Pages

The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Obituaries -- Lowell, Massachusetts


The below listed names were taken from The Lowell Sun newspaper's obituary section. The names are often printed on two days, I am only listing them once.


MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2011
WILLIAM C. 'BILL' WAYMAN OF WILMINGTON, NAVY VETERAN; 50
ROM CHHAN OF LOWELL, MA


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011
CHRISTOPHER P. QUIGLEY, PATRIARCH OF LARGE AND WELL-KNOWN LOWELL FAMILY; 86
JOSEPH J. HIGGINS, OF CHELMSFORD
JUSTINE P. (POWERS) MURPHY, OF DRACUT, MA; 88
MARIA G. SILVA, BELOVED MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER AND GREAT-GRANDMOTHER; 96
FRANCES M. WALLACE, OF TYNGSBOROUGH, MA; 66
ARLENE MARY (CONNOLLY) WYATT, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF WEST GROTON; 75
KATHLEEN D. (FERRIER) LaFERRIERE, OF LOWELL; 87
EDWARD C. SMITH, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SHIRLEY; 89
JANE (REED) BULETTE, OF LITTLETON; 84
MICHAEL W. FERMOYLE, LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER AND GRANDFATHER; 64


WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011
DENNIS M. McCARTHY, OF DRACUT; 62
ALBERTO ANDRES 'BEAVA' PAGAN, OF LOWELL; 21
HELEN MARIE (O'NEIL) POULIN, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF LOWELL; 81
MARY S. McLAUGHLIN, OF LAWRENCE, MA; 95
RONALD MICHAEL McCARTHY, OF GROTON, MA; FORMERLY OF LEXINGTON
WILLIAM J. HALLIGAN, OF SHIRLEY;  69
GEORGE F. WOODS, JR., OF DRACUT; 70
FRANCES MARY (CURTIS) RYAN, OF SAGAMORE BEACH; FORMERLY OF ARLINGTON; 83
CATHERINE C. (LANDRY) JACOBS, MEMBER OF ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA PARISH; 78


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011
SISTER DORIS BROUILLETTE, S.C.O., MEMBER OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY OF OTTAWA FOR 66 YEARS; 86
GERALD A. McELROYK RETIRED LOWELL POLICE OFFICER, 37 YEARS
ARMAND C. DUBE, FORMERLY OF LOWELL, RAYTHEON RETIREE; 89
MARY 'CATE' FOYE, FORMERLY OF LOWELL, MA; 78


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2011
BERNICE C. (SEDLEWCZ) ZIS, FORMER CO-OWNER ZIS-SWEENEY FUNERAL HOME; 93
ESTHER E. SCOTT, LIVED IN GILFORD, NH, TIES TO BILLERICA, MA; 92
ROBERT J. LALONDE, OF LOWELL, ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIAN; 67
MARK W. 'WALLY' BLAIR OF WILMINGTON; 42


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2011
NO PAPER


SUNDAY, OCTOBER  30, 2011
JOHANNA A.FYTEN, BELOVED MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER; 87
NANCY DONNELLY, MS, ARNP, FORMERLY OF BILLERICA, MA, WORKED AT NH VETERAN'S HOSPITAL IN MANCHESTER,NH; 63
RICHARD M. McCARTHY, LIFE LONG RESIDENT OF LOWELL; 52
EDWARD G. MURDOCK, OF TEWKSBUURY AND INVERNESS, FL; 82
JAMES E. BAKER OF WESTFORD; 70
SCOTT R. NAGEL, OF LOWELL; 40
JUDITH JOSEPHINE THOMPSON, FORMERLY OF CHELMSFORD, MA
ROBERT R. CHOUINARD OF PELHAM, NH; 78
REVEREND CHARLES CROWELL CROOK, DECEMBER 15, 1960 - OCTOBER 27, 2011
ROLAND H. HUBERT, FORMER CARETAKER AT ST. CASIMIR'S CEMETERY; CO-OWNER OF LOWELL VARIETY STORE; VET; 91
ROLAND A.  BRUNELLE, LOWELL, MA NATIVE, USPS RETIREE, WWII VET; 87
WILLIAM E. GRIFFIN, FORMER LONGTIME RESIDENT OF CHELMSFORD; 83
WILLIAM S. KENDALL JR., LONGTIME ACTON BUSINESS OWNER; 79
MARIA A. BAEZ OF LOWELL; 80
GRACE WYNNE GAGNON, OF TOWNSEND, MA, LOVING MOTHER, DAUGHTER, SISTER, GRANDDAUGHTER, FIANCEE, AND FRIEND; 27

Obituary -- Daniel Jackson Schramling of Iowa

From Vici Beach Paper, Vici, Oklahoma
July 3, 1939


Obituary
Daniel Jackson Schramling


Daniel Jackson Schramling was born in Sabula, Iowa, on September 5, 1856, and departed this life at his home in Vici, Oklahoma, June 28, 1939, at the age of 82 years, 9 months and 23 days. 


His early life was spent in Iowa.


He was united in marriage to Marie J. Higginbotham, in Griswold, Iowa, July 4, 1879. To this union were born six children, Myrtle, Charley E., Avery, Jessie, Margaret, and Daniel Frost. He and his family moved to Byron, Nebraska in 1885. At the opening of the Cherokee Strip, September 18, 1893, he made the run, staking a claim near Garber, Oklahoma, and on March 10, 1894, he came with his family to establish a home. In January, 1905, he moved his family to Vici, Oklahoma, where he has since made his home, living a part of the time on his stock ranch near Vici. The later years of his life were spent at his home in Vici.


He was a true pioneer from pioneer stock, his family being identified with early American pioneers since 1706.


In his early years, he took an active interest in Lodge work. He was a charter member of the I. O. O. F. and Rebekah Lodge at Garber, Oklahoma. He later transferred to Vici, Lodge No. 517, and several years ago he was presented with a twenty-five year jewel by the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma.


He had a wonderful personality which endeared him to his family, and made for him staunch friends wherever he lived.


He leaves to mourn his departure two sons and three daughters; Mrs. William Hartz, Covington, Oklahoma; C. E. Scramling, Vici, Oklahoma; Mrs. R. H. Speck, Perry, Oklahoma; Mrs. L. R. Pierce, Seiling, Oklahoma; and D. F. Scramling, Nickerson, Kansas. Also, twelve grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. E. M. Traver of Sharon, Oklahoma; two brothers, E. H. Scramling, Sharon, Oklahoma; and P. H. Scramling, Woodward, Oklahoma; besides a multitude of friends and neighbors who will sorely miss his passing.


He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marie J., on March 27, 1932; his son, Madison Avery, on June 21, 1939; and also one brother and sister.


Funeral services were held at the Vici Church of Christ Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, with Rev. C. Forbes officiating, assisted by Rev. Jones of Sharon.


Interment was made in Sunnyside cemetery under the direction of the Shaw Funeral Home.
Daniel was my 2nd cousin, 4 times removed.
I found the obituary at the DAR Headquarters in Washington, DC (in the file of his daughter's application paper).

Saturday, October 29, 2011

What is a Garden Cemetery?

When another genealogist asked me what a Garden Cemetery was, I was more than happy to explain because I had been to three in Massachusetts. The first ever built was Mt. Auburn Cemetery (see my blog post for photos) in Cambridge, not far from Boston, and two are very close to where I live, the Lowell Cemetery in Lowell, MA and the West Parish Garden Cemetery in Andover, MA. The first two are really like gardens, beautifully landscaped with selected trees, shrubs and flower gardens. Spring is spectacular, there is almost no better place to go to see beauty and to take flower photos. Even yesterday, after a light snow fall, I knew my just taken photos from the cemetery would be a perfect illustration to show it's beauty. With so many trees, and narrow paths, you almost forget it is a cemetery.


Information about the Lowell Cemetery is from their web site, as seen below. 
"The Lowell Cemetery was conceived by a group of prominent Lowell citizens in 1840 as a private, non-sectarian, non-profit cemetery corporation. The Cemetery was dedicated on June 20, 1841, at a time when there were no parks in Lowell, and it soon became a place of refuge for outdoor pleasures such as strolling and bird watching amid shrubs and flowers close to the city.


The Lowell Cemetery was modeled after Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, which was organized a few years earlier as the first garden cemetery in America. These new cemeteries emphasized the physical beauty of the surroundings and created a restful sanctuary for those contemplating the departed, which was in sharp contrast to earlier burial grounds, crowded and unorganized, sometimes dispassionate and severe.


Julie Danforth, a Master Gardener, has been our Landscape Designer since 2004. Julie takes great pride in her work and it shows in our more than 50 gardens. From the early blossoms of the tulips, daffodils and alliums in the early spring, the lovely daylilies and hydrangeas and Knockout roses in the summer to the mums in the fall, our gardens are an amazing display of color and beauty. In the last few years Julie has continued to add mini hillside plantings of spiraea, nine bark, rhododendron and clematis."






Friday, October 28, 2011

My Happy Birthday to Webinars -- Follow Friday

A year ago, I did a post called, "Webinar -- New Family History Technology" At that time, I had viewed a few webinars, and the concept was still new to many of us. Now, every week, somebody is presenting one, and I try to listen and watch as many as I can. The speakers are now more familiar with presenting their topics, and newer lecturers are joining in. You can't lose in this win-win situation, especially if they are free.

During the past year, I listened to topics such as: Google for Genealogists, all the RootsMagic topics, Blogging for Beginners, Backing up your genealogy data, Twitter and Tweet Deck, Facebook for Genealogists, Google Docs, Labeling Digital Photos, Dropbox for Genealogists, Family History's Next Generation, and Let your Voice be Heard in the Digital Conversion.

Are you missing out on these valuable topics? Why not check the up-coming ones out, and sign-up. They are for everybody, not just bloggers.


A short write-up on various sponsors:

RootsMagic Inc.  The genealogy software company offers 26 sessions, and I have attended all because I am currently learning this program. All lectures are archived.

Ancestry.com: Has a new "Family Tree Maker: New Features" seminar scheduled for November 9, 2011.  In addition they have archived sessions that go back several years.



Legacy Family Tree: Has a wide variety of lectures, and great speakers. In addition, there are many archived webinars for you to listen to and/or watch. You can also purchase past lectures.

From the Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS) and Family Research Library, the Jamboree Extension Series.


A blog site: GeneaWebinars posts upcoming webinars with all information as soon as they are announced. Very nice to have a blog just for genealogy webinars (this site includes all of the above companies). Click on subjects that interest you for the specifics, and note, not all are free.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

New Blog called Seeing New England

Seeing New England, my recent blog, replaces Flowers From My Area. Flowers did quite well, and I was surprised at the number of hits, but I was limited as to what I could post. Seeing New England will incorporate historic sites, along with scenic shots and flowers. If you wish to see the blog, please Follow me. Thanks.  Seeing New England.

Those Places Thursday -- Home of Joshua L. Chamberlain

Home of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Brunswick, Maine

On Tuesday, I posted his cemetery stone.


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Where Is He? -- Wordless Wednesday

Does anybody know if all these old photos were taken in Kilburn, England?
(Photo of my grandfather at least 50 years ago.)

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday -- Joshua L. Chamberlain

Every time I go to Brunswick, Maine, I pass by the Pine Grove Cemetery where Joshua Chamberlain was buried and once lived. Although I have been by it many times, it was during my recent visit I finally stopped to see his burial site, his home, and the campus of Bowdoin College, where he worked as professor and president. Joshua wore many hats, including that of the Civil War hero and Governor of Maine.
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Born: September 8, 1828, Brewer, Penobscot Co., Maine

Died:  February 24, 1914, Portland, Cumberland Co., Maine

Buried at Pine Grove Cemetery, Brunswick, Maine


My husband and his uncle visiting the grave site.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Administrator's Account on Financial Settlement -- For JOHN ADAMS 1792 - 1860

Sabra Adams, the widow of John Adams, my 3rd great-grandfather, is a mystery to me because I knew absolutely nothing about her. Not her last name, her age, where born, or where she went after John died. They married between 11 February 1858 and 31 May 1860 (John's death). I don't even know if it is she who is listed on the 1860 census of Stafford, Genesee Co., New York, living with the Ruben Ensign family. After her husband's death, there was a financial settlement of her husbands' estate.


The Administrator's Account on Financial Settlement of John Adams.


"Know all men by these presents that I Sabra Adams widow of John Adams late of the town of Stafford in the County of Genesee deceased for a valuable consideration received by me of Carlisle Adams, Liberty Adams, Mary Adams, Delight Benham and Grace Wilcox children and heirs at law and next of him of said John Adams deceased and of Isaac Gillett Administrator of the estate of said John Adams deceased hereby acknowledge receipt in full of my share of the personal estate of said John Adams deceased as well my distribution share of said estate as the estate provided by law to be set apart to the widow and children of deceased or to the widow. And I hereby release all my right title and interest in and to said personal estate and in and to such distributive share to the said Carlisle, Adams, Liberty Adams, Mary Adams, Delight Benham and Grace Wilcox and their assigns.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of June 1860.

Sabra Adams  (Seal)

Genesee County  __ On this 18th day of June 1860 before me Moses Jaggart County Judge of the County of Genesee personally appeared Sabra Adams to me known to be the ___."


(Note: The Settlement and Heirs of John Adams was posted on October,  2010.)





Schedule "A"

Schedule "A" "Contains a statement of all property in inventory, sold at a public or private sale with prices, also loss, and gain on each article, also statement of all debts due said estate collected and uncollectible, and the manner of disposition of all property inventoried."
Some interesting items are listed:
George Adams note (no idea who he is)
Balance on Henry Campbell's note (no idea who he is)
Thomas Downing's Note (no idea who he is)
Two mortgages against son Liberty Adams
The usual household items: bureau, table, jar of lard, about 30 lbs. and jar, bed, library, wearing apparel, 4 pictures and frames, and a Military suit.
I would love to learn more about the pictures and Military suit, which was inventoried at $1 and sold for .75. According to my information, he was not in the service, but his father was.

Schedules "E"  and "F"

Widow, Sabra Adams was paid $595.25. She was one of the six next-of-kin listed.


*
Settlement and Heirs of  JOHN ADAMS  1792 - 1860 posted October 4, 2011