Are You Reading My Mail?

I think Wendy at All My Branches Genealogy must be reading my mail or my mind.  Her recent post on Genealogy Attention Deficit Disorder had me rolling with laughter until it dawned on me that she was describing my genealogical condition.


Many times I've started out working on Ancestry or some other database such as FindAGrave to begin filling in the gaps in my genealogy database.  Maybe it's making sure I have a burial place listed for all direct ancestors, or maybe it's making sure I've documented where everyone was in the 1930 census, etc.  No matter what my goal, it doesn't take too long for Genealogy Attention Deficit Disorder (GADD) to take over and soon I find myself tracking down vital information far from my original goal.


Why is it so hard to remain on task?  Perhaps it is due to the benefits of today's technology that allows us to have so many records to search from the comforts of home.  I can so relate to Wendy's experiences in getting so caught up in tracking down the tidbits of information that you lose sense of time.  When I'm "in the zone" I've been known to forget to eat!


But it's not just the online databases causing this disorder.  My piles of photocopied records from a research trip last November stand waiting, unentered and undocumented.  My inbox is full of research from other researchers that would make interesting blog posts.  I have notebooks created specifically for researching certain locales that I've yet to complete, and several unfinished posts to be written for this blog.  My research goals for 2011 are woefully incomplete.  All due to Genealogy Attention Deficit Disorder.

Exploring WWII U.S. Navy Records Online

Ancestry has placed the U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 online, and what a lot of good information I've found this Memorial Day.  The muster rolls give information such as the sailor's name, his service number, when and where they enlisted, as well as movements from ship to ship.  

• John M. High - he was my maternal great-uncle.  Served aboard the USS Oklahoma and survived Pearl Harbor.  He came onboard the Oklahoma on 9-3-1938 and enlisted in the Navy on 4-10-1937.  It appears he was aboard the USS Sepulga after the attack.

• Floyd Ray Lambertson - another maternal great-uncle.  He served aboard LST 779, the ship that supplied the famous flag photographed at Iwo Jima.  He enlisted 1-4-1944 at Indianapolis, Indiana and was rated as a "Comm. Rep." [Navy friends - help me out here]

I did not find everyone that I believe should be listed in this database.  Perhaps not all have been indexed.  The information provided is very valuable, including service numbers of the men who served.

Sunday's Obituary: Mathias Jefferson Atkinson (1863-1923)

Portland Commercial-Review, August 25, 1923, page 1

M.J. ATKINSON PASSES BEYOND


Mathias Jefferson Atkinson, 59, died Friday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock at his home southwest of Salamonia.  Death was the result of heart trouble, from which he has suffered for the past ten years.  He became seriously ill two weeks ago and for eighty hours before his death was unconscious.  An X-ray taken of his heart a short time ago showed it to be three times its natural size.


The deceased was born in Madison township, November 23, 1863, the son of Daniel and Sarah (Long) Atkinson.  He has made his home on the farm where he died all but two years of his life.


Surviving are the widow, Mary Ellen (LeMaster) Atkinson, and two half sisters, Mrs. Charles Jetter and Mrs. John Van Croft, of near Salamonia.  No children survive.


No funeral arrangements have been made.


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Mathias Jefferson Atkinson was my paternal great-granduncle, the husband of Mary Elsie (LeMASTER) ATKINSON (1872-1942).  Note the obituary listed her name as "Mary Ellen", the first time I have seen it so named.  The obituary lists no children, but family history states they raised a foster child, Albert Frank ATKINSON (1897-    ).




Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.