Monthly Archives: July 2014

I Took the Plunge!!

I finally did it…I took the plunge into the world of DNA.  DNA is an interesting subject to begin with, but the use of DNA in genealogy has been intriguing for me.  I actually wanted to dive into genealogy-DNA close to when it first began to be used for genealogy but I’m a rather cautious person and wanted to let genealogy-DNA refine a little bit before I jumped in.

So I waited, attended classes and webinars to gather information on the subject and I watched the developments made in the area of DNA for genealogy.  And then the DNA companies began offering deals.  And being the cautious person I am I researched the reviews of the companies, attended more classes and webinars, and finally…I took the leap.

I was torn between using 23AndMe and Ancestry.  Ancestry had decent reviews and a large database, but 23AndMe had come very highly recommended.  The final decision came when another genealogist posted about a deal Ancestry was offering for $49 kits and I was actually in a position financially to purchase one.

I’m excited to embark on this journey.  I have no idea what I’ll discover.  Will it be the stories that my grandfather passed along?  Or will it be something different?

My DNA kit arrived in an inocuous little box…drumroll please!

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And as you can see below, there’s not many components to the DNA collection kit at all!

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I was entirely too excited to wait so I grabbed the instruction sheet included with the kit and began reading to see what I needed to do.

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Register your kit with Ancestry, spit in the tube, seal it up and send it back and that’s all there is to it!

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DNA collection tube and cap

 

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DNA is in the tube, the cap with the stabilization liquid has been
screwed on tight and the sample is ready to be returned to Ancestry
 
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Place the sample in the enclosed bag for transport thru the mail
 
 
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Ready for the USPS
 

And that’s really all there is to it!  I was so excited I dropped the sample in the mail that night.  Now it’s hurry up and wait!  And I can’t wait to see the results.

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Welcome!

 

Dad's Radio

Ancestors

If you could see your Ancestors all standing in a row
Would you be proud of them or not – or don’t you really know?
Some strange discoveries are made in climbing family trees
And some of them, you know, do not particularly please.

If you could see your Ancestors all standing in a row
There might be some of them perhaps you wouldn’t care to know.
But here’s another question which requires a different view:
If you could meet your Ancestors, would they be proud of you?

Author Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  If you’ve landed on my blog you’ve obviously got some type of interest of genealogy…good for you!  You can learn about who I am in my About page.  If you’re more interested in the surnames I’m searching then make a stop on the Surnames page.  That will tell you who and where I’m researching.  Looking for some good genealogy websites or blogs?  Check out my Favorite Genealogy Websites and Blogs I Follow.  And always remember the Genealogist’s Prayer as you’re doing your research: “God grant me the serenity to accept the ancestors I cannot find, the courage to find the ones I can, and the wisdom to document thoroughly.”

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Happy Blogiversary!

I originally started this post a week before my Blogiversary thinking to post it on the actual day along with the re-launch of my blog. Ah the best of intentions, right? LOL, unfortunately I ran into some technical difficulties with the blog re-launch (typical technology!) so things didn’t quite happen as planned.

But I’m not letting the technical difficulties get me down.  I’m so excited and I can’t believe how quickly time has passed.  I’m really glad that I started blogging.  And I’m very excited about the re-launch of TBG!!!  As a present to TBG and myself I’ve moved to a new domain name!  Make sure to update your links from my old Blogger address to www.talkingboxgenealogy.com 🙂

It’s been a whirlwind year and I can’t wait to see where continued work on both my genealogy and my blog will take me.  The sibling-unit has been working on different pieces of our paternal family genealogy and the maternal-unit has been working hard on organizing her genealogy.  I’m going to let myself believe that my genealogical-motivation had something to do with that, LOL 😉

So many new and interesting things have been popping up in my genealogy research that I haven’t had time to write about them all.  And there’s a very exciting coming attraction that will be popping up in a future blog post…hopefully very soon!  I don’t want to spoil the surprise but…well let’s just say genealogical science will be making an appearance in future blog posts!

Happy Blogiversary TBG!

blogiversary

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52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #5 – Joseph Victor Bowlby

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Joseph Victor Bowlby

Today’s ancestor is Joseph Victor Bowlby, my husband’s second great-grandfather.

Some basic facts:
Name: Joseph Victor Bowlby
Born: 29 March 1870
Parents: Samuel Bowlby and Rosannah (King) Bowlby
Spouse: Anna Rhoda (Greenway) Bowlby
Marriage: About 1900
Died: 25 July 1958

Joseph was born 29 March 1870 in Iowa City, Wright, Iowa.  He was born to Samuel Bowlby and Rosannah (King) Bowlby.  He married Anna Rhoda Greenway sometime in 1900.  Joseph and Rosannah had six children: Sherry Victor Bowlby, Percy Richard Bowlby, Richard Samuel Bowlby, Jennie Bell Bowlby, Lillian, Augusta Bowlby, and Thelma Louise Bowlby.

Joseph lived with his family in Iowa until he married in 1900 when he moved to Empire City, Cherokee, Kansas.


Joseph & Anna Bowlby listing in the 1900 U.S. Census

 

Joseph and Anna divorced sometime before May 1920.  He appears alone, marital status showing divorced on the 1920 U.S. census.

Joseph Bowlby listing in the 1920 U.S. Census

Joseph remained in Kansas, eventually moving in with his son, Victor’s family sometime before 1940.

Joseph Bowlby, listed with Victor Bowlby and family on the 1940 U.S. Census

Joseph died 25 July 1958 in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas.  He’s buried in Jamesburg Park Cemetery in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas.


Joseph V. Bowlby Tombstone
Jamesburg Park Cemetery in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas

Here’s my genealogy list for Joseph:

Have:

  • 1870 Federal Census
  • 1880 Federal Census
  • 1900 Federal Census
  • 1910 Federal Census
  • 1920 Federal Census
  • 1930 Federal Census
  • 1940 Federal Census

Need:

  • Birth Certificate
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Divorce Paperwork
  • Death Certificate
  • Check for appearance in Kansas state census records
  • Check for appearance in Iowa state census records
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52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #4 – Gertrude Viola (Warren) Bowlby

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Gertrude Viola (Warren) Bowlby

I’m still playing catch-up on the 52 Ancestors challenge but I’m going to try hard to get current.  Today I’m highlighting my husband’s maternal great-grandmother.

Some basic facts:
Name: Gertrude Viola Warren
Born: 10 March 1905
Parents: John Garrison Warren and Minnie Green Warren Grokett
Spouse: Sherry Victor Bowlby
Marriage: About 1922
Died: 14 June 1963


Gertrude Viola (Warren) Bowlby
Date/Age Unknown

Gertrude was born 10 March 1905.  She was born to John Garrison Warren and Minnie Green Warren Grokett.  She married Sherry Victor Bowlby sometime in 1922.  Gertrude and Sherry had one child, Shirley Ann Bowlby.

Gertrude was born in Hitchcock, Oklahoma but moved to Kansas soon after.  Her family appears in Kingman County, Kansas in the 1910 U.S. census.

Warren (Grokett) family listing in the 1910 U.S. Census

Gertrude remained in Kingman County with her family until sometime after her marriage.  She appears with her husband, Sherry Victor Bowlby, in Wichita City, Sedgwick, Kansas in the 1930 U.S. census.

Bowlby family listing in the 1930 U.S. Census

Gertrude died 14 June 1963.  She’s buried next to her husband in Jamesburg Park Cemetery in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas.


Gertrude Viola (Warren) Bowlby Tombstone
Jamesburg Park Cemetery in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas

Here’s my genealogy list for Gertrude:

Have:

  • 1910 Federal Census
  • 1915 Federal Census
  • 1920 Federal Census
  • 1930 Federal Census
  • Find-A-Grave Listing

Need:

  • Birth Certificate
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Death Certificate
  • Check for appearance in additional Kansas state census’

 

52ancestors

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