Society Saturday- Heritage Happenings

 Join our local conglomeration of genealogy societies for the Tri Valley Heritage Happenings during the month of October!  There will be genealogy helpers at the libraries on the following dates:

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Danville, California Public Library- 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Dublin, California Public Library- 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Livermore, California Public Library- 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Dublin, California Public Library- 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Pleasanton, California Public Library- 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Pleasanton, California Public Library- 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Livermore, California Public Library- 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Dublin, California Public Library- 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Dublin, California Public Library- 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Family Recipe Friday Tuna and Mandarin Orange Soufflé with Red Onion Slices

My “Aunt” Vera (she wasn’t really an aunt, but more like a family fixture) used to make the most delicious foods.  She’d cook for days and hours and plan for weeks and years and make the best food ever. 

Except I seriously can’t believe that the recipe my dad asked me to find for him was her “Tuna, Red Onion, and Orange Salad.”  He said that he used to love it.  Since I hate seafood, I am not a big fan of even the IDEA of this salad, but I went ahead and asked Mom if she remembered it. 

Mom said, “The only tuna thing I remember Vera making was a tuna soufflé that had mandarin orange slices in it.”  Oh dear lord.  If that doesn’t even sound grosser, I don’t know what would.

Thankfully, she didn’t have the recipe so I don’t have to type it here for you.

You’re welcome.

Thankful Thursday- Penny

When my dad told me that he was ceasing medical intervention and that he’d be passing away soon, I had to find a way to talk to him without crying when I went to visit.  The way that worked for me was to give him a job when he got there.  I told him that our Civil War grandfather’s parents were not to be found on this realm and so if I someday found the names of his parents, I would know they came from him and that he’s okay.  That was Sunday.

On Monday, I got our Civil War grandfather’s death certificate in the mail listing his parent’s names.  This alone was creepy, as I ordered it a VERY long time ago and was told it couldn’t be located.  After I stopped shaking, I decided it was Grampa Price telling me that of course Dad would be okay when he got there.  Don’t be stupid, third great granddaughter.

I called Dad to tell him and Dad said he’d find something else to send me.  That was on Monday night.  Dad passed away at 2:30 on Thursday morning.  At 6:00 on Thursday morning, I got an email from a fellow genealogist, named Penny.  Penny was researching her best friend’s family history and came across some of my postings with the same family, generations back.  She then offered to look through the film she had from the FHC of both places that my ancestors were from for MY line (not her friend’s line). 

On Friday in the mail I received a huge packet of actual scans of the German church records.  Thankfully, she is super smart and super wonderful and even transcribed the important parts for me.

I can’t say this is Dad’s doing for sure, as then it takes away Penny’s contribution, but I wonder if Dad helped find Penny for me?  Regardless, all I can really say for sure with absolute certainty is that Penny is a wonderful gem in my genealogy world and has brought some great joy and smiles to me in a very difficult time.

Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society (L-AGS) Board Meeting

Last night was the board meeting for L-AGS.  I missed the last meeting due to Dad’s passing, but I always enjoy the meetings.  I’m not on the board, but I write the eBulletin each month and I get good ideas from the Board. 

 

They amaze me in what they accomplish each month in helping others.  These wonderful people spend more than full time jobs helping other people with their research.  For free.  They are each very inspiring to me.

Tonight’s meeting focused on some of the programs our club has or is in the process of sponsoring.  One is the Ask Granny they recently did with a local retirement community.  There were 18 residents who came and sat three to a table with one docent. It was all paper and pen and they filled out charts and forms based on what they knew or remembered.  It was very well received and they are looking to do this again in other arenas.

Another is the October Heritage Happenings at all of our local libraries.  They have greeters, guides and facilitators who help community members with their genealogy.  There are quite a few people volunteering and I hope our times at the library will be filled up with people wanting to learn more about their family history.

Travel Tuesday: State Study- Georgia and New Jersey

Each week the kids study two States for homeschool.  Their studies include the State abbreviation, capital, motto, nickname, flower, bird, song, flag and something interesting.  This week, I decided to do my own State study and do a list of people in my genealogy database from the States the kids are studying.  They’ve already done a few, so I’ll jump in on this week and catch up later. 

This week’s States are:  Georgia and New Jersey

Georgia- ZIMMERMAN

Only one event in Georgia and that is the marriage of my undocumented 4^th great uncle, Philip Zimmerman, and his wife. I haven’t worked on my Zimmerman line, so this is taken from the work of a cousin.  Not sure Phil is even mine, but he’s my only Georgia person, so I’ll list him here.  I have no idea what part of GA they married, but here is who he was to me:

Philip Zimmerman was the son of Barnard Zimmerman, my (apparent) 5^th great grandfather.  Another of Barnard’s (apparent) sons was John B. Zimmerman.  John B. Zimmerman married Cynthia Kincaid and their daughter, Mariah E. Zimmerman married Francis Doty.  The John B/Kincaid/Mariah/Francis part I have documentation on.  It’s John B’s parents that I’m not sure about.

New Jersey- DOTY, HULL, HULSE, STONAKER

In NJ I had better luck with family.  My DOTYs where here for a bit with Samuel, son of Edward from the Mayflower coming to Piscataway, NJ from Plymouth.  He was married and died there in Piscataway. His son, Samuel, was also born and died in Piscataway, as was his wife, Elizabeth Hull.  Samuel and Elizabeth had a son named John, also born and died in Piscataway.  From there my line gets sketchy, so I’ll just leave it with this.

My HULSE family (some listed above with Georgia information) begins with Benjamin Hulsaert who was born in the Netherlands and died in Monmouth County, NJ.  His children were in Monmouth County for three generations before my Anthony Hulse moved to Ohio, and then his son and grandson to California much later.

The STONAKER family isn’t entirely mine, as Hal Stonaker was my step-grandfather.  However, I adored him, so his parents are in my family tree.  They were Ansel Dye Stonaker and Ethyl Marlott and both were born and married in NJ.

Happy Birthday, Signa!

Dear Signa,

Today you turn one decade old.  I think back to my tenth birthday and think of my family.  When I was ten we lived in Platina in the middle of nowhere and so my birthday was with just a few friends and my family.  Just as your tenth birthday will feature just your family and dinner at Hana Japan(a).

I hope when you are 45 years old and you remember your tenth birthday that you remember me and Daddy and Will and how much we love you.  You are a wonderful little girl with beauty and brains.  You never cease to amaze everyone around you with how much you smile and how much you love. 

I was a Daddy’s girl when I was little (even big!) and you are the same exact way.  You are just like Daddy and you two do everything together.  You would think that I would get jealous, but I don’t even a little as I love your Daddy even more than you do and so I totally understand.  Plus, it is  a really beautiful thing to watch and remember being that same way with my dad.

You are doing so well with your school work and are really working hard at everything you do: karate, swimming, guitar, art.  I love watching how much you love each of your classes and projects.  4-H starts this week and you are the Sergeant at Arms this year.  I can’t wait to hear you yell at everyone to shush!

I don’t know what age ten will bring for you, Bunches of Oats, but whatever it is, I will do everything I can to make sure it is a wonderful year for you.  Everything except move your brother out of the state.

I love you.

-Momma

Daddy's Girl- Google in Peace, Dad.

There is an unofficial contest about who the term “Daddy’s Girl” was invented for. It’s a very close race between my daughter and her daddy and me and mine. I always followed and emulated and admired my dad more than any words in any story will ever relay. He taught me to love the thrill of learning, the wonder of a library, and the love of lists and piles. He taught me that it is better to know a little bit about a lot than a lot about a little bit. He taught me what it’s like to be special in someone’s eyes and the true meaning of unconditional love. He amazed me and the funny thing is that I know he was equally amazed by me.

Sometimes to tell a story, you have to start at the end before you can get to the middle and beginning. The story of my dad is one such story. In addition to having post-polio syndrome affecting his walking, and nerve damage affecting his hand movement, Dad’s been on kidney dialysis for over seven years. When he developed another heart issue just a couple of weeks ago, he decided that he was done with all the medical intervention. He contacted hospice and learned how it would likely go. He was at complete peace with his decision and gathered everyone around his heart for his last days. He looked and felt great, right up until leaving us quickly a mere week later. He let that wonderful heart of his spare him and us the sadness of watching him sleep a slow sleep on his way to the Otherside.

Our final phone conversation just hours before his passing will be my treasure for always. He asked me when I was coming back and I said that I’d be there on Saturday. I planned to stay through to the end, so I told him he’d be stuck with me for awhile.

“Well, Shorty, I figure there is no one better to be stuck with.” And we signed off for the last time.

I’ve no real regrets with Dad. Of course I wish we had more time- time to ask more questions, time to show him the family history book I wrote that is at the printer as I type, time for him to hold me one more time and to be called Shorty one more time. But he knew I loved him and I knew he loved me. And in the end, that’s all that really matters.

Dad, the last few years, you have had a blast walking the world through Google Earth. Here’s hoping you’re now exploring and prancing around in Google Otherside^TM . Oh, and I just decided that I win the Daddy’s Girl contest. Sorry, Signa. Trophy’s mine.

The next book I write will be the story of my dad, Harry the Hat. The story of his childhood, his adventures, and maybe I’ll even tell you about snow mazes, garden planting, fire starting and phosphorescent fishing. But for now, I’ll leave you with the end.

From the Medford Mail Tribune, Sunday, September 2, 2012, page 2B

Harry James Conner

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the loss of Harry James Conner on August 30, 2012. Also known as ‘Harry the Hat’, Harry and his wife Molly Morris Conner have resided in Oregon since 1995. Born April 14, 1943 in Booneville, Indiana, to Pierre William Conner and Signa Viola Felt Conner, they moved to California when he was still a baby.

Until moving to Oregon, Harry lived and worked in the Palo Alto area of California. He went to Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, California and then joined the Navy. After discharge, Harry met Marilyn Badgley and she soon became his wife. They had two children, Deborah and Todd. They divorced in 1985 and Harry met Molly Morris, bringing yet another beautiful, wonderful woman into the Conner family.

Harry is survived by his wife, Molly, his children, Deborah and Todd, five grandchildren, Austin Billy Conner, Signa Maxine Mascot, William Philip Mascot, Colman James Conner and Riley Thomas Conner. He is also survived by his father, Pierre Conner, and siblings, Karen Conner, Rickey Conner, Leslie Spencer and Susan Nance, and a host of other family and friends who were important to Harry throughout his lifetime. Memorial services are pending.