MISSING LINKS: A Magazine for Genealogists Vol. 7, No. 32, 11 August 2002 Circulation: 17,360+ http://www.petuniapress.com/ (c) 2001-2002 Julia M. Case Editor-at-Fault: Julia M. Case juliecase@prodigy.net o After You Find It on the Net, Then What? o Web Links o Successful Links o Conferences, Research Trips, Seminars, Workshops o Reunions o Somebody's Links o Letters o Humor o Reprint Policy; Subscribe/Unsubscribe Instructions AFTER YOU FIND IT ON THE NET, THEN WHAT? A Key to Successful Family Tree-Climbing Is Understanding How to Use All of the Information You Can Find on the Web. by Richard A. Pence richardpence@pipeline.com There is a lady named Elizabeth in Jackson County, Oregon, who gives reality to being a volunteer in RAOGK (Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness http://www.raogk.org/ ). Last spring she began sending me PENCE obituaries for the two PENCE clans that settled in her county in the late 1800s or early 1900s –- and the obituaries are still arriving on a regular basis. One recent arrival sparked a more-than-routine search that demonstrates both the wide range of information that is readily available on the Internet and the difficulties that can arise by failing to verify this online information. This obituary was for an Alyce PENCE and it gave these essentials: "Mrs. PENCE was born July 15, 1905, in Laclede, Ida. She was baptized in the United Brethren Church, Concordia, Kan., in 1913. On Sept. 11, 1940, in Denver, Colo., she was married to Frank L. (Roy) PENCE, who survives. . . Survivors besides her husband include two sons, Loren J. PENCE, Vancouver, Wash., and LeRoy F. PENCE, Denver Colo.; one daughter, Violet Mae BAILEY, Cupertino, Calif. . . " In sum, there was a lot of good information to use in adding this family to the databases of my one-name study of the PENCE Families of America. However, one important element was missing: Alyce's maiden name. So I turned to the Web in the hope of finding that and also to try to flesh out other details. Since Alyce had a daughter who lived in California, my first stop was the California Death Index (CDI) at RootsWeb. Among other details often provided there is the maiden name of the mother of the deceased person. Sure enough, there I found that one Violet Mae BAILEY had died on 7 October 1986 in Santa Clara County (which is where Cupertino is located). To help cement things, her father's surname was given as PENCE. Her mother was a THOMPSON. Problem solved, right? Not quite. There's more. Alyce died in 1964 leaving a husband, Frank L. (Roy) PENCE. Another obituary, this one for George Henry PENCE, who died in Medford, Jackson County, on 1 January 1971, listed among the survivors a "Roy PENCE of Cupertino, Calif." The facts in George Henry's obituary led me first to the 1900 census of Kansas (also online), where in Jewell County I found that George H. PENCE did indeed have a brother named Frank L. PENCE, who was born in February of 1896 in Nebraska. Since Frank L. -- or Roy (for the middle name Leroy, it turns out) -- lived in Cupertino at the death of his brother, maybe his death record was also in the CDI. Another hit: A Frank L. PENCE died 29 November 1974 in Santa Clara County! So, it looked for all the world like Frank L. (Roy) PENCE, surviving husband of Alyce PENCE, went to Cupertino to live with or be near his daughter, Violet Mae (PENCE) BAILEY, after his wife died. But when I started taking a closer look at the details, the open-and-shut case began to disintegrate. Remember Alyce's obituary? It said she was married in 1940. Alas, the Violet Mae BAILEY who died in Santa Clara County was born 26 April 1921 in Nebraska -- 19 years before Alyce and Roy were supposedly wed in Colorado. Worse, the Frank L. PENCE who died in Santa Clara County was not born in February 1896 in Nebraska, per the 1900 census, but on 15 February 1887 in Kansas, according to the CDI. Until this last bump, I thought I was adding some meat to the bones in the obituary. Now it was beginning to look like an incredible coincidence of names and places -- but a set of dates that made a match almost impossible. It was time for some double-checking. Although I have found that the CDI is usually quite accurate and provides more useful information than the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), I try to compare the two whenever possible. The dates for Violet Mae are the same in both indexes. But here is what the SSDI gives for Frank L. Pence: FRANK PENCE; born 15 Feb 1897 (10 years later than the CDI); died -- Nov 1974; address of record, Cupertino, Santa Clara, Calif.; SS card issued in Nebraska. Now that is but one year off from the birth year in the census (a mistake often encountered), leaving us with daughter Violet Mae being 19 years older than she ought to be. Or the dates in Alyce's obituary are all messed up. Two paths to follow: One, try to verify the obituary dates. The Oregon Death Index, also on line, confirms the date of death of Alyce PENCE as 24 March 1964 and gives her age at death as 58, also a match of what is in the obituary. I sent a message to my Jackson County RAOGK friend: Is there a way you can find Alyce's maiden name? Two, look for information on the two surviving sons. Here is what the SSDI revealed. No match for a person named Loren J. PENCE of Vancouver, Washington, could be found; possibly he is still living (but no phone listing, either). But there was Leroy F. PENCE, born 5 January 1919; died 20 August 1999; address of record, Westminster, Adams County, Colorado (which is just outside Denver proper). Another "hit" with the wrong date -- but a different avenue to search. Since this Leroy was born in 1919, he should show up with his father in the 1920 census. Off to the indexed online 1920 U.S. census at Ancestry.com. Bingo! The census of Nuckolls County, Nebraska, for 1920 has this family: PENCE, Frank L., age 23 (thus born 1896), born Neb. PENCE, Mable A., wife, 19, born Kans. PENCE, Loren J., son, age 2 years, 1 month, born Neb. PENCE, Leroy F., son, 1 year, 1 month, born Neb. Now there is really no doubt. This is the same Frank L. PENCE who died in Santa Clara County, California, and the one whose wife Alyce died in Jackson County, Oregon, leaving the above two "sons" and a "daughter," Violet Mae (born just after the 1920 census). But who is Mable? And where does Alyce fit in? The facts are now clear enough to pinpoint the reason for the discrepancies: What Alyce's obituary failed to state is she was actually the stepmother of the surviving children, not their birth mother. It appears, but confirmation is needed, that the children's mother probably was Mable THOMPSON. Meanwhile, our Jackson County volunteer reported back that a check with the mortuary showed that Alyce was the daughter of Henry O. WILLIS. And, Frank -- buried with her -- indeed had the middle name Leroy. As previously suggested, this exercise demonstrates two important lessons about doing genealogy in today's world. First, there is an incredible -- and growing -- amount of information available online; and, even if what you need isn't online, you can often quickly be in touch with someone who has access to the information you need. Second, no matter how much data are online we need to remember that -- other than actual images of original records -- what we find on the Internet is second- or third-hand information -– just as the information in an obituary is mostly "hearsay" and in need of verification. What we find on the Internet can give us a pretty good idea of what the details involving a family might be, but the reality is that what we actually have are some fantastic clues telling us how and where to find the necessary primary records. Remember, too, that the family trees that other people post are almost always less reliable than a database such as the California Death Index -- which, for all its usefulness, is still only an index. Finding it on the Internet should not be the end of the search. It is often only the beginning. Now you have the information perhaps you need to gain access to the original birth, death, marriage, or other record. What the Internet has brought us is not the "facts" themselves, but the ability to discover where to find these facts. And it allows us to do so in minutes or hours rather than months or years. Speed is the main useful ingredient. It is what allows me to accumulate all the information in this article in less time than it takes to recount how I did it. What an incredible tool! [Richard Pence's Pence Family History site can be accessed at http://www.pipeline.com/~richardpence/ . A recent addition is a file of Jackson County, Oregon, PENCE obituaries, courtesy of Elizabeth, a RAOGK volunteer in Jackson County.] * * ADVERTISEMENTS * * The CD Value of the week at www.genealogical.com is ENGLISH ORIGINS OF NEW ENGLAND FAMILIES. http://www.genealogical.com/item_detail.cfm?ID=7181. Check out the August arrivals at the GENEALOGY WAREHOUSE, where all books are priced at 40%, 50%, or more off the original cost. GEN AND FAMILY HISTORY OF THE STATE OF CT NY HIST. MSS: DELAWARE PAPERS (DUTCH PERIOD, 1646-1664) NY HIST. MSS: DELAWARE PAPERS (ENGLISH PERIOD, 1664-1682) GENS. OF RHODE ISLAND FAMS FROM RI PERIODICALS http://www.genealogical.com/warehouse.cfm. The new 10th edition of THE HANDY BOOK is one BLOCKBUSTER of a genealogy book. Check it out at http://www.genealogical.com/item_detail.cfm?ID=9083 * * * "Your site is great, so organized & so easy to get around in. The data you have is excellent. I have already found my g-g-g-grandmother's family, and I just subscribed today. Thank you so much." Barbara H Search Over a Billion Names www.kindredkonnections.com/cgi-bin/genealogy/afilmail?320+0+L1 * * END OF ADVERTISEMENTS * * WEB LINKS AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION AND MUSEUM OF FAUQUIER COUNTY, VIRGINIA AND VIRGINIA is seeking information on the underground railroad: passengers/runaways, conductors/ abolitionists; and depot/safe houses. AAHA, 4243 Loudoun Avenue P.O. Box 340 The Plains, VA 20198-0340; Phone (540) 253-7488; Fax (540) 253-5126; E-mail: aaha@infi.net http://www.afro-americanofva.org/ DICTIONARIES AND LANGUAGES. University of Texas Library Online http://www.lib.utexas.edu/refsites/dictionaries.html ENGLAND. Bedfordshire. Anglican Parish Church of All Saints is in the village of Renhold, 3 miles from the center of Bedford, the County Town of Bedfordshire. Resources include a history of the church; history of vicars 1229 to date; War Memorial; lists of headstones; lists of and indexes to baptisms, marriages, and burials 1602-1812 and marriage banns 1754-1812. http://www.all-saints-church-renhold.org/ IRELAND. West Waterford. Dungarvan Museum Society. Searchable site containing 1,500 pages of Waterford history and featuring articles on the famine, genealogy, military history, as well as virtual tours of West Waterford. http://www.dungarvanmuseum.org/ MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS. A Very Grave Matter is a pictorial study of colonial cemeteries in this seacoast region and their historical links to the area. Massachusetts (Newburyport - Old Burying Hill); Maine (York Village - Old Burying Yard); New Hampshire (Exeter; Portsmouth - Old North Cemetery). In some cases, in addition to tombstone photographs and transcriptions of the epitaphs, there is additional information and links). http://gravematter.0catch.com/ NATIVE AMERICAN. Sacajawa's People: The Lemhi-Shoshone. Lemhis are Agaidikas (Salmon Eaters), and Tukudikas (Sheep Eaters) whose home is in the Lemhi Valley of Idaho in the Salmon River drainage. This site has a biography of Sacajewa, information about the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the past, present, and future of the Lemhi-Shoshone. http://www.lemhishoshone.com/ NEW YORK. The Forgotten of Ellis Island: Deaths in Quarantine, 1909-1911. Names of and information about 418 people, mostly children, who died while quarantined at the two hospitals on Hoffman and Swinburne Islands in Richmond County, New York. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~quarantine/ UNITED KINGDOM and IRELAND. Local Genealogy Database Directory. Select a category or scroll through the entire list of links to online databases for England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. http://www.ukgenweb.com/ * * * * * SUCCESSFUL LINKS Recently I posted a description of an original marriage license that I had in my possession, expressing my desire to deliver it a direct descendant of the couple, James G. GERMAN and Amanda TIMMERMAN. In a very short time, I received three responses, only one of which was from a direct descendant. The third response I received was from the great-granddaughter of Cornelius TIMMERMAN, father of Amanda. Tomorrow I will be sending this marriage certificate to its new home in Hawaii. Thanks to Missing Links for enabling genealogists to help each other locate missing treasures. Kay Easley keasley2@winco.net A few weeks ago I posted a notice to Somebody's Links regarding some items my family had that we wanted to return to a descendant of Robert BOLTON. A few days later, I received an e-mail from a woman whose daughter works at the academy he taught at. Her daughter checked with the Alumni Director at the school, who found a name and phone number for me. I'm happy to say that the person in my family who was in possession of the items met with the descendant this weekend [3-4 April 2002] and returned the items to him. Thank you! Jane Becker jane@merr.com * * * * * CONFERENCES, RESEARCH TRIPS, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS. On the Web, read about and post details of upcoming genealogical events at http://www.rootsweb.com/~autwgw/gencon/list.htm and/or, after subscribing to GEN-EVENTS-L-request@rootsweb.com, post the notice to the mailing list GEN-EVENTS-L@rootsweb.co 13 August 2002. The Ukrainian Genealogical Society announces the next UKRAINIAN GENEALOGY CHAT session will be held from 9 p.m. to Midnight, Eastern Daylight Time, at http://genealogy.about.com/gi/chat/cs.htm Choose a Nickname by typing over GUEST, pick a birth date (your choice!), and click CONNECT. Visit the Ukrainian Gen. Society at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ukrgs/ 20-21 September 2002. The Yellowstone Genealogy Forum will host the MONTANA STATE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY CONFERENCE at the Sheraton Hotel, Billings, Montana. John Colletta is the featured speaker. Visit the Yellowstone Genealogy Forum Web site at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mtygf/ Contact Verba Valentine, 3274 Granger E, I - 4, Billings, MT 59102; home: (406) 656-9840; e-mail: Verba2@aol.com * * * * * REUNIONS. Check for reunions of interest and post information about your own upcoming reunion on RootsWeb's Family Reunions Calendar [TWO-LINE URL] http://resources.rootsweb.com/~calendar/ cgi-bin/calendar.cgi?calname=FAMILY_REUNIONS 6-8 May 2003. STOREY, STORY, STORIE (all variations) Worldwide Reunion will be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Details at http://www.storygenealogy.com/ * * * * * SOMEBODY'S LINKS. Please send notices about genealogical treasures found to juliecase@prodigy.net . To find the fully searchable database of all back issues of MISSING LINKS and SOMEBODY'S LINKS or to download individual back issues, click the appropriate link at http://www.petuniapress.com/ o 1895 Alonzo and Flora BINGER family Bible; Item # 898454848 Auction ends: Aug-14-02 17:20:36 PDT; Seller: fr.thuma Holy Bible, published by Southwestern Co., Nashville, Tennessee, 1895. 11" x 12.25" x 3.75." Contains Marriage Certificate and family history of Alonzo A. and Flora E. (MYERS) BINGER, married at Tuscarawas, Ohio on 26 October 1902. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=898454848 o 1824 BLOW Family Bible; Item # 1554476291 Auction ends: Aug-13-02 11:31:17 PDT; Seller: dn209aw (U.K.) British and Foreign Bible Society 1824 King James Bible in appalling condition but containing notes of Hannah BLOW died May 5th 1834, John BLOW died Feb 2 1837, Joseph HURTON died May 19th 1849. There is a reference to a Mary CRYSTON aged 29, also Joseph SWITON May 9th, though what that event was it doesn't say, and Mr. BUCKNELL, Great Grimsby. It's old, smelly, and falling to pieces literally. Is this your family? It would be nice for it to go to where it belongs. Please be aware that it's only medium size, but weighs a ton. Bear this in mind when considering postage. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1554476291 o 1862 Document Box w/ DALRYMPLE Bible; Item # 2128893368 Auction ends: Aug-13-02 14:42:22 PDT; Seller: fatcat41 1862 Surgeon's Documents Box with DALRYMPLE family Bible. Steel box is about 13.25" x 8.25" x 6.25" and painted brown with gold lettering and decoration. On the inside it says "Aron P. DALRYMPLE NJ.NY.Surge's NY 1862" and says "Documents" on the lid. It was owned by Aaron. P. DALRYMPLE. Photos of all family members, including one of Aaron P. DALRYMPLE picture. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2128893368 o 1861 HAWKINS Family Bible; Item # 1554205229 Auction ends: Aug-12-02 02:16:08 PDT; Seller: uncleschuck This is an 1861 leather bound and worn Bible of New Testament and Psalms. The inside cover is inscribed "Timothy D. HAWKINS, Northhampton. My book and hurt shall never part but be my constant companion." Throughout are inscriptions of names and dates by certain passages. Also there are several pressed flowers as well as a couple of newspaper clippings from the Civil War. One is about a former slave who ended up being the prison guard at a camp his former master wound up in. [Editor's Note: In response to my request for more information, seller Michael A. LaRoche supergenius@attbi.com wrote: "Bible was made by the New York American Bible Society, 1861. Some of the markings say such as: Mr. TRACY November 8, 1890 Meredith; Mr. SCRIBNER Sept 28:90 Meredith, N.H.; Mr. BRADEEN Oct 27, 1895, Meredith. There are several entries like this scattered throughout in the mentioned news clipping. There are no names except "Sam" (for the slave). . . the Confederate was a Colonel; this took place in Alabama, and the freed man referred to him as "Massa B." Also a large obit clipping about the death of Susan Libby THOMPSON, a news sketch of the Rev. Lewis MALVERN. . ." http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1554205229 o 1885/1899 HOWE Birth/Confirmation Certificate German Fraktur Item # 898058801; Auction ends: Aug-12-02 17:41:48 PDT Seller: cubster63 German fraktur in ornate wooden frame. Document 11" x 14"; frame 21" x 18". Document dates are born 1885, confirmed 1899. [Christian Friedrich HOWE born 11 Juni 1885 in Huntly?, Illinois; confirmed 26 May? 1899 in Long Grove?, Illinois.] http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=898058801 o 1882 LEONARD-TAYLOR Family Bible; Item # 1554475488 Auction ends: Aug-13-02 11:28:17 PDT; Seller: racme Illustrated Family, published by A.J. Holman & Co. Philadelphia, 1882. Large purple bookmark with crown and cross on it. Full pages Family Records, Marriages LEONARD-TAYLOR 1866; next page is full of names from 1825 -- marriages approx. 18; births full page approx. 24 names from 1814 up; full page deaths approx. 21 names. Names are mostly LEONARD, a few TAYLORs, WILCOX, DAVENPORT. The first page for the marriage says "of Malone" but no state mentioned. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1554475488 o 1845 MALLET Family Bible w/ Genealogy; Item # 1554786746 Auction ends: Aug-14-02 19:57:50 PDT; Seller: indego Leather Bible, printed by Luther ROBY in Concord, New Hampshire, 1845. Contains MALLETT family genealogy (one marriage, five births, and five deaths).[Editor's Note: Photos of the pages with family data accompany the listing. My transcription: Family Record Marriage page -- William H. MALLETT and Elizabeth McPARK? were joined in marriage Oct 4th 1841?; Family Record Births page William H. MALLETT was born Apr 19, 1811; Elizabeth M. MALLETT was born Jan 7, 1823; John F. MALLETT was born Aug 17th 1845; Albert P. MALLETT was born Apr 12th 1848?; Humphrey MALLETT was born July 8th 1851?; Family Record Deaths page -- Albert P. MALLETT Died at Sea September 26th 1875? Age 26 years 10 months 4 days; William H. MALLETT Died March 23rd 18?? Aged 67 years 11 months; Allie P. MALLETT Died Nov 2nd 1889 Aged 17 years 7 days; Elizabeth M. MALLETT wife of Wm. H. MALLETT Died June 23rd 1899 Aged 76 years 5 months 16 days] http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1554786746 o 1847 TABER-SMITH, New York Family Bible; Item # 1554709127 Aug-14-02 13:23:14 PDT; Seller: johnmw Bible published by the American Bible Society, New York, 1857, originally belonged to David TABER and his wife Matilda SMITH. Matilda died in childbirth, but she had two children who survived and married. Descendants listed in the Bible were from Ithaca and Cayutaville [sic], New York. The earliest event date is 1805 and the most recent 1968. There are eight births, three marriages (plus two more without dates), nine deaths, ten individuals. Included is a newspaper obituary of the Reverend A. C. WILEY, who died at age 65 in Trumbull's Corners, New York and was buried in Newark, New York. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1554709127 o Handwritten [old Dutch] Journal Diary 1884-1890 Item # 2128388132; Auction ends: Aug-11-02 19:22:05 PDT; Seller: darlarunning This is a beautifully handwritten journal or diary written in [old Dutch] between the dates of 1884 to 1890. There are flowers carefully cut out and pasted onto most of the pages. A newspaper announcement is included from 1890 and reads: Hendrik SLEGTKAMP en Anna VISSER, die mede namens wederzijdsche familiebetrekkingen, hunnen hartelijken dank betuigen voor de vele blijken van belangstelling bijhunhuwelijk ondervonden. Alfen, 6 Nov. 1890. [Editor's Note: Photos of the cover and five handwritten, decorated diary pages accompany this listing. I posted a query on Roots-L@rootsweb.com requesting help with this and received many responses. Dorothy Koenig dkoenig@lmi.net wrote: "It is a formal statement sent our by the newlyweds, Hendrik SLEGTKAMP and Anna VISSER. They are thanking all the people who took notice of their wedding (presumably by sending gifts and congratulations.) They must have been married not too long before 6 Nov 1890. What is written in your text as one word "bijhunhuwelijk" is really three words, "bij (on the occasion of) hun (their) huwelijk (marriage)." Dutch women keep their own name even after marriage. "Alfen" is where they were living. I find a modern-day "Alphen" in the Gelderland Province of the Netherlands and another village named "Alphen" in the North Brabant Province.] I hope that helps. Dorothy"] http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2128388132 o 1809-1906 TISH Family Registry Fraktur Item # 898283267; Auction ends: Aug-13-02 19:08:25 PDT; Seller: yourgreatfind@aol.com Family registry fraktur of the TISH family of Burton, New York. Records of marriage and the births of five children. Follows marriages, births, and deaths. It measures 13 1/2" x 9 1/2". Frame appears to be original to this piece. Printed piece with hand watercolor. [Editor's Note: (Incomplete) Register has columns across page for Family, Births, Marriages, and Deaths: Elias TISH, born Vermont Sep 13, 1809, married Burton New York Sep 9? 1829, died Wattsburg, Pennsylvania 18??; Anna PHILLIPS, born Massachusetts Sep 10, 1809, married Burton New York Sep 9? 1829, died Clearwater, Minnesota Feb 1st 1885; Eli TISH, born Burton, New York Nov 13, 1831, died Wattsburg, Pennsylvania Oct 20, 1850; Mary Ann TISH, born Burton, New York Nov 13, 1831, married Wattsburg, Pennsylvania Feb 22, 1855, died Clearwater, Minnesota Feb 1st 1885 [sic] (same as mother's date of death); (I couldn't read given name) TISH, born Burton, New York Sep 7, 1833, married Wattsburg, Pennsylvania Oct 14, 1872, died Clearwater June 25, 1902?; William TISH born Burton, New York June 24, 1834, married Wattsburg, Pennsylvania 1858, (no place/ date of death given); Daniel TISH, born Burton, New York Feb 19th, 1844, married Wattsburg, Pennsylvania June 21st 1866, (no place/date of death given)] http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=898283267 o TYLER Family Letters 1841-1855; Item # 2128203072 Auction ends: Aug-14-02 12:09:44 PDT; Seller: volosong 13 ink letters, most on 8" x 10" sheets to and from members of the TYLER family. One is written from Hartford, nine are from Lowville, and three are from Fredonia, and all were written between 1841 and 1855. Letters are extremely descriptive and articulate with many written by George, E. R., and Thomas TYLER. Also health issues, descriptions of the countryside; education and academics; religion; about preaching in a Quaker Meeting House near Lowville; more about Quakers including descriptions; dreading a trip to New York, etc. [See scan of one letter.] http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2128203072 o Treasures at eBay: Cabinet cards and "CDV" photos. Low starting bids. Many have "buy now" feature. Reasonably priced. -- Item # 2129537345: Bettie Bell MOODY. Photo was taken by Engle in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, ca. 1889-92. -- Item # 2129535751: Rachel SCHULTZ. Photo was taken by Engle & Zoeller in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, ca. 1888. -- Item # 2129533796: Baby identified as "Aunt Jane's Girl"; aunt of baby appears to be Grace NORRIS. Logan, Utah. -- Item # 2129536378: Frances SLOCUM of Helena, Montana -- Item # 2129775558: Sallie FORBES/FRUBER?, Norfolk, Virginia -- Item # 2129776053: Elizabeth JONES, Chelsea, Mass., 1895 -- Item # 2128858203: Lillian S. MIDDLETON. Photo was taken by Putman in Chelsea, Massachusetts on May 22, 1893. -- Item # 2129776259: Albert Hodges CURTISS, 8 months old, weight 27 pounds. He lived at 42 Sheffield Ave. in New Haven, Connecticut. Photo was taken by Filley in New Haven, ca. 1900-05 Item # 2129776442: W. Irving SMITH. Photo was taken on May 6, 1903 at a studio in Meriden, Connecticut. -- Item # 2129776671: Amy Lay HULL from New York. Photo was taken by Jacques Joel of New York in 1894. -- Item # 2129776854: Dora Grace TOLAND. Photo was taken by Mackey in Superior, Nebraska, ca. 1902-08 -- Item # 2129769277: "EWIS Brothers, Jacksonville, Oregon." Photo was taken by Mackey & Boyd in Medford, Oregon, ca. 1900-04 -- Item # 2129770990: Minnie ALLEN. Photo was taken by Moore in Portland, Oregon, ca. 1900-03. -- Item # 2129771346: Mother-daughter picture: Minnie ALLEN with daughter Addie. The father's name is given as Arthur. Photo was taken by Philips in Corvallis, Oregon, ca. 1900-05. -- Item # 2128558638: Mrs. Elizabeth COCHRAN. Photo was taken by Emerson in Keokuk, Iowa, ca. 1873-77. -- Item # 2128559167: Margaret McLAUGHRY. Photo was taken by Bradley & Meacham in Greenville, Pennsylvania, ca. 1886-90. -- Item # 212855952: Ellen SPICKARD. Photo taken by C. E. Boyd in Sextonville, Wisconsin, ca. 1872-76. -- Item # 2128858738: Charles E. SMITH. Photo was taken by a photographer in Keokuk, Iowa, ca. 1871-74. -- Item # 2128859107: Grandmother HARLEY, mother of Susan HARLEY. Photo was taken by Horning in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ca. 1865. -- Item # 2128859522: John TYRELL. Photo was taken by Critcherson in Worcester, Massachusetts, ca. 1877-83. -- Item # 2128859783: Gertie SPARKS. Photo was taken by Walker in Athol, Massachusetts ca. 1872-76. -- Item # 2129532869: Margaret A. SERING of Sturgeon, Missouri. Photo was taken in 1884 by Marion Berry. -- Item # 2129533241: Henery BOYER. Photo was taken by Barnum in Morrison, Illinois, ca. 1889-92. -- Item # 2128556105: Mildred WILLIAMS. Photo was taken by LaMarsh in Kenosha, Wisconsin, ca. 1885-88. -- Item # 2128557295: Emma and Walter REKER. (Emma is age 7 and Walter is age 5 in this photo). Photo was taken by Boetcher in St. Paul, Minnesota, ca. 1900-1903. -- Item # 2128557945: Mable PALM. Photo was taken by Moore in Portland, Oregon, ca. 1902-05 (mounted studio photo). -- Item # 2128558373: Mrs. J. W. SPRINGER. Photo was taken by Moore in New Lisbon, Ohio, ca. 1882-85 Mary Hurst mhurst5@juno.com * * * * * LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. Please send letters as plain text e-mail messages (no attachments) to juliecase@prodigy.net I read, with anticipation and hope, every ML publication looking for any reference to the descendants of my LATHAMs of Whitehall, New York. Every once in awhile, an outstanding article offering renewed hope and encouragement is submitted and one in ML 7:31 dated 4 August 2002 titled "The Quest for Christin," by Gladys Chatham May clmgjm@livingston.net is far and away the best success story I've ever seen. Thank you Gladys and Missing Links Chuck Latham Sr. neads1@juno.com * * * * * I have been so pleased at the response to my story on finding Kris ["The Quest for Christin," in ML 7:31, 4 August 2002]. I am glad that it has encouraged folks to keep trying. Let me also encourage you to use a new tool that is available to us now--the 1930 U.S. federal census. I started going through counties line by line. I have researched my family thoroughly for years, but still found some really surprising things. I found proof that one of my great-grandfathers was a Civil War veteran. I had never seen that in print before--another avenue to search. My grandparents took in a homeless blind man who was much loved by the family. They all called him "Blind Uncle." Nobody seemed to know his name. W. S. EILAND was listed with the family in 1930 as a "boarder." I thought this might be "Blind Uncle." When I looked in the column for occupation he was listed as blind. There was my proof. He did little tasks he could do to pay for a place to stay. I have a picture of him shelling peas. Now I will look for the grave of Mr. EILAND in the family cemetery. By the way, is the EILAND surname familiar to anyone? He was born in Alabama, parents born in U.S., states unknown. Gladys Chatham May clmgjm@livingston.net * * * I also have to add a comment to Ted Pack's article, "Standards" [ML 7:30, 28 July 2002] A while ago, another gentleman made another comment about the use of abbreviations in the United States. He said that those in the United States need to write out their states in the interest of those from other parts of the world. I couldn't agree more! He said that because he lives in Australia, of course he would understand the abbreviation WA but it would not be clear to those in the United States. I wrote to him (tongue-in-cheek) that of course I understood WA -- it stands for Washington State! (The writer was referring to Western Australia.) Lynn Blazek jljm@televar.com * * * I think the listings of the eBay Bible records are exactly the kind of thing that should be in MISSING LINKS, and I find them very useful in the format you provide them. Those references will be archived in your files for searching long, long after their listings and information have been removed permanently from eBay. [Click on SEARCH at http://www.petuniapress.com ] Paul Huey PRHARC@aol.com * * * * * HUMOR. We are taking a brief holiday from Burma Shave signs, thanks to Christopher Hebbron chris@ashview106.freeserve.co.uk , who has contributed the following, and others. Chris wrote: I thought you'd appreciate these UK ones from the '60's . . . This one advertised Cockburns' Port. (I'm sure you appreciate that name is pronounced Co'burn). Said King Charles to his Court, "I enjoy a good port, But it must be a wine that's just right." Said a courtier game, "If I tell you the name Of the best, will you make me a knight?" The king nodded his head, And the courtier said, "Cockburns Port is the port for a king. But remember to say it without the CK", And they all cried "Long Live Harles the Ing!" * * * * * PERMISSION TO REPRINT articles from MISSING LINKS is granted unless stated otherwise, provided: (1) the reprint is not used for commercial purposes; and (2) the following notice appears at the end of the article: Previously published in MISSING LINKS, Vol. 7, No. 32, 11 August 2002 http://www.petuniapress.com * * * CALL FOR ARTICLES, STORIES. MISSING LINKS welcomes articles about genealogical research methods and sources from all parts of the world. MISSING LINKS also welcomes delightful, amusing, amazing, cautionary, and otherwise educational and wonderful tales of genealogical research. Please send articles and stories for consideration for publication as plain text e-mail messages (no attachments) to juliecase@prodigy.net * * * To SUBSCRIBE (or UNSUBSCRIBE) from MISSING LINKS and SOMEBODY'S LINKS, search the database, read online or download back issues, and enjoy the illustrated versions of some articles previously published in MISSING LINKS, go to http://www.petuniapress.com/ and click the appropriate link. Please invite your friends to Petunia Press, the home of MISSING LINKS and SOMEBODY'S LINKS http://www.petuniapress.com/