June Kirk (Gilliland) Lambertson (1898-1951), Adoptive Surname, 52 Ancestors # 8

June Gilliland

The eighth ancestor in my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project is my maternal great-grandmother, June Kirk (Gilliland) Lambertson (1898-1951). Previously, I'd written about the details of her life in an Exploratory Data post.

June's origin story has been the subject of the first major mystery in my genealogy research.  Her daughter, my grandmother, told me that June was an orphan, but there was more to that story.  June's father's name remains unknown at this point, and this post will tell how she came to have the Gilliland surname. 

June's birth certificate

June was born in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana on June 11, 1898.   Her birth announcement lists the fact that she was born at the "Door of Hope", which was associated with the Wheeler Mission in Indianapolis.  Her birth certificate lists her as "Infant (female) Davis" and her parents are listed as Atkinson and Ida Davis.  The search for just exactly who June's father was continues, with previous posts on the subject here and here. 

Ida (Davis) Hancock Morris (1874-1900), June's mother, has an entire section devoted to the mysteries of her life on this blog.  She died when June was just two years old, leaving her an orphan.  June also had older sister, Pansy.

Both June and Pansy were taken in and raised by Ida's mother, Mary Ellen (Swafford) Davis Gilliland (1854-1932).  Mary raised her two granddaughters, Pansy and June alongside the two children she had with her second husband, Robert Farrell Gilliland (1850-1916).

June Gilliland

I've not yet located any formal documentation that states that June was formally adopted by her grandmother and step-grandfather, or when exactly she started going by the Gilliland surname.  These records may either be located in Monroe or Owen Counties, Indiana.

June has not yet been located in the 1900 census, but her sister Pansy was found living with the Gilliland's and listed with the surname Davis in Clay Township, Owen County, Indiana.

At the time of the 1910 census in Richland Township, Monroe County, Indiana, June was listed as the step-granddaughter in the Robert Gilliland household as "June Gilliland".  According to newspaper accounts of her baptism at the Ellettsville Baptist Church in 1911, June was using the Gilliland surname.  When she married my great-grandfather in Monroe County, Indiana on June 28, 1917, she listed her surname as Gilliland.  Pansy was also using the Gilliland surname when she married Peter Decker in 1912.

Clemon and June Lambertson

It's pretty evident that June clearly went by the Gilliland surname from a young age, whether or not she was formally adopted by her grandmother and step-grandfather.  Whether she ever knew who her father was or his surname will never be known.

This explains why we have the Gilliland surname in our family tree though we do not have Gilliland ancestry.

The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge was created by Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small blog.  The premise is to write once a week about a specific ancestor - whether it be a story, a biography, a photograph or a research problem.

Clemon Beals Lambertson (1898-1994), Memories, 52 Ancestors # 7

Clemon Lambertson, 1916, likely Cicero, Indiana

The seventh ancestor in my 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks project is my maternal great-grandfather, Clemon Beals Lambertson (1898-1994), who married June Gilliland (1898-1951), on June 28, 1917 in Monroe County, Indiana. I had previously written about the events of his life in an Exploratory Data post.
Grandpa Clemon was the oldest ancestor that I have memories of having direct interaction.  Although we didn't interact very much, I do have a few memories of him.

The earliest memory I have of him was being at his house on Silver Street in Anderson, Indiana in the mid-1970s.  I don't remember the circumstances, but I do remember being at the house and seeing family pictures on the wall.  I also remember it not being too far to the Best-Ever Dairy, which was a great place to get ice cream.

Clemon Lambertson with Travis, Jason & Michelle LeMaster, 1979, Anderson, Indiana

I remember my dad borrowing Clemon's copy of the Chronology of the Beals Family and making copies from it for his genealogy research, which might have occurred around the same time as we hauled bricks away from Uncle Floyd's home in Elwood.  This was my first exposure to a compiled family genealogy - as an adult I purchased my own copy for my research.

I remember one time speaking with him on the phone when he called our house and we talked about baseball and the World Series.  The Dodgers were playing at the time, so this must have been around the 1978 series.

I also remember Grandpa Clemon coming to visit at my grandma's house.  As a little kid, I don't remember what we did or said.  Fortunately, I was able to find a copy of this photo of him at a birthday celebration.

Clemon Lambertson birthday, 1978, Bonnie Wright, Lynn Priest, Ruby Walsh, Martha Lambertson, Cissy Priest, Alexandria, Indiana

The last memory I have of him was when his daughter, my grandmother, passed away in 1984. At that time he would have been 86 years old.  I remember his comment that you weren't supposed to bury your child.  I can't imagine how painful that was for him.

I wish I could have talked to him about family history and share some of the things I've discovered over the years about his ancestors.

The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge was created by Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small blog.  The premise is to write once a week about a specific ancestor - whether it be a story, a biography, a photograph or a research problem.

Edna Muriel "Peach" (Pierce) Wright (1897-1968), Diabetic, 52 Ancestors # 6

The sixth ancestor in 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project is my maternal great-grandmother, Edna Muriel "Peach" (Pierce) Wright (1897-1968).  She was known by her nickname of "Peach", presumably given to her by her father.

As I've researched her life, it's been relatively easy to document the major milestones of her life.  Previously, I've written about the facts of her life in an Exploratory Data post.  The stories that have been passed down have given a picture of a farm wife who was strong-willed and enjoyed everything from gardening to watching wrestling on television.

Peach with huge cabbage

Grandma Peach was also a diabetic. Being a diabetic means a restricted diet, and especially back in the 1950s it must have been interesting to manage.  According to my mother, Peach used to carry her own food when she went anywhere.

Peach's concerns about her health and the health of others in the family caused some strange behavior. 

One story that was passed down from her grandchildren was that she used to test the boy's urine to measure blood sugar levels before allowing them an ice cream treat.

Sweets were limited in the house, but Grandpa Virgil did manage to keep chocolate covered ice cream bars in the freezer, so he could sneak them without Peach finding out.  Being a diabetic himself, this was a no-no.

Some incidents of what might seem like peculiar behavior by Grandma Peach are actually grounded in her life experiences.  While lifestyle and diet can contribute to diabetes, there are also genetic factors.

Peach's mother had died of diabetic coma in 1906 (at age 37) when Peach was just 9 years old.  I'm sure that the loss of her mother to the disease weighed on her mind as she later dealt with her own diabetes and that of her husband, Virgil.

I've tracked some mentions of her being in the hospital at various times, shortly before her death, but treatment reasons were not generally mentioned in the hospital notes.

She died at Community Hospital in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana on March 3, 1968.  The official cause of death was pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure, but a contributing cause listed was diabetes melittus.

Edna Muriel Wright, death certificate, 1968

The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge was created by Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small blog.  The premise is to write once a week about a specific ancestor - whether it be a story, a biography, a photograph or a research problem.

Virgil Wright (1894-1972), Funeral Ephemera, 52 Ancestors # 5

The fifth ancestor in my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project is my maternal great-grandfather, Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972), who married Edna Muriel Pierce (1897-1968) in 1915 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.

When Virgil died on March 25, 1972, his funeral arrangements were handled by the Karl M. Kyle Funeral Home of 412 North Harrison Street in Alexandria, Indiana. Pieces of ephemera relating to the costs of the funeral reveal some interesting tidbits.

This receipt copy is dated March 26, 1972, the day after the death and clearly states my great-grandfather's full name as the name of the deceased, and contains my grandfather, William Wright, as the purchaser.

Cash Advances costs itemized on this receipt include: Clergy $15.00; Flowers $43.35; Musicians no charge; Grave Opening $90.00; Death Certificates $4.00 (4 at $1.00 each); Total with tax $174.20.

Service and Merchandise costs itemized on this receipt include : Service, including casket $1575.00; Vault $305.00.  Total for Services and Merchandise $1880.00.  Total Amount Due $ 2054.20. 

The receipt notes "Paid 4/12/72 $1799.20" and states a balance due of $255.00 with a note "To be paid by Social Security".

In the upper right hand of the receipt the total of $2054.20 is shown as being split out three ways payable by Clara High, Barbara Webster & William Wright - the three surviving children of Virgil.  Clara's portion was to be $599.73, Barbara's portion was $599.73, and William's portion was $599.74 - with the balance of $255.00 to be paid by Social Security.

This second copy of the receipts has the additional details that on 4/17/72 Social Security paid $255.00 and the bill is marked "Paid in Full" and signed by Karl M. Kyle.

These documents highlight that not only did Virgil's children split the costs of his funeral, but looking at these prices from a 2018 vantage you can get a perspective on inflation.

The funeral home is still in operation today in Alexandria under the ownership of Mike and Connie Owens.  Their website and history can be found at Owens Memorial Services.

Another document relating to Virgil's funeral is this Warranty Deed from the Alexandria Cemetery Association when Virgil purchased the funeral plot at Park View Cemetery.  He purchased the SW 1/4 of Lot 2 in Block 5 for $50.00 on March 21, 1969.  The document was signed by John and Beverly Noffze as Secretary and Vice-President of the Cemetery Association.

This deed has me a bit confused. Would this be just for his plot?  If so, why did he not already have it purchased when his wife died in March of the year before?  Or is this part of the plot behind Virgil and Edna, where my grandparents are buried?  It appears I have more to investigate in order to answer these questions.

Previously, I've written about the facts of his life in an Exploratory Data post

The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge was created by Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small blog.  The premise is to write once a week about a specific ancestor - whether it be a story, a biography, a photograph or a research problem.

The Homemaker

The fourth ancestor in my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project is my paternal grandmother, Ruth Pauline (Haley) LeMaster (1911-1990).

Ruth was born 11 April 1911 in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Her parents were Eli Weldon & Cora Belle (Metzner) Haley.  She was the sixth daughter of seven children in the family.

Ruth was raised on the family farm in Noble Township where she was enumerated in the 1920 & 1930 census.  Ruth was very close to her older surviving sisters.  I particularly remember aunt Vera and Carrie.

Ruth completed the eighth grade and graduated from the common schools of Noble Township.

On February 21, 1932, Ruth married Ord Wehrly LeMaster at the Mt. Zion Evangelical Church.  The ceremony was performed by her brother-in-law, Rev. Eugene C. Kunce.

Ord and Ruth began raising a family in rural Jay County and encountered some hard times.  According to newspaper reports, they lost their home and all of their possessions to a fire in February 1939, the second fire in three years.  The family had to move in with Ruth's parents for a time.

By the 1940 census, Ruth had three children: Paul, Idola and Juanita.  The family was living in the town of Portland, Indiana, renting a home at 507 E. Main Street.  Ruth had no occupation listed and her husband Ord was listed as a laborer at the Sheller Manufacturing Company.  The 1941 directory for Portland shows the family living at 507 E. Walnut.

1107 W. Water Street in 1947

By the time my dad was born in 1944 they had moved to 1107 W. Water Street in Portland, where they lived the rest of their lives.  Two more children came along as well, completing the family of six children born to Ord and Ruth.

Because I grew up about an hour away from Portland, most of my memories of grandma involve holidays and family gatherings such as Easter or Christmas.  I remember a lot of cousins packed into a tiny house but a lot of good food cooking.  I particularly remember the noodles she made, more like dumplings.  Food was always a big part of any holiday visit.

I remember that grandma sold Avon, and at least once when I was staying there I remember going with her to make deliveries.

When I was a senior in high school, a group of my friends and I decided to drive up to the Jay County fair.  I talked the group into stopping at grandma's on the way.  She was surprised to see us, but fed us all before we visited the fair.

1107 W. Water in the 1980s - how I remember the house

I was at college at Ball State when grandma really became sick with cancer.  I remember visiting her at the hospital a few times and I remember her being in a lot of pain and begging Jesus to come take her home.

Ruth died 1 February 1990 at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana.  The cause of death was listed as respiratory failure.  She was buried at the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.

I never talked about family history with grandma, I wonder what she would think of some of the history I've found out about her ancestors.

The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge was created by Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small blog.  The premise is to write once a week about a specific ancestor - whether it be a story, a biography, a photograph or a research problem.

The Laborer

Ord W. LeMaster, Madison Twp. High School photo

The third ancestor in my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project is my paternal grandfather, Ord Wehrly LeMaster (1906-1971).

Ord was born 30 September 1906 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana. His parents were Luman Cooper & Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMaster(s).  He was the seventh son of thirteen children in the family.  

Ord's birth was judicially determined by affidavit in January 1942 because he was born before birth certificates were required in the State of Indiana.  This was likely done for the purposes of World War II draft registration or Social Security.

Ord was raised on the family farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. In both the 1910 and 1920 census, he was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana outside of Salamonia on the family farm.

Hunting was also likely one of Ord's early pursuits. The only early surviving photo I have seen of him shows him after killing a bobcat.

Ord LeMaster shots bobcat

Ord graduated from the eighth grade from Madison Township schools in 1921.  He is believed to have attended high school for some time at Fort Recovery, Ohio before joining the Army National Guard on 30 March 1923.  Ord served with the 151st Infantry Howitzer unit and the 139th Field Artillery.  He re-enlisted on October 25, 1926 and again on April 2, 1928. He was made Private First Class in July 1924 and Corporal in August 1925. For unknown reasons, he was reduced in rank to Private in January 1926 and made a Private First Class again in July 1928.  

The military units he served with saw active duty along the Mexican border. Ord returned home and graduated from Madison Township High School in 1928.  He was discharged March 15, 1930.  

He was living on the family farm on 8 April 1928 when he was shot near the heart by an unidentified chicken thief.  Newspaper accounts of the incident recounted how he returned home late one night and noticed the door of the chicken house standing open.  When he stepped towards the coop, a shot rang out.  A sack containing one chicken, evidently dropped by the thief was found near the scene.

At the time of the 1930 census, Ord was still living and working on his parents farm as a laborer. On 21 February 1932, Ord married Ruth Pauline Haley at the Mt. Zion Evangelical Church in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.

Ord and Ruth began raising a family in rural Jay County and times were hard.  In February 1939, a newspaper article recounted how fire had destroyed the families' home for the second time in three years.  Everything they owned in the world was lost, and they had to move in with grandma Ruth's parents.  My aunt Idola and uncle Paul still have memories of the fire and the house that was destroyed.

By the 1940 census, the family was renting a home in Portland, Jay County, Indiana, at 507 E. Main Street Apartment Two. Ord was listed as a laborer at the Sheller Manufacturing Company, yet at the time of the census, he had been unemployed for a period of 32 weeks. The 1941 city directory for Portland also shows the family living at 507 E. Walnut Street.

Ord & Ruth LeMaster family circa 1944. 
L-R : Ord, Paul, Juanita, Ruth (holding Ord W.), Idola

By the time my dad came along in 1944, the family of six were living at 1107 W. Water Street in Portland, which is where they lived the rest of their lives. 

Ord worked as a factory laborer for Delco Battery in Muncie, Indiana for several years.  City directories indicate he was in the case department, and his obituary mentions he was an inspector.  Dad has told me how when he was attending Ball State University, that he would sometimes get a ride to class with grandpa on his way to work.

Not a lot of stories have been shared by my dad or my aunts and uncles regarding their dad.  The impression I have is that he was a man of strong opinions and was a no-nonsense individual.

Ord died on 30 October 1971 in Bluffton, Wells County, Indiana while at Bluffton Clinic.  The cause of death was listed as myocardial infarction.  Burial was at the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.

I have no personal memories of grandpa Ord to share, as I was just two when he passed.  The family stories are few, but he must have been a hard worker and stern disciplinarian.  I'm hoping I can collect more about him and understand him a little better.

Ord & Ruth LeMaster with grandson Travis, Alexandria, Indiana

The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge was created by Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small blog.  The premise is to write once a week about a specific ancestor – whether it be a story, a biography, a photograph or a research problem.

The Dollmaker

The second ancestor in my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project is my maternal grandmother, Bonnie Mae (Lambertson) Wright.

Bonnie was born 18 February 1924 in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana at home at 1906 North F Street.  Her parents were Clemon Beals & June Kirk (Gilliland) Lambertson.  She was the third child of four and the oldest daughter.

Though her birth certificate clearly gives her middle name as "May", Bonnie used the alternative spelling "Mae" during her adult life.  I've found no evidence of a legal change, it was apparently a stylistic choice.

Ruby & Bonnie

Bonnie grew up in the house she was born which was just south of Callaway Park and the pool.  Bonnie and her brothers & sisters all spent a lot of time there working as lifeguards.  City directories show that they were living in that house through 1938.

In the 1939-40 period the family moved from Elwood to near Greentown in Howard County.  Bonnie's grandparents, Charles & Pearl (Beals) Lambertson were living near Greentown and that is likely why the move.  In an interview with Bonnie's sister, Ruby, she mentioned that her dad liked to have space for a garden, as the new place had 3 acres.

1938 freshman photo

The family moved back to Elwood, and Bonnie graduated from Elwood High School in 1941. The story I was told was that during the time she moved to Greentown, she took classes that put her ahead when she returned to Elwood and she was able to graduate in 1941, rather than 1942.

A newspaper story from 1938 mentioned a Halloween party that Bonnie attended with her future husband, Bill Wright.  I do not know if that was the first time that they met, but aunt Ruby told me that she would double date with her future husband, Bob.

Bonnie and Bill were married on 7 June 1941 in Elwood at the First Baptist Church by Rev. Sage.  Shortly afterward, they moved to Alexandria where Bill's family was from. At the time of their marriage, Bill was a factory worker and Bonnie had to have parental consent to get married, as she was only 17.

Her first child, my uncle was born in the spring of 1942 when they were living at 610 West Broadway in Alexandria.  The war was on and my grandpa enlisted together with my great-uncle Bob on 19 January 1944 in the U.S. Army, determined to become pilots.

A heart murmur kept grandpa from becoming a pilot, and instead he became a radio instructor.  One of my first genealogy interviews when I was a teenager was listening to grandma tell me about all of the various Army bases that she travelled to with grandpa with my uncle in tow.  I need to track down the notes, but I seem to remember her saying one time in Biloxi they were scared - must have been a fight between locals and servicemen or something.

Grandpa was always state-side during the war, and after his discharge he returned home and was soon employed at the local post office and Bonnie settled into being a housewife.  By the winter of 1946, they were a family of four when my mother arrived.

Bonnie and Bill were socially active in events in small town Alexandria with groups such as the Elks, the First Christian Church and school parent committees.

By the time I came along, Bonnie was 44 years old, and I was her second grandson.  She lost my grandfather 5 years later, becoming a widow at 49.  I cannot imagine how painful that loss must have been.  One of the ways she dealt with grief was the therapy of doll making.

Bonnie made a Raggedy Ann doll for her niece Vicki for a graduation gift. When Ruby took it to Guide Lamp in Anderson to show it off, people started putting in orders to have Bonnie make one for their kids and for nursing homes.

The dolls were 25 inches and each strand of hair was tied on by hand so that when the dolls were washed they wouldn't come apart.  She  made an estimated 500 of the dolls.

Bonnie enjoyed making dolls and couldn't stand to see a doll without clothes.  She loved to sew and would make matching clothes for my mother and her dolls when she was a girl. My mom still has examples of her handiwork.

As a youngster, I spent more time with Grandma Bonnie than my other grandmother because she lived closer. I can remember going shopping into downtown Alexandria at stores such as Danner's and going to the bakery to get one of their famous caramel rolls.

I remember walking over to her house after playing baseball at the Babe Ruth diamonds and hanging out. One story I remember was that she had a case of Bloody Mary Mix that she didn't want me to tell anyone about because she didn't want them to think she was a drinker.

One time she made me popcorn and I complained that it didn't have any butter on it.  She promptly went to the kitchen and brought back one of those squeeze bottles of butter and coated that popcorn so much so that it wasn't edible.  I learned a lesson that day not to complain.

When I started working on genealogy, I interviewed her about her family history for my Boy Scout merit badge.  She told me what she could about her heritage, and got me started on tracking down the mysteries on her mother's side of the family.

When I was a sophomore in high school, she became really sick with cancer.  I went with my mom & grandma to many of her visits at the Bluffton clinic.  She eventually became so ill that she had to move in with us.

Bonnie died 9 April 1984 at our house at R.R. 4 Box 328, which was rural Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  I remember her passing like it was yesterday, though it was over 30 years ago.

I was glad I was able to spend some time with her asking her about her relatives.  I wish I could show her some of the things I've found that she probably didn't know about her heritage.

The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge was created by Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small blog.  The premise is to write once a week about a specific ancestor – whether it be a story, a biography, a photograph or a research problem.

The Postman

The first ancestor in my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project is my maternal grandfather, William Lee "Johnny Bill" Wright (1919-1973). 

Bill was born 1 December 1919 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, just south of Alexandria.  His parents were Virgil Lee & Edna Muriel (Pierce) Wright. He was the only son and the middle of three children.

Though his birth certificate clearly states his name was William Lee, he was known as "Johnny Bill" to family and friends.  His first name is shared by his maternal grandfather, and his middle name was shared by his father.  His paternal grandfather was named John William.  In the 1920 census, he was enumerated as "John W.E.".

Bill was raised on the family farm and was active in agricultural pursuits.  Newspaper articles from the Alexandria Times-Tribune indicate he was a member of 4-H and raised gilts.  The family farm was the same one where I was raised, though by then it had ceased to be an active animal-farm.

In 1934, Bill was certified to attend high school after completing schooling in the Monroe Township schools through the eighth grade.  He would attend high school in Alexandria.

While in high school, Bill was a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H, continuing to participate in agricultural activities such as corn shows, visiting stockyards and husking bees.  He became a member of the executive committee of FFA and was awarded prizes at the county fair.

Bill graduated from Alexandria High School in 1938 and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits. At the time of the 1940 census, he was still living with his parents, with his occupation listed as farmer.  I imagine he assumed he would continue in the family farm, but other forces were at work that would soon put him on a different path.

A newspaper story from 1938 mentioned at Halloween party that Bill attended with his future wife, Bonnie Lambertson.  I don't know if that was the first time they met but I do know that Bill's mother didn't approve of the match.  I had previously blogged about how my great-grandmother had already picked out the girl for him.

Bill and Bonnie were married on 7 June 1941 in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana at the First Baptist Church where Bonnie's family attended.  I believe that for a short time, they set up house in Elwood, but it wasn't long before they were back in Alexandria.

My uncle Terry was born in the spring of 1942, the same week that Bill's parents  purchased the home at 610 West Broadway in Alexandria that would be Bill and Bonnie's home for the rest of their lives.  Though Bill & Bonnie made the payments on the house, this purchase caused some consternation with Bill's older sister, as she thought her parents had a house bought for Bill and Bonnie.

Bill was working as an armature winder at Delco Remy in Anderson before going into the military.

Even with a young baby at home, there was a war on and Bill was determined to sign up.  He and my-great uncle Bob Walsh enlisted in the U.S. Army together  on 19 January 1944.  Supposedly, Bill's mother was so upset at this that she tried to get enlistment rescinded, even writing Congressmen to get him out.

Bill served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a LORAN mechanic & instructor. LORAN is short for long range navigation. He wanted to be a pilot, but a heart murmur kept him from being one.  The story Bonnie told me was that at each post, they would find the murmur and he would be under observation for a period.  I found a newspaper mention of him being sent from a radio school in Racine, Wisconsin to Chanute Field in Rantoul, Illinois.  Bonnie told me of time in Biloxi, Mississippi as well.  Both Bonnie and my uncle Terry travelled with Bill at each assignment.

Bill was discharged 27 April 1946 from the separation center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He returned home to Alexandria, Indiana.  According to his separation paperwork, he applied for an Indiana service bonus.  

Shortly after returning, he began working at the Alexandria Post Office, where he worked the rest of his life. Local tidbits mentioned in the Alexandria Times-Tribune mention "Johnny Bill" at the post office and his quips of humor.  He was known for doing crossword puzzles and reading the dictionary.  He was an avid fisherman, who often took the family to Lake Tippecanoe and later Silver Lake.  I didn't pick up the fishing gene, but my brother did, and still has some of Bill's equipment.

During this post-war period, Bill was active in the local Elks and the American Legion.  My mom came along, and Bill was active with the parents of Clarke Elementary and later the high school.  In 1962, he helped host the meeting of the local 3070 of Postal Clerks and was active in community affairs.

By the time I came along, Bill was 49 years old.  I was his second grandson.  However, I don't really have too many memories of him.  One memory I have is of me &  mom walking on the sidewalk in town and grandpa coming down the street in his pickup truck and taking us to his place.  Another memory I have is that he liked to keep Pringle's potato chips at his house hidden in a nail barrel that had been converted into a table.

Bill died of a coronary occlusion on 9 July 1973 at Community Hospital in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.  He was 53 years old. According to his death certificate, he died at 12:44 a.m.  I have a vague memory of that happening, mostly feelings of panic, perhaps I heard the phone calls discussing what happened.  At the time of his death, I was four years old.

I wish I would have been able to know him.  I'm left to reading newspaper tidbits and stories passed on from others in order to get a picture of who he was.

The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge was created by Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small blog.  The premise is to write once a week about a specific ancestor – whether it be a story, a biography, a photograph or a research problem.

Tracking and Tracing DNA Matches

During the cold, wintry days between Christmas and New Year's Day, I spent my genealogy time contacting and tracking the DNA matches of my maternal great-aunt using Genome Mate Pro.

This post is by no means a full review of the program - for that would take more experience than I have with it, but so far I'm really impressed with this tool.

The sheer volume of DNA matches in the 4th cousin level, for example, makes a tracking tool such as Genome Mate Pro so valuable.  Being able to track who you've emailed, what family lines they have, where the chromosomes match, etc. make this a wonderful tool.  There is a steep learning curve, and I'd recommend you watch all the You Tube videos and join the Facebook group.

My great-aunt is only tested at FTDNA, and I've know reached out via email to all of her matches greater than 20 cMs.  Now the fun part begins of finding the connections and marking where we match on each chromosome.

Since my maternal side has an unsolved mystery - the identity of my 2nd-great  grandfather, it is hoped that some of my great-aunt's matches will set me on the right path.  So far, there are a number of matches she has that do not match me, so I'm glad I was able to have her test.

Here's to a successful search in 2018!

New Year, New Discoveries ?

Once again the calendar has moved forward and we are into a new year.  Time for reflection and for some a time of making new resolutions.

I've never been good at making or keeping resolutions, so for me it's better to not make them.

As for my genealogy research, my hope is to stay focused and utilize all the tools at my disposal to share my research.  In 2017, my goal was to work on joining lineage societies - something that still needs to be done - so that will be one ongoing goal for 2018.

I'm looking forward to attending some conferences this year - including NGS in Grand Rapids in May.

What will 2018 hold for my genealogical research?  Here's hoping for brick walls to come down and new family/friends to be discovered