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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Sunday's Obituary - Mayme Johnson Salmi

Daily Mining Gazette - Houghton Michigan - Tuesday January 2, 1990 pg 2


Mrs. Mayme Salmi, 91, of Hancock and a former Toivola resident, died early Sunday morning, December 31, 1969 at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility where she had been a resident patient since August of 1983.

The former Mayme Johnson was born in Toivola Jan 17, 1898, a daughter of the late Elias and Anna (Halstein) Johnson and had attended the Toivola school.

In December 12, 1914, she was married to Walter H. Salmi in Iron River. He preceded her in death September 21, 1974.

Mrs. Salmi was a member of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Hancock, and a life member of the Houghton County Historical Society.

She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Ena Wiitanen, and two sons Reino and Earl.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Elona (Nestor) Wisti of Kirkland, Washington; four sons, Willard of New Port Richey, FL, Wilbert "Wimpy" (Margaret) of Hancock, Hugo (JoAnn) of Superior, WI, and Evald (Alice) of Toivola; 17 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Wilhart (Hilda) Johnson of Toivola and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.


Friday, December 30, 2011

New Year's Resolutions for Genealogists

The only resolution I have ever tried to keep in my adult life was one I made about my genealogy. I thought a resolution tied to something I loved to do would be easy.

I made a list of all the records I needed to request and people I needed to contact. My resolution was to check one of these off each week. That was it, one letter a week.

While I never wrote all of those letters, just making the list was a great exercise. Organization is a key to doing genealogy and making that resolution forced me to get my act together.

Here are a few New Year's Resolutions to consider:
  1. I resolve to catch up on my filing and get rid of clutter.
  2. I resolve to join a genealogical society
  3. I resolve to write one article about my family research
  4. I resolve to submit an article to a local genealogy or state newsletter/ quarterly.
  5. I resolve to pick one record type, for example land records, to concentrate on this year.
  6. I resolve to learn how to look up one new type of genealogical record.
  7. I resolve to attend one county or state-level genealogical event this year. 
  8. I resolve to renew my contact with cousins, aunts or uncles I have not spoken to in years (maybe decades).
  9. I resolve to create timelines for significant family members to put their life in perspective.
  10. I resolve to produce either a family blog or newsletter to update my family on my research.
I want to thank my genealogy buddy Pam Treme for her assistance in creating these resolutions.

Have a safe and Happy New Year.

Take Care, Pattie


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Happy Holidays

The holidays are here and I have been absent from my blog! Beside all the shopping and decorating the holidays bring I have actually taken the time do to some research on my family tree. 

While I still am not sure if I have the correct John Outcalt that married Catharine (Dollie) Schultz in either Pennsylvania or New Jersy in 1889 I may have more clues. My biggest regret is that I did not start doing my research at a younger age or that families in general do not always pass on their family history and stories. Why didn't I ask my grandmother about how she celebrated Christmas when she was a child? And while my dad always talked about his grandmother's buckwheat pancakes I never asked  him his favorite holiday memory.

During this holiday season start up a conversation with an older relative about their memories of the holidays. It doesn't have to be an interview. You do not have to find out dates and places and write down your sources. Just talk to each other. Maybe you have heard the stories before but others may not have heard them.

Next week I will have some New Year's Resolutions for Genealogists.

Take Care,
Pattie


Perry, Cathy, Butch, Eddie, Pattie
Pahlke Cousins
1955

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Sunday's Obituary - LeRoy Henry Pepper

Funeral services for Leroy H. Pepper, 64, lifelong resident of Ela township and former employee of the Illinois State Highway Department, were held at 1:30 pm Monday at St. Peter United Church of Christ, Lake Zurich.

The Rev. Thomas O'Conner, associate pastor of Barrington St. Paul Church, officiated at the rites and burial was in Fairfield Cemetery northeast of Lake Zurich. Visitation was at the Stirlen-Peiper funeral home, 53 S. Old Rand Road in Lake Zurich.

Mr. Pepper died unexpectedly Friday at his home at 1020 Country Club Road, Lake Zurich.

Born June 1, 1901 in Ela Township, he was the some of the late William and Emma Steffen Pepper. He married Grace Schwemm of Barrington in 1928 and she preceded him in death several years ago.

He was a former foreman for the Illinois State Highway Department in Lake County and in recent years worked for the Lake Zurich Elementary School School District as a custodian at the May Whitney School.

He was a member of the Republican Lake County Central Committee and was the Republican chairman of Lake Zurich precinct 2 for the last five years.

Mr. Pepper was president of the Fairfield Cemetery Association, and instead of flowers memorial contributions to that association were suggested by his family.

Surviving are a daughter Mrs. Audrey Glauner of Lake Zurich; a son Leroy A. Pepper of Lake Zurich; six grandchildren; four brothers, Emmett and Lloyd of Lake Zurich, Louis of Maywood, Lester of Glenview; three sisters, Mrs. Grace Walbaum Sundell of Lake Zurich, Mrs. Florence Borre of Glenview and Mrs. Mildred Kampert.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Sunday's Obituary - Adelheit Lageschulte Schnetlage

Barrington Review - October 24, 1914

On Saturday morning, October 19, in the quiet waft of the early day, Mrs. Herman Schnetlage passed to her eternal reward at the home of her son, William Schnetlage, on North Hawley Street.

She was born in Germany, November 29, 1832. Her father Herman Lageschulte, was an industrious workman. She was married to Herman Schnetlage and their home was blessed with children. Only two are now living, William Schnetlage of Barrington and Mrs. Kate Zink of Chicago, a stepdaughter.

In 1885 Mrs. Schnetlage emigrated to America and settled here. Soon after coming to this country she was converted and joined the Evangelical association. Her life has been quitely given to those duties which she found it possible to bear, and her unostentatious life was one of withdrawal from the general hum of society.

For more than 12 years she had been afflicated with a cancerous growth in her face. while she had been faithful in attending public workship in harmony with her zeal, she soon found it necessary to withdraw from attending public service in consideration ofothers, and ever since has had her private rooms in the Schnetlage home as her chapel.

That she has suffered much may be granted, yet from her statement it has been evident that her suffering was providentially lessened, and not until during this past year did she speak of her ailment as being at times painful. Her death was a welcome messenger of relief from the ravages of tormenting sufferings from cancer. Her hope of eternal life was explicit and earnest.

Her span of life reaches the 80 mark within a few weeks. Much has been done for the suffering patient during these many years by her son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. William Schnetlage, the care developing almost entirely upon the young wife, who, besides her own household duties has borne the responsibility of the taxing care with an immense endurance and in a loving spirit.

The funeral service was held at Salem Church on Monday, conducted by her pastor, Rev. H. H. Thoren, and interment was at Evergreen Cemetery.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Ancestry - Check out 'Recent Member Connect Activity'!

I love connecting with other researchers. I post on message boards, mailing lists, county and state surname lists. I honestly cannot remember all the places I have posted messages and am truly shocked and excited when I receive a reply.

On the other hand, when I use Ancestry I am more focused. I usually have a particular ancestor I am researching and not thinking about 'connecting'. I also hate change and clutter so I keep my home page on Ancestry simple with any new or 'extra' information towards the bottom. What a mistake!

Recent Activity Connectections

The other day I  was not making any headway on the Haag family of Brooklyn when something caught my eye. There on the lower part of the screen was a list of people reseraching names that were familar to me.

 
What was 'Recent Member Connect Activity' and who was researching the Stadler family besides me? Scrolling through the 'Activity' I found messages I had posted on Rootsweb and other researchers with surnames in common with me.

After 'connecting' with a Stadler researcher through Ancestry I browsed more family trees and posted a comment on a family tree of a researcher who was trying to add my great grandmother Johanna Pahlke to a family tree of Pahlkes in Australia.

Setting Up Your Ancestry Connections


Once I was done browsing a number of family trees I started to wonder how Ancestry was able to provide such a great tool.  My two options were 'Learn More' and 'Customize Activity Filters'. The 'Learn More' option will walk you through how Ancestry gathers the infomation. The "Customize Activity Filters' give you the control over how the information is gathered.


Since I want to connect with everyone possible I have left all the options checked. One option I love is being able to track other members who have saved content I entered. I do not mind they have saved it - if I did I would not have posted it on the Internet! What I want to do is contact them to see if they have ADDITIONAL information.

Check It Out
If you are an Ancestry membership and have not paid attention to this feature you could be missing out on some valuable connections. Don't have a family tree posted to Ancestry? You can still benefit from this feature, but your connections may be minimized.

The Speach Family Tree was started by my daughter in law years ago and is an abbreviated version of our family. The portions with the most detail in many cases are my brick walls. I tend to post more information on families I need information on, hoping to connect with others.

So, start connecting through Ancestry.

Take Care,
Pattie

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Sunday's Obituary - Mary Start Warren

Kendall County Record - May 6, 1891


Mrs. Mary Frances Warren - Died, at Plano of cancer  Thursday April 30, 1891 at five o'clock a.m. after a long illness, aged forty years, ten months, and five days.

Deceased was born in Kent County, Maryland, June 25, 1850, her maiden name was Mary Frances Start; she was married to William Warren March 10, 1870, in her childhood home, she was the mother of eight children, one dying in infancy, and one at four years of age; four boys and two girls survive her, and with their father, grandmother, aunt and family reside in Plano.She has resided in this city with her family nearly thriteen years.

The funeral service was held at the M.E. Church Sabbath afternoon, Rev. J. W. Richards, assisted by Rev. Mr. Daniels, officiated. The text of the sermon was: "But he knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold."

The hymns were well selected and finely rendered. It is always a solemn occasion when the death angel takes the mother from her family. The utmost sympathy was expressed by neighbors and friends to the sorrowing ones. Some very fine floral offerings rested on the casket. The day was pleasant, the attendance large, and with loving hands they laid to rest her whom they loved.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

West Virginia, Washington D.C. and Holiday Memories

Do you  have a special holiday decoration or ornament that was handed down from one generation to the next? What makes it special? Who will you hand it down to? Decorations, family stories, recipes are just a few of the things that help make holidays special.

I have an ornament from my grandmother's Christmas tree. In the early 1960's silver trees were all the rage. It was quite surprising to walk into Grandma's living room to see a silver Christmast tree with blue ornaments! I have a blue ornament from that tree and it has a special place on my tree every year.


Sunday November 27
  • The New England Historic Genealogical Society, founded in 1845,  is the oldest genealogical society in the country.
Monday November 28
  • Researching ancestors that lived in Washington D.C.?
    • Census records start in 1800 and go through 1930.
    • The 1810 census, like the 1890 census have been lost.
    • Washington D.C. is located on 100 acres of land donated by Maryland and Virginia in 1791.
    • The British burned the majority of Washington D.C.’s buildings and legal documents on August 24, 1814.
Tuesday November 29
  • Visit the West Virginia Archives and History Genealogy Corner to find:
    • Genealogy Surname Exchange
    • Archives and History News
    • Birth, Death and Marriage Records
    • AfriGeneas: African Ancestored Genealogy
    • Archives
    • Cemeteries, West Virginia, Artificial Collection
    • County Formations, West Virginia
    • Counties of West Virginia
    • History of the American Negro
    • Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild
    • Mining Your History Foundation
    • On-Line Searchable Death Indexes and Records
    • Researching Your Civil War Ancestor
    • AND MORE
Wednesday November 30
Thursday December 1
  • New Year’s Resolution: I resolve to catch up on my filing and get rid of clutter.
Friday December 2
  • Who is that standing in front of the family home?
    • Visit Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, website for clues to the unknown folks in your family pictures.
Saturday December 3
  • Illinois became a state on this date in 1818   
  • Investigate the Illinois State Archives for online databases, documents stored at the regional archives and the state library
  •  Visit The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in person or online.

I need to point out that the baby in the picture is NOT my sister Mary. She was sick at home for her first Christmas. The baby in the picture is our cousin Dale.

Take Care,

Pattie