I was doing a little research for Jim’s cousin Teresa this week for her Sechrest family branch.  Teresa was previously married to Ed Sechrest and she is currently trying to fill in the blanks in her family tree for her son and his family.  The information she emailed to me said that she was looking for John Louis Sechrest, and it took a little sleuthing, but I finally found the marriage license listed under “Touis” (Louis) Secrest on Ancestry.

Truthfully, I get a little frustrated with the census transcribers when they make (it seems to me) blatant mistakes like that.  That’s a whole other subject to be discussed later though.

Please click on the above image until it is full-sized.

I was able to share the image with Teresa and her in-law Etta Mae, which was a great surprise to both of them. Etta Mae had never seen the record and she was very happy to now have it.

Next, Check The 1920 Census

In looking a little further at records on Ancestry, I found Ruth Williams in the 1920 Federal census in Eminence, Shannon, Missouri. View Census Records Online at Ancestry.com! Surprisingly, she was living with her siblings (Eunice and Bacel Williams) in the Thomas E. Bowman household with her mother Mattie.  Also in the household was Finnus Bowman, age 3 and 6/12.  If I was going to look a little further into this family, I would look for a marriage record for Mattie Sechrest to Thomas Bowman in approximately 1917 or perhaps, the year before.

Where To Look Next

There are a lot of clues in just this little bit of information from the marriage record and census, aren’t there?

• Before I go any further, I will go back to the marriage license where it says that Louis was from Turtle, MO.  I know from the 1920 census that Ruth was living near Eminence, MO, so I should look for Louis (or John Louis) in that same 1920 census geographical area.  I like to go with what’s logical and if I don’t find the person, then I move out on the map.
• I’ll check USGenWeb Missouri for Iron and Shannon Counties to see what they might have on their sites for records.
• Then, it’s on to the 1930 census to see what new information crops up!

Click Here!

• iPentimento Memorial Day Remembrance 2008 We remember those who have...
• 2010 Census: Keep A Copy For Your Descendants 1930 Yates family, Bordeaux, WAHave...

1930 Yates family, Bordeaux, WA

Have you filled out your 2010 census and sent it back yet? If not, make sure you do, and be sure to make a copy for your records so your descendants can find it 72 years from now!  Granted, there’s not a lot of information they ask for in this census, but it’s still important to keep a copy of it.

Quick tip: I’m pretty sure it’s OK to add additional information where you can on the census you keep.  A little additional ‘gift’ for your descendants.

Click Here!

• The Carstairs Family Dirt I suppose you're thinking that...
• 50 Interview Questions for Family Biographies I don't even have to...

Sometimes, you get a transcribed record for a census and you wonder how the transcriber came up with a completely different name than what it actually was.

For example, I have a transcribed census record with my ancestor’s surname spelled Aytes instead of Yates. It might look like a transposed letter error, but then I found an actual census image today that might present another reason for a transcription error: it wasn’t one.

Look at that loop in the Y , but the name in the 1840 census record where I found this lists him (correctly) as David Yates. Can you see how this could be misinterpreted by a transcriber though?  Heck, they could have thought it said “Gates” too.

None of this is a slam against transcribers or anything.  Genealogists owe them much gratitude for the hard work they’ve done. This just points out (again) the need to used every imaginable spelling combination to find your ancestors.

What’s your most memorable “name” story?

Click Here!

• Eva Holmes Miller - Article Transcription The xerox copied pages with...
• Directory List And Print - Freeware A Genealogist Will Appreciate I have just finished printing...