Follow Friday -- Research to do Only Once

In the past week, I've been thinking about the lives of my parents before I was born. A blogger, Remembering Those Who Came Before Us and facebook friend, Sara Campbell mentioned Union College. Hum, that is where my father went, and a thinking out loud thought to myself was written to Sara. I was curious to know if I could get a yearbook photo of him and any other information from his file. Sara sent me a link to the college, and the process began. After calling Union College in Schenectady, I called my mother's college, Skidmore in Saratoga Springs, both in New York. Below are some of the things I received.


Three days after my call to Union, I was looking at his yearbook page, and other copied files. I discovered my father was in the Choir, Dramatic, Track and Camera Clubs. Who was this person? He never sang, did any sports, didn't attend plays, and took very few photos. As my father, he collected old maps, old guns, old stamps and was an avid ham operator.  His nickname was "Pud," what kind of name is that, where did it come from, well, I'll never know.


The file contained my birth announcement, printed in two newspapers, and a few other pieces about his service. His obituary was in the file, and date stamped at the college a week after he died. Seems my mother knew what to do, as she sent all these articles to Union. He majored in Science/ Chemistry and became a Chemist, working at several Boston area companies.


My mother's  file was similar, with a yearbook photo and listing of her clubs. Since she majored in Costume and Textiles, she was quoted as saying, "Have to make a sweater to match the socks I knitted for the game tomorrow" Looking at her photos reminded me of the movie, Mona Lisa Smile, since Skidmore was a woman's college. (She was her class agent 15 years up to the time of her death.) Many years later, she attended Northeastern University and received her Masters Degree in Education, and became a teacher.


If your parents went to college, this might be a nice resource. I found out more than what is mentioned above. Neither college asked me for any information, perhaps because obituaries (with my name mentioned) were in their files. The process was so painless, and I got a huge payoff. Photos below are of my mother.

My mother holding the magazine.

My mother on the ladder.

Looking Back

I like to acknowledge those who enjoy my blog and thought I should have an award. Some bloggers mentioned they knew I don't accept them, but wanted me to have one anyway. I understand why people love giving them, as well as receiving them. However, from the very first day I received one, I decided that wasn't the route I wanted to take. But thank you ladies for the three different awards. Please check out their blogs, you will be so glad you did.

The Ancestor Approved award was given on Jan. 20th, and I didn't discover it until months later. It was embarrassing that I didn't catch it earlier, and it pays to read each and every blog you follow, you just never know what might be in a post. And, I think it is important for recipients to also thank the sender, which I don't see happening very often.

My Ancestor Approved award came from: Suz of The Hunt for Henrietta

One Lovely Blog awards from:
Cyndi Beane Henry of Mountain Genealogy                     
Leslie Albrecht Huber of The Journey Takers Blog
Leslie Ann of Ancestors Live Here
Yvonne Mashburn Schmidt of ATCO, Georgia, The Village


and Betty Huber Tartas of Betty's Boneyard Genealogy presented me with the Genea-Angel award.


The past month has been busy, and I will be blogging about some of the events in the next few weeks. One interesting thing, I hate to admit, is I didn't learn all I could about my parents and grandparents first and then work backward. I instead by-passed them and steam rolled through each generation rather quickly, (which took about 21 years). But, I realized I didn't know the first thing about my parents, especially before I was born. During the past week, I discovered some great information about them, and will share that. If I had asked questions about the last two generations years ago, some relatives were around to answer what I wanted to know.


Much of this winter-like month has been devoted to webinars, I love them and in one week attended five, and one day there were two. I'm getting a great free education, learning about things such as: Using Twitter, Backing up your Genealogy Data, Tracing Female Ancestors, Writing your Personal History, two on Blogging, and several on RootsMagic4. I hope you have been able to take advantage of them, some are still available to listen to/see and new ones have been scheduled. Most are FREE, so please visit the above webinar site.


This has nothing to do with genealogy, but to illustrate how quickly time flies. When I heard it was 30 years ago that President Reagan was shot, to me, it was like yesterday.
I was working at the Veteran's Administration, my office on the first floor of a 14-floor building, and on the L Street side in Washington, DC. When we heard the sirens and saw police cars fly by, we knew something serious had happened. We grouped together, and imagined a disaster at the White House, which was a few blocks away. Soon we knew the real story. Now, it's hard to believe it was 30 years ago. Did I age, what was I doing as a hobby (not genealogy yet), no idea what I was doing, but I remember that freeze in time.

Animals for the Young and Old -- Wordless Wednesday

1921
My mother was 22 months old.

1942
Her father, my grandfather, was 52.

First Man Married in Utah -- Westover - Sunday Obituary

Charles Beal Westover was my 2nd cousin, 5 times removed.  See FindAGrave for copy of cemetery stone, and death certificate.


"Charles Westover, Sr.
First Man Married in Utah Passes Away
Charles Westover, Sr. passed peacefully away in this city at about 11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, 1919, of the infirmities of old age. He managed to get about until the day before he died, getting out on to the porch of his home to get his photograph taken, along with his wife on the Friday preceding his death.


Charles Westover, Sr., was born at Licking, Ohio, Nov. 25, 1827, a son of Alexander and Electa Westover. His mother and brother joined the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and went to Winter quarters, Charles accompanying them and being baptized into the church at Winter Quarters by Apostle Erastus Snow in the spring of 1848. He crossed the plains in Capt. Brigham Young’s company and it was while crossing the plains that he met his wife, Eliza Ann Haven, who was loading oxen when he first met her. 


Mrs. Westover, whose memory is still very keen, relates what she considers the most exciting incident during the long toilsome journey as follows: The company was encamped near the Platte River when a very large herd of buffalo, estimated at between four and five thousand came to the river to drink. The whole company were afraid that this vast number of animals might stampede in their direction and felt considerably relieved when they left. When arriving in Utah Mr. Westover settled in Great Salt Lake City. 


When Apostle Erastus Snow was about to leave on a mission for Denmark in the fall of 1849, he asked young Westover to take charge of his place while he was away, and advised him to get married. Westover and Miss Haven were agreeable and they were married by President Brigham Young in Apostle Erastus Snow’s house on Oct. 14, 1849. 


They were the first couple to be married in Utah and celebrated their 70th Anniversary of their wedding day on Oct. 14th this year. 


Of this marriage there were 11 children, seven of whom are living, also 45 grandchildren, 67 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren. The children are Charles Westover Jr., of Washington; Mrs. L. Redd, of Bluff, San Juan Co.; Mrs. H. A. Gracey of San Francisco, CA,; who is here taking care of her parents; Mrs. L. S. conger of this city; William A. Westover of Washington; L. B. Westover of Lewiston, Utah; and Mrs. A. A. Paxman of Washington. 


Besides this family a second wife and family are living at Huntington, Utah, they are: Mrs. Mary Shumway Westover, wife; two sons George and Alberto; and two daughters, Mrs. Julia Rowley and Mrs. Louisa Johnson. 


Mrs. Eliza Westover is the only person living who received her endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. She is 90 years old and enjoys good health; she spends most of her time knitting; her memory is keen, but she is deaf to a considerable extent. While her husband was engaged in the Indian War in the early days she melted lead in a spoon and made the bullets which he used. 


Mr. Westover was granted an Indian War pension in Jun, 1918. 


Mr. and Mrs. Westover came to Saint George in the fall of 1861, being called to the Dixie Mission to settle this country. They moved to Pinto in 1869 and stayed there 13 years, moving thence to Washington where they resided until three years ago when they made their home here. All the children by the first wife except Lewis were here with their father when he passed away. 


Mr. Westover was of a kindly disposition and a cheerful temperament. He suffered considerably toward the last with severe pains in his chest, but bore up with fortitude and looked longingly toward the end when he would go to meet his reward. He was faithful to the end and sought a glorious home in the great beyond. 


Funeral services will be held in the tabernacle this afternoon."

Obituary of Charles Westover.  Permission granted to use photo by Travis Elder (author of article with obituary).

Surname Report -- Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

It has been a long time since I participated in Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun project. But I'm game tonight. Lots of fun and interesting. His instructions were:


1)  Go into your Genealogy Management Program (GMP; either software on your computer, or an online family tree) and figure out how to Count how many surnames you have in your family tree database.

2)  Tell us which GMP you're using and how you did this task.

3)  Tell us how many surnames, and if possible, which Surname has the most entries.  If this excites you, tell us which surnames are in the top 5!

4)  Write about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or in a status or comment on Facebook.


It is rather interesting that Randy and I are almost the same when it comes to total of names. I have 39,849 per RootsMagic and my RootsWeb tree. He and I are also cousins several times, so share a few surnames.


To do my report, I used RootsMagic4 and located the Create a Report option, then the Lists and found the Surname Statistics list, then the Frequency of surnames. Within seconds I had a report of 98 pages. Fortunately, no unknowns because I list the women with the husbands, as Mary w/o John Westover.


In my list below, the last two names, Adams and Poole were probably numbers 15 and 19, but since I wanted to display them for my benefit, so I deleted other names (Davis, Hess, Lay, Cressey, Bockus, Cross, Newell, Steevens, Mead, Wilder, Fitch and Wyckoff).

SURNAME	ALL	MALES	FEMALES	EARLIEST	LATEST
WESTOVER	917	474	436	1619	2008
SCRAMBLING	610	292	317	1695	2009
KELSEY	460	233	227	1609	1970
TEN EYCK	432	233	198	1617	2009
ADAMS	202	102	100	1602	2008
POOLE	198	102	95	1609	1999

ABBE -- Massachusetts and Connecticut -- Surname Saturday

The Abbe name is another old New England line. My ancestors are in green. If you happen to have this family, and would like sources, please contact me.

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Descendant Register, Generation No. 1

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1.	JOHN ABBE. He married MARY ABT 1635 in Salem / Wenham, Massachusetts. She died 9 SEP 1672 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Mary w/o Richard GOLDSMITH 25 NOV 1674 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She died AFT 18 MAY 1673.
	Children of JOHN ABBE and MARY were: 2   i. John ABBE died 10 DEC 1700 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. He married Hannah. 3   ii. Sarah ABBE. 4   iii. Marah ABBE. 5   iv. Rebecca ABBE was born ABT 1647 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died JUN 1704. She married Richard KIMBALL 13 MAY 1667 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 6   v. Obadiah ABBE was born BET 1647 AND 1652 in Prob. Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 28 OCT 1732 in Enfield, Massachusetts, now Connecticut. He married Sarah TIBBALLS AFT 21 AUG 1697 in Enfield, Massachusetts, now Connecticut. + 7   vi. SAMUEL ABBE was born 1648 in of Wenham, Salem, Windham, and died MAR 1698. 8   vii. Thomas ABBE was born BET 1650 AND 1656 in Prob. Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 MAY 1728 in Enfield, Massachusetts, now Connecticut. He married Sarah NEEDHAM 16 DEC 1683 in Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

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Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

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7.	SAMUEL ABBE (JOHN ABBE1) was born 1648 of Wenham, Salem, Windham, and died MAR 1698. He married MARY KNOWLTON 12 OCT 1672 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of WILLIAM KNOWLTON and ELIZABETH w\o WILLIAM KNOWLTON. She was born 1654 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died AFT 1697.
	Children of SAMUEL ABBE and MARY KNOWLTON were: 9   i. Thomas ABBE was born ABT 1672 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1 APR 1700 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. + 10   ii. Mary ABBE was born ABT 1674 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 11   iii. Samuel ABBE was born ABT 1676 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 15 JAN 1737 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. He married Hannah SILSBY \ SALSBEY 15 MAR 1710 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. 12   iv. Elizabeth ABBE was born ABT 1681 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married William SLATE 23 SEP 1702 in Salem Village (now Danvers), Essex Co., Massachusetts. + 13   v. EBENEZER ABBE was born 31 JUL 1683 in Salem Village (now Danvers), Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 5 DEC 1758 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. 14   vi. Mercy ABBE was born 1 MAR 1685 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Jonathan ORMSBY 8 JUN 1703 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. He was born in of Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. 15   vii. Sarah ABBE was born 4 JUL 1686 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married John FOWLER. He was born in of Lebanon, Connecticut. 16   viii. Hepsibah ABBE was born 14 FEB 1689 in Salem Village (now Danvers), Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Samuel PALMER 8 APR 1707 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. 17   ix. Abigail ABBE was born 19 NOV 1690. She married Joseph ORMSBY 10 MAY 1710 in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. He was born in of Rehoboth, Massachusetts. 18   x. John ABBE was born 4 JUN 1692 in Salem Village (now Danvers), Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 30 OCT 1790 in E. Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 19   xi. Benjamin ABBE was born 4 JUN 1694 in Salem Village (now Danvers), Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died ABT 1765. He married Mary TRYON 24 JAN 1716 in Glastonbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 20   xii. Jonathan ABBE was born ABT 1696 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 3 MAY 1757 in Willington, Tolland Co., Connecticut. He married Mary JOHNSON. He married Rebekah WEDGE 19 SEP 1745 in Willington, Tolland Co., Connecticut.

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Descendant Register, Generation No. 3

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10.	Mary ABBE (SAMUEL ABBE2, JOHN ABBE1) was born ABT 1674 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Isaac GOODALE 31 DEC 1692 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was born 29 MAR 1670 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died ABT 1738 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
	Child of Mary ABBE and Isaac GOODALE was: + 21   i. Isaac GOODALE.

13.	EBENEZER ABBE (SAMUEL ABBE2, JOHN ABBE1) was born 31 JUL 1683 in Salem Village (now Danvers), Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 5 DEC 1758 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. He married MARY ALLEN 28 OCT 1707 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut, daughter of JOSHUA ALLEN and MARY CROWELL. She was born 1686 in Mansfield / No. Windham or Hampton, Connecticut, and died 1766.
	Children of EBENEZER ABBE and MARY ALLEN were: 22   i. Ebenezer ABBE was born in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. He married Abigail GOODALE 7 FEB 1730. + 23   ii. Elizabeth ABBE was born 11 SEP 1709. 24   iii. Joshua ABBE was born 20 JAN 1710 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut, and died 13 JAN 1807 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. He married Mary RIPLEY 14 APR 1735 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. 25   iv. Mary ABBE was born 21 SEP 1712 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut, and died 4 MAR 1735 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. She married Jonathan BINGHAM 9 MAY 1734 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut, son of Abel BINGHAM and Elizabeth ODELL. He was born 17 AUG 1712 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut, and died 16 FEB 1800 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. 26   v. Gideon ABBE was born 13 FEB 1715 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut, and died 1784 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. He married Mary WOOD 15 MAR 1735 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. She died OCT 1742. He married Keziah WALKER 8 DEC 1742 in Mansfield, Windham Co., Connecticut. She died JAN 1746. He married Bathsheba SMITH MAR 1747 in Mansfield, Windham Co., Connecticut. 27   vi. Samuel ABBE was born 24 APR 1719 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. He married Temperance LINCOLN 8 JUL 1766 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. 28   vii. Zerviah ABBE was born 17 MAR 1720 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. She married Elihu MARCH 10 MAY 1736 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. 29   viii. Jerusha ABBE was born 22 OCT 1722 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. She married Samuel WOOD 31 MAR 1742 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. 30   ix. Abigail ABBE was born 1 AUG 1724 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. She married Benjamin CARY \ COREY 10 NOV 1743 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. + 31   x. MERRIAM ABBE was born 31 AUG 1726 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died NOV 1825 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. 32   xi. Solomon ABBE was born 29 MAY 1730 in No. Windham, Windham, Connecticut, and died 1799 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. He married Sarah KNIGHT 17 JUN 1751 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. She died 25 JUL 1797. He married Elizabeth BURNHAM 3 MAY 1798 in Mansfield, Windham Co., Connecticut.

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Descendant Register, Generation No. 4

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21.	Isaac GOODALE (Mary ABBE3, SAMUEL ABBE2, JOHN ABBE1). He married Deborah HAWKINS.
	Child of Isaac GOODALE and Deborah HAWKINS was: + 33   i. Ebenezer GOODALE.

23.	Elizabeth ABBE (EBENEZER ABBE3, SAMUEL ABBE2, JOHN ABBE1) was born 11 SEP 1709. She married Daniel CROSS 13 NOV 1735 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut, son of DANIEL CROSS and DESIRE HALL. He was born 20 JUL 1713 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut.
	Children of Elizabeth ABBE and Daniel CROSS were: 34   i. Ichabod CROSS was born 18 JAN 1737 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. 35   ii. Mary CROSS was born 4 JUN 1739 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. She married Zebulon TUBBS 8 FEB 1759 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. 36   iii. Daniel CROSS was born 20 MAY 1741 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut, and died 1759. 37   iv. Abigail CROSS was born 14 APR 1743 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut, and died 29 NOV 1749. 38   v. John CROSS was born 14 OCT 1745 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. 39   vi. Shubael CROSS was born 16 DEC 1747 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. 40   vii. Theopolis CROSS was born 1 APR 1750 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. + 41   viii. Uriah CROSS was born 9 JUN 1752 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut.

31.	MERRIAM ABBE (EBENEZER ABBE3, SAMUEL ABBE2, JOHN ABBE1) was born 31 AUG 1726 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died NOV 1825 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. She married WILLIAM CROSS 5 OCT 1745 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut, son of DANIEL CROSS and DESIRE HALL. He was born 25 MAY 1720 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut, and died 1 JUN 1801 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut.
	Children of MERRIAM ABBE and WILLIAM CROSS were: 42   i. John CROSS was born in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. He married Sarah GIBBS. She died 2 FEB 1818. He married Amy JAGGER 26 NOV 1818. 43   ii. Eunice CROSS was born 7 JUL 1747 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. She married Nathan LINCOLN. He was born 11 MAY 1746 in Connecticut, and died 19 MAR 1814 in Connecticut. She married Mr. BUTTERFIELD. She married Perez TRAP?. + 44   iii. William CROSS was born 25 JUN 1748 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut, and died 8 MAY 1834 in Otselic, Chenango Co., New York. 45   iv. Merriam CROSS was born 18 FEB 1750 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. She married Samuel STUBBS. She married Mr. BUTTERFIELD. She married Perez TRACY. 46   v. Eleazer CROSS was born 28 SEP 1753 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut. He married Anne. + 47   vi. Nathan CROSS was born 6 MAR 1756 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Connecticut, and died NOV 1812 in Bennington, Bennington Co., Vermont. + 48   vii. JOSEPH CROSS was born ABT 11 MAY 1760 in Windham Co., Connecticut, and died 10 JAN 1855 in Fairfax, Franklin Co., Vermont. 49   viii. Mary CROSS was born ABT 5 JUL 1761 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. 50   ix. Ebenezer CROSS was born ABT 9 MAY 1762 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. + 51   x. Tryphena CROSS was born 27 APR 1767 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut, and died in of Windsor City, Windsor Co., Vermont. 52   xi. Shubael CROSS was born ABT 1771, and died 12 JAN 1851. He married Rachel SAWYER, daughter of Asahel SAWYER. She died 25 OCT 1851 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut.