Sunday's Obituary ~ Carl Johan Youngberg

From the Chicago Daily News January 28, 1920 page 30;

"Youngberg - Charles J., aged 58 years. Jan. 26  at home, 1421 E 75th st., beloved husband of Freda Youngberg, fond father of Myrtle Elvira and Lawrence Youngberg.

Funeral Thursday Jan. 29 at 2:30 p.m. from late home to Swedish Mission Church, 74th st and Cottage Grove av., at 3 p.m.: interment Oakwoods. For information phone Stewart 77."

Carl/Charles was born Karl Johan 27 Oct 1861 in Svenarum Norregård Sweden to Anders Johan Johannisson and Ulrika Jonasdotter. Karl took the surname Ljungberg when he did his military service in Sweden.

He emigrated in 1883. Within months he began what would be a long career at the Pullman Palace Car Company building sleeping cars for the railroad.

Carl married my 2nd great-grandfather's sister Frida Tolf in Batavia Illinois 07 May 1887. They made their home in the Englewood area of Chicago.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Clarke and Littrell

Mary Ella (nee Littrell) and William Penrod Clarke

Motivation Monday ~ Make documents easy to read



Image courtesy The Graphics Fairy

Super Simple Tip # 3: Bigger is better. The library at the Wisconsin Historical Society has a printer that produces 11" x 17" copies (they also have every census record on microfilm). Enlarging records makes them easier to review. A quick look without a computer screen or magnifying glass in the way often yields clues previously missed. A folded 11x17 fits perfectly in a manila folder.

Sunday's Obituary ~ Zora E. Clarke

From the January 26, 1940 edition of the Funkstown (Maryland) Daily Mail;

"Mrs. Zora Highbarger, widow of John Highbarger, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William King, Woodburg, Baltimore County, on Thursday afternoon, at 2:00 o'clock.

She was born and reared in Downsville but has lived in Baltimore for the past 20 years. She was a member of the Zion Reformed Church.

Surviving are: daughters, Mrs. Rena McGill, Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Vernie King, Baltimore, and two grandchildren. The body will be brought here on Saturday morning at 11:45 o'clock with services at 12:30 o'clock at Funkstown cemetery by the Rev. Scott R Wagner.

Friends and relatives will meet at the A.K. Coffman Funeral home at 12:00 o'clock."

Zora E. Clark(e) Highbarger is my 2nd great-grand aunt, born 19 Aug 1857. She lived in Maryland her entire life and died there 25 Jan 1940. Zora's unique name has been priceless in my search for her parents and 10 siblings.

Wordless Wednesday ~ France before 1789

Researching Gury and Schmitt in Moselle, Lorraine, France

Motivation Monday ~ Think Nancy Reagan

Image courtesy The Graphics Fairy

Super Simple Tip # 2: Just say no. I am a fan of cluster genealogy and have been known to follow the path of a great-uncle's step-mother's granddaughter's second cousin twice removed. Yes that's an exaggeration, but not terribly far from the truth. This year my time is so limited and my desire for progress so high, I must draw a line in the sand. Fascinating as they may be, I simply cannot research everyone. When I catch myself getting caught up in an interesting person who cannot answer the specific research question at hand, I have to stop, drop, and roll back to the "real" family. (I'll just save those extras for a rainy day!)

Sunday's Obituary ~ Harriet Kathlyn Tolf 1954

WALTON - Harriet Walton, beloved wife of John, loving mother of Donald and Joan, fond daughter of Harry Tolf and Julia Chinell, dear sister of Earl, Oliver, and Francis, niece of Raymond and Katherine Tolf. Service Saturday, 3 p.m. at chapel, 4821 N Damen avenue. Interment Rosehill.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Mom and her cousins

cousins in Grandma's backyard

On this Day in Her-Story ~ 1890 ~ Bessie Littrell

One of my resolutions for 2011 is to focus on my paternal grandfather's side of the family. Toward that end, I printed a calendar of birth dates for those ancestors and their families. I'd like to celebrate each of these special days by determining what I "know" about the birthday boy or girl.

Bessie F. Littrell is my first cousin thrice removed. Her father John and my 2nd great-grandmother Mary are the only known children born to Charles Littrell and his first wife Margaret in Salem Virginia.

After Margaret's death (?) Charles married Mrs. Julia DeMasters, a widow/divorcee (?) with three children. The couple had a son in 1868 and the blended family moved to Springfield Ohio shortly thereafter.

Bessie's parents John H. Littrell and Sarah E. Drumen were married in Shelby County Ohio May 15, 1883. John was a foreman at an iron works company in Springfield for many years.

When she was 20, Bessie married William H. McMahon. Their March 28, 1910 marriage license states "it is expected that Rev. Gardner will solemnize the marriage". The 1930 census shows that the couple and baby Marjorie J. McMahon reside in Reno Nevada. William died in 1969 and Bessie died in 1978, both in Santa Clara California.

Hmm. It appears I don't know very much about Bessie. As a first cousin thrice removed, that's okay for now. The real gift on Bessie's birthday was the opportunity to go through my Littrell notes and formulate a research plan.

Charles seems to have disappeared in Ohio. I'll have to do some sleuthing to see if he'll turn up. And I'd really like to know what happened to Margaret (Bessie's grandmother) in Virginia. There is a birth and death register for Roanoke County on microfilm at the Family History Library. That seems like a good place to start.

Sunday's Obituary ~ Edna Cornelia Walton 1993



Harry Flood and Edna Vlchek


VLCHEK Edna C. Vlchek, beloved wife of the late Vincent; loving mother of  Faith Lorraine Porto, Carol Johannah Reimann, Vincent J. and Ernest R. (Margaret); dear grandmother of Heidi Lubrano, Elena Carroll, Patrick Porto and Andrew and Kenneth Reimann; great-grandmother of Danny and Brian Lubrano and Ryan and Cody Carroll; sister of Harry and Richard Flood. Funeral Friday Jan. 15, 10 a.m. at Olson Funeral Home, 6467-77 N. Northwest Hwy. Interment Irving Park. Charter member of Edison Park Senior Center. Visitation Thursday 3 to 9 p.m. 312-774-3333.

Only a Genealogist

Is it really possible to be THIS EXCITED about microfilm?!? YES, YES!! It is, it really is!!

Okay, it may be more than just the microfilm. I think it has alot to do with allowing myself some time to review my files, create a research plan, and wander the web in search of resources. Finding the resources, well, that's the icing on the cake!

My 3rd great-grandmother is known only as Margaret. She appears in just one census; 1860 Virginia. In the next census, her husband is married to someone else and Margaret seemingly ceases to exist.

BUT today, because I scheduled time just for Margaret, I found information about records that may help me find her. The Family History Library catalog has a film of an 1853-1885 birth register from the Roanoke County Courthouse in Salem Virginia. I can start there, looking for her children born in 1857 and 1858. This same roll of film contains an 1853-1881 death register which contains a record (according to FamilySearch) for a Margaret Jane Littrell who died in 1867 while married to Chas. W. Littrell.

I'll order the film next week during my visit to the FHC and start the waiting process. Regardless of which way the wind blows, this is one EXCITING day!!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Midwest Morning

Motivation Monday ~ Eat the Elephant



Image courtesy The Graphics Fairy

 'member that expression "Keep it Simple Stupid"? Every once in awhile it would be helpful to hear that phrase before I tackle my next genealogical project. Am I alone in this? Or would a reminder here and there help you too?

Super Simple Tip #1: Eat the elephant one bite at a time. A hundred or so years ago (in another life) I taught time management skills in corporate settings. The most popular of my workshops was one about battling procrastination. There are many reasons we put things off, but BIG things tend to be #1 on the list of Things I Will Do Later. I can't possibly organize all my genealogy files in a single afternoon. But I could take one folder to the TV room with me this evening and sort the papers into two piles - Keep and Recycle.

Sunday's Obituary - Helena Åman Tolf 1901

Lena Tolf with daughters Christina & Amanda

From the Batavia (Illinois) Herald, Wednesday 16 January 1901:

Death of an Aged Mother

"Died, at the home of her daughters, Misses Christina and Amanda Tolf, on Hueston St., West Batavia, Sunday, Jan 13, 1901, after an illness of several weeks, Mrs. Elena Tolf, aged 78 years. Deceased was an old resident of this city. She had reazed a large family of children, four sons and four daughters, four of whom live in Batavia. She was a good christian lady and a kind and devoted mother. Funeral will be held at the Swedish M.E. church, Thursday afternoon. Burial at West Batavia cemetery."

Happy New Year!



Best wishes for a Happy 2011 to all!



Thanks to Graphic Fairy for picture.