52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Cemeteries

I'm behind in my Abundant Genealogy posts, so I'll be using this week to catch up...

Cemeteries: Genealogists understand the full value of cemeteries and appreciate them in ways most others can’t see. Share a cemetery or cemetery experience for which you are most thankful. What makes this place special? What does it mean to you and your family history?

Surprisingly, I’ve not really spent a lot of time in the cemeteries of my ancestors.  My local cemeteries don’t house anyone I know and I rarely get anywhere else.  But thanks to Find-a-Grave, I have seen the South Dakota cemetery of many of my ancestors and it has an odd draw to me.  I hope to visit in the next couple of years.

Midland Cemetery

Among those interned in the Midland Cemetery are my great, great grandparents, Anthony and Elizabeth Konst, their son Clemens and his wife Alice and my grandfather’s baby brother, Gerald.  There is also a mystery “James Howard Connor.”  My great grandfather’s brother was James Howard Conner.  But although he died in South Dakota, he’s buried in the Russell (Iowa) cemetery with his parents.  So who is this?  Something of a mystery...

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52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. If you do not have a genealogy blog, write down your thoughts on your computer, or simply record them on paper and keep them with your files.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 8 – Genealogy Libraries

Genealogy Libraries: Genealogy libraries (and dedicated departments in regular libraries) are true treasures in the family history community.  Tell us about your favorite genealogy library. What or who makes it special?

My favorite genealogy library is the California Genealogical Society’s library.   It’s a relatively small area packed with great books, periodicals, and people.  Over the summer, when the days are longer, I like to schedule time after work to just be in the library.  The atmosphere alone breeds excitement and enthusiasm.

One trip last summer had me talking to Jane.  Jane asked me about who I was researching and we chit chatted a bit.  She offhandedly said I should check the digital records on FamilySearch for the mortuary records for one person I was researching.  We did and found some interesting things, although nothing too new.  But wait, Jane said.  She disappeared and came back with a giant old dusty book.  GIANT old dusty volume of the IOOF cemetery records.  My guy was in there and we learned much from looking at those handwritten records.

But more than information, like I said, is the enthusiasm.  I haven’t yet been where I didn’t meet someone interesting or where I didn’t find a treasure of a book to take me off my research course! 

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52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. If you do not have a genealogy blog, write down your thoughts on your computer, or simply record them on paper and keep them with your files.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 7 – Historical Documents

Week 7 – Historical Documents: Which historical document in your possession are you happy to have? How did you acquire this item? What does it reveal about your ancestors?

I wrote about this just a few weeks ago.  *LOVE* this:   
Renouncing the Thrown

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52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. If you do not have a genealogy blog, write down your thoughts on your computer, or simply record them on paper and keep them with your files.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 6- Family Heirlooms

Week 6 – Family Heirlooms: For which family heirloom are you most thankful? How did you acquire this treasure and what does it mean to you and your family?

I’m not 100% sure this is an heirloom, since it’s only as old as me and broken, but I do treasure it.  When I was a little girl, my dad carved this wooden doll for me.  It got broken through the years (although her mod-‘60s hair has remained untouched), but I’ve always treasured her and she sits right here at my desk where I can see her.

Carved Doll (next to lipstick for scale)

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52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. If you do not have a genealogy blog, write down your thoughts on your computer, or simply record them on paper and keep them with your files.