The Traveling Genealogist

Family diaries, Journals and historical documents...our treasured heirlooms.

Can any of us predict when that budding genealogist in the future generations of our family will come along and be eager to read an original diary, journal, document that was written by his/her ancestor?

 

Do we wish we could share the wise words of our ancestors with the genealogical world?  Many of us do.  The answer. Transcribe your original diaries, journals, documents.  (or have someone do it for you) Place them in a repository and on the shelf where access is available to everyone.  You would not want to do this with the original. Originals are mostly likely placed in the Manuscript area and available only upon request.  Quite often only those with credentials are allowed to peruse the heirloom, but a copy.... a transcribed facsimilie....what a great idea you will have had.  Placing a copy in a library in the towns where your ancestor lived is such a gift.  Think about it.

We don’t say it like we used to!

I  recently completed, for a client,  a 93 page transcription (legal size pages....handwritten) of an 1810 murder trial.  They were the defense attorney’s handwritten notes taken during the trial.   It was very interesting and I found by the final page I had acquired my own judgment of the case. I think the defendant was “robbed”.   It seems murder couldn’t be proved, but manslaughter could and his punishment was “burning an “M” on his left hand”.  Better than the alternative.

 

The expressions by the witnesses, the defendant, and the attorney arguments, all had a flair and archaic ring to them. Phrases that are no longer in use today, but were used over 200 years ago connected with the jury.

 

 

“Heard A. speak to D^r of cow theives;                                    
then old M. told him to go away from his company;he did not want rascals to be in his company”.

 

When was the last time you used the word “rascal”?

The “fray” started due to a group of men, including the defendant, being “in consultation” on a log (and some say drinking others say “not a drop”.)

(Harper's Weekly)

These "boys" must be "in consultation at the bar not on the log, but, you get the idea.

 

Descriptions were colorful, indeed.

 

Watching the dead body of A.; in hopes no doubt that some half uttered  sound may escape his lifeless lips that praying can distort into the justification of his murderers. Can the deep caverns of hell vomit forth a monster more foul than this? A demon more irascible than him, who professing the religion of Christ, is yet the helpmate of thieves?

 

 

Within what bounds was his resentment ever curbed?  Did he not hold the whole country in awe.  Was he not the most impetuous.  the most violent, the dangerous private citizen that ever lived in any country governed by law.  Long had the most deadly animosity influenced his bosom against the family.

 

Strategy of the lawyer for the defendant

Were his motives like theirs?  Are the sentiments which animate the bosom of a son when he interposes to save an aged father from danger & from death, to be classed with the feelings which urge the  highwayman to his midnight assault upon the unsuspecting traveler?

 

 

Transcribing old script is often a challenge. You feel as though you are sailing along reading the text, words are familiar and then WHAM! you come across an ink blot, a torn edge, a difficult handwritten word, or just a word you never thought about using in that context. Of course, you then have Secretary Hand thrown into the difficulty and misspelled words.

With many of the manuscripts I transcribe, I begin to feel I know personally the characters involved. As with this murder case, I felt as though I had become a member of the Jury and frankly I think the defendant was innocent. But then, I wasn’t there. 

The Genealogy Journey Continues

Orient Cemetery

  Adair County, IA

 

Guest Submitter: Genetripqueen

On this trip, our first stop was the Orient Cemetery in Adair County.

 

Orient Cemetery

As expected, Jesse and Catherine Doan were buried in this beautiful, well kept, hilltop cemetery.  It  was easy to find with our directions, and small enough that it didn’t take us long to find their headstones.  We wrote out transcriptions and drew the placement of stones in our notebooks in case nearby stones were for colateral relatives.  We also cleaned up around the stones, took many pictures and just enjoyed the feeling of knowing their remains were below us and their children had walked this same ground as they mourned.  We had brought some supplies, but found that we need many more.  It was after this visit that I researched and developed my "cemetery bucket", which has accompanied me on all driving genealogy trips since.       

Cemetery Kit                                             

For cleaning up around stones

• Hand spade  
• Clippers
• Stiff brush
• Kneeling pad
• Gardening gloves
• Rag
• Plastic scraper

For doing rubbings (not allowed in many cemeteries)

• Large pieces of paper                                                                
• Preschool crayons (take paper off and turn lengthwise)
• Masking tape

To ensure readable photographs before you leave the cemetery

• Digital camera, extra batteries
• Aluminum foil or a mirror (to shine light or direct sunlight across a stone from the side)
• Chalk (to rub across lettering to make it readable.  This is controversial; wash off if used)
• Water (in a spray bottle if possible) This is good for adding contrast to stones

To record inscriptions and placement of stones in the cemetery

• Notebook
• Pen &/or pencil with sharpener
• Magnifying glass

For comfort and safety

• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Nail polish (to take the itch out of chigger bites)
• Snacks and water
• Moist towelettes
• Long stick for snake avoidance
• Umbrella and extra shoes in the car in case if rain

Also carry, on your person, in a safe place

• Cell phone
• Car keys

The Greenfield, Adair County, Cemetery   that we visited the same day turned out  to be a treasure trove of information.  It holds many of my Quinn and our Doane ancestors as well as collateral families.  One visit to this cemetery was not enough.  I have been back many times. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greenfield Cemetery, Adair County, IA              

Clyde C. Doane 1879 - 1928

M. Estella Doane 1892 - 1935

 

 

 

 

Ironically, my Quinns and Doanes continue to come to life  based on information gleaned from  this cemetery.   

                                                                                       308 NE Elm St
Greenfield, IA 50849-1111
(641) 743-2812

Greenfield Cemetery

Libraries Can Be Exceptional Resources

This trip was the first time since college that I went to a library to do research.  The Greenfield, Adair County; Leon, Decatur County; and Mt Ayr, Ringgold County libraries held much more relevant information than we had time to explore on this trip. 

Greenfield Library, 202 South 1st Street, Greenfield, IA 50849-1470,             (641) 743-6120

Leon Public Library, 200 West 1^st Street, Leon, IA 50144-1355,                 (641) 466-3746

Mt. Ayr Public Library, 121 West Monroe Street, Mount Ayr, IA 50854-2159, (641) 464-2159

Libraries and the librarians to be found in them are high on my list of research tools.  A small town library can have donated books from across the country and sometimes a surprisingly large local history and genealogy section.  The librarian can be counted on to be helpful.  Sometimes, though, they will bend over backwards, call locals who might help, steer you toward unbound volumes of local history, sexton’s records, manuscripts, pictures, obituaries, etc.  The list is endless.  I’ve always found that being friendly, telling them how far I’ve come and what I’m looking for brings a great response.

We stopped at several courthouses, in Adair, Ringgold and Decatur counties.

Decatur County Courthouse, Leon, IA

All allowed us access to the books though we had not called ahead.  We wrote out information from the huge, heavily bound registers and indexes and got the copies we needed.  This was my very first experience with courthouses, so I was rather intimidated.  I didn’t log the details for this trip, but courthouse copies are usually expensive and often have to be made by a staff member.  If it’s a courthouse you may never visit again, it’s safest to get all the copies you might need.  If it’s one you can frequent, write out some information from the indexes with a plan to return. 

Come back and visit this site for further interesting and valuable findings of Genetripqueen.

 

Allegheny Courthouse Research - Pittsburgh, PA

Allegheny County Courthouse Complex
436 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/directions/index.aspx#map

 

Guest Submitter: Nanci Markusson

The courthouses in Allegheny County, PA  are in Pittsburgh.  

They are across the street from each other on Ross Street between 4^th and Forbes.   One holds the Department of Court Records and the Wills/Orphans’ Court Division (and marriage licenses).    

The other is the Department of Real Estate and holds the deeds.  The index to the early deeds is indexed differently than with Grantee and Grantor indexes so be sure to ask for help when using them.  

Everyone was pleasant and more than willing to help in both buildings.  I found them both the nicest courthouses in which to research.  I didn’t notice parking close by, but downtown Pittsburgh is an easy city to walk in and find your way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another source for researching in Allegheny County is the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh.  It is located at 4400 Forbes Ave.  The genealogical material will be found in the Pennsylvania Division.  The Microfilm Room adjoins the Pennsylvania Division and among other things contains Pennsylvania census records and copies of Allegheny County Courthouse records.  I didn’t get there but it sounds like a valuable resource.

Other libraries that may have material are the Hillman Library and the Darlington Library at the University of Pittsburgh.   The library of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society and the Historic Pittsburgh Project are now in Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center.

 

 

Colorado Railroad Museum and Library - Golden, CO

Colorado Railroad Museum

Robert W. Richardson Railroad Library

17155 W. 44^th Avenue

Golden Colorado 80403

 

Submitter: Pat Bishop

I’ve been searching for a long time of any mention, in any accident report, document, notation, etc. of where my great, great grandfather died in 1870. The family history was that he had been hit and killed in a train accident somewhere in Kansas. I’ve always wondered if there are accident reports out there from that time period and where they might be.    

 In my search, I came across the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, CO. I noticed on their website the Robert W. Richardson Railroad Library is part of this museum. http://www.coloradorailroadmuseum.org/library 

 I took a little trip over there to see what it was all about. Railroad buffs visiting this museum will think they’ve died and gone to heaven. What a fun and interesting museum!

 

I visited with the Library Archivist, Ken Forrest. He was gracious and showed me around their stacks and explained the primary source documents they have. The collection includes histories, photo histories, atlases, corporate histories, biographies, reference books and some employee records.

The library includes information and documents about the Colorado Southern, Denver & Rio Grand Western, Union Pacific, Denver Tramway railroads. The Denver Union Terminal and Railway Co. owned the Union Station in Denver.                                                                                            

 There are employee records housed here listed in the Seniority Lists book.  Unfortunately those books are not indexed, but persistence could pay off if you are looking for an ancestor who worked for any of the railroads mentioned.

These books list the start date of employment for those who trained as Brakemen, then moved on to be Conductors.  Firemen moved on to become Engineers. Here is a list of the names on one page of one of the many books.  Maybe you’ll get lucky and see your ancestor’s name.

Names	Entered Service	Names	Entered Service
Zolper, J.P.                Young, V.L Tower, K.K Long, W.E Joerger, P.R Kalemanoff, A.N.      Joerger, R. A Glaser, F.P.  Lehnert, A   Glydewell, L. E.   Pratt, H.       Jones, H. B. Kennedy, R. T. Camper, T.E. Henness, F. C. Braungardt, R. D. Kenyon, G Lowe, D. A. Leifheit, G. H. Vance, L. W. Fox, J. F.	5-1-56 5-1-56 5-1-56 5-1-56 5-1-56 5-1-56 5-1-56 5-1-56 5-23-56 5-23-56 5-28-56 5-28-56 6-3-56 6-12-56 7-1- 56 8-2-56 8-8-56 8-17-56 10-15-56 10-15-56 10-15-56	Sheffler, M. E. Minner, D. M. Sanders, J. E. Graves, E. G. Hoof, C.E. Mayberry, R. J. Zink, E. L. Pilcher, H. W. Hoaglund, C. A. Charles, R. R. Colwell, D. F. Dixon, R. C. Clark, J. Z. Malone, J. D. Benson, M. L. Benson, M. L. Horstman, W. O. Stoltz, K. T. Eshelman, V. L. Fredres, R. Pokorny, E. Herring, R.L.	10-15-56 10-15-56 10-15-56 10-15-56 10-15-56 10-15-56 10-15-56 10-15-56 11-7-56 4-18-57 4-18-57 4-20-57 4-22-57 4-25-57 4-25-57 5-18-57 6-12-57 6-27-57 7-2-57 8-27-57 8-27-57 9-1-57

As far as finding an accident report, Ken said that most records of accidents were of major accidents and even then, if the cause was evident, there may not have been an accident report. He did mention some lucky genealogists who visited the library a few weeks ago and found mention of their ancestor in a primary record. The time period was around the 1870’s. That doesn’t happen often. Looking for an ancestor is similar to looking for a needle in a haystack.  Records are kept in the lower level. A volunteer will assist you if you have fairly specific information of what and who you are looking for. That volunteer will then go down to the storage and find the document. A visitor is not permitted in the document storage area.

There are book stacks you are welcome to look through, however, this being a Reference Library, none can be checked out. I did find mention of my Uncle in Who’s Who in Railroad. He was VP of Transportation for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad in California. That was fun.

All in all, it was a nice experience, the people were friendly and there were some very hard working volunteers in there cataloging the collections they receive from donors. 

Even if you don’t have ancestors who worked for the railroads, it is a great place to visit.  Volunteers are the backbone of the conservation projects that keep the 100 pieces of train equipment in good condition.

 

A Dedicated Volunteer

 

 

 I make vintage style hand cut wooden jigsaw puzzles. Here's one I made of the old engines on the Georgetown Loop in Colorado.

            I use 1/4 inch Finland Birch. The puzzle trays are great for working a puzzle when relaxing on a train ride. The tray keeps the pieces in place. If you are interested in having a vintage style wood jigsaw puzzle made for your collection, just contact me at psb43@earthlink.net

 

Philadelphia Free Library - Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia Free Library

1901 Vine  Street,

Philadelphia,

Guest Submitter: Garth Coombs

The PFL in Pennsylvania has an extensive collection of City Directories on microfiche. I searched Philadelphia Directories from 1840 to 1859 and found 5 records of my great great grandmother, but nothing on my great great grandfather Coombs.  It also has a collection of old city maps on microfilm. I looked at Lebanon, PA maps, but did not find the houses I wanted. The library also has a collection old photos of buildings in Philadelphia. I found the building and company where my great grandfather worked before and after the Civil War. I was allowed to digitally photo copy documents and photos. The library has a large collection of genealogy books that are open to search, which I did not use.

Evergreen, CO Obituaries

Evergreen Library

Jefferson County Public Library

5000 State Highway 73

 Evergreen, CO 80439

 (303) 235-5275

 

An important resource of this library for genealogists is the set of obituary books in their holdings.  The collection of obituary information begins with 1953 to present.  Members of the Mountain Genealogists Society, a very active local group, recently began extracting obituaries from the Canyon Courier newspapers (covering Evergreen and the High Timber Times (covering Hwy 285 corridor, Conifer, Pine, Bailey)

 

The obituaries are in binders located in the Evergreen  Library (Jefferson County, Colorado). The information extracted is on a page along with the copied obituary from the newspaper.

               

                                              
                                   

The Traveling Genealogist™