Volunteering is good for the soul

I have done a bit of volunteering over the years, some I have quite enjoyed, some has been a bit of a chore, but all of it was a result of my girl scout years and my mother's influence. I guess some of it stuck.

As a genealogist I have had many instances where someone who lives in another state has helped me find some wonderful genealogical record, or had photos that I had never seen, or volunteered to check out a cemetery for me to see if one of our ancestors was buried there. These are all acts of wonderful kindness. I have tried to reciprocate when I can, because I do believe in paying it forward.

There has been a lot of talk lately of several genealogical sites that have started big digital indexing projects and are looking for volunteers to help with the massive indexing that needs to be done, all from the convenience of your home. I was intrigued, but put it off for a while as I was a bit busy, but this last month I decided to dig a bit deeper.

At work we are currently assisting the Holocaust Museum in indexing it's millions of records of victims for the general public, this is through Ancestry.com

I decided to try my hand at indexing for the Family History Library. So I downloaded the software and dug right in. I have found that it can become quite addicting. But, I am really enjoying the process and they make it pretty easy to do. There is also the satisfaction of knowing that many people will find these indexes of immense value in their own research.

Back to work -- jen

Sad news for me today

I have been making the attempt to get out Christmas cards for friends and family this week, in the process I make a quick list to make sure I don't miss anyone. Last year I had sent a card to Robert Cain, a cousin of ours whom I met through a very helpful librarian in Oconto (after making inquiries about our Cain ancestors at the local library), and hadn't heard back from him.


Over the years I have stopped in to visit Bob with Dale, alone, and even with Mom and Dad on one trip. He was very helpful and generous with his time and information on our Cain relatives. Without his help it probably would have taken me much longer to break through the road block on this line.


With trepidation I decided to check the SSDI in an attempt to make sure he was still around to receive my Christmas card for this year. Sadly, I found his name listed in the updated database. He passed away September 30 of this year. I imagine that the reason he didn't send a card last year was he was too ill. Now I am sorry that I wasn't able to take the time to visit one last time this last year.

 

Robert S. Cain - I have included his graduation picture from the State Teachers College of Oshkosh, 1951
Here is his obituary edited by me. 

Born December 09, 1921 - Died September 30, 2011 

Robert Samuel Cain, a lifetime resident of Oconto died September 30, 2011. Robert was born December 9, 1921 in Oconto to the late James and Maude (Anderson) Cain. He attended Jefferson School and graduated from Oconto High School in 1940. He worked at the A&P Stores in Oconto, Green Bay and Marinette. Bob attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison until he joined the United States Army.  serving for three years and eight months in England and France as a Technical Sargent. Bob later attended Ripon College, and George William College in Chicago, finally graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Oshkosh State College. After teaching elementary school for five years, Bob attended a Benedictine Monastery for a time. Eventually, he moved back to Oconto to the house he had grown up in, next to his brother Harold and his family, and spent many years taking care of his mother. A few years ago he retired to Bay Shore Pines in Oconto as his health was declining. Bob enjoyed reading, playing piano, gardening, and spending time with his family.

I remember his kindness and generosity. He was also a bit old-fashioned. In conversations about technology he definitely was a bit of a luddite. One amusing bit I recall is that he loved inviting the religious groups that knock on your door in to discuss their philosophy and other religious issues. Not a thing most folks would do, but he loved the conversations.

I am sad that he has passed.

I'mmmm baaack...

I guess I misspoke in my earlier post. I didn't really have a speck to time to keep folks updated on my progress during my research trip. The hours flew by, then exhaustion set in, then sleep. Next day do it all over again.

But now I am home and all I can say is, the trip was a bust. But only in the sense that I didn't find a speck of evidence that Hartley Shepard is the child of Henry and Huldah Shepard. I checked court records, probate records, land deeds, tax rolls, pretty much every index I could find that they had at the Family History Library. So far, no joy.

So my next stop is going directly to the sources in Morgan and Washington counties of Ohio. I am sure there are records out there I haven't even heard of yet.

I did find some interesting bits on our Massachusetts and Ohio relatives. Lots of local and county history books add to the tales about these people. And it is not just our Shepard line, we have Dewey, Noble, Warriner, and Ashley connections too, and they each have their own stories to tell.

I am looking forward to getting this all put together for everyone to read. Meanwhile the search for those elusive Hartley records goes on...now where did I put that magnifying glass...

On the road...

Well here it is, or close, September 24th, the day that I head out to Salt Lake City, Utah again to do some intense genealogical research.

The main focus of my trip this time is the SHEPARD line, and in preparation I have been boning up on the details of all the related lines these past few weeks. I am pretty sure that I am ready. Now I am just keeping my fingers crossed that I find something of genealogical value.

This trip Mary and I have decided that we will take a day off and do a little site seeing..."Here's the big brown mountain, there's the big brown hill, and over there is the big brown desert., and wait for it, look it's the big salty lake." Can't wait.

But the weather will be 80s and sunny! I will keep folks updated on my progress as the week goes by. Later.

p.s. boy is my iPad going to get a work out next week!

Summer doings...

You wouldn't know it by my lack of blog posts, but I have actually been busy with the genealogy. Just not a whole heck of a lot that merits actual written words is happening. Little bits of flotsam and jetsam being gathered.

My trip to Salt Lake City is coming up in 3 1/2 months,  so I have a little time. But I am always preparing, a little bit at a time, making lists of film and books to look at when I get there.

About the most interesting thing that has happened, is I decided to upgraded my DNA test at FamilyTreeDNA. They now have what they call a 'Family Finder' test and it was on sale. The test finds cousins in their data base. And because it uses a different type of marker system, it doesn't matter if you are male or female, it will find relations. So I decided to do it. My results came back a week or so ago and it lists all my matches. Most are of the 4th and 5th cousin variety, but there were one or two 2nd and 3rd cousins. I still am in the process of contacting them to compare notes. That might take a while.

Another interesting result of the test is it gives your general DNA background regarding ethnicity, mine indicates 100% European. Not a speck of American Indian, so that quells any further rumors in that regard.

Right now we are trying to keep cool - 90s and humid.

Later folks. jen

Road trip...

Saturday I am heading down to Madison to start some of my major Shepard research. Our genealogical society has a bus trip every year that makes it a non-stress, sit back and relax experience. Until you get to the Wisconsin Historical Society that is, then it is non-stop research mode.

My goal on this trip is to get out of the way the history books and similar material that relates to Washington and Morgan Counties in Ohio and Hampden County in Massachusetts. That will help clear off the shelf for the government records that I can then focus on in Salt Lake City later this year. Although it looks like there may be a trip to Massachusetts and Ohio in the works sometime.

I will also be going through the Agricultural and Manufacturing censuses for Wisconsin as I don't have the complete set for all our John ancestors.

I am looking forward to the trip and maybe lunch with my niece.

Later,
jen

Here I am again...

at home during another snow storm. It's the middle of March already, you would think the gods would be bored with torturing us by now.

I have good news though. A friend of mine recently moved to Massachusetts. In fact he moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, which is 20 minutes away from Westfield. Westfield...the town where the Shepards came from. The town that has the library that has 4 archival boxes of Gen. William Shepard papers. But that is not the good news. The good news is he has agreed to help us out by going to said library and making copies from said collection for me.

It is good to have friends.