europe to obtain political power for the growing middle class. But when their revolution failed, many emigrated to the United States to avoid political persecution. As a group, they became known as the “48ers.”

One year later, word spread of the discovery of gold in California, and some of those who emigrated in 1848 packed up again to join the rush west for gold. Now they were called the 49ers.

Maybe we should nickname those who participate in the International German Genealogy Partnership conference next June the “19ers.” After all, their German ancestors carried similar nicknames right to Sacramento in their search for a new life.

In a few weeks, we will be announcing the list of programs and presenters for the 2019 conference in Sacramento. There will be lots of gold nuggets among them, and with registration opening in November, the rush will be on.

We hope that in nine months, you’ll be boarding a train or steamship or covered wagon and heading to Sacramento. Welcome to the 19ers!
Stake your claim
The conference hotel is the Hyatt Regency in downtown Sacramento. At $149 per night, you’re getting a deal, and your credit card won’t be charged until spring 2019.
Book a room
Registration alert
Early registration opens in November 2018. The top names in German genealogy will be presenting, and we could sell out quickly. Don’t delay when the announcement lands in your inbox.
Reach your target
An audience of 1,000 dedicated genealogists will want to hear about your service or product. Support the conference as a sponsor, vendor or advertiser.
Learn more

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

All my Wenatchee friends kept talking about “the Pybus” as in “it’s happening at the Pybus” or “let’s go to lunch at the Pybus.” What the heck was the Pybus I wondered??

The Pybus is a thriving, vibrant community center in downtown Wenatchee! There are shops and eateries….a totally fun place. And what a transformation from an old steel-plant-warehouse.

E.T.Pybus was reared in northern England, immigrated early to the U.S., married in the Midwest, and ultimately moved his family west, settling in Wenatchee in 1911 where he founded a steel manufacturing plant. If you want to know more (and there is lots more!) just Google his name. I found two most interesting articles outlining his life and career.

E.T. “Tom” Pybus lies resting in the Wenatchee City Cemetery. I wonder how wide his eyes would pop open to see the transformation of his business into our businesses………..

Jefferson County Genealogical Society Brick Wall Problems Solved

by Charles Hansen

BRICK WALLS: THE PROBLEM OF COMMON NAMES
Once a year Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS) members have an opportunity to ask for help with their research problems. The 2018 Brick Wall Program will focus on the problem of “common names”. Members have been invited to submit their “common name”  Brick Walls to a panel of “experts” who will do their best to point them in the right direction. Join us for the fun of learning  some tricks and hints. Public is invited. Free. Saturday morning, October 20th, 9:30-11:30 at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 W. Valley Rd, Chimacum.  <www.wajcgs.org>

Monday Mystery

by Charles Hansen

How did you do answering those ten questions about Washington history and geography?  Here are the answers:

  1. I-90 spans 3022 miles going from Seattle to Boston.
  2. Tri-Cities are comprised of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland.
  3. The “kettles” near Kettle Falls on the upper Columbia River were made by large stones swirled in the current to make “kettles” in the rock; they are now under water.
  4. Lake Roosevelt, the man-made lake formed behind Grand Coulee Dam, is the state’s largest river….. it is also the Columbia River.
  5. The Hoh River is a river in the S. state of Washington, located on the Olympic Peninsula. About 56 miles (90 km) long,[3] the Hoh River originates at the Hoh Glacier on Mount Olympus and flows west through the Olympic Mountains of Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, then through the foothills in a broad valley, emptying into the Pacific Ocean at the Hoh Indian Reservation.
  6. Vampires in Forks? Have you read the Twilight series? You tell me.
  7. Deception Pass was so named when a group of sailors led by Joseph Whidbey, part of the Vancouver Expedition, found and mapped Deception Pass on June 7, 1792.[2]George Vancouver gave it the name “Deception” because it had misled him into thinking Whidbey Island was a peninsula.
  8. Baldy was given the more dignified name of Mt. Spokane in 1912.
  9. Spotted Owls in the forests? I’ve never seen one…have you?
  10. According to a big sign on I-90 going east after crossing the Vantage Bridge, Grant County claims that honor.

Puget Sound Civil War Roundtable Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Upcoming PSCWRT Meeting

October 11, 2018
The renown writer and historian, Walter Stahr returns to Seattle to tell the story of his latest book – Stanton: Lincoln’s War Secretary. Stahr captures the essence of the controversial Edwin M. Stanton who, while a staunch Democrat, revered the Republican Lincoln and supported the war effort with all his considerable talents.

Stanton was at the epicenter of the Andrew Johnson impeachment as he sought to advance the cause of freedmen during the dark days of the Lincoln assassination and reconstruction.  This will likely be the most influential discussion of the season.

Mr. Stahr is also the author of Seward: Lincoln’s Indispensable Man and John Jay: Founding Father. Mr. Stahr practiced international law for 25 years, including seven in Hong Kong and five with the SEC.
http://walterstahr.com/

Social hour begins at 6:00 pm, Dinner at 6:45 pm, and program at 8:00 pm.  Click the button below to make a reservation. Students may attend free without a dinner.

PSCWRT Website

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

September 20, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

Be sure to check our complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
***

Don’t forget to register before October 8th for the Early Bird Prices

WHO? You’ve probably heard of Cyndi Ingle and her invaluable website, Cyndi’s List.

WHAT? Internet Genealogy. Come hear from the guru behind one of the most online comprehensive reference lists genealogical research has ever seen!

WHEN? Saturday, November 3rd, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, November 4th, 9:30 a.m. to noon.

WHERE? Milwaukie Center, 440 SE Kellogg Creek Dr, Milwaukie, OR 97222

Topics will include: Ten Resources I Use Every Day, Advanced Googling for Grandma, Unappreciated Treasures, Digital Research Plans, Google Maps & Google Earth and Online Resources for the Western U.S.
***
Lisa McCullough 09112018

GFO’s September Stars – Kristin Parks & Lisa McCullough

Despite short notice, Kristin Parks and Lisa McCullough did a superb job of researching the fate of Charles Morgan’s father, David Morgan, at this summer’s May Genealogy Problem Solvers session.
Kristin Parks

Kristin and Lisa developed a plausible hypothesis for the South Wales origin of David Morgan, building on DNA data to find probable descendants of David Morgan. Charles was so pleased with their assistance that he awarded a generous donation to GFO.

We’re so glad to have Kristin and Lisa’s ongoing assistance with all things GFO!
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The Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon is pleased to announce that the speaker for their October meeting will be Avraham Groll, Director of JewishGen.org.

He has graciously agreed to do a combination of two of his most popular programs: Jewish Life in Poland – Parts 1 and 2. This will be a two hour meeting.

Due to Avraham’s travel schedule this program will start at a later time than our usual programs. The meeting will be held at Ahavath Achim, 3225 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland, OR 97239.

Please note the 2 p.m. start time.
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We Might Be Slow To Respond To Emails Next Week
hands-545394 640

The GFO is making a switch next week to a cheaper, more versatile email service.

Nobody outside the GFO should notice a thing — unless we hit a glitch. If we do run into a snag, we thank you in advance for your understanding as it may take us a little bit longer response to emails.

Your patience is greatly appreciated. Feel free to also call our reception desk at 503-963-1932 if you need additional assistance.
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Save these dates for some exciting GFO events!

Doing research in Pennsylvania?

Researcher Elsie Deatherage will be the guest speaker for the Great Lakes Region group’s meeting on Saturday, October 13th at 9:30 a.m. in the Multipurpose Room at GFO. Pennsylvania has several distinct ethnic and religious groups that kept different records than we may be accustomed to, but that are really helpful. Learn how to overcome the challenges of state boundary issues, the shifting borders of counties and townships and the difficulties in locating churches and cemeteries. We will look at the on and offline resources that are unique to the Keystone State. There will also be time to share our research quandaries and discoveries. Feel free to contact us at GreatLakes@gfo.org. We look forward to seeing you.

Are you one of over 30 million Americans who have Irish ancestors?

Join GFO’s Irish Special Interest Group on Wednesday, October 17th, 6 – 8 p.m., as Karen Hubbard will present a timeline of Irish history. This will help group members put their Irish ancestors in context with their times, and better understand how to research them. We’ll also try to help with “brick walls” in Ireland, or answer other questions about Ireland and Irish research. If you’d like to submit a brick wall question for us to address, email Irish@gfo.org, at least one week in advance.

GFO DNA Advanced Meeting – October 27th, 9 a.m. to noon

Tim Janzen will give a presentation on DNA Painter and creating network diagrams. Anyone interested in using DNA for genealogy is welcomed. Time will be provided for questions.

GFO DNA Beginner’s Meeting – November 24th, 9 a.m. to noon

Emily Aulicino will lead the group in a discussion regarding any questions on the basic DNA tests and the major testing companies. Please submit your questions to her at dna_ea@gfo.org up to one week prior to the class. This is the chance to cover your particular issues which could include what tests work for what problems, exploring how to use spreadsheets to help you organize your data, viewing the company websites, and more. Anyone interested in using DNA for genealogy is welcomed. Time will be provided for additional questions.
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SATURDAY, September 22nd

African American Ancestry Group 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Julie Ramos facilitates this group, which focuses on researching African American ancestry. Meetings take place on the 4th Saturday of the month at 12:30 p.m.

If you know of any other people interested in African American genealogy, please tell them about the group. You do not have to be a GFO member to participate, as all our Special Interest Groups are free and completely open to the public!

British Interest Group 1 – 3 p.m.

The group will discuss online sources for news. Frances Hart will report on her trip to the UK. There will also be time for open discussions about your recent successes and brick walls. This group focuses on research in the British Isles, i.e. England, Wales, Scotland, and Scots-Irish. We try to have speakers who provide interesting experiences or online databases for research in these countries. One hour of the two hour meeting is devoted to Brick Wall questions. Anyone with an interest in English/Welsh/Scottish research is welcome to join us. Questions may be directed to Duane Funk at UK@gfo.org. Website: http://gfo.org/intgrp/british.htm. Library Catalog: http://www.gfo.org/library/uki/eng.htm.

GFO’s Research Library will close at 12:45 p.m. on this date, Saturday, September 22nd, to allow room for the two above-noted fantastic Special Interest Groups.

SUNDAY, September 23rd

Beginners’ Boot Camp 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Class Full: Registration Closed

Laurel Smith leads a full day of beginning genealogy lessons at the GFO. There will be sessions about the census, vital records, immigration and naturalization, discussions about genealogy software and database use, organizing your research and more — all geared toward beginners. Bring a sack lunch so the discussion can continue while we eat.

Here’s what attendees are saying: “Boot Camp was rocking, wow do I regret not having it before I started my work…such a good teacher…a marathon that was time well-spent…informative and motivational…with humor and positive energy…more than exceeded my expectations!”

Contact Information: Laurel Smith at info@gfo.org or at 503-963-1932 if you have questions about your registration.

If you missed registering for this class, it happens again Tuesday, January 8, followed by one on Sunday, March 24 during the annual GFO Open House.

Friday Serendipity

by Charles Hansen

My newspaper, The Spokesman Review, is both blessed and lucky to have Jim Kershner as a regular correspondent. Here is his bit from Sunday, 9 Sep 2018……. and fits well for a WSGS Serendipity blog post:

A mass meeting of citizens in Krupp, Wash., west of Odessa, unanimously voted to petition the U.S. Post Office and the Great Northern Railway to change the name of the post office and the station from Krupp to Marlin.

With war raging against Germany, people had turned against German-sounding names. The name Krupp was particularly problematic, since it was the name of a German munitions company.

Apparently few were in favor of keeping the name Krupp. Yet plenty of debate was devoted to selecting a new name. Some of the suggestions included Wheatland, Marne, Merica, and Wheat.

They settled on Marlin, in honor of Henry Marlin, one of the earliest settlers in the area.

“Marlin raised 12 children here, and his cattle ranged all the way between what is now Odessa and Wilson Creek,” said a correspondent.

The name of the post office was, in fact, duly changed to Marlin. Yet changing the official name of the town itself was another matter. The town had already been incorporated as Krupp in 1911, and to this day it has never been changed, even though the post office is still named Marlin.

On maps, the name is sometimes listed as both Krupp and Marlin — or as Krupp, with ‘Marlin P.O.” in parentheses.

In the 2010 census, Krupp had a population of 48, making it the smallest incorporated town in the state.

In 1918, it had about twice as many residents.

Did you have ancestors who lived in Krupp…… or Marlin???