Thursday, May 27, 2010

I'm Happy to be a Blogger of Honor at the Loveland CO FHExpo

Last June I attended my first genealogy conference, the Family History Expo at Loveland, Colorado. I had a wonderful time, learned a lot, met other genealogy and blogging friends from Facebook, and also came home with some terrific resources that were available from the classes and syllabus at the Expo.

I'm looking forward to helping Holly Hansen publicize and inform everyone about the events, classes and acrtivities at this year's Expo that will be held at the Embassy Suites in Loveland, CO June 25-26.  Holly just posted this list of the "Bloggers of Honor"--those of us who will be blogging and "tweeting" (on Twitter) throughout the Expo. I'm in really great company!

Amy Coffin of We Tree
Arlene Eakle of Arlene Eakle’s Genealogy Blog
Becky Jamison of Grace and Glory
Gayle Gresham of Colorado Reflections
Gena Philibert Ortega of Gena’s Genealogy.
Holly Hansen of the Family History Expos Blog
Ruby Coleman of The You Go Genealogy Girls
Thomas MacEntee of Destination: Austin Family

If you're thinking about coming to the Expo, but haven't registered yet, I encourage you to register right now! The $65 registration fee is such a bargain! For all the details, please visit  FHExpo.com  When you get there, look me up! 

Monday, May 24, 2010

The Essence of Our Ancestry

"We can, at times, feel the hands of our ancestors as they touch us, as they gently turn us, and point us in the right direction, as we search for the indelible marks they left on the eternity of time. When they touch us, the feeling is always good. We believe we do them great honor when we think and speak of them. We believe they look upon us, from their vantage point, with love and pride. It is no different than when our own children and grandchildren in this world treat us with that same love and respect that brings us to the bursting point of pride." --K. M. King

Monday, May 17, 2010

Goldie's Grandson Found Us

My husband Larry and I have always adored this photo of his grandaunt, Goldie Roberts (Mrs. Samuel Leasure) King. She was born in 1892 and died in 1972 in Greene County, Pennsylvania. We were surprised and excited last week to receive an email from her grandson whom we didn't know. I suppose her grandson had met Larry when they were small children living in Waynesburg, Greene, Pennsylvania, since their grandparents were siblings. But my husband doesn't remember him. 
As I've done our family's research over the past decade, we've connected with hundreds of relatives, but most were either very remotely related or were related to my family. Seldom have we met a relative of Larry who also shares an interest in their family. So we were really thrilled to hear from this gentleman last week. And he's equally happy to have "found" us, since I've done quite a bit of research on their mutual ancestors over the last decade. 
It was through our Public Family Trees at Ancestry.com that he made the discovery of his "relatives in Colorado" and wrote to me. There's been a lot of discussion on blogs recently about the validity of information found on Public Family Trees, but I've found them to be quite valuable for making connections with others who are researching the same family, or are related to us! The tree I put up on Ancestry of Larry's ancestors is not totally documented, sourced or proven. But it's value has been established, if in no other way, by this recent connecting and getting acquainted with Larry's 2nd cousin. We'll be able to share stories, photos and family information that we'd be deprived of otherwise. And we'll know cousins that were unknown until now! What a blessing. We're sure that Goldie is smiling on all of us right now!

Agenda, Family History Expo, Loveland, CO June 25-26

There's still time to register for the Family History Expo in Loveland, Colorado June 25-26. It will be held at The Embassy Suites. Registration is $65 if you register before the Expo.  You can register at FHExpos.com

Here's the lineup of wonderful classes and events. What a bargain for $65! 

Friday, June 25, 2010  7:00AM:Registration Begins
Friday, June 25, 2010  8:00AM-9:00AM:Class #1- Keynote Address: Let Your Light Shine! ~ Beau Sharbrough
Friday, June 25, 2010 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Exhibit Hall Grand Opening
Friday, June 25, 2010  10:00AM-11:00AM

Class#2- Help! Where Do I Start? ~ Christine Sharbrough, CG
Class#3- Naming Patterns Of American Families: Your Key to the Origins of Your Ancestors ~ Arlene H. Eakle, Ph.D.
Class#4- Genealogical Resources of the National Archives at Denver~ Rick Martinez
Class#5- Facebook for Genealogists ~ Thomas MacEntee
Class# 6- Everything You Wanted to Know About Footnote.com ~ Gordon Atkinson
Class #7- Family Tree Maker 2010 Basics ~ Robert A. Larson
Class #8- Powerful Tips and Tricks for FamilySearch Record Search ~ Blair Keddington
Ask-the-Pros Series Exhibit Hall Classroom #1-  Looking After the Poor: Finding Your Ancestors in New England Poverty Records ~ Marian Pierre-Louis
Friday, June 25, 2010  11:00AM-11:30AM:Exhibit Hall
Friday, June 25, 2010  11:30AM-12:30AM
Class #9-Automated Search Tools ~ Beau Sharbrough
Class #10- Using the Western History Collection ~ James K. Jeffrey, Denver Public Library
Class #11- Easier Scanning for Great Results ~ Marlo E. Schuldt
Class #12- Restacking the Blocks: Organizing your Information ~ Michael John Neill
Class #13- Searching for and Finding American Revolution Records ~ Pat Johnson
Class #14- Family History Books:  Editing, Design and Publishing ~ Biff and Nancy Barnes
Class #15- Armchair Research: Easy Access to the World's Records ~ Blair Keddington
Ask-the-Pros Series Exhibit Hall Classroom #2-
 Friday, June 25, 2010  12:30PM-1:30PM: Lunch and Visit Vendors
Friday, June 25, 2010  1:30PM-2:30PM
Class #16- Every 10 Years: U.S. Census Research ~ Gena Philibert Ortega
Class #17- What’s New in RootsMagic 4, Part I ~ Bruce Buzbee
Class #18- Homestead Records at Footnote.com ~ Roberta "Bobbi" King, CG
Class #19- Internet Safety for Genealogists and Everyone Else ~ Andy Pomeroy
Class#20- The Tax Man Came and He Left Records ~ Carol Cooke Darrow, CG
Class #21- What's New in German Research on the Internet? ~ Baerbel K. Johnson
Class #22- 15 Minute Family History ~ Deborah Lambert & Kim Woodbury
Ask-the-Pros Series Exhibit Hall Classroom #3- The Last Muster: Photographs and Stories from the American Revolution ~ Maureen Taylor
Friday, June 25, 2010  2:30PM-3:00PM: Visit Vendors
Friday, June 25, 2010 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Class #23- State and Territorial Censuses & Substitutes ~ Leland K. Meitzler
Class#24- American Church Records ~ Arlene H. Eakle, Ph.D.
Class #25- Where Do I go From Here? ~ Michael John Neill
Class #26- Genealogy on the Go! ~ Michael Booth
Class #27- Heritage Collector Demo Sponsored by LifeStory Productions, Inc ~ Marlo E. Schuldt
Class #28- Internet Sources for Locating your German Emigrant ~ Baerbel K. Johnson
Class #29- Genealogy Gifts and Games ~ Kim Woodbury
Ask-the-Pros Series Exhibit Hall Classroom #4-
 Friday, June 25, 2010 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Visit Vendors
Friday, June 25, 2010 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Class#30- Using Google for Your Genealogy ~ Gena Philibert Ortega
Class #31- The Genealogy Collection at the Denver Public Library ~ James K. Jeffrey, Denver Public Library
Class #32- Ancestry.com Tip & Tricks for Genealogists ~ Robert A. Larson
Class #33- Twitter: It’s Not Just “What I Had For Breakfast” Anymore ~ Thomas MacEntee
Class #34- Putting the Flesh on the Bones ~ Ron Arons
Class #35- Introduction to Legacy Family Tree Software 7.0 Demo ~ Beau Sharbrough
Class #36- Researching your Colorado Pioneers ~ Gayle Gresham
Ask-the-Pros Series Exhibit Hall Classroom #5-
Friday, June 25, 2010 6:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Exhibit Hall Closes for the Day
Saturday, June 26, 2010 7:30 AM:Conference Registration Begins
Saturday, June 26, 2010 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
 Class #37- Finding your English/Welsh Ancestors ~ Raymon Naisbitt
Class #38- Writing a Personal History (and Living to Tell About It) ~ Michael Booth
Class #39- Flames Over the Courthouse ~ Leland J. Meitzler
Class #40- Remember the Ladies: Researching Your Female Ancestors ~ Gena Philibert Ortega
Class #41- Shining Your Light for Future Generations ~ Bill Burch
Class #42- Researching Criminal Ancestors ~ Ron Arons
Class #43- Researching at Family History Centers and FamilySearch.org ~ Pat Johnson
Ask-the-Pros Series Exhibit Hall Classroom #6-
Saturday, June 26, 2010 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Exhibit Hall Opens   
Saturday, June 26, 2010 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Class #44- Finding your Scottish Ancestors ~ Raymon Naisbitt
Class #45- Migration Patterns into the Central United States ~ Arlene H. Eakle, Ph.D.
Class #46- Websites you Might be Missing ~ Lisa A. Alzo
Class #47- Finding New England on the Web ~ Christine Sharbrough, CG
Class #48- Build A Genealogy Blog ~ Thomas MacEntee
Class #49- Find Your German Ancestor Now! ~ Baerbel K. Johnson
Class #50- FamilySearch's Research Wiki, Forums and Blogs ~ Cullen Brimhall
Ask-the-Pros Series Exhibit Hall Classroom #7-
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:30-11:00 AM:Visit Vendors in Exhibit Hall
Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Class #51- Finding Your Irish Ancestors ~ Raymon Naisbitt
Class #52-  Family Insight: Sync and Ordinance Prep Demo ~ Andrea Schnakenburg
Class #53- United States Vital Records Overview ~ Jason Harrison 
Class #54- Footnote and the National Archives ~ Beau Sharbrough
Class #55- Social Networking: New Horizons for Genealogists ~ Thomas MacEntee
Class #56- Locating Your Ancestors Underground ~ Robert A. Larson
Class #57- FamilySearch 2010 and Beyond ~ Cullen Brimhall
Ask-the-Pros Series Exhibit Hall Classroom #8-
Saturday, June 26, 2010 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM:Lunch and Exhibit Hall
Saturday, June 26, 2010 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Class #58- Searching Tips and Tricks ~ Michael John Neill
Class #59- What’s New in RootsMagic 4, Part II ~ Bruce Buzbee
Class #60-Newspaper Research in the 21st Century ~ Leland K. Meitzler
Class #61- Scrapbooking Your Family History ~ Linda Tapparo
Class #62-Preparing, Composing and Printing a Family History - Ways to make it look more professional while saving time and money ~ Marlo E. Schuldt
Class #63- On-line Interactive Family History Collaboration Research Through Distance-Learning Technology ~ John Kusmich, Jr.
Class #64- The Joy of Family History: How to Inspire Members and Leaders. LDS Consultant Training Part 1  ~ Steve Rockwood
Ask-the-Pros Series Exhibit Hall Classroom #9-
Saturday, June 26, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (Mountain Time): Vendor Hall
Saturday, June 26, 2010 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Class #65-United States Naturalization Records ~ Jason Harrison
Class #66- British Migration to America Before 1850 ~ Arlene H. Eakle, Ph. D.
Class #67- Civil War Records: Service and Medical Records, Pension Applications ~ Billy Dubois Edgington
Class #68- Where did the Farm Go? ~ Michael John Neill
Class #69- Making a Personal History Video is Easy! ~ Andy Pomeroy
Class #70-Beyond Who Begot: Digitizing your Family Memories ~ Wes Knackstedt
Class #71- Meeting the Support Needs of the Family History Community. LDS Consultant Training Part 2 ~ Steve Rockwood
Ask-the-Pros Series Exhibit Hall Classroom #10-
Saturday, June 26, 2010 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM:Visit Vendors/Exhibitors
Saturday, June 26, 2010 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Class #72- Midwest Treasures ~ Jason Harrison
Class #73- Locating Homestead Land Patents ~ Gayle Gresham
Class #74- How the Latest Technologies in Genealogy Research Benefit You ~ Robert A. Larson
Class #75- Immigrant Cluster Communities: Past, Present, and Future ~ Lisa A. Alzo
Class #76- Researching Back Before 1850 ~ Carol Cooke Darrow, CG
Class #77- Beginning Native American Research ~ Billy Dubois Edgington
Class #78- New Resources for Consultants: What They Are and Real Examples of How to Use Them  LDS Consultant Training Part 3 ~ Steve Rockwood
Ask-the-Pros Series Exhibit Hall Classroom #11-

Saturday, June 26, 2010 5:00 PM:Grand Prize Drawings in Exhibit Hall

Friday, May 14, 2010

Meeting Laura Best at FHExpo Loveland, CO

When I attend the Family History Expo in Loveland, Colorado June 25-26 one of the treats I'm anxiously awaiting is to see what's new from Genealogy Author Laura Best. Her books are available here at Echo Road and are absolutely wonderful.

Last year I bought this lovely book and have used it for several family occasions. It offers fabulous templates that can be used for family baptisms, marriages, etc, and it comes with a CD so they can be prepared on your computer. Below is a picture of "Genealogy: Research Your Family History for the First Time". I've shared this book with friends who want help in getting started with their family history research. I can't wait to see what Laura brings to show us this year. Won't you join me at the Family History Expo in beautiful Colorado?

Friday, May 7, 2010

Remembering our Mothers

My mom and dad: Phyllis and Ernest Margheim
My husband Larry's mother and dad: Irene and Lt. Col. L. R. "Dick" Jamison

Happy Mother's Day to our Mothers! Today we remember you with love. 


Thursday, May 6, 2010

50 Days til Family History Expo in Colorado

We're counting down the days until the Family History Expo starts in Loveland, Colorado. The Expos will, for the 2nd year, be held June 25-26 at the new and very classy Embassy Suites Loveland Hotel & Conference Center, 4705 Clydesdale Parkway, Loveland, Colorado 80538. At $65, the reservation for this two-day genealogy event is one of the very best deals you'll find in the genealogy conference world. (Registrations at the door are $75). Register NOW at FHExpos. This link will also take you to the page listing the classes, presentations, and other fun things on the agenda. Check it out and start making your plans to join me and my husband at the Loveland Family History Expo!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

I Discovered Another Surprising Connection

I've said before that I'm easily impressed, amazed, and astounded. It seems, as I research my family and my husband's ancestry, that I make interesting and surprising discoveries weekly.

Pictured above is a young lady named Gwenda, who has posted quite an extensive tree at Ancestry.com, called the "Duff, Crotchett, Maupin Tree". Last year as I was researching the birth family of my adopted son Matt (pictured below), I found that Gwenda and my son are each Crotchett descendants. They are 5th cousins.
Tonight I was looking at Ancestry.com and as I read the words "Duff, Crotchett, Maupin Tree", the name MAUPIN caught my attention. Every time I've looked at Gwenda's work, I was researching the Crotchett family and focused on that name. I knew that my step-grandmother was Laura Casper Maupin Jones, wife of my step-mother's father, Henry James Jones. In reviewing her tree more thoroughly, I found that Gwenda and my step-grandmother Laura Maupin Jones are 5th cousins, 3 times removed.

My step-mother Phyllis Jones Margheim and her step-mother Laura Casper Maupin Jones

I know many people say "We're all related anyway". I don't like hearing that. I'm still wonderfully surprised when I make these discoveries of connections among my family members.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Vacation Time in Salt Lake City

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir presented a fabulous concert to those of us who were in town for the National Genealogical Society's Conference. I posted a recap of my visit here on my personal blog "Gramma's House".