Research Trip : Allen County Public Library, Ft. Wayne, IN

On Election Day, after voting, I headed up to the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne to spend the day doing genealogical research. It had been several years since I had been to the library. Geographically speaking, the trip to the library is only about an hour's drive, yet for a number of reasons I've been unable to break away and visit since they remodeled.

I was pleasantly surprised with the changes to the library - the parking garage for one was a nice addition. Previously, I remember parking a few blocks away at a fast food chain restaurant and walking a couple of blocks. I was expecting to pay to park, but on Tuesday I was not required to pay for parking. This may have had something to do with Election Day.

I arrived just before the library opened at 9:00 a.m. and quickly found my way upstairs to the genealogy section. The last time I was at the library I didn't have a laptop and I was looking forward to being able to have my database right in front of me as I searched. The reference librarian help me with questions that I had, including giving a nice map of the facility that showed the locations of all of the stacks. On previous visits, I remember the searching the enormous card catalog, filling out a paper slip to request a book, dropping it off and then having to wait for someone to retrieve the book from the stacks. Having the ability to wander around the stacks freely was a pleasant surprise.

I had tried to prepare as much as possible for this trip by limiting the family I was focusing on to the Wright and allied families of the Clermont and Brown County, Ohio area. I had already printed out a listing of several local history works from their card catalog that I wanted to research, and I eagerly dove in to my research. Although I was joined by others throughout the day, I was able to have a research table to myself, my laptop plugged in and ready to go.

I found some paydirt almost right away in the first work I looked into that showed the location of my relatives in Clermont County in the 1802 census prior to the Enabling Act that established Ohio as a state. I quickly made copies of these pages and others that I found, trying to make sure that I hit every work on my list and marking those that yielded negative research. More on this information later.

The family history stacks were another area that I was glad I could wander around. Though I had a few on my list to look into, as the day wore on and I was closing out the research on the Wright line, I decided to stray a bit from my research path and look into some other family genealogies. I managed to locate some possible further research on a line that ties into my wife's family.

One thing that I forgot to prepare for was more photocopy money. The library charges $.10 per copy, a really cheap price, and also offers you the option of purchasing a copy card where you can put the denomination you would like on the card. I did not do that this time, as I didn't know if I would use it all, nor did I know when I would be able to get back up to the library.

I didn't plan my lunch time well either, around 2 p.m. I was really getting hungry, was done with the research that I had originally come to the library to do, and decided to leave. I was conflicted in having a whole day to research in the library and yet here I was ready to leave so early. My wife was surprised when I called her and told her I was heading home early. I could have very easily grabbed something to eat and then returned to the library, but in the end I decided to head back home so I could watch the election returns. Now I wish I had just stayed at the library until it closed.

Overall, it was a good experience to get back to the ACPL and I didn't even touch on the microfilms, etc. this trip.

Obituary : Carey Lambertson (1846-1918)

Source : Elwood, Indiana Call-Leader, March 18, 1918, page 1.

Carey Lambertson

Cousin of President Wilson Died Here This Morning

Carey Lambertson, aged 72, died at his home at 1906 North F street, this morning at 6 o'clock, after an illness of two weeks, of bronchial pneumonia.

He was one of Elwood's best residents, held in high esteem by all who knew him and there was a general regret expressed by his long time friends and neighbors on learning of his death.

Mr. Lambertson was born in Butler county, Ohio, April 29, 1846, and was the son of John and Sarah Wilson Lambertson. He was a first cousin of President Wilson.

Thirty-seven years ago he removed to Indiana, locating in Hamilton county, where he was married to Clara E. Cook in 1848. Five children were born to this union, a son, Samuel, dying about six years ago. The surviving children are Charles W. and Bert of this city, Mrs. Frank Fisher, near Arcadia, and Mrs. Omer Whisler, of Atlanta. The family removed to this city from Cicero, where they have since resided.

Mr. Lambertson met with an automobile accident last September, since which time he has been in failing health.

He was a member of the Quaker church at Providence, Hamilton county, and a consistent christian man all of his life, enjoying the regard of all who knew him.

The arrangements for the funeral were not announced this afternoon.

Obituary : Paul W. Wright (1905-1994)

Source : Anderson Herald Bulletin, December 12, 1994.

Paul W. Wright, 89, formerly of 1310 Brown St., died Dec. 10, 1994 at Community Hospital following an extended illness.

He was born Feb. 22, 1905, in Alexandria, and lived all of his life in this area. He graduated from Alexandria High School in 1923 and retired in 1965 from the U.S. Postal Service after 42 years as a rural mail carrier.

He was a member of Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge for 66 years and was a member of Rural Carriers Union.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy May Wright; three sons and daughters-in-law; Gene and Sue Wright of Anderson, Maurie and Elizabeth Wright of Anderson, and Robert and Rebecca Wright of Indianapolis; eight grandchildren, David Wright, Linda Wright, Laura Krivoshia, Cathy Wright, Scott Wright, Greg Wright, Kimberly Wright and Jeff Wright.; two great-grandchildren, KateLyn and Cameron Krivoshia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Bertha Wright; a brother, Fred Wright, and a sister, Erma Johnson.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home, Anderson, with Dr. Robert Jackson officiating. Burial will be in East Maplewood Cemetery.