A New Short Book

I have planned a short meaningful publication about more than just family research for some time now. Well it is finally available at Lulu.com: "Embracing Our Final Ancestor". A free copy is shipping to me as I type which I will review and share feedback with others on both Lulu's services and quality of product.

Our present day circumstances seem to cry out daily for books with deeper and more profound meaning, but without all the additional unwanted detail. Attention spans are diminishing at an alarming rate. Some people who pay attention and are especially aware of the world around them may find this short work deeply profound while others may simply scoff at what is presented without a lengthy proof processes. Either way, I hope readers do take time to complete the Journal of Journey included so that one day they may reflect on their past as I do today with insights abounding from a world of simply amazing lively experience.

The book is available in hardcopy softcover for less than $13.00 and even much cheaper for PDF download if you prefer at

http://www.lulu.com.

As always thanks for supporting Genedocs!

Capturing the Essence

Genedocs is in its third (Essences Series) year now of sharing with people how to have better tools for organization, charting, research, and preserve legacies, but we still aim to capture the essence of our ancestors...is it even possible?

Perhaps the best or only way to even manage such a taks is through movies save digitally for generations to come to enjoy long after we are gone. So perhaps we need to issue a free camcorder to every child after sixth grade with memory sticks that can handle a lifetime or two of famil member moments and inteviews. I know that would have been the best gift ever for this die hard researcher...oh the memories we could have captured to live on and share :D

My Ancestors' Sur and Maiden Names

I really should have posted these much earlier so must apologize for the delay, but seeing the Augenstein name in a Masonic Newsletter today reminded me to finally add them. These names have been pretty solidly proven with the help of many family memtbers and records repositories consulted to date so I stop at VIII Generations for accuracy.

II
JELLE
EDLUND

III
NELSON / NIELSEN (Denmark)
DAWES

IV
HJODLO (Norway)
OLSON (Norway)
SKOV
SWANSON / SWENSON (Sweden)
TUCKER
GAUSE [often mistranscribed as GANSE]

V
RAGDE (Norway)
LARSON (Norway)
JENSEN (Denmark)
HASELVIG (Denmark)
JONSSON (Sweden)
THUNBERG (Sweden)
POOLE
THRASHER (Germany via DRESCHER name)
HALL (Said to be Irish, but no link yet)

VI (Maternal Continuation Only)
THRASHER (new line in AL, TN, SC)
PANNELL
GRIFFITH
MILLS
LASPEYRE [often misspelled as Lasbeyre]

VII
SEWELL
CRAWFORD
PICKENS
GRUBBS
FILSON (Antrim, Ireland)
ASHE

VIII
DULANEY
ENGLAND
DOWDLE
YARBORUGH
PARNELL (may be Pannell mistranscribed)

Masonic Ancestor Update Brings More Questions

Recently I finally received a reply from the Grand Masonic Lodge of Illinois regarding records for my elusive ancestor Edward Dawes. I state "finally" because the request was mailed in Sep 2010 from CO and took eight months apparently from them placing CA as the state and I did move to TX since then rather abruptly.

They have limited records at the grand lodge, suggested I write the Lodge in Raleigh, No. 128, but still managed to provide two copies of records for Edward that aroused some new questions...

Edward was listed as one of 22 members and one who was initiated , passed, and raised in the 1854 Logde Proceedings Book. Four years later in the 1858 Lodge Proceedings Book, Edward is listed as the Senior Steward of Logdge No. 128 in Raleigh. Then an entry of his death was included that stood outin the chart entitled

"Died since August 31, 1872": Edward Dawes (d) Nov 5 /(18)72

For anyone who has read about my research and other peoples' research on Edward, it has been fairly well documented that he died in May of 1873 and clearly has a Masonic symbol on his headstone so it is fairly remarkable that they would have the death date wrong. However, I am unfamiliar with burial rites if any are provided by the Masons for their passed on brethren (though the Knights of Pythias appear to have given some rights and acknowledgement letter for the widow of Edward's son John Thomas Dawes after he was murdered in Crockett TX in 1916.)

Of course I will gladly be writing the Raleigh Lodge No. 128 for more specifics on Edwards membership and duties.

Employment

Until you unexpectedly find yourself one of the millions of unemployed Americans desperate for even a chance to interview for a new job after months or even years of suffering, borrowing, praying, and hoping the economic mess will cease, you truly have no idea what the odds are that you will even survive...here is a statistic a leader shared with me a few days ago: 2 entry level vacancies, 600 applicants, 150 narrowed candidates to consider, 3 weeks after posting, 2 most qualified men hired.

Hiring managers unfortunately can only save the country at the rate of one or two vacancies at a time and that work still takes three to four weeks minimum.

Genedocs to Prepare You and Your Family for Emergencies

With the recent spree of horrific tornados that just swept the southern states killing over 300 people and turning thousands of homes upside-down and inside out, we really don't need any more reminders that unexpected things do happen and we can only be prepared.

As a recent transplant from Colorado Springs to North Texas I took for granted the last decade the threats of mother nature's fury - no more!

With a mother-in-law currently sleeping the weekend in the hospital recovering from completely unexpected pnuemonia detected only after she went in for microsurgery on her shoulder again I too find the genedocs Emergency Wallet Card one of the best tools any family member can have.

Just like we as researchers prepare to preserve and protect our priceless family photos, we must be prepared to identify ourselves and loved ones including minor children, have a list of emergency contacts, and other pertinant medical and other information that can be essential in any emergency.

I kept hearing about the beautiful and smart young female college student who was literally ripped from her boyfriend's arms by one of the twisters and was killed - and thought would my family be prepared for that?

Homes across mississippi exploded, imploded, and were tossed around like toothpicks along with all the beloved family treasures - would you be prepared for that?

Please carry and EWC and scan, back up, and share your family photos. You won't regret either precaution.

Photo Discovery Help from facebook Friends

My recent excitement over identifying this photo's context has led to a good bit of reading and viewing more Spanish and Philippine American war content. War is grusome and the imagery of this one is rough to take in at times. It has been suggested Victor Edlund may be the man 2nd from the left standing, but further NARA research must be done to verify if he even served.

Thanks to the folks at the fb Ancestorville page for helping put the photo in correct historical and geographical context - Googled it all so now I'm off!