EVERNOTE ~ How it keeps my genealogy organized

I don’t know about you, but I use Evernote every single day.  Not just for my genealogy items, but for travel, gardening, recipes, receipts and more.  But we are here to talk about one way that I use it to keep track of genealogy items I need to return to.

This morning I was clearing my PC desktop of a few items that I had saved there for easy access.  I don’t like my desktop to be cluttered, so I try very hard to keep items to a minimum. That is true of both my PC desktop and my real desktop.
 
Here is a view of what my PC desktop looked like this morning.



At least half of those items need to be moved.  I’ve circled all that need to go.  My desktop will look much better by this afternoon.



Of course it’s never just one, two, three.  Because the first item I went to was the little icon that is only identified as Img_0555.



I opened it up and it turned out to be a document about a possible ancestor who served during the Revolutionary War.
 


TIP:  Don’t do what I did when I saved this image.  I did not note where it came from.  As a result I began by going online and trying to find this image and other information about Joseph Thorp from Livingston County, Connecticut.

I found quite a bit of information in a book I located on Google books, but I don’t want to work on that particular project this morning.  This book is viewable in part, on Google books, but is still in copyright as it was published in 1932.  Therefore, I cannot download a copy.

ENTER EVERNOTE!

This is when I find Evernote invaluable.

I created a note titled “Book About the Revolutionary War Records of Fairfield, CT.” 

In it, I have put notes and links so that I can return to this information and take the time to record it.

Click here to see the note I created

I currently have 2393 notes in Evernote.  I am a premium subscriber because I want to support the company.  I rarely use the upload limit available to me, but for $5 a month I like knowing I have that option.

What other types of things have I saved to Evernote that might be valuable to us as researchers?  Here are some examples from my own notes in Evernote.


Examples of Old German Handwriting and Type and a page from a yearbook that was sent to me by a cousin.


How about a newspaper article I found about my 1st cousin 4x removed marriage in 1855?  Or a list of members of the 105th infantry from the Civil War listing one of my Gillen ancestors?

I also use Evernote to keep track of all correspondence to and from cousin connections.  I found it very difficult to keep track of which contact was connected to which surname or family.  Now that they are all collected in Evernote and tagged with the surname connections, it’s very easy.  I can either forward the email to Evernote or copy and paste the text of the email or message into a note.
  
Tagging is the key to everything in using Evernote.


There are SO many other ways I use Evernote on a daily basis.  How do you use it?
 
There are many YouTube videos and books about using Evernote.  There is even a Facebook group that I belong to where we share our tips with one another. The group is Evernote Genealogists.

I look forward to hearing from you about how or if you use Evernote.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

Evernote - A Very Useful and Free Tool to Help You Organize Genealogy and Everything Else

Facebook - How It Can Be Very Useful in Your Research

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2015

WISHING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU A BLESSED AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I am grateful for each of you that take the time to stop by and read my posts throughout the year

Here are a few vintage Thanksgiving messages

ALL IMAGES ARE FROM THE FREE IMAGE SITE

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

FOLLOW UP ~ Why did Ralph Forsyth jump from a 9th story hotel window to his death?

I wrote a post last week about a newspaper article I had located in the Detroit Free Press, about Ralph G. Forsyth.  You can read that post here.

The article did not answer the question as to whether Ralph fell, was pushed or jumped to his death.  I wanted to find out so I ordered his death certificate.  Rather than order from the State of Michigan directly, which costs $34, I chose to use a service I am aware of called Genealogists.com.  You can see their list of services and request a quote for the service you want.  All I wanted was a death certificate and I already had all the information as to which film it could be found on etc.  I located this information on seekingmichigan.org (UPDATE - the new website for Michigan death records is michiganology.org)  The images of the certificates on that site are only available through 1939, at this time.

Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952Name: Ralph G Forsyth
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 07 Mar 1952
Event Place:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 55
Marital Status: Widowed
Birth Date: 10 Aug 1896
Birthplace: Michigan
Birth Year (Estimated): 1897
Father's Name: James Ferris Forsyth
Mother's Name: Louise Gillespie
GS Film number: 001973241
Digital Folder Number: 005363701
Image Number: 03254

I received a quote back from genealogists.com within 24 hours.  The quote was considerably less than $34.  I paid via PayPal and received the certificate by email the following day.

Here is the death certificate.  Everything on this certificate matches the information I already have for Ralph, including his date of birth, place of birth, parent’s names, where he worked and that he was a widower.  I have no doubt that this is the correct death certificate.

                    (CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

DEATH CERTIFICATE FOR RALPH G. FORSYTH - 1952

You can see from the items I have pointed out on the certificate, that Ralph’s death was ruled a suicide.  There was an autopsy and the death certificate is signed by the coroner.  I can also see that he was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
 
Ralph left behind a daughter, Anne and a sister, Catherine.  I’m sure this must have been a very difficult time for the family.  Ralph’s wife had died at a young age, back in 1940.  Then in 1950 his mother died and in 1951 his father died.  Did these deaths lead to Ralph’s decision?  Was he “despondent” as stated in the news article, because of these deaths?

I called Woodlawn Cemetery and spoke to a staff member there.  She was extremely helpful and confirmed that Ralph is buried there and what part of the cemetery he is located in.  I have now created a memorial for him on findagrave.com.  You can visit his memorial here #155345077.


I only have one photo of Ralph.  Here he is shown with his sister, Catherine and his cousin, Irene Milne.  I’m glad to have at least this photo.

LEFT TO RIGHT - CATHERINE FORSYTH, RALPH FORSYTH AND IRENE MILNE

I have been to the cemetery and visited the graves of his parents at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.

HEADSTONE FOR LOUISE G. AND JAMES F. FORSYTH, Parents of Ralph G. Forsyth

I located numerous articles about Ralph Forsyth and his wife Katherine in the Detroit Free Press.  From the articles I learned that they traveled and visited out of town relatives, and he attended various racing events.  I do hope they were happy.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

AMANUENSIS MONDAY - My Grandmother's Journal records the birth of Anne Forsyth, daughter of Ralph & Katherine

MICHIGAN DEATH CERTIFICATE IMAGES RELEASED - 1921-1939

PLEASE contact me if you think you might be related, even remotely, to anyone mentioned in this blog.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

52 years ago today - THE ASSSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY

THE ASSASSINATION OF A PRESIDENT

Where Were You?

I was 13 yrs. old living with my parents & brother, Norm, in Pompano Beach, Florida.  I heard about the terrible event on the school bus, on my way home.  The bus was full of children.  As a teenager, I was well aware of who the President was and who my parents had voted for (it wasn’t President Kennedy).  Politics were discussed in our home and you can’t help but over hear the conversations.
 

All of the children on the school bus were SHOCKED and some began to cry.  I don’t think I cried then, but I certainly cried in the coming days.

The next three or four days aren’t very clear in my memory, except that we were glued to our television as the events unfolded.
 

I clearly remember watching the funeral procession with JFK’s casket and the rider less horse following behind.  I also remember seeing Caroline & John-John (as he was called by so many of us), and thinking how awful it would be to lose your Daddy.  Especially in such a horrible way.

How this changed our country?  I don’t really know.  There’s been so much speculation about “what if.”  But, this is how history unfolded and we can’t change a thing.  If only we could.

God Bless Caroline today, as she is the only surviving member of that little family foursome.
 

As a young girl I was interested in history (yes, even back then).  I saved all the newspapers and the Saturday Evening Post from those few days.  I haven’t enhanced them at all as I believe that leaving them faded and yellowed best represents the 50+ years that have passed since that horrible day. 

HERE ARE THE FRONT PAGES OF THE NEWSPAPERS AND THE COVER OF THE SATURDAY EVENING POST

                        

   

   

In thoughtful remembrance,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

FRIDAY FINDS ~ Newspaper article for death/possible suicide of Ralph Gillespie Forsyth ~ 1952

RALPH FORSYTH PLUNGES TO HIS DEATH, DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8 MAR 1952, PAGE 3

With the recent release of Detroit Free Press online access, I have been finding a LOT of articles about my family.
 
Some of the items I find are marriage license application notices, wedding announcement and death notices and obituaries.

However, a few other items I have located are less “routine.” 
Today I am writing about Ralph Gillespie Forsyth, my first cousin twice removed.
 
Ralph is the son of James Ferris Forsyth and Louise Gillespie, my great granduncle and aunt on my maternal side.  Ralph was born 10 Aug 1896 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan.  He was the third child and second son born to James & Louise.  On 6 June 1917 he married Katherine Martz (1895-1940), in Detroit, Michigan.  From all records I have found, Ralph and his wife, Katherine, lived in Detroit all their lives.

 (CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

BIRTH RECORD - RALPH FORSYTH - 10 Aug 1896, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Here is a record of the marriage of Ralph to Katherine Martz.

MARRIAGE RECORD - RALPH FORSYTH TO KATHERINE MARTZ ON 6 Jun 1917, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Ralph & Katherine Forsyth had one child that I am aware of.  A daughter named Anne Gillespie Forsyth, born 19 Aug 1919 in Michigan.

I have located both draft registration cards for Ralph.

WORLD WAR I DRAFT REGISTRATION FOR RALPH GILLESPIE FORSYTH - 1917

WORLD WAR II DRAFT REGISTRATION FOR RALPH GILLESPIE FORSYTH - 1942

Sadly, on 21 Sep 1940 Ralph’s wife Katherine died.  She was only 45 years old.  Here is her obituary, from the Detroit Free Press, 26 Sep 1940, page 22.

OBITUARY FOR KATHRYNE MARTZ FORSYTH - DETROIT FREE PRESS 26 Sep 1940, page 22

  
It sounds like Ralph was dealing with some depression in 1952, when he died.  Did he jump or did he fall?

The news article is a little difficult to read when you enlarge it.

Here is the transcription:

“The career of a successful manufacturer’s agent ended early Friday in a plunge from the ninth floor of the Whittier Hotel, 415 Burns.  The pajama-clad body of Ralph Forsyth, 55, was found on a second-floor ledge facing the Detroit River at 6 a.m.  He was employee by Butler Paper Co., 851 Porter.
The Window from which Forsyth fell or jumped, police said, was 100 feet down a corridor from his room on the ninth floor.
Dr. Edward Sage, hotel physician and friend of the dead man, said he had been treating Forsyth for a “nervous condition” recently.  He said Forsyth sometimes became despondent.
Forsyth’s room was orderly and he had been at work Thursday, police said.
A sister living in Detroit and a daughter, Anna, believed living in Grand Rapids, are being sought.  Forsyth had lived in the apartment hotel four years.  He was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and Detroit Boat Club.”

Sometimes we find some very sad information about our family.  This was certainly one of those times.

Have you found similar sorts of stories about your family.  If so, please share them here in a comment or on your own blog.

PLEASE contact me if you think you might be related, even remotely, to anyone mentioned in this blog.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

WEDDING WEDNESDAY ~ Mabel Catherine Thorpe & William Patrick Hayes - 1908

William Patrick Hayes & Mabel Catherine Thorpe

26 Apr 1908

Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Mabel Thorpe is my 1st cousin twice removed, on my paternal side.  She was born Jun 1886 in Michigan.  She is the daughter of William H. Thorpe and Catherine “Kittie” Thorp.  Yes, that’s correct, a Thorpe married a Thorp.  William Hayes was born 21 Apr 1884 in Michigan.  He is the son of William Hayes and Mary Hanratty. 

MARRIAGE RECORD FOR WILLIAM HAYES & MABEL THORP

Mabel & William had 8 children: Lenore, William, John, Marjorie, Thomas, Robert, Edward and James.

 

I know that William worked as a Police Officer in Detroit, as listed in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census.  By 1940 he was working in an auto factory.

My cousin, Bonnie, who is married to a Thorp descendant states that William lost his thumb in an accident.  She had no further details.  Did he lose it while on the job as an officer or at the auto factory, or some other way?

I’ve searched extensively in the Detroit Free Press and on other newspaper sites to try and locate any death notice or obituary for either Mabel or William, and I’ve not found them, yet.  Therefore, I do not have complete details for this couple.

    

If any of you reading this are descended from this couple or know any more details about them, please contact me.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST 

 WEDDING WEDNESDAY - Things are not always what they seem....or what they say

MYSTERY MONDAY ~ WHO'S YOUR DADDY? Brick Wall Post #4 ~ Catherine Dorsey Thorp 1842-1898

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

TOMBSTONE TUESDAY ~ Emily Gillen (1810-1887)

Photo courtesy of jeaniealogy

Emily Gillen was born 8 Aug 1810 in Pennsylvania.  She is my maternal 3rd great grandmother.  Her parents are William Gillen and Rachel Frampton. On 11 Sep 1828 she married Rev. Isaac C. Hunter in Lawrence Co., Ohio.  To this couple were born five children: Susan (1829-1856), James (1832-1884), Martha born about 1838, Isaac C. born about 1839 and John E., born about 1842.

Her husband the Rev. Hunter was a well known itinerant preacher in the areas of Ohio and Michigan.  Sadly, he died at age 43 on 27 Jun 1842 in Gallipolis, Gallia, Ohio.

Emily then married David Pope on 1 Oct 1846 in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio.  She and David had two children: George born about 1847 and Emma born about 1851.  I don’t know what became of David as I cannot locate his death or burial records.
 
Emily married a third time on 5 Dec 1858 in Lawrence Co., Ohio to Joel Stover.  They had no children together.  I also cannot locate his death or burial information.

This is the Individual Information I have for Emily.



Emily’s death & burial information were located by my cousin, Amy on the website Interment.net.  We had looked for this information for a long time and Amy found it last year.

I would certainly like to know more about Emily’s 2nd and 3rd husbands and also about her children, Martha, Isaac C. and John.  I will keep looking, as we all know new records are always being posted online.  If any readers are familiar with this family, please contact me.
 
I created a memorial for Emily on FindAGrave.com and you can visit her memorial here.

Here is how I am related to Emily Gillen & Rev. Isaac C. Hunter

3rd great grandparents

Rev. Isaac C. Hunter & Emily Gillen

2nd great grandparents

James Gillen Hunter & Susan Caroline Boggs

Great grandparents

Florence Hunter & Robert Lee Bowden

Grandparents

Florence Lee Bowden & Joseph A. Milne

Parents

Harry Norman Gould & (living mother)

Me

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

MYSTERY MONDAY - Who's Your Daddy? Brick Wall Post #3 ~ Rev. Isaac C. Hunter 1798-1842

CORONER'S CASE FILE ~ Robert L. Bowden - An Analysis

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION