Another Article You Might Find Interesting ...

I just happened to notice this article, posted on Yahoo, about archaeologists in Jordan discovering the first Christian church. You can read the article here. Enjoy!

Family History Center Visit 5

Earlier today I went back to the local Family History Center. Again, I did searching through the microfilm of church records for Holy Trinity (now known as St. Peter's). I did find a few more siblings of ancestors, but I was still unable to find a couple of my ancestors' siblings ( and children). I am still waiting for the other microfilm I ordered on Trippstadt, Germany deaths as it has not come in yet. Apparently there is a backlog on orders of microfilms, so I have held off on ordering any more microfilms until the other one comes in.

Another Quick Poll ...

I have created a new poll today in order to determine if certain posts are interesting to my readers or not. The question for this poll is: "Do you like reading posts on my Google Analytics results?" Your choices are:

• Yes
• No

You can only vote once and have about a week to vote. Enjoy!

Updates and New Databases In FamilySearch Labs' Record Search

I just happened to notice a couple days ago that FamilySearch's Record Search had updated some of their databases and added a new database. It appears that more images and names were added to the 1850 U. S. Census database. Also, the Philadelphia Marriages Index was added (images only). The Texas deaths, 1890 to 1976 (?) might also be new, but I don't remember if it was there before or not.

Another Google Analytics Post: The Top Ten Posts Of This Blog For The Past Month

I'm not sure if posting information from Google Analytics about my blog is interesting to my readers (if not, please tell me), but I thought I would post the top ten posts (in number of views) of this past month. The top ten posts are:

1. Here's An Interesting Article ... (with 71 views)


2. Things Handed Down: Traits and Characteristics (with 47 views)


3. FamilySearch Labs Adds More Databases To Record Search (with 31 views)


4. And Other Genealogy And History News That I Forgot To Mention (with 20 views)


5. 7th Edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy (with 15 views)


6. At The Beach ... and Speaking of Funny Place Names ... (tied with 13 views)


7. Tombstone Maker Website; My New Year's Resolutions: Five Months Later; 49th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy Posted!; and Just Wanted Everyone To Know ... (all tied with 10 views)
8. So, What Does It Mean To Be Irish? (with 9 views)
9. This Week's Genealogy and History News ...; 65th Carnival of History Posted!; Ancient History (search label); and Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy (all tied with 8 views)
10. My Family and the Great Depression ...; 6th Edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy; Family History Center Research Update; Genealogy And History News of the Past Week Or So; and A New Poll Created! (all tied with 7 views)

Well, that sums up this list of posts. To those who read my blog, thank you for reading.

Sixth Edition Of The Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture Posted!

The sixth edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture has been posted! You can read it here. The next edition of this carnival is on Irish literature, and you read more about the topic here. Enjoy!

Four More Days ...

I just want to remind everyone that they have four more days to submit their entries to the next edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy. Articles are due on June 12th.

Just Wanted Everyone To Know ...

I just want to let everyone know that I am still adding blogs back to my genealogy and history blogs lists. (I goofed up on changing my template, and now I'm back to my old one.) If you don't see your blog on these lists, it is probably due to a backlog of work. I will try to post everyone's blogs up again. If I forget to add a blog, it is not intentional. Please leave me a comment if I have forgotten your blog.

9th Shades Of The Departed Guest Column Posted!

The 9th Shades Of The Departed guest column has been posted!. The author of this column was Jasia, and you can read the column here.

Technical Difficulties ...

You may have noticed that the list of genealogy blogs are missing from the page. Well, I am going through some technical difficulties. I was trying to switch my list to the new Blogger list, and I have been unsuccessful. I'll have to rebuild the list, so it may take me a few days to get it back together again. I will try to recreate it as best as I can. Thanks.

Update: I have also changed my template again. I will try to put everything back to the layout earlier. It will take some time, though

And More Great Lakes Books - Islands!

In addition to mentioning books on lighthouses and shipwrecks, I thought I would mention a couple of books on the islands of the Great Lakes.

A couple of interesting books to read are:

• Mysterious Islands: Forgotten Tales of The Great Lakes by Andrea Gutshe and Cindy Bisaillon
• Ghosts of the Bay: A Guide to the History of Georgian Bay by Russell Floren

Well, those were two books that I could think of off the top of my head. I'm sure there are other books on the islands of the Great Lakes.

And More Great Lakes Books - Shipwrecks!

As I promised earlier, here is a couple of books on shipwrecks of the Great Lakes:

• True Tales Of The Great Lakes by Dwight Boyer
• Shipwrecks Of The Lakes by Dana Thomas Bowen
• Ghost Ships, Gales & Forgotten Tales: True Adventures on the Great Lakes by Wes Oleszewski

Of course there many other books written by the authors above and many other authors, including Frederick Stonehouse. Enjoy!

Speaking of Lighthouses ...

I just happened to notice an article on yahoo about the discovery of a missing lighthouse. You can read the article here. Also, I happened to notice Harold's post mentioning another blog article on Michigan lighthouses a couple of days ago. (The blog Harold mentions is Michigan Civil War Blog.)

And speaking of Great Lakes Lighthouses, if anyone wants to read a couple of books or just start reading on Great Lakes lighthouses, I would suggest that he or she take a look at these books:

• Lighthouse Adventure: Heroes, Haunts & Havoc On The Great Lakes by Wes Oleszewski
• Great Lakes Lighthouse Tales by Frederick Stonehouse
• Keepers of Valor: Lighthouse, Lake Boats & Lifesavers by Wes Oleszewski
• The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes by Charles K. Hyde, Ann Mahan, and John Mahan
• Great Lakes Lighthouses: American and Canadian by Wes Oleszewski

These are just a few of the books that I can think of that are on the Great Lakes lighthouses. There are quite a few books on the subject. Of the books I have listed, the only one that I have not read is Great Lakes Lighthouses: America and Canadian. I am making a few suggestions as to where one might want to start reading to learn about the lighthouses of the Great Lakes. Another post, I'll list books that I have read on Great Lakes shipwrecks. (Yes, it was also a subject I liked to read about when I was younger.)

Detroit's Won the Stanley Cup ...

I've just learned this morning this morning that the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. I did not watch the game (or any of the hockey games this season) last night, so I didn't know about the win until today. I just found out from looking at a Yahoo news article, and Jasia's post. It seems as though the only good news that comes out of Detroit is sport-related, but I'll save that for another post some day ...

Anyhow, I remember the 1997 season when Detroit won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 42 years. I remember how my family and I watched the games for that season. (I haven't paid very much attention to hockey or watched the games on TV in a while because I'm not interested in hockey. But I'll stop now, before I get into a tirade about Detroit ...)

Genealogy and History Thoughts Column 13 - Gas and Genealogy

A couple of weeks ago, Jasia posted an article on how gas prices were affecting genealogy research, and I thought I would post my thoughts on this topic.

Are gas prices affecting genealogists' genealogy research? I think so. With gas now at $4 dollars a gallon (in the U.S.), I think genealogists are making some changes, whether it was to travel to an ancestral location or cutting down on the number of trips they are taking to repositories. Of course, I could be wrong about making a generalization about all genealogists, but I think genealogist who are on fixed budgets are making or have made changes in their research plans. Of course, that could mean that some genealogists will not be traveling as much or might not be renewing their subscriptions to genealogy websites (if they have not already cancelled their subscriptions).

As for me, I am seriously wondering how much more genealogy research I should try to do for the rest of this summer. I had wanted to travel to an ancestral location this summer, but I dropped that idea as gas prices went up. Of course, I can still order microfilms from the LDS, but I still have to go by car to get there. I don''t know how many more times I will be able to go there if gas prices keep rising. And I don't believe my grandparents will be able to help me with research as gas is too expensive. I am starting to come to the conclusion that I might not be able to do as much research this summer as I had hoped.

Well, what can genealogists do? We probably can't do very much. (We can't change gas prices.) The only possible solution that I can think of is that genealogists offer to do more look-ups for each other. I realize that most genealogists already do look-ups for others, but I can't think of anything else at the moment that would help. So, what do you think? As always, you can leave a comment.

49th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy Posted!

The 49th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy has been posted! You can read it here. The topic for the next edition is on family pets.

Family History Center Visit 4

Earlier today, I went to the Family History Center. I was only there for a short time, but I was still able to find a few more people in that microfilm. The other microfilm has not come in yet, so I am still going through the same microfilm. Of course, I haven't finished going through that microfilm, so I guess it is a good thing that the other film hasn't come yet.

I'll keep everyone posted with my research.

65th Carnival of History Posted!

The 65th edition of the Carnival of History was posted yesterday. (I learned about this post from World History blog's post.) You can read it here. Enjoy!

Google Analytics' Statistics For End Of May 2008

Since it is the beginning of the month, I thought I would post data of my blog from Google Analytics. (If you are not interested in these types of posts, please let me know.) I've noticed that, lately, readership has declined. If there are genealogy or history topics that you would like to read on this blog, please let me know. Thanks.

Anyhow, on to the results from the last post until today. The top ten countries in number of readership are:

1. United States
2. United Kingdom
3. Canada
4. Australia
5. Germany
6. India
7. Unknown (2 visits)
8. Netherlands
9. Finland
10. Israel

The top ten states (in the United States) in number of readership are:

1. Michigan
2. California
3. New York
4. Illinois
5. Indiana
6. Texas
7. Unknown (15 visits)
8. Ohio
9. Virginia
10. Massachusetts

In addition to those two lists, I thought I would list the top ten towns or cities in Michigan. The top ten towns and cities in number of readership are:

1. Livonia
2. East Lansing
3. Sterling Heights
4. Southfield
5. Grand Rapids
6. Farmington
7. West Bloomfield
8. Bloomfield Hills
9. Berkley
10. New Hudson

Of course, I don't know who is visiting my blog. I am only given the names of places and number of visits. To those who have visited and read my blog, thank you for your visits and readership.

Congrats to Jasia!

I just want to congratulate Jasia on Blog Carnival's recognition of the Carnival of Genealogy. I learned about the award from her post about the recognition. "Congrats Jasia!"

Ten More Days ...

Yes, that's right. You have ten more days left to submit your article to this upcoming edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy. I will accept submissions up til midnight of June 13, in case anyone needs a little more time. This edition will be in honor of Father's Day, and the topic for this edition is on a male ancestor from the region.

So, What Does It Mean To Be Irish?

What does it mean to be Irish? I've thought about this question for a few days, and I'm still not sure of an answer. Whenever I try to answer the question, I start to think about stereotypes of the Irish, but I don't believe that those stereotypes answer the question since these stereotypes could describe other cultures as well.

So, I don't know what I would say. It is hard for me to answer that question as very few traditions or customs were passed down in my family, especially when it comes my British ancestry. (I have ancestors from the main areas of the United Kingdom.) So, when I think about Irishness, I think about Irish music, red hair, leprechauns, and whiskey. Obviously, those images do not come close to answering the question. I guess the best way for me to obtain an understanding of Irish culture, I will have look for and read books on the subject.

8th Shades Of The Departed Guest Column Posted!

The eighth Shades Of The Departed guest column has been posted! The author of this week's column is Cherry Kinnick, and you can read the article here. Enjoy!

Here's An Interesting Article ...

I just happened to notice this article on Stonehenge. I thought someone might find it interesting. You can read the article here.

Family History Center Visit 3

As I mentioned yesterday, I went to the local Family History Center earlier today. The microfilm for baptisms of the church that some of my British ancestors had attended came in, and I went in to see if I could find any of my ancestors listed.

So, how did I do? Well, I definitely hit pay dirt this time, at least in baptismal dates for my ancestors and their siblings. Of course, I haven't finished going through the microfilm yet, but I'm hoping to do so in my next visit. Hopefully, by that time, the other microfilm will have arrived as well. (And I will keep everyone informed on what I find.)

The baptismal records that I am looking at are from 1828 to 1900. These records list the name of the child and parents (without the mother's maiden name). The date of the baptism is given, and the residence of the parents is mentioned. Most of the time, the name of the town was only listed, but a few times street names and house numbers were given. The only disappointment that I had was that these records did not list the date of birth for the child that was baptized. Does anyone know how soon parents in England would have their children baptized after birth, especially when the parents went to the local Anglican church? Thanks.

Added Image For Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy

Yes, that's right. I've created and added an image for the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy. You are free to copy it and post it to your blog. I realize the image is small, but if someone can make a better image, I will use that one instead. Thanks.

Family History Center Research Update

I received a call yesterday from my local family history center informing me that one of my microfilms had come in. So, I'll be going tomorrow to do research. I'm excited because I have been barely able to wait for the films to come in. (I went to the center last week, but the films weren't in then, so I was unable to make progress in my research.) Wish me luck.

At The Beach ...

Since the topic for this upcoming edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is on either swimsuits or beach stories, I thought I would just share a few brief memories of being at the beach. (No, I am not going to post pictures of me or other family members in swimsuits. I don't want to embarrass anyone or have them get angry at me. Plus, I don't have any pictures of ancestors in swimsuits, so I'm going to opt out of the swimsuit category.)

When I think of beaches, I think of several different places: the coastlines of the Great Lakes, the beaches of Michigan inland lakes, the Outer Banks, the East Coast, and the coast of Florida, especially the coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, these are beaches that I have been to, so they are the ones that I picture when I hear the word, "Beach." But the beach that sticks out the most in my memories is the beach my family would go to when we visited relatives in Florida.

Of all the times that my family would visit Florida, it seems as though most of them were spent in Florida in the summer. Since we would visit during the warmest part of the year, going to the beach was a frequent activity. And yes, we would swim in the water, but would never go out too far. (The deepest we would go out was probably shoulder or neck deep. At least, while still being able to touch the floor. The only problem with being in the water constantly was that the water would wash off the sun screen, and we would end up getting sunburned. (I can get sunburned very easily, so every time I get burned, it hurts. The few times that I have been sunburned have been enough for me to want to stay out of the sun or put on as much sun screen as I can before go out into the sun. I don't like being out in the sun in the summer too long because of those experiences.)

How Does One ... ?

I was just wondering: Does anyone know how to create those pictures/images made for other carnivals? I was thinking of creating an image for the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy, but I don't know how to make one. How does one create one? Would anyone be able to advise me? Thanks.

A German From Russia: Anton's Story

In the previous edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy, I wrote about my ancestor Caroline. Well, for this edition, I'm writing about her husband Anton (As I mentioned in the other post, I am not mentioning surnames to protect the privacy of others).

So, what do I know about Anton? Well, I just happen to know a little bit more about him than his wife. For starters, I have more than one record that gives the same date of birth. (He was born in the 1870s.) Plus, I know the names of a few of his siblings and possible siblings. (With Caroline, I still do not know the names of her siblings.) As in the case of Caroline, though, I still do not know where he was exactly born. All I know is that it was in the Russian Empire, possibly in present-day Lithuania. (Only the 1930 Census lists that as his place of birth. Other censuses say Russia.)

Anton immigrated to the United States in 1902. He came to the country through Ellis Island a few months before Caroline and their children, and went directly to Detroit, Michigan, where he would live for the rest of his life. (I think he earned enough to bring them to the U. S. within a couple of months.)

Family tradition holds that he worked for Ford Motor Company when he came to the U.S. Of course, I don't have any other proof other than oral tradition. (I don't know if Ford keeps records of former workers. I guess I'll have to take a look and find out.) According to family members, he mainly worked in lifting the heavy steel presses. Other family stories mention that he was also an excellent tool and die maker. The one story, though, that sticks in my mind, is about his strength. Supposedly, he was strong enough that he could lift one end of a heavy, wooden table that typically could only be lifted up by three or four men. (So, if you could picture this, my ancestor would lift one end of the table while three or four men had to lift the other end, so that they could just move that table.) When I actually got to see a picture of him, though, I was shocked to see that he was small. He did not look as strong as these family stories said he was. (I should mention, though, that he was sitting down. That might explain why he looked small.) Even if the story is not exactly true, it is still a colorful story, and helps to paint a vivid picture of him.

I wish I could have met him, but he died way before I was born since family stories suggest he was an interesting person. The best I can do, though, is find out more about him than the little that I do already do now.

Genealogy And History News of the Past Week Or So

I realize that I did not do a post on articles dealing with genealogy and history in the news. So, to make up for that, I've decided to do a post on the news of the past week or so that it has been since my last post of this type. So, here are the news articles of this week so far and the past week or so:

• Ancestry.com Allows Free Searching Of Its U.S. Military Records Until May 31st.
• S.S. Columbia Is Planning To Sail To The Hudson River. (I happened to notice this article on the World History blog. For those who don't know, the Columbia was one of the ships that took passengers to Boblo Island in the Detroit River. Boblo Island used to be a theme park, but it not longer exists. Now there are large homes on the island. I do remember seeing the ships docked off of the Detroit River, but at that time, the ships were decaying. And that was in the mid-to-late-1990s.)
• Archaeologists Find Statues of Cleopatra and Aphrodite (Venus) In Egypt.
• Bust of Caesar found In France.
• My Brief Post On New England's Darkest Day.
• My Post On Additional Records Added To FamilySearch's Record Search.

I think I got most of the history and genealogy news. If I have missed any articles from the past week up to do, please let me know. Thanks!

Reseaching In FamilySearch Lab's Michigan Vital Records Databases

As you may remember, I mentioned a few days ago that FamilySearch's Record Search had added Michigan vital records to their site, and I thought I would do a post on my experiences so far in regards to using those three databases.

For me, the addition of the Michigan vital records is a great time and money saver because I have ancestors who have lived in Michigan for at least the past 150 years. Okay, I realize that not everyone has ancestor who lived that long in Michigan, but for me, I can easily search the databases for records of my ancestors and their siblings. I don't have to worry about having to drive to other counties or libraries in Michigan to look up microfilms of vital records. I can just get on my computer and look at the databases. So, for those of us who have Michigan ancestors, it saves a lot of money and time since the databases contain the images and are free.

Anyhow, I think I've said enough about that. (Can't you tell I'm excited about this?) And as I promised, I'll start writing about my experiences.

As I stated before, my family has lived in Michigan a long time, so I was able to find many records of my ancestors, their children, their siblings and their siblings' children. Some of the information I had before, especially for my direct lines, but it was still nice that I could save those images on information that I already had. Most of my information was written down on paper, so I didn't have copies of everything that I had researched so far. With the images being available, I could just save them, and look over them whenever I wanted to, in case I happened to discover even more information. (Note: When I say images, I mean the actual images to the record books, and not to certificates, so one could be able to see if there are other family members listed on that page.)

Of course, I also found some new information, especially when it came to the marriage records. I was able to find marriage records for two of my great-grandparents that I had difficulty locating before hand. Also, I was also able to find a birth and death record for one of my ancestor's children that I did not have any solid proof of before. Even though I have been able to find information that I did not find before, there were a few disappointments. I still could not find the record of my ancestor's third marriage, nor could I find some records of deaths that I knew that had occurred in that time period. (I was able to find those records before in the record books.) Since there were deaths missing, it is very possible that FamilySearch has not added all of the records for the time periods in the databases. Plus, I was disappointed that many birth records and the death records only showed one page of the record books. Until I read Miriam's post, I was unaware that was due to technical difficulties. So, hopefully soon, the databases will be updated, and I'll be able to find what I was looking for. Either way, I have already determined that these databases are very useful. So, what do you think about these three new databases? Please leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks.

Those Who Served ...

Since today is Memorial Day, I thought I would briefly mention some of my known ancestors that served in the military, to honor them. I will mention ancestors who served up to World War Two. And my ancestors are:

World War Two

My grandfathers (Names are not mentioned for privacy reasons.)

World War One

My great-grandfather. (He served in the British Army in France. I don't know any more than that.)

Spanish-American War

I do not know of any possible ancestors or siblings that served in this war.

American Civil War

My ancestor, Adam, and his relatives. (As I mentioned before in two previous posts: here and here.)

Mexican-American War

At the moment, I do not know of any ancestors who might have served. (It may still be possible, though.)

War of 1812

I might have ancestor who served, if I can prove that John Householder was the father of Barbara Householder.

American Revolution

I don't know if I have any ancestors who served. I haven't had a chance to determine that yet.

As you can see, I still don't know all of the possible ancestors who might have served. I have only included the World Wars and American wars as though are the only wars that I am certain that I had ancestors serve in. I did not include European wars (outside of the World Wars) because I have not had a chance to research if any of my ancestors did serve in other wars.

Happy Memorial Day!

I just want to wish everyone a happy Memorial Day!

7th Shades Of The Departed Guest Column Posted!

The seventh Shades Of The Departed Guest Column has been posted. You can read it here. The author of this week's column is Nikki-ann. Enjoy!

7th Edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy

The seventh edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy is now here! The topic for this edition was in honor of Mother's Day, and submitted articles were to be on a female ancestor from the region of Central or Eastern Europe. Only a few articles were submitted, so this is a short edition:

First off, we have an article from Elizabeth of Little Bytes of Life. In Anna Susan Bires: From "Cinderella" to a Happy Ending, she writes about one of her Czech female ancestors whose life was similar to the story, Cinderella.

Next, we have an article from Steve of Steve's Genealogy Blog. In A Sixteen-Year-Old Immigrant, he writes about his ancestor who left the Russian Empire at sixteen years old to live in America.

Last, but not least, we have an article from Jessica of Jessica's Genejournal. In a German From Russia: Caroline's Story, she shares what little information she has on her ancestor.

Well, that wraps up this edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy. In honor of Father's Day, the topic for the next edition will be on a male ancestor from the region of Central or Eastern Europe. The Deadline for the next edition will be June 12. The eighth edition will be posted on June 13. You can submit your article here.

Just A Double-Check ...

I was informed by one of the bloggers who submitted me a submission that Blog Carnival had not issued a receipt. If you submitted an article to this edition and did not receive a receipt, I probably did not receive the article. If that is the case, please leave me a comment with URL to article. I just want to make sure I haven't missed anyone's submission. Thanks!

FamilySearch Lab Adds More Databases To Record Search

FamilySearch Lab has added some more databases to their record search. Among the records added are Michigan births from 1867-1902, Michigan marriages from 1867-1925, and Michigan deaths from 1867-1897. You can find the databases here. Enjoy!

Summer Reading Challenge: Book Review Two

Well, I finally finished reading the second book I chose to read for this challenge. The book I chose was Making Your Dreams Come True by Marcia Wieder (New York: Harmony Books, 1999). From the title of the book, one can readily determine that this book belongs in the self-help category. This book is about 230 pages long, and includes a workbook that assists the reader in making his or her dreams come true.

The author takes the reader step-by-step on how to achieve one's dreams, through advice on how to change one's thoughts and with exercises in the chapters. Even though this is a short book, I would not rush through one's reading of the book. This is a book that one should read and work along.

So, how does one achieve his or her dreams? Well, I would read the book to find out.

A Day of Infamy ...

The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred way before I or my parents were born. My grandparents and my great-grandparents' families were alive at that time, though. So where were they at that time?

Well, one side of my family was living in Detroit at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. The other side of the family was living in the U. K, and my grandfather was already serving in the British Army. Of course, I am sure that I have asked my grandparents before about when they learned of the attack; I just can't remember exactly what they said about the attack. (Oh, well. I'll just ask them again the next time that I see them.) As for my British side, I'm not sure when they learned of the attack or how they felt about it. (Again, I can ask.)

What I do know is that the attack on Pearl Harbor changed American minds over whether to go to war, and thereby, changed the course of U. S. History.

Poll Result ...

By now, I am sure that everyone has seen the poll results. I asked if I should extend the submission deadline for this upcoming edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy. One person voted, and the results are:

• Yes - 1 vote
• No - 0 votes

To the person who voted, thank you for voting. Obviously, I have decided to extend the deadline as I mentioned in an earlier post.

Carnival Update

I have decided to push back the submission deadline. Submissions are now due on May 21. I will post this upcoming edition on the 22nd.

7th Edition of the Cabinet of Curiosities Posted!

The seventh edition of the Cabinet of Curiosities has been posted! You can read it here. Enjoy!

A Quick Poll ...

I have added another poll. The question for this poll is: "Should I extend this edition's submission deadline?" (Carnival of Central and Eastern Genealogy 7th edition, that is.) Your choices are:

• Yes
• No

You can only vote once, and the poll will close by midnight EST time. Thanks.

Did You See This Article On A Historical Event?

I was just wondering if anyone had noticed the article on yahoo about New England's Darkest Day? If not, you can read about it here. I never knew that something like this had occurred. Hm ... . Do I sense another research project?

An Interesting Quiz ...

I learned about this quiz through one of the yahoo groups that I belong to (I belong to several). It is a quiz that challenges your knowledge of historical utensils. You try it here.

A Blog Change ...

I've made another change to my blog today. I've added my profile onto my blog again, and I have moved it to the top right of the page so that people can see it better. I had removed my profile for a while, but I've decided to post it back up again.

Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy Deadline ...

I just want to let everyone know that the deadline for this upcoming edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy is today at midnight. I haven't received any submissions, but I can move the deadline back if everyone needs more time. Please let me know. Thanks.

A Bell and Beau Couple: My Great-Grandparents

The above picture is a picture of one of my great-grandparents. I don't know too much about this photograph, and I'm not sure exactly where and when it was taken. From what I can remember, there was nothing written on the back to tell me. I only have a digital copy, so I can't take a look again. (My grandma owns the original.)

My guess of where and when this photo was taken? I'm guessing the photo was taken in the 1910s. At least the clothing and hats appear to be from that time period. (For some reason, I thought 1915, but I can't remember why I thought that.) From looking at the hats, it appears to be summer time, and it appears as though the wind is blowing since they are holding onto their hats. As I stated before, I don't know where this picture was taken. My first guess would be Michigan as they lived in Michigan, and it could be anywhere on the coasts of that state. For some reason I guessed it could have been taken in Muskegon, but I don't remember why. Or it could have been taken in Detroit across from Bell Isle. Of course, I could be wrong. The picture could have been taken anywhere, and not necessarily in Michigan.

Either way, I chose this picture of my great-grandparents (a different couple from the one I previously wrote about) because I believe they fit the Belles and Beaus category the best. I think their marriage was a real love story. I might post on it some day.

Last Update On My Dog ...

I plan on this post being my last of my updates on my dog. Ben's doing very well, and his scar is barely noticeable. I put him on the deck on Thursday with Casey, and they have been running around on the deck. Ben is definitely back to his hyper self and his compulsive barking. (I'll spare you the barking.) Sigh ...

Speaking of Funny Place Names ...

I just happened to notice Randy's post on funny place names, and his mention of Hell, Michigan. I know where that is! I live somewhat near the area of Hell ... Hell, Michigan that is. Oh, and while I'm at it, I should mention that there's a Paradise in Michigan. Except, it's in the Upper Peninsula. I don't think it would be too much of a Paradise in the winter, but that's my thoughts. (Ha, ha!)

48th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy Posted!

The 48th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy has been posted! You can read it here. The topic for the next edition is a swimsuit edition or beach stories. Enjoy!

My New Year's Resolutions: Five Months Later

Since I mentioned earlier that I went to the local Family History Center, I thought it would be a good time to review the New Year's resolutions that I made in December 2007.

So, how did I do?

1. I hope to get a chance to go to the Grand Rapids Public Library this year. The main branch of the library has records of the Old Soldiers' Home where my ancestor spent the last two years of his life. I am hoping to find more information than I did at the state archive of Michigan. Result so far: I have yet to visit the library and look up that record. (I have been to that library before, I just never thought to look up the record in the past.) I guess I can always send a letter requesting a copy of the records. I don't know if it will cost more to order it than to copy it myself, but it is an option
2. Order more microfilms of probate records for Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Result so far: I have not ordered any microfilms for Huntingdon County. Since I still have plenty of time, chances are that I will do so.
3. Look up and print other probate records of ancestors who lived and died in Saint Joseph County, Michigan. Result so far: I have not done this yet. Also, I can't seem to find the call numbers for those microfilms anymore on the familySearch website. I think I wrote down the call numbers, so I'll look and see if I can still make a request.
4. Order birth, marriage and death records of ancestors from the United Kingdom. Result so far: I have ordered a microfilm of baptismal records for the church that was closest to my ancestors' residence. Hopefully, I'll be able to find my ancestors and their siblings in these records.
5. Order microfilms of Trippstadt, Germany's civil records. Result so far: I have ordered one microfilm of death records for the time period that a known ancestor had died. Of course, I still plan to order some more microfilms, especially of birth records.
6. And last, but not least, I hope to make more connections and to find more ancestors and relatives. Result so far: I have been contacted by two more distant cousins. I haven't yet been able to find more ancestors, but hopefully, I will have done so by the end of the year.

As you can see, I have only been able to make headway with the last three goals. Since I still have most of the year left, I probably will come close to completing most of my goals, if not all.

This Week's Genealogy and History News ...

Here is a link list of some of the news relating to genealogy or history that I have noticed in the past week:

• My post on the changes made at FamilySearch Lab's Record Search.
• Ancestry's partnership with the NARA to digitize military records.
• A Little Information on the Holocaust Records Opened to the Public.
• 1860 Census Added to Footnote.

I think that is all of the news relating to history and genealogy. Of course, I could be wrong and have missed some. If I have missed an article, please let me know.

Went To The Local Family History Center Yesterday ...

Yes, I was finally able to go to the local Family History Center in my area yesterday. I've been there a handful times before, but this was my first visit to the place this year. So, what did I do there? Well, I ordered a couple of microfilms; one from the local church my ancestors in England lived nearby, and the other microfilm was of death records from the town a couple of my German ancestors had lived.

I also did a little bit of research into death records for Bay and Saginaw counties. I found the death record for one my ancestor's sister-in-law, but I was still unable to find a death record for my ancestor. From looking at the Saginaw's city directories for 1883 and 1887, I'm guessing he died sometime those years, but I still can't find anything yet. (I'll have to check the 1884 state census to see if he was still alive then. That should help narrow his death down even more.) I also looked at some Saint Joseph County records. I might have found some new information, but I'm not sure yet. That is, until I can prove that person is connected to my ancestor.

In all, I did not have a very successful research day. Well, since I did find a little information, I guess that is better than not finding anything new. Hopefully, I'll be able to find more information when those two microfilms come into the center. I'll keep you informed if I find anything.

Poll Results!

The poll is now closed, and the results are in! The question for this poll was : Which Color Is Easier For You To Read? Eight people voted, and the results are:

• Black - 6 votes
• Dark Shades: Red, Blue, Green - 1 vote
• Normal Red, Blue, Green - 0 votes
• Any Color - 1 vote

Well, it looks like I'll primarily be posting in black. I might post in dark blue since I always like to add some variety. To those who voted, thank you for voting.

6th Guest Column on Shades Of The Departed Posted!

The sixth guest column has been posted on Shades Of The Departed! You can read it here. Enjoy!

Just A Friendly Reminder ...

I just want to remind everyone that entries for this upcoming edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern Europe are due by May 19th. The topic for this edition will be on a female ancestor from that region.

Some Interesting Keywords Used to Find My Blog ...

As I have mentioned before, I use Google Analytics to keep track of how many people visit my blog on a daily basis. One of the features of this service is that keywords used to find my blog are tracked. I hadn't looked at the different keywords used in awhile, and discovered that most of the keywords used relate to topics I had posted on. I did, though, find a few interesting posts, and I thought I would just post some of the interesting and strange keywords that I noticed:

• Jessica Scahill
• so punctuation
• "stolen by Ancestry"
• "Jessica*"" world history"
• a summary of the random family book Jessica
• analysis of poem picture puzzle piece
• Barbara Ainscough youtube
• call of the wild, buck's personality traits
• Eastern European facial features
• facial characteristics of Eastern European people
• genealogy more my mother or father closer to traits
• How do I find my ancestors?
• George Edward Detwiler
• Jessica Caroll Salem II
• Jessica death huntingdon co.
• What kind of people where [sic] in the know nothing party?
• useful technologies in the old days
• What's my ancestry?

I realize this is quite a few keywords to list, but these were the ones that caught my attention. I found a couple of the search terms to be funny, but some of them did not make any sense to me as they do not relate to anything that I had posted.

A German From Russia: Caroline's Story

I don't know very much about her. All I really know about Caroline (I'm mentioning only her first name to protect the privacy of others.) is that she was born somewhere in the Russian Empire, possibly in present-day Lithuania, and that she spoke German. Ethnically, she was a German, and a Lutheran.

As I said before, I don't know much about her as she died way before I was born. What I do know is that she came to the U. S. through Ellis Island in 1902, and that she lived in Detroit, Michigan from then on until she died. Hopefully, I'll be able to find out more about her as I continue to do research on her.

Update on FamilySearch Lab's Record Search

I just happened to take a look at FamilySearch Lab's Record Search today, since it had been updated yesterday. A couple more records were added and the log in requirement has been removed. That's right; one does not have to log in into the Record Search to view the databases anymore.

First Edition of the Smile For The Camera Posted!

The first edition of the Smile For The Camera carnival has been posted! You can read it here. The topic for the next edition is belles and beaus.

Happy Mother's Day!

I just want to wish everyone a happy Mother's Day! Enjoy!

Finally ...

Earlier this week, I mentioned that I was unable to access my Google Analytics' report for my blog. Well, I was finally able to access it today. I just happened to save my settings for the analytics, and I was then able to view my report. So now I can keep track of my blog again.

Another Update On My Dog ...

Today, Ben had his stitches taken out. He was fine, and he is doing well. His wound is healing very well, but he has to stay inside for another week before he can run around with Casey.

A New Poll Created!

In lieu of a comment left on one of my posts, I have created a new poll. The question is: What Color Is Easier For You to Read? Your choices are:

• Black
• Dark Shades: Red, Blue, Green
• Normal Red, Blue, Green
• Any color

You have a week to vote, and you can only choose one answer. I appreciate any help. I want to make sure that everyone is able to read what I post. Any suggestions are always welcome. Thanks!

5th Guest Column at Shades Of The Departed Posted!

The fifth guest column at Shades Of the Departed has been posted! The author of this column was George Geder. You can read it here. Enjoy!

And Other Genealogy And History News That I Forgot To Mention ..

Earlier this week, I posted on genealogy and history news that I had noticed (either on blogs or on internet news wires), but I realized later that I had forgotten to mention a few other news articles. Among the news that I forgot to post on are:

• A World War Two Veteran Passes Away In Hotel, Leaving Over Two Hundred Grand in Cash.
• Bone Fragments of Czar Nicholas II's Two Missing Children Found. (Also see Shelly and John's reactions.)
• GINA Bill Passed.

I think that is the rest of the news relating to genealogy or history. If I have forgotten an article, please let me know. Thanks.

Random Question ...

Has anyone else had problems accessing their Google Analytics data results today? I have not been able to see the report all day. I keep getting an error message. Is this the same for others or am I alone?

Summer Challenge: Book Review One

As some of you might remember, I decided to participate in the summer challenge to read five non-fiction books. Well, I've already finished reading the first book. (What can I say? I'm a fast reader.) I'm not sure if I'm supposed to post these reviews as I finish reading them, or if I'm supposed to wait until the end of the challenge. I guess I'll just make another post when I'm finished that links all of the five reviews together.

The first book I chose to read was Blood Struggle: The Rise of Modern Indian Nations by Charles Wilkinson (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2005). The book is 383 pages long, excluding the end notes, index and bibliography, and probably falls into the category of Native American Studies or recent U. S. History. (The back of the cover lists it as a cultural studies/Native American studies.) Anyhow, the book deals with the experiences of Native American tribes over the past fifty years or so, and how the Native Americans were able to strengthen their tribes and culture over this time period. In addition to explaining events that occurred in the last half-century, the author gives background history on the struggles that Native Americans have had over the past several centuries. The book as covers the different policies that the Department of Interior and U. S. government had implemented to deal with Native Americans, especially to get Native Americans to assimilate into American society.

Overall, I thought the book was quite interesting. I did learn quite a bit about the past several decades about the history of the movement for Indian rights, and I also learned more about the policies that the U. S. government had enacted to deal with the Indians. I chose to read this book as I did not know very much about Native American history nor very much about the policies that the U. S. government created. Since Native Americans are only briefly mentioned in most U. S. history textbooks, I wanted to learn more about the role that Native Americans played in U. S. history and about how the Native Americans were treated. In all, I think this is a good book for someone to read if he or she is interested in learning more about Native American history.

Update On My Dog ...

In case anyone was wondering how my dog is doing, I thought I would post about it. Ben is doing much better, and I think he is back to normal. He is definitely not in pain anymore, and he can move around quite well.

Genealogy and History Thoughts - Update

I thought I would just let everyone know that I plan to start up the Genealogy and History Thoughts Columns again. I don't know exactly when I'll start up again, but I plan doing so soon.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Today is Cinco de Mayo, and I just want to wish everyone a happy Cinco de Mayo! I don't know too much much about Cinco de Mayo. All I know is that the day is connected to the Mexican army defeating the French who had invaded in the 1860s.

A Couple of Articles Related to History or Genealogy ...

Over the past week or so, I happened to notice a couple of news articles related to history and/or history. The articles I noticed are:

• A very sad and tragic story about the death of a U. S. Civil War collector.
• DNA testing of the bodies buried in Friedrich Schiller's Grave.

I didn't notice any other news related to genealogy or history, but if I missed any articles, you are more than welcome to leave me a comment with a link to a story. Thanks!

47th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy Posted!

The 47th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy has been posted! You can read it here. The topic for the next edition is in honor of Mother's Day and is on our Mother's education. (Or the education of a female ancestor.)

Happy Birthday!

I just want to wish my brother a happy birthday. Justin, if you're reading this, I want you to know that I have been thinking about you. I hope today is a wonderful day for you.

Another History Blog Added!

Today I have added a history blog. The blog added is:

• History Is Elementary

You can find this and other history blogs on the lower right side of the blog. Any suggestions for other genealogy and history blogs are welcome.

4th Shades Of The Departed Guest Column Posted!

The fourth guest column has been posted! You can read it here. The author of this week's column is Craig Manson. Enjoy!

Statistics For This Blog ...

Over a month ago, I posted on the results of the first month of Google's Analytics for my blog. I was originally planning to post these statistics every month, but I got too busy to post for the results in April. So, I'm posting the results in May a few days early.

The top ten countries in number of readers are:

1. United States
2. Canada
3. United Kingdom
4. Australia
5. India
6. Germany
7. Israel
8. New Zealand
9. Ireland
10. Chile

The top ten states that American readers came from are:

1. Michigan
2. California
3. New York
4. Illinois
5. Ohio
6. Texas
7. Indiana
8. New Jersey
9. Virginia
10. Mississippi

To all of my readers, thank you again for reading my blog.

Did You See This Post?

Did anyone notice John's post on using genealogy to determine your age? Did anyone try it? I tried the test, and I did get the right age.

My Scariest TV Moment ...

Cherry over at Nordic Blue posted about her scariest television moment, and challenged other bloggers to write about their memories. I've decided to participate, so here is my experience:

One of the scariest moments in television for me was when I was between the age of eight and twelve. (To be honest, I really don't remember anymore my exact age when this event occurred. I have much more of a vivid memory of the show that scared me.) My family and I were sitting around the television one night, and my Dad happened to surfing the channels to find something to watch. We ended up turning the channel to a show or made-for-TV movie called Cruel Intentions. I don't remember how long we watched the movie for, but I do remember we did not finish watching it. (It seems as though we watched it for a long time in my memory, but it probably wasn't that long.)

Anyhow, the movie happened to be about the murder of a man and the attempted murder of his wife whose children were in on the conspiracy to kill them both (or from what I remember.) Either way, the scene where the murder was replayed scared me, and for a while, I couldn't sleep very well since I was worried that would happen to me or my family. Even now, I still shiver from even thinking about that movie. Also, I had never heard of the game Dungeons and Dragons before, and since that time I have always associated that game with that movie. Even now, I still think of that game as sinister even though I have a better idea of what the game is. (In case anyone is confused, the game was where the killers came up with their evil ideas.) Since watching that portion of the movie, I have seen other versions of that movie advertised on television, but I refuse to watch it since I found the movie to be horrifying and just gruesomely sick. Personally, I wish movies like that were never made. It is just too sick and disturbing. (I am still horrified and shocked by those types of movies even today.)

A Couple More Genealogy Blogs ...

Today, I have added two more genealogy blogs. The blogs added are:

• Dead And Gone - (I first learned about this blog from the Stout Rootsweb List. Harold Henderson also wrote about this blog.)
• Desktop Genealogist Unplugged - (I learned about this blog from Jasia's post.)

You can find these and other genealogy blogs on the lower left side of the page. Any suggestions for other history or genealogy blogs are welcome.

5th Edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture Posted!

The fifth edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture has been posted. You can read it here. The topic for the next edition is on what it means to be Irish. You can read more about here.

(No, I didn't submit a post to this edition because I did not have very much time since it was right at the end of the school year and at the time when I move back home for the summer.)

My Two Dogs ...

Yes, I have two dogs. So, why am I writing about this? Well, yesterday I mentioned that one of my dogs had surgery to remove a cyst. Anyhow, his surgery was on Monday, and he has improved since then. He doesn't appear to be in as much pain as he was on Monday, and he is moving around a lot more.

Anyhow, here is a picture of my two dogs that was taken back in August 2007:

Both of my dogs are Schnauzer-Terriers, and come from the same litter. Their names are Ben and Casey, and they're both males. Casey is the one with the more Terrier-looking face. Ben is the small one, and he has more of a Schnauzer face. (Ben was the one who had surgery.) They're ten years old, and they still have a lot of energy. Anyhow, that's just a little about my two dogs.

Saint Joseph County, Michigan: My Thoughts and Reflections

As some of you already know, I had a least three branches of ancestral families live in Saint Joseph County. Although, I was probably supposed to write about a town or place, I've decided to write about this county because my ancestors lived in various places in this county and because I have actually visited this county. (Even if it has been a couple years since I visited.)


Saint Joseph County (not the same as the city) is located in the lower Southwestern area of Michigan, and is one of the counties on the border with Indiana. The county is surrounded by the Michigan counties of Branch, Cass, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, and Van Buren and the Indiana counties of Elkhart and LaGrange. The village of Centreville has the county court house, and civil records for the county are held there. The only cities in the county are Three Rivers and Sturgis. Although I haven't been to Sturgis, it appears to me that both cities are small cities. Three Rivers was small to me. (Well, at least for someone who spent most of her childhood in Metro-Detroit.) The next, largest, nearby city outside of Three Rivers would be Kalamazoo. To get to Three Rivers, a person living in Kalamazoo would only have to head south on 131. (Or for Grand Rapids for that matter.) If one is traveling from the Detroit area to Three Rivers, the trip will take at least three hours. (Yes, it is a long drive for those who live on the east side of Michigan. Trust me.)

During the time of my ancestors, the county consisted mostly of farms and farmland, and even today, the county is still very rural. Although I didn't travel to every place in the county, most of county outside of Three Rivers consisted of farmland and villages. Many of the roads in the county are two-lane highways. The road between Three Rivers and Centreville is one such road. (The two are only about 5 or 10 miles apart and the drive is only about ten-fifteen minutes from one to the other.)

From reading the above, it may seem as though I don't like area. Actually, that is the farthest from the truth. I like the area, and I think it is beautiful. (Yes, I am big fan of the countryside.) I would love to live in the area if I ever get a chance to do so.
___________________________________________________________________

For sources and information:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mistjose/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Joseph_County,_Michigan

Blogging This Week ...

My blogging for this week might be light, but I'm not completely sure. It'll depend upon how my dog is doing. (He had surgery yesterday and can't move around too much, so I'll be taking care of him for the next week.)

6th Edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy

The sixth edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy is here! The topic for this carnival was a carousel, so any article relating to Central and Eastern Europe was welcome. This edition will be short as I have only received a few entries for this edition. So, here is this edition:

First off, we have an article from Steve Danko of Steve's Genealogy Blog. In The Polish Village of Dylagowa, Steve writes about the village that his paternal grandparents were from.

Next we have an article from Lisa of 100 Years in America. In A Thousand Words and A Few Pictures, Lisa writes about the frustration she has in reading books on places her ancestors from since they are in languages that she does not read.

Next, we have an article from a new contributor, Saifuddin of Saifuddin. In The Character of the Ottomans, Saifuddin writes about the government of the Ottomans. I think many people forget how much of a role that the Ottoman Empire had in the history of Eastern Europe.

Last but not least, we have an article from Jessica of Jessica's Genejournal. In A History of Hungary ..., Jessica writes a review of a book on an overview of the history of Hungary that is in the English language.

Well, that is it for this edition. The topic for the next edition, in honor of Mother's Day, will be on a female ancestor from Central and/or Eastern Europe. The deadline for the next edition will be May 19th. The edition will be posted on the 20th. You can submit your entries here.

A Summer Challenge: Read Five Non-fiction books ...

I just happened to read Lori's post about the challenge to read five non-fiction books, and I thought I would join the challenge. I love to read, so I am quited interested. I think I will be able to read five books before the summer ends since I have to do a lot of reading up at college. (At least I'll be able to choose the books I want to read. [Ha!])

Either way, I look forward to the challenge!

A History of Hungary ...

Yes, a book on an overview of Hungary's history does exist. Although I haven't finished reading the book yet, I thought I would mention this book anyway. The Hungarians: A Thousand Years of Victory in Defeat by Paul Lendvai (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2003) gives an overview of the history of Hungary from the Eighth Century to the present day. Obviously, the book cannot cover ever single detail in Hungary's history, but at least this book does give the reader a general overview of Hungary's past. For those who are researching Hungarian ancestors or doing historical research, this book is one way that those people can get a feel for the history of Hungary. The book does include some pictures and maps, so one can get an idea of the location of places. I should note that the version I have is translated into English. (It appears to have been originally published in German, from looking at the original title listed in the copyright section.) Although the book is to read, I must mention that the book is over 500 pages long.

Either way, it is much more convenient for those who want to learn about Hungary's history to read this book than it is to read multiple books on the same subject. I only hope that this book does help others with their research of Hungary.

A Few More Genealogy Blogs and a History Blog ...

Today I have added several more blogs, of which one is a history blog. The genealogy blogs added are:

• Genealogy Simple & Fun
• Grand Traverse Region Genealogy & History
• Prairie History Blog

The history blog added is:

• American Civil War Stories

You can find these and other genealogy blogs on the lower left side of the blog. You can that history blog on the right hand side of the blog. Any suggestions for other history and genealogy blogs are welcome.

Congrats to Lisa!

I forgot to post this earlier in the week, but Lisa at 100 Years in America has posted her 100th post! Congrats, Lisa!

Third Guest Column on Shades Of The Departed Posted!

The third guest column, posted weekly on Shades Of The Departed, has been posted! This week, Laura of The Virtual Dime Museum was the columnist. You can read it here. Enjoy!

Another Thinking Type Quiz ...

A short time ago, I posted on my results for the type of thinker I was, and I decided to do another personality quiz. So here are my results, for my type of thinking style:

Your Dominant Thinking Style: Experimenting

You're all about looking at the facts, and you could always use more of them. You see life as your lab - and you're always trying out new things, people, and ideas. The master of mix and match, you're always coming up with unique combinations. You are good at getting a group to reach consensus.

What's Your Thinking Style?

Some More Genealogy Blogs Added!

It has been a while since I have done one of these posts, but I hadn't had anytime to do one of these posts until today. Today I added several more genealogy blogs, and the blogs added are:

• Blue Bonnet Country Genealogy
• Brenda Dougall Merriman
• Find Your Folks
• Genealogy Buds
• Lord and Lady
• Random Ramblings - Of a Mother and Genealogy Enthusiast
• Tales From Indiana

You can find these and other genealogy blogs on the lower left side of the blog. Any suggestions for other history or genealogy blogs are welcome.

Update On The Case of the Missing Family

Earlier today an announcement updating the status of The Case of the Missing Family has been posted. You can read the announcement here.

I Remember That Weekend ...

I just happened to notice Jasia's post on past weather in Michigan. I clearly remember that weekend. I was a freshman in college at that time, and at the time, it was the weekend before finals week at my college. Usually, it does not snow that late in April in Michigan, and I think that was one of the first times in my life that that had occurred. (At least that is the first time that I can remember that occurring.)

Do I Have Revolutionary War Veteran Ancestors?

I suppose, from reading other genealogy bloggers' posts, that Saturday was Patriots' Day, the day on which Revolutionary War Veterans are honored. To be honest, I don't know if I have any ancestors who were Revolutionary War Veterans. I wish I knew, though. The problem for me is that I have gotten back enough yet to find out. At the moment, I seem to be stuck in the 1820-1830s. Oh well, one day I will find the answer through research.

38th Edition of Carnivalesque Posted!

The 38th edition of Carnivalesque, the Early Modern History carnival, has been posted. You can read it here. The topic for the next edition is on Ancient and Medieval history.

(I realize that I haven't posted on these carnivals before, but since this is a blog on history and genealogy, I thought I would start posting on these carnivals. One of these days I'll get around to submitting an article for one of these history carnivals.)

Another Blog Change ...

I've made another blog change today. This time, I have added a search box (a blogger item being tested) to my blog, so now everyone can search for different articles or information that I have posted on my blog. You can find this search box near the bottom of the page, above the information for the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy. Enjoy!

Just A Quick Reminder About the Next Edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy

I just wanted to quickly remind everyone that the entries for the next edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy are due on the 27th of this month. The topic for this upcoming edition is a carousel, so entries in any category relating to Central or Eastern Europe are welcome.