Joseph F. Knight

1880 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Boyds Precinct, SD 1, ED 139, p. 294A (stamped), p. 11 (written), dwelling 113, family 113, lines 14-19, J. F. Knight household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4G5-B1J : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 658.

Knight, J. F., W, M, 44, --, Farmer, TN, VA, VA
--, E., W, F, 46, Wife, Keeping house, AL, AL, AL
--, M. A., W, F, 16, Daughter, At home, MS, TN, AL
--, E. B., W, F, 12, Daughter, At home, MS, TN, AL
--, L. S., W, F, 8, Daughter, At home, MS, TN, AL
--, Joanna, W, F, 6, Daughter, At home, MS, TN, AL

Joseph F. "Joe" Knight was born 14 August 1838¹ in Tennessee² to Charles Knight³ and his wife Lucy Evans Knight.⁴ He appears on the 1850 census for Pontotoc County, Mississippi.⁵ He married Elizabeth Gray 7 May 1857 in Itawamba County, Mississippi.⁶ Daughter Florence was born prior to the wedding on 4 February 1857.⁷ It is unknown whether she was conceived out of wedlock or adopted by Joseph. Elizabeth Gray's name on her tombstone indicates her name is Elizabeth Carlow Knight. No marriage between a Gray and Carlow (or Harlow, which is a more common surname for this geographic area) has been located in Mississippi or Tennessee. Comparing the DNA of Florence's descendants against that of her siblings' descent would probably show whether or not they shared the same father.

Son Mark A. was born 28 June 1859,⁸ probably in Monroe County, Mississippi. He died at the age of seven on 2 December 1866.⁹ Daughter Verona A. was born 4 August 1861.¹⁰ She died the day before her eighth birthday on 3 August 1869.¹¹ Daughter Margaret A. was born about 1863.¹² Several online family trees suggest her date of birth was 22 October 1863 and she died 30 October 1888,¹³ but all lack documentation for these assertions.

Son William T. was born 15 October 1865 and died four days later on 19 October 1865.¹⁴ Daughter Helen Bell was born 17 September 1867,¹⁵ probably in Itawamba County, Mississippi. Daughter Lucy Susie was born 24 Aug 1869,¹⁶ likely in Itawamba County.

The family was enumerated in Itawamba County, Mississippi in 1870.¹⁷ Daughter Julia,¹⁸ enumerated as Joanna in 1880,¹⁹ was born in March 1872.²⁰ The family was enumerated in Monroe County, Mississippi in 1880.²¹ The family moved to Texas by October 1890 when grandson George W. Edwards, son of Helen, was born.²²

Joe died 11 April 1900 in Lee County, Texas and was buried at the Lawhon Springs Cemetery in Blue.²³ His wife Elizabeth, enumerated as Elise, resided with daughter Susie at the time the 1900 census was taken.²⁴ She died 23 April 1901 and was also buried at Lawhon Springs Cemetery.²⁵

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1 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23298307 : accessed 6 Aug 2016), memorial no. 23298307, Joseph F. Knight (14 Aug 1838-11 Apr 1900), created by Sarah Locklin Taylor; citing Lawhon Springs Cemetery, Blue, Lee County, Texas.^↩

2 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Boyds Precinct, SD 1, ED 139, p. 294A (stamped), p. 11 (written), dwelling 113, family 113, lines 14-19, J. F. Knight household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4G5-B1J : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 658. The Tennessee birthplace is supported by all other censuses.^↩

3 “North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011,” database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 6 Aug 2016), Charles Knight-Lucy Evans, 28 Aug 1822; citing Granville County Marriage Bonds – Abstracts (1760-1957), RG 48 North Carolina County Registers of Deeds, p. 93 (stamped).^↩

4 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Pontotoc County, Mississippi, population schedule, p. 73A (stamped), dwelling 266, family 266, lines 3-11, Lucy Knight household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4LF-WNJ : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 3880. Her surname comes from “North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011,” database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 6 Aug 2016), Charles Knight-Lucy Evans, 28 Aug 1822; citing Granville County Marriage Bonds – Abstracts (1760-1957), RG 48 North Carolina County Registers of Deeds, p. 93 (stamped).^↩

5 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Pontotoc County, Mississippi, population schedule, p. 73A (stamped), dwelling 266, family 266, lines 3-11, Lucy Knight household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4LF-WNJ : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 3880. ^↩

6 Hunting for Bears, “Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 Aug 2016), Joseph Knight-Elizabeth Gray marriage, 7 May 1857; citing unspecified Itawamba County, Mississippi marriage book.^↩

7 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=24439020 : accessed 6 Aug 2016), memorial no. 24439020, Florence F. Knight Ridings (4 Feb 1857-2 Dec 1921), created by “Lin”; citing Kensett Cemetery, Kensett, White County, Arkansas.^↩

8 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61744915 : accessed 6 Aug 2016); memorial no. 61744915, Mark A. Knight (28 Jun 1859-2 Dec 1866), created by Paul Armstrong; citing New Chapel Cemetery, Evergreen, Itawamba County, Mississippi. Mark was enumerated as M. A. in the 1860 census. 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Western Division, Aberdeen post office, p. 427 (written), sheet 3 (written), dwelling 16, family 16, lines 10-14, Joseph Knight household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6GF-VRZ : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 587.^↩

9 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61744915 : accessed 6 Aug 2016); memorial no. 61744915, Mark A. Knight (28 Jun 1859-2 Dec 1866), created by Paul Armstrong; citing New Chapel Cemetery, Evergreen, Itawamba County, Mississippi.^↩

10 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61744967 : accessed 6 Aug 2016), memorial no. 61744967, Verona A. Knight (4 Aug 1861-3 Aug 1869), created by Paul Armstrong; citing New Chapel Cemetery, Evergreen, Itawamba County, Mississippi.^↩

11 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61744967 : accessed 6 Aug 2016), memorial no. 61744967, Verona A. Knight (4 Aug 1861-3 Aug 1869), created by Paul Armstrong; citing New Chapel Cemetery, Evergreen, Itawamba County, Mississippi.^↩

12 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Itawamba County, Mississippi, Township 11, p. 391B (written), sheet 2, dwelling 10, family 10, lines 17-23, Joseph Knight household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF38-KHN : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 732. Also 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Boyds Precinct, SD 1, ED 139, p. 294A (stamped), p. 11 (written), dwelling 113, family 113, lines 14-19, J. F. Knight household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4G5-B1J : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 658.^↩

13 “Public Member Trees,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2016), “Aldridge Family Tree” by calvinandelysealdridge, profile for Margaret A. Knight (1863-1888, d. Monroe County, Mississippi), undocumented data; also “Talbot Family Tree” by rptalbot1; “Seals Walker Family Tree” by akumal4me1; “Catherine; Family Tree” by Catherine Lannholm; “Jennifer Bethea Family Tree” by Jennifer Bethea; “Sorrels/West Family Tree” by bjsorrels1; “Ridings Family Tree” by Neldagailr1; “King & Hulsey X3 + More” family tree by PeggyTruesdale70; “BurnettConnections” family tree by Burnett Connections; “Miller Family Tree” by Kelly Parr; “Richardson Family Tree” by rockmytooth; and “Knight Family Tree” by lak31760.^↩

14 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61744841 : accessed 6 Aug 2016), memorial no. 61744841, William T. Knight (15 Oct 1865-19 Oct 1865), created by Paul Armstrong; citing New Chapel Cemetery, Evergreen, Itawamba County, Mississippi.^↩

15 1900 U. S. Federal Census, Lee County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 3, SD 10, ED 58, p. 46A (stamped), sheet 1, dwelling 9, family 9, Mack Edwards family; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6XBS-R48 : accessed 6 August 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 1654. This source supports the birth month of September 1867. Exact date from “Public Member Trees,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2016), “BurnettConnections” family tree by Burnett Connections..^↩

16 “Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982,” database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 Aug 2016), entry for Susie Knight Ridings (24 Apr 1869-10 Oct 1943), certificate 44708; citing Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Death Certificates, 1903-1982. This birth is supported by the 1870 census. See 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Itawamba County, Mississippi, Township 11, p. 391B (written), sheet 2, dwelling 10, family 10, lines 17-23, Joseph Knight household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF38-KHN : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 732.^↩

17 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Itawamba County, Mississippi, Township 11, p. 391B (written), sheet 2, dwelling 10, family 10, lines 17-23, Joseph Knight household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF38-KHN : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 732.^↩

18 1900 U. S. Federal Census, Lee County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 3, SD 10, ED 58, p. 46A (stamped), sheet 1, dwelling 8, family 8, lines 31-33, George D. Baker household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3PZ-NJV : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 1654. A marriage record to George D. Baker has not been located. She is, however, residing in the house adjacent to sister Helen, and the information on the birth locations of the parents, although erroneous for the mother, matches, making this something likely known by relatives who created the tree. The relationship to George D. Baker can be found in online trees such as “Public Member Trees,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2016), “BurnettConnections” family tree by Burnett Connections and "Jones Family Tree" by PJ7625.^↩

19 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Boyds Precinct, SD 1, ED 139, p. 294A (stamped), p. 11 (written), dwelling 113, family 113, lines 14-19, J. F. Knight household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4G5-B1J : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 658.^↩

20 1900 U. S. Federal Census, Lee County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 3, SD 10, ED 58, p. 46A (stamped), sheet 1, dwelling 8, family 8, lines 31-33, George D. Baker household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3PZ-NJV : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 1654.^↩

21 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Boyds Precinct, SD 1, ED 139, p. 294A (stamped), p. 11 (written), dwelling 113, family 113, lines 14-19, J. F. Knight household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4G5-B1J : accessed 6 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 658.^↩

22 1900 U. S. Federal Census, Lee County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 3, SD 10, ED 58, p. 46A (stamped), sheet 1, dwelling 9, family 9, Mack Edwards family; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6XBS-R48 : accessed 6 August 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 1654.^↩

23 “U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963,” database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 Aug 2016), Joe F. Knight (14 Aug 1838-11 Apr 1900); citing Applications for Headstones for U. S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941, National Archives RG92, Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, microfilm publication M1916, 134 rolls. Also Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23298307 : accessed 6 Aug 2016), memorial no. 23298307, Joseph F. Knight (14 Aug 1838-11 Apr 1900), created by Sarah Locklin Taylor; citing Lawhon Springs Cemetery, Blue, Lee County, Texas.^↩

24 1900 U. S. Federal Census, Fayette County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 1, LaGrange, SD 12, ED 29, p. 25A (stamped), sheet 7 (written), dwelling 92, family 93, lines 1-7, J. P. Ridings household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3GQ-3WT : accessed 6 August 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 1634.^↩

25 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=23298304 : accessed 6 Aug 2016), memorial no. 23298304, Elizabeth Carlow Knight (26 Aug 1834-23 Apr 1901), created by Sarah Locklin Taylor; citing Lawhon Springs Cemetery, Blue, Lee County, Texas.^↩

Walter Rawlins

1880 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Boyds Precinct, SD 1, ED 139, p. 294A (stamped), p. 11 (written), dwelling 114, family 114, line 24, Walter Rawlins; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBV-8DQ : accessed 30 July 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 658.

Walter Rawlins appears in the household of James Best Hester in the 1880 census. This household was adjacent to Dock Hester. It should be noted that J. C. Rawlins is in household 128.

The census indicates he was born in Mississippi between 2 June 1863 and 1 June 1864 to parents who were both born in Mississippi. Since he was boarding, the information could be erroneous. J. C. Rawlins in household 128 was born in Kentucky, and his wife Sophia was born in South Carolina. Their children enumerated in their home in 1880 were aged 34 to 24 with the oldest being born in Alabama and the youngest being born in Mississippi. The grandchildren enumerated in the household were ages 6 and 2 and were both born in Mississippi. The Rawlins must have moved to Mississippi between the time John, aged 29, and Elizabeth, aged 24, were born, so somewhere between 1850 and 1856, depending on the exact date of birth of each child.

I was unable to locate Walter as "Rawlins" in other censuses, but I remembered my grandmother had been friends with a woman named Fanny Rollins, so I decided to search under that spelling for this man. I located a Walter Rollins in the 1900 Monroe County, Mississippi census who was born in February 1864 in Mississippi and whose father was born in Kentucky and mother in South Carolina.¹ He was boarding with the Barum Roebuck family.

I, therefore, believe Walter is the son of J. C. and Sophia Rawlins/Rollins. He is not enumerated in their household in 1870;² however, the family is the very last family enumerated in that enumeration district, and the page ends on the bottom line with the Elizabeth mentioned above. It is entirely possible the remainder of the household was somehow "lost."

Although the 1880 and 1900 censuses support the 1864 birth date, his tombstone at Union Grove Cemetery on Highway 371 in Monroe County, Mississippi shows he was born 11 March 1862 and died 17 February 1910.³

His father's family will be covered later in the series.
 

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1 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Boyds Precinct, SD 1, ED 81, p. 270A (stamped), sheet 3, dwelling 49, family 49, lines 36-42, Barum Roebuck household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XCC3-QD : accessed 5 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 822.^↩
2 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Township 16, p. 128B (stamped), sheet 16, dwelling 95, family 95, lines 35-40, James Rollins household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DC67-127 : accessed 5 Aug 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 741.^↩
3 Find a Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=59091049 : accessed 5 August 2016); memorial no. 59091049, Walter Rollins (11 Mar 1862-17 Feb 1910), created by Peggy Hill; citing Union Grove Cemetery, Bigbee, Monroe County, Mississippi. The accompanying photograph by Judy Malone, Barbara Wallace, and Matthew Malone provides support for the birth and death dates.^↩

James Best Hester

1880 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Boyds Precinct, SD 1, ED 139, p. 294A (stamped), p. 11 (written), dwelling 114, family 114, lines 20-24, J. B. Hester household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBV-8DQ : accessed 30 July 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 658.

Hester, J. B. - W - M - 45 - Farmer - MS - MS - MS
--, Elizabeth - W - F - 35 - wife - Keeping house - MS - MS - MS
--, A. E. - W - F - 14 - daughter - At home - MS - MS - MS
--, Leanna - W - F - 12 - daughter - At home - MS - MS - MS
Rawlins, Watt - W - M - 16 - bords - Works on farm - MS - MS - MS

In spite of what is said on the 1880 census, James Best Hester was probably born in Autauga County, Alabama. His parents are John Hester and Elizabeth Gray. He first appears in the 1850 census for Itawamba County, Mississippi in the household of his parents John and Elizabeth. He is enumerated as James B., age 12, born in Alabama.¹ According to this census, he would have been born sometime between 2 June 1837 and 1 June 1838. He was the last of John and Elizabeth's children born in Alabama which shows that the family moved to Mississippi by about 1840 or 1841 when his brother Jesse was born.

He married Elizabeth Hawkins 9 September 1858 in Monroe County, Mississippi.²

Son Benjamin B. Hester was born 4 Aug 1859.⁴ The three of them and a nineteen-year-old Mary Finkle who was born in Alabama are enumerated in the 1860 census for Monroe County.³ James is listed as age 21, born in Mississippi, and working as a laborer. During the Civil War, he was a member of the 43rd Regiment of Mississippi Infantry, Company G.⁵

A second son William W. was born 16 April 1862.⁶ Son Benjamin died 21 September 1862⁷ and William died 29 September 1864.⁸ Both are buried in the Carolina Cemetery in Itawamba County, Mississippi.

The family appears in the 1870 census for Gibson County, Tennessee.⁹ James was listed as a 32-year-old male, born in Alabama, and working as a farmer. Also in the household were his wife Elizabeth and daughters Anna and Leanna. Mother and daughters were listed as having been born in Tennessee in this census although the 1880 census gives Mississippi as the birth location for all of them. The location of Tennessee is definitely wrong for Elizabeth who was born in Monroe County, Alabama, although I will save that documentation and discussion for a future post. However, it seems more probable Anna and Leanna were born in Tennessee. It is unknown why James and Elizabeth moved to Tennessee, but whatever took them there did not last. They were back in Monroe County, Mississippi by the time the 1880 census was taken. In her application for a widow's pension, she originally had a date of 1880 recorded for the date they moved to Texas but changed that to 2 December 1879.¹⁰ In light of the 1880 census, her original year was likely correct.

James and Elizabeth have not been located in the 1900 census. Presumably they are residing in Texas.

James Best Hester died 21 February 1910,¹¹ presumably in Bastrop County, Texas, near Elgin. Elizabeth resided a few months later with her widowed daughter Lee Glover and grandchildren Vester, Lizzie, and Clifton. Vester's father was listed as William R. Glover with the Social Security administration.¹³

Elizabeth resides in the home of her grandson B. V. Glover in 1920 on Josephine Street in Holland, Bell County, Texas.¹⁴ She has not been located in the 1930 census.

Elizabeth died in the home of her grandson C. Glover on 8 September 1932 in Temple, Bell County, Texas.¹⁵

So, how is James Best Hester related to Dock Hester? Dock's father is John H. Hester. John H.'s father is not proven. John Hester, father of James Best, is possibly a brother of a James Hester (born about 1790 in North Carolina) who may be the father of John H. Hester. James married a Jane Hunt, but she was not John H.'s mother. The difference in age between James and Jane is great enough that she may be a second wife. This, of course, is very much speculative, and the relationships have not been proven.

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1 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Itawamba County, Mississippi, population schedule, District 6, p. 335B (stamped), dwelling 655, family 662, lines 5-13, John Hester household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-64KS-89B : accessed 30 July 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 373.^↩
2 Monroe County Mississippi Marriages (1821-1921) (s.l.: s.n, n.d.), vol. 2, p. 262; Evans Memorial Library, Aberdeen, Mississippi. This is a 4 volume unpublished set.^↩
3 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Western Division, p. 425, sheet 1, dwelling 4, family 4, lines 14-17, James Hester household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BS7-XL5 : accessed 30 July 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication 653, roll 587.^↩
4 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 July 2016), memorial no. 36938294, Benjamin B. Hester (4 Aug 1859-21 Sep 1862), created by "FamilyResearcher"; citing Carolina Cemetery, Itawamba County, Mississippi.^↩
5 National Park Service, Soldiers and Sailors Database, database, National Park Service (https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=223613A8-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A : accessed 30 July 2016), entry for James B. Hester, 43rd Regiment, Mississippi Infantry, Company G; citing National Archives microfilm M232, roll 18.^↩
6 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 July 2016), memorial no. 36938268, William W. Hester (16 Apr 1862-29 Sep 1864), created by "FamilyResearcher"; citing Carolina Cemetery, Itawamba County, Mississippi.^↩
7 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 July 2016), memorial no. 36938294, Benjamin B. Hester (4 Aug 1859-21 Sep 1862), created by "FamilyResearcher"; citing Carolina Cemetery, Itawamba County, Mississippi.^↩
8 Find A Grave, database (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 July 2016), memorial no. 36938268, William W. Hester (16 Apr 1862-29 Sep 1864), created by "FamilyResearcher"; citing Carolina Cemetery, Itawamba County, Mississippi.^↩
9 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Gibson County, Tennessee, 14th Civil District, p. 450A (stamped), sheet 15, dwelling 95, family 95, lines 19-22, James Hester household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D1PQ-269 : accessed 30 July 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 1528.^↩
10 "Alabama, Texas, and Virginia, Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958," database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 30 July 2016), Elizabeth Hester, no. 18669, "Form B: For Use of Widows of Soldiers Who Are in Indigent Circumstances," approved 5 June 1910; citing Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Confederate Pension Applications, 1899-1975, collection CPA18661, roll 256. Another document within the file says she moved to Texas in March 1880.^↩
11 "Alabama, Texas, and Virginia, Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958," database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 30 July 2016), Elizabeth Hester, no. 18669, "Form B: For Use of Widows of Soldiers Who Are in Indigent Circumstances," approved 5 June 1910; citing Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Confederate Pension Applications, 1899-1975, collection CPA18661, roll 256.^↩
12 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Bastrop County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 4, Elgin, SD 10, ED 8, p. 167B (stamped), sheet 24B, dwelling 465, family 466, lines 76-80, Lee Glover household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBS-GWD : accessed 30 July 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T624, roll 1529.^↩
13 "U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 30 July 2016), entry for Buna Vester Clover (b. 21 Feb 1893).^↩
14 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Bell County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 3, Holland, SD 11, ED 7, p. 106B (stamped), sheet 4B (written), dwelling 88, family 89, lines 63-68, B. V. Glover household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRJM-Z64 : accessed 30 July 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T625, roll 1776.^↩
15 "Alabama, Texas, and Virginia, Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958," database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 30 July 2016), Elizabeth Hester, no. 18669, "Application for Mortuary Warrant," approved 5 June 1910; citing Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Confederate Pension Applications, 1899-1975, collection CPA18661, roll 256.^↩

Announcing the "Neighbors" Series.

First of all, let me apologize for the lack of blog posts over the last week. I thought I had posts scheduled through the end of the month, but when I logged in last night, I discovered that I'd stopped a little shorter than I thought.

I will continue posting a few more pictures from my Oregon and Washington trip, but I will schedule those to run about every third or fourth post for the time being.

In genealogy, we always hear about the importance of researching the neighbors of our ancestors. When I first began my research, the common advice (back in the days of microfilm rolls instead of digital images) was to record the 10 people before and 10 people after one's ancestor's entry. I occasionally have heard a speaker extend this to 20 people in either direction. I generally compromise and go with about 15 as I've often spotted people just beyond the 10 that I knew were very connected to my ancestor.

My new series will focus on the neighbors of my ancestors. The blog will provide me with a means to shore up some of the research. Although I will not strive to research the neighbors at the same level of depth that I research my actual ancestors, I will probably dig a big deeper into each of them than I have in the past.

The hardest task, of course, was choosing which ancestor and which census year comes first. 

I decided to start with the census year selection first. My choice is 1880. I'll probably have to use the 1840 census for some persons, but the 1850 to 1870 censuses will be there for the backwards journey. I'll have to deal with the absences of the 1890 census in going forward, but the censuses and records from 1900 forward give more and more information. The censuses used, of course, will vary depending on the age of the neighbor in 1880.

I decided to begin with my maternal grandmother's father, Dock Hans Hester. When selected him, I knew I would end up with a lot of cousins and associates when selecting him which would provide excellent insight for readers into the importance of researching the neighbors. Many of these people are probably already in my genealogical database, but I suspect I will discover new things on each.

Although my ancestor, Dock Hans Hester was born in 1851, the 1880 census is the first in which he appears. The family lived in the "Lost Corner" area of Monroe County, Mississippi and was missed by enumerators in both the 1860 and 1870 censuses. I have read through the censuses for both Monroe and Itawamba Counties in 1860 and Monroe, Itawamba, and Lee (which was formed in 1866) for 1870. They just are not there. By 1880, Dock was already married. He married Mary Ann Harris on 20 Nov 1877 in Lee County, Mississippi.¹ Dock, Mary Ann, and their daughter Georgia A. resided in Boyds Precinct, Monroe County, Mississippi in 1880.² Although probably residing in the previous household, 16-year-old Watt Rawlins who boards is actually the person listed on the line with the dwelling and family number. He will be one of the persons researched in the series.

The neighbors (mostly head of household) by dwelling/family numbers:

114 - J. B. Hester; also residing in the house as a boarder is Watt Rawlins

113 - J. F. Knight

112 - M. L. Morris; also residing in the house is Mrs. M. R. Wilson, his mother-in-law, and some of her children

111 - J. W. Knight

110 - J. H. Knight

109 - H. B. Ridings; also servants Lucinda Thomas and Sam Estes

108 - Jo Thomas

107 - J. D. Ridings

106 - Lee Jones

105 - J. M. Ridings

104 - H. Swinigen

103 - John Williams

102 - D. Ridings; also servant Jane Thomas

101 - O. G. Loveless

100 - J. D. Loveless; also sister-in-law F. J. Sterling

116 - Peter Lucas

117 - Patsey Bradley

118 - Sallie Lucas

119 - Thomas Gray

120 - G. W. Green

121 - J. D. Conwill

122 - J. F. Conwill

123 - J. W. Cook

124 - H. A. Black

125 - Bluford Hughs; also daughter-in-law S. J. Herndon

126 - Y. J. Conwill

127 - Mrs. N. F. Conwill; also boarder Nancy Gray

128 - J. C. Rawlins

129 - Jim Houston; also brother-in-law Steve Shumpert

130 - Mrs. A. Rhudy

I'll begin the series by researching those in households prior to Dock by order of proximity and then move to the ones residing after him.

1 Photocopy of D. H. Hester-Miss M. A. Harris marriage bond, Lee County, Mississippi marriage books, 20 Nov 1877. Incomplete citation in database that needs to be corrected; also "Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 July 2016), entry for D. H. Hester-Miss M. A. Harris, 20 Nov 1877; citing Hunting For Bears, Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004).^↩

2 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Boyds Precinct, SD 1, ED 139, p. 294A (stamped), p. 11 (written), dwelling 115, family 115, lines 25-27, Dock Hester family; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBV-8DQ : accessed 30 July 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 658.^↩

Portland Women's Forum and the Columbia River Gorge

Portland Women's Forum was on the road to Vista House and offered some good views of the Columbia River Gorge as well.

Portland Women's Forum sign

Samuel Hill Monument

Columbia River Gorge from Portland Women's Forum

Columbia River Gorge and Vista House

I wasn't exactly certain what to expect from the Columbia River Gorge. I think I expected it to be more "rugged" than it was. One of the best places to view the Gorge is at Vista House.

Vista House sign with the Gorge in the background

Vista House, as you can see, is an impressive structure.

Vista House

From this location, you can look out on the Columbia River Gorge.

Looking Northeast of Vista House

Closeup looking northeast of Vista House

Looking northwest of Vista House

It's a bird!

Horsetail Falls and Bonneville Lock and Dam

Back to my series on my Oregon and Washington trip last month.

Several other waterfalls were in the vicinity of Multnomah Falls. My favorite was Horsetail Falls.

Horsetail Falls

I traveled on down the highway to the Bonneville Lock and Dam area.

Bonneville Dam

Bonneville Lock area

There were also some lovely flowers in the area of the lock and dam!

Beautiful Wildflowers

They also had a fish ladder where you could view some of the fish. The green-tinting to the glass made it impossible to really take good photographs of the fish making their way through the Columbia River. They did have a nice piece of art depicting the fish ladder at the hatchery.

Fish sculpture

A Vietnam Casualty

As I read the online newspaper, I discovered distant cousins tried to rename the road on which my maternal grandparents lived for most of their married life (and my grandmother's parents before that). Descendants of Carlos Leroy "Bo" Tartt, a person about the age of one of my brothers who was a casualty in the Vietnam War, wanted the road named in honor of him and for the family who resided on the road.¹ Carlos was the son of Clarence L. Tartt and his wife Marvelle Jean Lyle Tartt.² They lived on Blackcat Bottom Road, just below what was B and B Cleaners back in the days I was growing up.

I was curious as to whether or not I could tie Carlos in with my grandmother's "Aunt Dollie" who married James M. Tartt on 25 August 1881 in Monroe County, Mississippi³ and then his brother Enos on 12 December 1893 in Monroe County⁴ or not. I decided to explore.

Clarence appears in the 1940 Monroe County, Mississippi census as the ten-year-old son of Edgar and Sadie Tart.⁵ Edgar appears on the 1900⁶ and 1910⁷ censuses as the son of John Chesley Tart, Jr. and his wife M. Alice. In the 1870 census, John C.  Tartt, Jr. along with brothers Enos and James appears as the son of John Chesley Tartt and his wife Elizabeth "Liza" Conwill.⁸ This means that Carlos was not directly related to me through Dollie. Dollie's children, however, would be related to this Vietnam "hero."

---

1 Emily Tubb, "City Rescinds Name Changing of Blackcat Bottom Road," Monroe Journal (Amory, Mississippi), 14 July 2016 (http://djournal.com/monroe/2016/07/14/city-rescinds-name-changing-blackcat-bottom-road/ : accessed 16 July 2016).^↩
2 Clarence L. Tartt, obituary, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (Tupelo, Mississippi), 25 Feb 2009 (http://djournal.com/news/obituaries-feb-25-2009/ : accessed 14 July 2016).^↩
3 Monroe County Mississippi Marriages (1821-1921) (s.l.: s.n, n.d.), Vol. 2, p. 261; Evans Memorial Library, Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi; also Monroe County, Mississippi, Marriage Book ___, J. M. Tartt and Della A. Hester, 25 August 1881. A photocopy of the marriage record is in my possession, but it is not cited properly so I am unable to provide the book and page number. Something to add to the "to do" list.^↩
4 Monroe County, Mississippi, Marriage Book __, E. A. Tart and Dolly Tart, 12 Dec 1893. A photocopy of the record is in my possession but is not properly cited with book and page number.^↩
5 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Beat 5, SD 1, ED 48-31, p. 438B (stamped), sheet 12B (written), visit 217, lines 50-55, Edgar Tart family; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MR-JG29 : accessed 14 July 2016); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T627, roll 2050.^↩
6 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Boyds Precinct, SD 1, ED 124, p. 72A (stamped), dwelling 5, family 5, lines 21-26, John C. Tart family; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RKM-9Q33 : accessed 14 July 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T624, roll 752.^↩
7 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Beat 5, East of Aberdeen & Richmond Road, SD 1, ED 81, p. 270B (stamped), sheet 3B (written), dwelling 58, family 58, lines 87-95, J. C. Tart Junior family; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XCHQ-FHQ : accessed 14 July 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 822.^↩
8 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Monroe County, Mississippi, population schedule, Township 12, Smithville post office, p. 218B (stamped), sheet 64 (written), dwelling 414, family 467, lines 6-15, John C. Tartt household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DC67-1VK : accessed 14 July 2016); citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 741. ^↩

Multnomah Falls

Oops! The "busy"-ness of the past week caught up with me, and I forgot to post yesterday. You'll get the intended post today. I'll try to post something a little more of a genealogy nature next time but today you get to enjoy more of my trip to Oregon and Washington.

On Monday, June 13 I left Portland fairly early in the morning and headed to Multnomah Falls. As you can see, they were breathtaking!

View from Parking Lot

Multnomah Falls

Good view of lower cascade

The upper cascade

A Cheerful and Comfortable Faith

Winner, Lauren F. A Cheerful and Comfortable Faith: Anglican Religious Practice in the Elite Households of Eighteenth-Century Virginia. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2010.

With strong interests in genealogy, Christianity, and history, this book by Lauren Winner appealed to me. I have read a couple of Winner's books designed for lay audiences, but this particular volume has a decidedly academic tone. Winner explores the role the church, specifically the Anglican Church, played in the lives of 18th century well-to-do Virginia families. Many of these families were the owners of plantations and as such, exerted some influence over the lives of those who worked on their plantations. However, the influence did not always extend to the slaves as other groups such as the Baptists were more welcoming in sharing their services with those of color and even allowing them to serve as delegates. We see the influence extending from such things as embroidered samplers to meals and diet influenced by the church calendar to prayer life and even to the recording of genealogical information in Bible or other religious books. Probably my favorite part of the book was the discussion of the recording of genealogical information. Winner did extensive research for the volume, and it is well-documented. I intend to go through her extensive bibliography to locate sources I may find useful in my genealogical research. The biggest flaw of the book is in its readability, or lack thereof. This is not problematic for academics, genealogists looking for social history background to incorporate in their narratives are likely to ignore it. This is a book I intend to keep for reference.

Portland Japanese Gardens

I recently traveled to the Pacific Northwest. The main purpose of my trip was to attend and present at the Association of Christian Librarians Conference which was being held at George Fox University in Newberg, near Portland. Since I had never been to Oregon or Washington, I decided to stay a little longer to do some sight-seeing. It was difficult to pick and choose what to visit and what would have to wait for another trip in the future (if I ever make it back).

My plane landed around noon Pacific time so it was too early to check into the hotel. I decided to visit Portland Japanese Gardens first. I'll include a few photos I took there.

A pagoda-like statue

One of my favorite scenes.

Supposedly the most photographed tree in the garden.

Feeding time for the coy.

Lovely flowering plants.

Beautiful flowers.

Man-Made Waterfall

View of Mount Hood from the Garden.

That was actually my second glimpse of Mount Hood that day. The first was up close and personal from the plane as we flew over it en route to PDX.

I enjoyed my visit to the Portland Japanese Garden and encourage others to visit when in the area.

Mentoring in Genealogy

I was awakened early this morning by a text message arriving from a local news media outlet announcing Pat Head Summitt's death. Although the news of her imminent death came to us a couple of days earlier, it really did not mitigate our sense of loss when the news of her death was received.

Former Vol football player and NFL star Peyton Manning spoke of her friendship and support in a statement he released. He mentioned seeking her advice when he was trying to decide whether to turn pro early or to complete his final year of eligibility at University of Tennessee. He also spoke of the impact she had on players both on and off the court. Perhaps the most touching words of his entire statement came near the end of his statement. He said, "It would have  been a great experience to play for her. She could have coached any team, any sport, men's or women's. It wouldn't have mattered because Pat could flat out coach." As I looked at these words, I thought about the role of mentoring in genealogy. Are we as genealogists truly mentoring the next generation of genealogists in the same way Pat Summitt impacted her players? Pat kept her standards high, but her players learned so much. I think Elizabeth Shown Mills is a genealogist who fits the description. She continues to emphasize the "fundamentals" of sound genealogical research while taking her students to the next level. (I use "students" in the sense of those who took courses from her at IGHR or similar venues and those who attended lectures by her at national conferences or at regional or local venues.)

I am concerned because I see so many younger genealogical speakers emphasizing tools rather than fundamentals of sound research. I admit I sometimes have been guilty of the same thing, but I recently modified a couple of my presentations emphasizing tools (because they are in demand with societies) to include examples of sound genealogical research being presented in these tools. I do not know if everyone picks up on what I am trying to do, but I know from comments that some do. I hope all of us are conscious of our role in mentoring the next generation of genealogists and continue to emphasize the fundamentals in such a way it leads our mentees to reach the next level in their own research. 

Case Studies Demonstrating the Use of Mitochondrial DNA in Genealogical Research

This past weekend a researcher using a Facebook group asked a question about which DNA test to take. One person quickly chimed in that Ancestry DNA was the best. I came back and qualified it by asking for what goal the person hoped to achieve through testing. I explained that if it was a patrilineal question, a Y-DNA test might work better and that FamilyTreeDNA was the only American company currently offering such a test. I said Ancestry DNA and FamilyTreeDNA both provide good results, but suggested taking the Ancestry DNA test and then transferring the results to FamilyTreeDNA for $39. I also mentioned GEDmatch's usefulness.

Then I made a comment that in some very specific situations a mitochondrial DNA test might be useful. The other commenter thought mitochondrial DNA tests were a total waste of time. I reiterated that it is quite useful under very specific circumstance. I did, of course, mention my own reason for doing a mitochondrial test. Initially I wanted to learn the mitochondrial haplogroup to put to rest one of those full-blooded Indian rumors in my line. The haplogroup came back Western European so my goal was achieved. I also hoped it would help identify my 3g-grandmother's mother. That result is currently on hold as I need to work much more with the results to achieve it.

However, the discussion made me realize I needed some good examples of how mitochondrial DNA solved genealogical problems. My mind immediately went to Elizabeth Shown Mills' great article, "Testing the FAN Principle Against DNA: Zilphy (Watts) Price Cooksey Cooksey of Georgia and Mississippi," which first appeared in National Genealogical Society Quarterly in June 2014 and is now available on the author's Historic Pathways site. This case used all types of DNA, providing genealogists a great model for DNA research. I am sure I saw another published case study demonstrating mitochondrial DNA as a genealogical tool, but I could not remember it.

However, I did find a blog post by Roberta Estes, "Mitochondrial -- the Maligned DNA," which shows how mitochondrial DNA was used to resolve of which wife of a male ancestor the tester was a descendant.

I also found a somewhat technical but useful post by Blaine Bettinger, "An mtDNA Journey -- Discovering My mtDNA in a Research Paper," describing some of the surprises discovered in his own mitochondrial DNA and how he discovered his mtDNA in a research study defining his haplogroup.

I thought I'd toss the question out for others. Do you know of another example of a published case study involving mitochondrial DNA in DNA research? Has mitochondrial DNA been useful in your own line?

Bibliography

Bettinger, Blaine. "An mtDNA Journey -- Discovering My mtDNA in a Research Paper," The Genetic Genealogist, 30 July 2015 (http://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2015/07/30/a-mtdna-journey-discovering-my-mtdna-in-a-research-paper/ : accessed 25 June 2016).

Estes, Roberta. "Mitochondrial -- the Maligned DNA," DNAeXplained - Genetic Genealogy, 29 March 2014 (https://dna-explained.com/2014/03/29/mitochondrial-the-maligned-dna/ : accessed 25 June 2016).

Mills, Elizabeth Shown. "Testing the FAN Principle Against DNA: Zilphy (Watts) Price Cooksey Cooksey of Georgia and Mississippi." National Genealogical Society Quarterly 102 (June 2014): 129-152; image copy, Historic Pathways (https://www.historicpathways.com/download/ZilphyArticle072915.pdf : accessed 25 June 2016).

Memories

Yesterday, one of my friends from high school posted on Facebook that she had the song "Rhinestone Cowboy" stuck in her head. Most of us from that era know how difficult it is to remove that one from "auto-play."

I replied back that now it was stuck in the heads of all her friends except that I was singing a slightly different variation.

My brother's wife died, leaving behind an 18-month old son. For several years, I picked up my nephew from the babysitter's house after school let out and kept him until my brother returned home from work at Walmart, which was often late since he received a promotion to assistant manager and transferred to a store about 45 miles away. I would often play the radio, and sometimes it would be on as we were eating. I can still picture my nephew, sitting in his booster seat singing along with that song. He really only sang one phrase -- the phrase that was repeated often throughout the song and bore the title words. The problem was his vocabulary did not include the word "rhinestone" so he sang what he thought he heard. Yes, that song will forever be etched in my brain as "Macaroni on a Cowboy."

One More Quick Post - Mount Rainier

I'll try to resume my regular blogging schedule later in the week, but for now, I leave you with a photo of Mount Rainier that I took while in Seattle.

I leave for home tonight, arriving in the morning. I suspect the kittens (10 months old so almost officially cats) intend to keep me occupied tomorrow, but I should have time to think through a blog post the following day and get back to my blogging schedule.

Having Too Much Fun to Remember to Post

I should have scheduled a post for this morning, but I'm having too much fun on my trip to Oregon and Washington to remember to do so.

Because I don't have lots of time at the moment for a long post, I'll leave you with a photo I took last Sunday afternoon at the Portland Japanese Gardens showing Mount Hood.

Mount Hood as seen from Portland Japanese Garden. Photograph by Lori Thornton, 12 Jun 2016.

Civil War Weapons

Springfield Model 1842. Photograph provided by "Older Firearms." Flickr Creative Commons (https://www.flickr.com/photos/35513864@N05/3292174456 : accessed 9 Jun 2016). Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Last week my nephew asked a question on my Facebook page about my second great grandfather's military service in the Union Army during the Civil War. A third cousin once removed from the line private messaged me about the post. Her father left her the muzzle loader that was said to belong to James M. Thornton. She knew the gun was manufactured in 1850, but she knew little else about it.

I'm not exactly an expert on firearms, but my nephew knows much more about them. He served with the Army National Guard for two tours of duty in Iraq and is much more interested in them than I am. I put the "fourth cousins" in touch with one another in such a manner that I was copied on the messages.

After what seemed like a live Internet version of Antiques Roadshow, it was concluded that the gun was a Springfield Model 1842 and that it was one of the guns used in the war and issued with a modification that was present on the one in the family. When Union soldiers mustered out, they were given an option of purchasing their weapon. While we cannot guarantee this was the rifle issued to James M. Thornton, it seems likely that it was.

Just the Facts, Please

Michael John Neill started a "rant" on Facebook the other day about Find A Grave. His basic wish is that Find A Grave would return to being a place to transcribe what is on the marker and provide a photograph without all the extra data provided.

It wasn't long before other genealogists were chiming in. Concern was voiced about the undocumented nature of much of the information being supplied. Many also knew of incorrect family connections. (I know someone had my maternal great-grandmother attached to the wrong man once even though they were in cemeteries in completely different parts of the state. Fortunately I was able to get this corrected.)

In the past I found instances where someone provided a citation for a grave recorded when the WPA inventories were made which is no longer marked. I appreciated the information.

However, I agree that much information being added is not useful. Some is completely erroneous. The contributors think they are being helpful, but they are likely being harmful. I know cousins who contact me about a person in my tree who "jumped" at the first match they found, making an incorrect conclusion concerning a person's identity based on a same name. The "reasonably exhaustive search" requirement was not met. This information gets propagated and sometimes creates situations where more incorrect information is available than correct. I spent a great amount of time trying to track down the source of erroneous information in one case so I could really address the error in a proof statement providing the correct analysis.

For the most part, I use the grave marker photograph as my source with Find A Grave. I make a note in my citation as to whether or not an accompanying photograph documents the evidence or not. In some cases, the accompanying photograph provides alternate information than the transcription. In those cases, I go with the photograph.

One person commenting on Neill's post said she likes to add death certificates, where available.

Of course, many persons are violating copyright when posting obituaries at Find A Grave. That has been a source of discussion among genealogists for a long time. That problem was around even before Find A Grave when persons would post every obituary in the local paper to Rootsweb Mailing Lists. At one time I was administrator for some of the boards. I contacted the papers involved to see if they claimed copyright on the obituaries or not. In one case, they did and wanted them removed. In another, the paper said they were created from form sheets filled in by the families so they did not. The question then became whether the family owned the copyright or if it was just "facts." After consultation with others, the decision was to remove those as requested by families only. Generally speaking, newspapers do claim the copyright to obituaries so they should not be posted.

One person said he did not mind the extra information. It placed it in one place, and he could evaluate it himself, much the same as he does with trees.

One person suggested Find A Grave needs to provide a section for the extra information that is separate from the main memorial.

I tend to agree Find A Grave is becoming too cluttered with all the extras. I do like the suggestion of a separate section for the additional information. I would also support requiring additional information to be cited. When an edit to that section is made, a box for a free-form citation could appear and not be accepted unless the citation was entered. Am I dreaming?

What are your thoughts?

Cumberland Gap Genealogy Jamboree

The Cumberland Gap Genealogy Jamboree begins today in the area through which so many people had ancestors travel. This is a more relaxed genealogy event than many. Outside are crafts, re-enactments, and a few other events. Inside the National Park Visitor Center's auditorium are presentations by known regional and national speakers. The event runs through Saturday.

I won't be attending today's festivities as I'm using the time to do laundry and pack. I have a work-related conference for which I'm leaving as soon as I finish speaking Saturday. Because I plan to attend most of Friday and Saturday, I needed today to get ready (and to spend a little time with my kittens who are quickly becoming full-grown cats).

I'm looking forward to visiting with many friends at the event, but this year's event will be a little sad as Connie won't be there. Connie was from the Evansville, Indiana area and always came. I always enjoyed visiting with her and Lyn at the booth they set up to sell "extra copies" of genealogy books to benefit the Willard Library. A distant "cousin" Mary also usually came and visited. [I say she's a "cousin" even though the connection is not proven. We know it will be there once we discover from which line my ancestor descends. Regardless of the line, we'll end up being related.]

Things will be different, but are things ever "the same" again?