Genealogy Goulash
Clues in Obituaries: Research Steps
by Paula Stuart-Warren, CG

Since each of us has a unique brain, we don't understand or process information in the same way. One person needs detailed, written instructions, another needs visual examples, and yet another reads through a record and a research plan immediately evolves. Most of us know the importance of checking obituaries, death notices, or funeral stories for research clues. What if you are a fledgling genealogist and don't immediately relate to this step?

Our Target Obituary
Compiling a research plan is today's topic. Interpreting and research planning from a familiar family obituary hardly seemed fair. Ancestry.com provided me with exactly what was needed. I have no connection to this family, but I wish I did.

This sample record is from The Decatur Daily Republican [Illinois] August 5, 1885.

Death of John Carder
During the past ten weeks the well-known farmer, John Carder, has been confined to his home, three miles west of Decatur by illness . . . This morning at 7:30 o'clock he died, leaving a widow, one daughter, and two step-children. The deceased was a brother of the late J. C. Carder, and a half brother of J. R. and J. W. Race . . . His age was 53 years . . . The funeral . . . Rev. Gay, of Harristown officiating.

Our Aim
Imagine that you found this in great-grandma's scrapbook. Who are these people and how are they related? What research steps evolve from this notice? Before you read further, jot down some of the research steps that immediately come to mind. Even if you knew the connection, many of the research steps would still apply.

Interpreting This Notice
Who are the wife and children? The research steps below are based on my first reading. Some steps can be done online, others need to be done in person, and a few could mean hiring someone to assist in the search.

• Look at a map to determine where Decatur is in Illinois and in what county.
• Check for the Carder surname in online databases for others working on this family. Do some of the research steps before contacting this person so you can communicate more effectively.
• Check the 1880 census at Ancestry.com or at a library holding the microfilm version. Based on the "well-known" comment he is likely to have been a long-time resident. Earlier censuses will also need to be checked.
• Check censuses for the brother and half-brothers to obtain the full names and more details on them.
• Check for publications or a website that list Illinois newspaper holdings. Is there another newspaper in Decatur at that time? Possibly a notice in that one may give the names of the wife and children. It might be beneficial to read Decatur newspapers for local news tidbits that may mention the family or his illness during the ten weeks he was confined to his home.
• Check for records of both his marriages. Try to find the current wife's first marriage. (This would be especially important if you were connected via that marriage.) I know that some Illinois marriage records have great family detail.
• Check for cemetery information in publications or online. Decatur was not the smallest of towns so the possible cemetery may have to be narrowed down. Check for John and all the other people listed in the notice.
• Figure out the church served by Reverend Gay and check for marriage, burial, christening records for the names. A county history or a newspaper might be a good start--or are there city directories for Decatur in that time period?
• Based on John's death age, he would have been of an age for Civil War service. Start with the possibility of Union Service. Request the complete service and pension records from the National Archives. Census records will help determine if he lived in the South or North at that time.
• Check for a Macon County probate record for John, his late brother, and for any Races and Carders.
• Check for these names in a Macon County history and check for published Carder family histories.
• Once given names of his siblings are determined, check for them in all these records.
• Is there a historical society or genealogical society in Decatur that has family or vertical files, or cemetery indexes listing any of these people? Later read the back issues of their publications for other possible details.
• Is there an online discussion list for the Carder or Race surnames? Post a query and search for queries from other researchers.
  

The Research
Next I did some quick online searches for the Carder name in Decatur city and Macon County. Here is what I found:

• The 1880 census did not show a John Carder in Decatur or the county. I did some creative searching and found John and Nancy Carden with daughters Fannie, Carrie E., and Josie E.
• 1870 produced a Melvina Carder with five children, but not a John. Doing a search for just the surname Carder in Macon County with a keyword of Decatur produced a James C. Carder. (J.C. Carder?). Need to rule all of these in or out.
• At Ancestry.com, other newspaper possibilities for John Carder popped up. One was in 1888 and talked about Mrs. John Carder (no given name for her). In 1893 another newspaper mentioned a Miss Josephine Carder. (Josie E.?)
• The Decatur Daily Republican of 30 October 1878 told of a wedding at the country residence of Mrs. John Carder, a sister of the bride. The story listed people who attended the wedding. More folks to research.
• OneWorldTree gave me info on a Nancy Park who married a Charles Knapp, and on 15 December 1879, in Macon County, married John Carder. She had a daughter named Josie by John.
• Online searching for James C. Carder in Macon County yielded several details, including that he was born in Ohio.
• The USGenWeb for Macon County includes an index for an 1880 History of Macon County, Illinois.
  • Carder, John, Decatur, Sec. 8, Farmer & Stock Raiser, Frank. Co. OH, 1863
  • Park, Nancy J., Decatur, Sec 8, Wife of John Carder, Morgan Co, 1867
• John was born in Franklin County, Ohio, came to Macon County in 1863 and Nancy was born in Morgan Co. Illinois, came to Macon County in 1863. Using a search engine I typed Carder Macon County and was linked to a site for Sangamon County, Illinois with a biography of John Park, whose daughter Nancy married Charles Knapp and, after his death, John Carder. They had one child, Josie E. This Park entry has wonderful geographic references such as County Antrim, Ireland and a maiden name of Mayben for Park's wife. So many clues! What happened to the first spouse of John? Did she die, was there a divorce?
• The Family History Library Catalog lists many items for Macon County and also family histories related to the name Carder.
  

The Next Steps
Because our minds work differently, some of you probably came up with other first steps. You'll just have to add to the research plan as you check the above sources and the many more possibilities. Not all families will have so many quick links, but these steps relate to research planning on other families.

"Almost" Final Words
You may have read the exciting announcement about the new Ancestry Weekly Journal and the 24-7 Family History Circle forum online.
As the transition nears, this is my last column in Ancestry Daily News. You can read my columns from the last 2 1/2 years in the Ancestry.com Library.

BUT, you don't get rid of me or the wonderful help we have all received from others in this electronic newsletter--watch for us in these new formats.

About the Author
Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, is a professional genealogist, consultant, writer, and lecturer. She has lectured all across the U.S. and coordinates the Intermediate Course, American Records & Research at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. She is co-author of Your Guide to the Family History Library and an author for genealogical periodicals including Ancestry Magazine. She is a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota and spends many weeks each year at the Family History Library, U.S. National Archives, and New England Historic Genealogical Society. Her roots include ancestors from seven different countries and researching them has given her broad experience and an occasional headache or two. Researching the families of the in-laws and out-laws her children and niece have added to the family has proven to be refreshing and exciting. Comments will reach her at: PSWResearch@comcast.net. Paula is unable to answer individual genealogical research inquiries due to the volume of requests received. From time to time comments from readers may be quoted in my writings. I will not use your name but may use your place of residence (i.e. St. Paul, MN).

Upcoming Appearances by Paula Stuart-Warren
(I enjoy meeting fellow genealogists at these events so please introduce yourself as an Ancestry Daily News reader.)

• May 6, 2006: St. Paul, Minnesota
  Thousand Lakes Region, National Model Railroad Association Convention
  "Tracing Your Family History: Footsteps Online and Off," for spouses of registrants.
• June 7-10, 2006: Chicago, Illinois
  National Genealogical Society Conference in the States
  www.NGSGenealogy.org
  http://ngs2006.blogspot.com
• August 30-September 2, 2006: Boston, Massachusetts
  Federation of Genealogical Societies/New England Historic Genealogical Society Conference
  www.FGS.org
  www.FGSConference.blogspot.com

Copyright 2006, MyFamily.com.

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Ancestry Quick Tip
DNA Testing

Spurred by the recent PBS show African American Lives, I asked my dad to get a DNA test from Relative Genetics for the Winslow family project (at my cost). Although the results were mixed, I am very glad he participated. My dad is the only son of an only son of an only son, and he has no sons. Since the test is done on Y-chromosomes, through the male line, once he is gone (he's 75), that's it. Now his DNA is in the "permanent record" so to speak.

So if you have ever thought about a DNA sample, go ahead and do it. Even if it doesn't help you, it might help someone else in the future.

Leslye Winslow

Thanks to Leslye for today's Quick Tip! If you have a tip you would like to share with researchers, you can send it to: ADNeditor@ancestry.com.

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Clipping of the Day
New York Herald (New York, New York), 14 March 1870, page 5:

How the Nationalities Are Represented Among the Emigrants--Skilled and Unskilled Labor

Liverpool, Feb. 25, 1870
The considerations advanced at the close of my last letter on emigration are of such a nature as may well startle even those among the readers of the Herald who are accustomed to note the influx and distribution of this wonderful stream of humanity, but the pressure of what yet lays before forbids me pursuing them to a greater length at present.

A further analysis of the report and returns for the past year shows that of the total number of emigrants [sic] to the United States 93,744 were males and 61,788 females, divided as follows:

Irish . . . . . . . . . 57,662
English . . . . . . .40,365
Foreign. . . . . . . 41,737
Scotch[sic]. . . . 10,463

Of the adult males 16,122 were married, and of the females 18,578, and of the entire number 12,760 were male and 11,158 female children, and 6,598 infants.

The industrial capacity of the emigration for the past year affords an interesting field of inquiry. Of the occupations of those emigrating [sic] to the United States, as would reasonably be expected, those of the unskilled laborer very largely predominate. Of general laborers the number was 43,228; of female domestics and farm servants, 6,157, and of miners and quarrymen, 5,935. Farmers and carpenters and joiners are the next most important branch of industry represented, numbering respectively 4,936 and 2,341. On the whole, the proportion of skilled to unskilled labor is about as one to five. Among foreigners proceeding through British ports the proportion of skilled and unskilled labor is more evenly balanced. The most noteworthy feature in this return is the increase in the number returned as "miners and quarrymen," which is fully one-third more than in the previous year. A large number of these were Germans or Swedes. There was also a somewhat larger percentage than usual of children under twelve years of age.

Ports of Embarkation

Of all European ports from which emigrants proceed to the United States, as is well known to every one at all conversant with the subject, this (Liverpool) stands [facile?] princeps. This is the great headquarters of the steamship interest and of the lines of steam and sailing packets plying to American ports. [Unreadable] American trade has made Liverpool what she is to-day--the largest port in the kingdom. By means of the admirable system of agencies established throughout Great Britain and the Continent she may be said to almost monopolize the emigrant carrying trade of the United States. Of the 155,532 souls leaving the United Kingdom for the United States in 1868 (Owing to an informality in making up the returns for 1869 I am unable to furnish the figures for that year.) 109,000 or upwards of two-thirds sailed from Liverpool alone. If the number (25,624) embarked at Queenstown, which should properly be credited to Liverpool, are added, we have a total of 134,624, more than four-fifths of the entire emigration, shipped from this port. Glasgow stands next sending 7,160, Londonderry 7,957, and London 3,616. Aggregated according to the three divisions of the kingdom, they stand thus:--
From England, including Queenstown . . . . . . . 112,791
From Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33,581
From Scotland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,160

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155,532

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Fast Fact
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Thought for Today
Aldous Huxley

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