My Ancestors Have Rocked You Like a Hurricane

After reading Judy Russell's post The Stormy Past, I was curious to see how many of my ancestors lent their names to hurricanes.  (I only referenced Atlantic storms for this post, and I tried not to include tropical storms).

Fortunately, I haven't found anyone in my tree named Sandy.

However, my great grandmother (Mary Alice Schneider), 2nd great grandmother (Mary Alice Egan), and 3rd great grandmother (Mary Alice McDonnall) all loaned their middle names to hurricane Alice.  First in 1954 and then again in 1955 (although the first one in 1955 turned out to be the last one in 1954 and would have been named Irene if it had been realized sooner).  And yes, these Mary Alices are mothers and daughters.  Lucky me.

Another great grandmother, Anna Christine Huber loaned her name to several hurricanes.  Anna in 1956, 1961, and 1965 (she was only a tropical storm in 1969 and 1976, and the spelling was changed in 1979 to "Ana").  There was also a tropical storm Christine in 1973, but it never reached hurricane status.

My third great grandfather, Gustav Eugene Stiker, gave his name to several hurricanes as well, but his were more recent: 1990, 2002, and 2008.  He was the only major hurricane to form during the 1990 season, and the first hurricane of the season in 2002. 

I could hardly leave out hurricanes Joan (my mom) and Jeanne (her twin sister).  Joan caused "death and destruction over a dozen countries in the Caribbean and Central America" in 1988.  The name has been retired, thankfully.  Jeanne was a moderate hurricane in 1980, but never made landfall.  She peaked as a category 2 hurricane in 1998, and again in 2004 as a category 3.

And last but not least - hurricane Jenny.  Oh yes, there I was in 1961, but barely became a hurricane before being weakened by cold weather, and I tried again in 1969, but never reached hurricane status.

Of course, there are also collateral relatives whose names were used: Bertha, Charley, Hattie, and Josephine.

All told, my ancestors' namesakes caused over 3,400 fatalities and over $15 billion (yes, that's with a B) in damage.  Who did the most damage?  That would be my Aunt Jeanne with 3,035 deaths and $7 billion in damage.  Runner up for fatalities: Joan with 216-334 deaths; runner up for damage: Gustav at $6.61 billion.

So, despite what my mother may have said when I was little, hurricane Jenny didn't hold a candle to her and her sister!

Do we share any ancestors?

Please email me at lostancestors [at] gmail [dot] com

Where Were My Grandparents in 1940?

It wasn't easy.  But it wasn't that hard either.  There are so many awesome tools out there specifically designed to help you find your ancestors on the 1940 census without an index that using several of these tools and a little common sense allowed me to find all four of my grandparents by the 4th day after the census was released.


I'll start with my maternal side:


John Joseph Gallagher - He was easy to find, and the first one I found.  He is 15 years old, living with his adoptive parents Walter W. and Ruth (Burrows) Gallagher in Ridgefield, Bergen County, New Jersey.  He was born in New York and has completed one year of high school.  Walter was the Chief of Police in Ridgefield (which made it pretty easy to find the family!).  I emailed a copy of the page to my mom when I found it, and she started telling me about how Jimmy Hulbert (line 3) was my Grampa's best friend, and that Claire Hall (line 5) used to let them play with her old prom dresses when my mom was little - which was a significant period of time after this census.  The Zlotnicks (lines 17-20) ended up merging with our family when the daughter, Gloria, married my maternal grandmother's brother.  There's also a story that Bernard Zlotnick was in the Navy during World War II and was MIA in the Bermuda Triangle.  (Obviously, something I need to follow up on!)  Incidentally, rumor has it that Bernard's mother received the money from his life insurance - somewhere in the neighborhood of $30,000 - and never cashed the check because she always thought he was still alive.

This is a recent photo of 672 Virgil Avenue in Ridgefield, NJ:

Mary Lucile Crowe - She is 14 years old, single (shocker!), living in Indianapolis, Indiana with her parents, Harold John and Lucille (Stiker) Crowe.  She has completed 8 years of school.  Their address is 2133 Madison Avenue, and they paid $20/month in rent (which equates to around $307 today).  Harold is listed as a mechanic in a garage.  I suppose I'll have to do some research on that - I thought he was working as an engine inspector for Allison Division of GM since 1939.  I had quite the time finding them because they were renters.  The last address I had for them was on S. State Street in 1936.  I finally found their 1940 address by looking through the city directories on Ancestry.  Charles Crowe (line 6) is the one who married Gloria Zlotnick above.

Here is the house on Madison Avenue.  I'm pretty sure it's changed a little:

Now for my paternal side:


Edward John Lanctot - I found three generations on this page!  Ed is 18 years old, living with his widowed mother Alice (Schneider) Lanctot and widowed grandmother Mary Alice (Egan) Schneider at 705 Pine Street in Yankton, South Dakota.  He has completed high school and is working as a truck driver for a grocery company.  He worked for 20 weeks and made $120 in 1939.  He worked 77 hours during the week of March 24-30, 1940 - such a go-getter!  His mother worked in a produce house "dressing poultry" for 18 weeks in 1939 and made $191.  His sister, however, worked as a stenographer for Production Credit.  During 1939, she worked 52 weeks and made $1,080.  She worked 54 hours the week of March 24-30.  

Clare Maxine Slowey - She was the hardest to find.  I knew thought I knew she lived in Utica Township, Yankton County, South Dakota in 1939 (she won that beauty contest and it was in the paper), and I know that her father lived in Utica in 1941 (it says so on his SS application).  So where the heck did they go between 1939 and 1940??  I looked in all the EDs for Utica.  I even checked the state hospital for the insane.  You know, just in case.  Nada.  I decided to give my Gramma a call (I'm so totally lucky that I can still do that!).  Unfortunately, she couldn't remember exactly where they lived in 1940, but she was pretty sure it was Utica.  So ... back to the unindexed records I went.  I found an historic map of Yankton County to see the relationship between all the townships.  One by one, I downloaded the appropriate EDs for each area, working outward from Utica to the north, east, south, and west.  I finally located the family in Central Township (T 95, R 56)!


My grandmother is listed with her parents, Thomas Patrick and Christina Anna (Huber) Slowey, and four siblings.  She is shown to be 17 years old and completed 4 years of high school (she graduated in 1939).  The family was living on a farm in a rented house, and it looks like they were paying $6/month in rent.  This is the only census in which my grandmother's youngest brother Richard Raymond "Dickie" Slowey would appear.  He died from leukemia at the age of 6.

Wait.  What's that?  My 21-year-old granduncle, Vernon "Bud" Slowey, is on Line 5 and gets the supplemental questions!  FINALLY!!  Unfortunately, it really doesn't tell me anything I didn't already know.  He is not yet a veteran (but will be in a few years), he is a private worker on a farm (his family's), and he has a social security number.


So far, I've managed to locate 22 of the 37 families on my list.  Not too bad for less than a weeks' work.  Now that I've found my grandparents though, the rest of my day will be spent indexing.

Do we share any ancestors?

Please email me at lostancestors [at] gmail [dot] com

The 1940 Census - Who Is On My List?

Only 34 more days until the release of the 1940 census!  

While it isn't the first time I will find some of my living relatives on a census, I'm still very excited!  All four of my grandparents were on the 1930 census - as small children - and on the 1940 census they will be grown, and both of my grandfathers will be getting ready to head off to fight in WWII.


So who are the people I will be focusing on for the 1940 census?  These are mostly direct-line ancestors, but there are a few collateral folks in there too.  I have a whole other list with even more collateral folks to look up, but these are my priority.  Using the One-Step tools created by Steve Morse, I have already determined (hopefully) the enumeration district where they should be found, which should make things a little easier.


Theresa Burns, Mayfield, Yankton, SD (ED 68-8)
Albert L. Crowe, Indianapolis, IN (ED 96-285, 96-286)
Charles C. Crowe, Mt. Vernon, IN (ED 65-5, 60-15, 60-16)Harold John & Lucile Francis Crowe, Indianapolis, IN (ED 96-283) 

Harold John Crowe, Jr., Indianapolis, IN (ED 96-289, 96-290)
James M. Crowe, Mt. Vernon, IN (ED 65-5)
Mabel L. Crowe, Gosport, IN (ED 60-15, 60-16)
Owen Charles Crowe, Mt. Vernon, IN (ED 65-4)
Mary Alice (Egan) Schneider, Yankton, SD (ED 68-18, 68-22A-B)
John Joseph Gallagher, Ridgefield, NJ (ED 2-273, 2-276, 2-278)
Jeannette (Heerdink) Stiker, Mt. Vernon, IN (ED 65-5)
Edward John Lanctot, Yankton, SD (ED 68-18, 68-22A-B)

James Lanctot, Yankton, SD (ED 68-18, 68-22A-B)
Joseph Lanctot, Yankton, SD (ED 68-18, 68-22A-B)
Emma T. (Rothmeyer) Huber, Yankton, SD (ED 68-27)
Mary Alice (Schneider) Lanctot, Yankton, SD (ED 68-18, 68-22A-B) Clare Maxine Slowey, Yankton, SD (ED 68-18, 68-22A-B)

John Edward Slowey, Mayfield, Yankton, SD (ED 68-8)
Thomas Patrick & Christina Ann (Huber) Slowey, Yankton, SD (ED 68-8)
Vernon G. Slowey, Mayfield, Yankton, SD (ED 68-8)

 

I have made plans to be off work for the entire day on April 2, and will be indexing my little fingers off.  I will be checking blogs periodically until that day for other people's lists -- in addition to my own -- to see if I run across anyone else's folks while I'm indexing.

FamilySearch, Archives.com, and findmypast.com have joined together to make sure the 1940 census gets indexed and published as quickly as possible.  If you haven't already, I strongly encourage you to join me as a volunteer indexer for the 1940 census.  It's a great opportunity to give back (and get some research done in the process)!

Do we share any ancestors? 

Please email me at lostancestors [at] gmail [dot] com

Sunday's Obituary - Louis Schneider

PIONEER, AGED 83 YEARS, DIES

Louis Schneider, Head Of Large Family, Resident Here 58 Years

Louis Schneider, 83, one of the few remaining pioneers of this city and a resident of Yankton and Bon Homme counties for 58 years, died at his home at 705 Pine street here at 11 o'clock yesterday morning following an illness of only three days complicated by old-age infirmities.

Louis Schneider, Yankton
Press & Dakotan, Yankton,
South Dakota, 20 August
1934, p. 6, col. 4

Schneider, who had been quite active despite his advanced years, had been in failing health nearly all summer, but had been working about his yard and attending to other duties until Thursday when he became ill.  He rallied Saturday and members of the family were hopeful he would recuperate.  Yesterday morning he was much weaker and after a brief rally passed away about 11:30 o'clock while members of the family were at his bedside.

Was Homesteader

Schneider was born Jan. 2, 1851, in Washington county, Ia. and came to Dakota territory in 1876.  He homesteaded in Bon Homme county and a year later was married to Mary Egan.  The couple lived on the homestead in Bon Homme county until 1898, with the exception of two years when they lived in Yankton.

In 1898 they moved to Yankton county, purchasing a farm near Utica.  They resided on that farm until 1914 when Mr. and Mrs. Schneider retired, constructing a new home at 705 Pine street where he lived until his death.

Schneider was well known all over this section of the country and after his retirement devoted most of his time to his hobby of cultivating a large garden and raising broom corn and tobacco.  He was quite successful with the latter crops despite the fact this climate is not conducive to their production, and he raised enough tobacco for his own use.  This year, however, he did not cultivate as large a plot as formerly.

Large Family

He is survived by his widow, four sons, two daughters, 23 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.  One son died in infancy.  One sister and five brothers also are living.

His sons are Edward, Robert and Martin of Yankton and Charles of Casper, Wyo.  Daughters are Mrs. Margaret Tester of Sioux City, formerly of Yankton, and Mrs. Alice Lanctot of Yankton.  Mrs. Hugh Gunn of Scotland is a sister and brothers are William of Tyndall, George and Frank of Washington, Ia., and Eugene and Joe of Seattle.  All but Eugene and Joe are here for the funeral, which is to be held from Sacred Heart church at 9 a. m. Tuesday.  Kabeiseman and Donohoe mortuary is in charge.

Do we share any ancestors? 

 Please email me at lostancestors [at] gmail [dot] com

Sunday's Obituary - Mary Alice Egan Schneider

MARY ALICE SCHNEIDER

Yankton Press & Dakotan,
Yankton, South Dakota,
14 June 1947, p. 4, col. 5.

Mary Alice Egan was born in Georgetown, District of Columbia, June 14, 1859.  After living in several other states for short periods she came to Yankton with her mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McDonald, March 20, 1870.  Her parents filed on a claim in Bon Homme county about three miles from the old county seat of Bon Homme where she spent her girlhood with the exception of a year spent in old Fort Randall where she was employed.

She was united in marriage Nov. 18, 1877, to Louis Schneider who had homesteaded a mile from her parents’ home.  They lived on this farm, with the exception of the two years spent in Yankton, until 1899 when they moved to a farm near Utica, residing there till 1914 when they retired, building the home in which she lifed until her death June 5, 1947, nine days before her 88th birthd. [sic]

Mrs. Schneider had been in failing health since falling and fracturing her hip over four years ago.  Preceding her in death were her husband, Louis Schneider, 13 years ago, a son Edward, in May 1946 and a son Joseph, who died in infancy.  Surviving are two daughters and three sons, Mrs. Alice Lanctot, Yankton; Mrs. R. J. Tester, (Margaret) Sioux City, Ia.; Robert of Minneapolis, Minn.; Martin of Beresford; and Charles of Casper, Wyo., who was unable to be present for the funeral, also one brother, Peter McDonald of Sturgis.  Twenty-three grand-children and one great, great grand-child also survive.

The following out of town relatives and friends attended the funeral services held June 9, from Sacred Heart church with burial in Yankton cemetery: Peter McDonald, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Limbo and son Wesley, and Mrs. Emma Lettau, Sturgis; Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Schneider and daughter Mary, Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Lee Rardin and son Glen, Portland, Ore.; Mrs. O. B. Thompson, Sioux Falls; Mrs. Hannah Lucid, Mitchell; Mr. and Mrs. Ira Beecher, Mrs. Frank Gunn, and daughter, Marguerite, Scotland; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Schneider, Mrs. Frank Balvin, Mrs. Henry Marek, Tyndall; Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Tester and Mrs. Frank Skidmore, Sioux City, Ia., Martin Schneider, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Klasi, Mrs. Eileen Frank and son Carlyle, of Beresford; and Sgt. And Mrs. Thos. Rogers of Ft. Dix, New Jersey.

Pallbearers were Clarence Courtney, Joe Adrian, Francis Bride, Lewis Tackle, Ray Vogus, and Wm. Cummingham.

Do we share any ancestors?

Please email me at lostancestors [at] gmail [dot] com

SNGF: Data Problems - FTM and RM4

Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings issued this challenge:


Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1)  Open your genealogy software program (on your computer or online), and use the Help function to determine how to make a "Problem Report" or "Data Error Report" (or something similar).

2)  Create a "Problem Report" or "Data Error Report" in your software for the persons in your tree (either everyone in the tree, or for a selected number of generations of your ancestors.  

3)  Tell us what type of problems or errors that your report found.  Tell us how many errors were found.  Tell us what problem or error surprised you.


______________________________


Because I'm transferring all my data from Family Tree Maker to RootsMagic 4, I decided to run the report in both programs.


My FTM file has 3,231 individuals and my RM4 file has only 70 people (gimme a break! It's slow going transferring everything by hand!)


So ... I ran the report in FTM and the first time it was 47 pages long.  I almost had a heart attack!  Then I realized that it was counting anyone missing a birth date and anyone missing a marriage date.  In my opinion, not data errors.  After filtering those out, the report magically shrunk to 2 pages.


1. Lots of individuals were flagged because their children were out of order.  Indeed they were.  A click of the "resort children" button fixed all of those problems, and reduced my report to less than a page.


2. Katherine [Huber] was flagged because apparently she was born (1864) after she was married (1860).  I checked my information and found a typo.  She was actually married in 1880.  This also fixed the problem with her husband being flagged for marrying someone younger than 13.


3. Margaret Egan was flagged for being born more than a year after her father died.  Unfortunately, this is a glitch with FTM - her father died sometime in 1862.  She was born in December 1862.  Thus, not a year later, but FTM reads it that way.


4. There were a couple of individuals flagged for having an "illegal character" in their name, where I had typed the last name as Brown/e or Crow/e.  A couple more were flagged as including a title.  Two had the first name of Dean, the third was Father Leonard F. Zwinger, who was - indeed - a priest.


5. The remaining problems were not problems as much as they were multiple dates for a single event that conflicted with each other - but this will get sorted out once I obtain the proper documentation.


My RM4 problem report consisted of two entries:


1. My grandmother is flagged as having been married at age 80.  This is true.  Go Gramma.


2. My GGgrandfather, Joseph Huber, was flagged as being "born after birth."  This is also true -- sort of.  I have two birth dates entered for him because I still do not have his birth certificate and have conflicting information elsewhere, so his birth dates are one year apart.


I'm glad Randy issued this challenge tonight.  I knew those reports were there, I just forget to run them periodically.  Maybe I should set up a schedule entry to run those reports the same day I do my backups!