Worth The Trip

Allen County Public Library

I made my first road trip to the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana which is the  second  largest genealogy library in the county. With a lot of anticipation to make new discoveries I tried to prepare to utilize my time efficiently.  Prior to my trip, I reviewed the library’s online database for information.   I came equipped with my smartphone, computer laptop, pencils, paper and money for photocopies. There are two smartphone apps which helped me organize information. The app CamScan allows you take a picture of a document fine tune the image, label or tag, share or store. This app helped me save money. Instead of paying ten cent per copy I used the app to make copies from books.   I then organized my information on the app Evernote.  With CamScan, I could sync information onto the Evernote app which was installed on my smartphone and laptop computer. I purchased the premium edition of Evernote because I wanted to save a large amount of data. Organization is  key in genealogy research. Thru the years, I have found information and saved it, lost it and saved the information again thinking it was new information.  The Facebook group The Organized Genealogist has helped tremendously with organizational ideas.

The library is located in downtown Fort Worth.   I drove my car to the library and for a small hourly fee parked in their garage. Preparation is the recipe to success for research at the library. Be prepared. The librarians are not going to help you with your genealogy research.  Knowing what you can find and what you can’t find saves time.  I had a list of call numbers for books I wanted to review from the online catalog. I have made trips to the National Archives, the Mississippi Department of History and Archives and the Tennessee State Library and Archives on previous research trips.  Allen County Library has books that I have not previously found. My inability to find information in the past may stem from my previous inexperience in research or the library is user friendly and has a great collection. 

I found new information about the family trees which I plan to share. 

-------The Tree Gardener

Veterans Day November 11, 2014

Remembering Veteran Family Tree Members

On the 11^th hour of the 11^th day on the 11^th month in 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations during the Great War known as World War I was established.  This day has transformed to an official holiday to honor all members of the United States Armed forces.  I would like to honor ancestors on my trees who were in the armed forces. My research has not allowed me to identify all the veterans past or present.  They however are not forgotten.  Grateful for their service. God bless them all.    Let’s support our living veterans

Ernest B. Strickland Sr.

Ollie Brumfield World War II
 Isom Brumfield Jr. World War II

Hollis Caston Jr.  World War II  

Jessie Caston   World War II

Wiley Caston World War II
James Bearden World War II
Edward Elam Sr. Viet Nam






Wiley Caston

James Edwards Sr.

Bertha B. Bearden

Bertha B. Bearden

Wallace Caston

Cicero Caston




Six Degrees of Separation Caston & Brumfield Family Part 7

Thomas Brumfield Family

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”   Helen Keller

I looked for Thomas Brumfield in the 1880 census but was unsuccessful.  I was able to communicate with a fellow family historian Cousin Roger who gave me a missing bit of information.  Thomas Brumfield is listed in the Mississippi, Pike County census as Tom Black. I probably never would have made that association. This experience demonstrates the importance of collaboration in   genealogy research. 

He is listed with his wife Celia and child Mary.

Learning Curve

Instruction in Genealogy

Judy G. Russell JD, CG, CGL

When I began to research my family history, my methodology was erratic and somewhat ineffective.  I basically used only family stories and the “trial and error method”. Nowadays with the Internet genealogy websites a great deal of information is available online. Some of the family tree information on the popular websites has information errors. The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) is not used. My personal investigative results improved when I began reading genealogy research books attend conferences and joined the local and national genealogy societies.  I learned that I did not have to recreate the wheel.  I could learn the skills of the professional and experienced researcher.   

 

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Tennessee Genealogy Society fall seminar on October 18, 2014. The guest speaker was Judy G. Russell JD, CG, CGL.  

Judy is a lawyer, certified genealogist and certified genealogy lecturer.  She was a dynamic speaker discussing  1) making the first trip to the courthouse 

2) laws and statues which affect records 3) records of widows and orphans 4) DNA analysis in genealogy.

I am fired up and ready to go the courthouse! I might even do mitochondrial DNA analysis sometime soon.  
                                                                                                      The Tree Gardener