Worked a little on Google+ profile

Yesterday I watched a Webinar that Dan Lynch presented on Google+. I have been using Google+ for a  little while but not like I use Facebook.

As always the Webinar was very informative. I tried to take notes but couldn't write fast enough so hopefully I will remember to go and watch the Webinar again while it is in the archives.

One of the things Dan covered was Your Profile and how important it is. The one thing he talked about was the Introduction and what you could do with it. So tonight I did a little bit of work there.

I won't go into much here tonight. Like I said I really need to go and watch it again. I know I missed parts because Maggie Mae had to go out and I had to check the wood stove, and grab a cup of coffee. Just little things like that.

Oh yea I signed I for the Webinar tomorrow on the Flip scanner. I don't have one, would love one, maybe I will win one (If it is one of the door prizes).

Well until next time.

Our Wedding November 27, 1982

When we decided to finally get married, we chose the Saturday after Thanksgiving for a few reasons. Everybody usually at that time came up for Thanksgiving and hunting season and we would also celebrate Christmas with all the family that was up then also.

I choose Ruthann Vanholder (she was then) to stand up with me and Walt chose his friend, that he had known and done almost everything with, Gary Hicks to stand up with him. My Grandpa Pember had to tie Gary's tie because he was so nervous or maybe it was the MadDog or whatever Gary was drinking. (You would have thought it was Gary getting hitched.)

Walt rode with Gary and Stan Gardner, I rode with my Mom, Grandpa, and Jesse and David to the Church, which was in the basement of the Pastor's house in Hillman. We got there and were waiting for Walt and Gary, who pulled in and then backed out and then finally pulled in.

The Church was full of Walt's family, my Mom, Grandpa, and boys, Stan Gardner, the organist and the Pastor Halverson and his family. We looked more like we were going to a funeral instead of a wedding. 

 Pastor Halverson, Ruthann VanHolder, Sharon Clampitt, Walter Haas, Gary Hicks. November 27, 1982. This is in the Church in Hillman, Michigan. (The Church is in the basement of the Pastor's house).  Our Wedding!!!

 

Sharon and Walter Haas!!! That wedding kiss!!

 

Ruthann VanHolder, Sharon and Walter Haas, Gary Hicks. 

 

My Grandpa (Arnold Pember), my Mom (Christine Evans), Me (Sharon Haas), Walter Haas, David and Jesse Clampitt.

 

 

 

After the Wedding everyone came out to Walt's Mom and StepDads in Atlanta for Dinner and Party.  

After all the celebrating George, Walt's brother, took me and the boys and 2 or 3 nephews back to our house. Walt wound up staying all night at his folks place, they were playing cards. In the morning George came and picked us up to take us all back to Walt's folks. George asked "Where's Walt!!!" I replied: "Hopefully still at your folks." George replied something like "If it was anyone else that would be grounds for annulment". We just laughed!!!

Sorting Saturday -

I have been busy sorting, tossing, organizing. Making a mess and and cleaning it up.

Most of the work I have been doing lately is down in the basement. I have tossed out a lot of junk and stuff I have moved for years, that has been stuck in a box. I have decided if I haven't used it in 6 months or have no intentions on using it, get rid of it.

I have made quite a dent in the basement. Still have a long ways to go. Then there are the 2 sheds. Full of stuff I need to get rid of. I really have to downsize. I don't want to leave a lot of stuff for someone else to have to toss if anything were to happen to me.

I was worrying about organizing and linking everything back up to my Legacy Family Tree program before I went to my Mom's in July. Now I really need to get back to it and get my sourcing all fixed. I am trying to get the information on my tree that I have in Ancestry.com too. I should also put it in my WikiTree and whatever others I have out there. But to be honest, lately I just haven't been feeling myself. I feel so disconnected with myself. Not able to concentrate (which I have been trying to figure out why). I have a hard time remember where I left off. I know I can make lists. But then I can't remember where I put that. I am hoping I will get this all worked out soon and get back to my old self minus the smoking part. I have been doing pretty good in that area. Absolutely no smoking since October 2 about 10:30PM. I was very bad in September and bought a pack of little cigars. I was only smoking 1 or 2 a day but I sure felt guilty because I originally hadn't smoked since July 31 at around 8:30PM. But just having that 1 or 2 seemed to help me concentrate better. It sure did not help my breathing though.

Anyways that is a little of what I have been up to. Hopefully I will be back to my old self before long. I have so much to do and I fear I won't get it all done.

It's a little cool out, but at least a little bit of sunshine is happening today.

I have been very busy Thanks Ancestry.com

Oops didn't mean to hit the darn return key and publish.

Since Oct 1, 2011 ancestry.com has been adding new collections to access. one each day for 15 days.
The first collection was on Social Security Death Index. I was able to locate a few of my family member's social security information. But the one that has really helped me out was the 1920 US Census.

I have attached and added to My Family Tree on ancestry.com and on my Legacy Family Tree, many of my Sewell, a few Pember, a few Clampitt, a few Sauer 1920 US Census Records. I discovered where William Sauer's children were in 1920 and was able to add approximate birth years for them. I downloaded the images for the 1920 Census Records that I have found. (I don't know if everyone has this problem downloading images from ancestry.com or not but for me to be able to view the record enlarged in my downloaded image, I have to make it at least 150% so that it doesn't distort to bad when I enlarge it to look at it closer.)

I was so busy adding and looking up records I forgot it was Friday night and missed Geneabloggers BlogTalkRadio Program. Hadn't even looked at my emails. So missed the reminders.

I have learned from past experience that if I don't download the image and I put it in my shoebox, I can't view or do anything with it when they no longer have access available. I did the same thing on fold3.com when they had free access to 1930 US Census records and some other records. I added them to my tree there and then couldn't access them. I can't afford to purchase subscriptions because we are on a very limited budget.

I had a couple genealogy friends that emailed me some records they found. Thanks Marcia & Deb.

I am still learning how to make proper citations. I get so confused sometimes. I have been trying to use the Sourcewriter on Legacy Family Tree to make my source citations on my family tree there, have a lot of fixing to do. I know I have a lot of adding sources to my data I have on My Family Tree on ancestry.com but I am trying to get as much of the free access information I have found so far attached to family while I can. I am still learning how to use the program and have to go back and fix things and I still have some fixing to do. So forgive me if you happen to look at My Family Tree and you don't see any source citations. I haven't added any source citations to my WikiTree or Geni.com tree or WeRelate tree. Someday maybe I will get them all done. But I am still learning how to use these programs and I tend to get confused easy.

It's a beautiful day and I am going to enjoy it and do some more research over on ancestry.com. Have a spectacular day everyone!!! Hope you all may find some information on your family today!!!!!

It has been a while since I blogged....

This is the first time I have blogged in a while. Boy what a shock at how different the page looks.
This may take me a little getting used to.

I just haven't felt like writing anything lately. I have been trying to get used to all the changes at Facebook, still trying to figure Google+ out.

But I do have a lot of work to do on my Legacy Family Tree and I am also trying to add family members, citations and photos on my ancestry.com tree. I am still trying to figure out the proper way to fill in the blanks on the source citations. I'm trying to do them correctly and put the right information into the right spots.

Right now ancestry.com from October 1 - 15 is allowing us access to different collections or whatever you call them. A new one each day will be added. Today was the Social Security Death Index. I did find a couple but haven't really spent to much time at it. The only thing I noticed is it won't link to your family member unless you have a subscription. So I wonder if it won't link to family members for each of the new collections they add each day. Oh well at least I will be able to look up more information with the hopes of finding more records.

I still haven't finished getting all organized and discovered I had forgot where I left off on my images getting them linked back up. I guess I need to write everything down so I can remember where I leave off and what I still need to do.

Well that's all for now!! My brain is getting tired!!

Looking for Silena Sewell in 1900 US Census

I have been trying to find Silena Sewell in the 1900 US Census records for the last few days. She has born 30 Oct 1882 in Center Plains, Crawford, Michigan. She was married 5 Oct 1904 in Frederic, Crawford, Michigan to Charles S. MacKay (or McKay). I have looked for S. Sewell and Lena Sewell also because she was also called by that name. I have had no luck so far.

Oh well my search will continue off and on. Maybe I will stumble upon her yet.

Surname Saturday - Matelon J. Pember

While I was at my Mom's visiting in July I remembered seeing a Bible that had been presented to one of our Pember relatives. It had no actual pages for entering the information in so it had been entered on some blanks pages.

Florance Alsina Jenkins  Born 11, Dec. 1848,


Angola
Indiana
Arnold Pember & Lucinda Pember Married Oct 22, 1927
Christine Pember born July 11, 1928 
Arnold M. Pember was Baptized Aug. 5, 1932
Christine Pember Baptized
Lucinda Pember Baptized
(On the other page) Matelon James Pember
Died December 8, 1929 
SC
------
21 ---------- [not sure if this of any importance or not]

Presented to Matlen [Matlon or Matlin unsure] James Pember
Feb 16. 1887
By Mr & Mrs
Wm Jenkiens [Jenkins]
Matlen [Matlon or Matlin unsure] J. Pember
was Born Feb
16. 1871
MS Col Township
Steuben Co
Ind
Matelon J. Pember

I hope I have transcribed this correctly.

I am not exactly sure if Florance [Florence] is Matelon J. Pember's mother or not. I have not been able to find a marriage record for Florence to James Pember (whom I believe to be Matelon's father). She could possibly be Florence Alsina Goodwin.

I have found several different Marriage records for Matelon (different spellings of first name) J. Pember and some M. J. Pember but none to Christiana Sauer or Christine Sauer.

I have M. J. Pember to Lydia Jane Dotts 3 Apr 1890 in Angola, Steuben, Indiana
Groom's Name: M. J. Pember
Groom's Birth Date: 1871
Groom's Birth Place: Steuben Co., Indiana
Groom's Age: 19
Bride's Name: Lydia Jane Dotts
Bride's Birth Date: 1871
Bride's Birth Place: Indiana
Bride's Age: 19
Marriage Date: 03 Apr 1890
Marriage Place: Angola, Steuben, Indiana
Groom's Father's Name: James Pember
Groom's Mother's Name: Alginue Goodwin
Bride's Father's Name: Philip Dotts
Bride's Mother's Name: Susan Flara
Groom's Race: White
Groom's Marital Status: Single
Bride's Race: White
Bride's Marital Status: Single
Source: LDS Family Search Record Search Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M02050-9
System Origin: Indiana-EASy
Source Film Number: 1887358
Reference Number: BK1882-1890, P128


Groom's Name: M. J. Pember
Bride's Name: Lydia Jane Dotts
Marriage Date: 03 Apr 1890
Marriage Place: Angola, Steuben, Indiana
Groom's Father's Name: James Pember
Groom's Mother's Name: Alginue Goodwin
Bride's Father's Name: Philip Dotts
Bride's Mother's Name: Susan Flara
Source: LDS Family Search Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M02050-9 System Origian: Indiana-ODM Source Film Number: 1887358

Groom's Name: Matlon J. Pember Or Mattland
Groom's Birth Date:
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age:
Bride's Name: Lydia J. Dotts
Bride's Birth Date:
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age:
Marriage Date: 05 Apr 1890
Marriage Place: Steuben, Indiana
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M00449-8
System Origin: Indiana-EASy
Source Film Number: 1872319
Reference Number: 53
Collection: Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992


Marriage to Esther Bloomfield
 15, Sep 1893 in Lagrange County, Indiana
Groom's Name: Matelon J. Pember
Bride's Name: Esther Bloomfield
Marriage Date: 15 Sep 1893
Marriage Place: Lagrange County, Indiana
Source: LDS Family Search Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M00480-4 System Origin: Indiana-EASy Source Film Number: 1871248 Reference Number: p 186 item 3

Divorced Esther 26 Mae 1901
Source: gen.nobleco.lib.in.us/Divorces/DivMR.htm
Divorces
Husband              Wife     Filing Date Record Book (if recorded in a numbered book)
Pember Matelon J - Pember Esther - 26 Mar 1901

Sometime after 25 Jul 1906 Matelon married Christina Sauer
No proof of marriage yet but I have a copy of her death certificate.

Marriage to Ida Smith Richter
4 Jul 1908 Detroit, Wayne, Michigan
Groom's Name: Matelon J. Pember
Groom's Birth Date: 1870
Groom's Birthplace: Indiana
Groom's Age: 38
Bride's Name: Ida Smith Richter
Bride's Birth Date: 1875
Bride's Birthplace: Germany
Bride's Age: 33
Marriage Date: 04 Jul 1908
Marriage Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan
Groom's Father's Name: James Pember
Groom's Mother's Name: Alzma
Bride's Father's Name: Smith
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race: White
Groom's Marital Status: Unknown
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race: White
Bride's Marital Status: Unknown
Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Richter
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M01771-7
System Origin: Michigan-EASy
Source Film Number: 1377650
Reference Number: P145 CN61164
Collection: Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995

Groom's Name:Mateloy J. Pembler      
Groom's Race:      
Groom's Age:38 years      
Groom's Birth Date:1870      
Groom's Birthplace:Indiana      
Bride's Name:Ida Smith Richter      
Bride's Race:      
Bride's Age:33 years      
Bride's Birth Date:1875      
Bride's Birthplace:Germany      
Marriage Type:      
Marriage Date:04 Jul 1908      
Marriage Place:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan      
Groom's Father:James      
Groom's Mother:Alzina      
Bride's Father:Smith      
Bride's Mother:      
Groom's Marital Status:      
Groom's Previous Wife:      
Bride's Marital Status:      
Bride's Previous Husband:      
Film Number:2342683      
Frame Number:      
Digital Folder Number:4032391      
Image Number:246      
Reference Number:v 5 p 278 rn 61163 
   

Groom's Name:Mateloy J. Pembler       
Groom's Race:       
Groom's Age:38 years       
Groom's Birth Date:1870       
Groom's Birthplace:Indiana       
Bride's Name:Ida Smith Richter       
Bride's Race:       
Bride's Age:33 years       
Bride's Birth Date:1875       
Bride's Birthplace:Germany       
Marriage Type:       
Marriage Date:04 Jul 1908       
Marriage Place:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan       
Groom's Father:James       
Groom's Mother:Alzina       
Bride's Father:Smith       
Bride's Mother:       
Groom's Marital Status:       
Groom's Previous Wife:       
Bride's Marital Status:       
Bride's Previous Husband:       
Film Number:2342683       
Frame Number:       
Digital Folder Number:4032391       
Image Number:246       
Reference Number:v 5 p 278 rn 61163       
Collection: Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925
Family Search.org.

on  a 1920 Census I have a Nora Pember I have not found a marriage record so am not sure if she is actually a spouse or not.
1920 United States Census
, Jackson, Michigan

Film Number: 1820774
Digital Folder Number: 4311612
Image Number:  00622
Sheet Number:  5                                                              Estimated
Relation Household          Gender   Race     Marital Status Birth yr Age  Birthplace
Parent    Matilon Pimber   Male    White  Married           1871    49y   Indiana
Parent    Nora Pimber         Female White  Married         1886    34y    Missouri
Son         Arnold M Pimber  Male    White  Single            1907     13y  Michigan
LDS FamilySearch.org Record Search 1920 United States Census. Sorry my citations are not properly done but at least I know where I found it.

Then I found Lizzie [Balliet] Foster whom he married 18 Oct 1923 in Manchester, Washtenaw, Michigan
Groom's Name: Matilon J. Pember
Groom's Race:
Groom's Age: 52 years
Groom's Birth Date: 1871
Groom's Birthplace: Indiana
Bride's Name: Lizzie A. Foster
Bride's Race:
Bride's Age: 47 years
Bride's Birth Date: 1876
Bride's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Marriage Type:
Marriage Date: 18 Oct 1923
Marriage Place: Manchester, Washtenaw, Michigan
Groom's Father: James
Groom's Mother: Elzina Aloy
Bride's Father: Samuel Balliet
Bride's Mother: Alvena Alderman
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband:
Film Number: 2342755
Frame Number:
Digital Folder Number: 4210119
Image Number: 468
Reference Number: v 4 rn 746
Collection: Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925

Groom's Name: Maliton J. Pember
Groom's Race:
Groom's Age:
Groom's Birth Date:
Groom's Birthplace:
Bride's Name: Lizzie A. Foster
Bride's Race:
Bride's Age:
Bride's Birth Date:
Bride's Birthplace:
Marriage Type:
Marriage Date: 18 Oct 1923
Marriage Place: Washtenaw, Michigan
Groom's Father:
Groom's Mother:
Bride's Father:
Bride's Mother:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband:
Film Number: 2342758
Frame Number:
Digital Folder Number: 4210106
Image Number: 134
Reference Number: v 9 rn 746
Collection: Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925
FamilySearch.org

Then I have his last wife as Barbara J. [Stellwag] Schmitzer whom he married in 1929 per Barbara obituary.

It does appear that Florence may be Matelon's mother. I have not been able to find a birth record for him only the record in the Bible presented to him from Mr. and Mrs. Wm Jenkins. So I do not know for sure if all these marriage records are for the same Matelon Pember or not.

Lucinda Josephine Botsford Sewell

I figured I have not written in a few days so I would write a little bit about my Great Great Grandma Sewell. I think my grandma must have been named after her.

Lucinda Josephine Botsford was born February 10, 1848 in Sylvan Center, Washtenaw, Michigan to Samuel and Hepsey (Jackson) Botsford. She married Ira Joseph Sewell March 21, 1869 in Locke, Ingham, Michigan. They had 7 or 8 children. She died July 10, 1925 in Grayling, Crawford, Michigan.

This is a picture of Lucinda J. Botsford Sewell and her sister (not sure of sister's name). Unsure what year this picture was taken.

I don't know much more about her. Maybe as I am doing my research I will find out more about her and her family.

I am just checking my blog

Ok I am just checking to see if my link to my blog is working properly. Not sure if I am connecting to Google+ properly or not.

Had a nice Chat with Mom

I called my Mom and had a 40 minute conversation with her. She still needs to get a hold of one of her doctors that was supposed to get a hold of the doctor that is supposed to do her eye surgery. Hope she gets a hold of the right one and doesn't miss an appointment. She can't figure her voicemail message retrieval system out and I can't explain it to her on the phone.

What will I accomplish today???

It looks like it may rain. It's 70F but damp feeling in the house so I have my flannel shirt on.

I need to call my Mom today and see how she is doing!!! Got my phone all charged up but for some reason she hasn't been talking as long. I think maybe because she has her satellite working on her TV now. She had to have the service people come out and hook it up for her because apparently the fellow that had been there and was going to hook up her converter box from the bedroom TV but didn't get it to work hadn't hooked the cable back up to TV or something. She has to keep up on her soaps.

Sad to say I have not worked to much on my genealogy the last few days. I need to finish looking at some of the 1870 US Census records I downloaded a while back. Just got to get myself in gear.

I think I need to look through my posts to see what and whom I have already written about so that I don't repeat what I've already done. I wish I was a more organized person where I did things in an organized manner.

Oh well, at present I am just going to take it one day at a time. I am doing pretty good on not smoking but I sure get antsy. (But I was doing this before I quite smoking so can't blame it on that.) I have a lot of sorting to do in spare room and basement just got to get myself in gear to do it, but have to wait until Walt is awake. 3rd shift work is the pits to try to get anything done. Have to be quiet so Walt can sleep then by the time he gets up I'm out of the notion. Did I tell ya before I hate the basement steps? Well I do. They are getting unsafe. No railing because they were temporary back in 2004. We have carried a lot of heavy stuff up and down those temporary steps over the years.

Maggie Mae is feeling much better. Not liking her diet. Almost has her medicine all gone.
I just accomplished another thing. I wrote on my blog today!!

You Meet The Nicest People Along Life's Roads

I have met some of the nicest people while blogging and on Facebook, Google and Twitter. Some have some very interesting stories, some are just funny. Some are full of resources and information, some like to tell jokes.

Thank God for all the different people we run across in life. Our lives are much more interesting this way. How boring if we were all the same, did all the same things, acted the same way and talked the same way.

I don't know about you but me I look forward to reading posts everyday, thru out the day. Feel my day is not complete otherwise. And you just never know when you may happen to run into a cousin, an Aunt, Uncle or maybe someone else!!!! 

 I know I wish my Mom knew how to use her computer and had internet. It would make communicating with her easier (in some ways).

Well you all have a great evening!!!! Enjoy LIFE!!!!

Back In The Day

It rained pretty good last night. I woke up a few times during the night and saw and heard the lightning cracking away out there. I was glad I remembered to shut everything down and unplug things.

Sometimes I wonder how they did things back when my great grandparents were coming up in the world. I know a lot of places didn't have phones (back in 1953). And I'm sure there were still many people without electricity or running water inside the house. Or a bathroom inside the house in fact.

I know the house we lived in, in 1971-1972, didn't have an inside bathroom but we did have a pitcher pump by the kitchen sink. We always had to keep a quart of water to prime the pump otherwise we wouldn't get any water. Luckily my sister-in-law lived next door to us in case we did forget to fill the jug up. Which really was bad in the winter time. Then you would have to walk thru the snow to get to her house, even though it was next door there was a lot of footage between houses. Needless to say this usually happened when Arnie's youngins' were visiting. A few times of them having to go get some water taught them pretty quick.

We had a wash stand in an area of the house by the bedroom and had a curtain up there for privacy when washing up. We had a bucket to throw dirty water in and you used a glass of water to wet your toothbrush, put some toothpaste on your brush, brush them teeth and then rinse them all off with a little water at a time from your glass. Then you would usually have a little water left to rinse out your toothbrush. It was kinda like camping everyday. After a while you just get used to living this way and it doesn't hurt you a bit.

So it just makes you think back to earlier days of your ancestors how they did things and what they did when something didn't quite work the way they needed it to work. I'm sure some would have started throwing things around or cussing a bit or both. Some probably would just shrug there shoulders and do the best they could with what they had. Others probably would have just went without until they could get what was needed.

Today I did a little research on 1870 US Census in Michigan. Didn't find any new connections or references to my family yet. But I have a lot of looking to do.

Spent a Few Minutes With MY MOM!!!

Just called my Mom to see how she is doing!!

 My Sister called me last night while she was waiting for her Grandson to get back from Michigan Adventure. Unfortunately that's on my side of the state about an 1 hour or so South of Me. But she was at his Dad's house waiting for him to get back.

 She wanted to know if I had recovered from my visit with Mom. We both have different approaches to our Mom. And sometimes we both tend to get a little short with her. But we both Love her dearly. I told her how I had told Mom before I ever came that we wouldn't be going places and that she needed to do things like she normally did them. Well needless to say that didn't happen because I wound up taking her to the grocery store and then she decided she needed to see her eye doctor the Friday before I was coming home she made an appointment for Saturday morning.

 I told Cheryl how I stayed out in the car and waited for Mom at the eye doctors and was watching the animals and then it got to be over 2 hours when a lady came out and tapped on the window and told me mom had thought I had run to the store or something and had been waiting for quite a while. I felt bad then that I hadn't went in with her. That's when I realized how Mom's memory is working or not working like it used to.

Mom told me she had a big day at her regular doctor's today. Her cholesterol is up and something else I didn't catch. Might have been her blood pressure. I asked her but she didn't repeat it.

Mom has been working on putting my oldest boy's pictures in an album she bought. He had them in one of the old albums that destroys pictures. It was nice talking to her. It's kind of funny the last few times I've talked to her on the phone she has stayed on very long. It must be because she is busy. Oh well. At least I got to talk to her a little bit and know she is doing OK.

Mom to bad you don't have internet and know how to use it.

Herbert R. Sewell

This is one of my 1st cousin twice removed son. Not sure what that makes him but we always just considered them cousins.
Flint Sailor
Reported Lost,
Is Known Dead

  Herbert Russell Sewell,    20,
third class aviation machinist's
mate in the U. S. Naval Reserve,
reported missing in action last
month is known to have lost his
life, a War Department telegram
informed his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Harry Sewell, Royal Oak,
who formerly lived at 1533 Ari-
zona Ave.
  That his body is interred in
Brazil was disclosed to the par-
ents in a later message. A stu-
dent of Lewis, Lowell and Cen-
tral High School, Sewell enlisted
in September, 1942, after which
his parents moved from Flint.
  On Aug. 5, 1943, his parents
received a letter from their son
and a telegram that he was list-
ed as missing in action. He had
visited in Flint and Clio in July
of this year.
  Surviving are his parents, two
sisters, Mrs. Eva Carroll, Clio;
Jennie at home; three brothers:
Alton Richard Sewell, first class
seaman, serving in the Solomon
Islands; Lawrence Sewell, 911
Moore St., and Robert at home.



His parents were Harry J. Sewell and Viola Frances (Delmarter) Sewell. Herbert was born abt 1923. I need to do more research on him. I need to find out where he was born and the actual date. Would also like to know if his body was ever returned to the United States. And if so where he is buried.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Dinner Time

Week 32: Dinner Time. On a typical childhood evening, who was around the dinner table? Was the meal served by one person, or was it a free-for-all? What is dinner time like in your family today?

Usually around our dinner table it was my Grandma, my Mom, my sister and I. Dad was at work. We all had a hand in setting the table and we always sat at the table to eat. Not like today when everybody does their own thing and eats when they are ready.

I could never understand why Mom cooked 2 big meals. I always wondered why she didn't just cook extra when she was cooking the meal for Dad before he went to work. But I guess she wanted to have fresh for us. In the summer or during school vacation she only cooked 1 big meal before Dad went to work. That was a lot easier on Mom. Not so many dishes to wash either.

Then as us kids got older and was working or doing other activities after school we would just grab something to eat or eat later.

Wordless Wednesday -

 Can anyone out there help me identify anybody in the picture.

I have no idea where the picture was taken or who these folks are, but they were either friends or relatives of the Sewell Family, the Pember Family, Delong Family, or possibly the Cross Family.

A Family Gathering

I am not sure where this picture was taken.  It may be up in Grayling, Crawford, Michigan!
Would really appreciate help on identifying the people in the photo.

Would really like to be able to identify as many people as possible.

Isley D. and Agnes Bell Sewell's Golden Anniversay

Here is a newspaper clipping from their Golden Anniversary

Couple Has Arranged
Open House to Mark
Golden Anniversary



Mr. and Mrs. Isley D. Sewell

  Mr. and Mrs. Isley Dick Sewell,
1345   Jane Ave.,     will observe
their    golden   wedding  with an
open   house   from  1  to  4  P. M.
next Sunday at their home.
  They   were   married   June  12,
1898,  at  Grayling.    Mr.   Sewell
was  born  in  Locke, and his wife,
the  former   Agnes  B.  Graham, is
a native of Burr Oak.
  The  couple  has  lived   in  Flint
30  years.  Mr. Sewell  has  worked
as   an   automobile   repairman  and
was   employed   by   the   Pere  Mar-
quette  for  29  years.
  They  have  two   children,   Alfred
L., Detroit,   and   Mrs.   Lucinda   J.
Pember,   Flint,   and   seven   grand-
children.





Here is a nice list of the guest that attended. It has two sides.

                                 "Golden Wedding Anniversary"           June 12, 1948
                                                                                Mr. & Mrs. Isley D. Sewell
Alfred L. Sewell                                                                     Edward Slezials
Leta Sewell                                                                               Eva L. Felt
Gerald Reid                              Lucinda Pember                        Ruthie Sewell
Irene Townsend
Mary Francis Clark
E J Cross
Mary Eseman
Mr. & Mrs Roy Dildine
Mr & Mrs Harry Wright & Mary Jane
Lyle Clark           226 W Prospect  Jackson Mich.
Mrs Zelphia Berry  4
Stella Sokolowski  Lewis   & Stanley
Emma E Reid
Mr & Mrs Hugh Oaks,   1225 ave. B.
Mr & Mrs Wm L Francis
Mr & Mrs Harry Sewell  Bob & Jenny
Lloyd & Mildred Root
Lorena Stanfield
Mr and Mrs Ira Stanfield
Mr and Mrs Theodore MacKay, Chas, Janet
Lorena Stanfield
Mr & Mrs Albert Sewell    Lansing  Mich  


                                                                       Side 2

Mr & Mrs Harold C. Wilber & Family
  Mrs. Alfred L. Sewell
  Mr. Charles Novak
  Mr. & Mrs John Oliver
  Carl McQueen
  J C Marsh
  Mr & Mrs Peter W. Swartz

Agnes & Isley Sewell 50 years together today!!

Back Row L-R: Zelphia Berry holding her son, Helen Oliver holding Jacqueline Oliver, John Oliver, Stanley & Stella Sokolowski.
Middle Row L-R: Barbara Wilber, Harold Wilber, Isley Sewell, Agnes Sewell, Helen Wilber, Mae Reid.
Front Row L-R: Jacqueline Oliver?, Billy Berry, & ?.

Back Row L-R: Gladys & Harry Wright, ? , Mary Eseman.
Sitting L-R: Isley & Agnes Sewell.

Back Row L-R: ? , ?, Harry & Gladys Wright, Aunt Lorena Stanfield.
SFront Row L-R: ?, Isley & Agnes Sewell, Aunt Mary Eseman.

Isley and Agnes Sewell. What a Happy Couple!!

I

Back L-R: Gerald Reid, Christine Pember, Leta & Ruthie Sewell.
Front Row L-R: Lucinda Pember, Isley & Agnes Sewell, Alfred Sewell.

Isley & Agnes Sewell with their Cake.

Ira Stanfield and his Mother Lorena Stanfield.

Agnes Sewell is on sidewalk with her back to camera and Mildred is near porch

Lloyd & Mildred Root, Theodore MacKay, Theodore's daughter and Mickey MacKay and Theodore's son is looking back at him.

What an great and happy day this was for the Sewell family and all their guest.

Sorting Saturday - Newspaper Clippings, Obits, Etc.

I have been busy sorting the newspaper clippings I brought back from my Mom's that I need to scan. I also have to go thru her scrapbook she has had for years. Everything is in there and some of the Obits I scanned the other day she has in there also. Some things are on family, some on friends, some are jokes, some are poems.

It will be a little bit of a challenge since she glued all the clippings into her scrapbook and the pages are bigger than my scanner. Some she has right tight together and others are spaced apart.

I also have some more photos of unknown people I need to scan. I know they are either friends of family that is no longer here or family that my Mom couldn't remember.

The one problem with all these clippings most of them do not have a date, or what newspaper they were in. So sourcing is going to be really challenging. I think some came from up north, some from Flint, some from Lapeer, and some from down state Jackson or South Haven area. Some are real old with tiny print.

Oh WELL. One piece of information at a time. 

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Grandparent's House

I remember as a young girl going to my Great Grandpa and Grandma's house in Fostoria, Michigan.

There house had burned down at some point and they turned their one barn into a house. In the back of the house there was a door that went into where they had a stall for a couple of horses. They had no inside plumbing. The main part of the house that I can remember is where the kitchen and livingroom was at. It was all one room. Grandma was a short heavy set lady and Grandpa was tall and thin. There was just enough room between her counter and the table for Grandma to get through. I remember her table always had the dishes on it ready for the next meal. Grandma and Grandpa didn't have much because they had lost most of everything in the fire. But I remember Grandma making a meal out of whatever she had and it was good.

My Mom stayed with them for a while before I was born when my Dad was in the service. I have pictures of my mom hanging diapers that she made on the clothesline.

I don't remember if they had a TV or not but am pretty sure they had a radio of some type. I remember a big dresser along one wall and it had an opening under it and they kept a few toys under there. One toy I especially remember was a pull toy that was a dog. We used to play a lot with it. Grandpa's chair was not far from this dresser.

Grandma and Grandpa didn't have a phone. So Grandpa had to run down to the neighbors to call the doctor. My sister was born in this house and my Grandma delivered her. She had been a midwife and saved everything for the doctor who arrived after my sister was born.  Grandma didn't even realize she didn't have her glasses on until after everything was over. My sister was breech and the cord was wrapped around her neck but Grandma saved her. We always wondered if that was why my Sister was a little slower catching onto things or not.

This is a picture of my Great Grandma Sewell and my Grandma Gibbs and Whitey on the left side of the picture by Great Grandma. This was taken in July 1952 before I was born.

Whitey was born a few months before me. I don't know exactly when he was born but I know he was older than me.

There was a lot of Clay soil at Grandma and Grandpa's. I remember my Mom telling of my Grandpa trying to teach my Grandma Gibbs to drive the tractor in the field. She never did learn how to drive.

I remember us going out to visit Grandma and Grandpa and playing in the dirt. We sure would get dirty. A little soap and water cleaned us up pretty quickly. I wish I had a picture of the house and the barn that shows how the place was set up. But I don't have one. I remember the house was on the right side and there was the outhouse, and on the other side of the driveway was a big barn. I wonder what ever became of the place after Grandma and Grandpa passed on. I know it was in probate for a long time but don't know if it ever got settled or not.

Lucinda Josephine (Botsford) Sewell

Not sure if this is considered a Funeral Card or not. I thought it was quite elegant. It does not mention a Funeral Home or anything except her name, date of death, and age. It is printed only on one side of heavy cardboard.


Lucinda Sewell
Died July 10, 1925
Age 77 years.

This was my Great-Great Grandma Sewell. She married my Great-Great Grandpa Sewell March 21, 1869 in Locke, Ingham, Michigan, USA.


This is one of the treasures I was able to scan that my Mom has in her possession.

Wordless Wednesday - Farmers Picnic Crawford Co, Michigan Sep 2, 1902

I'm not sure who all is in this picture. I'm sure there is probably some Sewell's in there. This is a picture my Mom has in her possession. No one is identified in the picture. Maybe someone out there can help me find out who this folks are. Don't know the location only that it was in Crawford County, Michigan.

I'm Back!!!

I had a great visit with my mom. Got a lot of pictures scanned. Still have quite a few to scan. She let me bring home 2 of her photo albums and her scrap book that she has Obituaries and some other newspaper clippings in, along with Funeral Cards.

I noticed she is having a little trouble staying focused on things at times. She also gets a little confused when doing projects. But we got thru it. The one drawer that I had put a bunch of genealogy related things in when I was there for 3 weeks in December 2009 she had taken everything out of and I have no idea where she put it. I didn't run onto some of the things I could remember putting in that darn drawer.
She had emptied out the 6 or so boxes of stuff she needed to sort through that I had removed from all the drawers and commodes in her new room. Hard to tell where she put it all.

Spent 2 days on her checking accounts. Luckily she only has two. She had not recorded nothing since Feb 2010 in her check registers and couldn't find the paper she had been keeping track on. She had taken her register and checks out of the checkbooks. So I got them all back together for her. Got both checking accounts all balanced out.

It will take me a few days to get my thoughts together and figure out who and what I want to write about. I have the pictures all linked up to at least one member of a family that had more than one person in them.

Looking at SAR Records

I have been looking at the SAR records on ancesty.com. So far I have looked at Pember, Sewell. I need to finish looking at Sewell. I need to look at as many as possible before the free offer ends.
ancestry.com has a lot of great records. I know I will not get thru them all but have to give it my best shot.

Well I'm off on my search. See ya all later!!!

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

Allan Haas Family about 1891

Here is more details on the photo I posted yesterday in Wordless Wednesday.

This picture was sent to us from Marty Haas (a son of Albert and Lucille Haas) a few years ago on a CD he made of some of the family pictures.

This picture was taken about 1891.

Allan is holding onto Daniel Isaac, Mary Anna Marie (Klein) has Susanna sitting on her lap. I'm not sure where the picture was taken.

Just a note on Mary in some records I have her as Mary Anna, Mary Anne, Anna Marie, Anne Marie and possibly a few others. It is probably because of how some referred to her.

This is definitely a family treasure. And I must say not a bad looking family either.


I just love Old Family Pictures. Doesn't matter whose they are, they are all treasures for sure!!!!

Wordless Wednesday -

What have I been doing?

I haven't written on my blog for a while. Been very busy little girl though. What have I been doing?

1. I added a few family members to my WikiTree. Invited someone to my WikiTree.
2. I added family members for Haas, Hare, and Klein to Walt's side of the family on My Family Tree on ancestry.com. Invited someone to that tree. 
3. I have been getting my 1860 Census Record Image linked back up to my Legacy Family Tree program. I'm in Michigan now and have only 4 or 5 more counties to do there. If I remember right Wayne County has several Images. Plus as I have been linking them back up I have put citations in a little better. It's still not perfect because I don't have the film no. on them. Will have to back to the site I got them from to get the film no. But for all the family members I have been putting the residence, occupation and if attending school, for the date that is on the census page. So that gives me a little running history of where they were at and what they might have been doing. Thank GOODNESS for watching the Webinars and learning how to use the clipboard to copy the information to each one the easy way. Thanks Geoff Rasmussen for that tip among other tips he showed on the Webinars. I still get confused on doing some of citations using the source writer, eventually I learn that better. 
4. Listen to some of the Geneablogger Radio programs. (With a few minor glitches of losing internet connection and then losing sound and having to restart a few times.) Even used the chat a little bit more than saying Hi or Nite all and a few Thanks to Thomas and guest speakers. Heck I may get this all down pat sooner or later. 
5. Read a few blogs everyday. 
6. I have been keeping up with my emails both on gmail and yahoo!mail.
7. Went ahead and updated to the new Yahoo!Mail. Then finally figured out why I couldn't see my who was chatting while I was in Yahoo!Mail. I have to sign in thru my Yahoo account can't do it thru google account. 
8. Updated to Mozilla Firefox 5.0. Was a little scared about doing that after reading some of the posts. But everything seems to be working fine. So far so Good!!!
9. Reading Facebook posts. 
10. Added a few new friends. 

What will I be doing?

1. Continuing my Census linking up.
2. Reading Facebook posts.
3. Reading Emails.
4. Reading a few blogs.
5. Trying to keep my self under control. I'm getting so anxious to get over to my Mom's and start scanning pictures and having her help me identifying family and put the information in my Legacy Family Tree. And visiting cemeteries and taking pictures of headstones of our family. And visiting with Walt's sisters and families. Visiting with my Sis and her family. Won't have any internet so won't be able to post, write on blog, or look up information. But I will survive.
6. I have to do some re-organizing in the house. Got to move furniture around and make some room in spare room for some of the furniture. Carrying the old (only had it since Jan. 1990) sofabed out. Take the good mattress off of it and figure out where to store it. Bring the new (good used) couch and loveseat in the house. (Thanks Jesse and Amy). I am probably going to have to part (or maybe take to the basement) my favorite rocking chair. Maggie Mae is sitting in it in the one picture of her. I'm not sure how old it is but it was used when I got it. I cleaned and house sitted for that chair when I was pregnant for David back in 1975. Would like to get it reupholstered some day and new springs put in it.

 Will probably post again before I leave. Then look out!! I plan to do a lot of blogging upon my return from my visit. 

Well, that's it for now. Happy blogging, my friends.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Neighbors

I grew up in a small subdivision on a private lake in Lapeer, Lapeer, Michigan, USA. It was at Pleasant Lake. And most of the time it was pretty pleasant. Of course there was the occasional neighbor kid that would throw sticks or rocks at the dogs and the little spats with our friends which didn't last long.

All in all though all the neighbors pretty much got along and if one neighbor needed help there was always someone to come to the aid of the neighbor. Everybody pretty much looked out for each other.

My Mom was like the neighborhood babysitter. We had several families in the neighborhood that worked days and when we didn't have school or one of the neighbor kids was sick but not sick enough for their parent to stay home, Mom would watch them. She rarely got paid for it, it was just the neighborly thing to do. Neighbors heading into town would stop and see if anyone needed anything. And if there was a Walt Disney Movie playing in Lapeer our happy little bodies would be in their car headed into town to watch it.

Back then you didn't worry about locking your doors. Nobody ever bothered anything. If they stopped by they might open the door and holler and sometimes leave a note on the table. I have to laugh thinking back on it now, because one day one of the kids mom had been watching played with the locks on the door. We didn't notice it and left to go to town to do our shopping. Got home and door was locked. We didn't have a key on us. (It took one of those skeleton keys). The front door out by the lake was locked because sometimes strong winds would blow it open so we had to lock it so it wouldn't blow open. It took us quite a while (seemed like forever) to break in. The windows all had latches on the inside and then there was the long curtain rod that went across the whole length of the windows. We finally got in but it sure was a job. Let me tell you we always checked from that day on to make sure that door wasn't lock before leaving the house.

In the summer we had a neighborhood picnic, everyone bringing a dish to pass and Halloween there was always a Halloween party in the park and at the one neighbors garage which always bobbing for apples went on.

As we got older in our high school days, some of the neighbors moved and the ones that moved in were not always good neighbors. That was when we put new locks on the door and we all had keys. The older neighbors still watched out for everyone but it just wasn't the same as when we were younger. I sure miss those days!!!

Where we live now it is nothing to see law enforcement at a neighbors house or going past sometimes several times in one day. A lot of breaking into homes and out buildings, drugs, fights, you name it. You never know if it was a shot or fireworks going off. We still try to watch out for our neighbors but it sure does get hard at times. You don't know if that vehicle belongs there or not.

The Haas Family Tree is now on WikiTree

I added a page for The Haas Family Tree.

I wanted to put it in the tree format but it kept going to my other format of tree. I don't want to have to setup a new one Family or whatever I would have to do to get it into the tree style. It's been a little bit of a trial and error. When I was adding new family members their locations (for my not living family members) were not showing up on The Haas Family Tree. Oh well, I started losing patience and quit for now.


So for now Benjamin, Walt, his Dad and Mom, and 2 sisters I think are on there. It seems my patience today is not good. Hopefully it will improve because I usually have a lot of Patience. Poor George isn't on there yet. Guess maybe I better go back and get him added. I can't even imagine what problems I may have adding the additional grandparents. Hopefully I will get this down pat. I have several to add.

I have Marriage records and Census records for some. Not sure how to add them or if I can.

I have to have my Legacy Family Tree open at the same time so I can get the information I from there to add on my WikiTree. I didn't upload a Gedcom because I have so much fixing to do and didn't want to enter wrong information. Oh well Onward and Upward.

Possible Marriage License for Joseph Sewell

I think I might have found the marriage license for my Great-Great-Great Grandpa Joseph Sewell and Eliza Ann Dowd. Unfortunately I cannot view the license to see anymore information. I found it usually one of the free sites on my relatively curious toolbar.

It was listed under the free United States (US & individual States) -   Illinois Marriage, 1763-1900. I looked for Joseph Sewell and entered the date of marriage.

Joseph Sewell Marriage License Information

 Groom           Bride                Date               Vol./Page     License No.  County

SEWELL, JOSEPH

SEELEY, ELIZA A

01/25/1841

00A/0078

00000795

TAZEWELL

Joseph Sewell My 3rd Great-Grandfather b. about 1815 d. Nov 3, 1899

[Joseph Sewell b. 1816, Essex County, England.
Migrated to US in 1832
Married Eliza Doud in Illinois in 1841.
Moved to Crawford County with daughter Emily & her husband Judson M. Francis a blacksmith.
( I have not verified this yet. I found this information at Migrations.com Researcher Scott Heil.) ]

I found a Census Record for my 3rd Great-Grandfather Joseph Sewall [Sewell] on FamilySearch.org. I was looking for Joseph Sewell but looking at the one I found this is my Joseph Sewell just spelled Sewall. I am glad I checked this one or I would not have made this connection. I knew he had been born in England from what my mom had told me.

I could not find a city on the schedule but it was in Mason County, Illinois on 31st Oct 1850.

He is on line 18 in Family 256, Household 256. He was a farmer. He is 34 on this census which would put him being born around 1816. He was born in Eng. [England]. My mom has him being born in 1815.

In his household are:
19) Eliza Ann 33 yrs old, a female, I can not tell for sure where it says she was born but other information I have has her being born in Vermont.
20) Ira J. Sewall is 9 yrs old, a male, born in Ill. and has attended school within the year.
21) James G. Sewall is 7 yrs old, a male, born in Ill.
22) Lydia M. Sewall 5 yrs old, a female, born in Ill.
23) Thomas I. Sewall 3 yrs old, a male, born in Ill.
24) Lorenzo D. Sewall 5/12 yrs old, a male, born in Ill.
25) Charles Chatfield 17 [12] yrs old, a male, born in Ohio, attended school within the year. I am not sure who this is, but he could be a member of Eliza's family, or a friend or a boarder.
The person who transcribed the information did not include a middle initial for Thomas or Lorenzo.

"U.S. Census Population Schedule, 1850" index and images, ''FamilySearch'' ([http://www.familysearch.org http://www.familysearch.org]); from United States Census Office. 7th Census. Digital images of originals housed at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.. FHL microfilm. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Film Number: 442908, Digital GS Number: 4191986, Image Number: 00164, Family: 256, Household: 256.
By 5 June 1860 I found him and his family on Page 15 in Stockbridge, Ingham, Michigan 1860 Cenus Records. This one throwed me off at first because it was done with Initials for the first and middle names. But I am pretty sure this is the right family. I am not sure if the Dowd family that is listed above is any relation to Eliza Ann or not but it seems they would be.

I am including the Dowd family here just in case. They start on line 15-18. Dwelling 115 Family 121.
15) J W Dowd 61 yrs old Male, a retired farmer, Real Estate Value of 1600 and Personal Estate value of 600, born in VT. [Vermont].
16) E Dowd 61 yrs old Female, born in VT. [Vermont].
17) J W Dowd 20 yrs old Male, a farmer, born in NY [New York]. Married within the year.
18) S N [?] Dowd 19 yrs old Female, born in NY [New York] married within the year.
My Sewell family starts on line 28-37. In Dwelling 118 and Family 124.
28) J Sewell 43 yrs old Male, a farmer, Real Estate value of 2100, and Personal Estate Valued at 360, born in Eng [England]. [This would be Joseph Sewell]
29) E Sewell 41 yrs old Female, born in VT [Vermont]. [Eliza Ann Sewell]
30) I J Sewell 18 yrs old Male, a farm hand, born in Ill. [Illinois], attended school within the year. [Ira J. Sewell]
31) J. G Sewell 17 yrs old Male, a farm hand, born in Ill. [Illinois], attended school within the year. [James G. Sewell]
32) L. M Sewell 14 yrs old Female, born in Ill. [Illinois], attended school within the year. [Lydia M. Sewell]
33) S. T Sewell 12 yrs old Male, born in Ill. [Illinois], attended school within the year. [This one should be Thomas I. Sewell]
34) S [L] D Sewell 10 yrs old Male, born in Ill. [Illinois], attended school within the year. [This one should be Lorenzo D. Sewell]
35) E G Sewell 8 yrs old Male, born in Mich. [Michigan], attended school within the year. [ This one I'm not sure but it could be Electa Jerusah except Electa is a female in other records]
36) E M Sewell 4 yrs old Female, born in Mich. [Michigan], attended school within the year. [This is Emily uncertain of middle name]
37) H L Sewell 2 yrs old Female, born in Mich. [Michigan]. [This is Harriet L. Sewell]

"U.S. Census Population Schedule, 1860" index, FamilySearch; (http://familysearch.org), from United States Census Office. 8th Census. Digital images of originals housed at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.. FHL microfilm. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Film Number: 803545, DGS Number: 4232698, Image Number: 00105, NARA Number: M653 Note: The actual image can be viewed at www.footnote.com (fees may apply).

Name: Joseph Sewell Gender: Male Burial Date: Burial Place: Death Date: 03 Nov 1899 Death Place: Grayling, Crawford, Michigan Age: 84 Birth Date: 1815 Birthplace: England Occupation: None Race: White Marital Status: Widowed Spouse's Name: Father's Name: Father's Birthplace: Mother's Name: Mother's Birthplace: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: B53287-2 System Origin: Michigan-EASy Source Film Number: 965633 Reference Number: v 1 p 30 Collection: Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995. Name: Joseph Sewell. Family Search Record Search on http://www.familysearch.org.
I am pretty sure this is the correct Joseph Sewell but have not seen an actual document. The family had moved to Crawford county and I have information that Eliza Ann died 3 Feb 1892 but not proven yet.