Thursday, June 16, 2011

A Little Wiki Today

Took a little time today to learn how to update information on Wikipedia about my distant relative, Harry Pierpont.  Harry has been one of my favorite research subjects of late.


As I've blogged about before, it was Harry's page on Wikipedia that first led me to realize we may have a genealogical connection.   Since then I've enjoyed researching articles about his robberies and life of crime.  Just this week I managed to locate a few new articles for future Black Sheep Sunday posts.


Because his page was lacking documentation, I decided to add sections on his Execution and Burial.  Using information such as his death certificate from FamilySearch site and his tombstone photo at FindAGrave, I added source citations to these sections. 


Though I've had an account at Wikipedia for several years, I had never used the account to add information to a page or to create on of my own.  The process was relatively easy to do, and I hope to add sections in the future to Harry's page and update information about his Indiana bank robberies.


Update (6/17): Had so much fun that before bed, continued to update Harry's page and added information about three of his early robberies.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Sunday's Obituary: Rachel (Lemasters) Cunningham (1838-1913)

Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, March 12, 1913, page 1


DIED AT HOME OF HER SON


Mrs Rachel Cunningham Died At Home Of Her Son John Cunningham


Funeral Friday


The Service Will Be Held At The Methodist Church at Salamonia at 2 P.M.


Mrs. Rachel Cunningham passed away at the home of her son John W. Cunningham West Water street at 2 o'clock Wednesday morning.  Mrs. Cunningham has been in failing health for some time but was able to come Sunday from Salamonia, to the home of her son in this city.  She was born in Shelby County, Ohio July 16, 1837 and was the daughter of Leuman and Mary Young LeMasters. Her husband William Cunningham died June 4th 1911.  She is survived by eight brothers and sisters and the following children: Mrs. David Rants, of Salamonia, Phillip Cunningham of Y--- Nebraska, John Cunningham of this city, Mrs. Lorinda Pauling of Cincinati, Ohio and Mrs. C.E. Beard Dayton Ohio.  Funeral services will be held at the Methodist church at Salamonia Friday afternoon at two o'clock.  Rev. Pfifer will officiate, the funeral party will leave the residence at twelve o'clock Friday.


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Rachel was my paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, the daughter of Rev. Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS.  She married William E. CUNNINGHAM on March 18, 1860 in Jay County, Indiana.  She is buried in the Salamonia Cemetery.


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.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Tour of First National Bank of Fort Collins

Found this great historical archive of photos of the bank where my paternal great-granduncle, William Clifford LeMASTER, was cashier back in the early 1910s.  This is an online reproduction of the original 1908 brochure.  It is a great view of what the bank looked like at the time.


There is even a photograph that may show W.C. LeMASTER at work.  It is the photograph of the "Cashier's Room."


I found it interesting that the bank featured a "Ladies' Waiting Room", complete with amenities to appeal to female customers.


Here is the bank's listing in the United States Congressional serial set of 1907 listing the bank and W.C. LeMaster as cashier on Google books: