To My Kindergartener

To my dearest A,

As you begin your educational journey today with the very first day of school, I wanted to share my hopes for you.

May you love school as much as I did (at least most of the time).

May no one (teacher or fellow student) ever spoil that love for learning.

May you have my analytical mind and your dad's artistic one.

May you have at least one teacher in your life that inspires you to dream, though I hope there will be many more.

May you be blessed with good friends and may you make good choices.

May you know that graduating high school isn't just the end, but a beginning to your advanced education.

Know that I am the first college graduate in my family and your dad is the second generation to graduate from college.

May you know that an education, once you have it, can never be taken away from you.

Know you will stumble and may you learn from those mistakes.

Know how far our family has come. Your great-grandfather Fred said he went to the school of hard knocks and only attained an 8th grade education. Your great-grandma Ruth was pulled out of school to become a telephone operator on roller skates! There are countless other ancestors who attended a one-room schoolhouse or probably learned with a McGuffey Reader at home.

May you learn a foreign language, perhaps like one of your ancestors' native tongues: Norwegian, German, or Polish.

May you develop a love for history and perhaps for genealogy. I will have lots of information to give to you someday!

May you appreciate the freedoms we have living in this country and come to understand why our ancestors came here from their homelands.

May you always know how much your dad and I love you and how very proud we are of you.

And may you not have seen the tears in my eyes this morning as I left you at your classroom.

Kudos to Ancestry.com DNA

The power of the internet never ceases to amaze me.

You may recall I wrote a post a few days ago regarding a frustration I had with Ancestry.com's DNA upgrades. I questioned whether the customer service folks were in line with the DNA folks because when I called to upgrade to a 46 marker test I was told my father would have to retake the test. That is not what the Ancestry.com DNA blog stated as possible. So I expressed my frustration in the blog post, found how to upgrade my dad's test on their website and went on my merry way.

Less than two days later, I received an email from Kathie with Ancestry.com DNA noting that she had read my post and apologized for my inconvenience. I apparently called at a time when it was between training and to let me know that yes I could upgrade without having to start from scratch. She stated they appreciated feedback on their website and services and that corrective action (I'm assuming further training) would be taken. For my trouble, they offered to upgrade my test at no cost.

My first reaction to this was complete shock. Who knew that my little ol' blog was being read by Ancestry.com? While I realize they probably have some sort of alert system that notifies them of web posts regarding their website, I was still stunned to think that someone actually took the time to read the post, comment on it, and also send me a personal email. I think this is a fantastic indication that Ancestry.com is dedicated to maintaining excellent customer service and taking action when improvements need to be made.

My sincere thanks to Kathie and other Ancestry.com DNA staff. I wish every company had folks like you.

Tracy's Sweet Sixteen

Yes, I realize this is several days late for Randy Seaver's SNGF, but because this is one I can definitively answer, I'm participating. I would also like to say that this is the last generation for which I have at minimum a name for all my ancestors.

Randy's instructions are as follows:
1) List your 16 great-great-grandparents in pedigree chart order. List their birth and death years and places.
2) Figure out the dominant ethnicity or nationality of each of them.
3) Calculate your ancestral ethnicity or nationality by adding them up for the 16 - 6.25% for each (obviously, this is approximate).
4) If you don't know all 16 of your great-great-grandparents, then do it for the last full generation you have.
5) Write your own blog post, or make a comment on Facebook or in this post.


Paternal side:

Robert Nelson McNeill: born 29 Oct 1858 in Yancey Co (later Mitchell Co), North Carolina, died 22 Oct 1932 in Asheville, Buncombe Co, North Carolina; SCOTTISH

Margaret (Peggy) Ledford: born 24 Oct 1848 in Yancey Co (later Mitchell Co), North Carolina, died 8 Jun 1927 in Mitchell Co, North Carolina; believe surname is ENGLISH

Rev. Isaac Grindstaff: born May 1852 in Yancey Co (later Mitchell Co), North Carolina, died 4 Apr 1936, Bakersville, Mitchell Co, North Carolina; GERMAN (name was originally Crantzdorf)

Mary Jane Woody: born 11 Jan 1853 in Yancey Co (later Mitchell Co), North Carolina, died 26 Jan 1946 in Bakersville, Mitchell Co, North Carolina; believe surname is ENGLISH

Conrad Coons Scott: born 15 Mar 1845 in Missouri, died 2 Feb 1904 in Desoto, Johnson Co, Kansas; UNKNOWN - family lore indicates that Swift was the original family surname and perhaps two generations back from Conrad it was changed to Scott

Zerlinda Jane (Jenny) Pitts: born 11 Mar 1854 in Iowa, died 1906 in Loring, Wyandotte Co, Kansas; UNKNOWN

William Michael Greathouse: born 19 May 1853 in Missouri (perhaps Wright or Webster Co), died 6 Feb 1906 in Cedar Junction, Johnson Co, Kansas; GERMAN (name was originally Grothause)

Sarah Jane Johnson: 28 Dec 1856 in Randolph Co, North Carolina, died 15 Mar 1838 in St. Clair Co, Missouri; UNKNOWN but perhaps English


Maternal side:

Walter Harmon: born 1855 in Round Grove, Whiteside Co, Illinois, died 6 June 1921, Clark Co, South Dakota; ENGLISH

Fanny Arnold: born 7 Jun 1856 in Berkswell, Warwickshire, England, died 12 Jun 1945 in Clark Co, South Dakota; ENGLISH

Homer Eugene Arthur: born 4 Aug 1850 in Trumbull or Ashtabula Co, Ohio, died 7 Mar 1943, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co, California; believe surname is ENGLISH

Amanda Savilla Myers: 1862 in Ohio (perhaps Scioto Co), died 11 Feb 1920 in Elrod, Clark Co, South Dakota; GERMAN

Iver Hiby/Hoiby: born abt 1865 in Norway, died 10 Sept 1951, Hamlin Co, South Dakota; NORWEGIAN

Sarah Nelson: born abt 1866 in Norway, died 9 Dec 1930, Foxton, Clark Co, South Dakota; NORWEGIAN

Albert S. Hanson: born 1864 in Winneshiek Co, Iowa, died 1 Oct 1928, Clark Co, South Dakota; NORWEGIAN

Maria Anna Anderson (could also be Anna Marie): born abt 1866 in Norway, died 26 Dec 1949 in Clark Co, South Dakota; NORWEGIAN

So that sums up to be:
English - 6 = 37.5%
Norwegian - 4 = 25%
German - 3 = 18.75%
Scottish - 1 = 6.25%
Unknown - 2 = 12.5%

Well this was certainly an interesting exercise. I have more English than I realized and fewer German. I always thought they were equal. And this has pointed out some information that is lacking that I need to examine further.

What fun!

Is the right hand talking to the left?

When I returned from our vacation, I returned to over 100 emails (in my genealogy account only, that doesn't include the other one I have) and 498 blog posts to sort through. It's taken a week but I've gotten through them. I'll be honest - some of the messages I just deleted and some of the blog posts I skimmed the beginning and that was it.

But there was one in particular that nearly set my blood to boil. I admit I have a short fuse and what ticked me off about this issue was because I seriously had just attempted to do this exact thing one week before we left town.

You may recall my earlier post discussing my father's YDNA test with Ancestry.com. Because of their discounted price, I opted for a 33-marker test. We ordered in February and received the results in March. In late May, I emailed their customer service to see if there was a way I could upgrade to the 46-marker without having to pay for a whole new test and have him take a whole new swab. Basically, I wondered if they still had his sample and if I could pay the difference to upgrade. I received an email telling me yes I could this and to call their 1-800 number to place this order. So finances being what they were, I put off calling until July. I call and get a very perky girl (aren't they always perky when you're frustrated). I stated what I wanted and referred to the email I had received and named the person by name that had responded to me. Perky Girl tells me she's sorry but I will have to reorder the 46-marker test at the price of $149 and that I can't simply just "upgrade" as I was told in my email. Needless to say, I was a very unhappy camper and Perky Girl bore some of that wrath. So what do I find in my 498 blog posts but this: Introducing the Ancestry.com DNA UPGRADE feature.

I have been a longtime subscriber to Ancestry.com and will continue to be one. There are lots of folks unhappy with them and vocally make their feelings known. Many times I've wished their website did something it doesn't, but usually those are minor inconveniences I can live with. And this too is a minor ripple in my overall genealogy research. However, it really makes me wonder if their right hand is really talking to the left?



UPDATE: Please see my post Kudos to Ancestry.com DNA which discusses the follow up by their website to my situation.

Regrouping

I've been away....literally and figuratively. I have taken a break from posting for some "me time" in an effort to figure out what I wanted to accomplish with this blog. It was also a time to reflect on how best to manage my precious genealogy time. I'm a mom of two busy girls, a wife, a full-time employee, a chief bottle washer (thank goodness for all that my dear husband is the chief cook), laundress, etc. You get the picture. There are only so many hours in my day to accomplish things and something had to give.

As a result, I've determined that Twitter just isn't for me - I can't figure out all the abbreviations and I wasn't gleaning anything really meaningful that I couldn't get from reading my favorite blog posts. I've continued with Facebook which I primarily use for my personal friends though I do have "friends" that are new (to me) relatives and researchers working on common lines. I don't use it as extensively as other genealogists do and probably won't. I'm ok with that. I've also determined I just can't possibly read any more blogs. I love to read the escapades of another's mysterious ancestor, but time is precious. I do continue to scan the new blogs that Geneabloggers puts out each week in the hope that someone will be researching my lines. I continue to gather my genealogy news in that fashion. And I will continue to read (via Google Reader) those blogs of the few kind folks who follow my random ramblings. I will also remain somewhat active on GenWise. They've had a few missteps, dramas, and some outright plagiarism (that was later corrected and properly attributed to Randy Seaver) that have left a bad taste in my mouth. My time is precious and I don't need to deal with that kind of drama - if I wanted to I'd watch daytime soaps. I was hoping (and still am) that more educational opportunities would come from GenWise rather than "tell me everything you know about XYZ". I realize that everyone starts new and makes mistakes. Heaven knows I've had my share. However, I am going to pick and choose how I participate. I hope my time won't be wasted there.

I recall reading a post (and please forgive me for not remembering where it was) about a fellow geneablogger also frustrated with all the social media opportunities and the lack of time to do them all. After reading that, it truly verbalized the exact feelings I had been going through. Since cloning isn't an option, I have to manage time the best I can.

Since my last post nearly a month ago, I have been very busy checking off some "to-do" items. A few "family history" things that I have done include:
1. Taking a family vacation to my mother-in-law's in coastal North Carolina.
2. Requested my grandfather Lee McNeill's Navy records.
3. Requested and received land record information from Whiteside Co., Illinois on my 3rd great-grandfather, Porter Joseph Harmon, and his father, Walter Harmon. They had land warrants to get the land so now I have to figure out how they acquired the land warrants.
4. Hired a wonderful professional researcher to look into some McNeill records for me at the North Carolina State Archives.
5. Requested and received some Patriot applications from the Daughters of the American Revolution.
6. Requested and received a death certificate for my 2nd great-grandfather, Homer Arthur, from Santa Cruz Co, California.
7. Requested an obituary on Catherine Ellen Struble Myers, my 3rd great-grandmother. The South Dakota Archives were unable to locate an obit but did send a WPA transcription of the cemetery she was buried in.
8. Started researching a new genealogy software. I'm using FTM 2005 and also have trees posted on Ancestry.com for each grandparent. I'd like to have one tree where I can combine all data, have the ability to prepare various reports, and the ability to attach various media files to the individuals. I'm leaning towards RootsMagic 4, but am also curious about the new FTM 2010. Any recommendations?

I hope in some future posts to discuss the findings, or lack thereof, in the 8 items posted above.

This list doesn't include things like school shopping for the soon-to-be kindergartener in our home, assisting with our church's Vacation Bible School program, swimming lessons, and the list goes on. It's no wonder I'm tired.

Summertime in good ol' South Dakota

This post is for the 76th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy: The Good Old Summertime.


My mother's family has strong ties to South Dakota. My mother was born in Watertown, Codington Co. My grandparents were born in Clark and Codington counties. Three of my four great-grandparents were born in South Dakota. In fact, most of their parents (my great, great-grandparents) came to Dakota Territory in the 1880s from places such as Rice Co., Minnesota, Dane Co., Wisconsin, Whiteside Co., Illinois and Houston Co., Minnesota.

My family took very few vacations when I was a child. I guess you could say we did a lot of "staycations" long before that even became a word. Who knew we were trend setters? However, there is one vacation I distinctly remember from the summer of 1981 when my mom, sister, and I joined my grandparents to drive for two (very long) days across two (very long) states to get to eastern South Dakota to visit our extended family. Bear in mind, I was six years old and we probably hadn't been on the road 50 miles before the infamous "Are we there yet?" began.

Since I was only six there are a few things I vaguely remember and others I don't recall at all. When I asked my mom last week for photos from that trip seeing them triggered some memories and brought up some wonderful stories. I remember seeing the old drilling rigs slowly pumping from the interstate in Wyoming. I remember my grandparents pointing out the antelope, which I thought for sure they called "cantaloupe". I was very confused about what the orangy colored fruit was doing in the middle of nowhere and what the big deal was about the "deer" out there. I vaguely remember stopping in the heat for a photo op at Independence Rock in Wyoming. Notice my protective arm around my younger sister.

Our first major stop was in the Black Hills to see Mount Rushmore. My grandpa Fred had a brother, Harry, and nephew and their families living in nearby Rapid City. Since we lived a couple of states apart and they didn't see each other often, I'm sure there was a visit though I don't recall it. I do however recall the pictures we took at Mount Rushmore. I also recall that my grandpa lost his lens cap to his camera over the edge at the viewing area. It also seems like we stayed in a campground in the Black Hills that had an evening program that was Native American dancing. It was quite impressive to see the feathered costumes, headdresses and fast moving feet of the performers.

Here I am in all my ruffled glory with my little sister and the four Presidents. I was 6 and she was about 3 1/2.

So our final destination was Clark County, South Dakota, specifically in the tiny town of Naples at my great-grandparents house. My grandma's parents, Helmer and Bernice (Hanson) Hiby, were in their mid-80s and late 70s, respectively, at this time. I had only had occasion to see them a couple of times and was really too young to remember any of them. I remember they had a beautiful old farmhouse with a big lawn and barn behind. There was a big enclosed porch on the front of the house at the front door that held lots of wonderful treasures, but everyone came in through the back door right into the kitchen. My great-grandma Bernice liked to sew and quilt. She had made a beautiful green quilt top that my mom loved and took notice of a few years prior to this trip. Mom asked if she could have it to quilt and she had it done by the time we took this vacation. We took several photos of the quilt hanging on the clothesline out behind the house. Here is one of me with my great-grandma Bernice and the beautiful quilt that holds a special place in our family.




My grandpa Fred's parents, Edward and Kate (Arthur) Harmon, had both passed on in 1960 and 1974, respectively. Their three sons, Ken, Harry of Rapid City, and my grandpa Fred, all lived elsewhere by this time and there wasn't really any family left living there. However, Edward and Kate's house in Henry, Codington Co., South Dakota was still there (and is still today) right on a corner of the little town. Here my sister and I are standing on the west side of the house. The upstairs window is a bedroom and the downstairs I believe is the living room. An enclosed porch with a door facing north can be seen on the left side of the photo. My mom recalls visiting this house as a child and staying in a makeshift bed on the upstairs landing. There my great-grandma Kate had a beautiful square (now antique) table with glass ball feet that was covered with books. My mom now has that beautiful table in her living room. Not only was my great-grandma a lover of books like me, but she was the family historian before there truly was such a thing in our family. Her handwritten notes gave me a start on our Harmon, Arthur, Struble and Myers lines.

In the yard of the Harmon house in Henry stands a wonderful tree with this interesting split trunk. Mom also captured us in front of the tree. Next door to the old house was a playground with an old metal slide and a wonderful merry-go-round that were reminiscent of the ones on my own school playground. After we took photos of the house, I remember playing on the merry-go-round and my grandpa Fred helping make it go faster.

This trip we took holds more significance than just the simple memories of a six-year old. This would be the last time my mom, sister or I would see my great-grandparents. Bernice passed away the following March 1982 and Helmer in June 1982. The next time my mom, sister and I went back to visit was with my grandma in 1995. My grandpa Fred had passed away two years earlier. Much has changed since then, but fond memories of this trip and the sweet childhood pictures my mother took of us as such little girls will always be a special treasure.

Photos held privately by author. Please do not use without permission.

Are you GenealogyWise?

If you haven't already heard of the newest social networking opportunity for genealogists, you are missing out. GenealogyWise is just getting started and has already grown to over 1000 members in just a couple of days. I think this site has fantastic potential to make connections with other similar-minded folks.

I have a Facebook account and I know other genealogists do much of their networking that way but that's hard for me as about 80% or more of my "friends" there could care less about my Harmon ancestor or my latest North Carolina research problem. I even signed up for Twitter trying to figure out what all the rage was, but can't get the hang of it. I am too wordy for 140 characters and I can't figure out all the hash tags and such.

Give GenealogyWise a try. I'll think you'll be pleased. Come find me there.