Not for the Stalkers

I went through the catalog for the classes offered at the Northern California Family History Expo and have made my initial choices.  These choices usually change, but I thought I’d share where I plan to be (for any psychotic stalkers, I will not *really* be in those rooms at those times; posting THAT on the internet would be so stupid and I’d never be that dumb…).

What’s New in RootsMagic-

At the Jamboree last month, I bought a copy of RootsMagic.  I hear such good things about it and really wanted another program to put GOOD CLEAN data on (as opposed to my BAD DIRTY Family Tree Maker data). I like Family Tree Maker, as it’s all I’ve ever known, but I noticed that a lot of other people use more than one program.  That said, I still haven’t installed or used my copy.  A class may be just the thing I need to get excited enough about it to remember to put the disk in.

I LOVE Libraries-

I want to take this class as I really do LOVE LIBRARIES.    I want to learn more about what I can find there and what to ask for.

What’s in Your Family History Toolbox -

I really enjoy Paul Larsen’s book, Crash Course in Family History, and I know this is a new item he has for sale.  I forgot to go back for it at Jamboree and so I’ll take this class and pick it up at this Expo.

Beyond Names and Dates: Building Your Ancestor’s Profile-

I’m taking this class purely for the presenter, Angela Kraft.  She is a friend of MyHeritageHappens and I met her at Jamboree.  She’s speaking at our local genealogical society meeting next month and so I want to hear it first!  Also, the topic of finding more than names and dates is close to my heart.

Genealogy on the Go-

Since I’m mostly doing my Genealogy on the Go, I thought this seemed like an apt class for me.  I rarely have time at home in front of my computer so learning other ways to keep what I need with me will be fantastic.

Genealogy Education on the Internet: The National Institute for Genealogical Studies-

Education is always a passion and I’d like to learn more about classes that are available.  Since Jamboree and the Expo are only annual events, it would be great to find more to fill in during the rest of the year!

DIY Family History Book Design-

Biff and Nancy Barnes are two of my very favorite speakers.  I really have already designed my book and am writing it in that format, but I can’t go to a place where they speak and NOT catch a class of theirs.  Perhaps they can give me inspiration for my NEXT book…

Irish Research Online and Offline-

We just recently found some details on our Irish line, so this will be my first experience with Irish research.  All I knew from before is that YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE COUNTY, so I had ignored everything after that.  Now I have the county… so I need to go back and un-ignore what I heard before.

The Sky is Blue

Today I was looking into where my third great grandfather, Miles Price, was in the Civil War.  I have his pension file, but I wanted to know where he was and what he saw during his time in the war, so I’d ordered his service records and was analyzing them.  There wasn’t much to it, except for a few notes here and there, but piecing it together using regiment histories and the magic of Google, I found some really neat things. 

I am fascinated by the battles that he was likely in and the road he traveled, but also by the pride I am finding in myself for him.  Before this, I would say, “My 3^rd great grandfather was in the Civil War” but it was a bit empty.  It’s much like saying that the sky is blue, but once you start learning about the atmosphere and space and come to learn HOW the sky is blue, you say, “The sky is blue,” in a whole different way.

My 3^rd great grandfather was in the Civil War.  Lincoln made an initial call for volunteers on April 14, 1861 for 75,000 men under a ninety day term of service.  On May 3, 1861 the call was for 45,000 for three year enlistments.  Miles enlisted on May 9, 1861 for a three-year term.  I mapped his locations in the war and logged them here:

My 3rg great grandfather was in the 16^th Illinois Infantry, before going to the Pioneer Corps.  He was camped at Edgefield, TN for awhile and likely during this time, this drawing was made.  His likeness may be among these men.

http://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/maps/id/41/rec/20

My 3^rd great grandfather was transferred from the 16^th Illinois Infantry to the Pioneer Corps.  As Philip Shiman, a Civil War author noted, “The regimental colonels detached their best, most talented men, in the expectation that they could use their pioneers as they saw fit.  It should be considered to be quite a compliment to your great grandfather that he should have been selected for the Pioneer Brigade.  It meant that his colonel thought highly of him.”  At the end of the Pioneer Brigade’s time, they were offered to reenlist to the Veteran Volunteer Engineers for the Army of the Cumberland and offered the pay grade that the Engineer Corps received.  They spent the last year of the war around Chattanooga, TN constructing forts, building reserve magazines, implementing waterworks and hauling and rafting lumber.

My 3^rd great grandfather named his son Charles Sumner Price.  For years I was looking for a Sumner in the family line, and it may still be there, but it MAY be that my grandfather admired Charles Sumner.  As I was learning all about the Civil War, I came across his name.  Charles Sumner was a politician and a huge antislavery advocate.  He was a leader of the Radical Republicans in the US Senate and wanted the ex-Confederates to be punished and all men to be treated entirely equally.  He was more radically fair than Lincoln, opposing him for wanting only 2/3^rd vote to the African Americans.  I’m hoping I don’t find a Sumner in my tree and that my 3^rd great grandfather admired Charles Sumner back when he likely wasn’t a popular man to admire.

My 3^rd great grandfather likely knew the sound of a real Rebel Yell.  In the 1930s there were two recordings made by former Confederate soldiers.  You can find these on YouTube and on the internet, but I imagine that hearing that cry coming from hundreds, even thousands of soldiers coming at you would eventually lead you to the anti-Pavlovian response, striking your guts to shivering at just the sound.  Did Grandpa have that feeling when he heard it?  Did he have nightmares about it?

My 3rd great grandfather fought in the Battle of New Madrid, Siege of Corinth, Battle of Chattanooga, the Battle of Chickamauga, Battle of Stones River, and the Tullahoma Campaign.  So many experiences and I’m sure not all were bad, but it’s hard to imagine otherwise.

Thank you, Miles Price, for making me take wonder at the blue sky and the Civil War.

Northern California Family History Expo

I love the Family History Expos.  This will be my third year in attendance and a very special one, because...

I'm a Blogger of Honor!  

Not sure what that means, but I see my name and picture right alongside these people and can't believe it.  I'm sure it's a mistake but until they realize it and remove me, please join me and these Genealogy Rock Stars in Sacramento, California.

Sheri Fenley, The Educated Genealogist

Nancy Loe, MA, MLS, Sassy Jane Genealogy

Leah Allen, Leah's Family Tree

Kim von Aspern-Parker, Le Maison Duchamp

James L. Tanner,  Genealogy's Star

Arlene H. Eakle, Ph.D., Genealogy Evidence

  

Join me at the Northern California Family History Expo in Sacramento, California on July 6 and July 7.  Details are here:  https://www.familyhistoryexpos.com/viewevent.aspx?eid=55&past=0#edesc

My Genealogy Toolbox

I decided to put my bookmarks and notes all in one Word document with links so that I could easily update it. I posted it to my public folder on Dropbox so that I could have it anywhere and update it anywhere. I also put my research log there- for the same reason.

I've been doing things more and more on my iPad and so it will be nice to have this access there.

Dropbox Public Folder