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This would be a genealogy Christmas present, of course!
It could be a new computer or genealogy software to record my family data... maybe even a new scanner to scan documents & photos for the history of my family. Maybe a research book with data about my ancestors & relatives. Perhaps a good gift would be a subscription to a genealogical magazine, society or to an Internet service like Ancestry.com. I could send off for military records or vital records. Or, even, hire a professional genealogist to research for me in a far away location.
I could upgrade my y-DNA testing or test for my mt-DNA. That WEST researcher in Texas and I still can not prove we are related (even though we both feel that we are). I can pay for half or all of a y-DNA on him to see if we match - just to find out one way or another on our families being related.
But, I think what I will give myself for Christmas is to find all of my ancestors with missing dates of birth and/or death dates... then find documents to establish a window frame of when the event happened and then try to make that frame as small as possible. Merry Christmas to me!!!
And a Very Merry Christmas to all of you!
- Written by JGWest
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
"Monopoly's Redding Railroad"
Reading, Pennsylvania is a haven for historians, with historical sites for the Civil War and 30 different museums. The city is also the site of the famous Parker Brothers' Monopoly game's Reading Railroad... one of 4 railroads' squares on the famous board game.
Thanks to Karin Schueler Donato for finally & officially retiring the age-old debate: is it pronounced "Reading" or "Red-ding?" The answer is that it is pronounced as "Red-ding" which is the way this PA city & railroad pronounce it. A cousin, Clint Hadden, said that the way the locals say it, is the way it is!
I hated to give in on this, as we always called it "Reading Railroad" saying it as it looks. The debate grew as my son tried to hold on to our tradition and his wife, Christie Schueler West - yes, Karin's sister! - fought, with Vigor and a few other people, against us! Christie resorted to having all of her friends on FaceBook to vote for her precious "Red-ding" version of the name.
Alas, as a true West, we will show our honorable side by admitting that we werewrong! Karin submitted this as her proof - the History of the Reading Railroad called Reading Railroad Online.
For a time in the 19th Century, Reading was the largest corporation in the world. As the coal business declined and truck competition increased, Reading's revenues signficantly declined. Reading entered bankruptcy in 1971. I wonder if they had pronounced the name correctly, would they still be prominent & powerful today?
- Compiled by JGWest
PS: The Schueler sisters are from Cincinnati for whatever that is worth.
Thanks to Karin Schueler Donato for finally & officially retiring the age-old debate: is it pronounced "Reading" or "Red-ding?" The answer is that it is pronounced as "Red-ding" which is the way this PA city & railroad pronounce it. A cousin, Clint Hadden, said that the way the locals say it, is the way it is!
I hated to give in on this, as we always called it "Reading Railroad" saying it as it looks. The debate grew as my son tried to hold on to our tradition and his wife, Christie Schueler West - yes, Karin's sister! - fought, with Vigor and a few other people, against us! Christie resorted to having all of her friends on FaceBook to vote for her precious "Red-ding" version of the name.
Alas, as a true West, we will show our honorable side by admitting that we were
For a time in the 19th Century, Reading was the largest corporation in the world. As the coal business declined and truck competition increased, Reading's revenues signficantly declined. Reading entered bankruptcy in 1971. I wonder if they had pronounced the name correctly, would they still be prominent & powerful today?
- Compiled by JGWest
PS: The Schueler sisters are from Cincinnati for whatever that is worth.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tombstone Thursday - O'Grady
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I thought these were somewhat unusual grave markers.
Boonville Cemetery
Boonville, Indiana
John O'Grady
(Father)
1835-1892
Frances O'Grady
(Mother)
No Dates
I thought these were somewhat unusual grave markers.
- Photos taken by JGWest
[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]
Monday, December 13, 2010
TSGS Christmas Social Cancelled Due to Bad Weather
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The Tri-State Genealogical Society has decided to cancel the Christmas Social for Tuesday night due to cold & icy weather conditions. Please help spread the word.
John G. West, TSGS President
The Tri-State Genealogical Society has decided to cancel the Christmas Social for Tuesday night due to cold & icy weather conditions. Please help spread the word.
John G. West, TSGS President
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Genealogical Society Will No Longer Research Records
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Parker County Genealogical Society of Texas
has decided to dissolve after 41 years!
According to the article by Crystal Brown in the 10 Dec 2010 edition of the Weatherford Democrat, leadership of the society decided to disband due to decreasing membership and failing health of of others along with the lack of new, younger researchers joining the group. Many were in their 30's when they started with attendance of 50-60 members at each meeting during their peek years. The membership began declining in the 1980's with only as few as six attending meetings in recent years on Tuesday nights at the library.
- blog from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter for 10 Dec 2010 for the complete newspaper article go to the Weatherford Democrat.
Unfortunately, this is becoming a trend of genealogical societies folding due to declining memberships and leaders to keep the groups going. The Tri-State Genealogical Society started 41 years ago just like this Texas group. We may have been a little larger than they were, but we are facing the same problems: declining membership, low meeting attendance, active members dropping out because of age or health and a lack of new, younger members joining. TSGS has done several things to attempt to avoid these shortcomings or to at least lessen its impact. Times are changing and in the field of genealogy it is becoming a rapid change! Technology and the Internet is changing everything... the Internet & computers are significant tools for researchers - even the beginners or "newbies" as we have labeled them.
I just sent out comments to about 14 researchers on Ancestry.com that have incorrect data on my ancestors! Two responded thanking me for the correction... I sent them proof for my information in addition to proof that what they had was not correct. Like all of us that research our family histories we assume that if their is enough details, the information must be true; especially, if there are many others with the same exact information! It does not dawn on many of the new "genealogists" that everyone got the same data from the same one person. New and too many experienced researchers take "facts" at face value without questioning its validity. About 10 of the researchers that I sent a message listed a man that died in 1714 as being the father of another man born in 1718. If you do not see what is wrong with that data, you need to attend our genealogical society meetings to become a better detective & researcher.
I got off subject somewhat. The key is that genealogical societies provide a great deal for family historians and each society needs to do whatever it can to stay active.
- written by JGWest
Parker County Genealogical Society of Texas
has decided to dissolve after 41 years!
According to the article by Crystal Brown in the 10 Dec 2010 edition of the Weatherford Democrat, leadership of the society decided to disband due to decreasing membership and failing health of of others along with the lack of new, younger researchers joining the group. Many were in their 30's when they started with attendance of 50-60 members at each meeting during their peek years. The membership began declining in the 1980's with only as few as six attending meetings in recent years on Tuesday nights at the library.
- blog from Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter for 10 Dec 2010 for the complete newspaper article go to the Weatherford Democrat.
*******************
Unfortunately, this is becoming a trend of genealogical societies folding due to declining memberships and leaders to keep the groups going. The Tri-State Genealogical Society started 41 years ago just like this Texas group. We may have been a little larger than they were, but we are facing the same problems: declining membership, low meeting attendance, active members dropping out because of age or health and a lack of new, younger members joining. TSGS has done several things to attempt to avoid these shortcomings or to at least lessen its impact. Times are changing and in the field of genealogy it is becoming a rapid change! Technology and the Internet is changing everything... the Internet & computers are significant tools for researchers - even the beginners or "newbies" as we have labeled them.
I just sent out comments to about 14 researchers on Ancestry.com that have incorrect data on my ancestors! Two responded thanking me for the correction... I sent them proof for my information in addition to proof that what they had was not correct. Like all of us that research our family histories we assume that if their is enough details, the information must be true; especially, if there are many others with the same exact information! It does not dawn on many of the new "genealogists" that everyone got the same data from the same one person. New and too many experienced researchers take "facts" at face value without questioning its validity. About 10 of the researchers that I sent a message listed a man that died in 1714 as being the father of another man born in 1718. If you do not see what is wrong with that data, you need to attend our genealogical society meetings to become a better detective & researcher.
I got off subject somewhat. The key is that genealogical societies provide a great deal for family historians and each society needs to do whatever it can to stay active.
- written by JGWest
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
TSGS Christmas Social
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Christmas Holiday Social
The Tri-State Genealogical Society will host an informal Christmas Holiday Season Social at Willard Library (second floor) on Tuesday night 14 December 2010. Come & go as you please, we will be here from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Refreshments & fellowship... good time to ask someone a research question! There will be several little items given as attendance gifts - must be present to win. Looking forward to seeing everyone.
John & Becky West
P.S.: I apologize for not posting much lately... besides not having much time, I have not felt well and then I fell down at work. I did not break anything, except my pride! I have been sore for over a week with one shoulder that wants to give me a lot of pain. I am ok and blessed to not have been injured enough to need medical attention! JGW
Christmas Holiday Social
The Tri-State Genealogical Society will host an informal Christmas Holiday Season Social at Willard Library (second floor) on Tuesday night 14 December 2010. Come & go as you please, we will be here from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Refreshments & fellowship... good time to ask someone a research question! There will be several little items given as attendance gifts - must be present to win. Looking forward to seeing everyone.
John & Becky West
P.S.: I apologize for not posting much lately... besides not having much time, I have not felt well and then I fell down at work. I did not break anything, except my pride! I have been sore for over a week with one shoulder that wants to give me a lot of pain. I am ok and blessed to not have been injured enough to need medical attention! JGW
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
From Dick Eastman's Newsletter
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Who Do You Think You Are? Returns to NBC on January 21
NBC is overhauling its schedule for mid-season. However, one program returns to its old time slot: Who Do You Think You Are? will air on Fridays at 8 PM Eastern time, beginning on January 21. Details may be found on many web sites that carry entertainment news. Start with Google News at http://goo.gl/15uG0
Who Do You Think You Are? Returns to NBC on January 21
NBC is overhauling its schedule for mid-season. However, one program returns to its old time slot: Who Do You Think You Are? will air on Fridays at 8 PM Eastern time, beginning on January 21. Details may be found on many web sites that carry entertainment news. Start with Google News at http://goo.gl/15uG0
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