2023 - A Year in Review

Another year is almost over and it’s time for me to reflect on my genealogy research from this past year and decided on some goals for the new year.

The year started off rocky because a new computer I purchased during a Black Friday deal in 2022 was starting to act on the fritz. I was turning on to a blue screen of death, stating that the hard drive was not found. After working with the computer company customer support and doing some tricks, I was able to reboot properly, however it would come back hours later or the next day to that Blue Screen. Anyway, I had to send it back, twice for repairs. Once in January and once in April. Good thing, I had my laptop as a backup. Knock on Wood, it appears to be all good now. Shhhhh, let’s not say that too loud.

I started the year with a new tool, I purchased a Clever Fox planner to keep track of my projects and such. It was undated and thus I had to enter the dates. It had a monthly at glance calendar and weekly pages where I could write in more detail. The planner was very useful, the lesson I learned, I need to fill out all the dates ahead of time, instead of waiting until the month started. Therefore, in my new 2024 journal, I have already done that. Thus, reviewing my genealogy research has been simplified because of this journal.

I started with five basic goals: 

1.) Participate in the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks created by Amy Johnson Crow. I wanted to do more post this past year than I did the previous year. Therefore, I needed to do 28 or more post in 2023 and I accomplished 35. What was really exciting, in the weekly email’s that Amy sends out, my blog post was spotlighted several times during the year. I wish I had noted which ones were spotlighted. If I had to guess, looking at the number of views for each post, I see that nine of them jumped into triple digits, while the rest remained under 50 views.

2.) Work on my Hiltz/Hilts Project. This project is for my maternal grandmother’s maiden name. I did start this project, I was working through a book that was published on the Canadian Hilts and I added them into my tree from this book, doing additional research as I went. This project wasn’t completed because I became sided tracked with my next goal.

3.) Work on the second edition of the Steffes Family book for my sister-in-law Jane. I hadn’t really planned on doing this into 2023, however, at a family reunion in August of 2022, Jane promised family members an update to the book I produced in 2022. I told her I wasn’t doing anymore updates after this edition. I also explained, that normally, I wouldn’t do an update this fast, I would give it 5 years for people to review the first book to find errors or omissions. I did complete this goal and sold about 13 books. I would have figured more, based on the size of this family, but I did learn a lot. I used Family Book Creator to create this book and it was very exciting.

4.) Clean up my paper files. I ended up instead shredding other paperwork that I ended up moving with because I didn’t have time to shred everything before moving from Arizona to Wisconsin in 2020. The boxes of paperwork, had been sitting in my daughter’s garage and I decided to take it home and shred this stuff. I could only do about an hour of shredding before the shredder became hot. But I managed to shred all the boxes. YAHOO!

5.) Slides Project – review, select and scan slides from my father’s collection. I quickly put this project on hold because of the scope of the project and the time I was spending on my sister-in-law’s book.

Other projects I started that I had not anticipated. I started a project to research, one of my 3rd great grandparent’s descendants. It was a branch that I hadn’t really looked at. I decided I wanted to do a book on the descendants, after doing the book for my sister-in-law. I found out quickly, that this family has lots of descendants. This project didn’t proceed as fast as I liked because one of my sister-in-law’s cousins wanted me to do a book on her family, similar to the Steffes family, which she is one of. 

Thus, this project was an experiment, to see if this is something I wanted to do as a side “hustle” to earn money. I am almost done with the project; I believe I can wrap it up in January of 2024. I realized that I would need to charge a hefty fee for this project. I started with a tree of about 700 people and ended up with a tree of more than 1500 people. Then she had lots of pictures to add, that I had to scan. Besides the main descendant book, she wanted me to do, two short additions/appendixes for two other lines that married into the main family, both are her direct ancestor’s lines. I learned, that I would have to charge at least $3,000 to take on such a project. I would need to define the scope from the beginning, since she expanded the scope with the two additional lines. When I sell the book, I will make some money back, but nothing close to the time I spent on this project. It was a good lesson to learn, I don’t regret this lesson. I learned even more about Family Book Creator that I can take into making my own book projects.

Looking ahead into 2024, I have some goals that I decided to set.

1.) I will participate in the 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks; however, I will not put so much pressure to get more posts than last year. Hopefully, it will just happen because of the habit I have of writing a weekly post.

2.) I am starting a daily genealogy tip post on my other blog “Out on a Limb Genealogy” based on an article in Family Tree Magazine, January/February 2024 issue. I will create the weeks’ worth of individual blog posts and schedule them to be released during the next week. I did a similar project back in 2012 and I really enjoyed it. Goal 1 and 2 can be done on the same day of the week.

3.) Finish the Jones Book for my sister-in-law’s cousin. I plan on finishing this in January, I am on the last step of combining the main section to the appendix sections. This might take a few tries to get it correct. I need to read up on how to do this in Word.  

4.) Continue the Goodwin Descendant project. This is the 3rd great grandparents that I started researching in 2023. After I finish the Jones book, I will go back to this project. This is my major research project for the year.  I want to find all the descendants that I can, then look at the DNA matches and see if I have them in the tree, if not, then research to add them. Finally create a descendant book where I identify my DNA matches. I want to create descendant books on all my immigrant ancestors as a way to preserve my research. If I can spend at least one day a week on this project, I should be accomplishing a lot. I probably can spend more than one day, but I am doing some home improvement projects too.

5.) Clean up my paper files. I need to really revisit this project, when I was reorganizing my office this past year, I came across these stacks of papers again. I need to do at least one hour of review, scan and shred or file papers before I start my genealogy research for the day. 

How did you do this past year? What are some goals for 2024?

Remember to have fun and Just Do Genealogy!  

Week 52: Me, Myself, and I (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 2023 Version)

The last theme for 2023 is "Me, Myself, and I." You are a part of your own family history. This week, write something about yourself. What do you hope future generations will know about you? Click here to see all the past themes for 2023. Check out the upcoming themes for 2024.

It is difficult to talk about oneself. Plus, in this day an age, I don’t want to give out too much personal information about myself. This is one reason that genealogy sites like Ancestry, make living people private.

I am the youngest of nine children. I come from a blended family. My mother’s first husband died and left her a widow with six children. She married my dad and had three more, with me being the absolute youngest.

I remember in grade school; many people did not understand half-siblings and would try to correct me and tell me my siblings were my step-siblings. On TV, the only blended family I recall was the Brady Bunch and they were step-siblings. 

Anyway, I was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and before turning two, my family moved to the nearby town of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin because Kiekhaefer Marine, which my father worked for, relocated from Beaver Dam to Fond du Lac. Kiekhaefer merged with the Brunswick Corporation and became known as Mercury Marine in 1972. 

My family took camping trips every summer for about 3 weeks. We traveled all over the United States and to Canada too. This is when I started to like history, especially the Civil War. My introduction to genealogy was from a middle school social studies class assignment. Shortly afterwards, the Roots mini series came on TV and I was fascinated on how he figured out his Roots.

I married two years after high school and started my family. After two children, I enrolled into the local Technical College, gave birth to my third child and graduated with honors with an associate degree in Computer Programming. It was at this time, that I actually started doing genealogy research, obtained my first computer and was on the hunt for the perfect genealogy software package. I realized, that no program would have everything I needed, so I had to find something that checked off most of the boxes. I finally saved up and purchased Family Tree Maker. Ten years after the birth of my third child, I gave birth to my fourth and final child. Nine months later, one of my sisters lost her battle with breast cancer.

In 1999, we moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where my parents retired to in 1989. I worked for the local phone company as a customer representative for several years. During this time, my mother passed away. Then, I finally landed a job at a local Community College, working in the Enrollment department. It was a job I truly enjoyed. My first and only grandchild was born. 

I quit my job after seven years, when my father died since I was left to be the caregiver of my two sisters who have intellectual disabilities. I joined the local genealogical society, taught genealogy classes at the local Community College and began researching on a full-time basis. This is when I started my yearly subscription to Ancestry. 

In 2012, I purchased a second home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to spend my summers with my two sisters. The town was a familiar place for them to take walks, go to the mall and reconnect with some of their friends. Plus, I was able to do more in-person research for genealogy.

In 2020, my husband retired and we decided to move back to Wisconsin. I moved my sisters into their own apartment so that my husband and I could have our first alone time. We sold the Fond du Lac home and purchased a home in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Located only 23 miles east of Fond du Lac. In 2021, my oldest brother lost his battle with cancer.

Three of my adult children also moved back to Wisconsin, my daughter and granddaughter live in Fond du Lac, my oldest son in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and my youngest daughter lives in the Milwaukee Area. My other son, after spending eight years with the U.S. Navy, relocated to Colorado and currently lives in Wyoming. 

I relocated my sisters from Fond du Lac to a place in Plymouth, so it would be easier for me to tend to their needs, visit them and invite them over to my home to watch movies.

What I hope future generations to know about me, besides these facts is that I love to crochet. Planting, harvesting and canning my vegetable garden brings me much joy and pride. I love playing board games, and I own over 30 different versions of Monopoly. 

My husband asks me every morning what are my plans for today, and my reply is always “Genealogy”. I don’t get or want to do genealogy every day, but being trapped in the house because of Covid, Snow storms or other bad weather is not punishment, it means I can Do Genealogy.

Remember to have fun and Just Do Genealogy!

Week 51: Cousins (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2023 Version)

The theme for Week 51 is "Cousins." The neat thing about this theme is that we genealogists know that everyone is our cousin! That definitely opens up the possibilities for who to write about! Whether you focus on a close one or someone who is barely attached to your family tree, share the story of one of your cousins this week. (Click here to check out all the Themes from 2023.)

Cousins, we sure have lots of them! The realization of the extensive network of cousins becomes apparent as I delve into my DNA Matches. Examining my AncestryDNA test results reveals an impressive count of 1052 close matches, encompassing 4th cousins or closer, exhibiting a shared centimorgan range between 20 and 3,490. This figure includes not only my siblings, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews but also extends to a broader familial scope. Subtracting these nine close relatives, I am left with 1043 connections. Additionally, I've identified 21,961 distant matches within the 6 to 20 centimorgan range, bringing the grand total of matches to 23,004. Regrettably, I've only been able to pinpoint 123 of these connections.

Within my family tree, approximately 226 DNA Matches have been identified. It's noteworthy that I underwent testing with multiple DNA companies, having results at 23 & Me, with subsequent transfers to myHeritage and FTDNA.

In my genealogy program, I introduced a dedicated field labeled "DNA" featuring four possible values: blank, DNA Match, DNA Connection, or Common Ancestor. Following a DNA Match or DNA Connection, I diligently input the Common Ancestor's name. This structure enables the generation of various reports to assess Common Ancestors with the most matches.

Upon scrutinizing a recent report and comparing it with flagged entries on Ancestry's side, I contemplated distinguishing between DNA Matches originating from Ancestry versus those from other platforms. Realizing the need for precision, I intend to update my verbiage from "DNA Match" to "Ancestry DNA Match," "23 & Me DNA Match," or "FTDNA Match" to enhance the report's usefulness.

Why does the testing company matter? It becomes crucial when concentrating on a specific lineage, as it allows me to identify the testing company with the most matches for that lineage. That company may be the place I start a project identifying more matches.

Consequently, a new project emerges: reviewing and appropriately labeling all DNA Matches in my genealogy program based on the testing company. This meticulous approach facilitates the identification of individuals who may have undergone testing with more than one company. It also necessitates cross-verification of labels on the testing site; for instance, on AncestryDNA, a color-coded group labeled "Confirmed DNA Match – entered into FTM" is established, while on other platforms, the notes field serves to record their presence in my family tree.

In conclusion, the journey of genealogy is not only about discovering connections (cousins) but also about organizing and optimizing the wealth of information gleaned from our DNA Cousin Matches. So, onwards with the project.

Remember to have fun and Just Do Genealogy!

Week 50: You Wouldn’t Believe It (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – 2023 Version)

The theme for Week 50 is "You Wouldn't Believe It." Sometimes in our family history journey, we discover things that surprise or amaze us, things that almost seem unreal. There are also times in our research that we're amazed at *how* we found something. Share a surprising tale this week. Click here to check out all the themes for 2023.

One revelation that truly astonished me was the discovery that my mother's third cousin was none other than Donna Reed, originally Donna Bell Mullenger. In 2013, the revelation came to light that my mother's biological father differed from the one she had grown up with. Her parents being wed in 1929, while my mother was born in 1927. This revelation led to confirming that her biological father wasn’t the man who raised her.

Initially convinced that I had thoroughly traced her father's ancestry, the realization that it was her adopted father's line dealt a surprising blow. Suddenly, an entire branch of my family tree remained unexplored. Through the use of DNA testing, I successfully identified her biological father and delved into researching that previously unknown side of the family.

Donna Reed marks the first "celebrity" figure within my family tree, making the discovery particularly thrilling. Sharing this remarkable news with my skeptical siblings became a joy, especially after substantiating the relationship with evidence.

The excitement is amplified during this time of the year, particularly when indulging in holiday classics like "It's a Wonderful Life." Watching reruns of the Donna Reed show takes on a humorous twist, knowing that she is a relative of mine. Despite years of genealogical research, seeing a distant relative come to life beyond mere photographs is truly exhilarating.

Have you experienced any "You Wouldn't Believe It" moments in your own genealogical journey? It's worth sharing these stories with family, even if they aren't deeply interested in genealogy; they might find the discoveries just as captivating.

Remember to have fun and Just Do Genealogy!