Lower Columbia Genealogical Society December Meeting

by Charles Hansen

As the holidays approach, the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society is happy to welcome representatives of the

COWLITZ COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

to our December meeting. The presentation will include Cowlitz County history and activities, information about Habitat’s national organization and international disaster relief.

DONATIONS OF NO LONGER NEEDED BUT USABLE ITEMS AROUND YOUR HOME CAN BE GIVEN TO THE HABITAT STORE AT 1321 S. 13TH AVENUE, KELSO, WA, 9 TO 5, WED THRU SATURDAY. 360-636-6765

LOWER COLUMBIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~walcolgs/

SOMERSET RETIREMENT APARTMENTS

2025 TIBBETTS DRIVE, LONGVIEW

DINING ROOM 7:00 PM

DECEMBER 14, 2017

Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen
GFO Logo Halo 2 Large

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Wednesday Evening

E-News

15 November 2017

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. We love hearing from you!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for November 2017, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy HERE. NOTE: The Insider issues are now located under the “Learn” > “Our Publications” menu at www.gfo.org.

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
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GPS Logo

GFO’s GPS Group Has A Treat For You This Saturday!! Nov 18th, 9:30 – 11:30am

GFO’s Genealogy Problem Solvers

FINDING VITAL STATISTIC DATA

At this meeting, come learn about research tools that can help you locate obscure documentation of life’s major events.

While many vital statistic records are open to the public, others have restricted access under state law. Share in the GPS’s research tips about searching for one particularly elusive divorce document.

Genealogy Problem Solvers is led by Harold Hinds Jr., Duane Funk, and Tom O’Brien.

All of our special interest groups are free and open to the public. Bring a friend, or seven of them!
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DNA + Genealogy GenTalk is Saturday, Nov 18th, 2pm
dna black n white

Unravel the mysteries of DNA research with presenter and author Don Anderson.

Come out to the GFO Library this Saturday, Nov 18th, at 2pm, to hear author Don Anderson discuss his new book, Paper and Spit.

Don, like many adoptees, wanted to know where he came from. His presentation at this month’s GenTalk will help you figure out what to say when making first contact with newly discovered relatives.

Remember! GFO’s Monthly GenTalks are Always Free and Open to the Public!!
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“So, why forty-four dollars?” – GFO Membership
books3

Ever wonder at GFO’s membership fee? $44 per year seems like it may be more than other similar societies ask, but here’s how GFO stands out:

▪ We maintain a large genealogical library with over 45,000 holdings.
▪ We offer new computers.
▪ We offer high-speed Wi-Fi.
▪ We offer access in the library to Ancestry.com, Fold3, Newspapers.com, GenealogyBank, FindMyPast, American Ancestors, and HistoryGeo.
▪ Each of our calendar months is jam packed with a variety of FREE educational programming opportunities.
▪ Our library is open seven days a week including one evening until 8 o’clock (Wednesdays! Wednesdays!).
▪ We support a variety of special interest groups that meet in our library.

Maybe you’d like to learn more? Give our new promotional video a spin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80c8hIMQtuA.

We hope you’ll consider becoming a member if you aren’t already or if you’ve been on the fence about it. It’s our membership support that has kept us going strong for 71 years!
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Are you as excited as we are about #GivingTuesday?!?
GivingTuesday 2017 Flyer

Thank you, as always, for all you do for the GFO!

We’re very excited about this event every year!

No need to sign up! No requirement to stay the whole day. Come when you can, eat some delicious food, learn some new skills, and chat with some truly amazing people!
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GFO’s Digital Manuscripts Collection Feature…
MSS Features Aunt Jane House Jesuale 2014-12 Box 3 File 6 Page 38

Click the image for a preview of the Jesuale Collection!

We’re putting ’em online for you to research from home!

Did you know the GFO has a digital manuscripts collection? Do you know what type of material it contains? It contains some very exciting genealogical gems, my darlings!

Jesuale Collection (2014-12)

This week we found that this collection’s creator was connected to the author of Aunt Jane of Kentucky, a book written in 1907. The documentation in this manuscript collection shows that Aunt Jane’s author, Lydia/Lida/Liza Obenchain, pen name Elizabeth Calvert Hall (also Liza Calvert Hall), was the wife of William Obenchain.

The first chapter of Ms. Obenchain’s book, titled “Sally Ann’s Experience,” was recommended by Theodore Roosevelt during his speech “Industrial Training and National Development,” delivered on May 31, 1907 at the semi-centennial celebration of the founding of agricultural colleges in the U.S. in Lansing, Michigan.

This collection is currently being indexed, but click HERE for a preview or email manuscripts@gfo.org to order a copy of the complete manuscript.
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Ford Building Parking Updates
Brazilian Ford Maverick Division 1 Series

We recently learned about the following changes and wanted to give you all a heads-up:

▪ The parking lot on SE 11th Ave, across from the Ford Building, no longer offers pay-to-park, but is still available for permit holders.
▪ The parking lot directly behind the Ford Building is now offering up to 3 hours parking instead of just 2 hours.
▪ The parking lot on SE 10th Ave, across Division St from the Ford Building, is still offering pay-to-park options.

Please note, these changes have been implemented by the Ford Building Management.
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This Week at the GFO…
desk-calendar-12992149

Go on! Click the calendar. I dare ya!!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18th

Genealogical Problem Solvers Group 9:30 – 11:30am

FINDING VITAL STATISTIC DATA – Join us as Harold, Duane, and Tom share research tips about their search for an elusive divorce document.

GenTalk 2 – 3pm

This GenTalk will focus on using Don’s story to illustrate “What to say when making contact with new matches.” This can be one of the most delicate and challenging aspects of finding close relatives, or wanting to create a positive experience with new cousins. Discovering a new match is much like finding a fish at the end of your pole, and now you need to reel in the fish. There is a method – what you say and how you say it is important.

BOTH THESE EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19th

Library Work Party 9am – noon

There’€™s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’€™s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so and you’€™re welcome to do the same. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there.

Beginner DNA 1 – 3pm

Topic: Triangulation!
Have you not located your common ancestor for the Y and autosomal DNA? Have you proven your Y-lineage through DNA back to your oldest known ancestor? Emily will cover how to triangulate for Y-DNA (basically works for mitochondrial DNA as well) and autosomal DNA testing. Learn why it is important to do so.

While waiting for this class, research your genealogy deep and wide (as far back as you can, bringing down all the ancestors you can to the 1900s, and download your matches’ segments into a spreadsheet. Also, test any 2-4th cousins you can. Do as much as you can, but know that all of these help you determine your common ancestor(s) more easily.

There are two handouts. Click here to download. Please bring a copy of the evaluation form which can be found here. Questions? Ask Emily at aulicino@hevanet.com.

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Wednesday, November 23nd GFO’s library will close at 1pm. Researcher early this day!

Thursday, November 24th GFO’s library will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. See you again at 9:30am on Friday, November 25th!

Friday Serendipity

by Charles Hansen

**** The Yakima Valley Genealogical Society just celebrated their 50th anniversary in October. Three of the original charter members are still alive; one of those is Maxine Bissell, age 100+, and they hoped she’d be able to attend the party. The day of celebration was Saturday, Oct 21st, and included a potluck by the members and an open house and sharing of stories. Sue Ericksen, a member for 25 years, and current president, arranged the day. Way to go, YVGS!!

How many other genealogical societies in our state have 50 years under their belt? Skagit Valley Genealogical Society just marked their 30th. The Eastern Washington Genealogical Society, founded in 1935, has been serving genealogists in Spokane and surrounding areas for 82 years. Any society top that?

 

**** This is truly a serendipity story. Last time I visited the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society library, Frank McLean showed me their newest treasure….. 16 volumes of Mortgages of Yakima County, dating from 1898. And where did these books come from? Frank said that some time ago a fellow called from Hawaii to say he had spotted these at a yard sale there and did some looking on the Internet, found YVGS, and so called to see if YVGS wanted these books. (“Duh,” quoth Frank.) This wonderful fellow paid to ship all 16 volumes to Yakima. The YVGS plan now is to digitize all the pages (“nearly done,” said Frank) and index it all and make it available on the YVGS website.  The question begs: How on earth did these books end up in Hawaii?????

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week

by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK –
PAY-PER-VIEW AT SCOTLAND’S PEOPLE

Set up an account, register for free and search for free! I often shy away from this offer, finding it to be more trouble than it’s worth. But not in this case. I truly like the National Records of Scotland – Scotland’s People website.

A list of records you will find there include :
• Statutory Records – Birth, Marriage, Death – 1855 to present
• Census Returns – 1841 to 1911
• Valuation Rolls – 1855 to 1935
• Legal Records – Wills, Etc. – some as old as 1513
• Old Parish Records – some as old as 1553

The search tool is very comprehensive. Check out all the search options – exact, fuzzy, wild card. Valuation rolls are tax rolls of structures showing owner/occupant data including occupation.

Sometimes you can take what information you can glean from the search results and use it to find additional information in your Ancestry, FindMyPast, or FamilySearch account, thus avoiding having to pay-per-view at Scotland’s People.

If you want to purchase the actual record image it’s a simple process. You buy “credits” with a credit card or PayPal. Remember currency conversion and fees may apply. These credits are good for a year. If you allow them to go inactive after a year, they will be reactivated when, and if, you purchase more credits. The cost of record types varies. One experienced user estimates a ballpark figure for the cost of a record averages less than $2.50 US Dollars. Certified copies are more expensive and usually unnecessary, is another good tip from experienced users. Once you have purchased an image it is stored on your account. There will be no need to purchase it again. A purchase buys you the entire page, not just the record of the individual you are researching.

At Youtube, there are four videos, about 15 minutes each, on using Scotland’s People by Amberly B. They are worthwhile in helping you get started and comfortable with the process. The urls you will need are listed below.

www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIl94cdX_zU

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

SUCH A SUCCESS

Hopefully you didn’t miss Dick Eastman, publisher of the popular Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter, at the SGS Fall Seminar a few weeks ago. He spoke to a packed house and it was a fun day. Attendees appreciated that there was plenty of opportunity for Q&A.

The Seminar Committee anticipated a larger than usual crowd so they commissioned two rooms for this seminar. The room usually used for the presentation was set up just to accommodate registration, book sales, refreshments, and plenty of lunch tables. A larger auditorium, set up classroom style with chairs and writing tables, was dedicated to the lecture. Everyone seemed to like the new arrangement.

Did you catch Dick’s recent blog with kind words and thanks to SGS? The sentiment is reciprocated. Thanks so much to you, Dick. It was a great seminar.

A link to that blog is here : https://blog.eogn.com/2017/10/23/thank-you-seattle-genealogical-society/#more-20229

HURRY – FREE THROUGH NOVEMBER 17th

The recording of webinar “Using Non-Population Schedules for Context and Evidence” by Jill Morelli, CG is now available to view at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com for free for a limited time.

Most are familiar with the decennial censuses, but the non-population schedules can also provide evidence and context for your family history. Using basic analytical skills and correlating tools, investigate five different records sets which shed light on many aspects of your ancestors lives and enrich your stories of them.

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. The SGS Library will be closed from November 23 through November 27 and from December 22 through January 1, 2018, for the holidays. The Scandinavian Interest Group will not meet in December.

NOVEMBER

Saturday, November 18, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, November 18, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, Women in WWI, presented by Lisa Oberg

Sunday, November 19, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, Led by Cary Bright with first hour on a specific topic, and the second hour open for sharing DNA issues with focus on GenomeMate Pro.

DECEMBER

Saturday, December 2, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.

Saturday, December 9, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM) Users Group, with Reiley Kidd and Betty Ravenholt, leaders

Saturday, December 16, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, December 16, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, German SIG, with Jean Roth

 

What Do YOU Want For Christmas??

by Charles Hansen

Moorshead Magazines, publishers of three terrific genealogy-helpful magazines, is offering WSGS members a wonderful opportunity…wouldn’t you enjoy a subscription to one of these magazines as a gift from your kids rather than a sweater, a tie or a box of candy???

Ed Zapletal and Rick Cree and I have been friends for years and when I approached them with this idea, they gave a resounding “thumbs up.”

And here is the great news! For each subscription to any one of these magazines, Ed and Rick will issue a $3 “rebate” check back to WSGS. What could be better than such a win-win??

Here’s what you must do: Click to www.internet-genealogy.com or www.yourgenealogytoday.com  and sign up for a specially discounted $20 subscription (6 issues, one year, each magazine). Rick cautioned me that “it is imperative that they indicate the code WSGS. This will have to be put in the area where we ask for their ID number (the actual wording on the box is: if available, please include your subscription ID number when renewing your subscription)…”  And yes, you can pay by credit card.

So plan to enjoy your special Christmas gift and know that while you are enriching your mind, you’re helping to fund the educational projects of WSGS.

Tri-City Genealogical Society December Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Hello TCGS Members and Guests:

Would you like to highlight and display something about your ancestral history?

Would you like to display a collection that you inherited from one of your ancestors?

Would you like to display an heirloom, antique or vintage item that was handed down from your ancestors?

Would you like to display a personal hobby or a collection you had from the past or currently engaged in?

 

If so, this is what our December 13th meeting will be all about. We want you to share with us via photographs, documents and a display of family anitques/heirlooms and hobbies and collections. Hobbies and collections of the past are very much part of your ancestral legacy, but your personal past/current hobbies and collections will also become a family legacy to your descendants.

Please consider what you would like to bring to this meeting to display. This will be fun to get to know more about you or your ancestors.

Also, we are asking each of you to bring either homemade or store bought Christmas cookies, candies, fudge, muffins, or breads (banana, zucchini, apple, pumpkin, etc.) to share with one another.

If you have any questions about what to bring, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for supporting TCGS.

Art Kelly

 

 

https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar_details.php?webinar_id=586

    Wednesday, November 15, 2017

 

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

Who remembers these little tin containers? Did you use one as a child?

According to Wikipedia:  Log Cabin Syrup is a brand of pre-packaged syrups owned by Pinnacle Foods. Log Cabin Syrup was introduced in 1887. Grocer Patrick James Towle (1835-1912), who lived in the village of Forest Lake, Minnesota, initially formulated it.

I goofed. This was priced at $10 in Apple Annie’s in Cashmere and when I looked at eBay they sell for up to $25. Amazing. And empty sans syrup too!

Tuesday Trivia

by Charles Hansen

I have a whole stadium full of New England ancestors  and I’d bet that many of you do too. Reading a book titled, Sightseeking: Clues to the Landscape History of New England, by Christopher J. Lenney, 2003, I learned about  what he called The China Syndrome.

Between about 1787 and 1849, in New England, there were many  towns with exotic names such as China, Poland, Denmark, Palermo, Belgrade, Rome, Corinth, Alexandria and Brunswick (“to flatter the House of Hanover”). Lenney quotes Wilbur Zelinsky as stating that he believed that these exotic names for towns showed “the extroverted buoyancy and expansiveness of spirit that many observers identify today as American.”

Lenney states that “the general flowering of exotic names in the early republic” shows that “the United States was a new nation that had lately assumed its station among the powers of the earth; perhaps in token of this, the names of its towns began to scintillate with the brilliance of the firmament in which it was the newest star.”

Thinking about this, it wasn’t only a New England phenomena ….. think Frankfort, Cairo, London, etc. Interesting trivia, don’t you think?