January Birthdays

Happy January birthday to my late grandmother Frances Lois MANGELS born 23 Jan 1911; my sister, my cousin Alexander, and my nephew Eric.

My grandmother's aunt Amanda Ida MANGELS was born 24 Jan 1893 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Amanda testified on my grandmother's behalf when she applied for a delayed birth certificate in May of 1929.

After his divorce from her mother, my grandmother's father Gustave MANGELS married Emilie HEINZELMANN who was born 09 Jan 1899 in Marschalkenzimmern, Rottweil, Baden-Württemberg.

Marie Catherine Gury

Marie Catherine GURY born 11 Jan 1809 in Altroff, Meurthe, Lorraine, France. This photo is said to be of her. The family story is that Marie Catherine first became a nun and later a Mother Superior. I hope to prove or disprove that story this year.

Marie Catherine's niece Pauline GURY was born 22 Jan 1834 in Léning, Moselle, Lorraine, France.

Pauline immigrated to the United States as a child. Another immigrant Pierre Ferdinand SCHMITT (who was born 28 Jan 1843 in Hellimer, Moselle, Lorraine, France) would later become her sister's brother-in-law.

Swedes with January birthdays in my family tree include Raymond Carl Johan TOLF (also known as Unkie) born 09 Jan 1891 in Batavia, Kane, Illinois. Unkie is the ancestor who piqued my interest in genealogy.

Unkie's cousin Pearl May TOLF was born 01 Jan 1883 in Dixon, Lee, Illinois and  Peter August TOLF was born 01 Jan 1858 in Svenarum, Jönköping, Sweden. 

Peter is Unkie's father and my 2nd great-grandfather. He was a blacksmith and foreman for the Wind Engine and Pump Company in Batavia Illinois.

Many of the Tolf men were blacksmiths including Peter's uncle Anders Gustaf TOLF was born 08 Jan 1821 in Lindefors, Jönköping, Sweden.

Foreman Peter TOLF - front and center

Also hailing from Sweden and born in January; Carl Magnus CARLSON born 05 Jan 1871 in Börstil, Uppsala, Sweden.

From my 2012 Burning Questions list;

• Hanna Sophia PETERSON born 09 Jan 1873 and her brother

• Carl Frithof PETERSON born 27 Jan 1877 in Tånnö, Jonkopings, Sweden

A number of my Manx ancestors were born in the month of January including:

• Abigail WALTON born 31 Jan 1836 in Lonan, Isle of Man
• John WALTON born 24 Jan 1841 in Lonan, Isle of Man
• Margaret WALTON born 19 Jan 1845 in Lonan, Isle of Man
• Mary WALTON born 24 Jan 1847 in Lonan, Isle of Man and
• Jane CHRISTIAN born 20 Jan 1812 in Lonan, Isle of Man who married a Walton

Conspicuously absent from my calendar is the birthDAY of my 2nd great-grandfather Peter THOMPSON. All I know as of this writing is that he was born Jan 1857 in Norway.

Are any of my ancestors in your family tree too?

Please contact me at find.an.ancestor [at] gmail [dot] com

Let's compare notes!

2012 New Year's Resolutions

Another year comes to a close. The past 12 months were sprinkled with equal parts levity and laughter, wonder and worry, pitfalls and proud moments. I'm glad I was on the planet to see all the ups and downs firsthand and I very much appreciated your company along the way.

With family group sheet in hand, I nervously reviewed my 2011 resolutions. Not as bad as I thought - whew! 

2012 offers new opportunities to make check marks on my genealogy to-do list. Look out family tree, I'm getting serious about climbing you this year! With weekly encouragement from my Success Team partner Jenny, I plan to will:

1.) Attend at least one out-of-state genealogical conference or convention.

2.) Focus my research on 12 direct-line surnames; Clarin, Clarke, Gury, Landstrom, Littrell, Mangels, Mueller, Peterson, Schmitt, Thompson, Tolf, and Walton. Start by organizing the surname-related computer files, manila folders, family group sheets, and pages on my web site.

3.) Answer the following burning questions:

• Did Esther give birth to the Clarin/Mangels child I recently located? Was her divorce from Gustave really as public as family stories suggest?
• From what country did the Maryland Clarkes originate?
• Who is the child that accompanied Marie-Anne Gury and her children from France to Cincinnati?
• When (and at which port) did Augusta Landstrom arrive in America?
• From what country did the Virginia Littrells originate?
• What did the inquests into Herman Friedrich Carl Mangels and Frank Mangels' deaths reveal?
• In which Swiss town was Jacob Mueller born? Were Otto Mueller and his wife Alvina Schmitt really cousins?
• Where did Maria Fredericka Peterson's sisters settle after leaving Sweden?
• What were the circumstances around Elizabeth Schmitt's divorce from Anton Bidenharn and marriage three days later to Jacob Mueller?
• Where did Peter Thompson die and where is he buried? Was his daughter really institutionalized so her husband could obtain a divorce?
• At which American port did James Walton and his parents end their voyage from the Isle of Man?

4.) Keep other living descendants up to date on our family history research progress through emails, letters, Twitter, this blog and my web site. Search for as-yet-unknown cousins in the same way.

5.) Honor the relationship between genealogy and scrapbooking: Scan and digitize old photos. Preserve hard copies of pictures. Archive online photos off-site. Organize, label and safely store slides and negatives. Share pictures with relatives. Assemble heirloom photo albums.

6.) Share (and create more) family history with my glorious grandchildren.

Every one of my goals interests and excites me. 2012 could be a great year for my family and me. I hope yours is even better. Happy New Year!

Transcription Thursday ~ Marie Catherine Gury

Marie Catherine is one of at least eight children born to my 5th great-grandparents, Joseph François Gury and Barbe Richard. Below the image of her 1809 birth record is my attempt to transcribe and translate it.

I transcribed in green and translated in black. The words I couldn't quite figure out are red:

While I was working on this post, a kind gentleman from the Alsace-Lorraine list shared his thoughts:

"Today the 11th day of January, eighteen hundred and nine, at eight in the morning at the townhall of Altroff, in the arrondisement of Chateau Julline, in the department of Muerthe. Appeared before Peter Bocage, the Mayor and civil officer of the commune of Altroff,  Mr. Joseph Francois Gury, an artist residing in said Altroff, age forty-five years accompanied by Nicolas Geurolt, a farmer with forty eight years, and Peter Fuhrmann, a forty-two-year old teacher residing in the same commune. They presented us with a female child, born between midnight and one o'clock in the morning at the home of Pierre Gury and Barbe Richard, the thirty-one year old legitimately married wife of the declarant. They have given the child the first name of Marie Catherine

The last line is a little unclear but, it basically says that the record was read aloud to the Father and witnesses and that they have signed their names in agreement."

It was nice to see someone else felt the last line was unclear, I was stumped by that. Thanks also to Stephan for desciphering "teacher" as Pierre Fuhrmann's occupation.

That makes one record down, a hundred or so more to go!

French Birth Record from 1795

My 5th-great grandparents Joseph François GURY and Barbe RICHARD had at least nine children. Typical of their time, they had a baby nearly every year. Transcribing and translating their children's vital records gives me a better sense of their family dynamics. Here is one the records I recently located:

Jean Louis GUERY's 1795 birth:

Birth record transcription: left column ----- ?  ----?   1795 / department de la Meurthe / Guery / Jean Louis / mort?

Lepoerres du et ferrirt o

Àujourd'hui huitième jour du Mois de Fructidor l'an troisième de la Republic Française mil et -- divisible quatre un had apres Midy par devant Mois Nicolas Karpp membre du Conseil general de la commune d’Altroff et a le premier V-H-N? d-? pour dresser les actes destines a constater les naissance mariages et deces des citoyens, est comparu en la falle pirblique de la Maison Commune Josephe Guery age de trente ans châtreur resident ans la commune d’Altroff, lequel après ete de Jean ---- Geury châtreur age de trente deux ans department de la Moselle  district de fanckmons municipalite de Bassoncones et Catherine Schmitt age de vingt huit ans resident d’ans la commune de Vírming department de la Meurthe district de Dréuze a declare a Mois Nicolas Karpp, que Barbe Richart Mon epouse en legitime mariage et accouché hier --- jour du present Mois de Fructidor a quatre un heur du soire d’ans la maison d'un enfant male quil ma presenté et auquel il a donné le prenom Jean Louis, d’apres cette declaration que le citoyens Joseph Guery Jean hary et Catherine Schmitt ont certificat a la Herite, et la representation qui ma ete fait de l enfant de nommi, par Redige en herta des pouvoire que me fout de lequis le present acte que Josephe Geury, pere de l’enfant et le deux temoins Jean Hary Geury et Catherine Schmitt, ont signe avec mois fait en la maison commune d'Altroff les jour Mois et an ci-dessous.

[Signed by] Catherine Schmitt, H Gury, J F Gury

Birth record translation: ----- left column? ----? 1795 / department of Meurthe / Guery / Jean Louis / death?

Lepoerres and the ferrirt o

Today the eighth day of Fructidor third year of the French Republic and millet - a divided four HAD Midy after the front month Nicolas Karppe member of the General Council of the joint and the first Altroff VHN? d-? to prepare the documents to ascertain the birth marriages and deaths of citizens, appeared in the hall of the common house Josephe Guery, 30 year old gelder, resident of the town Altroff, after which Jean Hary Geury gelder 32 years of age of the Moselle department fanckmons district municipality of Bassoncones and Catherine Schmitt age of 28 and a resident of the town of Virming, department of Meurthe, district Dréuze said to Mr. Nicolas Karppe that Barbe Richard, my wife of a legitimate marriage, gave birth yesterday --- Month Fructidor four o'clock one year of the house of a male child quil my presentation and to which he gave the first name Jean Louis, after this statement that the citizens Jean Joseph Guery and Catherine Schmitt a certificate is prepared, and that the representation was made of my child to the appointed by Herta Written in the powers I care about the present act Lequis Joseph Geury, father of the child and the two witnesses Jean Hary Geury and Catherine Schmitt, have been signed with months in the common house of the day Altroff Month and year below.

[Signed by] Catherine Schmitt, H Gury, J F Gury

This is one of the worst translations I've done. I'm more rusty than I thought; the 1795 handwriting/words have me stumped! I'll ask for help and update this post shortly.

Surname Saturday ~ September Marriages

Some ancestrally-significant weddings took place in September;

My second great-grandparents Maria BUKMAKOFSKY and Herman Friedrich Carl MANGELS were married in Chicago on the 18th of September in 1886:

My great-grandmother Esther Ingeborg CLARIN married her second husband Charles Fredrick OTTO in Chicago September 10, 1918.

My third great-grandparents, Nicolas SCHMITT and Marie Anne GURY were married in Léning, Moselle, Lorraine, France on September 26th, 1837:

Dolores, the oldest daughter of my mystery 1st cousin thrice-removed Lawrence Charles YOUNGBERG (what happened to him?), married Paul Evert JOHNSON September 1, 1937.

Do we share any ancestors? Visit my web site or

send me an email at livinginthepastlane [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Surname Saturday ~ August Birthdays

Happy August birthday to my wonderful husband, my little sister, my beautiful granddaughter, my uncle Bob, my cousin Bill, my cousin in-law Michael, my grand uncle Bud, my first cousin once-removed Faith, my first cousin twice-removed Courtney, my third cousin once-removed in-law Cindy, and my fourth cousins once-removed Spencer and Taylor.

My August-born ancestors are also in my thoughts:

Helen Irene ADAMS born 04 Aug 1919 married William Howard TOLF in Chicago Illinois. Their daughter is one of my favorite genealogists.

Lyman John CLARKE was born 01 Aug 1893 in Chicago Illinois and his aunt Zora E CLARKE was born in Washington County Maryland 19 Aug 1857. Their unique names help in the search for Clark/e ancestors and descendants.

My 4th great-grandmother Elizabeth GROSSE was born in Virming, Moselle, Lorraine, France 07 Aug 1781. She married François SCHMITT in 1804.

Although not yet documented other than the photo below, Christina GURY born 15 Aug 1821 in Altroff, Moselle, Lorraine, France became a nun. Her brother Jean Louis GURY was born 26 Aug 1819 also in Altroff.

Axel Fabian LANDSTROM was born in Norra Unnaryd, Jonkopings, Sweden 10 Aug 1874, the youngest of seven children who immigrated to Chicago Illinois with their parents Johan Peter LANDSTROM and Lisa Katarina PETERSDOTTER. Axel's older brother Carl Werner LANDSTROM was born 17 Aug 1863.

John Alfred LUND was born 13 Aug 1879 in Sweden. His wife Hannah Christina TOLF and her sister Ella Jubelina TOLF 21 Aug 1886 were born in the Swedish community of Batavia Illinois.

My grandfather Harold Clarke MUELLER was born 07 Aug 1908 in Chicago Illinois. He married Frances Lois MANGELS 22 Aug 1930.

Following the Swedish naming tradition, Jöns PERSSON born 23 Aug 1829 in Bjäresjö, Malmöhus, Sweden had a daughter named Bengta JÖNSDÖTTER. In America she would be known as Betty Johnson. Jöns' daughter created this priceless family treasure:

After my 3rd great-grandmother Margaret Jane SHARTZER died in 1867, Julia PETERS born 25 Aug 1827 married the widowed Charles W LITTRELL. She helped raise his children John Henry LITTRELL and Mary Ella LITTRELL.

Oscar F THOMPSON born in Chicago Illinois 12 Aug 1883 was the first American born child of Norwegian immigrant Peter THOMPSON and his Swedish immigrant wife Maria Fredrika PETERSDOTTER.

My 4th great-grandfather blacksmith Carl Jonas TOLF was born in Svenarum, Jönköping, Sweden 25 Aug 1795. He died at 38 leaving wife Maja Lisa LIDSTROM with seven small children, among them my 3rd great-grandfather Carl TOLF. Carl immigrated to Batavia Illinois in 1878. His August-born grandsons include Frank M TOLF 29 Aug 1884 and Leroy Harrison TOLF 10 Aug 1888. Owen Henry TOLF, a great-grandson, was born 03 Aug 1914.

On 21 Aug 1891 Swedish immigrants Carl Johan YOUNGBERG and Frida Katrina TOLF had their second child Myrtle Alvira YOUNGBERG. Myrtle's brother Lawrence Charles YOUNGBERG is one of the family mysteries I enjoy solving.

Surname Saturday ~ July Birthdays

Happy July birthday to my niece Christine; my cousins Cynthia and Ernie Lynn; my 3rd cousins once removed James, Pat, and Steven; and my 4th cousin-in-law Michael. Birthdays from the past include:

George BORST born 26 Jul 1861. George was a postman in Chicago Illinois and lived to be 90. He married Nana Elizabeth PLUM born 21 Jul 1872.

Esther Ingeborg CLARIN born 07 Jul 1890 was the first child born to Swedish immigrants Carl and Bengta Clarin in Chicago Illinois. Mabelle Theresia CLARIN born 09 Jul 1894 was Esther's younger sister. The girls' grandfather Lars PETERSSON was born in Fultofta, Malmohus, Sweden 21 Jul 1800.

Mary CLARKE, born 24 Jul 1869, was the eighth of 11 children. Her parents were Morgan and Susan (nee Shank) Clarke of Funkstown Maryland.

Carl ERSSON born in Börstil, Uppsala, Sweden 14 Jul 1807 is my third great-grandfather. He and his wife Brita Carin ANDERSDOTTER had seven children, among them my second great grandmother Maja Stina KARLSDOTTER born 02 Jul 1839.

Alice Louise GILES born 31 Jul 1913 lived to be 90. She was the first family historian I knew. Her sister Fern Mary GILES was born 3 Jul 1922. In her later years, Alice gave her genealogy files to Fern for safe-keeping.

Vernie G HIGHBARGER was born 22 Jul 1887 in Washington County Maryland. She married William F King and lived in Baltimore. Her parents John and Zora (nee Clarke) Highbarger lived with Vernie the last 10 years of their lives.

My second great-grandfather Herman Friedrich Carl MANGELS was born 04 Jul 1845 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany and immigrated to Chicago about 1882. The family story is that his wife Mary (nee BUKMAKOFSKY) banished Herman to their enclosed porch one January night after he'd been drinking and he froze to death. But his death certificate says he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Carl Jules SCHMITT was born 17 Jul 1881 in Ohio. Carl's father Jean Nicolas SCHMITT moved his family to Chicago where he opened a bakery and restaurant. Carl became a commercial artist.

Edward Arthur THOMPSON born 25 Jul 1895 in Chicago Illinois was the youngest child of Peter and Mary (nee PETERSON), Scandanavian immigrants.

Jacob Wilhelm TOLF was born 05 Jul 1826 in Lindefors, Jönköping, Sweden. His father (my 4th great grandfather) Carl Jonas TOLF was a blacksmith. Carl died at just 38 years old leaving a widow and seven young children.

My grandmother Harriet Kathlyn TOLF born 02 Jul 1909 and her brother
Oliver TOLF born 05 Jul 1915 lived in Chicago their entire lives. As an adult, Ollie legally changed his name to Donald. Both siblings died in their forties; Harriet in 1954 and Donald in 1961.

Clockwise Julia (nee Thompson), Earl, Oliver and Harriet Tolf.

Transcription Thursday ~ Pierre Victor Schmitt

I thought my second great-grandmother Elisabeth Schmitt was one of 12 children. But last week I found a 13th child born to Nicolas Schmitt and his wife Marie-Anne Gury on the microfilm "Naissances, mariages, décès 1811-1861 - FHL INTL Film #1898553" at my local Family History Center:

Pierre Victor appears first on a birth record, and one day later a death record.

This is my (hopefully accurate) transcription of the birth record:

Naissance de Pierre Victor Schmitt No 41
L’an mil huit cent quarante le deux juin a cinq heures de xx par devant moi Jean Scherer, Maire officier de la etat civil de la commune de Hellimer, canton de Grossequin département de la Moselle est comparu Nicolas Schmitt tanneur age de vingt Sept ans domicile à Hellimer, lequel nous a présenté un enfant du sexe masculin aujourd hui a dix heures du est accouchée dans sa maison a Hellimer de lui déclarant et de Marie Anne Gurie son épouse sans profession age de vingt deux ans et auquel il a declaré donné le prénom de Pierre Victor laditte a declaration et presentation faite en presence xxx Pierre George Dubach age de quarante trios ans et Jean Dubach age de xxx neuf xxx deux xxx domicile et Hellimer et tous les père et témoins signe avec nous le present acte de naissance après que lecture leur en a été faite.
[signed] George du Bois, Nicolas Schmitt, Jean du Bois, Scherer

If my translation is correct, the birth record says:

Birth of Pierre Victor Schmitt No. 41
The year 1840 on June 2nd at five hours xx, before me Jean Scherer, Mayor officer of the civil status of the town of Hellimer, Canton Grossequin department of Moselle has appeared Nicolas Schmitt tanner age of twenty seven years of Hellimer, which gave us a male child today, Mary Anne Gurie, his wife age of twenty two years gave birth in her home in Hellimer and which he claimed gave the first name of Pierre Victor xx the statement and presentation xxx made in the presence of Pierre George Dubach age of forty three years old and Jean Dubach age of nine xxx xxx xxx home. Both the father and all witnesses signed this birth certificate with us after the reading was done.
[signed] George du Bois, Nicolas Schmitt, Jean du Bois, Scherer

This is my (slightly incomplete) transcription of the death record:

Deces de Pierre Victor Schmitt age d un jour No 42
L ‘an mil huit cent quarante de trois juin de un heure de XX par devant moi Jean Scherer Maire Officier de l’etat Civil de la commune de Hellimer canton de Grostenquin départment de la Moselle de est comparu Nicolas Schmitt tanneur age de vingt Sept ans et Jean Dubach xxx age de trente neuf ans tous deux domicilié d Hellimer lesquels nous est declare que aujourd'hui décédé Pierre Victor Schmitt age d un jour fils de presxx declarant et de Marie Anne Gurie son épouse sans profession age de vingt deux ans est décédé au domicile xxx xxx ses père est xxx a Hellimer avil staib et lui déclarant ont signe avec nous le présent acte après que lecture leur en a été faite.
[signed] Nicolas Schmitt, Jean Dubach, Scherer

and my attempt at translation:

Death of Pierre Victor Schmitt age of one day No. 42
In the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one hours of June 3 XX before me by John Scherer Mayor Officer of Civil Status of the town of Canton Hellimer Grostenquin department of the Moselle is appearing Nicolas Schmitt tanner age of twenty seven years and Jean Dubach xxx age of thirty nine years both domiciled Hellimer of which we are now deceased said that Pierre Victor Schmitt age of one day declaring presxx son of Anne and Mary his wife housewife Gurie age of twenty-two years died home xxx xxx xxx his father has Hellimer avil Staib and declaring him signing with us this note after reading them was made.
[signed] Nicolas Schmitt, Jean Dubach, Scherer

There are some words I simply can't make out and others I cannot translate. If you are able to do either, I hope you'll share your thoughts with me.

17 Jun 2011 Update:

A special thank you to Charles on the Rootsweb Alsace-Lorraine mailing list for the following corrections (in red):

Naissance de Pierre Victor Schmitt No 41
L’an mil huit cent quarante le deux juin a cinq heures de relevé par devant moi Jean Scherer, Maire officier de la etat civil de la commune de Hellimer, canton de Grostenquin département de la Moselle est comparu Nicolas Schmitt tanneur age de vingt Sept ans domicile à Hellimer, lequel nous a présenté un enfant du sexe masculin né ce jour d'hui a dix heures du matin est accouchée dans sa maison a Hellimer de lui déclarant et de Marie Anne Gurie son épouse sans profession age de vingt deux ans et auquel il a declaré vouloir donner les prénoms de Pierre Victor. Les d[ites] declaration et presentation faites en presence des sieurs George Dubach age de quarante trois ans et Jean Dubach age de trente neuf tous deux menuisiers, domiciles à Hellimer et tous les père et témoins signe avec nous le present acte de naissance après que lecture leur en a été faite.

and

Deces de Pierre Victor Schmitt age d un jour No 42
L ‘an mil huit cent quarante de trois juin à une heure de relevé par devant moi Jean Scherer Maire Officier de l’etat Civil de la commune de Hellimer canton de Grostenquin département de la Moselle sont comparus Nicolas Schmitt tanneur age de vingt Sept ans et Jean Dubach menuisier age de trente neuf ans tous deux domiciliés à Hellimer lesquels nous ont declare que cejourd'hui à midi Pierre Victor Schmitt age d'un jour fils de premier declarant et de Marie Anne Gurie son épouse sans profession age de vingt deux ans est décédé au domicile des dits ses père et mère a Hellimer où il était et les déclarants ont signe avec nous le présent acte après que lecture leur en a été faite.

Seeking Schmitts

A weekly trip to the local Family History Center has become part of my routine. Old-fashioned as the microfilm may be, it is nice to play in the sandbox with other researchers during my visits.

The French records with which I'm working are wonderfully organized. Each volume starts with a cover page that shows the when (in this case 1840) and the where (Hellimer, Moselle, France) of the records to follow. After locating the year I want, I scroll ahead to the index.

Every year the Maire (mayor) alphabetically listed all the births, marriages, and deaths for the year ended. Then the books were copied by hand and the copies were forwarded to a governmental agency at the county level.

The indices tell me whether or not I need to look more closely at the individual records. The 1840 index for the town of Hellimer looks like this:

The title on the right page of the left image is Naissance or births. Births continue on the left page of the right image, followed by Marriages. The index on the far right are Décès or deaths.

I'm looking for members of my Schmitt family, specifically my 2nd and 3rd great grandparents' siblings. There is only one Schmitt on the list of births; #39 Pierre Victor, who appears near the top left of the image on the right.

There's also a Schmitt marriage (2nd from the last) and two deaths; Pierre Victor (which explains the X next to his name on the birth index) and Caroline. I write down the numbers near the names and the dates of the events, then scroll back to check the records, starting with Pierre Victor:

His birth and death entries are on the left page. I search for names in each record and see my 3rd great grandparents, Nicolas Schmitt and Marie Anne Gury. That makes Pierre Victor my second great-grandmother's brother. Next I check Caroline's death record. Her father's name is Jean Michael. Not a Schmitt I know at this time. The last Schmitt record in 1840 is the marriage record:

Marriage records tend to be fairly long and include names, ages and occupations of the bride and groom and their parents. What genealogical treasures they are! This bride's parents are François Schmitt and Elisabeth Grosse, my 4th great-grandparents.

This trip to the FHC was very productive! Transcribing and translating these newest additions to my collection ought to keep me busy until my visit.

New Year's Resolution Update

The "eat less, exercise more" part of my New Year's Resolutions aside, here's where I am on Week 8 of my genealogy goals for 2011:

My current focus is on my Clarke, Gury, Littrell, and Schmitt lines. Still haven't found the country of origin for the Clarkes or Littrells and progress on both has been painfully slow. 17th and 18th century French Gury and Schmitt records are keeping me busy though so I am still somewhat productive.

Received disappointingly little information from St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Funkstown Maryland, but I am so appreciative of their efforts on my behalf! The pastor and his wife offered wonderful suggestions for further research.
Time to focus on the coroner's report that slipped through the cracks last year.

My first cemetery road trip of 2011 is scheduled for May. Hope all the snow melts before then! Oakwoods is at the top of the list.

Shared a Grandma story or two during my last visit. More incentive to jot down my memories before my memory fails me.

The local genealogy society isn't working for me. Need more idea generation and fewer lectures. Where are my peeps?

Chose this year's conference; FGS in Springfield Illinois in September. Husband will join me making the trip even more fun. Hope to meet some of the bloggers I follow and make a new gen-bud or two!

Photo sorting continues, but grudgingly. Must sprinkle in some creativity to retain my interest. Chose six topics about which I can cut and paste. This week I'll start arranging pictures. That oughta inspire me!

Cleaning and organizing computer files to save space (and sanity).

Back on track at Find A Grave - whew! Contributing during my lunch hour works great (until it's warm enough to walk outside).

And from now until then I'll be Living in the Past Lane.

Motivation Monday ~ Create an Assembly Line



Image Courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

Super Simple tip # 4: Henry Ford was right.

Hunting seems to be every genealogist's favorite sport. We'll look in every nook and cranny for elusive clues that may lead us to the catch of the day - a document mentioning our ancestor. Those documents can add up quickly however and soon we're faced with a pile of paper that feels more like a chore than a treasure.

I recently copied 27 French records that referred to my ancestors. Twenty-seven records to transcribe, translate, review, and add to my tree. A task that seemed overwhelming. One day I separated the Gury records from the Schmitt's. More organized, but still daunting. I put the records in chronological order. Then I filed them in the left side sleeves of two old photo albums. Ah ha! Now the project felt managable.

Transcribing the records in French was next. Then I ran each through Google language. My translated transcriptions went into the right side sleeves, next to the appropriate photocopy. I tweaked the records with help from a few French friends, and voilà! I can copy and paste the results into my family tree.

By the second transcription, the handwriting seemed more legible. Translating the records all in a row helped fine-tune many of the "old" words used by the Maire. Posing all my questions at one time prevented my helpers from tiring of me. Hopefully. :o)

At each stage of the project, I felt a sense of accomplishment. By the end, I had twenty-seven new French family members and a long list of new clues. Now I just have to tackle those...

Wordless Wednesday ~ France before 1789

Researching Gury and Schmitt in Moselle, Lorraine, France

Surname Saturday - Gury

My third great-grandmother was Marie Anne Gury, born April 1818 in Francaltroff, Moselle, France. After marrying Nicolas Schmitt, Marie moved to Hellimer and had 10 children before immigrating to the United States in the early to mid 1850s. The family settled in Cincinnati.

Another Gury descendant shared a photograph of a woman who may have been Marie's sister Christina. There are women named Christina in nearly every generation of the Gury family, so the possibility of a connection is strong. The Christina in question was the Mother Superior in a convent in France. This makes me cautiously optimistic; there may be some interesting records available.

Surname Saturday ~ Grosse, Gury, Schmitt

Fashionable women ~ 1850

I'm enamored with my paternal French line; learning to speak French while driving, reading French history books, translating birth records during my lunch hour, ordering films from the Family History Library every Tuesday evening. Some might say I've become addicted, but that's not true. I've been addicted all along.

New clues show themselves frequently, but most often they come accompanied by more questions. 

The knowns:

• My 3rd great-grandfather, Nicolas Schmitt, was born in 1813 in Hellimer, Moselle, Lorraine, France.
• His parents were Francois Schmitt and Elisabeth Grosse.
• His wife was Marie-Anne Gury, born in 1818 in Francaltroff, Hellimer, Lorraine, France.
• Nicolas had at least two siblings, younger sisters Elisabeth and Barbe.
• He traveled to America with his eldest son Jules in April 1854.
• Nicolas and his family settled in Cincinnati Ohio.
• Several children, including my 2nd great-grandmother emmigrated to Chicago where they raised their children.

The unknowns:

• When did the remaining family members arrive in America?
• What happened to Francois, the last child born in France?
• What happened to Joseph, the first child born in Ohio?
• Did Jules really die in Ohio, or did he relocate to Chicago leaving his wife and children behind?
• Was Nicolas the first, one of several, or the only Schmitt that left France?
• Where is the elusive marriage record of Nicolas and Marie-Anne?
• and so many more unknowns; far too many to list.

The next steps:

• Order microfilm for 1792-1810 birth, marriage, death records for Hellimer.
• Continue checking the mailbox for the will that will tell if the French-born Ohio-residing Emile Schmitt who married Mary Kauffman is "my" Emile.
• Translate Barbe's birth record; it includes her parents' ages.
• Search passenger lists for my 2nd great-grandmother and her siblings.
• Determine whether the brother mentioned as co-owner of John Schmitt's restaurant in Chicago is Jules.

And so, as we French say, la recherche se poursuit!