Texas History Hunter

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Welcome to My Genealogy Lens

This lens is about my love of genealogy, research and family history.

I have been involved in my family research since 1982 and have been assisting others since 1990.

Be sure to visit PAGE 2

Beginnings 

For those who are new to genealogy, "how to begin" is probably one of the hardest steps. I think it is perceived as hard because of the simplicity.

As the old saying goes, you begin at the beginning. You are the beginning.


  • Who are your parents? (every scrap of info you can get, ie birth dates, birth locations, places lived, schools attended, when, where... etc)
  • Who were their parents?(every scrap of info you can get, ie birth dates, birth locations, places lived, schools attended, when, where, death dates, location, cemetery... etc.)
  • Who were your grandparent's parents? (same as above)


By now I think you are getting the idea. You want to become a super sleuth and get to know as much as there is to know about your family.

You can get started here:
RootsWeb General Search



You can also download a FREE Family Tree Template below.
Downloadable Family Tree Template


--->TIP: Order Birth and Death Records Online!

Get Organized 

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Once you begin, you will start to collect a massive amount of information. What to do with it all?

There are several methods or dealing with the data and you will develop your own method once you get an understanding of the basics.



Once you decide just how you want to organize and maintain your collection of data, you will began to find genealogy is purely addictive.

You begin to know your family and ancestors on a more intimate level.

I have loved westerns all my life but it wasn't until I became familiar with my ancestors (their names, where & when they lived, what they did, etc.) that westerns became alive for me.

While watching Kevin Costner's "Wyatt Earp" (set in the 1880s time frame), I can recall thinking, "my great-great-grandmother must have dressed like that". All of a sudden, it made her very real for me.

Family Tree Maker 2009 is HERE 


Family Tree Maker 2009




Late night...can't sleep...Do GENEALOGY!!
Genealogy Buff is always OPEN

eBooks

Immediate Download

From those who offer their expertise 

You will need a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader

For new family genealogist:

This ebook is on sale and has a surprise bonus. Check it out!:
Step-by-Step Genealogy Guide: How to Make a Family Tree

This ebook is great for those just starting out. Answers many questions, like how to use the IGI. It's on sale too!
Genealogy: Uncovering Your Ancestry

Look here first! This ebook is on sale & has a surprise bonus!
Voodoo Genealogy...The Proven Family Tree Creation System

To research and create your family tree today, you need an expert guide or resource that can teach you the ropes and have you researching and finding valuable information in a very short time.
The Kitchen Table Genealogist: How To Research and Build Your Own Family Tree!

For the more experienced family genealogist:

Resource Kit! Packed full of information, tutorials, excel sheets and much more to help with researching Irish ancestors. Best for those with computer experience.
Guide To Irish Genealogy And Tracing Your Irish Ancestry Resource Pack

Genealogy ebook packed with family history research tips that reveal creative ways to outsmart your elusive ancestors!
The Desperate Genealogist's Idea Book: Creative Ways to Outsmart Your Elusive Ancestors

British Isles Family History Package (includes Pdf Resource Report + 2 Audio Podcasts + Screencast Video) To Aid Those Starting To Research Their UK Ancestors. Useful Breaking Down Brickwalls. *Bonus Video.
Nosey Genealogist: Beginning British Isles Family History!

Step by step instructions to preserve the Life Stories of YOUR family (on sale)
How to Create Life History Videos

Teaching Guides:

Printable Lapbooking Projects About Various People Groups And Eras In The History Of South Africa Including The San, The Dutch, The French Huguenots, The 1820 Settlers, The IsiXhosa, The Zulu, The Great Trek, The South African War And More.
South African History File Folder Projects.

Charts

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Where to Get Help 




Here is a place that has been assisting genealogist, whether the professional or the family genealogist, for decades:
Click here for The Ancestry Store

Once you start, you will see that older family members are willing to help. Older people love and NEED to talk about their youth.

They will offer you family stories and photos. These, you will come to learn, are more precious than gold or diamonds.

Also, you will want to visit your local library or newspaper for archives of the old editions.

I collect obits as there is allot of good info in an obituary! My OBIT page

Obituary Collection


Historic Newspapers Online


For my ancestors, I have started gathering World War Draft Registration cards. You can find these on Ancestry.com but you have to be a *member.

In the sample below, I see that General Monroe CROSS ("General" was his first name, not a rank) lost one eye prior to registering. The information also gathered from the card tells me he had blue eyes and black hair and his birth date is given, as well as where he was living at the time. This is all great info!

*See Free Trial Membership Programs at bottom of page.


Photos 

Below is a photo of Battery "B", 12th FA (Field Artillery), Ft. Sam Houston, taken in Feb. 1925.
On the back:
Photo #1010-A
National Photo Service
737 E. Houston St.
San Antonio, Texas


My grandfather, Wilburn Joseph "Bill" Wilkinson, is on the top row, second from the right.

Click here To see the entire photo

Battery B, 12th Field Artillery, Ft. Sam Houston 1925

Already a Footnote Member? Good until Aug 1st 2009


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Hidden Treasures 

Below is my grandfather's 1911-1912 school year report card. He was seven years old.

From this card I see that he had a nickname, "Willie" and that his teacher's name was Sarah Cruse.

On the inside of his report card, I find my great-grandfather's signature. His name was Jefferson David Wilkinson, but he must have gone by "Jeff" since that is how he signed my grandfather's report card.

I also see that my grandfather was absent from school during Jan & Feb. I know that he injured his foot in a sawmill accident in 1912. Now I can surmise that it must have been during these two months.

(Isn't it amazing that my grandfather, just 7 years of age, would be working in a sawmill?)

1912 Report Card, Village Mills, Hardin Co., TX (a)

1912 Report Card, Village Mills, Hardin Co., TX (b)

1912 Sawmill Injury. Kirby Sawmill Hardin Co., TX

Calculate Birth or Death Dates:

*News ~ News*

Genealogical Research In Ireland. Specializing In Birth Certificates For Irish Citizenship. Also Assessments, Wills, Land Records, Census Records And Birth, Death, And Marriage Records.
Genealogist In Ireland

Census Records 

Census records are wonderful. They can also be frustrating.

They are wonderful because of the amount of information you can find. The 1900 census has the month & year someone was born. If you didn't know when someone was born (was it 1885 or 1886, what month was it) and if you were to find them in the 1900 census, you should be able to find this information.

Note: As with all records, there is always the chance of a mistake.

There are very few census records for 1890 (less than 1% actually) due to a fire in 1921. Some states or counties have been able to create a substitute based on tax list, voters list and city directories.





Indian Census Collection


Below is a section of the 1900 Census for Collin County, TX. In order to make the image fit where you could actually see the birth year & month, I had to crop it in such a manner than you do not see the birth location of not only the person but also of their mother and father.

People were very proud to be born in the United States and some times, instead of their state, they'll simply put "United States of America". For us, this can be frustrating if we were hoping to get a lead on a more narrow scope.

But if they were immigrants, then this information would be helpful as it would say the country such as Switzerland, Germany, etc.



--->TIP: Search US Federal Census Records

1900 Collin Co., TX

Why Cemeteries 

PROUD CONTRIBUTOR TO THE FIND A GRAVE WEBSITE:

Photobucket



I love cemeteries. Not only for the historical and genealogical information they can provide, but because they are a place of solitude and quiet reflection. I find them to be peaceful and pleasant.

Headstones can be a resource for information. Most headstones do only have the typical name, dates and sometimes their military reference.

You may find a middle name or even a maiden name. This is always a little gem if you didn't already have this.

"Striking gold", as I call it, is when you locate a headstone with information you didn't know where to get such as:

1. Not knowing where they came from so how to find their marriage date?

2. Who did they marry?

If you had only sparse details, any piece of information would be of great benefit!

In the image below, we find that Victoria was the wife of Scott Field. She was born July 13, 1851. Victoria married Scott on Dec. 13, 1874 and that she died Feb. 21, 1877.

Victoria Fields, Calvert City Cem.,Calvert, Robertson Co., Texas

It is true that I don't know where these events happened but at least I have a date and that is a big help.

I don't know her maiden name. In the 1870 census, she would have been listed by that name and because she died in 1877, she isn't in the 1880 census.

--->TIP: Search the Social Security Death Index



The next step I would take would be to go to the courthouse and go through the Probate Records. I would also go through the newspaper archives to see if I could find an obit listed in 1877.

NOTE: The newspapers of that day were not laid out in neat little sections like we have today. It may take a while to find her obit, if there is one however, I find reading these old papers to be very interesting.

1880 Newspaper image borrowed from www.Verndalemn.com

Related Items on eBay

page 2

Essential Books for the Genealogist Library 

Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case by Christine Rose

Genealogical Proof Standard: Building a Solid Case by Christine Rose

The Genealogical Proof Standard is the standard se more...0 points

DNA & Genealogy by Colleen Fitzpatrick

DNA & Genealogy by Colleen Fitzpatrick

DNA & Genealogy is more than a textbook on DNA more...0 points

Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs by Maureen A. Taylor

Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs by Maureen A. Taylor

In this visually stunning book of historic family more...0 points

The Family Tree Problem Solver: Proven Methods for Scaling the Inevitable Brick Wall by Marsha Hoffman Rising

The Family Tree Problem Solver: Proven Methods for Scaling the Inevitable Brick Wall by Marsha Hoffman Rising

Complications arising from incomplete or missing r more...0 points

Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures by Christine Rose

Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures by Christine Rose

Finally--the only guidebook devoted exclusively to more...0 points

Walking With Your Ancestors: A Genealogist's Guide To Using Maps And Geography by Melinda Kashuba

Walking With Your Ancestors: A Genealogist's Guide To Using Maps And Geography by Melinda Kashuba

From locating an ancestor's homesite and where rec more...0 points

Preserving Your Family Photographs: How to Organize, Present, and Restore Your Precious Family Images by Maureen A. Taylor

Preserving Your Family Photographs: How to Organize, Present, and Restore Your Precious Family Images by Maureen A. Taylor

Genealogists and non-genealogists alike love old p more...0 points

Chasing The Frontier: Scots-Irish in Early America by Larry J Hoefling

Chasing The Frontier: Scots-Irish in Early America by Larry J Hoefling

The story of the Scots-Irish is one of the struggl more...0 points

Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians

Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians

Professional Genealogy is a manual by professional more...0 points

Genealogy Online by Elizabeth Powell Crowe

Genealogy Online by Elizabeth Powell Crowe

"With years of experience online, Elizabeth P more...0 points

Tracing Your Irish Ancestors, Third Edition by John Grenham

Tracing Your Irish Ancestors, Third Edition by John Grenham

Professional Irish genealogist John Grenham has wr more...0 points

They Came in Ships: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record (3rd Edition) by John Philip Colletta

They Came in Ships: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record (3rd Edition) by John Philip Colletta

Chances are excellent that your ancestors came to more...0 points

Digitizing Your Family History (Family Tree Books) by Rhonda R. McClure

Digitizing Your Family History (Family Tree Books) by Rhonda R. McClure

Family historians know the value of preserving pre more...0 points

Genealogy Handbook: The Complete Guide to Tracing Your Family Tree by Ellen Galford

Genealogy Handbook: The Complete Guide to Tracing Your Family Tree by Ellen Galford

The most extensive and Internet-savvy resource of more...0 points

A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland, Second Edition by Brian Mitchell

A New Genealogical Atlas of Ireland, Second Edition by Brian Mitchell

Since its publication in 1986, A New Genealogical more...0 points

How to Do Everything with Your Genealogy by George G. Morgan

How to Do Everything with Your Genealogy by George G. Morgan

Anyone interested in discovering their family gene more...0 points

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What You'll Find on Page 2 

* ~ The Joy of Genealogy & Family History ~
* A Little Detective Work
* Learn to "dig" for information
* Genealogical Value of Death Certificates
* Soundex? What's a Soundex?!
* Charts
* Who Are You To Me?
* 5 Generation Chart
* Free P.A.F. software
* What are you waiting for?
* DNA
* What is DNA testing for Genealogy?
* Create your Family History Book, complete with supporting documents!
* What do you love about genealogy?

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