In an effort to begin preserving and providing wider access to the information in the records, Homestead National Monument of America, located in Beatrice, Nebraska, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) contracted with the National Archives & Records Administration to microfilm the Broken Bow Land Office records (1890-1908). Using this microfilm, UNL has created an online index to the records. This pilot project is the precursor to new partnerships and, we hope, to new scholarship.
Funds for the project were received from the National Park Service, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Eastern National, and Tier One Bank. At the University, the Center for Great Plains Studies, the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities, and the University Libraries have all contributed to the project. Many person hours were devoted to the project by National Park Service volunteers and staff, and by faculty, staff, and administrators at UNL. As new developments are announced, look for changes on the site.
Search the records here.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
What if your ancestor was an axe murderer?
My research on my Pennsylvania ancestors this past week left me face to face with this possibility! I won't list any of the names here so I can protect the innocent in case this happens to be a different individual.
I was fairly confident that I had traced a couple different families in a specific community in Pennsylvania and was digging deeper by looking through newspaper accounts available on the internet. I came upon some articles that appeared in newspapers halfway across the country about this "well respected farmer" with the same name as my ancestor, living within a 10 mile radius of where my ancestor lived. The article stated he killed his 18 year old daughter by hitting her on the head with an axe and then killed himself. The incident was called a murder-suicide in the press.
There were variations on how the family spelled their surname, so this is why I haven't yet confirmed if this is my ancestor or not. But - both were farmers, both were living in the same vicinity, both had daughters 18 years of age. I've found information that the daughter in my family line died the same year as this incident, although another researcher indicates a different cause of death.
My ancestor disappeared from the census records after this incident. His widow had moved West with one of the sons and his family. They changed the spelling of their last name from the way it was spelled in Pennsylvania.
Hmmm. I suddenly feel as though I'm in the midst of a CSI "cold case" investigation! I shall continue looking into these people and see if I am able to prove or disprove if the killer was my ancestor.
Who said family history couldn't be exciting?
I was fairly confident that I had traced a couple different families in a specific community in Pennsylvania and was digging deeper by looking through newspaper accounts available on the internet. I came upon some articles that appeared in newspapers halfway across the country about this "well respected farmer" with the same name as my ancestor, living within a 10 mile radius of where my ancestor lived. The article stated he killed his 18 year old daughter by hitting her on the head with an axe and then killed himself. The incident was called a murder-suicide in the press.
There were variations on how the family spelled their surname, so this is why I haven't yet confirmed if this is my ancestor or not. But - both were farmers, both were living in the same vicinity, both had daughters 18 years of age. I've found information that the daughter in my family line died the same year as this incident, although another researcher indicates a different cause of death.
My ancestor disappeared from the census records after this incident. His widow had moved West with one of the sons and his family. They changed the spelling of their last name from the way it was spelled in Pennsylvania.
Hmmm. I suddenly feel as though I'm in the midst of a CSI "cold case" investigation! I shall continue looking into these people and see if I am able to prove or disprove if the killer was my ancestor.
Who said family history couldn't be exciting?
February 9 meeting of the Lincoln Lancaster County Genealogy Society
February 9th – Marcia Stewart
Getting Started with Military Records
This program builds on Cynthia's January "Getting Started" session by introducing military sources for genealogical information. Marcia will explain what is available, where to find the records, and what you can learn through these resources. Marcia, Cynthia, and Phyllis will share samples of some good genealogy finds.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County NE Genealogical Society cordially invites all in the community to hear our free programs.
Programs are on the second Tuesday, at 7:15 p.m.
Location:
Lower Level Theater
Dick Admin. Bldg.
Union College Campus
3800 So. 48th St. Lincoln, Nebraska
Visit the LLCGS web site.
Getting Started with Military Records
This program builds on Cynthia's January "Getting Started" session by introducing military sources for genealogical information. Marcia will explain what is available, where to find the records, and what you can learn through these resources. Marcia, Cynthia, and Phyllis will share samples of some good genealogy finds.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County NE Genealogical Society cordially invites all in the community to hear our free programs.
Programs are on the second Tuesday, at 7:15 p.m.
Location:
Lower Level Theater
Dick Admin. Bldg.
Union College Campus
3800 So. 48th St. Lincoln, Nebraska
Visit the LLCGS web site.
Genealogy hits mainstream TV
NBC has been running some promotional advertisements for its upcoming show called Who Do You Think You Are - a look at the family history of celebrities. Apparently, NBC is teaming with Ancestry.com for this venture.
NBC describes the program: NBC's commitment to bringing A-list talent to its 2009-2010 prime time schedule includes a unique and personal glimpse into the lives of our favorite celebrities. In each episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, a celebrity embarks on a journey of self-discovery and unearths his or her family tree - revealing surprising, inspiring and sometimes tragic stories that are often linked to events in American history. We share intimate moments with the stars as they learn about their past, and how the struggles of their ancestors have shaped today's world. Stars include Lisa Kudrow, Sarah Jessica Parker and Susan Sarandon. Well, I would definitely take issue on whether or not these people are considered "a-list", but I digress.
I doubt if this will have the kind of impact on potential family historians the way that Alex Haley's Roots did in the 1970s, but at least it's introducing the general population to the intrigue of family history research. I only hope that family history newcomers don't think they will be able to trace their entire family back 300 years in under 60 minutes. Since there will be digital features for the show's viewers to begin their search on Ancestry.com, I also am a bit concerned that people with little knowledge of the need for proper research and documentation will go crazy on Ancestry and start adding the wrong families to their trees.
This is already an issue on Ancestry. While I love Ancestry and feel like I couldn't get along without it, I've also learned to be careful with what I add to my tree that was compiled by another researcher. Many of the family trees on Ancestry do not provide documentation or historical records, so it becomes difficult to know if they are accurate. Sure, I've added a few of these to my tree along the way, and my goal is to double-back and confirm as much as I possibly can. This process means that I have been removing people from my trees that I am unable to confirm on my own.
So - it is definitely with great interest that I look forward to this new NBC show. It premieres on Friday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. central. You can be sure that I'll review it here on LongLostRelatives.net.
ABC - Good Morning America
ABC's Good Morning America is also getting into the genealogy act by discussing Faces of America with scholar Henry Louis Gates. You may recognize him from the "beer summit" at the White House last summer. Are George Stephanopoulous and Hillary Clinton really "cousins"?
Faces of America - PBS
Faces of America is featured on PBS. The series premieres nationally Wednesdays, February 10 - March 3, 2010 from 8-9 p.m. ET. Based on what I've seen so far, I'm putting my money on the PBS show, rather than NBC, but I'll be watching both of them.
NBC describes the program: NBC's commitment to bringing A-list talent to its 2009-2010 prime time schedule includes a unique and personal glimpse into the lives of our favorite celebrities. In each episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, a celebrity embarks on a journey of self-discovery and unearths his or her family tree - revealing surprising, inspiring and sometimes tragic stories that are often linked to events in American history. We share intimate moments with the stars as they learn about their past, and how the struggles of their ancestors have shaped today's world. Stars include Lisa Kudrow, Sarah Jessica Parker and Susan Sarandon. Well, I would definitely take issue on whether or not these people are considered "a-list", but I digress.
I doubt if this will have the kind of impact on potential family historians the way that Alex Haley's Roots did in the 1970s, but at least it's introducing the general population to the intrigue of family history research. I only hope that family history newcomers don't think they will be able to trace their entire family back 300 years in under 60 minutes. Since there will be digital features for the show's viewers to begin their search on Ancestry.com, I also am a bit concerned that people with little knowledge of the need for proper research and documentation will go crazy on Ancestry and start adding the wrong families to their trees.
This is already an issue on Ancestry. While I love Ancestry and feel like I couldn't get along without it, I've also learned to be careful with what I add to my tree that was compiled by another researcher. Many of the family trees on Ancestry do not provide documentation or historical records, so it becomes difficult to know if they are accurate. Sure, I've added a few of these to my tree along the way, and my goal is to double-back and confirm as much as I possibly can. This process means that I have been removing people from my trees that I am unable to confirm on my own.
So - it is definitely with great interest that I look forward to this new NBC show. It premieres on Friday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. central. You can be sure that I'll review it here on LongLostRelatives.net.
ABC - Good Morning America
ABC's Good Morning America is also getting into the genealogy act by discussing Faces of America with scholar Henry Louis Gates. You may recognize him from the "beer summit" at the White House last summer. Are George Stephanopoulous and Hillary Clinton really "cousins"?
Faces of America - PBS
Faces of America is featured on PBS. The series premieres nationally Wednesdays, February 10 - March 3, 2010 from 8-9 p.m. ET. Based on what I've seen so far, I'm putting my money on the PBS show, rather than NBC, but I'll be watching both of them.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Adding to the Welch Family
The recent discovery of the photograph of the grave marker for Mark Welch and his wife, Sarah Conneally (my great, great grandparents) in Connecticut has put my focus on Connecticut research this past week. And I once again returned to the autograph book that belonged to their daughter, Nellie Welch.
The autograph book includes entries from "Aunt Winnie" of Goshen, CT, "Cousin Annie" of Goshen, CT, and William E Welch of Goshen, CT. A search of the Welch family living in Goshen at this time resulted in several census records for this family. The head of the household is Edward Welch, who would be the brother of Mark Welch.
The children of Edward and Winnifred Welch were: Mary (b. about 1856), William (b. about 1858), Mark (b. about 1860), Richard (b. about 1862), James (b. about 1864), Anna (b. Feb 1866). Edward (b. about 1867) and John (b. about 1869).
1870 Census Record for the family of Edward and Winnifred Welch
So far, the only one of the children I've been able to verify in later census records is Anna, who married Mr. Kirwin and had a son, James Kirwin. Mr. Kirwin died before 1930, as Anna is a widow at the age of 34. Her parents, Edward and Winnifred, are living with Anna and Anna's son, James.
By 1910, Edward Welch has died, and Winnifred is living with Anna and her son.
Are any members of this Welch family your ancestor? If so, I'd love to hear from you and share information on this family and their descendants.
The autograph book includes entries from "Aunt Winnie" of Goshen, CT, "Cousin Annie" of Goshen, CT, and William E Welch of Goshen, CT. A search of the Welch family living in Goshen at this time resulted in several census records for this family. The head of the household is Edward Welch, who would be the brother of Mark Welch.
The children of Edward and Winnifred Welch were: Mary (b. about 1856), William (b. about 1858), Mark (b. about 1860), Richard (b. about 1862), James (b. about 1864), Anna (b. Feb 1866). Edward (b. about 1867) and John (b. about 1869).
1870 Census Record for the family of Edward and Winnifred Welch
So far, the only one of the children I've been able to verify in later census records is Anna, who married Mr. Kirwin and had a son, James Kirwin. Mr. Kirwin died before 1930, as Anna is a widow at the age of 34. Her parents, Edward and Winnifred, are living with Anna and Anna's son, James.
By 1910, Edward Welch has died, and Winnifred is living with Anna and her son.
Are any members of this Welch family your ancestor? If so, I'd love to hear from you and share information on this family and their descendants.
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