Follow Friday - Favorites

Favorites is my weekly list of favorite genealogy, history and random finds from across the Net.

A wonderful genealogy relationship yields more surprises, from Old Stones Undeciphered: Treasure Chest Thursday: To My Complete Surprise
Recovering the photos Sandy tried to destroy: Finding Joy Among the Wreckage
A Civil War Serial Killer?: A Serial Murderer in the Regiment?
A nod for my love of 19th century murder mysteries: Murder by Gaslight
Remembering a WWI Soldier at Family History Fun: A Soldier's Short Life
A great tip for Pinterest Groupies: How to Save a Copy of your Pinterest board as a PDF
Hanging from the Family Tree tries Re-searching your Research
A great checklist for Civil War research from Poore Boys in Grey: Facts to look for in researching you Civil War ancestor
Check out this beautiful genealogy bookcase at One Rhode Island Family: A Genealogy Bookcase
An idea for remembering your loved ones: Colorful Memories of Mom

Thankful Thursday - Ohio Probate Records

Today I am thankful to Kathryn of Kathryn's Quest. She recently wrote a post about her Irish brick wall and in that post she mentioned that Ohio Probate Records were recently added to FamilySearch.org. Although I subscribe to updates from FamilySearch, I wasn't aware of this new addition to their records until I read Kathryn's post.

My Kuhn line runs deep in Ohio and more specifically in Richland County, Ohio. So I immediately headed to Ohio, Probate Records, 1789-1996 to look for my Kuhn ancestors. The first ancestor that sprang to mind was Samuel Kuhn, my fourth-great grandfather. I have written about his oldest son, Philip, many times on this blog specifically here and here. In an amazing piece of luck, I was able to find Samuel's will in the first book I looked at. That never happens!

This was a great will because it had a full listing of his next of kin, their relationship and their current address.

My third-great grandfather is listed third and is living in Baldwin, Kansas. There are four full pages of the will including the text used for announcing the probate in the local newspaper. This is a wonderful addition to my files and I have Kathryn to thank for it!

Wordless Wednesday - In the Garden

A nice break from cold weather. Hazel McGuire White in a garden.

Saturday Source - Kansas Memory

I was born and raised in Missouri, just a few miles from the Kansas border. Many of my relatives lived in the state (as did I for a few years) so I find myself researching there quite often. The other day I came across, again, the great website Kansas Memory and decided it was high time to highlight it.

Created by the Kansas State Historical Society, Kansas Memory is an online repository for all things Kansas. I have found several digitized atlases that have helped me pinpoint my ancestors. I even found a photo of a distant uncle. You can browse their collection by county, topic or just conduct a search. You can also set up a free account and add your finds to an online "notebook." Remember, however, that the KSHS requires permission is granted prior to posting things you find on their site to your own website. This website is a tool-kit must have for anyone researching Kansas ancestors.

Follow Friday - Favorites

I am to the point in my blog reading career where I find a ton of great links that I'm sure you all will like. So I've decided to start a Favorites feature. I'll post the links I've found that either have great genealogy tips or are of historical interest. Enjoy!

Edward Ray, the Ghost of the Panama Canal, aboard the steamship "Panama" en route to the Canal Zone.

Even Lincoln had love problems: Abraham Lincoln to Mary Owens: "It's Not You, It's Me."
A Harrowing Homecoming: The Ghost of the Panama Canal
The diary of a Confederate girl: "Death seemed inevitable & I thought it was well to take it coolly."
A great reminder for farm research from Nancy at My Ancestors and Me: Farmers in Your Family Between 1850 and 1880?
Help with Ohio ancestors from Kathryn at Kathryn's Quest: Ohio Probate Records on Family Search
A war map: 1914: A Daily Mail War Map
A nursing story at My Genealogical Journey: Army Nurse

If you are interested in great history posts across the web, visit the Two Nerdy History Girls blog which has a great weekly featured called Breakfast Links and was one of my inspirations for starting my own favorites feature!

Thankful Thursday - ebay and old photos

Today it is Thanksgiving and I'm blessed to be able to spend the day with my family (and have written this prior so as to not interrupt the visit!). I'm not a big fan of the marketing frenzy rushing toward Christmas that has completely washed over this important holiday. I love this holiday. It is the time of year where my in-laws come to visit and we get to spend quality time together...something that is difficult for families living two states apart.

Today I have decided to tell you about a recent purchase I made on eBay. I love eBay. For me it is the hunt that is so enticing. I'm just sure that one day I'll find a photo of an ancestor or just the perfect piece of ephemera for my WWI collection. The other day I noticed a listing for six photo albums dated around WWI.

I'm not really sure why I was drawn to these albums. There were no close up photos in the listing, so I had no idea if there would be anything in of interest to me. But I spent a sickening amount of money on them anyway and instantly felt buyer's remorse! When they arrived, however, my remorse flew out the window.

In a weird coincidence, three of the albums include photographs from northwestern Arkansas in the 1920s. They include photos of students heading off to the University of Arkansas and photos of small-town Arkansas. Have I mentioned that I am currently living in Arkansas? I plan to offer these albums to the University or to a myriad of organizations here in the state capitol.

Two of the other binders include photos taken by an artistic Soldier stationed in France during WWI, to include some random ephemera from the time. This, for me, was a goldmine. The Soldier took many photos of historic France as well as himself and his buddies.

Although there are no names attached to the photos, in one you can clearly see the Soldier's patch: 79th Infantry Division.

The 79th Infantry Division's lineage is carried on by a unit that I am currently assigned to. What are the chances that six random photography albums from a seller in Illinois would end up with content relevant to me? Not relative to my family, but content I can embrace and hopefully return to the rightful owner. All of the sudden I'm not longer ashamed of what I paid for the albums. I'm just thankful for coincidences.
 

Tuesday's Tune - MacArthur Park

Ah, MacArthur Park. A random song whose meaning is elusive. I remember hearing this song growing up and I loved it. I mean, who wouldn't love a song about cake, right? Remember the words?

"MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark,

All the sweet green icing flowing down. 

Someone left the cake out in the rain.

I don't think that I can take it,

'cause it took so long to bake it.

And I'll never have that recipe again...OH NO!"

MacArthur Park was written by Jimmy Webb and first recorded by Richard Harris in 1969. There were many covers of the song, to include Donna Summers and the Temptations. To me, the Richard Harris version will always be the best. Only he can sound so emotionally disturbed by the mistreatment of a cake.

As it turns out, that cake is meant to represent a relationship. Enjoy!