At My First RootsTech

My wonderful wife bought me tickets to Rootstech2017 for my birthday last fall, and today I boarded the flights to make it to Salt Lake City.  I'm looking forward to meeting new people, picking up some research tips and visiting the Family History Library here this week.

I had a pretty uneventful flight, though the layover in Chicago and then the flight out to Salt Lake left me drained.  I arrived at my hotel, checked in and walked over to the Salt Palace in time to register and attend a Wednesday evening session on tracing your Civil War ancestors.

There are a lot of people here - I've seen figures that state 30,000 people will be here - and they are from all over the place.  I've seen folks from Wiesbaden, Germany to Ohio to Colorado and of course Utah.  

I'm chilling at my hotel right now, eating a bite and then perhaps heading down to the pool.  I might be more of a social butterfly tomorrow if I meet up with some new friends.

This event has been one of my goals to attend - and I'm excited to learn and see what all the fun is about!

Cora Bitzer household, 1940, Huntington County, Indiana

Located the 1940 census record of the Cora Bitzer household in Huntington County, Indiana.  Cora was Eileen's maternal first cousin three times removed.  Their common ancestors were Daniel L. Duffey and Susanna Freeze.  Cora's parents were Daniel F. Duffey and Susannah Leedy.

1940 U.S. census, Huntington County, Indiana, population schedule, Andrews, enumeration district (ED) 35-2, SD 5, sheet 5B, Main Street, household 123, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 January 2017); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

At the time of the enumeration, Cora was living in the town of Andrews.  The census states that Cora was renting her home for $10 per month.  Cora was 69 years old and born in Indiana.  She was widowed.  Her residence in 1935 was listed as the same place.

The record shows that Cora had completed the 7th grade.  Cora had no occupation listed.

Also living in the household was her son Lawrence, age 26, born in Indiana, the owner of a filling station.

If you have any additional information or are connected to this family, I'd love to hear from you.

Chester D. Bitzer household, 1940, Wabash County, Indiana

Located the 1940 census of the Chester D. Bitzer household in Wabash County, Indiana. Chester was Eileen's second cousin twice removed.  Their common ancestors were Daniel L. Duffey and Susanna Freeze.  Chester's parents were William Henry Bitzer and Cora Etta Duffey.

1940 U.S. census, Wabash County, Indiana, population schedule, Lagro Township, enumeration district (ED) 85-6, SD 5, sheet 2A, household 24, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 January 2017); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

At the time of the enumeration, Chester and his wife were living in Lagro Township. The census states Chester was renting his home for $20 per month and that it was a farm.  Carlos was 33 years old and born in Indiana.  His wife, Velma, was 30 years old and born in Indiana.  Their residence in 1935 was listed as rural Huntington County, Indiana.

The record shows that Chester had completed 1 year of high school and that Velma had completed 4 years of high school.  Chester's occupation was listed as a farmer, and Velma had no occupation listed.

Also living in the household were son John, age 10, born in Indiana who had completed the 4th grade; daughter Lena, age 7, born in Indiana who had completed the 1st grade; son Robert, age 6, born in Indiana; and son George, age 1, born in Indiana.

If you have any additional information or are connected to this family, I'd love to hear from you.