TOMBSTONE TUESDAY ~ A follow up on Bertram SEAVER (1873-1942) & his first wife Gertrude (1871-1908)

Headstone for Bertram Seaver - used with permission from CHayes

In learning more about Bertram Seaver who married Mary Ada Seigle, my 1st cousin twice removed, I found out he was buried at Mount Washington Cemetery, Mt. Washington, Hamilton, Ohio.  You may read my previous post about Bertram SEAVER here MY GRANDMOTHER’S JOURNAL ~ Let’s look at some anniversaries–Bert SEAVER & Mary Ada SEIGLE - 1929

I immediately recognized that location as the same cemetery his first wife, Gertrude, had been buried, after her suicide.  I was a little surprised that he was buried with her and not his second wife, Mary Ada Seigle.  He’s been married to Gertrude for 13 years and Mary for 24 years.  Sometimes our ancestors don’t do what we might expect them to do.

I looked on FindAGrave and determined that there had been no memorial created for Bertram, so I created one.  I also put in a photo request, hoping that a volunteer would someday take a photo of the headstone (if there was one).

I was surprised, actually shocked, when I received notification the very next day, that my request had been fulfilled.  I additionally, received an email from another person who took photos of the headstone.  Now I had two sets of pictures.  My continued thanks to all the people who volunteer via the FindAGrave website, to take headstone photos.

TIP:  Whenever I create a memorial for someone, I always request a photo of the headstone (unless, of course, I already have one).  I have been very fortunate over the years and have had dozens of requests fulfilled, all over the country.  I immediately send a thank you to the volunteer via the messaging on FindAGrave.  At the same time, I check their profile to see if they give permission to use the photos.  Since I have a blog and I frequently like to post headstone pictures, I don’t want to violate anyone’s copyright.  If the permission isn’t stated in their profile and I think I may use the photo in a blog post, I send them an email asking permission.  If you look at my FindAGrave profile you will see that I give blanket permission to use any of my own photographed headstone photos (my profile page)

Here is the other picture I received for Bertram who is resting beside his first wife, Gertrude

Headstones of Bertram & Gertrude Seaver - used with permission of Steve Barnett

Click on the links to visit the memorials for Bertram #203005133 & Gertrude #170861969

How often to you request photos of headstones on the FindAGrave website?

 

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

CEMETERY CARDS ~ They can reveal a gold mine of genealogical information–Here’s what I’ve found…..

CIVIL WAR DEAD AND OUR NATIONAL CEMETERIES

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS–Week #5–In the Library - Some tips from my own trips

An isle of books at the Family History Library - like a genealogy gold mine

When I think of libraries, I think of books.  And when I think of books, I smile.  I have always loved reading, studying & learning.  Much of that is done with the aid of books.  Especially back when I was young and growing up.
 
But, libraries these days are hubs of activities and technology, as well as books.

Let’s talk about the two BIG libraries in the world of genealogy.  The Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City and the Allen County Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  I’ve been to the FHL three times and each trip was wonderful.  I learned a lot and spent most of my days there on the third floor where it’s wall to wall books.  I have never had the pleasure of going to the Allen County library, but it’s on my list.

How important are libraries to our genealogical research?  VERY IMPORTANT!

Not all, or even close to all of our research can be done online.  WHAT?  Yes, it’s true.  Many millions of records and the information we seek about our ancestors is still only available with boots on the ground research.

I’ve taken several genealogy road trips.  What could be more fun?  Each time I go I visit a library or two.  I also go to historical societies, but that’s for another blog post.

Let’s review where I’ve gone and what libraries I’ve visited:

• Beginning here at home I often visit the Carlsbad Library or the
• San Diego Public Library downtown, which holds all the genealogical books and materials from the San Diego Genealogical Society
• Macomb County, Michigan – Mt. Clemens Library
• Richmond, Virginia – The Richmond Public Library
• Cabell County, West Virginia – the Marshall Library
• Lawrence County, Ohio – The Briggs Library
• Los Angeles – The Los Angeles Public Library

When you visit a library, always try to have a plan. 

• What are you looking for?
• Who do you need information on?
• What does this library offer?  Search their card catalog before you go
• Take your laptop, tablet, smart phone and camera
• Clothes pins to hold books open

I prefer to take photos of books with my camera. It’s actually quicker for me and more reliable, less chances of blurring than with my iPad or iPhone.  I have a Canon Sure Shot and it has served me well.

Here’s a screen shot of some of the items from a trip to the FHL in June 2015. Remember to always FIRST photograph the title page and/or the copyright page if they are on two different pages. Then you will know exactly which book your images came from.

This is what your images will look like.  I transfer them to my computer from my camera card, each day.  After they are transferred I crop and straighten or enhance them as needed.

Take advantage of the local histories that may be on file at the libraries. Also check for city directories for that location.  Use the microfilm readers to view items that may not be available online.  Especially local newspapers.
 
Ask questions of staff, as they can be a wealth of information.
Have fun and enjoy.  I can literally get lost in libraries for hours on end.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

BOOKS - Why We Still Need Them - Which Ones Are in Your Library?

MY BIGGEST LIBRARY FIND EVER - The real name of my husband's great grandfather!

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

TUESDAY’S TIP–Using the Master Location List in Legacy 8

I use this feature in Legacy 8 a lot.  Today I was specifically looking for a list of all the people in my database who are buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.

There are differing viewpoints on how we should list our locations in the database.  I’m not going to talk about those options here today.  I will show you how I do my own locations and what works for me.

When I locate a burial place for an ancestor, I enter the information in that portion of the Individual’s Information screen.  Additionally, I will enter the address of the cemetery, if I have it, in the address field for “burial.”  This field is located when you click on the + sign to the right of the burial field.



I like to see the name of the cemetery in the actual burial field and not have to click on the address to find it, or look in Events, if it’s entered there.  Again, not everyone does it this way, but it works for me.
 
Therefore, when I want to locate everyone who is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan, this is how I would go about it.

Locate the Master Location list in your Legacy program.  There are a couple of ways to do this. 

• You can go to the “View” tab and use the drop down list under “Master Lists”

• I have the Master Lists saved to My Toolbar, so I always have quick access to it.

Once you’ve opened your list you will be able to search for the location you are trying to find.  In this case I just typed in Elmwood.
 


If you want to see a map, in addition to the list you can select “show map” which is located on the right side of the list of names.  Here is the view with the map.  Note that you have a red balloon at the location and also the longitude and latitude.



Something else to note when you bring up the various lists are your List Options – located under the names and your Options – located on the right hand side of the names.

LIST OPTIONS
 
 OPTIONS


These location lists can be used whether your looking to write a blog post, like I am, or preparing to visit a particular location.  When I traveled back to Detroit I created lists of every person buried in each cemetery in Michigan.  Whether I save those lists digitally or print them out, they are of great value and save you a lot of time and effort in your genealogy trip.

Have you used these lists?

If so, how have they helped you?

To see ALL of my Legacy 8 tips please click on the tab of the same name at the top of my blog or click HERE

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2017   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

TOO MUCH INFORMATION HAVE YOU OVERWHELMED? You’re not alone

When we begin our journey in researching our family, we might have a few items left by parents or grandparents.  Perhaps we have a box or two of photos or other items?  Maybe we don’t even have that much.

We go along, entering our ancestors in our database, as we find them.  We locate vital records, census records, military records, newspaper articles, immigration records and on and on.
 
Then there comes a time when we have connected with quite a few family members, think cousins.  And, we’ve joined a multitude of groups on Facebook specific to our areas of research.  We’ve joined societies and gone to seminars.  We’ve visited courthouses and libraries and maybe even the Family History Library in Utah.  We have a tree on Ancestry and those hints just never stop popping up….and I’m talking about the good hints.
 

We have now reached the point where we have SO MUCH information, we can’t focus on which family or person to research.  This is a good problem to have, but…..this is pretty much where I’m at right now.

  

What to do?

This is the exact question I asked myself as I was driving somewhere yesterday.  How in the world can I focus on just one person or one family when all these wonderful pieces of information are coming at me?

Well, I need to find a way, because what I’m doing right now isn’t working.  Yes, I’m getting some research done, but I don’t feel as if I’m doing that deep, thorough research that I really enjoy.

Apparently I’m not alone.

 

Amy Johnson Crow wrote a blog post about this very subject, just yesterday.  It’s titled “How to Avoid Genealogy Overwhelm” and you can find her article here.

Amy did a great job of explaining just what I was feeling and how we can go about “fixing” this problem.

I’ll follow up this post and let you know how I’m doing. 

Please tell me if you’ve felt the same way?  What you’ve done about it, if anything?  The more tips we can get the better for all of us.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

Digital Folder Organizing & Naming Made Easy

Office Closet Clean Out & Organization Project - Do You Have One of "Those" Spaces?

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2016   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION