Dead Fred's Meditation Corner

"Whoever said, 'seek and ye shall find' was NOT a genealogist!"  
--Donna

"Genealogy: Collecting dead relatives and sometimes a live cousin!"
--Unknown

If you have a quote or anecdote for our Meditation Corner, send it to us at meditation@deadfred.com.

Words From The Reunited

Hello:

Saw the photo of Harry Baraff. I am a relative. Where did this info/photo come from?

Ron Baraff

-----

Jesse Hoag IS my grandfather's uncle Franklin Hoag of Adrian, MI. Grandfather was born in 1881.
http://www.deadfred.com/photos/249.jpg

Rex Ralls

-----

Joe,
Since contacting you, I have established that #12895 is kin, and that # 12149 is not kin.
So please scan me a copy of #12895 only and e-mail it to me. I have enjoyed your web site.

Thanks,
William Mayo

-----

Hi,

My name is Mark Cordz, and I just came across the Dead Fred web site and the photo you posted which includes Effie Cordz. Effie Cordz was my Grandfather's aunt. I was wondering if you could possibly scan her a little larger and e-mail the scan to me. We don't have any pics of her.

Here is further information about Effie Cordz:

Birth: 17 MAR 1889 in Birch Tree, Missouri
Death: 6 JUL 1991 in Lane County, Oregon
Burial: 9 JUL 1991 Rest-Haven Memorial Park, Eugene, Lane County, Oregon

Father: Sophus Axel CORDZ b: DEC 1856 in Sorø, Ringsted, Denmark
Mother: Sarah LIVELY b: JAN 1863 in Missouri

Marriage: Gilbert D. MACLAREN b: ABT. 1888 in Montana
Married: 1916 in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon

Effie's husband Gilbert Maclaren is also in the same yearbook. His photo is on the Dead Fred site three times. If you could, would you scan the photo of him in his cap & gown?

Effie was 102 years old when she died.

Thank you,
Mark Cordz

Have you found a relative? Be sure to write and tell us about your lucky discoveries at DeadFred.com! Share your reunion experience here.

Letters To The Archivists

Dear Jeannette,

I would appreciate it if you would post my parents. Robert Edward Barnard b.3-28-1897 d. 7-27-1973. Georgia Kent Wood b.7-13-1895 d.2-28-1994. Married 2-12-1911 in Surry County, NC. Both born and died Meadows of Dan, VA, Patrick County. Picture was made by me 1956 at their home in the Bent section of Meadows of Dan, VA. I will sent you a check tomorrow for your trouble.

Thanks tons,
Franklin Barnard

-----

I don't remember, but did you tell us how to get pictures to you if we don't have a scanner?  I bought some old pictures at an antique store over twenty years ago and every time I get them out I wonder who they are and if their families would love to have these pictures  I wish I had pictures of some of my relatives!  Clue me in...
Clueless in Ohio

-----

Thanks for all the great stuff on your page and in your newsletter. I sure wish someone knew who Martin is in my mystery photo of John Roberts in Louisville, KY.

It's in the mysteries folder, and the address is http://www.deadfred.com/photos/15230.jpg. My grandfather, John B. Roberts, is the man on the left. The other man is "Martin." I don't know if that's the first or last name. The photo was probably taken in Louisville, KY, sometime in the 1920s(?).

Thanks,
Kathy

-----

Thank you for my first laugh of the day -- Sap in every family tree. I enjoy both reading and viewing and hoping for action on my Mystery Man photo #16349.You have a great weekend too!

Lalu

-----

I found your site last night searching, and I think it is the best yet. I will be submitting photos shortly.

Jeanne Diehl Stiffler

-----

I was wondering if you know of a Sarah Roberts (b.1873); her mom was a Duncan. They lived in Arkansas. Sarah Roberts married John Nimrod Pigg and moved to Okahoma. I'm having a hard time finding any information.

Thank you,
Sheena

-----

Dear Amanda,

Tried the new search box, and it works just fine! I'll be posting some old photos for you in a couple of weeks! Great site!

Christine
Researching MacDonald, Fraser, MacAuley, MacKenzie, Davidson, Henderson, Crawford, Kerr, Carr, Rose, Polson
http://scotsemigre.accessgenealogy.com
http://williamcarr.accessgenealogy.com

-----

Need a picture of William Watson Smiley from Sebastin, Arkanas, or any other Smiley or any Webbs from Tazwell, VA.

Jeff Senters

-----

Dear Joe,

I saw your posting on my listing at Ancestry.com about the Pautzke family photo. I see you have made 2000 messages! Wow, you must be active.

Do you have any Pautzke family genealogy? I have Family Tree Maker software.

The photo of the Pautzke girl in Springfield, Minnesota, sure looks like a Pautzkes from Wright County, Minnesota. My brother just said she sure looked a great deal like my father!

Gary Johnson

-----

Hi Joe,

I am writing because I just came across the beautiful photo you posted on the Dead Fred web site. I am one of the coordinators of the Orleans Parish rootsweb site and also an amateur forensic scientist (I am writing a book right now, and one of the chapters has to do wtih photo identification).

I can't directly help you, but I would like to know more about your photo. Have you already checked the city directories for the photographers in New Orleans in 1915 to see if that address correspondes to any of them? What about the surnames in your family? Have you checked the directories to see if any of your relatives lived at the address 1114 Milan St., New Orleans, LA?

You might want to check out our web site at:
Orleans Parish Archives - LAGENWEB - USGENWEB <http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/la/orleans.htm>

For the last two year, we have been uploading all the birth, marriage and death certificates for Orleans Parish, which are held at the Louisiana State Archvies in Baton Rouge. So far, we have posted all the deaths 1804 -1903, all the births 1796 - 1900 (except for a few names in 1903), and we are now powering through the marriages 1870 forward. In fact, Ancestry.com has just uploaded these same databases (except they have completed some later years that we have not reached yet). We also have complete city directories online - 1881, 1822, 1832, and 1842, posted by name, as in the regular directory, but also by address, like a criss-cross directory.

Anyway, you can tell I am proud of our site.

Please let me know the names you are working on, and maybe I can help you.You might want to join the Orleans Parish rootsweb list, and post an inquiry. We have a couple of professional genealogists on the list, as well as a couple of informal historians. Someone might be able to help you. Let me know if this interests you, and I can tell you how to subscribe.

Colleen Fitzpatrick
Orleans Parish Rootsweb Homepage:
Orleans Parish Archives - LAGENWEB - USGENWEB <http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/la/orleans.htm>

Whether you have a bone to pick or a eulogy to offer, send your thoughts to letters@deadfred.com.

Picks and Shovel Highlights

Subject:  Whisner Photos
Author:  Jack L. DeRosa
Date:  9/19/2002  10:32 a.m. CDT
I am looking for a photo of Charles Whisner, who died in 1978 in Cumberland, MD.

-----

Subject:  Conway/Stamps/Jones
Author:   Sandy Bergmann
Date:  9/21/2002 0:38 am CDT
I am looking for any old photos from the CONWAY/STAMPS/JONES line, mostly from Texas. Our line for the Conways are from Charles Benton Conway, son of Gideon and Malinda Conway. Thanks to a family reunion recently, I now have 7 generations of family photos, and would like more.

Some of these names would be as follows:
Charles Benton Conway married Lizzie Dixon 2-Margaret Rose
Issac Hamilton Conway married Mollie Syrus
William Benton Conway married Bertie Stamps
Raymond Estelle Conway married Edyth Thompson

I would appreciate it, and would be glad to share what I have as well. Have not found anything on DEADFRED as yet, but I sure keep looking! A GREAT SITE!

-----

Subject:  Reeds from West Virginia
Author:  Ken Reed
Date:  9/26/2002 12:35 am CDT
Looking for any Wilsons, Smiths, Freeses and Coopers who married a Reed in the early 1900-1920's from Grafton, West Virginia, or surrounding area.

-----

Subject:  Shuttleworths from West Virginia
Author:  Ken Reed
Date:  9/26/2002 12:41 am CDT
Looking for any Shuttleworths from Grafton, West Virginia, or surrounding counties. Looking for anyone who might know of Hazel Marie, born Jan. 5, 1896, married a Dressler and lived in Richmond, Virginia, area. Also her sister Mary Elizabeth, born Aug. 4, 1897, and she married a Densmore from Grafton, West Virginia.

-----

Subject: Eden Photographic Studio
Author: Sid Turrell
Date: 10/8/2002 7:14 am CDT
Eden Photographic Studio was in business in London in the mid-1800s to early 1900s. I have a number of family ancestral pictures that were taken at this establishment; I am researching the exact location of this Studio. Can anyone please help?

Regards,
Sid Turrell

-----

Subject: Pauline Austen(Austin) Looking for
Author: Barbara Estep
Date: 10/11/2002 8:33 pm CDT
Trying to locate husband's aunt Estelle Pauline Estep Austin or Austen. She would be about 82 now. She married Robert D. Austin or Austen during WWII. Her father was a doctor, mother teacher. She had 3 half sisters and 1 whole brother. Brother still living, but is now 89 and quite frail. He has tried to locate her since early 50s. At that time she was in Columbus, OH. She and husband lived for a time in North Hollywood, CA.

Would appreciate any information. Thanks.

-----

Subject: Hager, Hale pictures
Author: Barbara Estep
Date: 10/11/2002 8:39 pm CDT
Trying to find any pictures of children of James M. Hager and Mary Arminta Musick (Music) Hager. They were my ggrandparents. They had a son Frances (Frank) Marion Hager; he married Lula Hale, and they had 4 children. Frank & Lula died young, leaving the children as orphans. They were raised in Masonic Orphanage, Louisville, KY. Children of Frank & Lula were as follows:

Minnie E. Hager
Ethel M. Hager
Harry E. Hage
James E. Hager

Also, would like to find pictures of Lula Hales's parents and/or siblings. Her parents were: John Emory Hale and Eliza Perry Hale. Some of the siblings were Alice Hale Crabtree, Sam Hale and Mary Layne. Both families were from Eastern KY, Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin, KY, area.

Thank you,
Barb E

Dead Fred's Pop Quiz

You have made a wonderful genealogy discovery: You have found a "famous" member of the family. Who would it be?

1.    George Washington
2.    Babe Ruth
3.    Amelia Earhart
4.    William Shakespeare
5.    Other ____________

Send your feedback to claire@deadfred.com.

Here are the results from last month's poll/question,  Which of these events do you consider to be the most important event of the past 100 years?

B.  Japan bombs Pearl Harbor: U.S. enters World War II        1 vote
E. U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima, Nagasaki: Japan surrenders to end World War II        3 votes

Most definitely E. This changed the way countries might conduct war. And since this event, the world has lived under that shadow of that danger. Though we have become more comfortable with it, I remember civil defense drills, underground bomb shelters and my father reminding us we lived just a few miles from The Federal Center near Denver, so we would certainly be too close to ground zero to survive. (Yes, my father is a supremely positive person when seen in a certain light.)
-Michelle Gershon

The discovery and use of antibiotics.
-Ingrid Roades

The most important event was the discovery of electricity, which allows me to write you at the moment. How many of the other events could have occurred without it?
-Pam Forsberg

Sept 11, 2001, is the most memorable historical event in the history of the United States.
-Barbara Padgitt

Do you have an idea for an interesting pop quiz or poll? Send us your input here.

What's New In The Database?

www.deadfred.com/photos/16671.jpg
Gamble, Polly
Keaton, KY
USA
Comments: born: Jan.18,1853, died:Sept.12,1932 w/o Thomas C. Rose "Bud" d/o John "Jack" Gamble and Aurena "Rena" Boggs. All from either Johnson or Lawrence County, KY.

www.deadfred.com/photos/16678.jpg
Miller, Anson
Markham, ON
Canada
Comments: The known people in this photo are from left to right Elizabeth (Miller) Sugden, Elizabeth Miller (Anson's Wife), Anson Harman Miller, Emma Miller (their daughter?); also the men it the top row are unidentified.

www.deadfred.com/photos/16686.jpg

www.deadfred.com/photos/16757.jpg
Hocking, Mary
Listowel, Ontario
Canada
Comments: on reverse: Cousins of Mrs. C.B. Ruth Clara & Mary Hacking (Dau of Wm Hacking) (Dau of Cy Hocking) Note: This photo came from a lot of photos with the last name of HOCKING ( which was sometimes spelled HACKING); Therefore, I am adding both surnames to the search. If you know which surname this is, please write and let me know. Purchased at the Kalona Antiques Co., Kalona, Iowa http://kctc.net/kac

www.deadfred.com/photos/16762.jpg
Borden, Lizzie
Comments: Names are written on back. Purchased at the Kalona Antiques Co., Kalona, Iowa http://www.kctc.net/kac

Recognize These Faces?

www.deadfred.com/photos/16902.jpg
Minnie
GA
United States
Comments: I think Minnie is sister to Estey Lorraine Bennett.

www.deadfred.com/photos/17014.jpg
Rochester, NY
USA
Comments: Photocopies sent in to DeadFred.com by Barb Veramini. She says, "My daughter got all these pictures at yard sales in the Rochester, NY, Webster, NY, and Irodequoit, NY, areas. E-mail comments to Histroy101@aol.com.

www.deadfred.com/photos/17072.jpg
Brunswcheig,
Germany
Comments: Purchased from The Antique Manor, Stewartville, MN. E-mail comments to Histroy101@aol.com.

www.deadfred.com/photos/15230.jpg



Louisville, KY
USA
Comments: My grandfather, John B. Roberts, is the man on the left. The other man is "Martin." I don't know if that's the first or last name. The photo was probably taken in Louisville, KY, sometime in the 1920s(?).

www.deadfred.com/photos/16349.jpg
Comments: Submitted by Lalu. Photo of man in coat and hat posed in front of a house.

Claire's Top Picks

Here is this month's list of interesting web sites. I hope these web sites will help you in your genealogy endeavors.

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/misc/my-history-p/my-hist.htm
My History is America's History -15 Things You Can Do to Save America's Stories. A great introduction to things you can do to preserve your history.

http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/FamilyTree/familytreequestions.html
You will be sure to know someone extremely well with this list of 50 Family History Interview Questions.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~wgwkids/
This site is for those of 18 years and younger.

http://ccharity.com/
This is a very informative web site for those interested in researching African-American genealogy. Christine's archive of articles are informative.

http://www.familybirthrecords.com/
An interesting site for those interested in searching birth, marriage and/or death records.

Please send your questions, comments and/or recommendations to claire@deadfred.com.

Dead Fred's Celebrity Lookalike

Who did this distinguished woman look like to you?

http://www.deadfred.com/images/286lg.jpg

Last month's results:
Patty Duke  7 votes
Melissa Gilbert   4 votes

Thank you for your participation!

Here's a new challenge. Joe seems to think the subject of this Archive photo looks a lot like...well, we'll let you decide for yourself. Give it your best shot.

Send your feedback to lookalike@deadfred.com.

Live Forever?

According to a report from the Census Bureau, the United Nations and other international organizations, it seems there are a lot of senior citizens in the world. The report provided some fascinating information in regards to world population and consequently questioned how each country would be able to provide retirement benefits, health care and other factors that will affect senior citizens.

I was very intrigued by the report's revelations about the United States of America. Did you know according to the 2000 census, about 35 million of our country's 281 million are at least 65 years old?  The report also reveals that by 2030, one in every five Americans will be 65 years old? Why are we living for so long? My theory? Drugs.

Yes, of course there are those who do eat well and exercise every day. But as you well know, there are a lot of people who like to take their drugs. No, I am not talking about illegal drugs. I am talking about the medicines you see advertised in magazines and commercials. Companies will tell you their drugs will help your heart beat longer, keep your cholesterol level lower and enhance your love life.

I once worked, for a brief time, in a pharmacy. I was fascinated by all of the pills around me. There was a pill for This. There was a pill for That. There was a pill for Everything. The pharmacist once told me as long as people wanted to live forever, she would never be out of work. Live forever? It may sound nice, but is it really a good idea to have a nation of people living forever? I think Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest said it best when asked, "If you could live forever, would you and why?"

"I would not live forever, because we should not live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever."

Send your questions or comments about this story to claire@deadfred.com.

Be A Philanthropist For Just One Buck

We'd like to applaud our hopefully growing list of philanthropists, including the following:

Franklin R Bernard
Laura Higginbotham
Kathleen Maddux Pearlman
Sondra Michelle McMurray
Robert Latshaw
Daniel & Georgina Gaddis
Dan & Val Barney
Lois McGinnis
Frieda Risvold
Paul Logan
Shirley Arnold
Margaret Collins
Raylene Tetreault
Natalie Cole
Darla Laczynski
Gloria Scott
Janalee Garn
Judy Troy Linda Sande
Rebekah Jones
Ellen Plourde
Tracy St. Claire
Joan Knoblauch
Michael Barrett
Frances Barkley Willess
Shirley Patterson
Barbara Lewis
Michael Sobieski
Tony Gagler
Nancy Edwards
Jack Allen Millville
Pam Crawford

Did we miss your name despite your donation? We want to give you your due credit. Let us know who you are; click here.

Our hope is for each and every one of our unique visitors to donate at least one dollar (we'll take less and certainly more) for the upkeep and betterment of DeadFred.com.

Be a philanthropist! All it takes is a big heart and a donation of any amount.

If you would like to help, please click on the ''Donate'' or ''Click to Give'' links on our home page on the right, or you can mail a check or money order to the following address:

Dead Fred
P.O. Box 6937
Springdale, AR 72766-6937

Thank you!

Send your questions or comments about this story to jeannette@deadfred.com.

Essential Steps For African-American Research

INTRODUCTION
by Alva H. Griffith (GFS Alva)

We hope the information presented here will assist you both in beginning and continuing this wonderful adventure you have undertaken in learning about your heritage and the genealogy of your family. It is often incorrectly assumed that African American genealogy is all but impossible to accomplish and that records and information about African Americans are, for all practical purposes, non-existent. A glimpse at our new Resource Area will show that neither premise is true.

The cardinal rules of genealogical research are the same for all people.

START WITH YOURSELF AND WORK BACKWARDS.
Go from the known to the unknown. Study the history of your ancestral locality; learn about the times your ancestors lived in and the people whose lives may have impacted theirs. Your genealogy is not a simple list of names, places and dates; rather, it will take on life and become Your Family History.

African Americans use the same documents as every other group, although the perspective may be somewhat different. There are also a few additional types of records used by African Americans, just as there are for other groups. Last, but most assuredly not least, you will soon learn that African Americans who were enslaved were mentioned almost everywhere in the records of their owners. Once you are able to identify the owner, you can study his or her family's papers.

PHASES Of RESEARCH IN AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGY
Dee Parmer Woodtor, author of A Place Called Down Home, identifies nine phases of research. These phases roughly correspond to what you are likely to encounter in research as you proceed from what you know in the present to the past. Time spent on each phase will depend on the information and records that you find in the possession of various family members at the beginning. Remember that you must attempt to locate and document your ancestors in all known record sources for each period of time. Note that the sequence you follow is time; therefore, these phases will frequently overlap with each other as will the records.

Documenting the Contemporary Family
Collecting Evidence from Vital Records
Collecting Evidence on the Ancestral Home
Collecting Evidence from Federal Population Censuses
Collecting Evidence from the Civil War & Reconstruction Periods
Identifying the Last Slave Owner
Researching the Last Slave Owner
Tracing Slave Ancestors Over Time Finding the First Africans

To learn more about how to document, collect, identify, research and trace information on African-American genealogy, please visit this web site:
http://www.genealogyforum.rootsweb.com/gfaol/resource/AfricanAm/steps.htm
Permission was granted from Alva H. Griffith to reprint this article.

Send questions or comments about this story to claire@deadfred.com.

Get Your Free Subscription

Did a friend forward this to you? Want to receive Dead Fred's Relatively Speaking every month in your inbox?

Sign up today!

About The Co-Editors

	Claire Bott, Joe's daughter-in-law, maintains the phenomenal traffic flow of DeadFred.com. She conducts essential research for site content development, reviews and edits records and responds to e-mail correspondence. Contact her at claire@deadfred.com.
	Copywriter Jeannette Balleza writes and edits promotional materials for DeadFred.com and related projects. With public relations as her primary focus, she assists in marketing and advertising efforts to both attract support and generate awareness for the site. Contact her at jeannette@deadfred.com.

Spread The Word About Your Genealogy-Related Product or Service Here

Are you looking for a cost-effective way to market your genealogy-related product or service to an attentive audience? Reach close to 2,000 genealogists! Contact us at rates@deadfred.com for more information.

Get On The Web Today
Beat Your Competitors To The Virtual Punch

Join the industry leaders by making your web site into your marketing cornerstone. We design visually appealing web sites without compromising usability, and we completely guarantee your satisfaction with your online company image.

Vulcan Creative Labs will provide you with a powerful web presence by combining custom graphics and informative copy, allowing you to eclipse your competitors and attract both new and repeat business.

With over 17 years of design experience, we will build a digital reflection of your real business that includes the following:

• Creativity in design
• Ease of navigation
• Quickness in loading time
• Multi-browser compatibility

We offer bold, professional graphic design for web because we believe your...Company Image Matters.

Be Bold. Get Vulcanized. Contact us for a free consultation and quote at mail@vulcancreative.com or 479.973.0600. For additional information, check out our web site at www.vulcancreative.com, or call us toll-free at 1.866.424.5079.