Texas Rangers - Baseball Team or Law Enforcement

The Texas Rangers were formed in 1835 as a law enforcement branch with statewide jurisdiction in the state of Texas. They handled many high profile cases including Bonnie and Clyde, John Wesley Hardin and the bank robber Sam Bass.

Growing up, I have to admit I had a crush on a Texas Ranger. He was on television every week and had a magnificient white horse name Silver!

If one of your ancestors was a Texas Ranger (law enforcement) check out their official website: http://www.texasranger.org or click on the title of this article.

If you are a Texas Ranager's baseball fan then you will want to visit their official website: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=tex

BTW - There is a section on the Texas Ranger site devoted to the Lone Ranger....


Take Care,
Pattie

Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar

Sunday's Obituary - Walter Axel Johnson

Walter Axel Johnson - Son of Nellie Maish and Edward Johnson

Born: October 12, 1911
Died: May 12, 1949

Blackduck American - May 26, 1949


Walter A. Johnson who was raised in the vicinity of Blackduck and whose lengthy criminal record started in 1929 when he was arrested for theft at the Cross store and sentenced to the St. Cloud reformatory, was shot and killed at a ranch north of Glendive Mont., Saturday morning.

Johnson had escaped the previous Monday from the jail at Fargo, N.D. after slugging the jailer and Bernard P. Quigley, immigration border patrolman, formerly located at Bemidji and well known here. FBI officers were alerted and a hunt conducted that extended over three states. When trailed to the ranch barn, Johnson refused to come out and fired at the officers. He was shot several times and the revolver that he had stolen from the Fargo jailer was found in his hand. Identification was positive through prints. An inquest developed the fact that Johnson had shot himself.

Johnson after his convictions was paroled after serving two years but was again arrested for larceny and given up to five years in Stillwater. Again paroled he was later arrested in North Dakota. He was wanted on numerous charges but was currently being tried in Fargo on a charge of first degree robbery. of the store. The family later moved to Thief River Falls.

Details of the chase have been watched with interest by local residents who were well acquainted with the Johnson family.

Sheriff Cahill was a deputy at the time of Johnson's first arrest and had been active in his arrest in North Dakota

Trilby FL Homecoming Picnic! Saturday, March 19 2011

Greetings to Trilby neighbors and friends from Scott Black

Make plans now to be with us again in Trilby on March 19 2011 for the Trilby Homecoming Picnic, our sixth annual event.


Charlotte Tomkow Whittington has graciously offered her beautiful Hunter Hill property for us again this year.

Location:

Charlotte Tomkow Whittington’s home - Hunter Hill, 36315 Tomkow Lane -
Trilby, Florida. It is located west of Trilby, off County Road 575 at the “S” curve Watch for blue signs.

Hope you can make it and hope you will spread the word among your family and friends.

I'm always trying to find the old Trilby families, so please help me.

The "third Saturday in March" seems to work well in everyone's schedule. Plan to arrive around 10:00 and we'll have our covered dish dinner at high noon and keep on visiting as long as we can!

I keep searching for undiscovered old Trilby photographs and will bring the latest finds with me. Please bring your Trilby photos too. I'm also looking forward to hearing your Trilby stories as well!

Hope to see you again on March 19. Let me know if any questions and please keep in touch!

Scott Black
trilbyboy@earthlink.net

My new three favorite days of the year, alphabetically...Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Trilby Homecoming day!

Tall Tales, Grandpa Johnson and Researching Your Michigan Roots

We all grow up with family stories that have been handed down from generation to generation. While I always knew that some were probably embellished, I had no idea how much until I started researching my great grandfather Elias Johnson, one of the original settlers of Toivola Michigan.

The stories Elias told of his childhood and adulthood before he married my grandmother Anna Hallsten Johnson are all a bit suspect. And did I mention he left a wife and three children in Finland that he never mentioned until they showed up in a nearby town!


I also think that the art of 'spinning a good yarn' is genetic because his son Hardy and my uncle Kenny Keteri were also great story tellers. In fact, Hardy seems to have taken Elias' stories and spun them a little taller!

Uncle Kenny's stories were just pure fun. He made saunas an event for his own children and his nieces and nephews with stories like "The Three Little Pigs from Beacon Hill". We were so lucky that he recorded them because no one could ever tell them the way he did.

If you are starting to research your Michigan roots you might want to check out the website "Seeking Michigan" @ http://www.seekingmichigan.org

And while you are on the website read "The Rough and Rocky Road to Statehood" to get a better understanding of the road to statehood your ancestors travelled 174 years ago.

Michigan became a state on January 26, 1837.

Take Care,
Pattie

Elias and Anna Hallsten Johnson with son John Walter

Sunday's Obituary - Nelta Amanda Schnetlage

Nelta Amanda Schnetlage
Born-June 9, 1908
Died - Oct 27, 1918

Barrington Review - October 31, 1918

Nelta Amanda Schnetlage, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Schnetlage, was born at Barrington June 9, 1908, and departed from 'the earthly house' at Barrington, to be with Jesus, whom she loved, at 2:15 Sunday morning, October 27, 1918, aged 10 years 4 months and 18 days.

She was a brave and patient sufferer, but unsuccessfully resisted the attacks of influenza and pneumonia, and in this she was kindly, lovingly and self-sacrificingly assisted by her loved ones, but the Lord willed otherwise, and to His will they believingly submitted.

From early childhood she was taught at home in the Salem church and Sunday School, where she was a faithful attendant, to know, to love and to believe in Jesus Christ as her Saviour. She loved to read her Bible and The Evangelical and was the youngest subscriber to The Evangelical on our Barrington list of subscribers.

Two sisters, one in infancy, and Helen, almost 3 years old, passed on before her to their heavenly home, where together they are now waiting for the coming of their beloved father and mother, two sisters, Anna and Stella, and one brother, Walter; also many other relatives and a host of friends.

The funeral was held from her late home on North Hawley street Tuesday
afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev John Hoerner, pastor of salem Church, conducting the services, assisted by Rev. H.H. Thoren, presiding elder, Misses Mabel Grebe and Mabel Stiefenhoefer sang three selections at the house and one at the cemetery.

Tips on Tracking the Infamous Members of Your Family Tree

Do you have an ancestors that may have had a colorful past? Are there some family stories that just do not make sense?

I have always found that talking to the 'non member' of the family can give the best results. What exactly does that mean? Instead of talking to your father or mother's brother or sister, talk to their spouse.

My father came from a family that produced many male heirs. The ones that I grew up knowing or talked to later in life wanted to help with my family research, but did not have a lot of 'new' information to contribute. BUT, their wives, now they had some stories to tell!

Bottom line, do not overlook the spouses of your direct or indirect ancestors. I also found that while the spouse was in the room, the conversation was a bit mundane. But, once alone I got some great family stories that helped me break down some brickwalls and gave me some ideas on alternative research strategies.

If you find that an ancestor may have been on the "wrong side' of the law you might want to visit:

www.ancestorhunt.com/prison_search.htm

Good Luck and Happy Researching
Pattie

What's For Dinner - Civil War Era Recipes

While researching your Civil War ancestors, have you ever wondered what their meals were like? There were no K-Rations, C-Rations, MRE's or MCI's. Heck, they did not even have my dad's favorite - SOS!

To find out more about the meals that were prepared during the Civil War check out the link below or click on the title of the article:

http://www.civilwarinteractive.com/cooking

There are articles spanning subjects from the herbs used during the Civil War to 98 Civil War Booze Recipes. Enjoy!

Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar

Pattie

Brickwalls, Rootsweb and Me

Networking, connecting,facebook friends, emailing, blogging, researching, texting, Googling, Find A Grave... Can you be too connected?

Can you overload yourself with too much information about your family tree? Years ago I would have said, “Never!” But that was before I started leaving all those messages.

Late one night, with a stack full of brick walls and dead ends sitting in front of me, I started leaving messages. I left a few on Rootsweb Message Boards, one or two on some County Websites, and then, in desperation I joined some new mailing lists and sent a few emails.

Blurry eyed I went to bed frustrated but satisfied. I had finally left messages or written those emails I had thought about, but had never actually sent. If I did not track down William, Nellie, Jane, Myrtle, or Charles it would not be because I had not tried. What happened over the next month was unbelievable. I had responses to all my inquiries, many of which were matches.

I have gone back and looked at the postings. I wanted to see if they were better written or had better titles to understand why suddenly everything came together. I have found that some were quite badly written. In my defense, it was late at night! But, what I have learned is to take the time to write the email or post the message.

For months I was still reading, researching, verifying, and transcribing all the information I received. And I have continued getting emails from different people that have come across the original postings. True, I did not find my William Schultz, but I did come in contact with many other Williams, and someday, maybe, one of them may connect to mine.

So, can you be too connected? Maybe not too connected, but instead just a little overwhelmed and grateful for all the responses I received from those messages I left one very late night.


*Updated version of a previously published article

Sunday's Obituary - Ole Lukken Drowns in Blackduck Mn

Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar

Ole Lukken
Born abt 1887 - Norway
Died July 27, 1914- Blackduck, Beltrami, MN

The Blackduck American - July 29, 1914
Blackduck Lake Claims A Victim

Ole Lukken Drowned While Swimming - Sherm Maish had Narrow Escape in Attempt at Rescue


Ole Lukken was drowned in Blackduck Lake yesterday afternoon while in swimming near the south shore of the lake opposite the home of D.W.Burr. Up to the hour of going to press the body had not been recovered altho searchers have been at work dragging the waters ever since the accident occurred.

Sherman Maish, father-in-law of the drowned man and the only eye witness to the tragedey, narrowly escaped death in attempting to save his son-in-law from a watery grave. Maish tells the story of the drowning substantially as follows:

We had been at working lathing Mr. Burrs's home and finished it shortly after dinner but decided to wait till evening in order to return across the lake with Robert Ingersoll in the latter's launch. In the meantime we decided to try fishing for a while and after securing some minnows and a few frogs pushed an old barge out about half a mile from shore where we anchored it.

After fishing a while without success Lukken suggested a plunge in the lake. Altho both Lukken and I were good swimmers I hesitated but he continued urging me and finally we undressed and Lukken plunged into the water and began swimming. With a sort of apprehension I stayed on the boat hesitating when I noticed Lukken's feet out of the water and his head under. I called to him to quit fooling that way as he might need help sometime. He kicked a few times and I began to think that he was in trouble so jumped in and swam towards him.

As I reached him he grabbed me around my head and we both went down. As we came to the surface he loss his hold. "CANT READ SENTENCE" . He didn't utter a sound. Again I tried to get hold of him and he caught my foot. I think if he had held on to my foot or in any helped I could have hauled him to safety, but he let go and I didn't see him anymore in my excitement I swam back to the barge and had a hard struggle to get up on. I was nearly all in. I went down once while trying to get on but finally got hold of the anchor rope and pulled myself up. Then I shoved the boat to the spot where I thought he went down and tried to locate him but couldn't find him. The bottom was muddy and a body would probably sink into the mire. Then I went for help and ____ was sent to town."

J.M. Reed, Dr. Koch and others hurried to the lake with poles and hooks and began a search for the body. Late in the evening dynamite was used in hopes of raising the body but without success. Lights were used until two o'clock this morning when the search was abondoned to be renewed at daylight.

Lukken leaves a wife and five small children. He was 38 years old. His mother and brothers who reside at Erskine were notified and arrived in the village this morning.

The Blackduck American - August 5, 1914

After resting at the bottom of Blackduck Lake for over two days the body of Ole Lukken whose drowning was chronicled in last week's American was brought to the surface by means of a long pole and a hook attached which caught under the arm of the deah man. The place where the body was found was only within a few feet of where he was said by his father in law, Sherm Maish, to have disappeared.

The body was immediately brought to J.M. Reed's undertaking rooms and prepared for burial and the funeral was held Saturday afternoon from the Scandinavian Church were services were conducted by Rev. O.V. Elnarson, assisted by Rev. J.H. Frarey of the Presbyterian Church.

USGS Topographic Quadrangle Map - Blackduck, Minnesota (Folded/Waterproof)

Grand Rapids - Winni & Bemidji Area Fishing Map Guide

Make It More than a Day Off of School - Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday

Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar

Explore the heritage and genealogy of Martin Luther King Jr. with your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews at the National Archives this Monday.

Visit:

http://www.archives.gov/southeast/education/resources-by-state/mlk-genealogy.html

Copy and paste this link into your browser or click on the title of this article.


Thanks,
Pattie

Blogs, Blogs and More Blogs Available on Smartphones

Readers of the Everyday Genealogy blog may not realize that it is one of four blogs authored by myself and Pam Treme.

To assist our readers using moblie devices we are participating in the Bloggers 'Beta' Mobile Template. What this does is make our blogs easier to read on Smartphones and hopefully encourage more followers.

Here is a list of the blogs that appear on Twitter under EverydayGene:

Everyday Genealogy: http://everydaygenealogycalendar.blogspot.com
A blog supporting the Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar offering hints, tips and advice on genealogy research. Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar

Technology Tamers: http://technology-tamers.blogspot.com
Pam and I speak at genealogy societies in Florida and we use this blog to promote our lectures. Our goal is to make genealogists aware of how technology can assist in their research and encourage them to publish their results.

My McKee Family Tree: http://alexandermckee.blogspot.com
This blog was created by Pam to share her in depth research of the McKee family. Her goal is to document all the McKee's that migrated to Southern Illinois.

Pack Peddler's Place: http://packpeddler.blogspot.com
My grandmother nicknamed me Pack Peddler when I was a child and this blog reflects my collection of ideas, family stories and genealogy journeys. And my love/hate relationship with my eReader!

Thanks,
Pattie

Invitation Received

Thank you for the invitation to write on your blog. Now you're going to have to explain to me how you did it!

I've started using my desk calendar. I've already got a page saved...the one with 50 state time lines. I'll need the link when I start writing family history articles again.

Family Legends vs Genealogy Research

When I first met my future husband in 1969 we made the usual small talk and part of that was about our heritage. With a last name of Schultz I was not surprised that he had German ancestors. What did surprise me a bit was when he said that he was also part Native American Indian. I had no reason to question his claim and did not give it much more thought.

Flash forward thirty five years and you can guess my dilemma. Despite all my research, the research of others and a mtDNA test I cannot find any trace of Native American ancestry in his maternal family tree. I have grilled researchers from across the country and while they have all heard the story, they cannot find any Native American ancestry either.

What I did find was that his great grandmother, Martha Marsh Maish was born in Boone County, Indiana. So she was FROM Indiana, but not Indian. I have shared the information with his mother and her family, and while they respect my research, I think they feel that I may have missed the boat on Indian research.

If you are researching a Native American ancestor that lived on a reservaton there was a yearly census between 1885 and 1940.

The Indian Census Schedules are available on Ancestry.com (subscription required) and at the National Archives and Records Administration on microfilm.

Good Luck Researching!
Pattie

Ella Harmon Marsh Booth (left) Martha Marsh Maish (right)
Mable Maish Lukken with daughter Mable (center)

Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar

Genealogy and the Younger Generation

People are always asking how to get the 'next' generation interested in genealogy. The trick, I think, is not to get them interested in genealogy, but to show an interest in them.

Sharing interests or hobbies is a two way street so be prepared to learn about the latest television show or collectable. When it is your turn try to relate some facet of your genealogy research to their interest.

If you have a grandchild, niece or nephew who is interested in science, music, sports, etc. tell them a story about an ancestor who had similar interests or was in a related profession. My granddaughter was surprised to find that she had an ancestor who lived in many of the same towns as the Ingalls family. Now whenever Little House on the Prairie is on I remind her that Grandma Maish grew up in very similar circumstances.

If you want the next generation to be interested in your genealogy research show them how it relates to their lives and hobbies. You might be surprised.

For more hints, tips and suggestions be sure to check out http://www.everydaygenealogy.com for our desk calendar. Or follow the link below to Amazon.



Is there a youngster in your family that would enjoy reading about the Ingall's family?

New Mexico Becomes a State!

New Mexico became the 47th state of the union on January 6, 1912. It was followed shortly after by Arizona in February.

To discover more about New Mexico's march to statehood and where to start on your genealogical research try these two sites:

Rocky Mountain Archive: http://rmoa.unm.edu/index.php

New Mexico Tourism Dept: http://newmexico.org/

Thanks,
Pattie

Did Your Ancestors "Go West"?

One of the most frustating things for me is having to start researching in a 'new' state. It has taken me years, but if I find a new ancestor in the Midwest I can quickly make progress getting their information together.

But all too often one of these midwestern ancestors went west and I am scouring about to find records in far flung states, like Alaska.

The Alaska History and Genealogy (www.alaskagenealogy.com) has original content and links to other sites to help in your research, so if one of your ancestors had that 'Westward Ho' bug, check it out.

BTW - Alaska became a state on January 3, 1959.

And for more hints, tips and suggestions pick up a copy of the Everyday Genealogy Desk Calendar!