Saturday, August 30, 2008

John H Alexander

John H. Alexander (son of Thomas) was born 1803 in Ky, and died August 18, 1886 in St. Louis, Missouri. He married 1.Judah Northern December 25, 1828 in Washington County, Indiana. He married 2.Mary Frances Carter[Lucas] January 16, 1841 in Jackson County, Indiana.

Isaac Alexander, b 1850 I believe he died as a child.
John Alexander, b. November 15, 1842, Indiana; d. August 4, 1904, Seymour, Jackson County, Indiana.
Mahala Alexander, b. 1844, Indiana.
Louisa Alexander, b. 1847, Indiana; m. Ephram Wilson, October 27, 1867, Jackson County, Indiana.

My biggest interest right now is finding more information about Judah Northern. About Judah I know little, except that she died before January 16, 1841. I believe she was born in Kentucky though I cannot prove it. I also believe they had at least one child, a son.

Mary Frances was married first to Joel Lucas on July 20, 1826 in Clark County, IN. She liked to call herself Frankie, and it is listed that way on the marriage record. I had always assumed that Joel had died but communication with other researchers has indicated that maybe they were divorced. I know they had at least one child. In the 1840 census of Jackson County she is listed as 30-40 with a male of 5-10 in the household. She and John remained very close to Lucas family members, often listed as a Lucas in the household at the time of a census, so I really don't believe the divorce was a reality. I grew up knowing that Lucas was family.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Show and Tell . . . . Hidden Treasure

Ok, so I will show trash. At least it was supposed to be trash. It was thrown away. My father picked it out of the trash and brought it to me after his mother, my grandmother, died. He said that his mom had wrote in it and he thought surely it was more important to me than to the ones that threw it away. It had lost it's front and back cover in the process. Looked pretty rough, but then diamonds aways look rough at first. And this was a diamond! Pure treasure.

As you can see it is in very bad shape. Very delicate. But it did survive.
She used this book like a scrapbook. She wrote in bubbles about her family. From accidents and illnesses to births and deaths. She recorded the day of the week everything happend, not just the date. Every space is utilized. The last entry was in 1973. It was the birth of my first child.
But that wasn't the only treasure inside. I now own several one of a kind original photos, clippings, her notes on her family tree, copies of their wills and even handkerchiefs she had taken to church to have annointed in prayer for my grandfather after he had a terrible accident at work. The photo above shows only a small amount of things she had tucked away in it.
I don't take it out very often because I don't want to aid in it's demise. I scanned everything at first, then put it away safely. When I do get it out, I want to cry with sadness and with joy. I miss her very much and my dad saved her most precious treasure.


Submitted to the Carnival of Genealogy for September 1st edition, "Show and Tell".

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Alexander

Merrill Harris Alexander and Bertha Manning Alexander
Christmas Day, 1928

Monday, August 25, 2008

Closing ceremonies were today. Here are my results.


1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!










3. Organize Your Research!










4. Write, Write, Write!








I would like to thank the members of the Genea-Games Organizing Committee Miriam Robbins Midkiff, Kathryn Doyle, and Thomas MacEntee, the members of the Genea-Games Organizing Committee and everyone else that worked so hard to organize the games, for all the fun and for allowing me to join in. I have had a wonderful time and it did what I hoped it would. It jump-started my own research and got me excited about it again. So, thank you all!
". . . ::footnoteMavin:: . . ." created the graphics for the games and did a wonderful job. Thank you fM!!

The next games will be in 2010. Hope to see you there!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

My Final Tally!

I've rather enjoyed the games. It has gotten me started again on my own research. I have actually gotten quite a bit accomplished that I was not at all sure I would do. So I am happy with the result. I hope it has gone as well for all the other competitors.
Here is my final tally:
1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!
72 (so far)

Qualifications for "Go Back and Cite Your Sources!":
10 Citations - Bronze Medal
20 Citations - Silver Medal
30 Citations - Gold Medal
40 Citations - Diamond Medal
50 Citations - Platinum Medal


3. Organize Your Research!
A. 26
B. 36
C. 21
D. 32
E. 21
F. Done.

Qualifications for "Organize Your Research!":
Complete any one task - Bronze Medal
Complete any two tasks - Silver Medal
Complete any three tasks - Gold Medal
Complete any four tasks - Diamond Medal
Complete five or more tasks - Platinum Medal


4. Write, Write, Write!
A. Done.
(http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/day-nine-why-and-what-of-twigtalk.html)
B. Done.
(http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/family-language-or-masondixon-line-runs.html) for COG
C. Done. I have pre-published 2.
(http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/day-nine-why-and-what-of-twigtalk.html) (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/day-eight.html)
D. Done.
(http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/james-jaynes-twigtale.html)
E.

Qualifications for "Write, Write, Write!":
Complete any one task - Bronze Medal
Complete any two tasks - Silver Medal
Complete any three tasks - Gold Medal
Complete any four tasks - Diamond Medal
Complete all 5 tasks - Platinum Medal

Friday, August 22, 2008

James Jaynes - A TwigTale

James Jaynes
8/9/01 - 10/21/89

James Jaynes was my maternal grandfather. He was the middle child of 'Tom' Jaynes and Cora Hines Jaynes. Cora always called him Jimmy, and said that was what she intended to name him. I don't know much about his growing up years. He never talked about it. I do know that he and his brother, Harry, were not close. Harry was a heavy drinker all his life. I believe there was some trouble between those two that never healed.

At 19, October 8, 1920, he married Della Mae Alexander. They did not have a large wedding. They were married at the courthouse in Brownstown, Jackson, Indiana. At the time he was working at the Ebner's Ice Factory. His father worked there as well, as the fireman. In the beginning they lived with Tom and Cora. My grandmother loved Cora. She talked about her passionate temper and warm, loving nature. My grandmother's family had been cool and rigid about rules and all the do's and don'ts. My grandmother talked about how she loved the warmth of Cora.

Jim (as he wished to be called) and Della finally settled into a house of their own in a small community called Chestnut Ridge, just outside of Seymour, Indiana in Jackson County. The factory was located in Seymour, so to get to work, Jim walked the railroad tracks several miles back and forth every day. When the Depression hit, it wasn't as hard for them as it was a lot of families. He did have a job, and the need for ice was still there.

My grandfather was a saver. He had saved and saved, hoping to make his own dreams a reality. His hard earned money was safely in the bank. Of course, he was one of those who lost everything. This so scarred him that he never put a dime in the bank again. Later in life he bought and sold property. Yes, he did so with cash. Closing on sales always took longer as the bank always had to wait a few days to get the cash together. He had a large, monster of a safe in his bedroom that he kept every dime in. It didn't matter that everyone assured him his money would be safe this time. He simply wouldn't believe it.

He and Della had a boy, Donald, and then 3 girls. In 1938, Donald died of leukemia. He never talked about his feelings during that time. But when he died, Donalds last photo was still in his billfold.

When his father was unable to work, Jim made sure they had a house and plenty on the table. He believed firmly in taking care of his own. He parents never needed for anything. His mother died in 1948, and his father in 1954.

He did finally put together a business of his own. He became a plumber and electrician. He never turned anyone down because they couldn't pay. He often was paid in goods. They never needed for anything. He provided well for his family, all his life.

He built 2 houses on O'Brien Street in Seymour. The first, they lived in for a few years. The second one, next door was the one they would spend the rest of their lives in. Here is where you can read about it and see a photo.

I remember the phone rang at their house all the time. When it did at dinner time he would turn the air blue as Grandma ran behind him fussing that the 'kids' were listening! It was a joy! We thought it was so funny. He also had some funny words he used often. No one knew what they meant. He would say something that sounded like 'Poo-ay' , but I don't have a clue how to spell it. He thought it was funny.

He loved bingo. He also loved to fish, though he wasn't very good at it and didn't start until very late in life.

I was going through a box from a collection to be put on the Jackson County site and came across a receipt from 1948 for work my grandfather did. Talk about serendipity! What a treasure to me. He stayed quite busy until a few years before his death.


- This was written for:
Genea-Blogger Group Summer Games
4. Write, Write, Write!
D. Write a brief biographical sketch on one of your ancestors.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Day Thirteen - Hovis Treasure

I have had very little time today for play:o) I've actually got several projects that I have been juggling. Plus life, of course. Now I need to start to finish up several of the projects. I missed blogging yesterday completely. Now I am down to the wire. I have to write a bio on an ancestor and create a list of where my files are. That one is the easy one. I have that about done. So really I could finish up sometime tomorrow evening. I haven't applied to host a carnival. I won't be doing that particular task. I have only entered 2 just recently and I wouldn't know how to host, what would be the requirements, etc. so I will not complete that one. Perhaps next time when I have more experience with everything 'social'. I have gotten a lot of invitations on facebook to participate in activities and I don't know how I will find the time for all. I am probably going to pick the ones I feel more confident about and not participate in the others. It's all very exciting though.

I've had a very lucky week. I made a contact in my Hovis line. A contact with photos! You can't get more lucky. I pulled the Hovis file and found so many sources I had not entered so I have been working on that when a moment is free. Going through the notes, checking my to do's. That is so exciting! It had been going nowhere for quite a while.

So my tally has changed a little. It isn't changing my scores.

1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!
72 (so far)


3. Organize Your Research!
A. 26
B. 36
C. 21
D. 32
E. 21
F.


4. Write, Write, Write!
A. Done. (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/day-nine-why-and-what-of-twigtalk.html)
B. Done. (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/family-language-or-masondixon-line -runs.html) for COG
C. Done. I have pre-published 2. (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/day-nine why-and-what-of-twigtalk.html) (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/day-eight.html)
D.
E.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Day Eleven

My tally for today.

1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!

60 (so far)

3. Organize Your Research!
A. 26
B. 36
C. 21
D. 32
E. 21
F.

4. Write, Write, Write!
A. Done. (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/day-nine-why-and-what-of-twigtalk.html)
B. Done. (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/family-language-or-masondixon-line-runs.html) for COG
C. Done. I have pre-published 2. (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/day-nine-why-and-what-of-twigtalk.html) (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/day-eight.html)
D.
E.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Day Ten

Oh boy. I did not compete again. I had other things that occupied all my free minutes. So today I will just post my running tally.

1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!
40 (so far)

3. Organize Your Research!
A. 26
B. 36
C. 21
D. 32
E. 21
F.

4. Write, Write, Write!
A. Done. (Day Nine)
B. Done. (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/family-language-or-masondixon-line-runs.html) for COG
C. Done. I have pre-published 2. (Day Eight) (Day Nine)
D.
E.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Day Nine - The Why and What of TwigTalk

I started this blog with the hope that I would have a journal of what I was doing and what I needed to do. It has turned out to be so much more. But my 'mission statement', if you could call it that, is pretty simple.
With this blog I hope to leave a record of bios of the ancestors I have known and those I have heard about all my life. These little bios are tagged as 'TwigTales'. I want these to be available to those researchers that come looking so that they will know something personal about that ancestor. So often the personal is lost and it becomes names and dates. I want those that I have known to be fleshed out as much as I can.
Here you will find stories of my life on a personal level that involve family.
Also you will read about the ups and downs of my research. Those things that work and those that don't. I have made so many mistakes over the years. There are many things I wish I could go back and do over in a different way. I hope that through comments I will get tips on overcoming particular problems I am having.
I also have a big hope of finding others, cousins, that are searching for me and mine.

So far this has become so much more than I envisioned. I have met and made friends. I have learned so much. I thank all of you that read this for taking the time to do so. I would recommend that everyone blog. I thought it would be a waste of time for a long time but I was wrong. I have become a blog-a-holic. I make my rounds daily. So many great ones/so little time! :o)

^..^

------------------------------------------
This post is being pre-published.
It is also a competition blog, covering 2 events.
4. Write, Write, Write!
A. Write a summary of what your blog is about and post it on your blog – you may not have done this since you started the blog and it is a great way to have new readers learn more about your site.
C. Prepare several posts in draft mode (if possible with your blog platform) and pre-publish.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Day Eight

What a beautiful day! Either Indiana weather is improving or we are in a weird weather thing. . . . See, we complain about weather we have no complaints about. :o)
I think RootsMagic is it. I have played with it for quite awhile. I believe I like it! I can understand the source boxes without a manual. That's nice. It's a pleasant program. Also I've found out that if you buy it now, you will get the update to 4 when it comes out (prob. Nov.). So. . . . good news.
I meant to post this link before I started on by sourcing competition, but forgot. This is a good place to go when in doubt about how to cite a particular souce. It goes step by step through the citation or you can copy/paste citations for online sources, adding only your # where you need to. I have been recommending it to county users for a while. It is Pro-Genealogists Citation Guide .

------------------------------------------------
This posting is being pre-published for:
4. Write, Write, Write!
C. Prepare several posts in draft mode (if possible with your blog platform) and pre-publish.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Day Seven - TGIF

I have a new tally today. I did get a bit more done. I also got some of it last night when I wish I had been sleeping. I saw gymnastics as well. I haven't been watching but sleeplessness tends to make you try new things! I am not into sports but it was a proud moment!
Here is my tally for today:
1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!
40 (so far)

3. Organize Your Research!
A. 26
B. 36
C. 21
D. 32
E. 21
F. working on

4. Write, Write, Write!
A.
B. Done. (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/family-language-or-masondixon-line-runs.html) for COG
C.
D.
E.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Day Six and I Have Not Been Competing

Today I have been playing with the RootsMagic trial version. Then there was the Smile for the Camera Carnival to read. So no work. My tally is the same as yesterday. I did not have a lot of time today anyway. I will be back and competing tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Day Five

Well, I got a lot done today. I am working on sources as well. Not my favorite task which is why I have a lot to do. But, I have been using Legacy 7 [the free version] for everything so I can see how I like it. So far, so good. I just about gave up and actually quit it and opened FTM. But, once I thought about it I went back to Legacy 7. I want to break the FTM habit, and have decided that I will not buy it again. I wonder which is really the most friendly program; Legacy 7 or RootsMagic? I will be replacing FTM with one of them. I want to make the right decision. It will be the one I will stay with. Price is about the same so it is all in the software. Legacy is a lot different from FTM, and quite frankly seems more complicated. At least I've narrowed it down to 2. I have heard so much about RootsMagic, but I wonder if it is really as friendly as they say. . . .

Here is my new tally:

1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!

------------------------------------------
3. Organize Your Research!
A. 26
B. 36
C. 21
D. 32
E. 21
F.
------------------------------------------
4. Write, Write, Write!
A.
B. Done. (http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/2008/08/family-language-or-masondixon-line-runs.html) COG
C.
D.
E.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

The Family Language or The Mason/Dixon Line Runs Down The Middle of Our Table

Funny this should be the subject of the Carnival of Genealogy. I have been thinking about the language I heard as a child of late. Language shaped a lot of my youth. Not a foreign language, at least not a recognized one. Perhaps it should be called more of a heavy accent. Now, my ancestors from both sides were here very early. Many, on both sides, fought in the Revolutionary War. So the language has always been English.
Our holiday table was actually the meeting of the North and the South. My father was born and raised in the Alabama Mountains. All of his family were southerners from, as they say, way back. On the other side of the table we have the North. My mother's ancestors were primarily northerners. So it was sometimes very interesting just listening quietly while people talked.
My maternal grandma, Della, whom I loved so much, would say; 'Hello darlin', come give grandma a hug'. Upon entering my paternal grandma's, Bizzie's, I would hear; 'Come give your maw-maw some sugar, girl'. Della was reserved and calm, while Bizzie was all passion. I heard Bizzie call her neighbor who had upset her, 'That damn Yankee woman!' Della would say, 'carry that' and Bizzie would proclaim, 'tote that over here!'
A southern accent seems to label you as lacking in the mental area in the north. I know this from painful experience. If I fell into my, what I called 'south', I was called names by the neighborhood kids. On the other hand, we often visited family in Alabama and a northern accent made you 'uppity'.
Yes, there was a family language, in fact, two. I loved both grandmas' and that tends to overcome any language barriers. So, I am fluent in two languages. Perhaps I am even the bridge between them.
I would love to hear both my grandmas greet me if only once more.


Submitted to the Carnival of Genealogy for August 15th edition, "The Family Language".
Also part of: 2008 Summer Games/Genea-Blogger Group on Facebook - for 4. Write, Write, Write! - B. Participate in a genealogy or family history related blog carnival.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Day Three

Not enough hours in this day. I only added 3 scrapbook pages to the tally. That is not much. I have kept my photos(hard copy) organized all along, so I am always ready to scrap them. So I really didn't do much. Just couldn't find the time. But I have begun getting the digital photos ready. I got to step one on that. I have explored what information I can add on Vista such as tags and basic info. Pretty nice. I've gotten excited about my own work again.
Tally:
1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!
not started

3. Organize Your Research!
A. 26
B.
C. 12
D.
E.
F.


4. Write, Write, Write! (not started)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Day Two

Being Sunday and a day I now relax through, I didn't get a lot done. But, I did work a little. I got 6 photos and 3 artifacts on scrapbook pages. I tend to keep most of my pages fairly plain and rely more on adding a little blurb, usually in my own hand. So, it was not a great deal for me.

So far in . . . . .
'3. Organize Your Research!'
C. Organize at least 20 photos into photo albums, scrapbooks, collages, protective holders, boxes, etc.
I have 9 done.

Oh yes, no injuries today. I took it slow giving the thumb a rest. . . :o) LOL

Tally:
3. Organize Your Research!
A. 26
C. 9

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Day One

Ok, I did my warm-up, stretched out really good and still suffered an injury. I trudged on bravely. I broke a nail. My thumbnail. I've managed to continue anyway, though, I did have to take a time out to cut them all off to match. Just the kind of distraction that could take me down. It was a good nail, too.
But I went on and actually accomplished more than I thought I would. I worked on this one today:

3. Organize Your Research!
A. Organize at least 20 hard files or ancestral items (books, fabrics, inherited items) into file folders, boxes, envelopes, containers, etc.; archival-quality where appropriate.

I have 26 folders [hard copy] organized and ship-shape! I will have more before it is over. This was where I needed to start. All my forms, indexes, books, artifacts for these folders/subjects are where they need to be, neat and in order.

I really lost track of time. Good thing I didn't need to be anywhere. I feel like I have a good solid start.

I'll be posting in the evening, and on my time which is Eastern Time.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Summer 2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games


I am participating in the "Summer Games" at the Genea-Blogger Group on Facebook.

I have chosen to compete in 3 events. They are:




1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources!
GOAL:
To create 'proper' citations and make inroads into the huge amount of data I have been collecting for years.

3. Organize Your Research!
GOAL:
To have a better organizational system both electronically and hard copy. To add metadata to my system, hopefully better understanding the tools available in Vista and Online.

4. Write, Write, Write!
GOAL:
Practice makes perfect and I'd like to be a better writer. Everthing listed in this catagory/event is something I have vowed to do many times. Not better time to actually get started than the present.
-----------------------------------

Recently I gave up all but my home county on the GenWeb. Over the past 2 years I have relegated my work to secondary status until a health scare forced me to slow down. I had the urge to get my genealogical house in order, so what better way to jump start my research than this?
At the end of the games I want to have a model, or template to follow in the continuation of my own research. I'm hoping I will take a big bite out of the work piled up waiting for my attention as well.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Happy Birthday!


Being the mother of a handicapped child is both challenging and rewarding; sometimes terrifying, but mostly terribly joyful. My youngest daughter turned 30 today. Unbelievable to me. Where did the time go? The truth is she has made me better, made me stronger and more than anything else she's shown me that giving up is simply not an option to be entertained seriously. Everything is harder for her. Learning required double the effort, dealing in a world built for giants and viewed from a chair had to be frustrating and the patience to continue when everyone else had passed you up should have added up to an intolerable life. But, she has never complained or whined. She has not only accepted the challenges presented to her but overcame them all. She has shown me the joy in all things. My life is blessed by her presence in it. I am so proud of her, and I love her very much.
Happy Birthday, Shani!

RootsTech!

 Today is the day!!!!