Corrections and More Details regarding DearMyrtle's Weekly "Hangouts"

Not sure where he finds the time; but I received an e-mail from Randy Seaver last night indicating he had read my blog and offering some corrections and amplifying information. Apparently, the normal time for the weekly session is 9 a.m. PDT, vice noon; although I noticed at least one at 6 p.m., so checking her schedule is the wise thing to do.   Additionally, the Hangout that I discussed was held on April 17, not yesterday as I thought.  Rather than duplicate and create extra work for myself, I recommend you read Randy's blog on the subject at:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/04/are-you-watching-dearmyrtles-hangouts.html.  He provides a very detailed discussion of how the Hangouts work and how to log in to them.  Randy also noted that he is now a regular panel member on Dear Myrtle's Hangouts.   

I continue to be amazed at the technology available to us today!

"New" Family Search Disscussion on Dear Myrtle's "Hangout"

I decided to use the notes from last Saturday's San Diego Computer Genealogy Society presentation to explore the Family Search Research Wiki.  Somehow, as I was playing video's explaining how to use the Wiki, I was watching Dear Myrtle's weekly "Hangout".  Not sure what wrong button I pushed; but it turned out to be very beneficial mistake.  It may have been today's broadcast.  For those of you not familiar with the event, it is held each Monday at noon PDT.  It is similar to a Webinar; but all the viewers are connected via Google+ and can submit questions and comments, which are monitored and filtered by Myrtle's cousin, Russ.  I believe the video is actually through a tie-in with U Tube.  Additionally, as in today's session, Myrt usually includes other panelists who can comment and provide supplemental short presentations.  For instance, Randy Seaver, was a panelist today and discussed adding pictures and stories to select individuals on the Family Search Family Tree. 

It is obvious from today's session that Myrt is not happy with all the changes that have been made to Family Search.  She pointed out several instances where several mouse "clicks" are required to perform a function that should be achievable with only one or two clicks. 

She also took exception with the fact that the preset records search is oriented toward a name search, even though some research she quoted shows that less than 12% of name data bases are indexed.  If I had been on line I would have commented that I am sure that is because the Family Search designers are hoping users, especially newer ones, will experience that joy of an instant discovery.  More experienced genealogists will be more content to methodically plod through a more structured search; but the great majority of people today are of the "instant gratification" generation. 

I thought perhaps my first frustrations with the "New" Family Search might have been the exception compared to experiences users; but I would conclude following the session I saw today that I might have a lot of company.  To Family Search's credit, however, they are constantly trying to provide a better product and I am sure that six months from now the "new" Family Search will have morphed into a much more user friendly and efficient system, both through changes and we users becoming more familiar with the interface. 

I plan to check in more regularly on Dear Myrtle's Monday "Hangouts" and I encourage readers to do the same.  You can join by clicking the following hyperlink: http://www.youtube.com/user/DearMYRTLE.  Remember to click on "Feed" once you are logged on.

Southern California Genealogical Society jamboree--Don't Miss It!

One of the premier genealogical conferences in the United States is held right here in San Diego's back yard every year.  The main portion of the event runs from Friday, June 7 through Sunday, June 9.  However, for those who would like to explore DNA opportunities  to a greater extent, "Family History and DNA: Genetic Genealogy in 2013" will be conducted from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 6.  There is an extra fee for the Thursday program. 

I think those of us who live in Southern California, within easy driving distance of Jamboree, often take the event for granted because it is so convenient.  During the time frame starting Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. until Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. there are thirteen one hour lecture periods.  In each of those lecture periods are offered 8 or 9 separate lectures by a collection of some of the best genealogists assembled at any conference in the country.  Thus, one has the opportunity to choose from a menu of about 110 lectures during that two and a half days!  Additionally, during the 30 minute breaks between lectures you can wander through the Exhibit Hall and speak personally with the top genealogy vendors in the world and view and experience their products.  In 2012 there were over 70 vendors displaying and demonstrating their products in the Exhibit Hall. 

For those of you living in San Diego, the San Diego Genealogical Society has a package deal which includes train transportation to and from San Diego and the Burbank Airport stop, which is within a couple blocks of the Marriott Convention Center, where the event is held.  Additionally, the Marriott shuttle provides transportation to and from the train stop.  Also included is a room at the Marriott. 

One of the best features of "jamboree" is that everyone from beginners to the most experienced genealogist will find the event educational, entertaining and a lot of fun.  Finally, probably the best feature of all; will be the opportunity to enjoy this experience with others who share your interest/passion/obsession/addiction (choose one) for genealogy. 

If you haven't signed up yet, you missed the Early Bird registration period; but if you sign up by May 24 you will still save $20 to $40, depending on whether or not you are a member of the Southern California Genealogical Society. 

If you haven't ever attended "jamboree"--SIGN UP NOW!  If you have attended--I am sure I will see you there again in a couple weeks.

Back in Battery

I tried to post yesterday from the hospital using my smart phone; but kept running into problems with the password for some reason.  I wasn't up to any rigorous efforts to solve technical problems, so just gave up.  Am worried that I won't sleep very well tonight as I took two big naps today--one this morning and another this afternoon.  However, I am good at rationalizing that my body needs the rest and Joanne reinforces that, so will just hope for the best tonight. 

Thought I would just show some of the photos I took while racing all over Mason County doing research, visiting cemeteries, and other sites that my ancestors would also have known during their lives there. 

The signs announcing Mason County and the City of Havana are typical signs you see at the edge of town as you enter.

The next photo is of downtown Havana, Illinois; a prototypical Midwestern small town.

 

The photo below is of the house where my ggaunt, Sarah O'Malley

McCabe, and her family; who raised my grandmother, lived in Havana.  My grandmother moved to Denver around 1905, so she never lived in this house.  They lived on a farm near Forest City prior to moving to Havana. 



 

Just a block away from the above house was St. Patrick's Catholic church, where I assume Sarah McCabe and her family attended mass weekly.  I noted on a cornerstone of the church that it had been renovated, so this wasn't as the church would have appeared in the early 1900s.

 

 

 

More O'Malley Research in Mason County, Illinois

As this is being posted I am in Sharp Memorial Hospital recovering from Tuesday's surgery for replacement of my left hip.  One of the nice things about Blogger is the ability to schedule when you want your blogs to be released.  So I am composing this on Monday and will release it on Wednesday evening.

 In my previous blog, I recounted my experience doing land research at the Mason County Clerk's office in the courthouse.  However, I covered a lot of Mason County that day doing O'Malley research. 

Since Manito is in the northern portion of Mason County and I had spent the previous night at Peoria, Illinois, NE of Manito; my first stop the following morning was St. Frederic's Catholic Cemetery in Manito.  I knew that my maternal ggrandfather, Peter O'Malley, his wife, and a daughter were all buried in Manito.

 

 

 

 

 

My GPS took me right to the back entrance of the cemetery.  As I crossed into the cemetery, the first headstone on my left was that of Peter and Julia O'Malley.  When I got to the headstone and glanced to the adjacent grave, it was that of their daughter, Sarah, her husband, Tom, and one of their children who had died in infancy.  So much for having to wander around going up and down looking at row after row of graves searching for their headstones! 

 

Adjacent Graves of Peter & Julia and their Daughter



I was hoping to be real lucky and find some helpful information on the gravestones others than dates; but it wasn't to be.  I did wander around a bit in case there were other relatives buried there that weren't contained in the cemetery list I had reviewed; but also struck out there. 

 

Peter and Julia O'Malley

 

Previous to my visit I had searched diligently to find any cemetery or church records that might provide any additional information about Peter or Julia.  I did find that the Church in Manito had closed and records had been forwarded to the diocese.  When I first contacted the diocese they had lost their archivist and didn't know when they would get another.  About two years later, with a lot of perseverance, I finally received a response that there was a two line entry in their records regarding the death of Julia; but nothing about Peter.

 

In earlier correspondence with a member of the Mason County Genealogical Society helping me with my research, she commented the headstone looked reasonably new and more modern than headstones of others for people of the same vintage.  I felt the same way when I examined the headstone.  It is possible later descendants placed the headstone, possibly replacing a smaller one.   Unfortunately, there are no records to verify this.  I also checked for records of the funeral home that handled the burial(s).  To the best of the knowledge of the current funeral home, what records that existed had been given to the Havana library.  A search of those records came up empty, however.

 

I also searched all of the newspaper archives at the Library for the 1880 (Peter and Julia moved to Mason County) to 1906 (Julia's death) period without finding a single mention of them.  Why does it seem that they were keeping below the radar?  Were they really trying to make my life more difficult?  It sometimes seems so to me! 

 

Hopefully, I will be back "in battery" by Friday.





 



An O'Malley Research Trip to Mason County, Illinois

I knew that my maternal grandmother, Mary O'Malley Dean, had inherited some land in Mason County, Illinois; but I didn't know any details about the land.  In April 2009 I made a trip to the mid-West where I combined a visit to the Allen County Public Library with some research in Mason County, Illinois and Indianapolis, Indiana.  My grandmother was born in 1886 in Mason County and remained there until she was about 20 years old.  She and her brother inherited some land from their maternal grandmother when she died in 1933; but that is all I knew. 

Mason County Courthouse in background of Military Memorial



Havana Library


After visiting the Havana Public Library for some research of the newspaper archives (unrelated to this land search), I confirmed the existence of land records at the courthouse with the librarian and proceeded there for my first experience researching courthouse records.  The clerk was extremely helpful and directed me to the proper books to identify the property and the chronicle of its history.  After looking in the Deed of Record books; I was able to find the deed with the names of my grandmother and her brother as grantors.  That information provided the property legal description.  Then with the legal description we were able to go to the Abstract Record book containing the chronological history on that specific piece of property.

Abstract Record File

Once I had made copies of the information I had found, the clerk gave me a county map showing the location of the land and I was able to drive out and take a look at it.

Some courthouses have indexes of the information; but Mason County didn't.  Knowing the approximate date that my Grandmother sold the property, I was able to scan through the Deed of Record book and find the Warrantee Deed for the sale of 180 acres by my grandmother and her brother.

The Abstract Record revealed that the property was originally owned by Mason County in 1867.  My  gggrandfather purchased the land in 1876; but died in 1879.  The Abstract Record shows no record of the land then passing to his wife; but the clerk said that is normal.  My gggrandmother then passed away in 1933 and my grandmother and her brother inherited the land.  But, once again, the Abstract Record doesn't show inheritance transactions--only sales.  The next transaction recorded was the sale of the land in 1946 by my grandmother and her brother.  So, even though you would think the abstract record would show a complete chronological record of the owners of the land; it does not reflect inheritance of land.  I believe that is through the probate courts; but have to do a little more research on that. 

I must say that my first experience doing courthouse land record research was very productive and pleasant--due in great part to the very helpful clerk. 

 



San Diego Genealogical Society's May Speaker--Daniel Libby

I attended this morning's SDGS meeting and the presentation by Daniel Libby.  Daniel is a 24 year Navy veteran, having served in the Navy Security Group and with the National Security Agency.  Upon retiring from the Navy he attended the Information System Forensic program at UCSD and in 2001 formed Digital Forensics, Inc.  In addition to performing information security services for business clients, Daniel also serves as an expert witness for government, corporate and legal clients.  The title of the presentation was "Trans-National Organized Crime Human Exploitation Through Information Systems"; which in short, addresses the increasing role of organized crime in cyber crime and cyber warfare. 

The major point of his very entertaining presentation was that most cyber criminals exploit the human element in the digital world, not necessarily the electronic security barriers.  They prey on eight weaknesses of their human targets: sex, greed, vanity, trust, compassion, sloth, urgency and convenience.  His anecdotal experiences provided good  examples of how this is accomplished by the "bad guys."  He then explained how they use Phishing (broad audience), Spear Phishing (specific targets) , Whaling (phishing for senior officials in the target organization), Pharming (an attack aiming to redirect a website's traffic to a bogus site) and Credit/Debit card skimming to gain access to digital information.    He wasn't shy about pointing fingers at the Russians and Chinese for much of this cybercrime. 

Daniel answered a lot of questions from the audience throughout his presentation, most dealing with ways to avoid being a victim of these crimes or instances attendees had experienced Phishing or other techniques.  Although his talk did not deal directly with genealogy, most of the attendee evaluations thanked us for having him speak because the information was so valuable and relevant to everyday life in today's electronic world.