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The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

RootsWeb -- Have You Used This Source?

This past week has been busy, as I helped 12 people who contacted me via the FREE RootsWeb site. Below is a screen shot of my email archived files for this week. The six queries are for various surnames, others were placed in individual labeled files; two in the Westover file, one in Canadian and two in the Scrambling file, so a total of 11. I never paid much attention to totals or how many I helped until yesterday. Just recently I began asking people if they found me through my Blog or RootsWeb. All of them said RootsWeb. If you help people, you know the conversation thread usually goes back and forth with the exchange of information, so the entire process can take days to come to a conclusion. All my RootsWeb correspondence is archived, so in the past five or so years with Gmail, I've helped about 560 people.

If you don't use RootsWeb, I hope you try it. It's a nice place to put your GEDCOM, for others to see, and 72 Saturday Surname entries for my Blog was done through RootsWeb, I prepare their Register report and copy my data to the blog. Easy, easy.

An example of a RootsWeb report using their Register format is below.


Descendant Register, Generation No. 1

1.ALEXANDER F. FARMER was born 5 MAR 1814 in Canada or New York, and died 27 JAN 1864 in Calhoun Co., Michigan. He was buried in W. LeRoy Cemetery, LeRoy Twp., Calhoun Co., Michigan. He married HULDAH S. LAY ABT 1833 in (Prob.) New York, daughter of DANIEL LAY and ANNA BROWN. She was born 5 SEP 1817 in Niagara Co., New York, and died 11 SEP 1902 in LeRoy, Calhoun Co., Michigan. She was buried in W. LeRoy Cemetery, LeRoy Twp., Calhoun Co., Michigan.
  
Children of ALEXANDER F. FARMER and HULDAH S. LAY are:
+2  i.Louisa J. FARMER was born 25 OCT 1835 in New York, and died 8 JAN 1912 in Johnstown, Barry, Michigan.
+3  ii.JOHN NELSON FARMER was born 3 MAR 1839 in Wilson, Niagara Co., New York, and died 27 JUL 1892 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan.
+4  iii.Charles M. FARMER was born 21 NOV 1842 in Michigan, and died 6 JUN 1893 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan.
 5  iv.Emily A. FARMER was born 14 MAY 1845 in LeRoy, Calhoun Co., Michigan, and died 29 JAN 1866 in LeRoy, Calhoun Co., Michigan.
+6  v.Daniel Emory FARMER was born 14 MAY 1846 in LeRoy, Calhoun Co., Michigan, and died 23 AUG 1907 in LeRoy, Calhoun Co., Michigan.


Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

2.Louisa J. FARMER (ALEXANDER F. FARMER1) was born 25 OCT 1835 in New York, and died 8 JAN 1912 in Johnstown, Barry, Michigan. She was buried in Banfield Cemetery, Banfield, Barry Co., Michigan. She married Seneca P. IDEN 1856. He was born MAR 1830 in New York, and died 5 APR 1903 in Bedford, Calhoun Co., Michigan. He was buried in Banfield Cemetery, Banfield, Barry Co., Michigan.
  
Children of Louisa J. FARMER and Seneca P. IDEN are:
 7  i.Francis E. IDEN was born OCT 1858, and died 22 AUG 1869 in Hohnstown, Michigan.
+8  ii.Clarence E. IDEN was born OCT 1859 in Johnstown, Barry, Michigan, and died 23 DEC 1924 in Bedford Twp., Calhoun, Michigan.

3.JOHN NELSON FARMER (ALEXANDER F. FARMER1) was born 3 MAR 1839 in Wilson, Niagara Co., New York, and died 27 JUL 1892 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan. He was buried 29 JUL 1892 in Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan. He married LANY \ LANA A. SCRAMBLING 18 SEP 1862 in LeRoy, Calhoun Co., Michigan, daughter of JACOB S. SCRAMBLING and SARAH VAN WOERT. She was born 14 AUG 1841 in Otsego Co., New York, and died 9 SEP 1872 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan. She was buried 26 SEP 1872 in Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan. He married MARY C. SCRAMBLING 9 NOV 1873 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan, daughter of Henry William SCRAMBLING and Mary P. JOHNSON. She was born 18 FEB 1843 in Charleston, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, and died 16 JUN 1913 in W. LeRoy, Calhoun Co., Michigan. She was buried 18 JUN 1913 in Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan.
  
Children of JOHN NELSON FARMER and LANY \ LANA A. SCRAMBLING are:
+9  i.SARAH BELLE FARMER was born 26 SEP 1864 in Battle Creek area, Calhoun Co., Michigan, and died 4 JAN 1931 in Evanston, Cook Co., Illinois.
 10  ii.Mary Nancy FARMER was born 3 MAR 1867 in Michigan, and died 14 APR 1868 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan.
 11  iii.Elsie FARMER was born 27 AUG 1871 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan, and died 8 SEP 1871 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan.

4.Charles M. FARMER (ALEXANDER F. FARMER1) was born 21 NOV 1842 in Michigan, and died 6 JUN 1893 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan. He was buried in W. LeRoy Cemetery/aka Kelsey Cemetery, LeRoy Twp., Calhoun Co., Michigan. He married Arcena Estella ALDRICH 18 MAY 1870 in LeRoy, Calhoun Co., Michigan, daughter of Amos Nelson ALDRICH and Margaret A. HEATH. She was born 1 MAR 1851 in Charleston Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, and died 1 APR 1920 in Newton Twp., Calhoun Co., Michigan. She was buried in Newton Cemetery, Newton, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  
Child of Charles M. FARMER and Arcena Estella ALDRICH is:
 12  i.Clayton F. FARMER was born 5 DEC 1879 in Climax, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, and died 3 MAR 1899 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan.

6.Daniel Emory FARMER (ALEXANDER F. FARMER1) was born 14 MAY 1846 in LeRoy, Calhoun Co., Michigan, and died 23 AUG 1907 in LeRoy, Calhoun Co., Michigan. He was buried in W. LeRoy Cemetery, LeRoy Twp., Calhoun Co., Michigan. He married Belinda MUTTON 6 JUL 1887 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan, daughter of Charles MUTTON and Anne HARVEY. She was born DEC 1857 in Cramahe Twp., Northumberland Co., Ontario, Canada, and died AFT 1938 in of Stohrville Twp., Harper Co., Kansas. He married Nancy A. HOAG 17 NOV 1867 in LeRoy, Calhoun Co., Michigan, daughter of Charles HOAG and Polly w\o Charles HOAG. She was born 10 MAR 1850 in Michigan, and died 29 JUL 1879 in Climax, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan. She was buried in W. LeRoy Cemetery, LeRoy Twp., Calhoun Co., Michigan.
  
Child of Daniel Emory FARMER and Belinda MUTTON is:
+13  i.Francis Arthur FARMER was born 6 AUG 1895 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan, and died 22 APR 1969 in of Wichita, Sedgwick Co., Kansas.

Children of Daniel Emory FARMER and Nancy A. HOAG are:
+14  i.Frederick Emery FARMER was born 14 AUG 1868 in Climax, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, and died 4 MAR 1951 in Los Angeles Co., California.
 15  ii.Burton W. FARMER was born 12 JUL 1870 in Climax, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, and died 24 AUG 1872 in Climax, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.

Obituaries -- Lowell, Massachusetts

The below listed names were taken from The Lowell Sun newspaper's obituary section. The names are often printed on two days, I am only listing them once.


SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2011
PAULINE L. HARTZ, OF PELHAM; LOVING MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND GREAT-GRANDMOTHER; 87
MARK BRENDAN CONNELL, OF TYNGSBOROUGH, MA, NAVY VET
LISA J. (LePORTE) McKEON, OF LOWELL, LOVING WIFE, DAUGHTER, AND SISTER; 52

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011
CATHERINE E. BURKE, TEACHER IN THE WOBURN SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR OVER 45 YEARS; 90
COLLEENA M. McANDREW, OF TYNGSBOROUGH, LOVING MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND SISTER; 68
ROGER R. BIGOLD, OF DRACUT, LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER, GRANDFATHER, BROTHER, AND FRIEND; 56
RITA J. MARTIN, OF DRACUT, CRYPTOGRAPHER WWII
MYRTLE 'CONNIE' C. BRIEN, LOVING MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND GREAT-GRANDMOTHER; 96
KIMBERLY C. 'KIMMY' MARSDEN, SPECIAL-ED TEACHER AT LOWELL SCHOOL; 48
NANCY H. TAYLOR, OF TEWKSBURY, RETIRED BAYBANK MIDDLESEX TELLER; AGE 92
PATRICIA MILLER, OF BILLERICA, WAS VETERINARY TECHNICIAN; 65

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011
CHARLOTTE C. (CRONIN) QUINN, OF LEOMINSTER; 87
BARBARA BERKE (TOLAND) WILCOX, LOWELL, MA NATIVE, ACCOMPLISHED PIANIST; 78
REV. JOHN F. McHUGH, OMI, MISSIONARY OBLATE PRIEST FOR 38 YEARS
FLORRIE (LEVETT) DAVIDSON, OF TEWKSBURY, MA; 90
JIMMIE (MOSS) BEENE, OF GROTON, MA; 87
ANTHONY JASON CHARLES MENTAS, FORMERLY OF LOWELL, MA
ALFRED J. THERRIEN, WWII DISABLED VETERAN, MASS. SOCIAL WORKER; 88
BIENVENIDA "BENI" FIGUEROA, RESIDENT OF LOWELL; AGE 77
FRANCIS L. McNAMARA, OF DRACUT, MA; 60
JOAN D. JOHNSON, RESIDENT OF LOWELL, MA; 66
ROLAND A. LEBEL, JR., PROUD ARMY VETERAN; 57
HECTOR ORLANDO COLON, JR., OF LOWELL, INFANT SON

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011
DONALD LLOYD POLGLASE OF TEWKSBURY, MA; 84
DIANE N. (NOTINI) LOUGHRAN, OF LOWELL, RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER; 64
YVETTE R. BEAUDRY, DRACUT NATIVE; 90
MARIE C. HORAN  1924 - 2011
JUNE M. (GRYNKIEWICZ) KELLY, OF BILLERICA; 58

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011
JOHN C. O'CONNELL, JR., OF TEWKSBURY, MA, AGE 82, RETIRED PANDELL-BRADFORD CO. MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
SHARON L. O'BRIEN, OF LOWELL; 61
DIGNA E. KURS, RETIRED FROM JOHN HANOCK INSURANCE; 92
JOAN M. (NELSON) MAHER, OF BILLERICA, LOVING WIFE, MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER; 70
ROSEMARY "BUTTONS" PAYNE, OF BILLERICA, MA; 74
JEROME ALEXANDER, OF LOWELL, MA AND WEST HAVEN, CT; 61


FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2011
MARY M. (MURPHY) WILSON OF BILLERICA, MA; 76
JOHN T. HAINES, AGE 56, DEVOTED HUSBAND, FATHER AND GRANDFATHER
CLAIRE R. BOUDREAU, OF AYER, MA; FORMERLY OF LITTLETON; 67
VIRGINIA C. (CARPENTER) DESCHENE, OF DRACUT, MA; 95
MARY V. WIROLL, FORMER BILLERICA SELECTWOMAN; 81
JOYCE E. (ECKERSON) COLT; OF NASHUA, NH; 81


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011
DESIDERO N. 'DESI' MENESES, OF LOWELL; 80
CAMILLE JULIETTE PAYETTE, FORMER LONGTIME RESIDENT OF LOWELL; 92
EDWARD A. OFRIA, OF DRACUT; 76
DONALD E. FLOYD, FORMER LONGTIME RESIDENT OF WESTFORD; 91
ANDREW A. MAURO, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF AYER; 62
STANLEY F. RODZIEWICZ, OF DRACUT, WWII NAVY VETERAN; 83
THOMAS P. DONLAN, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF CHELMSFORD; 56
WILLIAM CORNELIUS COLLINS, LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE, BUSINESS OWNER; 84


SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2011
PATRICIA A. DAVAN, LOVING MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AUNT, FRIEND; 72
GEORGETTE L. THEROUX, LOVING MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND SISTER; 83
EMILE T. DUMONT, WAS CHELMSFORD BAKER; BUSINESS DEVELOPER; 83
SISTER MARIE GERMAINE SIROIS, SUSC, ESTELLE SIROIS; 88
JOHN 'JACK' FRANCIS BASTIAN, LIFETIME MEMBER OF CHELMSFORD LODGE OF ELKS

Another Place to Find Obituaries

What if you haven't found a newspaper obituary, like for my great-granduncle below? Don't despair. I discovered his in the Obituary Record of Yale Graduates, 1926-1927, and was pleasantly surprised. Not only was there a good deal about William's ancestors, but there was information about his education, employment, and family. Don't overlook resources like this, for it could be better than a newspaper.


Obituary Record of Yale Graduates, 1926-1927.
Bulletin of Yale University, New Haven
Pages: 143-144.


"William Frederick Poole, B.A. 1891
Born January 14, 1868, in Melrose, Mass.
Died September 19, 1926, in Canton, Mass.


Father, William Frederick Poole (B.A. 1849, LL.D. Northwestern University 1882); a librarian; author of Poole's Index to Periodical Literature; son of Ward and Eliza (Wilder) Poole; seventh in descent from John Poole, who came from England to Cambridge, Mass., in 1630 and settled in Reading, Mass., in 1632. Mother, Fanny Maria (Gleason) Poole; descendant of Thomas Gleason [Leeson, Leason], who was born in Sulgrave, Northampton County, England, in 1617 and died in Cambridge, Mass., in 1686; descended also from William Hulberd, who came from Northumberland County, England, to Dorchester, Mass., in 1630 and moved to Windsor, Conn., in 1635. Yale relatives include an uncle, Henry W. Poole (B.A. 1845), and a brother-in-law, the Rev. Z. Swift Holbrook (B.A. 1875).



Evanston (Ill.) High School and Phillips-Andover. Second dispute appointment Junior year; first colloquy appointment Senior year; captain Freshman Baseball Team and member University Baseball Team three years; member Apollo and University Glee clubs, College Choir, Psi Upsilon, and Skull and Bones.


LL.B. Northwestern University 1893; during next six years practiced law in Chicago, being connected with firm of Hamlin, Scott and Lord; they moved to Boston, where he acted as attorney for Massachusetts Telephone Company until 1902; since then had been engaged in the general practice of law in Boston; associated in practice with Charles G.  Bancroft and John Curtin 1904-1915; since then partner in form of Curtin, Poole and Allen and its successor, Curtin, Poole, Allen and Cooch; officer and director in several corporations; member New Old South (Congregational) Church, Boston, and also First Congregational Church, Canton.


Married November 10, 1915, in Canton, Mass., Sally McKendry, daughter of Larra Wentworth and Hannah Eliza (Day) Sumner. Children: Elizabeth, William Frederick, and Sally Sumner.


Death due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Buried in Canton Corner Cemetery, Canton. Survived by wife,  son, two daughters, and two sisters, Miss Mary Poole, a non-graduate member of the Wellesley Class of 1883, and Mrs. C. Clarence Poole, both of Evanston, Ill."