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Saddleback
Valley Trails
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South
Orange County California Genealogical Society
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Vol.
16 No. 10
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P.O.
Box 4513, Mission Viejo, CA. 92690
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October
2009
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Editor:
Mary Jo McQueen
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Monthly
meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month from 10:00
a.m. to Noon at the Mission Viejo Family History Center Institute
Building, 27978 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, between Medical
Center Drive and Hillcrest Drive. Membership is open to anyone interested
in genealogy. Individual membership fees are $20 per calendar year,
$25 for joint membership.
SOCCGS is not affiliated with the LDS Family History Center.
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Seminar - 17
October 2009
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"Locating Those
Illusive Ancestors"
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| Our Seminar is just around the
corner! So - Register Now! This event will give a great opportunity
to "fine tune" our genealogy research skills. Paula Stuart-Warren’s
topics will be: "Untrodden Ground, Sources You May Not Have Encountered;"
"The U. S. Federal Government, 13 Underutilized Resources;" "Genealogy
On The Internet, Make It Work For You" and "Organizing Your Genealogical
Materials." The doors open at 8 a.m. at the Saddleback Room located
across the parking lot from the Mission Viejo Library. More information
and registration form will be found on the SOCCGS website at
www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~casoccgs/.
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Bill Bluett - Seminar Chairman
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Introducing Paula
Stuart-Warren
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| Paula has lectured for genealogical
societies and other organizations across the U.S. and Canada. She
has coordinated and taught courses at the Salt Lake Institute of
Genealogy, the Genealogical Institute of Mid-America and the Genealogical
Institute of Texas. She co-authored the best-selling book "Your
Guide to the Family History Library: How to Access the World's Largest
Genealogy Resource." Some of her areas of specialty include: manuscripts
and other original records, major research repositories, Mid-Western
states, American Indian research, and research methodology. Paula
is a columnist for Ancestry.com and has written many articles for
the Minnesota Genealogist, Digital Genealogist, Family Tree Magazine
and Ancestry Magazine. She is a former officer of the Association
of Professional Genealogists and serves on its Professional Management
Conference committee. |
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How Many Reasons
Do You Need To Attend The Seminar?
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Pick one or more:
- Starting the day with the free refreshments, which are also
served during the breaks.
- Having the chance to win a door prize using the free ticket
presented to each attendee.
- Hearing four presentations from one of the country’s best
genealogists, who is a dynamic and entertaining speaker.
- Perusing the Sales and Display Tables for items and information
to assist in your research,or simply to make it more fun!
- Receiving a syllabus containing lecture notes and handouts
on all four topics.
- Socializing with a great group of people who share your
love of genealogy.
- Perhaps being the winner of the exquisite hand made quilt.
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Pre registrations
for the seminar must be received by October 15!
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President's Message
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~Sandy Crowley
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Thanks to September’s speaker,
Cheri Mello, Family Tree DNA Administrator, for her presentation
on Sources for Reverse Genealogy used in finding living DNA participants.
I was amazed at the knowledge she has and the many ways to use DNA
to your advantage in your research. Who knew?
I hope to see you all at the October 17 Seminar with featuring Paula
Stuart-Warren. This will be a great genealogy day and we have lots
of fun at these seminars. If you would like to attend and have not
registered, you can mail your registration/check to SOCCGS, P.O.
Box 4513, Mission Viejo, CA 92690, or you may drop it off with one
of the docents at the genealogy section at the Mission Viejo Library.
Since we will not have another general meeting before the seminar
please give treasurer, Mary Jo McQueen, a call at 581-0690 to let
her know your registration is on the way.
My earliest ancestor to set foot in this country, I think, was CHRISTOPHER
REYNOLDS, who arrived in Jamestown aboard the "Francis and John"
in 1622 at the age of eleven. I’ve tried to imagine what it would
be like to put an eleven-year-old family member on a ship to take
a risky voyage to an unknown land. Yikes!
Christopher Reynolds was born in 1611 in Gravesend, England. After
working as an indentured worker to pay off the costs of his voyage
to Jamestown, he settled in Warwick County, VA on a 450-acre patent,
which was made 15 September 1636. He was married to Elizabeth and
they had several children. He died in 1654 in Burgess, Isle of Wight
County, Virginia.
Christopher’s descendants stayed in Virginia for many generations.
Descendants included connections to Princess Nicketti, who was a
member of the Indian tribe surrounding Jamestown and Judith Pate
Jackson who was connected to the Stonewall Jackson family. Also,
to many of the VENABLES of Virginia, who were active in Virginia
politics beginning in the 1600's.
I have source documents for Christopher Reynolds of 1611 and forward
to today. The following information is of general knowledge among
the families and FYI only. I do not have any source documents to
support it.
The name Reynolds, also spelled in America as RUNNELS, RUNALS, etc.,
is of Norman origin and comes from the family of RENARD. The family
claims descent from REYNOLDS, son of GRETHFERTH, the Dane, King
of Northumberland. Grethferth and his two sons were driven from
England circa 944 and took shelter in Normandy. His descendant FITZREYNOLDS,
meaning son of, returned to England with William the Conqueror.
Those who may be interested in obtaining information on Jamestown
ancestors may write to the Jamestown Society, P.O. Box 17426, Richmond,
VA 23226. They can provide data from their publication, "The Register
of Qualifying Seventeenth Century Ancestors." |
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Genealogy Safari.
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| On October 28 you are invited
to join the group for a day of "ancestor searching," when we travel
to the Orange Family History Center. If you have never taken a SOCCGS
Safari, now is the time. Haven’t been for a while? Again, now is
the time! The car(s) will leave the LDS parking lot at 9:30 a.m.
Bring a brown-bag lunch and $$ for your driver. Since this a shorter
distance, there are no plans for dinner. Please contact Bill Bluett
for further information, or to reserve a spot. (949-492-9408)
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Ralphs Community
Contribution Program
David Flint – Ways & Means Chairman
davidflint@cox.net
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| It is time to re-register or register for the first time. An
alternate form of registering for this program is to use a scan
bar letter. If you would like to receive your customized scan bar
letter, which is the alternative form of registration, please email
your request to community.programs@ralphs.com.
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"An Relative
I Wish I'd Known"
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~Glen Witte
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By way of background, I’m a 1949
graduate of Central High School in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. After four
years in the USAF I earned an engineering degree at the University
of Wisconsin. In 1959 I went to work for the Douglas Aircraft Company
in California.
Within the past three months I have learned of a famous relative
who worked at the Douglas Aircraft Co. before I got there.
FRED HERMAN, my 2nd cousin 4x removed, and also my 3rd cousin 3x
removed had a storied career at Douglas Aircraft. We were related
through two different common ancestors. (BTW, if you don’t know
how to calculate that, talk to me,)
Fred was an aviator during WWI. He went on to become an engineer
at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio. He then went to work for the Douglas
Aircraft Company where he was the copilot on the first flight of
the DC-1, the precursor to the historical DC-3.
He almost died on that flight because the engine carburetors were
installed backwards. The engines were starved of fuel when they
"pulled up" and received full fuel when they "pitched down." They
eventually "porpoised" their way back to the takeoff airfield safely.
Fred then went became the Chief Engineer at the Douglas Long Beach
plant during WWII guiding the engineering and production of all
those famous dive-bombers and torpedo bombers. Three months before
he died in 1952, he became the Long Beach plant manager.
Can you imagine the bragging rights I would have had in 1959 if
I’d only known then what I know now? |
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September Meeting
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Guests attending this month’s
meeting were: Helen Coutant, Laguna Woods. Alice Wolkert, Lake Forest
and Melissa Ellis, Darby, Montana. Melissa is Ruth Relin’s granddaughter.
Several members shared brick walls and research suggestions at the
meeting.
Patricia Christiansen said she’s had good luck using Google to find
help. She puts quotes around the name and has gotten lots of finds,
including data from the Urbana, Illinois Free Library.
Naomi McCabe uses Google by typing in a name but adding "genealogy."
Karen Jachetta is looking for information on her Great Grandfather
ROEHM. She has a letter written to him in 1912, and she knows he
had joined the Michigan Naval Brigade, but knows little else. Please
let her know if you can help.
Donna Hobbs, who works in the Orange Public Library system, suggested
that you run your names through the OC Public Library (ocpl.net)
to check it’s catalog. You may put a hold on an item ($.25) and
it will be sent to your local Orange County Library. Donna found
that the Tustin Library had quite a bit of information for her.
She told us that librarians will search for an item, and it can
then be sent through inter-library loan. Most of the books are free
to borrow, however there may be a postage charge.
Kathie Mauzey said that NARA in Laguna Niguel has territorial records
on microfilm. Ask at the NARA desk. (Please see Kathie’s article
within the newsletter regarding this subject.)
Diane Webb is looking for information on her great-grandfather,
William Foster, who was listed as an engineer in 1850 census. She’s
wondering how she can find out what kind of engineer he was.
Karen Dill suggested using Google, checking libraries and Ellis
Island data in our research.
We appreciate hospitality chairman, Eunice Murai and this month’s
snack volunteers: Bunny Smith, Cindie Reilly, and Mary Jo Nuttall.
Yum. |
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Membership
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Our newest member is Naomi
McCabe who lives in Laguna Woods, 949-455-2565. Naomi is searching
for information regarding MARSHALL [1635-1800], LOVELL [1635-1800]
and FRISTOE [1635-1800], all in Virginia. Also, SNODGRASSS in Virginia,
Iowa, Indiana [1650-1875], MATHERLY in Indiana [1700-1890] and RING
in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas [1800-1900]. Her email address is
mneeme6@comline.com.
Kathy Kane, who recently moved to Michigan, has a new phone
number [231-879-4257]. Change of email address for Carolyn Phelps
is stevenson.phelps@gmail.com.
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"A government,
which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of
Paul."
~George Bernard Shaw
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A Dedicated Registered
Nurse
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~Bill Bluett
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I recently ran across an article
on the NEWSPAPERARCHIVES website that caught my attention. MARTHA
EIMEN, who was my wife’s Mennonite "first cousin – once removed",
was mentioned in a newspaper article on July 4th, 1948. It was
announced in the Billings (Montana) Gazette that two Glacier National
Park visitors were the first to receive bear scratches for the 1948
summer season. A Canadian visitor was scratched on the head while
feeding candy to a bear. In another incident, a person was scratched
on the upper lip. Each of the victims was given first aid by Nurse
Martha Eimen at the Lake McDonald Hotel. It was interesting
to note the date of the article. Helen and I were in Glacier National
Park last year on our vacation. If we had been there 1 week later,
it would have been exactly 60 years to the date of these incidents.
That’s what you call "timing" in the genealogy world. The mention
of Martha Eimen in the old newspaper prompted me to look back on
some information I had collected on her. She was actually a very
interesting woman. I believe it was the influence of Martha as well
as a family physician that eventually lead my wife, Helen, into
the medical profession as a registered nurse after she graduated
from high school.
Martha Eimen was born September 10th, 1912 in Otera County, Colorado.
Her parents returned to Iowa two years after she was born. Some
time after graduating from Iowa High School in Wellman, she attended
the Mercy School of Nursing in Iowa City. Then, Martha received
her B.S. in nursing from Goshen College, Indiana in 1944. She worked
for the Public Health Service and the United Nations from 1944 to
1948, spending most of that time in Italy and the Middle East. Returning
to school, she received a Master of Arts Degree in public health
nursing from the University of Iowa in 1958. She served in part-time
positions in nursing administration at the University and at Mercy
Hospital in Iowa City until her retirement in 1970. My wife attended
the same school of nursing as Martha. As a matter of fact, she was
on the school staff when Helen was attending the 3-year training
program. I’m sure that Martha was pleased that another Eimen was
heading into the nursing profession. Martha died on July 13th, 1997
in Iowa City. Fortunately, the Iowa Women’s Archives at the University
of Iowa has in its possession papers, documents, photograph albums
and artifacts that were donated by Miss Eimen in 1995. She never
married.
It was interesting to find out that Martha was working at Glacier
National Park in the summer of 1948. There were many cousins of
the Eimen family that had settled in the nearby community of Creston,
Montana, in the early 1900’s. All five families were Mennonite,
as was Martha. It’s possible that she may have worked there other
summers in order to have the opportunity to visit with them. When
Helen and I traveled to the area in June of 2008, we connected with
a couple of the distant cousins by inquiring at the Mennonite Church
in Creston.
There is an amusing story that Helen told me about her cousin. On
a few occasions, when Martha would visit Helen’s folks at their
farm in Iowa, Seth (Helen’s dad) would go to the kitchen to get
some refreshments. Martha would usually follow him to help. Seth
would ask Martha if she would like a beer. Now, Martha may have
been raised a Mennonite. But, that didn’t stop her from responding,
"Well, maybe just a cheese glass full." She would end up sitting
at the kitchen table with Seth and they would have their beer. You
might say that she was an adventuresome Mennonite woman in some
respects. Speaking of the "cheese glass", I remember when the small
cheese and jelly glasses were saved and used for juice glasses.
The cheese glass provided a nice little "shot" for Martha.
I enjoy browsing newspaperarchive.com
hoping to find another interesting piece of information. Give it
a try. If you do not have access to it at home (which you could
have with a Carlsbad Library card), it is on the computers at the
Genealogy Library. Good hunting. |
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"Newspaper Clipping
of the Day"
From the Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pa.), 25 November 1801, page
4:
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| Two Stray Cows came to the Plantation of the subscriber, in
Franklin Township, Adams County, on the 12th day of October last.
They are both, Red and White; the one has a crop off the left ear
and a slit in the right and has had a calf since she came--the other
a crop off the left and a hole through the right ear. The owner
is desired to come forward, prove property, pay charges and take
them away.
John Livelsberger. |
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The Story Tellers
~ Unknown Author
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We are the chosen. My feelings are that in each family there
is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their
bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to
feel that somehow they know and approve. To me, doing genealogy
is not a cold gathering of facts, but, instead, breathing life into
all who have gone before. We are the storytellers of the tribe.
All tribes have one. We have been called as it were by our genes.
Those who have gone before cry out to us: "tell our story". So we
do.
In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have
I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times
have I told the ancestors you have a wonderful family you would
be proud of us? How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt
somehow there was love there for me? I cannot say.
It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why
do I do the things I do? It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be
lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying, I can't let this
happen. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh.
It goes to doing something about it. It goes to pride in what our
ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what
we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses,
their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on
and build a life for their family.
It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation.
It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing
it for us, that we might be born who we are, that we might remember
them. So we do.
With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence,
because we are them and they are us. So, as a scribe called, I tell
the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next
generation to answer the call and find their place in the long line
of family storytellers.
That is why I do my family genealogy, and is what calls those young
and old to step up and put flesh on the bones. |
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"Signs of a Prosperous
Farmer"
Weekly Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 05 January 1856, page 1:
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- When a farmer is seen marrying young, it shows that Providence
helps those who help themselves, and that in future he will
have helps of more kinds than one.
- When lights are seen burning in his house before break of
day, in winter especially, it shows that the day will never
break on his 'breaking' in the winter of his adversity.
- When you see his barn larger than his house, it shows that
he will have large profits and small afflictions.
- When you see him driving his work instead of his work driving
him, it shows that he will never be driven from good resolutions,
and that he will never be driven from good resolutions, and
that he will certainly work his way to prosperity.
- When you see in his house more lamps for burning grease
or lard than candlesticks for more expensive purposes, it shows
that economy is working its way to happiness and plenty, with
that light which should enlighten every farmer that cometh into
the world.
- When you always see in his wood-house, a sufficiency for
three days, if not more, it shows that he will be 'more than
a ninety days wonder' in farming operations--and that he is
not sleeping in his house after a drunken frolic.
- When he has a small house, separate from the main building,
purposely for ashes, and an iron or tin vessel to transport
them, it shows that he never built his dwelling to be a funeral
pile for his family and perhaps himself.
- When his house is boarded inside and outside, it shows that
he is 'going the whole hog' in keeping plenty inside his house
and poverty out.
- When his sled is housed in summer and his farming implements
covered, both winter and summer, it plainly shows that he will
have a good house over his head in the summer of his early life,
and the winter of old age.
- When his cattle are properly sheltered and fed in winter,
it evidenced that he is acting according to Scripture, which
says, that a "merciful man is merciful to his beasts."
- When he is subscribing to newspapers, it shows that he is
speaking like a book respecting the latest improvements in agriculture,
and that he will never get his walking papers to the land of
poverty.
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"Websites of
Interest to Genealogists"
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| http://www.svcgg.org/earthpoint.pdf
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This website will allow you to download
a pdf document entitled "A Superlative Genealogical Tool for Google
Earth" by Richard Rands. He explains that the process of locating
the exact location of your ancestor’s land patent is now just a
few clicks away, or, conversely, if you know where the family’s
farm was, you can determine the township and range specifications.
The direct link to the site is www.earthpoint.us/Townships.aspx.
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http://www.archives.gov/preservation/family-archives/index.html
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The National Archives has a section
on "Caring for Your Family Archives." |
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Territorial Records
at NARA
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~ Kathie Mauzey
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Information on other territorial
records located at the National Archives, Laguna Niguel. These are
on microfilm; ask at the front desk for them.
Interior Department Territorial Papers - These papers, arranged
in series by territory, consist chiefly of transcripts of executive
proceeds of the territorial governors, copies of official correspondence
of the governors with federal and territorial officials, and miscellaneous
communications received by the Department of the Interior relating
to territorial matters. Affairs in the territories were under the
direction of the Department of State from 1789 to 1873, when jurisdiction
over the territories was transferred to the Department of the Interior.
M430 Alaska 1869-1911 (17 rolls), M429 Arizona 1868-1913 (8 rolls),
M431 Colorado 1861-1888 (1 roll), M310 Dakota 1863-1889 (3 rolls),
M191 Idaho 1864-1890 (2 rolls), M192 Montana 1867-1889 (2 rolls),
M364 New Mexico 1851-1914 (15 rolls), M428 Utah 1850-1902 (6 rolls),
M189 Washington 1854-1902 (4 rolls), M204 Wyoming 1870-1890 (6 rolls).
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Surname List
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~casoccgs/
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| Members, please check your information
on the SOCCGS Surname Website. If corrections and/or additions are
necessary notify Herb at hvabrams@cox.net
or (949) 581-6292). New members may add their information by
sending an email to Herb listing surnames, locations and years being
researched. |
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Member Badges
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| Would you like a badge holder
without a pin? You may pick one up at the check-in table at the
next meeting. Bring your current badge and make the change. Don’t
have one? Sign up and Herb will make you one. New members may contact
Herb at hvabrams@cox.net and
he will have one ready at the next meeting. Up to six surnames may
be included on the badge. |
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"Leave Off Bathing
and be Healthy"
From The Landmark (Statesville, North Carolina), 18 December 1903,
page 1:
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Chicago Dispatch - "When people leave off bathing there will
be little or nothing for the doctors to do. Pneumonia, colds and
a hundred other ills result from the foolish habit of washing the
body. To bathe is to be dirty, for you thereby make a sewer of the
skin. Blood attracted by the skin gives up products that should
be left to seek a natural outlet, and soils the skin."
The foregoing declaration, made by Prof John Dill Robertson at the
annual meeting of the Chicago Eclectic and Surgical Society at the
Auditorium, has aroused considerable interest here.
Professor Robertson asserted that the theory that the closing of
the pores of the skin would result in death is false. He said that
all physiologies which made such an assertion were wrong. The habit
of taking "dry" baths was also denounced. The rubbing of rough towel
over the skin, according to Dr. Robertson, removes the natural scales
of the skin, or the "false skin." This, he said, conduces to the
growth of bacteria on the skin.
The doctor cited the case of an Eskimo brought from Greenland to
Boston, who had never been ill in his life. He was given a bath,
contracted pneumonia and died in two days. |
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"DOLLARHIDE'S
GENEALOGY RULES"
~William Dollarhide
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- Treat the brothers and sisters of your ancestor as equals,
even if some of them were in jail.
- Work from the known to the unknown. In other words, just
because your name is Washington doesn’t mean you are related
to George.
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There is still
time!
Please use the Form below to register for the Seminar.
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2009 GENEALOGY
COMING ATTRACTIONS
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October 10 - British Isles
Family History Society-USA presents the 2009 Seminar featuring Judith
Eccles Wright at Noski Auditorium, Cal State Northridge. Information
and/or registration: www.bifhsusa.org
or Kay R. Devonshire (310) 399-3188,
kaydevonshire@verizon.net.
October 17 - SOCCGS 7th Annual Seminar featuring Paula Stewart
Warren. Contact Bill Bluett, (949) 492-9408 or
billbluett@cox.net.
October 24 - Hemet-San Jacinto Genealogical Society presents
classes featuring Susanne Russo Adams & Larry Bowles: "Personalizing
Google To Fit Your Genealogical Research," "What’s New On Ancestry."
"Searching Techniques on Ancestry" and "Google Gadgets for Genealogy."
Information: http://www.hsjgs.org.
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Newsletter Submissions
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| Please send ancestor stories,
web site information or items of special interest to the newsletter
editor by Wednesday following the monthly meeting. These may be
sent via email or Word attachment and must be 800 words or less.
All submissions are subject to editorial approval, and may be edited
for content or space. Articles should be of genealogical significance.
Complete stories, outlines and/or rough drafts will be accepted.
Send to: mcqueenmaryjo@aol.com
|
|
Newsletter Submissions
|
| Please send ancestor stories,
web site information or items of special interest to the newsletter
editor by Wednesday following the monthly meeting. These may be
sent via email or Word attachment and must be 800 words or less.
All submissions are subject to editorial approval, and may be edited
for content or space. Articles should be of genealogical significance.
Complete stories, outlines and/or rough drafts will be accepted.
Send to: mcqueenmaryjo@aol.com
|
|
SOCCGS ‘2009’ Seminar
Registration
|
| Name(s)______________________________________________________ |
Registration:
_______ @ $20.00 |
| ____________________________________________________________ |
Box Lunch:
_________ @ $9.00 |
| Address:______________________________________________________ |
Total: $
___________ |
| City
& Zip_____________________________________________________ |
|
|
Telephone:____________________________________________________ |
|
|
E-mail________________________________________________________ |
|
| Mail to: SOCCGS,
P.O. Box 4513 |
Information: (949)
492-9408 or
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| Mission Viejo, CA
92690-4513 |
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~casoccgs/
|
Top of Page
Soccgs Home Page
cmvgs@netzero.net
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