Relatively Speaking, Wild Ones on Input and Output

First I would like to thank Anne for switching with me last week while we were tending to the passing of Man's Mother.

Next, this is another one of my "wordy" posts, but, hope you have the time for a visit and stick around to read. 

The Wild Ones share and compare.  We chat about all factions of our research.  We discuss input, share web sites, talk about research methods, data bases, photos.  You name it, I think we have discussed it.  One thing becomes evident very quickly, we agree on sourcing, YA GOTTA SOURCE.  After that, we all do the basics, but, each with our own individual twists.  Truth is, we actually all source a bit differently too, but, we ALL source, heavily.

One thing we do differently is FACTS.  Karen, Diane and Anne use a lot of facts.  Carol does not, I use basic facts of birth, marriages, divorce, death, burial and social security and sometimes baptism and confirmation.  I may use occupation as well.  I rarely use facts for life events such as residence, census, military, land records, nationality, retirement, scholarship, and a multitude of other choices available from RootsMagic.

Karen, Diane and Anne's rational is that when they open the edit screen all the life events are front and center.  Good plan, makes a lot of sense.  However, I don't mind opening the General Notes to review what I have managed to input.  My General Notes field is arranged in a chronological manner.  Start with birth, tell my ancestor's story year by year, ending with their death, obituary, probate information if available.

Part of my rational is that I like the way my input methods print a modified register report.  I asked cousin Anne if she would share a sample of the same report, using an ancestor for whom she has a number of Facts.  She kindly did.  What follows first is a sample of her work,  and then a sample of mine.  We both used the modified register report.  I did not include any childen in these examples.  Anne's report appears in blue, mine appears in red. 

I have edited the spacing a bit.  No sources are indicated, but if you see names that look familiar, contact us!  LOL 

I have added in black lettering, indications such  as "Fact Sentence(s)", or "General Notes" or "Note(s) attached to fact", so you can see how the information was input to our data bases and compare how it printed.  A "Fact Sentence" is a sentence generated by the program from data we have input, as an example, if we input a date and a place for a Birth Fact, it prints a sentence containing those facts, such as "Carol was born on ***???*** in Virginia."   "Notes" information is something that we have typed in ourselves.  There may be several paragraphs of "Fact Sentence(s)" in a row and several paragraphs of "General Notes" in a row.

Anne's:

Descendants of Frank Graves Bowman

First Generation

Fact Sentence(s):  Frank Graves Bowman was born on September 4, 1854 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri.

He appeared in the census on July 3, 1860 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. Attended school within the year. He appeared in the census on June 25, 1870 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. Frank appeared in the census on June 10, 1880 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. He appeared in the census on June 14, 1900 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. He appeared in the census on April 30, 1910 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. Frank appeared in the census on January 8, 1920 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. He lived 1607 South Street in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri in 1920. He lived 1501 Franklin Street in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri in 1929.

Frank died of apoplexy on February 24, 1930 at the age of 75 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri.

Note attached to fact (death fact): Frank Bowman was stricken with paralysis on October 22, 1929. He and his brother Edwin Bowman founded the Lexington News in 1889. He was postmaster at Lexington under the administration of Grover Cleveland, appointed Secretary of State Board of Corrections and Charities by Governor Folk, deputy county recorder under Henry McNeel, and enrolling clerk at the State House of Representatives for 12 years.

Note attached to fact (obituary fact): 
    Frank Bowman Dies After Long Illness
    Secretary of Chamber of Commerce and Founder of The News Victim of Paralysis
     Frank Bowman, secretary of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, died at his home on North Seventeenth Street, at 1:10 o'clock Monday afternoon after an extended illness. Paralysis was the cause of death. The funeral service was held Wednesday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. W. A. Wimberly, pastor of the First Christian Church.
    Mr. Bowman was born in Lexington on September 4, 1854. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Webb on April 3, 1883. The wife and four children survive as follows: Mrs. Hugh Rogers, Lexington; Mrs. James A. Rankin, Claremont, California; Mrs. John S. Percival, Detroit, Michigan; and John Bowman of Kansas City.
    Stricken with paralysis on October 22, last, Mr. Bowman later rallied considerably and was believed to be on the road to recovery, but later developments brought gradual weakening.
     Mr. Bowman was the founder of The Lexington News and for many years operated this newspaper in partnership with a brother. He was a man of strong convictions and unfailing adherences to the simple virtues. Through his political connections in later years he acquired friendships throughout the state and was widely admired for likeable qualities. He was postmaster at Lexington under the administration of Grover Cleveland, later became secretary of the state board of charities and correction. He was also deputy county recorder under Henry McNeel and enrolling clerk of the house of representatives for twelve years. He had been secretary of the local Chamber of Commerce for a number of years.

Fact Sentence:  Frank is listed as a retired newspaper editor on his death certificate. He was buried on February 26, 1930 in MachPelah Cemetery, Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. He was buried in Block B, Lot 116.

General Notes:  Edwin F. and Frank G. Bowman, of the firm of Bowman Bros., the enterprising and energetic editors and proprietors of the well-known Lexington News, established in 1889, and the official organ of the city and county, are both men of excellent business ability, progressive in their ideas and intelligent in their handling of the direct issues of the day. Their attractive paper is Democratic in politics and contains thirty-two columns of neatly printed matter, readable and newsy. The Bowman Bros. are the sons of John P. Bowman, a native of Kentucky, and an early settler of Missouri, who located in Lexington, Lafayette County, in 1844.

The father of our subject served six years as Sheriff of Lafayette County, and for four years was Circuit Clerk, which official position he held at the outbreak of the Civil War. Possessing unusual ability, and energetic and faithful in the discharge of all duties entrusted to his care, John P. Bowman was also courageous in character and decisive in action, and, responding to the sentiment of his heart, entered the Confederate ranks, and as Col. Bowman distinguished himself by his gallant bearing upon the field of battle. He engaged in numerous battles and skirmishes and fell a victim to constant exposure in inclement weather, contracting a severe cold, and finally dying of a congestive chill. His death was mourned as a public loss, and his memory is not yet green in the hearts of all who knew him well.

The mother of Edwin and Frank Bowman was Mary E. Chinn, of Lexington, Ky., a daughter of Dr. Joseph G. Chinn, who lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years, and was married three times. His last marriage occurred at the age of ninety-four, and his wife, who was ninety-six when she married him, died in her ninety-ninth year. Mrs. John Bowman is still living, and is now in her seventieth year and resides in Lexington, where the Bowman Family is represented by four successive generations. The Bowman brothers are both married, and their pleasant homes are blessed with the presence of children. Edwin F. Has been in the printing business for twenty-five years, and Frank G. has been engaged in the same occupation for twenty years, both being thoroughly at home in every detail of their work, and, in every sense of the word, practical printers. They run several job presses of large power, and turn out fine specimens of typographic work.

Frank G. Bowman holds the State medal offered by the Missouri Press Association, which was held in St. Joseph in 1882, and which medal was given for the champion office, the swiftest and neatest in job printing. Our subjects, the Bowman Brothers, have an extended circle of warm friends, and enjoy the esteem and confidence of the general public, among whom they have passed almost their entire lives. Together with their families they are important factors in the promotion of all the best interests of their city, and with word and deed sustain its worthy enterprises, be they religious, benevolent or purely business. The power of the press in the hands of such men as our subject is always effectively used in behalf of progress and reform, and its value cannot be overestimated.

Last residence 1501 Franklin St., Lexington, Missouri.

Bible Record gives his name as Franklin Graves Bowman.

Fact Sentences:  Frank Graves Bowman and Elizabeth C. "Lizzie" Webb were married on April 3, 1883 in Dover, Lafayette, Missouri. Elizabeth C. "Lizzie" Webb, daughter of John Garland Webb and Elizabeth Custis Carter, was born on June 12, 1861 in Waverly, Lafayette, Missouri.

Note attached to fact (death fact): Her death certificate gives birthdate as June 12, 1863.

Fact Sentences:  She appeared in the census on July 25, 1870 in Dover, Lafayette, Missouri. She appeared in the census in June, 1880 in Dover, Lafayette, Missouri. Lizzie appeared in the census on June 14, 1900 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. She appeared in the census on April 30, 1910 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. She appeared in the census on January 8, 1920 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. Lizzie appeared in the census on April 11, 1930 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. She lived 234 North 17th Street in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri in April, 1930.

She died of a cerebral hemorrhage and arteriosclerotic heart disease on October 8, 1949 at the age of 88 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. Lizzie was buried on October 10, 1949 in MachPelah Cemetery, Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri. She was buried in Block B, Lot 116.

MINE:

Descendants of Friedrich (Fritz/Fred) Johann Gehrke

First Generation

Fact Sentences:  Friedrich (Fritz/Fred) Johann Gehrke was born on April 22, 1885 in Hammerstein, West Prussia, Germany. He died on July 29, 1964 in Hazel Park, Oakland County, Michigan. He was buried on August 1, 1964 in Glen Eden Memorial Park, Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan. He was an employee of Ford Motor Company. He had a Social Security Number of 377-14-0417, issued in Michigan.

General Notes:  Fred was confirmed as Fritz Johann Gehrke on April 8, 1900 at the Lihue Lutheran Church in Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii by Pastor Hans Isenberg. In this record his birthplace is given as Hammerstein, District of Sihlochau, Westprussia.

Hammerstein Germany is now in Poland and is known as Czarne.

Fred was living in Huron County by August 18, 1909 when he and his future bride, Lilly Gerth were witnesses to the wedding of Fred Link and Alma Gerth.

Fred was enumerated as a border in the 1910 census of Brookfield Township, Huron County, Michigan with Edward Gerth. Edward would become his brother-in-law before the year of 1910 was over. The census taker recorded Fred's age as 25 and his birth place as California, the birth place of his parents as Ger-Germany (this census taker would note the difference between Germany born Germans and Canadian born Germans), his occupation as general farm employee.

January 13, 1910 Fred entered into a land contract with The Kilmanagh Bank of Frank W. Hubbard & Company for purchase of land in of Brookfield Township of Huron County, Michigan, described as 40 acres in the south west quarter of the north west quarter of Section 11. On June 5, 1915 the bank deeded the property to Fred in fulfillment of the land contract. He paid $2,000.00 for the property. Compiler has not found record of when Fred may have sold this property.

On February 2, 1920 land described as the south half of the south east quarter of the north east quarter of section 10 of Brookfield Township, Huron County, Michigan was deeded to Fred Gehrke of Brookfield Township for the consideration of $2,000.00 by Stuart D. McGregor, Trustee of the Owendale Bank of A. L. Wright & Co. On May 20, 1920 Fred and Lilly deeded the same piece of property back to the bank. This deed states that the property is incumbered by a mortgage of $3,000.00 given to Pigeon State Bank, Pigeon, Huron County, Michigan. (A personal search of the mortgage records of Huron County may provide further data.)

Fred was a farmer when he lived in Huron County, Michigan. His daughter, Hilda, reports that while he lived in California he was a bank teller.

The 1920 census of Brookfield Township, Huron County, Michigan shows Fred and his family as follows: Fred Gehrke, age 34, owns his home which is mortgaged, immigrated in 1887 (we know this to be in error as we have the ship's manifest which is dated November 1888), naturalized in 1900, born in West Prussia, mother tongue German, parents born in West Prussia, occupation farmer; Lily, wife, age 31, immigrated in 1893, naturalized in 1908, born in Canada, mother tongue German, parents both born in Canada; Hedwig, son (yes, SON!, even though we all know Hedwig was his daughter), age 7, born Michigan; Hilda, daughter, age 5, born Michigan; Frederica, daughter, age 4 and 2 months, born Michigan; Martha, daughter, age 2 and 4 months, born, Michigan. Enumerated with Fred was his brother John, age 22, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, parents born in Germany, occupation laborer; Edith, sister-in-law (remember the relationship stated is between the person and the head of household, in this case, Fred), age 20, born Michigan; Irene, niece, age 1 and 7 months, born Michigan.

Fred and Lilly are listed as some of the original German settlers in Lincoln Park Township, now Lincoln Park, Wayne County, Michigan.

Frederic J. Gehrke is found enumerated on the 1930 U.S. Census, Lincoln Park City, Wayne County, Michigan, ED 82-1013 living at 4040 Agnes: Frederick J. Gehrke, owns home, value of home $4,500., 44 years old, married, 24 years of age at the time of his first marriage, born Hawaii, parents both born Germany, assembler automobile company; Lillian A., wife, age 41, married, age at time of first marriage 21, born Canada (English), both parents born Canada (English), came to US in 1893, Naturalized; Hilda M., daughter, age 16, born Michigan; Friedarica J., daughter, age 14, born Michigan; Martha W., daughter, age 12, born Michigan; Mildred L., daughter, age 6, born Michigan; Arthur G., son, age 4 and 7 months, born Michigan; Charlotte L., mother, age 68, widow, born Germany, both parents born Germany, speaks German, came to US in 1911, Naturalized; Charles H., nephew, age 8, born Michigan, father born Hawaii, mother born Michigan; Ines L., niece, age 6, born Michigan, father born Hawaii, mother born Michigan.

In 1938 Fred applied for a social security card number, the application reveals he was unemployed at the time. Interestingly, Fred gives his place of birth as Lihue, Kauai, Hawaiian Islands.

Fred's obituary read as follows (newspaper source unknown to compiler):
"Fred John Gehrke
     Fred John Gehrke, age 79, 1131 East George, Hazel Park, died Wednesday. He was born in Germany April 22, 1885.
     Surviving are four children, Mrs. Ernest (Hedwig) Pariseau of the George address, Mrs. Cornelis (Hilda) deHilster of Wyandotte, Mrs. Arthur (Mildred) Stevens of Allen Park, Arthur of Southgate, 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Charles 1141 East Muir, Hazel Park, John of Detroit; and a sister, Mrs. August (Hedwig) Brown of Lihue, Hawaii.
     Mr. Gehrke formerly lived in Lincoln Park.
     He is at Hopcroft Funeral Home 23919 John R, Hazel Park.
     Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, in Hazel Park Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Glen Eden Cemetery."

Fred's funeral was held from Hazel Park Lutheran Church, in Hazel Park, Oakland County, Michigan with Rev. Henry Maehring officiating. The sermon topic for his funeral was based on Isaiah, 25, verse 7 - 9.

Fred and Lilly are buried at Glen Eden Cemetery, Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan, Sunrise, Garden, lot 687. Fred's mother, Charlotte is buried nearby. The grave numbers are 2, 3 and 4, Charlotte's grave is not marked with a headstone.

Fact Sentences:  Friedrich (Fritz/Fred) Johann Gehrke and Lilly Anna Gerth were married on September 15, 1910 in Linkville, Huron County, Michigan.

Lilly Anna Gerth (daughter of Peter Gerth and Katherina Ruthig) was born on October 7, 1888 in North Easthope, Perth County, Ontario, Canada. She was baptized on December 23, 1888. She died on May 28, 1959 in Lincoln Park, Wayne County, Michigan. She was buried on June 1, 1959 in Glen Eden Memorial Park, Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan. She was a housewife.

General Notes: On the birth records of North Easthope, Perth County, Ontario, Canada her name is spelled Lily Annie. Her father's profession is given as butcher.

Lilly was confirmed April 12, 1903 by Pastor August Deichmann of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pigeon/Linkville, Huron County, Michigan.

Pastor August Deichmann, of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pigeon/Linkville, Huron County, Michigan wrote this entry in the church record on the occasion of Fred and Lilly's marriage: On September 1, 1910 the following people were married in this church: Friedrich Johann Gehrke, of Brookfield, Michigan, born April 22, 1885 in Germany at Hammerstein, son of Karl Gehrke and his wife Charlotte, nee Grundemann and Lilly Anna Gerth of Winsor, Michigan, born October 7, 1888 in Canada, daughter of Peter Gerth and his wife Katharina, nee Ruthig. Witnesses to the marriage were Harry Decher, Louise Gerth, Peter Gerth and Bertha Heck.

Remembrances by Margaret I. Cova
     "Lilly Gerth Gehrke and Uncle Fred loved to play euchre. After Bill and I moved to Allen Park we had great times calling each other to play euchre. Of course, the boys were caught changing trump in the middle of the hand. We would have to stop them and fuss a little--but it was all in fun. A piece of cake and cup of coffee always ended a nice evening. Of course the cold beer earlier in the evening hit the spot. I miss both of them. One evening after playing cards at their home in Lincoln Park she handed me my baptismal certificate. Aunt Lilly had kept it all those years. What a nice surprise. Many years later through that baptismal certificate I wrote the church and asked them to check through their records (St. Paul's in Linkville) and send me copies of the Gehrke birth, weddings and etc. that led to furthering our genealogy."

Her obituary appeared in the Lincoln Parker newspaper, Lincoln Park, Wayne County, Michigan on June 4, 1959 as follows:
     "GEHRKE - Funeral services for Mrs. Lillian Anne Gehrke, 70, of 4040 Agnes, Lincoln Park, were held Monday, at Lincoln Park's Calvary Lutheran Church. Burial was in Glen Eden Cemetery. Mrs. Gehrke, born in Ontario on October 7, 1888, died last Thursday at her home. Surviving are her husband, Frederick; five children, Mrs. Mildred Stevens, of Allen Park; Arthur, of Lincoln Park; Mrs. Martha Maitland, of Taylor Township; Mrs. Hilda deHilster, of Wyandotte; and Mrs. Hedwig Pariseau, of Hazel Park; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild, and four sisters."

Lillie's death was found recorded in the church records of Calvary Lutheran Church of Lincoln Park, Wayne County, Michigan as follows: Lillian A. Gehrke, born 10/7/1888 in Hamburg, Ont., Canada, died 5/18/1959 in Lincoln Park, Michigan, buried 6/1/1959 at Glen Eden Cemetery. Remarks: Husband, 4 daughters, 1 son, 8 grandchildren and 4 sisters (obviously a referral to the survivors).

So, there you have it, two reports, that vary slightly, depending on how many facts we use, and of course, how we use them.  It so happens that Anne and I both use RootsMagic.  She has version 4, I still am using 3. 

Thank Anne for sharing, thanks to the Wild Ones for the many stimulating conversations over the years.  We are proof we can all do it a bit differently and yet have great results.

*Graphic courtesy of vintagekin.com

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

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