Happy Thanksgiving!

Been very happily busy these last few weeks... having fun doing genealogy related things.  Just today before enjoying a Thanksgiving feast (so glad when Becky does not have to work on this day at the nursing home!), I judged 3 great essays as one of the judges for the Capt. Jacob Warrick DAR Chapter for Good Citizenship Award.  Then right after dinner, I was surprised by a Skype video call from my 2 nephews who are working in Germany.  The call was for my great niece to read me her winning essay concerning what she would ask our Founding Father's if she got a chance... she won $500 and moves up to the next level.  The contest is sponsored by the VFW.  For an 11 year old, I was impressed with her reading of the essay almost as much as the content.  The essay was superb... after judging essays by older 4-H kids for over 25 years, I was really impressed with hers!  Actually, I was also impressed to be able to talk & see the two families all the way in Germany.  They called about 1:30PM Evansville time, it was 8:30 PM their time!  Congratulations Lydia West!!!

I hope all of the genealogists, historians, family and friends are having a great Thanksgiving day and a wonderful weekend!

John G. West, TSGS Vice-President

Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday

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The Rick Borries

Memorial Garden

Becky and I decided to go downtown Evansville to get a few photos of the life-sized chess set and board that was constructed next to the Signature School across from the Ford Center and the Civic Center.  The TV news covered the story about this outdoor chess set with pieces between 3 and 6 feet tall.  We found the chess board, but the pieces were being stored in the Victory Theater in some un-disclosed location by another group responsible for its care.  I just wanted to get a photo of one of the pieces, at least... possibly the king or queen.  It was not going to happen.  To save the expedition to the downtown area, I had noticed several beautiful gardens east of the U.S. Post Office near Data Mail - one of which I posted on Saturday.

The other set of gardens (closer to the Post Office and the Civic Center) was to my surprise a very nice garden dedicated to Rick Borries about one year ago.  I did not remember this being done or mentioned via any news media, but I do not always follow the news as closely as I would like.  I would have attended the ceremony, since Rick was a long-time political associate.  Rick had been in several political offices including serving as an elected Vanderburgh County Commissioner.  We had many close mutual friends.

Rick Borries was a Social Studies Teacher in the Evansville Vanderburgh County School System.  Quite some time back (possibly 30 years), Rick was looking for someone to present a beginning genealogy class for two of his Central High School Classes.  So, he called Willard Library to request someone to do this.  Willard Library suggested me.  Rick was very pleased because he knew me and thought I would do a good job.  I had always wanted to be a teacher and even took classes at University of Evansville in Elementary Education before going into the U.S. Air Force in 1968.  So, this was a big thrill and a great opportunity to complete a dream even if it was just being a "teacher for a day!"  It was a lot of fun and with my 4-H Genealogy Project experience giving workshops for 4-H teenagers... it was an easy assignment.  Special thanks to Rick for providing that opportunity that I will always remember and cherish! 

 Click on these photos to get a larger, better image.  In the photo below, you can see downtown Evansville in the background... and I must say, with a smile, that it is appropriate that in the background is a political "yard sign" for a candidate running for an office that another friend (and TSGS member) is running for, J.D. Strouth - County Clerk (this is not J.D.'s sign).

These gardens are part of "Keep Evansville Beautiful" and these gardens sure do just that.  Rick "Rest in Peace!"

- Photos taken by JGWest

"Earth Day at the Zoo" 22 April 2012

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Earth Day...

the one day a year that we give a little attention to home!

This year we can celebrate the planet earth at the Zoo with its "Rain Barrel Decorating Program Auction Event" on Sunday 22 Apr 2012

[Click on sign below to better read the details.]

Today as Becky & I were walking at Washington Square Mall, we came upon this display of rain barrels decorated for Earth Day! We seem to find all kinds of things when we go on our walks. This reminded me of the times that Judi Reininga & I would oversee our Vanderburgh County 4-H Conservation Club's Earth Day Booths in Garvin Park with about 8-12 4-H members.
These two photos give a view of these neat rain barrels that will be auctioned off on Sunday.
Here is another view below... the music ones are neat!
Below is my favorite painted Red, White & Blue.
Becky's favorite is this one "Peace at Home" with its white picket fence.
We both liked the one below... "Saving the Earth, One Drop at a Time!"
Throughout history, man (our ancestors) have defended their land & homes, as well as, their country land; however, we have been short on protecting our world. Earth Day is a great opportunity for us to remember that this old planet is our home and we need to take care of it. Most of us had ancestors that were farmers. I had ancestors that were tobacco farmers in North Carolina that migrated in the early 1800's to Kentucky to obtain land to raise tobacco crops. Like many who raised tobacco for a living, they planted their crops and harvested the leaves to feed & support their families, but little nutrients were added back into the soil and after a time the soil was depleted of nutrients and became barren land for productive crops. In the very early years of the 1900's, it was obvious by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that something was needed to help all of these farmers learn good agriculture practices of fertilizing the soil for better & continued crop production. One way was the creation of the 4-H Clubs as a way to teach kids that in turn would teach the parents to be better at using the land.

Conservation efforts for our natural resources is important to replenish the earth's quality of land, air, water, wildlife & plants. Our future descendants are depending on us to keep their home a nice planet to live on.

- Written by JGWest - Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

TSGS Hall of Shame

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Cemetery in Lawrence near Boston, MA

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/05/30/lawrence-cemetery-overrun-by-brush-grass-weeds/

There is no excuse for the community to let this problem continue [click on link above!]. Watch the video about the cemetery. The Superintendent may have his hands tied with lack of funds, but recruiting volunteers should not be that hard. A fund raiser would be a good way to generate enough money to hire someone to weed-eat around the markers. Where are the Boy Scouts or 4-H members who are great volunteers for this type of "Good Citizenship!" When I was Superintendent of the Evansville (Indiana) 2 city-owned cemeteries almost 20 years ago. We had "work release" prisoners help maintain the cemeteries, along with people with minor legal infractions that needed to complete a couple hundred hours of "Community Service" as ordered by a judge. A civilized community can be judged by how well they respect their dead. Lawrence is proving to have very little respect for their dead. Sad, indeed!

- Compiled by JGWest [Link & story was posted on FaceBook by Bill West]

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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Indiana State Fair 2010...

Becky & I attended the State Fair as we do most years. We are a 4-H family and I judge state fair exhibits each year for the 4-H Genealogy Project.

One of the attractions each year is the sand sculpture in the Ag Building... this year it is a copy of the State Fair Shutter Train that goes all the way around the fair grounds. It is pulled by a tractor. In the sand sculpture, it is farm animals riding around the fair.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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Boonville, IN:
Warrick County 4-H Achievement Program...

The Tri-State Genealogical Society announced the 2010 winner of the Glenda K. Trapp Memorial Award Certificate for Achievement in the 4-H Genealogy Project. The winner was Tyler Kroeger! Tyler was also last year's winner. TSGS President John G. West & TSGS Board Director Becky West made the presentation Saturday night at the Warrick County 4-H Center at the annual achievement program. TSGS has proudly presented this award to 4-H members in several southwestern Indiana counties for over 25 years.

[Click photo to enlarge image]

I am wearing my Sons of the American Revolution uniform because I also present the Indiana Society SAR Outstanding Citizenship Award with this year's winner being Ellen Gore who could not attend the program.

- News released by JGWest

- Photo taken by George Lewis

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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1966 Polaroid Photos!
I found these old "Swinger" Polaroid B&W photos in a little tin index card file box as we were moving things into our new storage barn. This box was in my room in Mom & Dad's house on East Indiana Street. My last year in 4-H was 1966... we had moved from our "farm" in Warrick County between Heilman & Tennyson, Indiana close to the old Loafer Station crossroads to Boonville to graduate from BHS in 1965 (we are having 45th. Reunion this summer) and then to Evansville. Mom was so glad to get back to her beloved Evansville! The move to Indiana Street was close enough for me to walk over to Evansville College (now University of Evansville). I left the Loafer Station 4-H Club when we moved to Boonville and joined the Thorny Grove 4-H Club in Chandler, Indiana (still Warrick County). In 1966 I was President of the Thorny Grove club and very active in Warrick County 4-H. The little tin box held instructions on playing games and dances for the 4-H Recreation Project for the 1966 County Fair. I held a Kids Neighborhood Party at our house and had someone take these Polaroid shots (probably Mom). These Swinger Polaroid photos never were of very good quality, but were adequate. I am positive that it has been 43.5 years since I have seen these photos... I strongly suspect that the box was put back somewhere in my old room right after the fair not to be seen until this past Sunday!
My sister, Tina, & I demonstrating one of the dances for the party.

This photo was not taken during the party, it was taken at the Christmas home in Chandler with the block building being our meeting place. Here I am showing kids of the 4-H Club how to be really "goofy" while dancing. We had fun and that was what it was all about. Wow! Young, thin & energetic!

Back at the party at our house. In the foreground is Keith Gibson dancing with Faye Gibson from two doors down. Next facing us is my little brother Don dancing with Debbie Conover. Then you can barely see Tina and me. [See the old wooden garage behind us, lightening hit it one night & it quickly burned to the ground.]

Above is most of the kids that came to the party. In the back from left is my sister Tina, Faye Gibson, Me, Keith Gibson, Debbie Conover, my brother Don. Cheryl Conover, Clifford Gibson. Butch Conover next to Wanda Gibson.

- Photos submitted by JGWest

NAVIGATING ALONG the RIVER - Research Tips

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I spent about 20 hours in St. Mary's Hospital Sunday evening through half of Monday... I had chest pains. It was discovered that it was not my heart (I had a heart attack in 1992). My diabetes was really the culprit with my sugar reading being consistently very high. I am doing well, now. I mention this because it reminded me of when I had my heart attack and while there, with the doctor's permission, I judged the Warrick County 4-H Genealogy Project Notebooks for the County 4-H Fair in my hospital room while my heart was being monitored.

When I give genealogy workshops to 4-H'ers, I point out that birth & death certificates are issued in the county that the event occurred, not necessarily where they lived. For example, many from Warrick County should suspect that missing vital records (birth or death) might be found in Vanderburgh County where there have been at least 3 hospitals that these events might have happened.


Now, Warrick County has a hospital in Boonville. Even with the fact that there is a hospital in the county where your ancestor lived, the family might prefer another hospital in a nearby county. St. Mary's Hospital is Catholic based and might attract Catholics from counties that may have another hospital. Evansville's St. Mary's and Deaconess Hospitals are large and might be used at the doctor's request or because of the ability to perform certain procedures that smaller facilities can not.

The tip is to look for these types of records (if not found in county of residence) in nearby counties with hospitals.

- submitted by JGWest

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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4-H Genealogy Project Awards...

The Glenda K. Trapp Memorial Award Certificate was awarded to two 4-H'ers this week by TSGS President John G. West & Board Director Becky West. This award was created over 25 years ago by TSGS to recognize the achievements in the 4-H Genealogy Project for the area county 4-H programs. Becky & I are dressed in Revolutionary War/Colonial period dress, since I also presented an Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Outstanding Citizenship Award in each county. I serve as the Indiana Society SAR 4-H Award Program State Chair.

(I apologize for the quality of the photos... my little camera is just not up to par... click on photos to get a larger image.)
Above is photo of the Posey County 4-H winner: Morgan Zoch presented at the Posey County Fairgrounds (04 Nov 2009).

These two photos were taken at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center (06 Nov 2009). The 2009 Winner is Sean Armstrong.

Congratulations to these two young family tree historians!

John G. West, TSGS President (4-H Coordinator)

Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday

"Our Children: Loved, Missed and Remembered"

This is the message on the Childrens Memorial near the main entrance to the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center

(click on image to enlarge)

I saw this on FaceBook (on the Internet) and asked permission to use it here. From Linda L Young-Niemeier's Photos: "THIS IS WHERE WE HELD THE MEMORIAL FOR CALAB LAY WHEN HE WAS MURDERED BY HIS PARENT'S."

Indiana State Fair 4-H Genealogy Project Judging

Judging Exhibits at 4-H State Fair

I had the pleasure & honor to judge 4-H Genealogy notebook exhibits yesterday at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, Indiana. this was my second year and it is so neat to see the best exhibits from a large portion of Indiana's 92 counties. Jean and I judged the Division 3 entries. There are five divisions with Division 5 being repeated each year. Division 5 asks for eventually attempting to complete 8 generations of the 4-H members ancestors... which would be 254 individuals plus the 4-H'er for total of 255.


The notebook I am judging in above photo is one of three notebooks. This notebook contained the generation charts, family group sheets & additional information sheets. The two other notebooks stacked in front of me contain required photo copies of birth, marriage & death records, along with some photos and other documents to support the research completed by the 4-H'er. There are military, educational, occupational & church records included in addition to obituaries and other newspaper articles & photos of US Federal Census sheets and War Draft records. These exhibits are incredible compilations of research done by these kids and their family. This ends up being a family project including aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, grandparents & others. TSGS has had many of these notebooks from the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fairs on display at our Christmas events over the last 25+ years.

Above is a photo of several of us working on judging these notebooks... Becky West is to my right with the two ladies across from me at the table (judging Division 4 exhibits). The young lady standing at the file box is in charge of the Genealogy Project for the State Fair... behind her and only barely visible are three Division 5 (Advanced) judges. Not shown (further to my right) were four more ladies judging divisions 1 & 2.

Becky came along to keep company for the 3.5 hour trip from Evansville to Indy. I needed to be there at 9 AM their time (8:00 Evansville time). Allowing an extra half hour for a break and maybe delays in driving, I always leave 4 hours before arrival time. We had to leave at 4 AM Evansville time. We got up at 2:30 AM to get ready (and for me to get enough coffee into my body). We got to the registration table at 8:40 their time. I also entered two poster exhibits that were not sent by the County 4-H Office the day before. We took about a 45 minute break eating at the Farm Bureau Building (great lunch!). And then right back into judging... we were all done about 5 PM (Indy time) - this was essentially an 8 hour day. It was a lot of work... but is also fun, interesting and educational for us judges. One of the other judges & I may have a distant family relationship that we will be checking. We got home a little before 9 PM - a very long, but worthwhile day!

- Submitted by JGWest

NAVIGATING ALONG the RIVER - Research Tips

Global Positioning System (GPS)

The idea for this blog came from a family working on their 4-H Genealogy Project for the upcoming county fair. The mother of the 4-H member was asking me a few questions on how to cite their documentation for the notebook exhibit. She mentioned that her cousin used GPS to mark locations of ancestors' property once it was found.

I have known a lot of people who have used GPS cooridinates to designate where cemeteries were located (including graves), but really did not think of using this for locations concerning family sites of importance. You can easily identify all of your genealogical locations!

GPS definition from Whatis.com: The GPS (Global Positioning System) is a "constellation" of 24 well-spaced satellites that orbit the Earth and make it possible for people with ground receivers to pinpoint their geographic location. The location accuracy is anywhere from 100 to 10 meters for most equipment. Accuracy can be pinpointed to within one (1) meter with special military-approved equipment. GPS equipment is widely used in science and has now become sufficiently low-cost so that almost anyone can own a GPS receiver.

Use this map to look for this house where Gum Street in Evansville, IN stops at College Highway ~ 37 degrees, 58 minutes, 2.18 seconds Latitude & -87 degrees, 32 minutes, 25.14 seconds Longitude. This home is a long time dream house for my wife & I.

- Submitted by Sheila of Tippecanoe County, Indiana

Brief TSGS Officer Profiles - Becky West

Becky West was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Tri-State Genealogical Society. She was recently photographed at the Louisville Zoo and seems to have wings like an angel! Believe me, as her husband for 40 years, this was a staged photo! But like the volunteers of TSGS that are willing to serve as officers and committee members, they are all truly angels!

Becky graduated from Bosse High School, attended Lockyear Business College, got married and started raising a family that consisted of 3 sons and a husband. When the youngest was 10 years old, Becky entered the world of employment outside the home. Most of that time has been at the Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home in Evansville as a nurses aide.

For almost 40 years, Becky has served as her husband's personal secretary for his many non-profit organizations & political community service involvement. This was the Young Democrats (YD's), 4-H, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), TSGS (over 30 years). She assisted her husband in each of these organizations as advisor, sounding board, secretary, remedial task master, and supporter. She has become one of the most experienced organizational "non- board member" to get elected to a Board of Directors! :)

Becky was a runner-up in the first Miss Evansville Pagent in 1967, was elected President of the Eighth Congressional Young Democrats (YD's), was a volunteer Adult 4-H Leader for over 20 years and is currently very active with the Ladies Auxillary of the Sons of the American Revolution. With the members of the Ohio Valley Chapter of SAR, Becky and a few other wives march (in Colonial dresses) with the SAR Color Guard in parades & other events. Becky was adopted as a baby and finally found her birth family at the age of 42... she has developed an interesting presentation for interested groups concerning her "Journey to the Beginning - An Adoption Story" to discovery her birth family. Becky wrote a poem to her deceased birth mother that most have stated was a real "emotional"message. She not only assists with my SAR "Flags Over America" programs, but she serves as the "pack-horse" helping me pack, load, carry, set-up and take down over 160 flags used in the presentation. Come to think of it maybe she is an angel... she has to be after putting up with me for 40 years!

Thanks for serving, Becky... and Welcome Aboard TSGS!

- Submitted by JGWest

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

Fruit & Vegetable Sculpture

4-H member Henry Maurer sculptured this Hawaiian scene for the Energetics 4-H Club's entry for the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fair "Picnic Contest" in 2001.

- Photo taken and submitted by JGWest

NAVIGATING ALONG the RIVER - Research Tips

ENGINEER'S Report - Tech Info

Have you ever found what looked like a possible great site from another site? So, in great anticipation you click on the link and get that unwanted "HTTP 404 Not Found" error page! Now, what... you really wanted to see this page! Well here is one way to, hopefully, find your site!

This was an email pointing out that the Grayson County, KYGenWeb page had a bad link to "Millerstown and It's People" with my email response. After reading my hint, try it yourself!

From Patsy Andrews:

We have just discovered your site and found the link to “Millerstown and It’s People” has been broken. We are very interested in the Hornback, McCrady, Wooten & Logsden families of Millerstown. Is there another way to view this information?
Patsy Andrews
The site I’m referring to is : http://www.kygenweb.org/grayson/graysonlinks/index.html

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This is my response:
Patsy, this link has apparently changed to http://www.mcclure-landis.com/millerstown/index.html Thanks for including the URL to the page where you found this bad link. Believe it or not 99% of people do not even list what general web site the bad link came from, not even the bad link!

This is the bad link: http://www.golocal.com/misc/genealogy/millerstown/index.html When I find a bad link, I first add or delete the "l" in "htm(l)" that is often where the error is found. If not, then I delete the html file name (in this case, "index.html") to see if I can get to the site page one-level back. Since that did not work, I removed "millerstown" and got an instant redirect to: http://www.mcclure-landis.com/ which had a new link to "Millerstown and It's People." If you have never done this before, try it out yourself... go back to the bad link, and work your way back. Sometimes people change servers and this may not work, but sometimes they will have a auto-redirect or a "Site has moved, click here" statement.

I gave you the new link and a hint to, hopefully, find the correct link when one has changed and gives you that dreaded "HTTP 404 Not Found" error. This query from you, prompted my TSGS Cruiser Blog article for today...check it out (second link below) ~ I give you credit for the idea to explain this Internet trick I learned from others on the Internet 12 years or so ago!

John G. West,
President, Tri-State Genealogical Society (TSGS)
Treasurer, Ohio Valley Chapter Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution (OVC INSSAR)
State Historian, Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution (INSSAR)
State Fair 4-H Judge, Indiana State Fair (4-H Genealogy Project)

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Tri-State Genealogical Society (TSGS) - http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~intsgs/index.html
TSGS Cruiser Blog - http://tsgsblog.blogspot.com/
Ohio Valley Chapter INSSAR - http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inovcsar/

Patsy Andrews prompted this article to be written as submitted by JGWest

“TSGS 4-H Genealogy Project Award”

(click on photos to enlarge)

Last night Becky & I went to Boonville, Indiana to present the TSGS “Glenda K. Trapp Memorial Award” (photo above – click on photos to enlarge) at the Warrick County 4-H Achievement Banquet. The county has a committee that selects winners in a lot of different categories based on their 4-H participation and other activities in the community, school and other organizations.


In the above photo I am presenting the award certificate to this year's winner, Tyler Kroeger. She happen to be the Division 2 County Champion last year and received a Special Merit Award for her notebook exhibit at the Indiana State Fair. I judged her exhibit on the county level and thought it was excellent. I judged Division 3 exhibits at the State Fair and was pleased to see how well she had done at the state.


The above photo is a posed photo after the banquet to get a nice keepsake photo for our regular TSGS web page and for her (and her mother) to keep. TSGS has been presenting this award to several southwest Indiana county 4-H members over the last 25 years. I encouraged TSGS to provide this award and I have served as the TSGS 4-H Coordinator ever since... a job that I enjoy and feel it is an honor to get to meet and recognize these outstanding 4-H members.


This last photo is for another award that I present to 4-H members from the Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution. I serve as the State Chair of the 4-H Youth Awards Committee. This young lady, Jean Ann Scarafia, won the SAR Outstanding Citizenship Award Pin. I am wearing the SAR member's badge on the neck ribbon and on my tie I am also wearing my “I Love Genealogy” pin and to even things out I wore my Indiana State Fair Judge Pin. - Compiled by JGWest

Photos taken by: Certificate - JGWest, Award Presentation - Dale Downey, TSGS Award Winner - Tyler's brother, SAR Award Winner - Tom Neeley.

“A Heavy 4-H Project”

Yesterday, I wrote about judging different levels of the 4-H Genealogy Project. It reminded me of a little story that I would like to share. One of the 4-H young ladies was in her ninth year of 4-H Club work (they can only be in for 10 years or when they reach the age limit for members). One of the more outstanding 4-H'ers had been taking the Genealogy Project from her first year when it was called the “Family Tree Project.” Her name was Kendra Maasberg, her mother Cynthia was an active TSGS member and once served as TSGS Recording Secretary. Kendra did a thorough job of gathering all of the documents photocopied for her exhibit notebooks. She had birth, marriage applications, military records, death and obituaries. She had a photo of when someone was young, about the time of marriage and sometimes an later in life photo and a picture of their tombstone. She had deeds, census records, wills, education and church records for each person going back 8 generations. There were Generation Charts, Family Group Sheets, Additional Information Sheets, an essay for each year. Everything was placed in plastic protector sheets. As you can imagine this filled up several 4 inch loose-leaf notebooks – she had four that ninth year. When it was time to enter the exhibits, I was at the fair grounds to sign in the exhibits as the Genealogy Project Superintendent. Here comes Kendra using a cart to haul her notebooks in. After nine years, we knew each other fairly well and seeing that cart, I decided to kid her about it. I told her that there was a rule on weight limits for the project – no more than 50 pounds per 4-H'er. She laughed assuring me it did not weigh that much at all.

In Kendra's tenth year (her last), she comes in with five of those big notebooks and quickly asks what that weight limit was for the projects. She stated she looked through everything and could not find that rule. At first, I did not know what she was talking about (I had forgotten about my little joke). She said didn't you say that the total weight had to be under 50 pounds? I remembered and said yes that is correct. She smiled really big and proudly stated the total weight of her five notebooks was 49.7 pounds! The joke was on me that year. - Submitted by John G. West

"Judging 4-H Genealogy Fair Exhibit Notebooks"

I got a letter from the State 4-H Office at Purdue yesterday appointing me a State Fair 4-H Genealogy Judge which reminded me that 2008 was a good year since I judged for the first time for the State Fair! Despite having my appendix removed, 2008 was not so bad... I went to a y-DNA West family reunion in Nashville meeting a lot of my DNA-proven cousins. But, I guess the highlight was judging at the Stat Fair. 4-H has been a big part of my life since I was 9 years old and that was over 50 years ago. I served for 25 years as the Vanderburgh 4-H Genealogy Project Superintendent and have judged the project in area County Fairs for over 20 years. So, getting to judge at the State Fair is a "big deal." The project requires the 4-H member to properly document their work and follow standard genealogical procedures. In the top left photo I am judging at the Indiana State Fair; and, yes, all those notebooks for Division 3 in the shelves behind me were for 2 judges (over 50 county champion exhibits). The next photo down (centered) was taken at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fair. When I was the Project Superintendent, I did not normally judge any of the projects, this year was also my first year to judge in my home county. In the background you see Connie Conrad, TSGS Treasurer judging notebooks, too. The notebook I am judging went to the State Fair and was in the top 5 exhibits to be the State Fair Champion of all the Genealogy Notebook Exhibits. The last photo to the right is of me at home judging surrounding county fair exhibits. I have been judging county exhibits beginning with Warrick County about 24 years ago. - Submitted by JGWest

“Twins & Genealogy”

Have you ever thought about twins and genealogy? They have the exact same family history. So, is it easier? I suspect it could only be easier, if the two team up to research together. And, when you think about it, all siblings with the same mother & father would have the same family with twins just starting at the same time. I brought this up because I thought about one of TSGS former Presidents, Ken Franks. Ken has joined his ancestors now, but around 20-25 years ago, I talked him into being a 4-H Family History Project judge at the county 4-H fair. Carol Lantaff and I were in charge of the project. The project was somewhat involved with 5 generation charts, family group sheets and individual “additional information” sheets. All of this required listing documentation/sources. In addition the 4-H'er was asked to include photos, some birth, marriage applications or death certificates and other actual (photocopied) records. Since some 4-H members might have someone that had done extensive family research and the scope of the project was limited to completing a five generation history, the project called for an annual 2-page written activity or story. This was to ensure that each year there was something that had to be done and help balance out the kids that were starting from nothing and the ones with 5 generations already done by Aunt Lucinda. The project required so much to be completed in 3 divisions set-up by age – all was cumulative.

Some of you have probably already figured out what I will be telling you. The year Ken judged these projects, we had a set of twins. We had 3 judges one for each division – Ken had the twins in his senior division. Since they were born on the same day and had all the same ancestors, the only things that were different was the given names for the charts and on their birth certificates. Since they were twins all of the photos that included one of them, included both of them. These twin boys had older sisters and a mom that helped them type, proof read and check sources, etc. The girls had been in the project several years and this was the boys seventh year or so. Everything was nearly perfect. They were required to write about the same subject; and, although, they approached the subject differently, they were equally well done. These two notebook exhibits were clearly the best two, the judge needed to select a champion and a reserve champion. Ken asked me if it was permissible to give two champions for that senior division. I said that he would have to pick one as champion and the other as reserve. He said, “but, they are almost exactly alike!” I told him the twins competed in a lot of projects in a lot of years and generally was chosen as the top two – they were used to one beating out the other. Ken needed to flip a coin or look for typo errors. I am not totally sure how he picked the champion, but Ken refused to judge again! - by John G. West