Hi Myra -
I just finished Tom's survey too and live in MI (Lake Orion, Oakland Co.).
I wish I had ancestors from your county because 100 years ago plus is what
I'm looking for. In Detroit, the main library has the Burton Collection
which has been most helpful to me as my grandfather came to MI in the 1870s.
He was 60 when my dad was born to his fourth wife and my dad was 55 when I
was born so there are a lot of years between just 3 generations and a lot of
blanks to fill in.
One thing you mentioned that peaked my interest and need to respond is that
my grandfather's third and fourth wives were sisters from Canada. Wife #3
is first seen in the 1880 census married to my grandfather and her younger
sister (my grandmother) was also living with them as well as some of his
children from his first two marriages. I will check the site you listed for
the Alpena library to see if there is any mention of them. I would have
expected them to come to MI via Windsor as they lived along Lake Erie.
Their father was born in NY but I believe married in Candad so he's been a
big mystery still. The Canadian Loyalist list would also be interesting as
I know one of my grandmother's uncles belonged (if that's the correct term?)
I have had great luck with the city directories. My dad was married before
he married my mom and the city directories showed separate listings for him
and his first wife which was a clue until I found their divorce papers. I
haven't had great luck at the Family History center near me. Then as I was
trying to find a patriot to join the DAR, I was told Mormons (because of
their polygamy) can't join the DAR thus those who work there aren't
interested in helping in that direction. Hmm.
Grace
----- Original Message -----
From: "Myra Herron" <woodseyowllover(a)yahoo.com>
To: <migen(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 10:41 AM
Subject: Re: [MIGEN] Help with academic research paper
I have filled out your survey, but wanted to also add more commentary that
it provided room for. I have found that libraries are a wonderful source of
data and information, and some little local libraries have been keeping
data, unbeknownst to them, for many, many years. Alpena Michigan's county
library in Alpena has obituaries that have been run for possibly 100 years
or maybe a little less. And they are very much 'into' providing resources
and information to genealogists these days. They have added a full force on
line contact method for getting data from them, and local genealogists have
generously donated their works to be put on line. If you wish to take a
look, they are at:
http://www.alpenalibrary.org/special/genealogy/genealogy.html
Sanilac county is another great source for people whose ancestors might have
come through Canada. They also have a great genealogical group, and library,
and are currently attempting to recreate an 1890 census of sorts, using all
possible local data to determine who might have been there in 1890, from
county land records, the 1880 and 1900 censuses, birth, marriage and death
records, etc.
The little genealogical societies are many times one of the largest
supporters of those of us who are attempting research in their areas. They
usually have already gone through all the cemeteries, listing the occupants,
with the data on their records and tombstones; and they usually have tried
to get and document church records, birth records, marriages, etc. Most
times, they will have these transcriptions printed and sell them to get
income to support other projects that are made to help researchers like me.
The huge libraries that are well known hold data from great, large areas.
The LDS library in Salt Lake City, Utah, holds data from the world, and will
send out copies of what they have (if available) to local Family History
Centers, which are located in just about every American town. There is now a
rental fee, but it's minimal, and the films and other pieces of data are
sent for a period of time, so the researchers will have access to much more
than usual.
As for myself, I've run into books in libraries that have held important
information for my research on my ancestors, and they are often in places
that I never thought would have data! I found, in Cheboygan, Michigan's tiny
library, a book about the Loyalists that had gone from the United States
during the Revolutionary War, to Canada, for refuge. The book had lists of
the Loyalists, and their entire families' names, which was invaluable to me.
I would imagine that many Michigan libraries would have a copy of that book,
since after the war, many of the descendants of those Loyalists moved back
into Michigan (from New York, then Canada), and lived there quietly. Mine
did.
I love on line work, since I can do it all from my desk. I love that many of
the gen societies are working with other sites that hold data for us. If you
google genealogy and Michigan, you may find a ton of sites that will be
available for you, just for Michigan information.
Just to give you a sample:
ancestry.com (pay site)
familysearch.org
rootsweb.com
myheritage.com
genealogy.com (pay site)
myfamily.com
findagrave.com
footnote.com (pay site)
onegreatfamily.com (pay site)
worldvitalrecords.com (pay site)
genealogytoday.com
ancestorhunt.com
accessgenealogy.com
ellisisland.org
cyndislist.com
interment.net
ungennet.org
geni.com
kindredkonnections.com (pay site)
and the list could go on for pages.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~migenweb/
shows you that within some sites listed above, are subsites for Michigan.
Rootsweb itself has the ability built in for people who register for its use
(free) to connect with each other via lists or boards as well. All the
counties in Michigan are included there. To start, go to:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ and select either mailing lists, or
message boards. That will show you one method used by us to ask each other
questions, or for help.
Genealogists have found that the web is an enormous tool for us to use to
connect around the entire world to find our data. MUCH more is available
that way, than in the old way, where we had to go to the original source. We
almost have to trust those who are transcribing our data for us, and yes, we
will quote their data, and use them as the source. Thankfully, many times,
some of the on line sources will also show us the original document, which
we can copy and save to our computers.
myra herron
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