Keeping Track

One of the suggested genealogy related resolutions for the new year was to track the statistics associated with genealogy research. Thus, I’ve been trying to record some of the related statistics.

 

In RootsMagic, I pull down the FILE menu to access the properties for my tree.

 

 

 

 

In Ancestry, I click on the down arrow next to my tree name to access the Tree Overview.

 

 

 

Since I use an ‘exhibits’ folder to store all of the documents, photos, and research for my tree, I can right click on that folder to view its properties.

Each month, I try to record this information. By comparing the stats recorded today (July 2, 2018) with those recorded at the first of January, I can see that even though I haven’t had any major breakthroughs, I have added to my tree.

 

I am making progress! Unfortunately, my tree is still not indexed. This means that all of my work won’t show up when others are searching public member trees.

Tree Indexing Update

According to what I was previously told by Ancestry support, public member trees were last indexed on October 10th. It has been EIGHT months and my tree still isn’t showing in public member tree searches.

I rechecked my tree (Heartland Genealogy) to make sure it meets the minimum requirements to be included in the indexing of public member trees.

Must be a PUBLIC tree (under tree settings)

Tree must contain Ancestry Sources (Tree Overview)

I then ran my ‘standard’ search for Judson Foster Crawford to verify that my tree still isn’t showing up in the results:

An exact search for Judson Foster Crawford has resulted in 24 trees for the past several months. When I scroll the results list, my Heartland Genealogy tree is NOT listed.

I rechecked the profile for Judson Foster Crawford to verify that there are Ancestry sources attached.

Since I was told that it might not be possible to search for my own tree, I tried doing the same search with my ‘free’ Ancestry account.

I also tried the same search from an Ancestry Library Edition account provided by the Kansas State Historical Society.

After verifying that my tree isn’t showing up in a public member tree search, I called Ancestry support (again). Support diligently asked questions about my problem and duplicated the issue. During the conversation, I was not told the last index date. I was given a case number and they are supposed to email me when the issue is resolved.

For the “rest of the story” see my previous blog post, Ancestry Indexing Update.

The wait begins again!

 

Color Coding Notes

While going thru shaky leaf hints for descendants of William G. Harding, I came across what appeared to be multiple people of the same name: Abel G. Harding. Having recently watched an older YouTube video by Crista Cowan, Using Ancestry.com Like a Pro, I decided to use Crista’s recommended technique: WRITE.

I’ve seen other videos where Crista encourages the use of writing notes. Unfortunately, this is a technique that I haven’t incorporated into my research process. I have started writing notes for my direct line ancestors but most of the individuals in my file do not have notes.

Thinking that I might find it easier to separate these men of the same name if I wrote out my findings, I started creating a document for the Abel G. Harding that I think might be a descendant of William G. Harding. When I thought I was finished writing out those notes, I discovered there were two more hints on Ancestry. One of those hints was for a 1910 census record in Wisconsin. The other was for an 1890 veterans’ schedule.

The 1910 census record was AFTER the 1906 death date I had from Find A Grave. Even though this census record seemed to contradict my other findings, I decided to add it to my notes. However, I color coded the text to differentiate it.

I did the same with the 1890 veterans’ schedule — which suggested that I might have added the military record to the wrong Abel Harding. Again, I color coded this note entry and also color coded the military record.

To help prove that this was two different people, I searched for this second Abel Harding in the census records that I had already found to see if I could prove there were two different families. I continued color coding the notes — using a different color when I encountered a different family group.

Thanks to the color coding, I can see the different families. This will DEFINITELY help me to figure out these different families!

Abel G Harding 1833-1906

(Colored texts is for OTHER Abel Harding families)

Birth – 30 Apr 1833

Find a Grave indicates that Abel Harding was born 30 Apr 1833.

1851 Census – New Brunswick

William G Harding was listed as a 47 year old widowed head of household on the 1851 census for Westfield, Kings County, New Brunswick. According to the census, William’s race was listed as native. William was listed as a farmer. William had lived in New Brunswick since birth. Also listed in the household were a single female, Caroline, aged 20; a single male, Abel, aged 18; a single male, Thomas, aged 16; a single female, Abigail, aged 14; a single female, Julia, aged 11; a single female, Isabella, aged 9 and a single male, Henry, aged 5.

1860 U.S. Census – Spring Prairie, Walworth, Wisconsin

Abel Harding was listed as a 27 year old male farm laborer in the household of Stephen Jones in Spring Prairie Township, Walworth County, Wisconsin. The census listed N Brunswick as the place of birth for Abel Harding.

1860 Census – Somers, Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Abel G Harding is listed in the household of 62 year old Abel Harding. According to the Census, Abel Harding owned 1800 in real estate and 600 in personal estate. Abel Harding was a farmer. All members of the household were born in New Brunswick. The census listed Abel G Harding as a 26 year old male. Also listed in the household was Ann Harding, a 62 year old female and John C Harding a 17 year old male.

1865 Civil War Soldiers Records and Profiles, 1861-1865

Abel G Harding enlisted on 9 Feb 1865 as a Corporal in Company K Wisconsin 49^th Infantry Regiment. He was mustered out of service on 8 Nov 1865 in St. Louis, Missouri.

1870 U.S. Census – Ward 2, Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin

Able Harding was listed as a 72 year old ‘gentleman’ born in New Brunswick on the 1870 census in Racine County, Wisconsin. Also listed in the household was Ann Harding a 72 year old female born in New Brunswick.

1870 U.S. Census – Ward 2, Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin

Abel Harding was listed as a 36 year old Master Vecil on the 1870 census in Racine County, Wisconsin. According to the census, Abel Harding was born in New Brunswick. Abel Harding owned 1000 in real estate and 500 in personal estate. Also listed in the household was Mary, a 30 year old female born in Ohio; Clara, an 8 year old female born in Wisconsin; Edwin, a 7 year old male born in Wisconsin; Harry, a 5 year old male born in Wisconsin; and Guy, a 2 year old male born in Wisconsin.

1870 U.S. Census – Fremont Township, Fayette, Iowa

Abel Harding was listed as a 36 year old male farmer who was born in New Brunswick on the 1870 census for Fremont Township, Fayette County, Iowa. Also listed in the household was Cinthy, age 22 and born in N York; Edna, female, aged 3 and born in Iowa and May, female aged 2 and born in Iowa.

1875 Plat Map – Bremer County, Iowa

The 1875 plat map of Jackson Township, Bremer County, Iowa shows a ‘A Harding’ owning land in the NE ¼ of section 29.

1876 Delayed Birth Record for Nina Belle Harding

Nina Belle Harding was born in Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa on Nov. 24, 1876. The delayed birth certificate indicates that Nina Belle was the fifth child in the family. The record lists Abel Harding, aged 42 and born New Brunswick as the father of Nina Belle. The record lists Cynthia Gertrude Edwards, aged 28 and born in Binghamton, N.Y. as the mother. The physician, midwife or other person attending the birth was listed as Caroline Orcutt.

1876 U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index

The Social Security record for Nina HardingHalverson lists Nina’s birth date as 24 Nov 1876. Nina was born in Osage, Mitchell, Iowa. According to the record, her parents were Abel Harding and Cynthia G. Edwards.

1880 – Iowa Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1999

The Iowa, Births and Christenings Index lists a child of Abel Harding being born on 10 Aug 1880. Film number 1502984 is cited. [LOCKED – TODO Created]

1880 U.S. Census

Abel Harding was listed as a 48 year old laborer who was born in Canada on the 1880 census in Cedar Township, Mitchell County, Iowa. Also listed in the household was his wife, Cynthia, age 35 and born in New York; daughter, Ada, age 14 and born in Iowa; daughter, Mary, age 13 and born in Iowa; daughter, Clara, age 8 and born in Michigan;  and daughter, Linn, age 3 and born in Iowa.

1880 U.S. Census Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin

Ablel G Harding was listed as a 47 year old head of household in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin on the 1880 census. According to the census, Ablel (Able) and his parents were born in New Brunswick. Ablel’s occupation was listed as Capt. Of Vessel. Also listed in the household was his wife, Mary E. age 41 and born in Ohio; daughter, Clara J, age 18 and born in Wisconsin; son Edwin R, age 16 and born in Wisconsin; son, Harry G, age 14 and born in Wisconsin; son, Guy G, age 12 and born in Wisconsin; son, Willia A, age 7 and born in Wisconsin; daughter, May E, age 5 and born in Wisconsin, and daughter, Jennie N, age 2 and born in Wisconsin.

1880 U.S. Census – Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin

Able Harding was listed as an 83 year old head of household on the 1880 census in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin. According to the census, Able was born in New Brunswick and his parents were born in New York. Also listed in the household was his wife, Anna, age 83 and born in New Brunswick and his granddaughter, Edith Jane, age 18 and born in Wisconsin.

1885 South Dakota, Birth Index

According to the South Dakota, Birth Index, 1856-1917, James Earl Harding was born 13 Jun 1885 in Brookings, South Dakota. The record lists Abel Harding and Cynthia Gertrude Edwards as the parents. The record was filed on 31 Mar 1942. The state file number is 582711.

1890 Veterans Schedule: Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin

The 1890 veterans schedule for Racine County, Wisconsin lists an Abel G Harding. According to the schedule, this Abel G. Harding served as a corporal in Company K 49^th Wisconsin Infantry. The schedule indicates an enlistment date of 9 Feb 1865 and a discharge date of 8 Mar 1865.

1895 Wisconsin State Census – Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin

Able G Harding was listed on the 1895 Wisconsin census in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin. His household contained 2 males and 4 females. Five members of the household were born in the United States and one was listed as being born in ‘all other countries’.

1900 U.S. Census – Fremont, Clark County, Wisconsin

Able V Harding was listed as the head of household on the 1900 census in Fremont, Clark County, Wisconsin. According to the census, Abel was born Aug 1869 in Wisconsin. Able’s father was born in Canada (Eng) and his mother was born in Maine. Able was listed as a farmer. Able and his wife had been married 5 years. Also listed in the household was his wife, Edith B., born April 1878 in New York; son, Chester A, born Nov 1895 in Wisconsin; son Able G, born Dec 1887 in Wisconsin; and son Jay F born March 1900 in Wisconsin. Edith was listed as the mother of 3 children all of whom were living.

1900 U.S. Census -Norden Township, Deuel County, South Dakota

Able Harding was listed on the 1900 census as a 66 year old head of household. According to the census, Able was born Apr 1834 in Canada (Eng). The census indicated that Abel migrated to the United States in 1855. According to the census, Abel was a farmer and rented his house. Also listed in the household was his wife, Nutty, born Sep 1946 in New York, daughter, Lola born Mar 1883 in South Dakota; son, Jmes, born June 1885 in South Dakota; daughter Marthe, borh Oct 1888 in South Dakota and widowed brother Henry, born Apr 1845 in Canada. Henry was listed as a farm laborer.

1906 Death / Burial – Find A Grave

According to Find a Grave, Abel Harding died 13 Nov 1906. He was buried in Redmens Cemetery, Port Townsend, Jefferson County, Washington.

1907 City Directory for Port Angeles, Washington

The 1907 city directory for Port Angeles, Washington listed Cynthia Harding, widow of Abel, living at 313 Scott. Other Hardings listed in the directory included Hattie Harding, maid John Iffland; James Harding, lab, b313 Scott; Marthat G Harding, mangler Pt Townsent Stm Lndy, b 313 Scott.

1909 City Directory for Port Angeles, Washington

The 1909 City Directory of Port Angeles, Washington lists Cynthia G Harding, widow of Abel, living at 210 ½ Harrison. Other Hardings listed at the same address include, housekeeper:  Etta; boarder, James E., a plumber; and boarder, Martha G who was a worker at Pt Townsend Stm Lndy.

1910 Census – Racine County, Wisonsin

The 1910 census for Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin shows Able G. Harding as the had of the household living at 1544 Phillum Avenue. According to the census record, Able was 76 years old and born in New Brunswick Can England. The census shows Able in his second marriage having been married 7 years. Able migrated to the U.S. in 1849. Able was listed as a retired contractor. Able owned his house and did not have a mortgage on it. Listed in the household was his wife Lena. Lena was 50 years old and had been born in Wisconsin. The census indicates that Lena’s marriage to Able was her second marriage and that they had been married 7 years. Lena was the mother of 2 living children. Also listed in the household was a step-daughter, Jeanette Cartstile, age 15. Jeaneatte was born in Wisconsin.

1920 U.S. Census – Ward 11, Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin

Abel G. Harding was listed as the head of household on the 1920 census in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin. Abel was an 8t year old widower. He immigrated to the United States in 1897 and was naturalized Mar 1909. Abel Harding was born in Canada and spoke English. Both of his parents were born in Canada and spoke English. Also listed in the household was his son in law, William Steven, aged 56 and born in Illinois; daughter, Clara, age 56 and born in Wisconson; and grandson, Gilford, aged 19 and born in Wisconsin.

1920 Find A Grave – Mound Cemetery, Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin

Abel G. Harding, memorial #140187390, is listed in block 11 of the Mound Cemetery, Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin. Abel’s death date is given as 17 Sep 1920. His birth date is listed as 27 Mar 1884. However, when the image of the tombstone is enlarged, it looks like the birth date could be 27 Mar 1834. Individuals attached to the memorial are his wife, Mary Gallien Harding (1839-1895), and children Guy G. Harding (unknown-1893), Sidney Harding (unknown-1890), Harry G, Harding (1866-1888) and William Able Harding (1872-1948)

1930 – Washington, Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960

The death record for Edna Harding Allen indicates she was born abt 1866 and died 16 Aug 1930 in Medical Lake, Spokane County, Washington. The record lists her father as Abel Harding. The record lists Synthia Edwards as her mother. [FHL film number 2022720, reference ID 366]

1947- Washington, Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960

The death record for James Earl Harding indicates he was born about 1885 and died 19 Nov 1947 in Renton, King County, Washington. The record lists his father as Abel Harding and his mother as Cynthia Edwards. Pearl is listed as the spouse of James Earl Harding. [FHL film # 2032616, reference ID 164170]

Ancestry Indexing Update

Earlier this month, Ancestry issued a statement about issues users were experiencing on the site. According to the statement, those issues included Ancestry search. They included an expected resolution date in their statement. That date is tomorrow, May 31, 2018.

Even though the statement did not speak to indexing of member trees, I was hoping that the public member trees would be indexed. I just used a free account to search public member trees for my great-grandfather, Judson Foster Crawford. I set the search parameters to search for an exact match. As usual, this search returns 24 public member trees. My tree, Heartland Genealogy, still isn’t showing up in the list of results.

I’ve called Ancestry multiple times on this issue. Each time, support has confirmed that public member trees were last indexed in October 2017. This is an ongoing issue! My blog post, “Ancestry Indexing Saga Continues” contains a lost of blog posts on the topic.

Ancestry, PLEASE index the public member trees!

Same or Different?

My great-grandmother was Winnie Mae Hutchinson (1871-1913), wife of Hiram Currey. Winnie died when my grandmother was 10 years old. With the loss of her mother at an early age, my grandmother lost connection with her mother’s family. My grandmother’s desire to learn more about her Hutchinson grandmother is what started my genealogical journey. Thus, I have been researching my grandmother’s grandparents, Albert and Julia (Harding) Hutchinson, their children and grandchildren for years in an attempt to learn about my grandmother’s aunts, uncles and cousins. Since Albert and Julia both died before my grandmother was born, her aunts, uncles and cousins would have been the only members of her mother’s Hutchinson family she could have possibly known.

Although my grandmother lost contact with her first cousins, DNA is allowing me to reconnect with some of those Hutchinson cousins. I have a couple of matches that Ancestry classifies as 3rd cousins. Shared matches hinted that these ‘3rd cousins’ are Hutchinson cousins. One of those matches did not have a tree but provided me with her parents’ names, Thomas and Jeanette Hutchinson. According to my DNA match, Thomas Hutchinson was born in Missouri in 1929.

In my research, I had a Thomas Hutchinson born in 1929. I had this Thomas as the son of Thomas G. Hutchinson and Minnie E Hanson. The primary source for this relationship was the 1940 census record for Thomas Hutchinson living in Ward 8, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri (sheet 19A)

Unfortunately, I did not have enough research to prove that the Thomas in my research was the same Thomas as my match’s parents. Since I shared enough DNA with my match to indicate that we could be 3rd cousins, I started trying to prove/disprove a relationship between the two Thomas Hutchinson’s.

One of the documents I located was an application for a marriage license in the Washington, Marriage Records, 1854-2013 for Guy T Hutchinson and Minnie E Hanson. The application was dated 23 Jan 1956. According to the application Guy Hutchinson was divorced and Minnie Hanson was single.

 

I also found the marriage license that was dated 1 Jun 1956. The marriage was witnessed by Rosalie Rankins and George A. Rankins. Since I have a Rosalie Hutchinson Rankins as the daughter of Thomas G. Hutchinson, it is possible that the Rosalie Rankins who witnessed the marriage was the daughter of Guy T. Hutchinson.

With Rosalie Rankins as the witness on the marriage license, I began to wonder whether the Thomas G. Hutchinson in the Missouri records was the same person as Guy T. Hutchinson in the Oregon/Washington records. Sine the 1940 census indicated that Thomas G. Hutchinson’s wife was named ‘Minnie’ I also began to wonder whether the Minnie of the 1940 census was the Minnie Hanson of the marriage license.

An obituary transcript for Mrs Minnie E Hutchinson from the 19 Dec 2000 issue of the Oregonian (courtesy of Genealogy Bank) supports the theory that the Minnie of the 1940 census is the same Minnie Hanson of the marriage record.

Mrs Minnie E Hutchinson, 90

Oregonian, The (Portland, OR) – Tuesday, December 19, 2000
A funeral will be at noon Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2000, in Bateman-Carroll Funeral Chapel in Gresham for Minnie E. Hutchinson, who died Dec. 15 at age 90.

Mrs. Hutchinson was born Aug. 12, 1910, in Kansas City, Mo. Her maiden name was Hanson. A homemaker, she moved to Gresham in 1946 and lived in Canby since 1963. She was a nurse’s aide for the Canby Nursing Home in the 1960s. In 1954, she married Guy T. Hutchinson; he died in 1962.

Survivors include her sons, Thomas, Ronald, Donald, James and Joseph; daughters, Mary N. Mitchell, Martha B. Belk and Rose V. Rankins; 36 grandchildren; 67 great-grandchildren; and 47 great-great-grandchildren.

Interment will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family suggests remembrances to Full Gospel Community Church in Milwaukie.

Oregonian, The (Portland, OR) – Tuesday, December 19, 2000

The names of the children in the obituary are similar to the names of the children in the 1940 census. The obituary identifies a daughter as Mary N. Mitchell who may be the Nadine Hutchinson in the 1940 census. Included in the obituary, but missing from the census was a son named Joseph.

Another document that supports the concept that the Minnie Hanson of the Washington marriage license had previously been married to a Hutchinson is the 1943 obituary of Minnie’s brother, James Hanson. This obituary includes Mrs. Minnie Hutchinson as a sister of James Hanson. (St. Joseph Union-Observer, 13 Aug 1943 – found on Newspapers.com)

At this point, I do not have enough evidence to prove that the Thomas G Hutchinson and wife Minnie of the 1940 Missouri census record are the same as the Guy T Hutchinson and Minnie Hanson. I do have verification from my DNA match that her grandparents were Thomas G (or Guy T) Hutchinson and Minnie Hanson.

My next step is to try and locate a Hutchinson-Hanson marriage record in Missouri (or Kansas). I also need to check for land records for Thomas G. Hutchinson in Buchanan County, Missouri. If Thomas Hutchinson owned land in St. Joseph, then the sale of that land might show that he moved to Oregon.

I will also continue researching the children of Thomas and Minnie. Hopefully, I will acquire a ‘preponderance of evidence’ to support my theory that Thomas G. Hutchinson and his wife Minnie are the same couple as Guy T Hutchinson and Minnie Hanson.

 

 

 

 

Ancestry Indexing Saga Continues

I just visited with Ancestry again about my tree not being indexed (for the 8th time). Support says that trees were last indexed on October 10, 2017 (over 6 months ago). Unfortunately, they could not give me an expected timeline for the indexing of trees.

For the back story on this issue, see the following blogs:

• Ancestry Tree Not Searchable – post on RootsMagic Forum – Oct 23, 2017
• Ancestry / RootsMagic Tree Not Searchable – Oct. 25, 2017
• Update: Tree Not Searchable – Oct. 26, 2017
• RootsMagic TreeShare, Ancestry Member Trees and Source Citations by Randy Seaver – Oct 31, 2017
• Ancestry Member Trees, Indexing Rules, Cousin Bait, Source Citations and Me by Randy Seaver – Dec 18, 2017
• When Did Ancestry.com Last Index Member Trees? by Randy Seaver – Jan. 17, 2018
• Please Index All Names in My Ancestry Member Tree – Mondays with Myrt (Dear Myrtle) – Feb 26, 2016
• Ancestry Indexing Update (Feb. 5, 2018)

Ancestry DNA – Compiled Family Trees

Michael John Neil had posted a photo on Facebook about the new DNA circle feature that he calls ‘compiled trees’. When I first read Michael’s post, I was reminded of Ancestry’s One World Tree project. Fortunately, there is a major difference between these two projects: DNA.  So, I decided to investigate and see what I could learn about these compiled trees and my research.

When I clicked on my Ozias Wells circle, there was a button to learn more about Ozias Wells.

Clicking on that button took me to what appeared to be a profile page for Ozias Wells. However, this profile page was not from my tree but compiled from 99 family trees.

Clicking on the ? reveals more information about the compiling of this tree data.

Unfortunately, the only link to further information that worked was the one, “How can I  use a compiled view to enhance my research?” Not being able to find out how the compiled view was created is particularly troubling to me since my Ozias Wells circle only has 6 family groups and 99 trees were compiled to create the compiled view. This brings back memories from 2004 and the One World Tree project. As I remember it, that project was an attempt to merge family trees into one big tree using the power of computers.

I was hoping that DNA matches would prevent the merging of people with the same name for these compiled views. Since 99 trees were compiled for Ozias Wells and I only have 6 family groups in my DNA circle, I am going to be very cautious when looking at these views.

After looking at a few of my circles and the associated compiled tree, I have to say, this feature has some merit. When I switch to the FACTS view of the compiled view, there is a button to toggle on/off comparison with my tree.

With comparison turned on, the compiled view will place a check mark next to sources I already have associated with the person in my tree. There is a green plus sign next to sources others have attached to this person.

On the surface, I like this feature! However, I will have to be cautious when using these suggested sources to make sure they are about this particular individual and not some other person of the same name.

Besides the uncertainty as to how this information was compiled, I have another issue with these views: a child can appear multiple times.

I have Thurston Kennedy Wells as the son of Ozias Wells. Others must agree since the compiled tree shows him as a son — but there are several of him. I found this duplication of the children to be true on several different compiled views. However, I did not click thru to the trees to try and determine any differences.

At this time, I think these compiled views have potential — particularly if the DNA data is a primary factor in the process.

However, I wish there were additional features to go with these compiled trees: a chromosome browser and the ability to message all of the members of a DNA circle as a group.