Recovered Homer Tanner Family Papers & Photos

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Documents for the Homer Tanner Family that we wish to get to a family representative [these were being thrown away, but saved].
Besides the 4 photos in this blog, Don Count's daughter, Amy, found some unlabeled family pictures in trash in Mt. Vernon, Indiana. It is Don & Amy's wish that these items can be given to someone in the family that might want them.





The first 2 photos are the front & back of a 1942 postcard sent to Private Robert Tanner based at Camp Dalfrone, La. from a friend, William Stadler of 1627 West Florida Street, Evansville, IN.

The next photo is a newspaper obituary for Homer Tanner who died at age 65 at his home (617 S. Rotherwood Ave. in Evansville. Surviving is the widow, Nettie; daughter, Mrs. Beatrice Sieffert [Seifert]; sons, Ashford & Robert H., all of Evansville. Also, a brother, sister & 3 grandchildren.

The last photo is a very nice Memory Card for Lucy E. Tanner born 04 Oct 1840 - died 01 Dec 1917 [No other identifying info included]. The card was copyrighted in 1908 by F.H. Wendell, Leipsic, O.

Before posting this blog, I decided to spend part of the last 2 days doing some casual research via some great resources online. The Browning Online Database revealed a transcription of Homer Tanner's obituary that included his date of death... 18 Sep 1934. I found Homer's wife Nettie from this source, as well, listing her late husband as Homer Tanner, foreman at Graham-Paige, died 1934. She was living at 9 Mary St. as was her daughter "Miss Betty Tanner" - son Robert of Evansville also survived her. She died 14 Jan 1963 buried at Oak Hill Cemetery arranged by Johann Funeral Home. Checking the Oak Hill Cemetery Database, I found Nettie & Homer buried in Section E, Lot 63, Graves 4 & 5. Ashford H. Tanner's obit is in the Browning Database with death 10 Jun 1954 (age 57) address R. 1, Newburgh, IN; funeral home was Johann and he was buried in Boonville's Maple Grove Cemetery. He was a Representative of Howell Scales Co., St. Louis, Mo. He was the "former owner Independent Scales Works, here American Legion" Wife: Thelma Tanner, Teacher, Henry Reis, Evlle; sis: Mrs. Betty Seifert, Eville; foster son: Chas Christmas, home; mother: Mrs. Nettie Tanner; br: Robt Tanner, all of Evlle.

After finding this info, I went to Find-A-Grave and found Ashford & Thelma in Maple Grove Cemetery in Boonville, IN. He was b. 1896- d. 1954 World War I Veteran. She was b. 1906 d. 13 Oct 2002 Evansville Teacher. Her obit from Browning Database listed her as 96 years old, High School Teacher, retiring in 1972. Taught at North & Henry Reis High Schools, recreation dept. as supervisor of archery, St. Mary's Guild, Worthy High Priestess of White Shrine, Daughters of Nile, Eastern Star, archery champ 4 years, preceded in death by husband Ashford H. Tanner in 1954. Charles Christmas of Newburgh was her nephew.

From Ancestry.com, I found Ashford's WWI Draft Registration Card of Jun 1918. He was 21 living with father at 611 Green, Evansville. Ashford was born 13 Aug 1896 in McClean Co., KY same as his father.

In just a few hours, I had collected a lot of information to help us locate a family member. In Ancestry.com, I found a very good family tree with lots of sources that matched what I had found. Lucy E. Tanner's maiden name was Woodward and was listed as Homer's mother! I sent a message to the owner of this family tree, a few hours ago that we had some papers & photos, the family might want. We are hoping there are others that might have an interest in this material. Contact me [John G. West] at jgw.mylines@gmail.com

One of the Best Has Joined Her Ancestors

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I am sad that a really great lady has passed on, but I know that she is with her loved ones that passed before her.

Eleanor "Glenn" Tenbarge

From this morning's obituary section of The Evansville Courier & Press:

"Evansville, Ind. - Eleanor Glenn (Bryant) Tenbarge 95, of Evansville, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at her home. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. A retired bookkeeper, she was an active genealogist and contributed many articles that were published in "The Packet", the quarterly publication of the Tri State Genealogical Society, of which she was a Charter Member. She was a member of several other genealogical societies, and a member of the Vanderburgh Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She published one book, "Early Death Records of Vanderburgh Co.", and received a "Certificate of Appreciation" from the D A R. She was credited with "saving" a cemetery of 200 graves adjoining Mater Dei High School. She has been a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church (city) since 1937."

Glenn was a great friend of mine... she supported, advised, and encouraged me as President of TSGS when I needed it the most! She was positive & up-beat. She contributed so much information for our TSGS quarterly, "The Tri-State Packet" especially Vanderburgh County naturalization records. She did a monumental published work for TSGS: 1880 U.S. Federal Census of Vanderburgh County, Indiana. The book was huge and included more details than most census books. The book was donated to TSGS for sale to raise money to buy more books for use to everyone at Willard Library. She worked very hard in preserving the cemetery that was "lost" near a high school on Evansville's west side.

Glenn served many years as a TSGS Director of the Board making suggestions that was always very useful to making some good, sound decisions for our society's success. At one point, the Board voted to make her a Director Emeritus of TSGS (the first & only person to be recognized with this honor!). She recieved several TSGS Certificates of Appreciation.

I have missed her presence at TSGS meetings & events these last few years. I will miss her smile and soft voice, but will hold her in my memories. The genealogical community has lost one of the BEST!

See the rest of her obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/courierpress/obituary.aspx?n=eleanor-tenbarge&pid=155050225

- Compiled by JGWest

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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The Tri-State

Genealogical Society

officers invite

everyone...

to our Christmas Social this coming Tuesday night (December 13th.) [tomorrow night] at Willard Library. Come & go as you please between 6:00PM & 8:00PM. If you wish you can bring some cookies, dip & crackers, cheese ball or other snacks. We will have punch. This is an informal event to enjoy each others fellowship and exchange ideas & problems concerning genealogy (or whatever) while enjoying some great snacks.

You do not need to be a member to attend.

Donald R. Counts, TSGS President

Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday

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Photo from Hart County Kentucky Genealogy Interest Group (MyFamily.com) as posted by Gladys Terry.

Kentucky Historical Marker

First Baptism in Kentucky

Nolin Creek, 1782

Randy Murray posted this information for this photo:
I copied this from Collins History of Kentucky, Volume 2: About one mile above Hodgenville on the south side of Nolin creek, there is a knoll which may be appropriately termed a natural curiosity. It is about thirty feet above the level of the creek, and contains about two acres of ground, the top of which is level, and a comfortable house has been erected upon it. Benjamin Lynn and others, early pioneers of the county, encamped on this knoll. In a hunting excursion, shortly after they made their encampment, Lynn got lost. The remainder of the company returned to camp, and not finding their companion, some one remarked, " Here is the Nole (knoll) but No Lynn, from which circumstance the creek which runs near the knoll took its name—Nolin. They immediately started in search of Lynn, and traveled a south course about fifteen miles, and found where he had encamped on a creek, from which circumstance they called the creek Lynn-camp creek. [The creek lies within the present county of Hart.] Philip Phillips erected a fort about one fourth of a mile from the knoll, on the north side of Nolin, about the year 1780 or '81, where the first settlement of the county was made. Phillips was from Pennsylvania, and a surveyor.

"The Genealogist's Curse!"

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In all of the years that I have enjoyed my hobby of genealogy, I have begun to notice a trend or cycle with my research and advances in discovering new information about my family. If I am busy with any kind of non-research, Murphy's Law immediately becomes activated! That is the moment that I get a new, hot lead about my family. What do you do, continue with the non-research project? Are you kidding? I have a new, hot lead... I must pursue the lead, at least a little. I will get the project done, but first I need to just take a little time to investigate more at the library or on the Internet concerning this new information - it may even require an all-day field trip somewher. So, this is what I call "the genealogist's curse!" I guess most would say, "Why call it a curse?" For my family history it is a blessing, but a curse to come when I am busy with something else.

For the last 4-5 weeks, I have been preparing a genealogical presention for my friends in the Posey County Scottish Rite Club. It is genealogy, but non-research for my family history. I have come across all kinds of leads on several of my family lines during this entire time. The "curse" is putting pressure on me to be well prepared for my presentation! Of course, I inherited the "gift of gab" from my father & other family members which helps in times like this! And, it does help that I have given this program about 12 times for all kinds of groups. The problem of preparation exists with the ever changing Internet for what I am speaking about - "Genealogy: Cruisin' the Internet." Keeping up with all of the new web sites and new URL links is a constant task. Cyndi's List has over 310,000 links... it has to be updated daily and you will still find broken links, but she does a great job of keeping the bad links to a minimum!

Back to my "curse:" During the last 4-5 weeks I have done more on those new leads than checking the Internet on new web sites or finding the new links. I am proud to say, however, that I have mostly completed my preparation for my little talk by working dilligently (mostly exclusively) on it last night! I should have all of the final touches complete by the meeting tonight!!! Another name for my curse might be "procrastination." If I must put something off, I do not mind too much if it is another genealogical clue taking up my time!!! I guess I should really see the situation as a blessing. And, I do... it is just odd that as soon as I begin to work on a project, suddenly "out of the blue" comes something new and really great about my family. Maybe, I should do more projects!

-Written by JGWest

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NAVIGATING ALONG the RIVER - Research Tips

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Every time I really want to break down one of my genealogy "brick walls," I think about doing "back-door" research. This is when you try to go around the "wall" instead of over or though it. Sometimes I call this "side-door" research. It is that day when I take time to see what I do not know about the person and the family. Generally, I notice that I have not checked into the siblings and their lives. Was Richard the older or the younger brother? If I check him out, I might learn that he is the older brother and he was born in a different location. By going through this "side-door" (via Richard & where he was born), I might find new clues to find out about their parents... my brick wall.

Since I have researched for a lot of years, there was a time that it was more expedient to just gather data on my direct line and just recording the minimum on the brothers & sisters. I am talking about the days before the Internet, Ancestry.com, Find-A-Grave, HeritageQuest, USGenWeb Project, Fold3, and the many, many more resources available on the Internet. Back then, I had to pay a small fee to get a microfilm of a census for a certain location that I thought my ancestors lived. When it came in, the library would call to say it was here - we had about 10-14 days to use the microfilm (only at the library - when it was open!) before it had to be sent back. It usually took several hours to browse through the microfilm looking for anyone that had the surname you were researching... all the while, the pages rolled by causing you to get sleepy. I hated it when I would dose off while continuing to crank the handle on the machine and then not know how much film I did not see!!! The Willard Library at that time was not open on Monday, so if you worked during the day - you only had the weekend and Tuesday night to go through your microfilm. The library had far less research books available, too... many without an index. All of this meant you had little time to get info on your direct line of ancestors, let alone the siblings.

What a difference having a computer to record your data and to be able to use the resources on the Internet. You still need to go to the library, to courthouses and other repositories, but you do not need to order microfilm anymore. Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest & others have posted the US Census and a lot of other actual records on the Internet. Most are not free, but it is searchable and nearly all of it is available!!! Too often we are not sure what county or even which state to find them in 1860, for example. Granted these searches often give you many more choices than you want, but the first ones are more likely to be the one.

I have always used the computer software called "Family Tree Maker" to record my database for my family history. It has a special feature that allows you to go online with a button to search all of Ancestry.com for each individual in your database - one person at a time. It is perfect for checking out the brothers & sisters that you have not had time to check before. The search engine uses all of the data concerning that individual that you have entered into FTM. In just a few clicks you are usually taken directly to the page in the census listing your family. and you can copy & paste it right into your FTM program. Ancestry also allows you to put your data onto their servers and when it discovers something about one of them, it puts a leaf by that person's box for you to explore what clues & documents that may relate to your research. Ancestry costs about $100 a year as a subscription and may not be what you want to do. But Google or Yahoo can help you find free sources for most of this data online.

Just remember that Friends and Family uses the back or side door to visit... start using that approach more in your family history research.

- Written by JGWest