Goals for 2013

 

 

 

 

Here I sit again contemplating the year ahead. One thing I have learned about myself, the more goals I set the more I seem to procrastinate getting projects checked off. So I have been thinking about a new plan of action. Instead of coming up with several goals again this year I have decided on only 3 main goals.

 

 

1. Genealogy Database Clean-up- I used my Family Tree Maker program to print a birthday calendar of the ancestors in my database. Each day for that ancestor I will:

*Search for missing citations

*Be sure that all facts have sources

*Investigate what I have and search for new information 

*Research online databases and see what new resources are available

*Compare FTM with my Ancestry Tree online and see where the little green leaves lead me. I like to investigate the sources and see if they fit.

 

If all goes well by this time next year I will have gone thru almost everyone in my genealogy database. I am also hoping this will help me to improve my research skills and add sources to my research toolbox.

 

2. Keep a family history journal for my family- I have often wondered what everyday life was like for the ancestors I spend so much time researching. So for my kids, future grand kids and future great grand kids I want to journal our personal history to preserve it for the future genealogist in our family. I went to Ancestry.com and About.com  and printed a list of interview questions that I will use as writing prompts.

 

To give myself an added treat, I splurged a little and bought a pretty red and yellow flowered Vera Bradley hardcover journal just to make it more special.

 

3. Get all those photos organized- Since word has gotten thru the family that I have become the self appointed genealogist I have had several family members give me their old photos. I need to get these scanned, copied, labeled and returned to the rightful owner. Many of these I have had for almost 3 years, so I really have to get this goal finished.

 

I have a smaller project that will tie goals 2 and 3 together. I want to take pictures of the few family antiques I have and write what I know about each one. I plan to include the photos and stories into our family history journal, and if possible I want to somehow attach the story to the antique piece.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motivation Mondays--May Goals

If we wait for the moment when absolutely everything is ready, we may never begin___Ivan Turgenev

I came across this quote on an old calendar that I found in a box of junk I had bought at an auction. It kinda fits my family genealogy project. I find that alot of the information I come across fits somewhere but is not quite ready to be put into place, but if I ignore it I may never begin to see the whole picture.

I have many goals for the month of May

Maintainence
tranfer all information from my 10 year old computer to a new one (this will be the largest and most stressful task)
Research, shop and decide which printer I need to purchase

Contribute
Index 1940 Census records

Look for requested graves for Find-A-Grave at cemeteries in my area.

Organize
Complete files of each grandparent and great grandparent clean up sources and complete timelines.

Education
Attend NGS conference in Cincinnati

Complete Lesson 2 of the NGS online course

Sunday's Obituary-Philipina Fickert Emrich

Sundays Obituary-Mrs. Philippena Fickert Emerich was born in Getenbach Germany March 1, 1866. At the age of 18 years she came to this country and settled in Liberty township, Mercer county, Ohio. She was the daughter of Peter and Philippena Fickert. She was married to Mr. Philip Emerick, to this union was born seven children: four girls and three boys. In the family from which Mrs. Emerick came ther were six brothers and two sisters. The deceased is survived by  her children ,twenty- five grandchildren, three great grandchildren and a host of other relatives. Having been baptized and later confirmed our deceased sister was a member of the Lutheran church for a number of years. After coming to this country Mrs Emerick spent much of her life in Liberty township with the exception of the last thirty one years. She was a sufferer of a mental sickness and was a patient until her death at the Toledo State Hospital. She passed away suddenly Nov. 26, 1934 at the age of 68 years, 8 months and 25 days. We extend our sympathy to the surviving loved ones and commit them to Him who alone can comfort. Our hope is that she is now enjoying a more blessed life than was her lot upon this earth.--Willshire Herald Dec. 6, 1934

                                         Kessler (Liberty) Cemetery Chattanooga OH Mercer County

Sunday'sObituary-Willmott D. Bohnke

Pvt.Willmott D. Bohnke, 20-year old root township young man, died early this morning at the U.S. Army hospital at Fort Hood Tex.
The young soldier died of head injuries which resulted from an automoble accident on highway 440 near Ft. Hood , according to meager reports received here today by relatives. A telegram was received late Wednesday telling the family that the youth was in critical condition and the wire telling of his death was received today while a brother, Lehnford Bohnke, was preparing to go to Texas. State police said his auto rolled over several times after the soldier apperently failed to make a turn in the highway.
The youthful soldier enlisted in the army April 13, 1953 and was sent to Frot Lewis Wash. for basic training and was transfered to Fort Hood last November.
He was born in Decatur Indiana March 18, 1933, a son of Herman W. and Louise Bienz-Bohnke. Both parents are deceased. The youth made his home with a grandmother, Mrs. Emma Bohnke of Root township, and was engaged in farming with his uncle Alvin Bohnke before entering the service. He is survived by his grandmother and the brother Lehnford.
The young veteran was a member of St. Peters Lutheran church.Burial will be in the church cemetery with the Rev. F.W. Droegmueller officiting. Adams Post 43 American Legion will conduct military rites.

Sunday's Obituary-William J. Edwards

William J. Edwards, 76, well-known farmer residing in Blue Creek township, Adams County, died suddenly Monday forenoon while engaged in cutting corn in a field on his farm. His lifeless body was found about 11:30 o'clock Monday forenoon. A physician, who was called immediately, by apoplexy.
Mr. Edwards had been in his usual good health. He went to the field to cut corn about 9:15 yesterday morning. Shortly after 11o'clock Mrs. Edwards became uneasy about her husband, as he had intended to return to the house before that time. She went to the homes of neighbors and failing to find him there, she went to the cornfield where she found his lifeless body. A physician was summoned, immediately, but Mr. Edwards had been dead for about two hours. There was no indication of any suffering.
Mr. Edwards met with an accident about three years ago, when a team of horses ran away with a wagon. The wagon upset and the bed of the wagon struck Mr. Edwards on the head. It is believed that this injury led to his sudden death yesterday.
The decesed was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, August 26, 1850. He had resided in Blue Creek township for more than fifty years. Surving are the widow Anna L. Kauffman, six children, Chalmer, Gerald, Raymond, Grace, Corrine and Mildred, all at home. One brother Horace G. Edwards of Blue Creek township, and one sister Mrs. Martin Suhm of Petersburg Illinois.
Funeral services will be held at the Salem Church at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.

Information omitted from the obituary-William was the son of Lewis Edwards and Elizabeth Wilson. He married Anna L. Kauffman on October 8, 1900 in Adams County Indiana.

Sunday's Obituary-Christian W. Bohnke

Christian W. (Chris ) Bohnke, 85, a resident of Decatur IN since 1970 and a retired Union Township farmer dies at 10:16 p.m. Saturday Nov. 8, 1986 in Decatur Community Care Center where he had been a patient for three days, he had been in ill health for more than a year.
Born in Root Township on April 5, 1901, he was the son of Charles and Emma Franz-Bohnke and was married to Louise Bleeke on Dec. 25, 1931. They were married for 54 years. He resided in Union Township from 1948-1969 and had been employed at Scott's foods in Decatur for 11 years, retiring in 1985. He was a graduate of the first class of the Reppert Auctioneering School in 1923 and was active in auctioneering for many years. He was an active member of Immanuel Luthern Church.
Survivors include the wife, 5 daughters and 2 sons, 1 sister, 28 grandchildren and 9 great grandchilren. He was perceded in death by 1 son, 3 sisters, and 2 brothers.
Services were held at Immanuel Luthern Church, Rev. Earl Petzold offiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

This obituary was posted in the Decatur Daily Democrat Newspaper on Nov, 10, 1986. Chris was the brother of my grandfather Herman Bohnke. Herman Bohnke died  suddenly in 1952 of a heart attack, my father was only 17 at the time and told us that Uncle Chris was a big help to him and his brother during this difficult time.

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Treasure Chest Thursday-stairway rug

In July of 2007 we lost our Grandma Edwards, she was the only grandparent my siblings and I ever knew, since my father's mother had died shortly after my father was born. Grandma Edwards was the most patient lady I ever knew, I cannot remember her ever raising her voice to anyone. Our family had the daunting task of cleaning out her home to be sold. She had several treasures, none of great monetary value but a home full of sentimental treasures. As we were moving out the last of her things something caught my eye the last day. It was an old rug that had been nailed to her stairway long before I was born in Nov 62'. I claimed it for my home. I had it cleaned and a new binding sewn to the edges, it's still kinda faded and torn a little where the nails were, but to me it's in perfect condition. That tattered old rug is just priceless to me, I remember my family when I was younger each time I see it, all the Thanksgivings, Christmas', birthdays and Sunday afternoon get togethers were some of the best times ever. It's not the value of the items after we go, its the value of the memories that matter most.
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Sunday's Obituary-J. Chalmer Edwards-Willshire Ohio

J. Chalmer Edwards, 85 of Willshire, died at 1:04 a.m. in Van Wert County Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born on July 16, 1902 in Adams County, Ind. a son of William and Anna (Kauffman) Edwards.
Edwards married Leah Geisler in September of 1927. She preceded him in death Feb. 2, 1988.
Edwards was also preceded in death by a brother Raymond Edwards and a son Dallas Edwards.
He was a teacher for 41 years; 10 years in Adams County Ind., and 31 years in Van Wert County Ohio, he was also involved in insurance and tax preparation. He was a 1941 graduate of Manchester College. He was a member of the Willshire United Methodist Church, Willshire OES, Willshire Masonic Lodge 32nd Degree, the Scottish Rite in Toledo and a former member of the Willshire Lions.
Funeral services were held at Zwick-Sefton and Jahn funeral home in Decatur Ind. with the Rev. Ron Fruth officiating. Burial will be in the Willshire Cemetery.


The following obituary was found in my grandmothers scrapbook, Ruth Schott Edwards, after she died. She had written the date 3-28-88 at the top. This was his death date. He had 2 children a son and daughter, 3 sisters and 2 brothers one of which was my grandfather Gerald C. Edwards. His full name was Joseph Chalmer Edwards but he went by the name Chalmer. I can remember going to Chalmer's home a couple of times with my grandparents when I was young. After his death his house was sold and eventually fell into dis-repair. A few years ago my husbands aunt and uncle bought the house and have since cleaned the place up and remodeled it.