Western Michigan Genealogical Society c/o Grand Rapids Public Library

Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3268 wmgs.org

News l e t t e r Spr i n g 2 0 0 8

WMGS meets the 1st Saturday of the month January through December (except July and August). Meetings will be held at the Grand Rapids Public Library – Main branch in the Ryerson Auditorium. Meetings begin at 1:30 p.m. A guest speaker follows the business meeting. Admission is free and everyone is welcome! You do not need to be a member to attend. Refreshments are served after the presentation. March 1st Meeting Who Says There Ain't No Indian Records? - Barbara Madison Great Aunt Mary says we have Indians in our family tree. Where should I look to find out if this is true? Anishinaabeg or Indian records are located in a variety of locations, almost always in an Archives or a Library. This Power Point presentation will discuss a few basic how-to's for starting your Native research. However, the emphasis of the presentation will focus on why Indian documents were created and how this knowledge can help you in your research endeavors. April 5th Meeting Family Health History – Mary Teachout, MAT In the world of genetic technology it is hard to keep pace with all the advances that occur on a daily basis. It’s even more difficult to decide what, if anything, will affect everyday life and

health care. This presentation will focus on a simple and inexpensive genomic tool – the family health history. Learn where Michigan stands, what is important to include and how to use this information to decrease your and your family’s risk of chronic disease such as heart disease or diabetes. May 3rd Meeting Michigan and Detroit Genealogical Resources in the Burton Historical Collection Detroit Public Library - Mark Bowden This presentation will highlight some of the unique Detroit and Michigan genealogical materials held at the Burton Historical Collection including state censuses; birth, marriage, and death records; city directories; yearbooks, church records; naturalization records, manuscripts, military records, and photographs. June 14th Meeting (2nd Saturday) To be announced…. Watch for the information on wmgs.org

Watch the WMGS website for Bus trip info! Exciting news about classes offered at the library in Ft.

Wayne.

"FOCUS ON A SOURCE"

Mini-Classes" Time: 12:45 to 1:15 p.m. Prior to the Regular Saturday Membership Meetings Grand Rapids Public Library Fourth Floor Conference Room March 1, 2008 – Michigan State Gazetteers, presented by Chris Byron April 5, 2008 – The Black Monument Records Database, presented by Marlene Fabbro May 3, 2008 – American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) presented by Shirley DeBoer, CG Beginner Classes!!!!!!! Saturday, March 15, 2008 1:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch 4th Floor in the VanderVeen Room: Learn how to organize your bits and pieces of family information and start your genealogical search. Review the helpful forms available to help you and get you started on your journey. – Instructor: Wanda Schottler Saturday, April 19, 2007 1:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch 4th Floor in the VanderVeen Room: This class will help you continue or resume your search for ancestors using the Internet as a tool. You will learn the basics of searching, using different web sites and what to do with the information you find. – Instructor: Denni Peterson.

A family tree can wither if nobody tends its roots.

WMGS Genealogical Writing Group The Writing Group holds supportive meetings for those genealogists who want to learn more about and exchange ideas on organizing and writing their own family history. Each meeting takes time to informally discuss questions relevant to each person's work, provide helpful, non-judgmental feedback on current writing projects, and have fun learning about each other and our research. Those who attend are encouraged to bring several copies of something they are currently working on, but it's certainly not a requirement and everyone is invited to participate in the discussion. Members include those who are just starting to write and others who have been working on their genealogy for some time. Everyone is welcome - newbies with fresh ideas, and seasoned vets whose pens have been in the trenches for some time. We also try to have a presentation to kick our creative juices into gear. Meetings are held eight months of the year with time off in December for the Holidays, and June, July and August so we can make those important genealogical trips to repositories, cemeteries, and the places our ancestors lived in the past. All meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you plan to attend, it is helpful but not required, to let Sister Michael Ellen Carling know you will be there. Call her at 616-643-0206 (home), or 616-643-0225 (office) and her email address is mecarling@grdominicans.org). This gives her an estimate of the number of chairs to set up. She's also the person to call if you have any questions or need more specific directions.

WMGS Book Sales: WMGS stocks quite a large number of new books and materials for your inspection. We feel that most people want to browse through genealogy books before they purchase. Valuable genealogy materials are difficult to find in the normal bookstores. Got ideas? Want to help? Let us know!

You’ve probably have heard of long distance learning. Well we have long distance volunteering available to those who wish to contribute some time to help the society. If you can type (even hunt and peck), have access to a computer we have just the place to put that helpfulness to work. Feel free to eMail us at wmgs@wmgs.org Speaking of Volunteering, we have the following position open: Volunteer Coordinator. Interested parties should call Mindy Koole at 616-691-7986.

Have you ever thought of reading marriage records in a time period? As genealogists we usually search an index using a surname and one or more given names, or find a marriage record online. Of Michigan’s eighty-three counties, marriage records for seventy-four were filmed in the 1970’s and the film rolls are on indefinite loan at the Family History Library in Grand Rapids. Marriages begin in 1867 and go to a few years before 1920. Next time you are in a courthouse or using the microfilm, here is an idea. Go to the section where you find a marriage of interest; then simply read the pages for a few months before and after the record. Check for marriages on the same day or in the same township, and watch for misspelled names. A female’s maiden name or a place of someone’s birth may alert you. Ministers, witnesses and remarriages may also be useful. You may not know what you are looking for, but you will recognize it when you see it! On the other hand, if nothing of importance surfaces, you will have made a diligent search – and “brick walls” do take thoroughness. Shirley M. DeBoer CG

Check out these Websites! Commoncorners.com

Part of WMGS it serves as a common place for any society in the counties surrounding Kent County to have a web presence.

DearMyrtle.com It’s the 12th year anniversary for Dear Myrtle. It has lessons, podcasts, and more.

Ghost Counties: Your guide to America’s, Dead Forgotten Counties

http://barusa.tripod.com/ghostcounties/ w w w.thatsmyfamily.info - Lots and lots of Canadian records online and promises more. It is especially nice if you do not know "where" in Canada since you can search all the provinces for someone. You can print actual copies of some of the records from the website. Newsletter Editor can be reached at newsletter@wmgs.org

Marlene Fabbro has kindly offered to do lookups from The Last Reunion of the Blue and Gray 1938. Send inquiries to: mfabbro@att.yahoo.com

Muskegon County Genealogy Society meets the 2nd Thursday of the month. www.rootsweb.com/~mimcgs/ Ionia County Genealogy Society meets the 2nd Saturday of the month. www.rootsweb.com/~miionia/ICGS/icgshome.htm

Western Michigan Genealogical Society’s

Bus Trip to Ft. Wayne’s Allen County Public Library

--- Note: – Staying at Motel6 --- Tuesday – Wednesday, April 22-23, 2008

$88 = Single, $73 = Double, $67 = Triple, $64 = Quad

Transportation by Great Lakes Motor Coach No smoking on coach. Day #1 7:00 AM Leave Target on Alpine NW (North of I-96) Apr 22nd 7:30 AM Leave Meijers (next to I96 and 28th St near the “K” marker) Tuesday 8:15 AM Leave Ionia and I-96 (behind Corner’s Landing Restaurant)

9:30 ish Refreshment Stop (donuts & juice at highway rest stop) 10:30 AM Arrive Allen County Public Library (260) 421-1200 9:00 PM Bus transfer to Motel6 (260) 482-3972

Day #2 7:00 AM Wakeup Call – Walk across parking lot to restaurant for breakfast Apr 23rd 8:30-8:40 AM Luggage loading and transportation to library Wednesday 6:00 PM Depart from Allen County Public Library

6:30 PM Stop for quick meal near Auburn, Indiana 10:00 PM Arrive at Ionia drop-off area 10:15 PM Arrive at Meijers I-96 drop off area 10:40 PM Arrive at Target on Alpine

Trip includes: roundtrip motor coach transportation, lodging at Motel6 at 3003 Coliseum Blvd. West, and library transfer. Breakfast is NOT included – Liberty Diner (¢) is across parking lot –or McDonald’s the across the street. (Allen County Library also has a nice café). *The motel does not have an elevator. Please indicate floor requirement. *Cancellations will receive a refund with replacement only. * WMGS member? GREAT NEWS. You will receive a coupon worth $5 towards next year’s membership or towards any purchase at the WMGS sales table. * We need 38 bus riders to make this trip a reality. A $15 deposit guarantees your place on the bus until the bus is full. Please send your deposit or at least an email by March 21st, as Motel6 may not allow us to add rooms after March 21st. Balance must be paid by our April regular meeting. Make checks payable to WMGS. *Please contact Sue Irvine with questions. 616-889-0042 or sjirv@yahoo.com Send registration to Sue Irvine, 4215 Northgate NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49525 –

$88 = Single, $73 = Double, $67 = Triple, $64 = Quad - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ft. Wayne Trip Tues – Wed April 22-23, 2008 Room type: Smoking ___ Non-smoking ____ Is 1st floor a requirement? Yes___ No ____ NAME:__________________________________ Phone# (_____)________________________ ADDRESS: _______________________ City,State,Zip_________________________________ Pickup Point: Circle one: Target Meijer Ionia Roommates: ___________________ Confirmation and other trip information will be confirmed by email: _____________________

2007-2008 WMGS Officers

President

Mindy Koole Koole2@comcast.net

606-691-7986

Vice-President Marcia Shears

U08554@hotmail.com 616-458-1221

Treasurer

Marlene Fabbro Mfabbro@sbcglogal.net

Recording Secretary Janet Jensen

JanetJ6990@aol.com 616-874-8035

Corresponding Secretary

Lucy Read LRead49503@aol.com

616-458-9117

Michigana Editor Bobbi Schriado

schirado@iserv.net 616-887-3977

The Western Michigan Genealogical Society is dedicated to gaining knowledge, preserving records and teaching others about genealogy and family history. Membership: An annual membership to WMGS is $20 and begins on January 1st of each year. Membership benefits include: 10% discount on all items at the Sales Table, four issues of Michigana per year, free queries in Michigana and leadership opportunities. Memberships to the Western Michigan Genealogical Society advantages also include a use of the private files of the Society and publication of Member’s genealogy online at trees.wmgs.org. Change of Address: (Temporary or Permanent) If you will be moving to a new address permanently, or going on an extended vacation, please notify WMGS before the address change occurs. Be sure to include the date, your address will change or the dates when you will leave and plan to return. You may email the Society at: Membership@wmgs.org or write to: WMGS-Membership, Western Michigan Genealogical Society, 111 Library St., N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3268

THE ELUSIVE ANCESTOR I went searching for an ancestor, I cannot find him still. He moved from place to place, And did not leave a will. He married where a courthouse burned, He mended all his fences. He avoided any man who came, To take the U. S. census. He always kept his luggage packed, This man who had no fame. And every twenty years or so, The rascal changed his name. His parents came from Europe, They should be upon some list, Of passengers to the USA, But somehow they got missed And no one in the world, Is searching for this man So, I play genea-solitaire, To find him if I can. I’m told he’s buried in a plot, With tombstone he was blessed. But the weather took engraving, And some vandal took the rest. He died before the county clerks, Decided to keep records, No family Bible has emerged, In spite of all my efforts. To top it off this ancestor, Who caused me many groans, Just to give me one more pain, Betrothed a girl named Jones!