Mining for gold will not be easy, but what we find will be priceless!



HOW TO: Experience genealogy, family history activities, family photos and pedigree charts while we search family connections and collections. Write your life story, or keep a journal. Become the caretaker for precious family photos. Learn the stories, and how to protect treasures of family significance.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The "Monarch of the Sea" and beyond...

Caroline's parents wanted their children to go to Zion as they already had one daughter in Zion who had gone across the plains with a handcart company.

In May 1861, Richard and Caroline set sail for America on a sailing vessel called the "Monarch of the Sea".  They were married June 18, 1861 the day before they landed in New York Harbor.  they were married by Elder Jabus Woodward; he had presided over the group on this voyage. they stayed a year in New York to make some money for their journey to Zion.  In spring 1862, they made their way to Winter Quarters, Florence, Nebraska. In May 1862, they hired out to Wagon Master John R. Young.  Richard was to act as teamster to four yoke of cattle wagons of merchandise from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake city for the John R. Murdoch Company.  Caroline also had to drive a team.

more to come....

Caroline Orr's parents - 
Charles Derricott 1803-1885
Mary Ashley 1805-1885
Richard Charles Orr's parents - 
Charles Hoar 1813-1887
Elizabeth Webb 1816-1841

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Caroline Derricott - Grandmother to my Grandmother

Caroline Derricott, was born October 1, 1843 at Oakengates, Shropshire, England.  She was from a family of 12 children.  Her father was Charles Derricott who was born in England in 1806.

Caroline was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was a young girl.  Those who joined the Mormon church at that time were baptized at night because the people were so bitter against those who joined.

The family moved to Neuslain, Willinghall, England due to persecution.

She met her intended husband Richard Hoar, when she was about 18 years old.  Richard was considering going to America to Zion so he got consent of Caroline's parents to go with them and they would be married in Zion.  At this point in time it was not possible to marry anyone outside of your own class or title and so he would not have been able to marry Caroline in England.

My grandmother- Caroline McMurray 
Her mother - Sarah Ann Orr  (my great-grandmother)

Her grandmother - Caroline Derricott (my great-great grandmother)


to be continued...

Monday, August 29, 2011

Sickness and other Health Conditions

Thinking about my grandfather having diphtheria as a child caused me to think about other health conditions that my parents or grandparents had to deal with during their lives.

My grandpa Fowler (Douglas Bradshaw Fowler) died of leukemia in 1965. He suspected and diagnosed it in himself.
My grandma Fowler (Louise King Fowler) died in 1987- I don't know why.

I remember my grandma Davies (Caroline McMurray Davies) had Parkinson's  Disease, that eventually landed her in a care home where she lived until she died in 1981.
My grandpa Davies (William George Davies) died in 1957 when I was 4 years old. I think he died of a heart attack- I better check my facts.

Illnesses of my Mother - I remember hearing about some bad rash she had on both hands and she had to be taken to the doctor in Lethbridge for treatment, and had both hands bandaged and it was a really problem when she needed to use the washroom.

Illnesses of my Father- (Allan King Fowler)               

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Diphtheria in 1930's

In the early 20th century diphtheria outbreaks evoked fear around the world. Until the 1930s it was one of the most common killers of children in Canada and the United States.

I found this quote on the site from the Canadian Medical Association and talked to my mom to see if she knew anyone who had diphtheria. It jogged her memory and she told me that she remembered hearing that her father, William George Davies had had diphtheria when he was a child and even missed a year of school to recover. Her dad was very close lipped about many things so she had not heard this from him, but it was shared from her Aunt Sis (her dad's sister). She wished now that she had asked more questions.

Canadian Medical Association

Saturday, August 27, 2011

"When the folks went to town..."

This was a story about  my mom, Glenna Elaine Davies.   This story takes place when she was a young girl, but old enough to stay home alone when her folks had to go to town.

Occasionally, George and Carrie Davies would go to town and leave the girls home. One time Glenna was trying to keep herself entertained and was doing a little snooping around.  Her house didn't really have any closets or built in cupboards either upstairs or on the main floor. 

However, in the living room, there was a window with a window seat. Many parts of the year the family didn't even use the living room as it was too cool or cold.

A "store set" similar to this.
She went in the living room and decided to lift up the window seat lid to see what was there. Inside the window seat she found an amazing site. An entire little store set, very authentic and, just like you would find at the store. There was even a little cash register to ring up sales.

This was an absolute treasure!

For the next few months, every time her folks went to town, Glenna would go into the living room and play with the little store set. There was never any thought in her mind about why they were there or whose they were, it was just a huge bonus to have them there to enjoy.


A few months passed, and then it was Christmas morning.  

Her folks were so excited as they had saved and scrimped to be able to purchase a store bought gift of a little store set. Glenna  was not very excited at all, by now these were well-played with and there was no novelty about this gift. 

Friday, August 26, 2011

Friday Family Story . . . What is a "Beef Ring"?




My Grandpa Davies (William George Davies), had several brothers. I only knew one of them, Uncle Glen. When I was a little girl growing up in Edmonton I remember Uncle Glen coming to visit us. .
But this story takes place way before my times. 

I asked my mom how they had meat in the olden days when they didn't have a fridge. She told me that  when she was a kid she saw her mom can meat, just like when she canned vegetables- except that it took at least three hours to get it processed correctly. 

Her mom also had a 20 gallon crock with salt preserving the pork or ham. If she needed a bit of meat she just lifted the lid and pulled out the leg and sliced off a hunk.

Another way they got meat was through a "beef ring".   A "beef ring"  consisted of several farmers who raised beef . Uncle Glen would butcher a cow that belonged to one of the members of the ring. He would cut it up and all those in the ring came by his place to get a share of the beef.  Sometimes if my mom's family were visiting  he would give them a roast or some stew meat.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Killiing Turkeys for Market - Carrie and George Davies

"Every year we had some turkeys, and usually about ten survived the skunks and coyotes. We would usually keep one for Christmas and then decide when we could take the others to Lethbridge to sell.  Two days before we would go to sell them, George would slit their tongues to kill them.  They were then hung by their feet so all the blood drained out.  Then they were laid out on the kitchen table to get all the feathers out.then we laid them on some newspaper on the living room floor. There was no heat in the living room, so it was pretty cold in there. Over night they would freeze.  The next day we took the frozen turkeys to market to sell them."

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Write on . . . Wednesday?

McGill University
I love lists and projects so this is what I decided to do today- I am going to make a list of high schools and colleges that any of my ancestors attended.

Then I want to write or call at least one of the institutions to  find out what I need to do to get a transcript.

I think it would be really cool to actually have a transcript from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where my grandfather (Douglas Bradshaw Fowler) went to Medical School.

University of Alberta, Edmonton 
Or a copy of my dad's transcript from University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Canada where he (Allan King Fowler) went to Pharmacy School.

Let's see what I come up with. . . 




Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Tuesday Task . . . . . Note Taking

You will find yourself taking notes as you start researching and discovering new and exciting info about your family and their history.

If you notice that you are actively writing stories, and gathering  information and facts about your family - then that's the time to start paying attention to your notes.  You should develop consistent and systematic note taking methods, and be sure you are using the right materials.

It is only natural to grab whatever is handy to start taking notes when an occasion arises that you can get some family information.

 I did it all wrong - I phoned my mom with every intent of asking her many questions about her mother. I wanted to know what it was like in the day-to-day. I guess I wasn't sure how much information I would  get and how many questions I would ask. I didn't even really have a set of questions to ask. I just planned to let the discussion go wherever it was going to go .  I didn't even have a notebook or pen handy.  Once she started to talk I had to grab a used spiral notebook (bad, bad), and a pen that kept skipping,          


Learn from my mistakes - Don't use a spiral notebook, Don't use an old "Big Chief" tablet - they have too much acid and it is good to try to use acid-free or alkaline-based paper. Don't use the back of old envelopes or other scratch paper, stick with good quality 8 1/2" x 11" paper.
Don't use metal clips or rubber bands in with the material you will be keeping for a long time, and don't use transparent tape.

TASK .... Think about note taking and where and how you are going to file your notes:
  • only write about one family member on a sheet of paper
  • note your source first
  • at the top of the page write the name of the family that the notes will pertain to 
  • if notes need to go in more than one file, photocopy them to make a second page or put a cross-reference note in the second folder
  • since you may need to photocopy your notes it is good to use black ink or s soft-lead pencil (blue ink or hard-lead pencil may not photocopy well)

Monday, August 22, 2011

Monday Mine Cart - Glossary A - B

    Here is a little mine cart - bringing you some information---
    Let's get started with some Family History terms- it will make it easier if you become conversant with these definitions:
  • Abstract - summary of important points of a text of document
  • Administrator - person appointed to manage or divide the estate of a deceased person, especially one who died without a will, feminine: administratrix
  • Alien - noun: a foreigner, citizen of another country; verb: to transfer property to another
  • Ancestor - person for whom you are descended; a forefather; a forbear
  • Ancestry - all forebears of a person, from parents backwards in time
  • Archives- records of a government, organizations, institution, the place where such records are stored     
  • Attest - to affirm: to certify by signature or oath   
  • Banns - public announcement of an intended marriage
  • Bequeath - to give personal property to a person in a will, noun: bequest
  • Bond - a binding agreement to perform certain actions or duties or be required to pay a specified sum of money as a penalty; at different times rewired of estate administrators or executors, grooms, certain elected officials. A bondsman, often a relative, acted as surety.
  • Bounty land - land promised as reward or inducement for enlisting in military service

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Roses for Glenna

According to a book about flowers-
ROSES: The person who loves roses is sentimental and good-hearted. They will hold onto cherished memories and share stories of the past with children who always seem to look up to them.  Because of this, elders respect that person and the characteristics of what you have become, and what you stand for.  That person will  have an active imagination and will love the natural beauty of the things around them .

My mother, Glenna, loved roses, and she is my inspiration for holding onto the cherished memories, and for wanting to share the stories of the past.

When I was born, my dad, Allan King Fowler brought a water globe with some fresh roses in it to the hospital for my  mom - I guess that was instrumental in the subconscious passing of  the love of cherished memories and family stories to me.









Saturday, August 20, 2011

Saturday's Story . . . more about Carrie & George

When George and Carrie Davies moved to their own farm it was their great adventure. They bought two sections of land - there is 240 acres to a section.  He was going to be a dry-land farmer and grow wheat. (as a dry-land farmer you count on rain to water your crops)

The house was two miles south and five miles west of Carmangay. They said the house faced east, but actually east was the direction they came out of the house because they came out the kitchen door. The house was small, but there was a barn with a fenced corral, and a shed and a chicken coop.

Carrie was very excited about the chicken coop.  George told her that she could sell any eggs over what they needed  and use the money any way she wanted. She would also be able to sell the extra cream and butter.
Another opportunity for Carrie to earn some cash money was to trap and kill gophers, the government paid a penny for each gopher tail.

Looking off her back porch Carrie could see the chicken coop about half a block away - she called the chickens "her girls".

She made plans for a garden down the west side of the house, along the edge of the road.  She was going to plant beans, peas, cucumbers, beets, carrots, corn, dill weed and lots of potatoes. George would dig a potato pit which would to store the potatoes. A potato pit is dug down deep and the pit is then lined with boards and a there is a ladder for climbing down into the pit.  The pit is covered by boards and will store many bags of potatoes to keep them fed through the long, Canadian  winter.

Carrie really enjoyed working in the garden early on the summer days, before it got too hot. After working in the garden for a few hours she would come into the house and make breakfast for George.  His favorite breakfast was a steak, bread and milk gravy; but most times his breakfast was hot cereal, usually oatmeal and hot chocolate.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Caroline - the Garden and the Chickens

Carrie loved helping Mrs. Davies with the garden and with the chickens. She enjoyed weeding the garden early in the morning before it go too hot.  She could be alone outside, and could daydream about George, and how wonderful it was when he kissed her. She daydreamed about the possibility of George and her having a place of their own someday.

She took good care of the chickens and also learned how to chop off the head and pluck the feathers and get that chicken in the pot quickly.

The Davies seemed to all be waiting and watching to see how quickly she learned everything and before you could "shake a stick"   they were getting married; George was 27 and Carrie was 23. They lived in a two room house north east  of Claresholm for a few years until they could buy a farm.

Friday Family Story . . . Carrie McMurray - Working

After staying at her different brother's homes and having the opportunity to see different ways of doing things she was feeling rather grown-up and felt she was ready to be out on her own.

Growing up in southern Alberta there were not  many jobs available for a young girl who wanted to earn some money. Many girls hired themselves out as a helper to a farmer's wife. A hired girl could be the one taking care of the children, or doing the laundry, helping with cooking or even taking care of the animals.  They could usually count on making about one dollar a week.  During this time a dollar of cash money was worth a lot.  It meant they could use the money for the necessities of life instead of going without or using credit. No one ever really wanted to go into debt because there was too much chance that they would not have the money to pay when it came due.

Carrie got a job on the cook wagon for a threshing crew.  She had to provide three meals a day for a bunch of hungry men.  This was really hard work, but she learned a great deal and then was ready for another new adventure.

The next opportunity/adventure came in the chance to work on the Davies farm located east of Claresholm in the Starlight District in southern Alberta. The work on that farm was just as hard as at my own home, but the Davies boys were all so handsome: George, Ivan, Glen, Charlie, and Victor. the older sister, Janie had moved away and little Mary was too young to help.  Mrs. Davies really needed help.  the boys were all big enough to hlep, but they were always our helping with the farm, so she really needed my help.  i certainly never dreamed that one day she would be my mother-in-law.  Maybe she knew, and that was why she was so nice to me. She was kind and patient and made sure I knew how to fix all the family favorites. She taught me many different ways to serve potatoes, and how to make a nice flaky pie crust so I could make a chicken pot pie or a fruit pie.

... to be continued

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Thursday Thoughts . . . . Caroline McMurray

Happiness does not just happen; you have to work really hard for it, and still it comes in its own time.

In 1909, when Caroline McMurray was a young girl of seven, she saw her mother die from errasipitus. She remembered fanning her mother to keep the flies off her up in her bedroom in the days before she died.  Her little sister, Lila was 4 months old, so she really missed having a mom, as did the four older brothers and four older sisters.

After a while(1914) her dad married a young girl from England just two years, who was to be the new stepmother. There was lots of work to do marrying into a family with so many children, and she made them all work hard.

She didn't teach, instead just yelled at the kids to get the work done. Carrie would have loved to be taught how to make bread, grow a garden, keep a tidy English home and take care of the chickens, but instead she resented Elizabeth trying to take her mother's place and wanted to get away.

She wasn't very nice to the kids, so Carrie quit school early and went to stay and help out at some of her older brother's homes.  Eventually she felt like she had worn out her welcome and that she needed a new place to go.


...to be continued.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Grab a cardboard box . . ..

To help organize your personal and family records so you can use them when you write you life history.  Actually, it doesn't really matter what type of box, but put it in a very obvious place.  When I was doing this, I used a couple of different boxes.  I had one in the hall upstairs, and one on the dining room table.(I didn't want to make going up and down stairs an issue on whether it would get put in the box, or whether I would set it on a shelf or counter.

The next thing to do is casually go about your daily work around the house, but now with your eyes, mind and heart focused on finding important papers. Over the next few weeks you can collect and put into the box records of your life.
  • birth certificate
  • certificates of ordination
  • certificates of graduation
Everything that you can find pertaining to your life - diplomas, honors, awards, photographs, a journal or diary goes into the box.  Anything that is written or registered or recorded that testifies what you have done during your life.

The process takes a while, that is OK,  don't rush it.  You will probably find that these things are scattered all over the house. I truly found them all over the place.  I found some in several boxes in our shed. A few more were discovered in a box under a bed, and several important pieces were located in various other boxes in closets and in the garage. ( I was looking for important paper documents for all my kids...so I really had to search all over.)

Gather all the items and keep them together in the box, and keep collecting.  When you get to the point that you think you have everything available you can go on to the next step.

Next steps:
Sort everything out on a table and divide your life into three periods -
  1. Start with the birth certificate and sort every record that goes with childhood- photographs, records and other documents until age 12. Arrange them in chronological order.
  2. Then pull together everything that pertains to your youth - from 12 to 18 years of age- put it all together chronologically.
  3. Then all other records fit the section for the rest of your life.
Line up all these records - the certificates and the photographs and all other items and keep them safe in an other envelope or box..

By gathering these items you have began to compile the important information you will need when you want to start your family tree or do a pedigree chart.  

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Tuesday Task.....Find a Flag

England



Wales
When one of my sons was about 12 years old he was working on the Genealogy Merit Badge for Boy Scouts.  One requirement was to do a 4-generation pedigree chart.  He carefully filled it out by copying the information from both of his grandmas.
Scotland
Then we went to a store that sold small flags and bought a flag for each country that was on his pedigree chart. It was a good visual to show how diverse our heritage and background can be.
Norway

Gold flecks - Now why don't you search for information on your own ancestors...


Monday, August 15, 2011

William George Davies - Monday Memories

Earliest Recollections
I have been trying to remember my earliest memory.

How old was I when I have a conscience memory and  what was the situation surrounding it.  I have to be careful not to make the "memory" something that I saw in a photograph.  I was borne in Lethbridge, but lived the first years of my life in Edmonton.  My dad was in school and latter had graduated from University of Alberta in Edmonton, but in the summers my folks would move home to Lethbridge and live in a little house on the farm.  My older sister and I were June babies.

Some random memories were about the day my parents had been gone for an hour or so, when they came home they called us all in from the back yard, and  I remember my dad had a stern voice.  When we came in the house I remember thinking it was strange that my mom still had her coat on.  We were all told to sit on the couch.  Then my dad said, "I know you girls have been wanting us to have a new baby- so here is an addition to our family" and my mom opened her coat and pulled out a little white puppy. We named her "Lady Pup", she was a terrier/Pomeranian mix.

I can remember going to the farm where my other grandparents lived, Grandma and Grandpa Davies.  I remember they had a horse and I went outside with Grandma and had to step over a big puddle of water to get inside the barn or chicken coop.  I remember sitting on Grandpa's lap and he had a Chinese bamboo back-scratcher hanging on the wall by the table. He would take that and scratch my back, I remember liking that a lot. Also, while sitting on his lap I got to see him roll his own cigarettes, and other thing I remember was that he would tear two small pieces of something like a brown paper bag and lick his two pointer fingers so the paper would stick on them and then he put his hands below the table edges so that I could only see the pointer fingers with the paper pieces on them, and he did the little rhyme about "two little Dickie birds" sitting on the tree, and when he had the "fly away" the paper would come off the finger and then they birds fly away and return. This grandpa (William George Davies) died when I was about 4 years old, so that may be my first memories.

Other memories of things that happened while we lived in Edmonton: (we moved to Richmond, British Columbia and I started 1st grade there)- so all these memories happened before I was five years old

  • white cat with blue and green eyes
  • birthday cake made to look like a doll with a dress
  • having my tonsils out
  • Howdy Doody
  • the day my mom discovered my neck/head was crooked
  • surgery to correct my crooked head
  • cousins coming for Christmas
  • getting a nurse doll for Christmas
  • going to "Play School"- the Canadian equivalent of kindergarten
  • field trip to the television station
  • having to sit at the table, long after the others - to finish my dinner
  • I didn't like onions- they squeaked on my teeth
  • our "Lady Pup" having 6 puppies
  • watching my favorites on television - "The Friendly Giant" and "Howdy Doody Time"

I am amazed at the memories as they come rushing in....when I sat down this morning to start the post I really wasn't sure how many I would even have.

What are your earliest memories?  Take time to think and to write them down.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

First Steps to Getting Started

When you have your goal defined for researching your family history you can step up your game plan. Gather your supplies, and now you are ready to begin discovering your past.

Where should you begin your search? - the library, the internet, national archives?

No, you start with yourself and what you already know.  Write down what you know about your family.  Ask yourself key questions, answer the best you can. Be specific! Record everything, be precise and fastidious and do not abbreviate.

Proving Who You Are- look at your birth certificate, it will probably list:
  • your full name at birth
  • your sex and whether you were part of a multiple birth
  • date of birth
  • county and state of birth
  • usual residence of your mother
  • mother's full maiden name
  • her age and race
  • state or foreign country of her birth
  • number of previous children
  • number of her living children
  • father's full name
  • his age and race
  • state or foreign country of his birth
  • his usual occupation
  • kind of business or industry in which he worked
  • name of the informant
  • attending physician or midwife's name
  • signature of the doctor or midwife
  • name of the hospital or institution
  • date of registration
  • registration number on the certificate
  • and usually the certification by the state registrar attesting that it is a true and correct copy of the record
If you don't already have a copy of your birth certificate, you can request one from the state bureau of vital records in the state where you were born.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Caroline McMurray Davies - Hauling Water

Water - Easy to Take for Granted

It's Saturday morning, and my firm commitment for family history sleuthing will help me press forward today as I clean my house so latter I can sit unencumbered to work on family information gathering.

I will be thankful for the modern appliances I have that help make my life easier. I just put the linens in the washing machine and turn a few dials. They will be washed (through no effort of my own)and then I can move them to the dryer and in a short time they will be dry and I can  take them upstairs and remake my California King size bed..

My mother told me that while she was growing up, her mother, my Grandmother Davies had to haul all the water she needed everyday into the house,  then she had to haul it all out. They kept a reservoir (steel or tin tub of some kind) on one side of the stove so that they always had some warm/hot water. Imagine for a day that everything you needed water for you had to walk to the well, carrying a bucket, then pump the water or pull it up from the well and carry it inside, then heat for cooking and bathing, and laundry, and for any other needs. Then once the water had been used it all had to be carried outside again.

I have no excuses about getting my laundry done today.  I won't even go into other details of my easy life- that can come later.

Saturday Shop ... Back to School

Many friends are in a flurry of last minute shopping to get their kids ready to start school  on Monday.  It is a perfect time for you to stock up what you need to get started on family history.  School supplies are usually really inexpensive at this time of year.

Here is a checklist of supplies to get you started:
  • black ink pens and pencils
  • blank paper or index cards for recording information
  • file or archival folders
  • filing cabinet or storage boxes
  • loose-leaf binders and notebooks (avoid spiral notebooks)
  • dividers or index tabs
  • blank pedigree charts, family group sheets, correspondence and research logs
  • colored labels (optional)
  • digital camera
You don't need to wait till you have everything on the list - just let the desire burn in your heart, and do something towards your family and personal history.


    Friday, August 12, 2011

    Your Life History

    These guidelines helped me, perhaps they will help you . . .
    Gather and organize your personal records
    Make an outline
      • your full name
      • birth info- where , when, etc.
      • parents full names and names of their parents
      • memories of your preschool period- get recollections from parents or older siblings
      • childhood memories about friends, schools, teachers
      • young adulthood- thoughts on growing up, what it was like at home and at school, college
      • courtship and marriage- how you and your spouse met, special dates, the marriage proposal, the wedding, your first home
      • children- incidents that took place during pregnancy, names of children, hopes and dreams you had for your children
      • vocations- jobs held, what you did to prepare for your life's work, different successes you had at work
      • civic and political activities, with a list of positions held, and services that you did performed in your community and church
      • spiritual  and faith-promoting experiences , and the effect those had on you
      • what you plan and hope for the future
      If you haven't already started, I encourage you to start writing your history as soon as possible
      • don't be worried about whether your grammar or language is good enough- use your own style and tell how you feel and how things happened
      • be honest, don't embellish, and don't dwell on negative experiences
      • stick with your outline
      If you would rather record your history
      • be sure to use a good quality tape and recorder, or digital recorder
      • go to a quiet place so you won't have background noise interruptions
      • speak in a natural voice and speak clearly
      • follow your notes and outline
      • record  you musical talents and other voices if they fit in the story
      Keep your history up to date by keeping a journal
      • choose a nice book to keep as your journal
      • set a scheduled time for journal entries, and stick with your plan
      • daily entries are best
      Enjoy the opportunity to preserve your life for generations to come.

      It is never too early or too late to start - just DO IT!

        Why Keep a Journal?

        Click this link for the article-from the October 1975 New Era
        The Angels May Quote From It. 

        President Spencer W. Kimball  said:

        "Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available.

        "A journal is the literature of superiority. Each individual can become superior in his own humble life.

        "What could you do better for your children and your children's children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?

        "Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity".

        Thursday, August 11, 2011

        Louise King Fowler - Friday Family Story

        Friday Family Story... Hummels 

        My Grandpa and Grandma Fowler lived on a farm south of Lethbridge, in southern Alberta, Canada.  I can remember going to visit them.  There were lots of black cows, and quonset huts for the chickens. Best of all I remember visiting with grandma in the den of their home.  That was where the t.v. was, but also there were shelves of National Geographic magazines (a most unique find). However, in the formal living room, where we children only occasionally dared to venture were two tempting treats.  The first, an arrangement of fifteen Hummel ornaments, on several low tables placed between the various couches and chairs. I loved to stare at the various children in their lovable poses. the other excitement in that room was a cut glass crystal candy dish that held "Licorice All-sorts"---a yummy, yummy treat.

        Wednesday, August 10, 2011

        Tracing Your Roots is Exciting

        Join us!  Tracing your roots looks exciting, and once you start to think about it your really want to get going.  T here is so much information you can become "information overloaded". Don't let it get too confusing - Let me   help you reach your goals.


        You need to have a plan to be able to achieve your goals, and so you can follow these steps to develop your game plan.

        • identify what you wish to research
        • break down each task into manageable pieces
        •  brainstorm potential information sources
        • make a list of the sources you plan to examine
        • make a tentative schedule for completing the task
        • focus on one task at a time 
        • write your plan out in the computer or on paper
        • print and file a copy of your plan in your notebook
        • refer to the plan often
        • revise it as needed
        • be flexible, but stay organized
        • be methodical
        • follow new leads by setting up new plans
        • devise a new plan each time you enter a new phase of research

        Tuesday, August 9, 2011

        Tuesday Task....Make a Timeline


        Compile a family chronology: a comprehensive list, in chronological order of all major happenings in the family since the parent's marriage.

        Update it regularly.

        Monday, August 8, 2011

        Grandma Davies Makes Hot Cereal

        "Sunny Boy" for Carol
        There are three girls in my family.  I am the middle sister. When we were little kids we lived in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Our parents had to go somewhere for a number of days so Grandma Davies came to take care of us.

        "Oatmeal" for Judy
        My only remembrance of that time is that she made a different hot cereal for each of us. I only liked  "Cream of Wheat", my older sister liked "Oatmeal" and didn't  like "Cream of Wheat", and our younger sister only liked "Sunny Boy" a wholegrain cereal.     ( I need to ask my mom for a few more details of the when and why and where the parents were)

        "Cream of Wheat" for me
        I remember thinking it was so special, we all felt so loved... but now I am a grandma myself I realize it was probably the easiest thing to do to keep the kids happy.   I hope I can be as good to my grand-kids.

        Sunday, August 7, 2011

        USE THIS - - - to get started

        The Life History of - - - ___________

        FAMILY

        I, _____was born on ____ at ____. I was born in __(hospital or home). (List conditions surrounding birth ___weather, ___doctor ___ or absence of one, how you got your name, etc.)

        I was the ____ of ____ children born to my parents.  My father was ____ and my mother was ___. I had ____ sisters and ____ brothers. (List names and birth dates, starting with the eldest.)

        Some early childhood experiences I have had are: (early playmates, incidents involving brothers and sisters, Christmas memories, birthdays, nicknames, experiences that taught you a lesson).

        My father was born ____on ____ at ____. His father's name was _____ and his mother's name was____. Some fond memories of my father are: _____. the following is a brief outline of my father's life.

        My mother was born ____on ____ at ____. Her father's name was _____ and her mother's name was____. Some fond memories of my mother are: _____. the following is a brief outline of my mother's life.

        SCHOOL
        I started school at the age of ____, attending the ____school at ____.  some of my close school friends were:______.  My favorite teachers were: ____-. some outstanding things I remember about elementary school were:_________.

        I attended the junior High School at ____.  My special friends were: _____.  some special teachers I remember were: _____. some memories I have about junior high were: _____.

        I attended the ____High school at ____.  My special friends in high school were: _____ My special teachers whom I remember were: ____ .  Some outstanding  memories I have of my high school days are: _____. Special activities (athletics or student officers or clubs). I graduated from high school on ____.

        I attended university at ____ for ____ years. I majored in _____ and I graduated on ____.  Some university memories are:________.

        Other schools that I have attended (trade school, beauty school, business school, etc.) Name of school ___. Kind ___. Where____.  Some special things I recall about my advanced schooling:____.

        MY OWN FAMILY
        I first met my future husband/wife at____.  His/her name was____.  I was ____ old, and he/she was ___.  some interesting dates we went on were: _____.

        We went together for ____ and were engaged on ____.  The"question" was popped like this:_______.

        We were married on ____ at___.  Some of the memories I have of my wedding are:____. We honeymooned at ____ for ____ days. Some memories of our honeymoon are:____.

        We made our first home at ____.  Some of early married experiences are:____. Other home we have lived in are:____.


        We have been blessed up to this date with ____ children.  They are,__________starting from the oldest (name, birth date, birthplace, etc., plus a short description of their lives, schooling, mission, marriage, etc.)


        OCCUPATION
        My occupations through the years, chronologically listed have been:_____. (also list circumstance leading you into your work, etc.)


        MISCELLANEOUS
        The following are some interesting things which have happened to me which I would like to pass on to my children and grandchildren. (tragedies, illnesses, funny incidents , trips taken, business successes or failures, hobbies, plans and hopes for the future, etc.)


        Launa Fowler Stout - My Own Story

        One spiral notebook

        Thinking about my ancestors has made me think about writing my own story. I should be journaling my  experiences but also need to go back and write my past.

        In 1979 we moved to Ft. Riley, Kansas. I was taking a class where the teacher challenged us to write everyday in a journal.  I didn't feel that my life was special enough to go out a buy a nice journal. I was also worried that my handwriting was not going to be neat enough, so I just bought an orange spiral notebook. I filled up several orange spiral notebooks over the next year or so.

        What did I learn from that experience?
        My life as I was in the day-to-day of it didn't seem too spectacular, but when looking back on the experiences from the writings in my journal, it was pretty amazing.  I found that by reading those pages floods of memories came to my mind, and now, because it is in print and I can read it,  I remember the year we spend in Kansas as one of the best years.

        I wish I had bought a nice journal when I started, because my life was worth it, and it didn't matter that my handwriting was not perfect.

        Saturday, August 6, 2011

        McMurray Family Group Sheet

        I have in my possession a family group sheet where my grandmother, Caroline McMurray was a child in the family. This family group sheet is especially special because it has pictures of all the people.

        I have been looking at it a lot, looking at pictures, looking at dates, and I got to thinking about her siblings.

        Caroline McMurray was the second youngest in a family of 10 children.  Her younger sister, Lila Leora McMurray was Aunt Lila-"with the white hair".  I don't think we called her that to her face but my sisters and I always referred to her that way because on my dad's side we had another Aunt Lila and this was a way to differentiate. Her white hair was really beautiful and she was just a lovely and gracious person. Caroline and Lila were the only children in that family who were born after them moved to Canada. the other eight siblings were born in the United States.

        I also remember an Aunt Jennie, but I think as a kid I really didn't know how she was my aunt. Now I sit here looking at this picture from long ago- probably her wedding picture for 25 March 1913- I can see her face in that picture. I wish I had paid more attention.

        Today, as I am holding this family group sheet in my hands and it caused me to wonder "Why don't I know or remember any of the others?"  The answer: they all died before I was born or when I was very young.

        Here is a list of her family:
        Father- James Stevenson McMurray   born: 13 July 1863 - died:22 June 1948
        Mother- Sarah Ann Orr    born: 20 Dec 1867 - died: 29 Aug 1901
        Brother- Joseph McMurray   born: 9 Feb 1887 - died 28 Sept 1958
        Brother - Parley McMurray    born: 25 Sept 1888 - died:22 Nov 1940
        Sister - Sadie McMurray    born: 8 Sept 1890 - died: 15 Mar 1891 - she was just a baby
        Sister -Lottie McMurray    born: 2 Mar 1892 - died: 7 Oct 1916
        Sister - Jennie McMurray    born: 17 Dec 1893 - died
        Sister - Eva McMurray    born: 27 July 1896 - died: 19 Feb 1920
        Brother - Milford McMurray    born: 15 Dec 1897 - died: 12 Sept 1950
        Brother - Richard McMurray    born: 12 Oct 1900 - died: 5 Mar 1952
        Self - Caroline McMurray    born: 11 March 1902 - died 3 June 1981
        Sister- Lila Leora McMurray   born: 7 Apr 1909 - died        

        Friday, August 5, 2011

        Caroline McMurray Davies - the stork's visit

        Having a Baby - in 1939

        An oral interview with my mother, Glenna, about her mother, Caroline McMurray Davies.

        Question: Tell a memory you have of your mother.
        Answer:
         I was only ten years old when we noticed Mother was getting  bit heavy around the middle. Let me tell you in those days it seemed you were still supposed to think the stork brought babies. My mom's pregnancy was never discussed with us as children.  Shirley being the oldest knew a little more. It was unbelievable when I look back. One time in the fall of the year my dad was off doing some custom combining, and I assume Mother may have had some indication things were not going right so she had Shirley get on the horse a mile and a half to make a phone call and have Dad come home. (we had no phone) this she did, but still no one let on that anything was amiss. Dad came home and they went to see the doctor. She seemed to get better after that but everyone was still concerned after that.

        Mother kept getting a bit bigger, but still nothing was talked about. At this time in our lives my sister and I were getting bussed into town for school. I remember that on the afternoon January 30, 1939 while on the bus heading home, the bus driver told s that our dad said we could come home to town with him and to meet him downtown.  When we got down town Dad said mom was in the hospital, but there was still no mention of why, but by then I was suspicious, but we never even talked about it. We visited mom, had supper in the cafeteria but now it was getting late.  Dad had milking to do and other chores so he had to get home, so we left Mother at the hospital, but by now I knew what was going on.


        We had no phone, so no communication. Shirley and I took the school bus to town the next morning, but I stayed on the bus and rode downtown to go to the hospital to see how my mother was.  I was met at the door by the head nurse who informed me that I had a new baby brother and that I could go up stairs to see my mom.  I was so excited that I could hardly stand it.  So I guess you could say that I was the last to know, but the first to know about the end result.


        Dad came to town as soon as he got the morning chores done. After school Shirley and I went down to the hospital, and of course we were thrilled for a new baby brother.  Mothers stayed in the hospital about two weeks in those days, so it was awhile before we got to take him home. My dad was so thrilled to get a boy.

        When I think back to how things were with a new baby in those days compared to new babies today. My mom had sewed diapers, and made some little night gown and little kimonos to wear when it was cold. Parents did the best they could; we were not able to call the doctor over every little problem which came up.  I remember about two times when Murray was a baby that dad went to the neighbors and called the doctor who drove seven miles to our home to help determine the problem.


        I remember for about ten weeks Mother had a hired girl come and help in the house to help with laundry and chores, but my sister had to help more after she left. times were tough in those days and hired girls who helped out were paid about $4.00 per week, and helped with other house work as well. I also remember she slept in the same bed as Shirley  and I. the bed sagged in the middle and she slept in the middle.

        Thursday, August 4, 2011

        What is a Mine Cart?

        "mine cart" - a mine cart is used to bring gold up from the bottom of the mine - so when I have some information to share (something that may help you in your family history quest) I will bring it up in a mine cart.   

        Wednesday, August 3, 2011

        Labeling my File Folders

        I am still  trying to figure out just how I want to start labeling my folders.

        My personality wants them all typed on labels with an interesting font...but then I am too committed. . .           So, I will actually start with a pencil and set up a file folder for my great-grandfather James Stevenson McMurray(the father of Caroline McMurray, my grandmother).  I also have information on his parents so I will set up a file for them also. 


        Everyone I have talked to has a different slant to the way they want their files named . . . so that tells me there is no right or wrong way. By starting in pencil I can easily change my system if I decide to.

        I am using plain manila files, but imaging how pretty it would look to have different colors, and use a certain color for the different lines on your pedigree chart. I love color coding, so maybe after a while I will change to colored folders - I will let you know.

        Filing by Couple or Family Group
        • every couple on your pedigree chart gets a file folder
        • label the folder with the names of the couple (wife's maiden name)
        • list names of the couple's children on the outside for the file folder for quick reference
        • if a child is married, make a file folder for that marriage
        Filing by Surname and Type of Record
        • create file folders for surname/record type combination's
        • label folders with surname, followed by the type of record, e.g., Davies: Obituaries or Davies: Census Records
        • arrange file folders alphabetically by surname then alphabetically by type of record

        Tuesday, August 2, 2011

        Tender Tears

        It is true --  once you start delving into your family history you start to feel really connected with those relatives or ancestors.

        Since I chose to do my first research and story finding about my Grandma Davies I have been thinking about her a lot.  My feelings are so close to the surface and I had tears collecting as I had so many memories about her. She was really an amazing woman and really didn't have an easy life..

        Her husband (William George Davies) died on the 18th birthday of her youngest child, Murray Davies. Her two daughters were already married by then, as Murray was 11 years younger than his sister, Glenna (my mom). Glenna Elaine Davies was married to Allan King Fowler, and Shirley Maxine Davies was married to Walter Joseph Griffin.
         
        Grandpa Davies was a dry-land farmer in southern Alberta, Canada. What a difficult time that must have been, to be widowed early and to now have to take care of herself and her son. Grandma knew that there was really no way that she could take care of the farm with just herself and her son.  Her decision was to sell the farm, and move into town and learn a skill or a trade. At the time she didn't have much more than a sixth grade education (very typical for those days).She went to school to become a CNA or nurses' aid and she worked that skill for the remainder of her working days.

        The watch she wore while going to school and while working as a nurse was one that my mom had bought for her dad- it was the only watch he ever owned- but that is a story for another day.

        Monday, August 1, 2011

        Middle Names and Given Names

        When I look at my family group sheets I keep seeing the same names, repeated.
        For example: My grandmother, Louise King Fowler's father is Thomas Owen King - 1869-1946, and his father was Thomas Owen King is 1840-1921, and his father was Thomas Owen King 1800-1874.