Gaylord Fact Finders Genealogical Society

P.O. Box 1524

Gaylord, Michigan 49734

Volume 14, Number 1                                                                                                                                        July, 2000

Publisher of "The Keystone" is the Gaylord Fact Finders Genealogical Society, a non-profit organization. Publication is in January, April, July, and October. 
Membership dues are $10.00 per individual (or $ 12.00 per family), and are due by the May meeting each year. If the dues are not received, that member will not receive the July issue of "The Keystone." Regular meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month (August - November, and March - June) at the Otsego County Historical Museum, 320 W. Main, Gaylord. Correspondence should be sent to the address shown at the top.

This issue includes a few more medical terms, a short family history, Otsego County Cemeteries, federal land record information, New Family History Libraries in Gaylord and Petoskey, and a current membership list.

Library Corner

HOW TO TRACE YOUR FAMILY TREE                                                                                                        Call #929.1 Ame

By American Genealogical Research Institute Staff

"How much do you know about your ancestors? Where can you go and how much would it cost you to learn about your family's history? Who were your ancestors, and where did they live and what did they do?  

"There aren't many alternatives to finding the answers to these questions: 

You can poke around in family diaries or question your relatives (who probably know as little as you) and find yourself with rather sketchy information. 

You can hire a professional genealogical service for a cost to you of $7 to $10 an hour (costing you possible thousands of dollars in the end). Or, you can read this book and learn how to trace your ancestry as well as learn a fascinating new hobby.  

"HOW TO TRACE YOUR FAMILY TREE will tell you what kinds of information family members can give you and how to question them, what is available from local, state and federal government sources, what printed sources are most likely to aid you in your search.  There are sections on heraldry and the various genealogical  societies, should your interests carry you further.  Everything you need to organize your findings and put together your family tree is here in this one comprehensive guide."
                                                                                 (taken from the jacket) 

"My father came to America before World War I, thanks to his older sister, who sold a cow to pay for his passage. He left my mother and brother behind until he could earn enough money for their passage.  

"With the outbreak of WWI and Russian occupation of Poland, it was eight years before they would be reunited. With no education, they worked hard and had a happy life, and I can still remember them and their friends sitting around our kitchen table, singing and toasting each other "na zdrowie " (to your health). It seemed like every drink was preceded by a toast.  

"In 1932, they decided to go back to their roots. With their savings, they were to buy land for farming. Things didn't work out as they planned, and father returned to the U.S. in 6 weeks, and mother and my sister and I in 8 months. This was a decision that saved us from a lot of suffering and maybe even saved our lives!"  

(Editor's Note - these short stories are being contributed by members of our genealogical society for publication here.)

Recently learned on a research trip to Wellington County, Ontario, Canada:

The 1871 Ontario census index is now on the internet at Cyndi's List, Ontario, www.cyndislist.com/canada.htm by head of household!!!!

Ontario Vital Records (death after 1921, marriage after 1911, and birth after 1896) are now at:

The Office of the Registrar General
P.O. Box #4600  
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6L8
Ontario: 1-800-461-2156  
Outside Ontario: 1-416-325-8305

Ontario Vital Records for earlier dates beginning with 1869 are still at:

Public Service Section  
Archives at Ontario  
Archives of Ontario  
77Grenville St., West  
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2R9

Don't look for vital records at the county seats!!!

OTSEGO COUNTY was created in 1840 from Mackinac, Alpena, Cheboygan, and Antrim Counties. Originally called Okkuddo, the name was changed to Otsego in 1843. The name is a transplant from New York State being an Iroquoian word meaning either "clear water" or "meeting place". Organized in 1875, the county seat now is Gaylord.

MILITARY ORGANIZATION- SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS—

Organized in 1896 with the objective to encourage the preservation of history; to  perpetuate the hallowed memories of brave men; to assist in the observance of Memorial Day; to aid and support all Confederate Veterans, widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the records of the services of every Confederate soldier.  
        Eligibility: All male descendants of those who served in the Confederate Army or Navy to the end of the war, or who died in prison while in actual service, or who were killed in battle, or who were honorably retired or discharged, shall be eligible to membership in the camp; provided, that no member under sixteen years of age shall have the right to vote; and provided, further, no member shall be admitted under twelve years of age.

Officers (1924-25): Cdr.-in-chief, D. S. Etheridge, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Adj.-in-chief,  Walter L.  Hopkins,  Richmond,  Va.;  historian-in-chief,  Arthur H.  Jennings, Lynchburg, Va.; Q.M.-in-chief George A. Macon, Memphis, Tenn.

LAND RECORDS - WHERE THEY CAME FROM - HOW WE GOT THEM

As the United States expanded westward from the 13 original colonies. Congress recognized the need for an orderly system of surveying and describing the Federal lands to be opened for settlement. On May 20, 1785, the Continental Congress enacted a land disposal ordinance that established a Public Land Survey System based on a rectangular grid, and authorized the Treasury Board to sell public lands for revenue. 

The General Land Office (GLO) was established within the Treasury Department in 1812 to take charge of all survey and land title records.  GLO became part of the newly-created Department of the Interior in 1849, and was merged with the U.S. Grazing Service in 1946 to form the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). BLM is now custodian of the land records which includes some 7.5 million ownership titles covering 1.5 billion acres of present or former Public Domain land.  More than 5 million of these title documents are stored and maintained at BLM's Eastern States in Virginia.  

Land ownership, protected by a legal title, is a hallmark of western civilization. As the Public Domain was surveyed, the government could begin transferring title of land parcels to private citizens, companies and local governments.   Most titles were transferred through patents (deeds) from the Federal Government.  Records of these patents and other conveyance of title—such as railroad grants, swamp grants, school grants, Indian allotments, and private land claims—are contained in huge tract books.  

First developed around 1800 and maintained in local land offices, tract books have long served as the essential reference source for all transactions involving public lands.  

The tract books are continually used by Federal and state agencies, title insurance companies, industry, researchers and others.  The continuous use of many of these old books has caused much wear and tear, despite the efforts of artisan bookbinders who combine old skills and new technologies to help maintain the books in usable form. These old records are literally being loved to death. 

BLM faced an urgent need to preserve and protect these records, but still insure their availability for research. Technology provided the answer:  in 1989, Eastern States launched a unique project—the FLO automated Records Project—to copy these priceless documents onto computer-read laser disks. Once copied, the historic documents can then be stored in acid-free boxes in a climate-controlled vault. 

This project offers researchers a single source of recorded information on lands that were once in Federal ownership; such as data regarding current Federally-owned land and mines; which Federal agency has jurisdiction over the land surface; and what individuals or entities first received the land from the Federal Government.  

The GLO Automated Records System has the capability to provide such information to State land officials, county clerks, industry representatives, and the public through requests from remote computer terminals.  Access to these old records will be effortless and the original documents will maintain their integrity and value to historical research or other critical uses. 

For detailed information about the GLO Automated Records Retrieval System, fees, or other BLM programs contact:  

Bureau of Land Management. Eastern States;
7450 Boston Blvd.; Springfield, VA 22153  

(Reprinted from Antique Week, Apr., 15, 1996)  

Roster of Members 2000 - 2001

NATIONAL ARCHIVES FEE INCREASES:

Fees for veteran's military records are scheduled to increase from $10.00 to $17.50, and pension record applications from $10.00 to $40.00 beginning July 1, 2000.

A BACK-UP A DAY KEEPS THE BLUES AWAY

Yesterday, all those backups seemed a waste of pay,  
Now my database has gone away. Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Suddenly, there's not half the filed there used to be,  
And there's a millstone hanging over me. The system crashed so suddenly.

I pushed something wrong. What it was I could not say.  
Now all my data's gone, and I long for yesterday-ay-ay-ay.  

Yesterday, the need for backups seemed so far away.  
I knew my data were all here to stay. Now I believe in yesterday.

Author Unknown

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, 600 N. Elm, Gaylord,

Announces OPEN HOUSE for its new stake library, JUNE 24, 2000 10:00-2:00 at the Church, 600 N. Elm, Gaylord, Michigan 49735. Hours will be included later.  
COME DOWN AND CHECK IT OUT!!!

Petoskey Family History Center Library - Tues, Wed., and Thurs 10:00 - 2:00, Weds. and Friday Evening 6:00 - 9:00. Call 231-526-5244 for address.

RARE-BOOK PRESERVATION:

Even Bibles are not considered as collectible, nor are they considered marketable in the world of antiquarian books, as family heirlooms, they are invaluable, and are "very precious" to family members.  

As soon as you read this, please take your precious books out of the plastic zipper bag. As plastic deteriorates, it releases fumes and chemicals that can farther damage your Bible, or other books.  Storing paper (documents, books, photographs, newspapers and other printed material), antique clothing and bedding in commercial plastic containers is not a good idea.  

The Gaylord Brothers catalog of archival quality storage materials and conservation supplies carried precut scored heavy boards, so you can make rare-book boxes quickly and easily.  The "Easy Rare-Book Boxes" (item No. depends on size ordered) will protect fragile books from light, dirt and pollution, all of which can hasten the deterioration of your Bible's paper and cover.  To order their free catalog, write or call Gaylord Brothers, Box 4901, Syracuse, NW   13321-4901, (800) 434-6307.   They also have a preservation help line, and on Thursdays and Fridays, a professional conservator is on hand to answer questions.

A GOOD MORAL -

Dear Cousin,

"In response to your letter, I am sorry to inform you that grandpa "Fred" died sometime back and the stuff you asked about is not available. 

The personal property the family did not want was sold at an estate sale. All those boxes of junk did not interest a single buyer. 

We were able to salvage several binders for the kids homework, after we sent all the paper to the incinerator. The kids really complained about having to lug all that paper and pictures of those ugly old folks to the dumpster. An old family Bible from the 1840's did bring $5.00. The one from the 1870's did not sell. There also was a bunch of floppy disks that we were able to reformat and download some games for the kids to play on their new playstation.  

At least SOMEBODY got some good from the three generation's work: I saw the fellow at a flea market a couple of weeks ago, and he said he threw the Bible in the trash after nobody was interested in it. He said he got an offer for fifty cents for it, but would rather bum it than to give it away. He seemed to be having a lot of success with some very nice Elvis paintings at his booth.  

The two aunts you asked about are also dead. They were such a delight and could talk all day long about the things papa had written about.  I remember them saying something about some records that were copied from two courthouses that later burned. Neither ever wrote down a single thing.  

The letter you referred to was one he typed up and sent to lots of folks who wrote him. He laughed about them never getting any of his hard work as well as his Father and Grandfather, who were in the Civil War.  He guarded all the information carefully to the bitter end. I wish I could remember some of the things to help you, but I was bored to tears listening to them talk about the family members who were in the Civil War, and those silly pieces of paper he showed so proudly. I vaguely remember that they had some beeswax seals, and something to do with the land grants that were destroyed in the courthouse fires. I wish I could remember the story about his grandfather's evening with Jefferson Davis, when he was on the run. There are also some very juicy stories that were handed down, but I don't remember them very well. 

Another thing I remember after he got sick, was some fellow calling him, and he agreed to let him come down and copy all his material.  He told him he would call him back when he felt better. Papa mentioned something about letting the society the man was from have all his work, since nobody in the family cared anything about a bunch of people who had been dead for 200 years. Papa died the next week. I am so sorry that papa and the two generations wasted so much of their life on such worthless hobbies, and hope your family will follow something more interesting.  We enjoy bingo and bowling very much here in Pleasantville. 

I really enjoyed hearing from a long lost cousin and would like to hear back if you find anything important.  The kids need the computer for their games, and I need to Watch the "Millionaire" show. Thank you, Cuz.  

(This article was received on e-mail, and has a sad tale, but infers a good moral.)

(This photo was taken while on a research trip to Princeton, Mercer County, Missouri, and the marker is found in the town square, not in a cemetery. The inscription reads "Calamity Jane 1852 - 1903 Born Maratha Jane Canary, on a farm east of Princeton. She became a symbol of the wild west Calamity Jane was buried next to Wild Bill Hitcock in Deadwood, S.D."

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