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Yellowstone Genealogy Forum



Prior Meeting Archives

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Summary Reviews of Past Meetings

June 20, 2000 Meeting

 

Three speakers provided definitive information about genealogical resources for improving the understanding of some options available to the researcher.

Barbara Shott discussed techniques in publishing family histories on a shoestring and how to get members of your family to participate. The key ingredient for support required short time tables (one to two weeks in duration for material to be created and delivered). This gets the younger people to concentrate on their lives and their parents. Barbara owns her own publishing business in Columbus and provides assistance in generating and publishing the books.

Ann Ferguson presented six various ways in which your genealogical files can be coded for retrieval and identification. If all surname lineages need to be recorded and filed, then it was recommended that a combination of Henry and the Ahnentafel combination be used. It was recommended that whichever system you employ, that all documentation be noted with the locator code always in the same relative position (e.g., upper right corner for example). 

                                         2. Use three or four digits so all records are of same format (i.e., 001 or 0001)
                                         3. Place the code number in the same location on all personal records
                                         4. Numbers have to be consecutive
                                         5. Numbers are to be placed on all records, photos, files, etc.
                                         6. Index cards can be used for location of person
                                         7. Numbers can be combined with surnames, location and item (i.e., Evans 1 PA)
                        1. Can be done by family surnames
                               2. Each individual & family can carry same strict alphabetizing
                                         3. Problem is that married children cannot be with their families; nor are adopted children possible. Married women will be with their spouse.
                                         4. Family connections are not shown
                                         5. Easy to locate a unique individual
                                         6. Some nationalities are not easy to incorporate (Swe, Nor, Fin, Wal, Spa, Dutch and Native Americans)
                                         7. Difficult to distinguish same name across different generations
                                         8. Variant spellings of same surname cause system to get out of order
                                         9. Use of a master index is desirable

 

 

Don Miller presented a short history of photography in America, and how to preserve and copy old photographs, including the ones printed on canvas, glass and metal. Don recommends that all genealogical portraits that are copied be on matte finish, black & white. Don has his own photo shop business in Billings and is a master picture frame restorer.

 

July 18th (Family Picnic at North Park)

The meeting was held at North Park, Site #5, and 6:00 pm. The potluck affair was a success and all enjoyed discussing the Forum's achievements during the past year. Locations for meetings are becoming more difficult to arrange, and several alternatives are being examined, including the possibility that the date may have to be changed from Tuesday to another day.

The meeting locations will be posted when they are made available.

 

August 15, 2000 (Changed to August 22nd)

1. Bring a genealogy problem to solve.

2. Tell how you broke through the genealogy brick wall.

3. Genealogy Tidbits to Aid in your research.

The YGF August meeting was held at the LDS Church on 6th St. West and Ave D in the "Cultural Hall" starting at 6:30 p.m. Members and guests presented questions about genealogy research, and a panel of four prominent genealogists and researchers explained techniques of how best to solve the problem. Queries and recommendations for locating the 'missing' ancestors for ship's registries, missing census record information, unidentified wives, unusual sources that are often overlooked but contain a wealth of information, lodge records, state and county record research patterns and many other topics were discussed & explained. This truly was an exceptional meeting with over 30 specific questions fielded by the panel. All of those attending found new methods to simplify their searching efforts.

 

September 19, 2000

The latest and greatest Internet sites. YGF will be logged on to the Internet, and techniques for locating your ancestors and places will be discussed and shown. Be sure to attend, as this meeting will provide the latest methods to make your searches easier and increase your probability of success. Meeting held at Belvedere Family History Center's Gym, 2929 Belvedere - Left Off Grand & 30th Street West. Enter through the rear of the LDS Church.

Rick Davis, Sue Ann Jacobson and Athna May Porter presented techniques that make Internet searching more fun and everlasting. Additionally a listing of major "little known" sites that host a wealth of information was examined.

To prepare for Internet searching the following significant elements should be considered:

Create as many saved sheets, as you need for various family files. If all material relates to one family, then only one saved sheet is needed. By following the above simple rule you will save years of headache trying to re-create the "where did I get this from" problem that so often crops up in genealogy. Be consistent.

Some of the sites discussed covered special maps, ship photos, passenger lists, birth & death indexes, fraternal orders, orphans, obituaries, cemeteries, lookups and related details.

 

October 24, 2000 (Tuesday)

'Tweaking your "Computer Genealogy Program'. Use a simple method to help identify your various bloodlines. (Cleve Kimmel - 5 minutes). First identify your grandparent's bloodlines. For each of the male ancestors, at the end of the line, link them to a parent. Identify each bloodlines parent (there are four) with the grandparent's name [for the first name], and the word ORIGIN as the surname. Just link the ancestral lines that are the oldest. This will get about 80-90% of the database. Click on an unknown person in the database, run a bloodline list, and the ORIGIN relationship will appear at the end. If there are more than one ORIGIN listed it simply means that there was inter-marriage in your lineage. Not all people are covered, but I have 40,000 in one data file, and have linked over 40 people to one parent. This has covered about 90% of my database. I set the grandparent's name lineage as the first child to its ORIGIN parent, and arrange the others by birth date for simplicity. This minimizes the time needed to find whom a person's relation to you. Also, you can run a descendancy report or BOOK on these ORIGINS and get a nearly complete history. It would be very large. My descendancy LIST has over 4,500 pages to it, for example.

'The MOSS Mansion'. The beginning and contribution of one of our founding fathers to the community of Billings and Yellowstone County was presented. This is a MUST SEE slide show presentation event. (Vernon Drake - 45 minutes). Vernon discussed how the Moss Mansion came to be on the Montana Heritage, and the exhaustive efforts needed to re-construct the building to its past glory. It was accepted as a Historical site in 1986 and the restoration began immediately.

'Make a Family History Book for Pennies' Cleve Kimmel (30 min) (Presentation delayed. This method creates a 'real book for your family memories.) To be presented later.

'Understanding the Filby Book'. Athna May Porter (30 min). This is a collection of indices entitled 'Passenger and Immigration List Index', but more commonly referred to as the Filby Books. They are a series of extractions made of immigration and passenger lists for persons entering America (Canada & US). These are annual extractions of lists, and new lists are published annually. When searching you MUST examine each volume! The date doesn't always mean the DATE when your ancestor entered America; so all persons must be examined for possible linkage. Also be sure to check alternate spellings. The codes are noted in THE FRONT of the book (or a separate index for early years). Read it first.

Met at LDS Church on 6th Street West & Avenue D

6:30 p.m. Social - 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Program

28 November 2000

Bob Ereckson presented details on publishing a large, two-volume family history book. Dr William R Laurence, in southern Illinois, took an interest in collecting detail information about his direct lineage and descendancy in 1978. For the past 22 years he continued to amass a large collection of personal details, records, and certificates on each member. Bob became affiliated with him, and through his extensive genealogical knowledge, prepared the history book titled "The Choates of Southern Illinois and Related Families". Actual preparation of the publishing effort started in 1994, and it took over six years to compile the final version. It is published from an extraction of a PAF Genealogical file, and compiled by a program called "Gen-Book". Gen-Book information is available at 530-889-8801; it costs about $30.00, and offers numerous options for setting up the style and size. Three hundred copies are being printed, and one will be made available to the YGF.

Sue-Ann Jacobson presented a discussion about various genealogical forms and their usage. These forms included: Discrepancy Chart, Family Chronology, Census History Tabulation, Relationship Chart by William Dollarhide, Birth Determination Calendar Chart. Copies of these forms are available at the LDS Family History Center.

The Germans From Russia Society presented the YGF with a "Lifetime" membership from the Bismarck Branch, for their periodical publication.

The Ellis Island immigration records will be made available on-line in April 2001.

Library two-hour parking limit has become a severe headache for researchers and volunteers. Attempts to reconcile are underway, but anyone having concerns should contact the City Hall and voice an objection.

 

Met at LDS Church on 6th Street West & Avenue D

6:30 p.m. Holiday Social with refreshments- 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Program

 

23 January, 2001 - Talks on Record Keeping & Cemeteries

Record Keeping by Suzanne McPherson - A 'Home Library' is an essential tool for knowing what is needed and how to obtain important information. Keys to your success lies in the creation of a library having as a minimum a collection of the following books related to your specific interests:

Researching Cemeteries for Your Relative by Ann Ferguson - Now days there are a strong trend to eliminate personal assistance and printed information about the cemeteries. Many are converting to computerized records; making it virtually impossible to locate a relative. Ann will be publishing a book on the subject this year. Some of the key things to remember when researching a cemetery are to 'obey the rules'. These are usually concealed in a separate book held in custody by the grounds keeper. With so many concerns about personal rights your rights in a cemetery are limited to what is locally permitted. Before traveling to a distant location to visit a cemetery, obtain a copy of the rules and a layout of the grounds before arriving. Generally the following has to be observed:

Perpetual care of the grounds does not cover repair or maintenance of a marker. If yours is damaged in any manner, it is your responsibility to know and fix it according to current rules and regulations (you will not be informed); else it will probably be moved to a storage area and dumped.

In Mountview Cemetery, there are about 2,300 unidentified gravesites, with most of them under the roadways. All new markers have to conform to a set of special rules enacted by the City of Billings.

 February 27th, 2000

Funds for obtaining records for the Heights Family History Center were donated by the PAF Users Group. CD’s were procured that will make all of our searching much easier. They are:

Ø      Revolutionary War Pension List

Ø      Civil War Rolls of Honor

Ø      American Immigration Records 1600-1900’s, William P Filby (Note: Hard Back in Gen Room)

Ø      Germans to America Passenger Lists 1850-1888 (85 volumes; 3.5 million people)

Ø      New Orleans Immigration Passenger Lists 1820-1850 (258,000 people)

Ø      Philadelphia Immigration Passenger Lists 1820-1850

Ø      Massachusetts Probate & Vital Records

Ø      Virginia Colonial Records

Ø      Pennsylvania Colonial Records

Ø      Kentucky Land Records (1774-1924)

Ø      North American Railroad Maps (If it’s not here, it doesn’t exist)

Ø      War of 1812 Muster Roll

Ø      American Genealogical Book Index (AGBI) 1600-1800 Contains over 177 hardback volumes

General tips to make genealogy more exciting and easier were offered by the members:

Ø      Set goals for your research, and perform work in segments (German relations for one year, etc)

Ø      When sending for information to a person, always include a return addressed envelope and postage if in the US, or International Script (available at Post Office) for foreign countries.

Ø      Review the Gen-Forum web site listing for surname queries, and categorize them and follow-up with contact.

Ø      Old photographs usually contain the name of the photographer. The local genealogy society or history society might just have the firm’s archives and can assist in establishing the date for your photo.  Contact them.

Ø      Look for histories of a specific region or topic (town, county, race, religion, etc), there are many out there.

Ø      Send for information to other genealogical groups. They keep your letter filed under the surname you are researching. When another asks about the same surname, your letter will be there to read. (Ps., the Gen-Room has some of these)

Ø      Narrow your focus to one family or one area.

Ø      Photocopy of a book or magazine’s article is available at the Salt Lake History Center. (Forms are at the branch centers). Eight pages for $2.00.

Ø      When you find an article in a book; copy the cover and the index also. After doing some more research, you probably will have to re-check the book, and the index will certainly come in handy.

Ø      Parmly Inter-Library Loan is restricted to five per month. First go the place (via the web) that has the book you need, copy the details about fees and other restrictions, and the addresses, and then arrange for the transfer. If the cost is known, you will have an easier time in getting the book.

Ø      Check for alternate spellings of towns. Many change, or are recorded differently from what you may believe is correct. Same for countries. Many towns don’t move, but the ownership changes over time as new boundary lines are drawn.

Ø      Some regions have customs that the person takes on the name of the landowner. If they move to a new landowner, they will probably have a new name. (Some German and Scandinavians do this).

Ø      Heritage Quest magazine (Nov or Dec, 2000) has great tips for researching in Scandinavian countries.

Ø      The Veterans Administration has just located 20 million duplicate records of those previously destroyed in a fire a few years ago. So, re-contact them, and insist they look again, in the duplicate files.

Ø      Cornell University has placed the entire War of the Rebellion (Civil War) Books on line. There is an index that can be viewed several ways, and there are images of each page for you to read or download. The Gen-Room has the complete set of books; and this was truly a massive undertaking.

Ø      Records of your relative, locked up in a State Hospital long ago, might well be available. Write there, or to the local historical society and find out. Chances are good that you will receive a complete file, with much family details and names.

Ø      Be sure to research the historical times of your ancestors when linking them up; and include this history into your book on your family.

For those who missed this meeting, don’t miss the next one.

March 27, 2001 (Tuesday)

New Books in the Gen-Room.. A detailed description of the new additions was presented. Many shortcuts toward their usage were presented.

April 24, 2001 (Tuesday)

Dick Thayer presented much information about researching Military Records, including new forms that must be used for submitting queries to the government sources. Dick has over 2,000 books about military records and will assist others in their quest for information.  Email him at tayermt@imt.net.

 May 22, 2001 (Tuesday)

Available records in Yellowstone County, and what the new ‘Marriage’ Law and others will mean to researchers. Jean Thompson, Clerk of the Court discussed the effects of the NEW Marriage Bill and Archival Bill. Much to the surprise of all was the fact that neither bill provided for the destruction of files as was supposedly claimed. All pertinent records were microfilmed (in duplicate), and that material is available for research.  The new law provides a pecking order for information about the paper copies only that are no longer needed (10 years and older). To get on the list you must register.

Cake and drinks were served at the 24th anniversary party.

June 26, 2001 (Tuesday)

Carbon County Historical Society presentation. Penny Redli. The society manages the genealogy center and museum for the area. It is located ina three-story “Labor Building”, first in Montana at 224 N. Broadway. They host extensive files, but only a portion is currently displayed. Open from 8   to noon weekdays for research.  Files on 1900 & 1910 census, voter registration and obit locations, newspapers from 1891-1980 (mf not yet available papers include Red Lodge, Bridger, Joliet, Fromberg, Bear Creek, Montana Free Press), Sanborn Maps, City Directories, Extensive person-places photo file (in process of identification), Cemetery Book. Email peaks2plains@altavista.com

 

 

September 25th, 2001 (Tuesday)

Tips and hints for the use of the computer by genealogists for family research presented by Athna May Porter makes easy the task of managing “your computer!”  The following suggestions will make the research seem like fun.

 

 

Help Button – Click on the Help Button for just that! Use it often and use it before you call your best friend or me. Click on Contents and index, click on Search and type the topic in the Keyword box. You can also search for your topic by looking through the list. You can even “bookmark” topics that you need to refer to frequently.

 

Copying Photos or Maps or Text – Have your Word-processing program open to a new file. Go to Internet site of interest and right click on photo or map – left click on copy – Alt / Tab to your Word file – and right click mouse - left click on paste. Use your page setup to stretch out your margins then click on photo and stretch it to fit. Go to Print and  click on Properties, set up B&W or Color and type of paper.  Print.

 

Copying Text – Have your Word-processing program open to a new or old file. Go to the Internet site of interest and highlight the text that you want to copy. Right click on mouse – left click on copy – Alt / Tab to your Word file – right click on mouse – left click on paste. Sometimes “copy” will not show up on a right click. Then highlight and left click on Edit – left click on Copy – Alt / Tab to your Word file – left click on Edit & then Paste.

 

Another Way to Copy Text - Place your mouse at the start of the material  - should have a flashing “I” beam) - hold down your SHIFT key, and move your mouse to the end of the material - left click your mouse at the end of what you want to highlight. The entire passage should be highlighted.

 

Another Way to Copy Text – Highlight the text you want to copy, let go of the mouse and hold down Control (Ctrl) and then press C for Copy.  Go to the place you want to paste the text or Alt / Tab to your Word-processing Program and set the cursor where you want the copied text to go. Hold down Control (Ctrl) and then press V for paste.

 

Printing out a Web page – Before printing out a web page, go to File, click on print preview to see how many pages there will be or to see which of the pages you want to print.  Enter that page number in the printer box so you only get the pages you need.

 

Find Button – Click on Edit – click on Find – Window will open – Type in the keyword that you what to search on – keyword will be highlighted throughout the text.

 

History Button – Shows all of the sites that you have been to. Can go back to one by just left clicking on it.

 

Tools Button – If you have Copernic, then you can click on tools – translate using Gist - in –Time and covert it to a different language.  From Tools, or the Task Bar or from the Desktop, you can launch Copernic.

 

Internet Options – Find this on Tools – Click on Internet Options and then click on advance to refine what you want the Internet to do for you. This is where you disable the photos or images from coming in so your Internet will work faster.

 

Favorites – If you find a site that you like or want to check out later, click on FAVORITES and then Add to Favorites. Rename the site so you will remember something about it. If you have a folder that fits this type of site, then click on the appropriate folder already existing. If you do not have one, then click on Create In and name a new folder to place the site in. Then click on the new folder and then ok and the site will go into the folder.

 

For Genealogy topics, I type Genealogy and then a subtitle (Genealogy Census). I always lead with Genealogy in order to keep my Genealogy folders all together for quicker searching. You can rename anytime by a right click.

 

Moving, Copying or Deleting Multiple Files – Place your cursor on the first file, hold down the Shift button and press the down arrow to highlight the files you want to move, copy or delete. Release the Shift button and the files should stay highlighted. To move, you can copy and paste or drag the files to wherever you want them to be moved to.  To delete, press the delete button on tool bar or use right click on mouse.  Make sure that the arrow is pointing on the highlighted file(s) for the right mouse button to give you’re the correct options. You can undo by clicking on Edit and then undo or with a right click.

 

To Move quickly among your Folders – Place your mouse at the top of the Favorites on Add or Organize – then press the first letter of the topic you want and the first folder of that letter is highlighted. Press the same letter again and again to continue through the folders beginning with that letter.

 

To Sort Folders and Sites into Alphabetical order – Right click on folder and click on Sort by Name.  You can sort your folders as well as the sites within your folders easier through Internet Explorer.

 

After doing some reorganizing of my Favorites through Microsoft Outlook, I went onto the Internet. My rearranging that I did was there, but not in alphabetical order like it appeared in Microsoft Outlook.

 

To Move files from one folder to another – Left Click on file in a folder and drag it to the folder where you want it to go. Let go of the left click to the right of the folder so that it is placed into the folder and not mixed in with the folders.

 

Renaming Files and Folders – You can rename files and folders anytime you want and place more than one copy into separate Folders when a topic covers more than one subject.

 

Microsoft Outlook Hints – When you are writing a new letter, place the cursor into the TO Box and type the first few letters of the person you are writing to. Then press ALT K. If the person is listed in your Address Book, either the person’s name will pop in or a window will open with all of the possibilities for that name. Do the same for CC (Carbon Copy) Box.

 

You can also type a name in full or in part that you have in your address book, press Tab and the rest of the name comes in and becomes underlined. This means that the address is present.

 

Sending Mail later – Click the Options button and then fill in the date you would like your letter to be sent.  This is great for sending out mail when you are not able to be at

your computer on a particular day.

 

October 23rd, 2001 (Tuesday)

Ann Foster (Archivist for Huntley Museum) presented an outstanding course about “Preserving Documents”.

November 27th, 2001 (Tuesday)

"Searching Irish Roots" by Ann Ferguson.

Ann visited Ireland along with a large group of genealogists, each interested in discovering how to research Irish records. What they found was quite enlightening. First was the nearly absence of cemeteries. The one shown here at Ardmore Tower is representative of the hundreds of ancient burial grounds for the noted and rich. These are in the process of being recorded. Commoners were simply buried, thus no real cemeteries exist for the multitudes. Records of Irish ancestry can be found, but only after one establishes where and what the person did, along with the native spelling of their name. Before researching this country, one must learn all they can about the area and the specific times of interest. Without that, no progress can really be made. There are Civil & State records that are completely separate and overlapping as to territory, but not information saved. These separate into counties (e.g., County Cork), Provincial Boundaries, Dioceses, Ecclesiastical Boundaries, and Probate Districts. Persons (except wealthy) had no land, thus no wills. Many were shipped to Australia. Maps of migration were presented. Research materials were presented, and are available in PDF format, starting with an “Irish Time Line” chart for reference. Use this as a starting point of where to look.

 

 

“The Germans from Russia Group” Presented researching tips on Black Sea & Volga German-Russians. Howard Guenthner presented a narrative description of the life and times of these persons, and their travels from Germany into Russia. Patty Dietz presented a detailed method of how to obtain an extensive and documented family history chart & lineages for these family persons. The attached document in PDF format identifies the society, available record sources and Internet links.

 

January 22nd, 2002 (4th Tuesday)

Merle Theimer presented “Cradled in Sweden”. A hands-on experience, direct from her recent trip to Sweden. She provided the group with a two-page summary of recommendations for conducting research in Sweden, from a researcher located there. (In Adobe)

 

February 26th, 2002 (4th Tuesday)

Breaking Down Genealogy Brick Walls a forum of YFG discussion panel experts. Discussion items included: Riverside Cemetery and the plans to locate 100+ soldiers buried there and provide them with a suitable memorial marker (the Marines have their names, but not plot location); new listings of Orphan Train children and their adopted families and their names, naming of US States as residences before they were created, mixing up of Tennessee families with common names & the difficulty of how to untangle them were a few topics discussed. The use of letters to locate lost relatives and family members was presented; and the results were simply amazing: siblings were re-united! Persistence is the key, and the use of a genealogical chart assisted in their locations.

March 26th, 2002 (4th Tuesday)

 Robin Sparboe (Belvedere Family Library) reviewed the research techniques and files needed for researching Land Records. It was pointed out that there are three things every researcher needs in order to locate family records: 1) Name of ancestor, 2) approximate dates for various events, and 3) most importantly, where they lived. Before starting to perform land record research, first determine what type of land the particular state is registered as. This will enable the researcher to know where to look for records, and what types are available. After locating a land record research the attendant files in depth! There are seven categories of land records, with information of over 1 billion acres recorded. Combine the land records with tax records, city directories, school census, state and federal census and vital records. The BLM has separate files for various types of records: Tracts, Township Plats, Surveys & Notes, and Homestead Files. The Homestead Files contain considerable genealogical & historical information, including naturalization papers, where applicable. In searching the indexes for your ancestor by name, and it doesn’t appear, remember to search the USA, State by Name, and City or Township by Name. Many persons are only listed in the legal action files, such as: “United States of America versus Jerry Fredrick Columo of Ohio.”  The system indexing is incomplete. Handouts created and graciously provided  by Emily Anne Croom, genealogical research author, for use in compiling records were provided: (Note: These forms will be added in Adobe format to the referenced sites soon as scanner is available.)

1)      Deed Index – Grantors

2)      Deed Index – Grantees

3)      Deed Abstracts – by Surname Indexing

4)      A Primer on the Rectangular System of Surveying & Handy Glossary

5)      Bibliography for Land Record Research

6)      Virtual Roots – Links to maps and land survey records.

April 23rd, 2002 (4th Tuesday)

Bernie Mason, the Yellowstone County Extension Agent, presented a program titled "Who gets grandma's yellow pie plate”.  At this meeting several members and brought a heritage item and told a short story about it. Bernie presented a lively talk about the pitfalls of passing your possessions on to others upon your passing. Special forms were issued to assist in the decision making of non-titled property. Montana provides for the distribution of such property under Statute, section 72-2-533.  Various forms are available through the Yellowstone County Extension Service, PO Box 35021, Billings, MT 59107-5021.

May 28th, 2002 (4th Tuesday)

YGF Anniversary 25th Year Celebration starting at 6:30. Cake & Refreshments provided!

Montana State University Library genealogy holdings and research was presented. This is the fourth presentation offered by the university regarding the files and how to access them. Many of the files are in Special Collections, and genealogists are always welcome.

Dr. Keith Edgerton, History Professor from MSU-B will be doing a program on Lewis & Clark.

 

June 25th, 2002 (4th Tuesday)

Jim & Ardyce Masters presented  “The Scandalous Scotts”, (Borderland to the back country)

July

Picnic North Park

 

Aug:

David Karnos, professor of philosophy at MSU-Bullings, will show slides of grave markers in rural Montana cemeteries and tell their stories. Dr. Karnos is writing a book on the subject called Silent Sentinels of Montana.

 

Sept:

 

No meeting because of the Conference

 

Oct:

 

Donald Clarin presented “Researching Swedish ancestors in Sweden.” Checkout the research listing provided.

Nov 2002

Suzanne McPherson presented a lively discussion on How to Prepare for an Eulogy, and the importance of doing it before a persons death. The best person to prepare an obituary or an eulogy about your life is YOU. Some easy rules were presented.

 

January 28 2003

 

Quaker Research, (Terry Palin Bullis). Terry presented a detailed methodology for researchers looking for Society of Friends (Quakers), and explained how their vital records are different from the other forms available to researches. If you suspect that an ancestor was Quaker, and vital information cannot be located through normal channels, it’s a good idea to start with Henshaw’s Index for the name. Records are kept in the minutes of their monthly meetings of the town in which the meetings were held. There are three monthly meetings to review: mens, womens and the vitals. Considerable information about terminology and procedures to follow are posted on the web. Rootsweb is a good place to start, along with Cyndi’s list.

February 24, 2003

Rick Hutchinson presented an excellent dissertation on maps, the various types, and how to interpret the various symbols thereon. He described how to integrate the map types with research for location of your ancestors. He showed how to locate a gravesite using a map and a GPS. A fact sheet detailing important information about maps in genealogy was distributed. This can be located on the web at <mac.usgs.gov/mac/isb/pubs/factsheets/fs09902.html>.  A listing of suggested web sites for map retrievals was issued. For those persons desiring a specific year of Topographical map, they can be made available through the USGS.

PJ Smith presented a discussion on how to search the BLM/GLO land records, especially the Crow Reservation areas, and obtain lineages in the tribe. Information on searching and retrieving records was explained in a handout. (PDF-Format) Homestead records and how they were issued, and the information available was defined on the handout.

 

March 25,2003

Ann Ferguson presented an excellent discussion and explanation of how to use the POLK Directories for researching ancestral lines.  NEWS: Parmly is re-carpeting the GenRoom along with the rest of the library. 

April 22, 2003


Sharon Estrada presented a program on Finding Lost Adoptive Siblings.

May 27, 2003

The membership elected a new board. A roundtable discussion was made and answers to research questions given. Two new members were introduced. It was announced that the Court House, as of July 1st would raise the 50¢ fee for Birth Certificate copies to $5.00.

 

June 24, 2003

DAR “A lineage Society” by Louise LaRue and other DAR members. See what DAR has accomplished in the county.

August 26

For those “first timers” who want to visit the LDS Library at Salt Lake City, but are hesitant as to how to prepare for the event; experienced visitors will describe how to get ready; and will make your trek meaningful. There is so much information available at the Library that it is extremely important that a person knows what to do before leaving; or all your efforts might just be in vain.

September 23

Dotty Lowman will talk about “How to Research Death Certificates.”

October 28, 2003

MSGS Conference highlights.

November 25, 2003

Researching Homesteader Records in Huntley Museum. Paul Daniels.

2004 Presentation Summaries

January 27th  Mark Parker, attorney. How to Write Your Own Will.

Preparing one’s own will, can be a simple matter, but what usually happens is that they become “over-complicated”, causing many to be disputed in court. Past history has indicated that it is much better to prepare a will using an attorney who can properly phrase your concerns to prevent contesting of the will at a later date. However, for those who desire to prepare their own, two things have to be decided: 1) what is needed to be included, and 2) how is it to be created?

Probing questions need to be addressed to establish the need:

1.      Who will take care of the children and how?

2.      Who takes care of the money and assets for the betterment of the children (or other selected persons)?

3.      Establish pre-death decisions, health care, living will, etc.?

a.      Health Care Power of Attorney: Established who is to take charge of your life health needs while you are still alive, but may become incapacitated, hospitals have a good form to use.

b.      Durable Power of Attorney: Who is to manage your estate, pay debts, continue business operations, etc.)

c.      Organ donor decisions. Note: placing argon donor authorized on Driver’s License does not prevail if any member of family objects, or not knowledge of such readily available.

d.      Establish burial requests, including if death occurs on vacation.

e.      Establish Personal Representative to take care of your affairs after you have died. Note that all Power of Attorney documents are voided at time of death.

f.        Bank accounts are administered exclusively from the “Bank Account signature card, and is not related to the decisions made in the will. An exception to this can be made by having the Bank change the cards signature authority through a special form that allows other signatures to have privileges to write checks, but cannot have any ownership. All others assume joint ownership, and all proceeds go to the surviving signatures. This includes bank safe deposit accounts, etc. You must review “all signature cards of all types.”

                              

               Decisions need to be made regarding Possessions:

1.      Joint Tenancy or Tenants in Common? Under Joint Tenancy the survivor gets all. Under Tenants in Common, ownership of deceased’s share (you) goes as directed by the will.

2.      Best to sort out possessions and dispose of before death.

3.      Decide who gets Real Property? Be specific and do not add special conditions no matter how you feel at the time. (Example of what not to do: “My house on 123 James Street, Billings, Montana goes to my sister Jane, providing she doesn’t get married for three years.” Real property must be identified whether or not it is free and clear, includes mortgages, and other related costs, income.” These concerns must be simply stated.

4.      Decide who gets Sentimental Property? In the will establish reference to a list of items and what happens to them, which is separate from the will itself.

5.      Don’t try and reach too far “out-of-the grave.” If you couldn’t control a person while you were alive, you certainly won’t change a person after you have died.

1.      You can divide the estate any way you want, evenly or lop-sided.

2.      If any portion goes to a charity, it must be absolutely specifically stated! This means getting the full legal name and address of the charity. Simply stating “Methodist Church” won’t direct the funds to your church, it may well go to the corporate structure in another town.

3.      Value of an estate changes with time, and after establishing how much is to be given to a person or other, a percentage option must be attached, indicating the lesser shall be given.

4.      It is sometimes better to have your Personal Representative convert all to cash, and distribute funds according to your will.

5.      If you reside in one state (legal address) but spend too, much time in another state, that state may have jurisdiction over your death, and your will may be voided. Consider this in its preparation.

How to Write the Will:

1.      First do not slander anyone.

2.      You cannot disinherit your spouse.

3.      Add comment: “This will revokes all other wills.”

4.      Denote that you have a separate list created for Sentimental Property. Attach to the will.

5.      If the will is holographic (hand-written) it must be on plain paper and signed by you. If undated it could easily be contested. A one-line will is perfectly okay.

6.      If the will is typed (any form), it must be signed and dated by you, and with two un-biased witnesses, not mentioned in the will. It is best to have them read the will, although not absolutely needed.

7.      It is usually best to give copies of signed will to the heirs. Do not put into Safety Boxes, or other similar facilities.

 

 

April 27, 2004

Ann Ferguson presented "Tracking Your Genealogical Research." The importance of using a Research Log was explained, and a copy of one to use (prepared by David Dilts) was examined in depth. In summary, it can be clearly stated, that if you do not use a research log, you are not a Researcher! Sample of log and copy of blank log.  Download a copy of the Adobe file and start using it!

May 25, 2004

Heidi Reed presented the program “Researching Cemeteries in Germany.”  Heidi if the leaseholder of her family plot in Bitberg, Germany, and explained the difficulties in performing research in Germany. Manu of the European countries have similar rules regarding deaths and burials. Each community has their own local rules, and before researching it is necessary to determine exactly what is to be expected.  Cemeteries are a place of joy and are frequented by all for daily pleasures. They are well maintained, and the annual costs can exceed $7,000. After the lease period has elapsed, the remains are removed to a “Rathaus” for eventual cremation and disposal. Markers will remain on the plot if the family retains the lease.

Oct 2005

Presentations by members. War of the Rebellion, Mayflower Books, The Great Migration, DAR Books, Virgil White’s Military Books, Filby’s Passenger & Immigration Lists, GenRoom Computer listings and Programs.

Jan 2006

Presentations of maps and how to use them. Map Research Aid for finding what maps and where to look on-line by Athna May. Squire Boone lineage of Dave Dodge.

 

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