I can hardly wait to go to sleep tonight... no, silly, Angel Linda didn't get a new sexy nightgown, hmm... good idea, our anniversary is approaching. Oops, got off my train of thought. sorry.
I finally had what I think was an "ancestor dream" last night. The scene was my grandparents house at 2130 Fern Street in San Diego, where they lived from 1920 until 1951. Lyle and Emily (Kemp) Carringer built it in 1920, and my mother grew up in this house until she married, and Emily's mother lived here throughout this time. It was on the same block as the house inhabited by Austin and Della Carringer at 2115 30th Street, and the upstairs flat I "remember as home " at 2119 30th Street. In the dream, I recognized the front yard and the front door of the house, which faces the driveway.
I recognized my grandfather, who was outside and invited me in. A little girl was in the background when the door opened. I immediately sat down at a long table with my grandfather at the far end, the little girl and an older wizened man with a mustache, and a little boy sat on the other side of the table, and my grandmother sat at the near end of the table right next to me. Her facial features and voice were unmistakable, but her body was distorted.
My grandmother started praying (I don't know if she ever did this at the dinner table) out loud and went on for awhile in a preachy strident voice. I opened my eyes (in the dream) while she prayed and looked around at the windows, counters, furniture, artwork and knickknacks in the room.
Then I woke up all excited that I had finally had an "ancestor dream." I don't remember recognizing any of the scenes inside the house, or the household "stuff," after I woke up.
I lived in this house from mid-1944 until late 1945 (approximately age 9 months to 25 months) with my mother and my grandparents when my father was in the US Navy in World War II. I have no clue now how the rooms inside were laid out, or what household "stuff" they had at that time, although I imagine that most of what was in their house in 1977 after they died was there, especially the books, china and counter knickknacks.
I remember very few dreams - usually they are the ones that result in stark terror and an instant wakeup and sigh that I'm still there in bed breathing, sometimes heavily. I guess that is good, eh?
I have hoped and wished to have "ancestor dreams" for 20 years. I can't remember a dream about my parents or grandparents in the last 20 years, let along a more distant ancestor. Maybe I shouldn't wish for something like this?
Were they trying to tell me something? Who were the girl, boy and mustache man? Too many questions - no answers yet!
How about you? Have you had meaningful "ancestor dreams?" Were they realistic? Scary? Tell us about them!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Letters from home - Post 15
This is the fourteenth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the letter from Abby to Austin:
Wed. 4 P.M.
Well, Della took the boy up for a visit - Olive says his teeth are coming right along, says he is a nice healthy boy only a weak stomache will out grow that in time with care about his diet. Says she could see a letter right here that spoke of a change said if you did not change your mind you might be home before Feb said times were surely going to be better very soon, you will see by the papers the trial of Indian Joe and quite a little about the young woman that suicided at the Coronado Hotel. It seems to be a mystery yet who she is, no relatives seem to claim her yet. I tell you Johnson is making money there are two of them a cousin in company the day Mrs. Abbey was burried a young boy was at the same time. Mr. Abbey said they only charged him 60 dollars for the whole thing did pretty well.
Better prices for their land dont it look that way. Olive still says times are going to be better verry soon now, well time will tell. I think Lyle thinks you are comeing he twists his tongue in all manner of shapes trying to talk sometimes he repeats things after us that sound as plain as we say it, but of course we think it just happened so. He got his chair today and tried to bring it to the table then at another time he pushed a kitchen chair up to me and tried to climb up into it, then tonight he let us know he wanted his milk and wanted one to undress him, dear little fellow when he does get so he can tell us things by talking his tongue will just fly.
Della got a letter from your folks today with 10 dollars some stamps so she will not have to use mine now. Elmer Green is gone, the altitude was too high there for him perhaps if he had remained here he might have lived several years. His folks must feel pretty bad. Austin I imagine your mother thinks her only hope of seeing Della and the baby there in the spring is to keep you. But tell her she could go back just the same if you were here of course it would be nicer to be there at the same time. But health is better than wealth.
Mrs. Wood came and brought Della three dollars 25 cts her 25 cts on the dollar had to be counted out left 2.25. She has sold a few articles that she expects pay for Sat so we are taking in a little again. Della had a young lady this afternoon taking a lesson on the plush mill come again tomorrow their mail for the third one next week.
I bronzed three little rolling pins three potatoe mashers and three little deep dishes will put ribbons on them in the morning and hooks for shoe buttoners to hang on the dishes of wood I just plush in the center and they sell for ring holders as any kind of jewelry, all 10 cts apiece. I fixed a lot of shells for card baskets and made some thimble cases ready for Della to paint, also made some mass cards.
Jessie took care of Lyle he went to sleep before she brought him in just wheeled him from here to Bemis's Barn before she came. He kept me busy I tell you. Della is going to take him up for a treatment in the morning. It does Lyle so much good to have a treat. He has played around by himself so much more today.
??rone had to go over on the beach to treat a lady that had her hip broke made it so late for her she got so little sleep poor woman. There seems to be no rest for her at all. How much good she is doing if Elmer Green understood this phenomina he might possibly come and inspire Della with his gift of painting, too bad if he had not finished his picture for the World's Fair.
Della is goeing to write this eve and wrap up some more papers. She has stoped it and ordered the weekly Union so you will have time to read that and so will we. What was it that did not have postage enough or was it a roll of papers containing 4 instead of three at a time., I thought it was no bigger than one of the San Francisco papers would make. Well good-bye from Mother.
--------------------------------
Abby gives us even more news about their piece work - both of them are making things and bringing in some money to live on.
Little Lyle is working his tongue and trying to talk - he sounds so cute!
They apparently have been sending newspapers to Austin with their letters, but one came back for postage due.
Elmer, who died in Colorado and lived in San Diego for awhile, is apparently Elmer Green, who is not in my database. He must be a family friend in San Diego or Boulder. Austin lived with his brother and parents there from about 1873 to 1887.
Abby comments about the young woman who committed suicide at the Hotel del coronado. She may be the ghost rumored to reside in one of the rooms there even today.
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the letter from Abby to Austin:
Wed. 4 P.M.
Well, Della took the boy up for a visit - Olive says his teeth are coming right along, says he is a nice healthy boy only a weak stomache will out grow that in time with care about his diet. Says she could see a letter right here that spoke of a change said if you did not change your mind you might be home before Feb said times were surely going to be better very soon, you will see by the papers the trial of Indian Joe and quite a little about the young woman that suicided at the Coronado Hotel. It seems to be a mystery yet who she is, no relatives seem to claim her yet. I tell you Johnson is making money there are two of them a cousin in company the day Mrs. Abbey was burried a young boy was at the same time. Mr. Abbey said they only charged him 60 dollars for the whole thing did pretty well.
Better prices for their land dont it look that way. Olive still says times are going to be better verry soon now, well time will tell. I think Lyle thinks you are comeing he twists his tongue in all manner of shapes trying to talk sometimes he repeats things after us that sound as plain as we say it, but of course we think it just happened so. He got his chair today and tried to bring it to the table then at another time he pushed a kitchen chair up to me and tried to climb up into it, then tonight he let us know he wanted his milk and wanted one to undress him, dear little fellow when he does get so he can tell us things by talking his tongue will just fly.
Della got a letter from your folks today with 10 dollars some stamps so she will not have to use mine now. Elmer Green is gone, the altitude was too high there for him perhaps if he had remained here he might have lived several years. His folks must feel pretty bad. Austin I imagine your mother thinks her only hope of seeing Della and the baby there in the spring is to keep you. But tell her she could go back just the same if you were here of course it would be nicer to be there at the same time. But health is better than wealth.
Mrs. Wood came and brought Della three dollars 25 cts her 25 cts on the dollar had to be counted out left 2.25. She has sold a few articles that she expects pay for Sat so we are taking in a little again. Della had a young lady this afternoon taking a lesson on the plush mill come again tomorrow their mail for the third one next week.
I bronzed three little rolling pins three potatoe mashers and three little deep dishes will put ribbons on them in the morning and hooks for shoe buttoners to hang on the dishes of wood I just plush in the center and they sell for ring holders as any kind of jewelry, all 10 cts apiece. I fixed a lot of shells for card baskets and made some thimble cases ready for Della to paint, also made some mass cards.
Jessie took care of Lyle he went to sleep before she brought him in just wheeled him from here to Bemis's Barn before she came. He kept me busy I tell you. Della is going to take him up for a treatment in the morning. It does Lyle so much good to have a treat. He has played around by himself so much more today.
??rone had to go over on the beach to treat a lady that had her hip broke made it so late for her she got so little sleep poor woman. There seems to be no rest for her at all. How much good she is doing if Elmer Green understood this phenomina he might possibly come and inspire Della with his gift of painting, too bad if he had not finished his picture for the World's Fair.
Della is goeing to write this eve and wrap up some more papers. She has stoped it and ordered the weekly Union so you will have time to read that and so will we. What was it that did not have postage enough or was it a roll of papers containing 4 instead of three at a time., I thought it was no bigger than one of the San Francisco papers would make. Well good-bye from Mother.
--------------------------------
Abby gives us even more news about their piece work - both of them are making things and bringing in some money to live on.
Little Lyle is working his tongue and trying to talk - he sounds so cute!
They apparently have been sending newspapers to Austin with their letters, but one came back for postage due.
Elmer, who died in Colorado and lived in San Diego for awhile, is apparently Elmer Green, who is not in my database. He must be a family friend in San Diego or Boulder. Austin lived with his brother and parents there from about 1873 to 1887.
Abby comments about the young woman who committed suicide at the Hotel del coronado. She may be the ghost rumored to reside in one of the rooms there even today.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Another WVR Survey
I get emails occasionally from www.WorldVitalRecords.com occasionally asking me to takje a survey as part of their Customer Input Panel program. I appreciate the effort on their part to survey their current and potential customers.
Here's the survey:
1) What company are you currently a member of below? (Choose all that apply)
* WorldVitalRecords.com
* Ancestry.com (my selection)
* Both
* Neither
2) Which of the following collections do you currently own on Ancestry.com?
* US (my selection)
* World
3) How long have you been a member of Ancestry.com?
* Less than one year
* 1-2 Years (my selection)
* 3-5 years
* More than 5 years
4) Have you purchased any of the other products or services offered by Ancestry .com? (Choose all that apply)
* Books (my selection)
* CDs
* Print
* DNA
* Other
* None
5) Which of the following databases are/were the most useful in doing your research on Ancestry.com? (Choose all that apply)
* Family Trees (8)
* Census and Voter Lists (1)
* Birth, Marriage and Death (2)
* Immigration and Emigration (6)
* Military (5)
* Directories and Member Lists (7)
* Court, Wills, Land and Financial (10)
* Dictionaries, Encyclopedias and Reference (11)
* Newspapers and Periodicals (3)
* Stories, Memories and Histories (4)
* Pictures (12)
* Maps, Atlases and Gazetteers (9)
* None of the Above
* Other (specify)
NOTE: I put them in order of importance above - the survey didn't allow that, but it should have IMHO! I selected the top 9.
Since I didn't say that I subscribed to WVR, I didn't get to answer any questions about their databases. Too bad, because I do look at them on occasion at home, and I do use their databases down at the Family History Center.
Looks like they're doing a little competitor research, doesn't it?
Here's the survey:
1) What company are you currently a member of below? (Choose all that apply)
* WorldVitalRecords.com
* Ancestry.com (my selection)
* Both
* Neither
2) Which of the following collections do you currently own on Ancestry.com?
* US (my selection)
* World
3) How long have you been a member of Ancestry.com?
* Less than one year
* 1-2 Years (my selection)
* 3-5 years
* More than 5 years
4) Have you purchased any of the other products or services offered by Ancestry .com? (Choose all that apply)
* Books (my selection)
* CDs
* DNA
* Other
* None
5) Which of the following databases are/were the most useful in doing your research on Ancestry.com? (Choose all that apply)
* Family Trees (8)
* Census and Voter Lists (1)
* Birth, Marriage and Death (2)
* Immigration and Emigration (6)
* Military (5)
* Directories and Member Lists (7)
* Court, Wills, Land and Financial (10)
* Dictionaries, Encyclopedias and Reference (11)
* Newspapers and Periodicals (3)
* Stories, Memories and Histories (4)
* Pictures (12)
* Maps, Atlases and Gazetteers (9)
* None of the Above
* Other (specify)
NOTE: I put them in order of importance above - the survey didn't allow that, but it should have IMHO! I selected the top 9.
Since I didn't say that I subscribed to WVR, I didn't get to answer any questions about their databases. Too bad, because I do look at them on occasion at home, and I do use their databases down at the Family History Center.
Looks like they're doing a little competitor research, doesn't it?
"Discovering Family History" magazine debuts with FREE issue
I'm a bit late with this announcement...
Halvoor Moorshead edits and publishes two genealogy-oriented magazines - Family Chronicle magazine and Internet Genealogy magazine. He has a new publication, titled Discovering Family History, which targets the beginning genealogy market.
You can read more about the magazine itself, and download a FREE issue (56 pages), at the web site http://www.discoveringfamilyhistory.com/. The magazine is a 1.6 mb PDF file - you will need Adobe Reader Version 5 or later on your computer in order to read it.
They are offering an introductory price of $20 for one year, 6 issues, an $8 discount from the retail price.
I downloaded the magazine and have read several articles. While they are fairly basic, they are comprehensive in nature and are very worthwhile for experienced researchers. Many of the articles refer to online genealogy web sites.
Here is the Table of Contents for the FREE issue:
* First Things First, Genealogy News You Can Use - page 4
* A Few Fantastic Free Family History Websites by David A. Norris - page 7
* Let Obituaries Speak to You by George G. Morgan - page 11
* What's Coming in Discovering Family History - page 13
* The Ultimate Guide to Subscription Services by Rick Crume - page 14
* Who Else is Researching Your Name? by George G. Morgan - page 20
* What is a Vital Record? by Mary Clement Douglass - page 23
* Citing Sources by Rachel Newcombe - page 26
* Case Study: Getting to Know Pap by Lisa A. Alzo - page 28
* Computing Basics by Bill Puller - page 33
* 10 First Steps by Lisa A. Alzo - page 36
* It's All About Parents by Janice Nickerson - page 40
* Genealogy Societies by Donna J. Pointkouski - page 42
* Web 2.0 by Marian Press - page 47
* Making Sense of the US Census by Beverly Smith Vorpahl - page 51
* It's Only Words by Donna Murray - page 54.
Many of these writers also write for the other Halvor Moorshead magazines, and they do a fine job!
I look forward to future issues of this magazine.
Halvoor Moorshead edits and publishes two genealogy-oriented magazines - Family Chronicle magazine and Internet Genealogy magazine. He has a new publication, titled Discovering Family History, which targets the beginning genealogy market.
You can read more about the magazine itself, and download a FREE issue (56 pages), at the web site http://www.discoveringfamilyhistory.com/. The magazine is a 1.6 mb PDF file - you will need Adobe Reader Version 5 or later on your computer in order to read it.
They are offering an introductory price of $20 for one year, 6 issues, an $8 discount from the retail price.
I downloaded the magazine and have read several articles. While they are fairly basic, they are comprehensive in nature and are very worthwhile for experienced researchers. Many of the articles refer to online genealogy web sites.
Here is the Table of Contents for the FREE issue:
* First Things First, Genealogy News You Can Use - page 4
* A Few Fantastic Free Family History Websites by David A. Norris - page 7
* Let Obituaries Speak to You by George G. Morgan - page 11
* What's Coming in Discovering Family History - page 13
* The Ultimate Guide to Subscription Services by Rick Crume - page 14
* Who Else is Researching Your Name? by George G. Morgan - page 20
* What is a Vital Record? by Mary Clement Douglass - page 23
* Citing Sources by Rachel Newcombe - page 26
* Case Study: Getting to Know Pap by Lisa A. Alzo - page 28
* Computing Basics by Bill Puller - page 33
* 10 First Steps by Lisa A. Alzo - page 36
* It's All About Parents by Janice Nickerson - page 40
* Genealogy Societies by Donna J. Pointkouski - page 42
* Web 2.0 by Marian Press - page 47
* Making Sense of the US Census by Beverly Smith Vorpahl - page 51
* It's Only Words by Donna Murray - page 54.
Many of these writers also write for the other Halvor Moorshead magazines, and they do a fine job!
I look forward to future issues of this magazine.
Letters from home - Post 14
This is the thirteenth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the second letter from Della to Austin:
Wed eve,
Dear Husband, it is a little cooler last night and tonight. Do as you think best Austin and it is all right with me, but I am glad your mother does not want you to go with Ed. I could get a World's Fair ticket next spring I expect but would have to go to Chicago to have it stamped and I would not want to do that. Well a few months will tell. I hear of carpenters out of work as well as there that have just got work. So that is the way it is here. But I did not want you to feel as if you had to stay in the waiter just for the money. When your health is what we think of most. But if you are with your brother and have good work that is not as bad as you are situated now. Of course we would like you at home and would do all we could to help but you know how you feel and can judge better than we can for you. I am so glad you have gained. I know the change has done you good. But do not want you to stay a minute if you feel you could not stand the weather.
We will do the best we can untill you come either way it may be. --- Mrs. Morrill is coming over Monday to help on my red silk we are making over to pay for the work we did on her tea-gown. I am going over to their fair the 16th. I have earned a 1.00 this week and will 50 cts more tomorrow so I feel rich.
I told your Mother not to get any Christmas present for us as I thought your staying there so long was a big Christmas present. I want to send them each a ??? fraim and Ed. I have to have a pr of shoes and that with getting my dresses fixed up is enough for my Christmas present, and if we send you a small package from home you must remember you are away from home, and send us money all the time. Of course we would prefer your company to any other but will have to wait untill you come. To bad Elmer had to go before the World's Fair, but we can not be the judge. When you see them give them our sympathy in their sorrow, Good night love and kisses from your loving wife.
Della.
Lyle is in bed, he can run his tongue out farther than I. He had a big time before he went to sleep.
---------------------------------------
Della must have received a letter from Austin describing his employment options - he could stay in Boulder or go some place (perhaps Grand Junction CO) with his brother, Edgar Carringer.
Austin must have been sick in months past - health is always a big concern!
Della's thinking about Christmas coming - she is very practical, isn't she? She's pinching pennies too.
I wonder who Elmer was? A Carringer cousin, perhaps? I'll have to search for him in my database.
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the second letter from Della to Austin:
Wed eve,
Dear Husband, it is a little cooler last night and tonight. Do as you think best Austin and it is all right with me, but I am glad your mother does not want you to go with Ed. I could get a World's Fair ticket next spring I expect but would have to go to Chicago to have it stamped and I would not want to do that. Well a few months will tell. I hear of carpenters out of work as well as there that have just got work. So that is the way it is here. But I did not want you to feel as if you had to stay in the waiter just for the money. When your health is what we think of most. But if you are with your brother and have good work that is not as bad as you are situated now. Of course we would like you at home and would do all we could to help but you know how you feel and can judge better than we can for you. I am so glad you have gained. I know the change has done you good. But do not want you to stay a minute if you feel you could not stand the weather.
We will do the best we can untill you come either way it may be. --- Mrs. Morrill is coming over Monday to help on my red silk we are making over to pay for the work we did on her tea-gown. I am going over to their fair the 16th. I have earned a 1.00 this week and will 50 cts more tomorrow so I feel rich.
I told your Mother not to get any Christmas present for us as I thought your staying there so long was a big Christmas present. I want to send them each a ??? fraim and Ed. I have to have a pr of shoes and that with getting my dresses fixed up is enough for my Christmas present, and if we send you a small package from home you must remember you are away from home, and send us money all the time. Of course we would prefer your company to any other but will have to wait untill you come. To bad Elmer had to go before the World's Fair, but we can not be the judge. When you see them give them our sympathy in their sorrow, Good night love and kisses from your loving wife.
Della.
Lyle is in bed, he can run his tongue out farther than I. He had a big time before he went to sleep.
---------------------------------------
Della must have received a letter from Austin describing his employment options - he could stay in Boulder or go some place (perhaps Grand Junction CO) with his brother, Edgar Carringer.
Austin must have been sick in months past - health is always a big concern!
Della's thinking about Christmas coming - she is very practical, isn't she? She's pinching pennies too.
I wonder who Elmer was? A Carringer cousin, perhaps? I'll have to search for him in my database.
Monday, February 18, 2008
The iGene Awards - Carnival of Genealogy #42 is Up
The 42nd Carnival of Genealogy has been posted by Jasia on the Creative Gene blog - read it at "Carnival of Genealogy, 42nd Edition." The theme for this Carnival was the iGene Awards for 2007 - the Best of the Best.
There are 23 submissions to this Carnival, each listing five posts selected by the individual blogger for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Documentary, Best Biography and Best Comedy. Needless to say, these are the Best of 2007 by the founding members of the Academy of Genealogy and Family History.
I haven't read all of them yet, because my grandsons are still here. But I will! My own submission was "It's Academy Awards Time - the AGFH of Course!"
The next Carnival of Genealogy theme will be Technology. What technology do you most rely on for your genealogy and family history research?
* Select one piece of hardware (besides your computer),
* Select one piece of software (besides your internet browser),
* Select one web site/blog (besides your own)
that are indispensable to you. Resist the urge to dilute the impact of your 3 choices by mentioning several others you use and appreciate as well. This is an exercise in appraising the technology you use/recommend the most. The deadline for submissions is March 1st.
There are 23 submissions to this Carnival, each listing five posts selected by the individual blogger for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Documentary, Best Biography and Best Comedy. Needless to say, these are the Best of 2007 by the founding members of the Academy of Genealogy and Family History.
I haven't read all of them yet, because my grandsons are still here. But I will! My own submission was "It's Academy Awards Time - the AGFH of Course!"
The next Carnival of Genealogy theme will be Technology. What technology do you most rely on for your genealogy and family history research?
* Select one piece of hardware (besides your computer),
* Select one piece of software (besides your internet browser),
* Select one web site/blog (besides your own)
that are indispensable to you. Resist the urge to dilute the impact of your 3 choices by mentioning several others you use and appreciate as well. This is an exercise in appraising the technology you use/recommend the most. The deadline for submissions is March 1st.
Some welcome publicity for CVGS
Every genealogy society hopes to get publicity in local newspapers once in awhile. The Chula Vista Genealogical Society, of which I am currently President, sends notices of society programs to the daily San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper each month for a Calendar section, requesting it be published the weekend before our monthly program.
I sent the notice on Sunday, 10 February, and received a phone call from David Berlin, a reporter, on Monday. David writes in the "Our South County" section that appears three times each week in the area south of Highway 94 in San Diego. He asked me some questions about CVGS and our speaker on 27 February, and asked if I had a phone number for the speaker. I gave it to him. Then he asked if I would be willing to do a phone interview with him, and we set up Wednesday at 10 a.m. for the interview.
On Wednesday, he called and we talked for about 30 minutes. He asked some specific questions and essentially let me ramble on.
David wrote an article about our 27 February speaker and CVGS, with one of her family pictures, that appeared on Page 1 of the "Our South County" section on Thursday, 14 February. The text is transcribed here.
David also wrote a Question and Answer article about me and CVGS, with a head shot picture, that appeared on Saturday, 16 February, on Page 1 of the "Our South County" section. The text is transcribed here.
You will note that he got my name wrong in the latter article (Richard Seaver is printed) - but I just tell people that it's my evil twin brother who was interviewed (that way if I said something wrong in the interview, it won't be attributable to me).
Any publicity is good for CVGS, and I'm grateful to David Berlin for taking the time to contact me and write these two articles. I've already had three phone calls from people interested in attending our program, and several people at church told me their "family stories" at church on Sunday.
I sent the notice on Sunday, 10 February, and received a phone call from David Berlin, a reporter, on Monday. David writes in the "Our South County" section that appears three times each week in the area south of Highway 94 in San Diego. He asked me some questions about CVGS and our speaker on 27 February, and asked if I had a phone number for the speaker. I gave it to him. Then he asked if I would be willing to do a phone interview with him, and we set up Wednesday at 10 a.m. for the interview.
On Wednesday, he called and we talked for about 30 minutes. He asked some specific questions and essentially let me ramble on.
David wrote an article about our 27 February speaker and CVGS, with one of her family pictures, that appeared on Page 1 of the "Our South County" section on Thursday, 14 February. The text is transcribed here.
David also wrote a Question and Answer article about me and CVGS, with a head shot picture, that appeared on Saturday, 16 February, on Page 1 of the "Our South County" section. The text is transcribed here.
You will note that he got my name wrong in the latter article (Richard Seaver is printed) - but I just tell people that it's my evil twin brother who was interviewed (that way if I said something wrong in the interview, it won't be attributable to me).
Any publicity is good for CVGS, and I'm grateful to David Berlin for taking the time to contact me and write these two articles. I've already had three phone calls from people interested in attending our program, and several people at church told me their "family stories" at church on Sunday.
Letters from home - Post 13
This is the twelfth letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the first letter from Della to Austin:
San Diego Nov 13th 1892
Dear Husband,
Well the eventfull week is past and we are left, but hope it will not be as bad as we thought it might be. I was so sorry I did not get to write in the week letter and I told you last Sunday I would write oftener. That is all we know about it. I sewed Tuesday Wed and Thur for Mrs. Shaw. A friend of hers Mrs. Lorring's sister is to be married this week Tuesday and she did not have time to finish her sewing so I took two outing flannel night dresses to make at home so we worked in their Fri and Sat forenoon then I went and give my lessons at Mrs. Bicks will deliver the dresses Monday. I got $1.00 a day at Mrs. Shaw's and we get 1.25 for the two N dresses. Baby dress 50 cts we made Monday so we have earned $4.75 and I will have to use it until you send some. I got the baby a pr of kid shoes for 50 cts at the Chicago shoe store. He thinks they are fine. I want to get a few things before the white house closes out, and would use out of our $10. If I knew you would send so I would not need it for living. I paid the rent out of what I had saved. The $10 ought to do my trading with will have to get qts tickets again in a day or two. If it will be a week or two yet before you go back why can't your father colect your wages due with an order from you and then get a check and send me first the earnings if you were there.
Lyle just woke up and I had to turn him over and rock him. His teeth bother him so this week, you ought to see him walk alone in front of the house he will not let me take his hand. Sweet little fellow. It has been warm this week as warm as when you went away. I am quite well. I think you felt it when I had my cold. My piles keep just the same and so I feel weak sometimes but I do not feel very bad and when I get a few days work away it does me good. They will have to hurry if all the building is to be of brick or the freezing will hurt the moisture won't it. Do they expect you to pay your board and wait several days at a time for the brick layers. I should not think they would.
Will send papers too, Bowers got it, you can read about the parade. I have not space as Ma's letter goes in this too. Am glad you went to see Gillpatrick. I know it must have seemed funny to have read my letter as though you were in Grand Junction. I could not go to Nat. City today as I have to go down town tomorrow.
When it is warm I feel it so I have sweat nearly all day. Was out with Lyle this A.M. I want to lie down and read a little. Hope the Journals will come tomorrow. I think of you so much and wish I could walk in Sundays at least am glad you have better food and I do hope they will shake those chicken feathers up. Am glad you feel so well. Love to Mother and Father.
From your loving wife and baby, with love and kisses. Lyle is up have just fixed his milk and kissed him for his Papa. Bye bye D.
---------------------------------
Austin is apparently in Boulder, Colorado staying with his parents, DJ and Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer. San Diego was experiencing an economic downturn and Austin needed to work, so he went to Boulder. We are fortunate to have these letters from wife to husband. Recall from Della's Journal that she was the "banker" in the family, and we see her making money and suggesting ways for Austin to send money to her.
The "eventfull week" mentioned was the election in 1892 that resulted in Grover Cleveland's election.
She talks quite a bit about baby Lyle and his antics - Abby's letter described him even better.
It's too bad we don't have Austin's letters too!
=========================
Three letters on one set of paper, two from Della (Smith) Carringer to her husband Austin Carringer (probably at his parents home in Boulder Colorado), the second from Abby (Vaux) Smith to Austin Carringer. No envelope of letterhead.
This is the first letter from Della to Austin:
San Diego Nov 13th 1892
Dear Husband,
Well the eventfull week is past and we are left, but hope it will not be as bad as we thought it might be. I was so sorry I did not get to write in the week letter and I told you last Sunday I would write oftener. That is all we know about it. I sewed Tuesday Wed and Thur for Mrs. Shaw. A friend of hers Mrs. Lorring's sister is to be married this week Tuesday and she did not have time to finish her sewing so I took two outing flannel night dresses to make at home so we worked in their Fri and Sat forenoon then I went and give my lessons at Mrs. Bicks will deliver the dresses Monday. I got $1.00 a day at Mrs. Shaw's and we get 1.25 for the two N dresses. Baby dress 50 cts we made Monday so we have earned $4.75 and I will have to use it until you send some. I got the baby a pr of kid shoes for 50 cts at the Chicago shoe store. He thinks they are fine. I want to get a few things before the white house closes out, and would use out of our $10. If I knew you would send so I would not need it for living. I paid the rent out of what I had saved. The $10 ought to do my trading with will have to get qts tickets again in a day or two. If it will be a week or two yet before you go back why can't your father colect your wages due with an order from you and then get a check and send me first the earnings if you were there.
Lyle just woke up and I had to turn him over and rock him. His teeth bother him so this week, you ought to see him walk alone in front of the house he will not let me take his hand. Sweet little fellow. It has been warm this week as warm as when you went away. I am quite well. I think you felt it when I had my cold. My piles keep just the same and so I feel weak sometimes but I do not feel very bad and when I get a few days work away it does me good. They will have to hurry if all the building is to be of brick or the freezing will hurt the moisture won't it. Do they expect you to pay your board and wait several days at a time for the brick layers. I should not think they would.
Will send papers too, Bowers got it, you can read about the parade. I have not space as Ma's letter goes in this too. Am glad you went to see Gillpatrick. I know it must have seemed funny to have read my letter as though you were in Grand Junction. I could not go to Nat. City today as I have to go down town tomorrow.
When it is warm I feel it so I have sweat nearly all day. Was out with Lyle this A.M. I want to lie down and read a little. Hope the Journals will come tomorrow. I think of you so much and wish I could walk in Sundays at least am glad you have better food and I do hope they will shake those chicken feathers up. Am glad you feel so well. Love to Mother and Father.
From your loving wife and baby, with love and kisses. Lyle is up have just fixed his milk and kissed him for his Papa. Bye bye D.
---------------------------------
Austin is apparently in Boulder, Colorado staying with his parents, DJ and Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer. San Diego was experiencing an economic downturn and Austin needed to work, so he went to Boulder. We are fortunate to have these letters from wife to husband. Recall from Della's Journal that she was the "banker" in the family, and we see her making money and suggesting ways for Austin to send money to her.
The "eventfull week" mentioned was the election in 1892 that resulted in Grover Cleveland's election.
She talks quite a bit about baby Lyle and his antics - Abby's letter described him even better.
It's too bad we don't have Austin's letters too!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Best of the Genea-Blogs - 10-16 February 2008
Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week.
My criteria are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy, address current genealogy issues, personal family history, are funny or are poignant.
I don't list posts destined for the Carnival of Genealogy, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
* "Carlisle Family Papers: University of Michigan" by Charlotte at the Apple's Tree blog. Apple has found a treasure trove sitting in an archive in Ann Arbor and can hardly wait to see what family history secrets it holds. She asked for advice about going to the Bentley research library in April, and got lots of good advice - be sure to read all of this post!
* "It's Not Too Early" by Lee Drew on the FamHist blog. Lee has some suggestions for family history oriented Christmas presents. Don't wait, start now!
* "FWOOM: How Do You Handle a Blast of Family History?" by Larry Lehmer on the Passing It On blog. Larry wonders how to handle the "fire hose effect" of Internet genealogy - can you advise him? He makes some great observations too!
* "Famous DNA Review, Part IV: Jesse James" by Blaine Bettinger on The Genetic Genealogist blog. Blaine discusses the mitochrondrial DNA results for the outlaw Jesse James and gives an excllent example of how mtDNA can be used to determine relationships thorugh a female line.
* "Google Views Ancestry & FamilySearch Streets" by ???? on The Ancestry Insider blog. The Insider shows some Salt Lake City sights, including TGN and the FHL, then provides many more views of the area, including a place that one of his/her ancestor's lived in 1850. S/he challenges readers to figure out who s/he is from the clues given in this and earlier posts.
* " 'American' ethnic identity in the United States" by Ruby on The Radical Genealogist blog. Ruby shows some interesting maps about "American" ethnic identity. See the links for more information. The 2000 census map data is intriguing!
* "The American Winston Churchill: 1871-1947" by Janice Brown on the Cow Hampshire blog. Did you know that there was an author named Winston Churchill buried in New Hampshire? Janice found out, and told us about this interesting man, along with a genealogical record.
* "Mortality Schedules" by Lori Thornton on the Smoky Mountain Family Historian blog. Lori checks out 1850 to 1880 mortality schedules, and tells us about some of them ore "interesting" causes of death.
* "Random Acts of Kindness Week" by Miriam Midkiff at the Ancestories: Stories of My Ancestors blog. Miriam has a series of posts this week about Join a Lookup Service, Be a Sponsor, Volunteer for a Society, Share Your Data, Transcribe or Translate, Give a Hand, and Be Grateful and Generous. There are many useful ideas here - give back to genealogy!
* "US Suggestions for Newbies," "News Sources for Newbies" and "Software Suggestions for Newbies" by Pat Richley on the DearMYRTLE blog. Pat has three excellent lists designed to help beginning genealogists get up to speed in a hurry.
Please go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add the blog to your Favorites, Bloglines, reader, feed or email if you like what you read.
Please make a comment to them also - we all appreciate feedback on what we write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me!
My criteria are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy, address current genealogy issues, personal family history, are funny or are poignant.
I don't list posts destined for the Carnival of Genealogy, or other meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.
* "Carlisle Family Papers: University of Michigan" by Charlotte at the Apple's Tree blog. Apple has found a treasure trove sitting in an archive in Ann Arbor and can hardly wait to see what family history secrets it holds. She asked for advice about going to the Bentley research library in April, and got lots of good advice - be sure to read all of this post!
* "It's Not Too Early" by Lee Drew on the FamHist blog. Lee has some suggestions for family history oriented Christmas presents. Don't wait, start now!
* "FWOOM: How Do You Handle a Blast of Family History?" by Larry Lehmer on the Passing It On blog. Larry wonders how to handle the "fire hose effect" of Internet genealogy - can you advise him? He makes some great observations too!
* "Famous DNA Review, Part IV: Jesse James" by Blaine Bettinger on The Genetic Genealogist blog. Blaine discusses the mitochrondrial DNA results for the outlaw Jesse James and gives an excllent example of how mtDNA can be used to determine relationships thorugh a female line.
* "Google Views Ancestry & FamilySearch Streets" by ???? on The Ancestry Insider blog. The Insider shows some Salt Lake City sights, including TGN and the FHL, then provides many more views of the area, including a place that one of his/her ancestor's lived in 1850. S/he challenges readers to figure out who s/he is from the clues given in this and earlier posts.
* " 'American' ethnic identity in the United States" by Ruby on The Radical Genealogist blog. Ruby shows some interesting maps about "American" ethnic identity. See the links for more information. The 2000 census map data is intriguing!
* "The American Winston Churchill: 1871-1947" by Janice Brown on the Cow Hampshire blog. Did you know that there was an author named Winston Churchill buried in New Hampshire? Janice found out, and told us about this interesting man, along with a genealogical record.
* "Mortality Schedules" by Lori Thornton on the Smoky Mountain Family Historian blog. Lori checks out 1850 to 1880 mortality schedules, and tells us about some of them ore "interesting" causes of death.
* "Random Acts of Kindness Week" by Miriam Midkiff at the Ancestories: Stories of My Ancestors blog. Miriam has a series of posts this week about Join a Lookup Service, Be a Sponsor, Volunteer for a Society, Share Your Data, Transcribe or Translate, Give a Hand, and Be Grateful and Generous. There are many useful ideas here - give back to genealogy!
* "US Suggestions for Newbies," "News Sources for Newbies" and "Software Suggestions for Newbies" by Pat Richley on the DearMYRTLE blog. Pat has three excellent lists designed to help beginning genealogists get up to speed in a hurry.
Please go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add the blog to your Favorites, Bloglines, reader, feed or email if you like what you read.
Please make a comment to them also - we all appreciate feedback on what we write.
Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me!
Letters from Home - Post 12
This is the eleventh letter in the stack of Letters from Home to Austin and Della (Smith) Carringer, residing in the San Diego, California area after 1887. An explanation of the family members and situation is here.
=========================
Letter from Abigail (Vaux) Smith in San Diego to son Davie Smith probably in McCook Neb. No envelope.
San Diego Monday Nov 7th 1892
Dear Son. I thought I would try and write again this week. Della thinks if there is not any particular news it will help you pass away a little time reading it. We got up at 6, Lyle cut a tooth through and he has felt cross all day. Did him lots of good about 2 o'clock Mr. Lewis came and changed the steps and nailed them up good he stood at the screen door nearly all the time then Mrs. Blankford of Nat[ional] City her little red headed girl too came to wait for the motor staid to supper so he had a fine time. Della says he is like her when he feels bad if any one comes in they forget all about it. It took me an hour since supper to get him to sleep and his head is wet with cold sweat he will be all right but his teeth come hard. We cut and made that babies dress to day charged 15 cts. It was all wool good, red we put silk fancy stitches on it looks nice.
Your letter came this morning made me shiver thinking of the snow Tuesday. Della got two days sewing to do downtown on 10th Street a lady Mrs. Loring recommended to her as she is going to have a baby and Della did so well for her she tries to get others to have her. She is cutting and fitting a dress for the lady Mrs. Shaw by name after today the lady will finish it herself then next week wants her to bring her little patterns and cut and baste a few days. She gets 1.00 a day this week and car fare paid. Will get 15 cts on babies clothes .
Lyle feels a little better today but chews everything he can get hold of. I tell him I know he will throw paper wads in school. He has filled my lap full of his playthings then makes believe hand me something. It is so cute it seems we were all of the same mind by your letter. Wonder what little angel inspired us alike about giving Lyle a Dollar apiece. But it seems he has missed the one Phila gave him. Della says she is glad you had it sent before you got her letter. Della came home this evening feeling well did not get verry tired. Had a nice visit with the lady. It seems her husband clerks at Hamilton only been married a year. Mrs. Loring has an 8 lb girl. She was verry sick is doeing well now.
Wednesday, 11 A.M. Della had to get her own breakfast this morning as Lyle woke me at 4 cried a long time with colic and I was sound asleep at getting up time. She wanted to get to work at half past 8 as it gets dark almost at 5 and she had to have a light last evening. Will go to Mrs. Bicks this evening to get my dress and try on her own if it is ready. She expects a Mr. Patten to come for a lesson in plush painting tomorrow. His parents are well pleased with his landscape picture. Lyle clung to my dress skirts all this morning wanted to go every place I did until I thought I would never get the work done up when I scrubbed the kitchen floor. I laid down a chair in the dining room door and kept him in here and he thought he was terribly abused as soon as I took him and gave him his milk he went in to sleep. Yesterday I could not get him to sleep until after three o'clock. The weather is just lovely.
Thursday 9 AM Della expected to get time this morning to write in this but she had to sew again today so it hurried her to get ready she just got this read and approved when it was time to start so she says Ma you tell him how it is and I will write Sunday so I will send this when the mail man comes. Lyle is feeling pretty well this morning. Hope you have not frosted your feet. I pity you so there in the cold. I suppose we are to hurrah for Cleveland.
Bye lots of love Mother and all.
=========================
Here is the first letter we have from the people in San Diego to the folks back in McCook, Nebraska.
Abby gives us some insight into the antics of her one year old grandson Lyle Carringer. He is cutting teeth and having a hard time, wakes during the night, brigs things for grandma to hold, and clings to her skirts. We forget that our ancestors were babies and children, and acted like most babies and children.
Della is trying to earn money by sewing and teaching painting, so Grandma Abby gets to take care of her grandson and loves the time she spends with him, although it taxes her.
The election is just over, and Grover Cleveland has just defeated Benjamin Harrison. The economic Panic of 1893 is just around the corner, but they don't know it. It sounds like, from the letters so far, the economic times have been challenging.
=========================
Letter from Abigail (Vaux) Smith in San Diego to son Davie Smith probably in McCook Neb. No envelope.
San Diego Monday Nov 7th 1892
Dear Son. I thought I would try and write again this week. Della thinks if there is not any particular news it will help you pass away a little time reading it. We got up at 6, Lyle cut a tooth through and he has felt cross all day. Did him lots of good about 2 o'clock Mr. Lewis came and changed the steps and nailed them up good he stood at the screen door nearly all the time then Mrs. Blankford of Nat[ional] City her little red headed girl too came to wait for the motor staid to supper so he had a fine time. Della says he is like her when he feels bad if any one comes in they forget all about it. It took me an hour since supper to get him to sleep and his head is wet with cold sweat he will be all right but his teeth come hard. We cut and made that babies dress to day charged 15 cts. It was all wool good, red we put silk fancy stitches on it looks nice.
Your letter came this morning made me shiver thinking of the snow Tuesday. Della got two days sewing to do downtown on 10th Street a lady Mrs. Loring recommended to her as she is going to have a baby and Della did so well for her she tries to get others to have her. She is cutting and fitting a dress for the lady Mrs. Shaw by name after today the lady will finish it herself then next week wants her to bring her little patterns and cut and baste a few days. She gets 1.00 a day this week and car fare paid. Will get 15 cts on babies clothes .
Lyle feels a little better today but chews everything he can get hold of. I tell him I know he will throw paper wads in school. He has filled my lap full of his playthings then makes believe hand me something. It is so cute it seems we were all of the same mind by your letter. Wonder what little angel inspired us alike about giving Lyle a Dollar apiece. But it seems he has missed the one Phila gave him. Della says she is glad you had it sent before you got her letter. Della came home this evening feeling well did not get verry tired. Had a nice visit with the lady. It seems her husband clerks at Hamilton only been married a year. Mrs. Loring has an 8 lb girl. She was verry sick is doeing well now.
Wednesday, 11 A.M. Della had to get her own breakfast this morning as Lyle woke me at 4 cried a long time with colic and I was sound asleep at getting up time. She wanted to get to work at half past 8 as it gets dark almost at 5 and she had to have a light last evening. Will go to Mrs. Bicks this evening to get my dress and try on her own if it is ready. She expects a Mr. Patten to come for a lesson in plush painting tomorrow. His parents are well pleased with his landscape picture. Lyle clung to my dress skirts all this morning wanted to go every place I did until I thought I would never get the work done up when I scrubbed the kitchen floor. I laid down a chair in the dining room door and kept him in here and he thought he was terribly abused as soon as I took him and gave him his milk he went in to sleep. Yesterday I could not get him to sleep until after three o'clock. The weather is just lovely.
Thursday 9 AM Della expected to get time this morning to write in this but she had to sew again today so it hurried her to get ready she just got this read and approved when it was time to start so she says Ma you tell him how it is and I will write Sunday so I will send this when the mail man comes. Lyle is feeling pretty well this morning. Hope you have not frosted your feet. I pity you so there in the cold. I suppose we are to hurrah for Cleveland.
Bye lots of love Mother and all.
=========================
Here is the first letter we have from the people in San Diego to the folks back in McCook, Nebraska.
Abby gives us some insight into the antics of her one year old grandson Lyle Carringer. He is cutting teeth and having a hard time, wakes during the night, brigs things for grandma to hold, and clings to her skirts. We forget that our ancestors were babies and children, and acted like most babies and children.
Della is trying to earn money by sewing and teaching painting, so Grandma Abby gets to take care of her grandson and loves the time she spends with him, although it taxes her.
The election is just over, and Grover Cleveland has just defeated Benjamin Harrison. The economic Panic of 1893 is just around the corner, but they don't know it. It sounds like, from the letters so far, the economic times have been challenging.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)