A Family Member Found

Over the last 10 years, I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have posted to genealogical message boards and mailing lists. Very rarely has anyone responded to my messages or queries.

For a few family lines, I never really expected to get a response. For example : Everyone out there who is a BORGSTADTER (my grandmother's line) Come on people, raise your hand if you are a BORGSTADTER! OK then, how about BEFORT (my father's family)? HOBROCK? THRON? ERK? See what I mean?

So imagine me getting an email from a descendant of my Grandad Befort's oldest sister who not only sends greetings, but 4 pages of genealogical information and (BE STILL MY HEART) a photo of my great grandmother Befort!

Meet Elizabeth Ernst Befort my great grandmother. Elizabeth, the daughter of Johan Adam Ernst and Anna Marie Kemper, was born in Obermonjou, Samara, which is located in the Volga River Valley in Russia. She married John Befort in Munjor, Ellis County, Kansas at St. Francis Catholic Church in 1891.

Elizabeth and John had 10 children. The eldest is Angela Befort whose granddaughter sent me the information and photos. My grandfather Edmund Befort is 21 years younger than his sister.

I was also sent this photo of the 2 eldest Befort girls :

This was taken in 1918. The girl on the right is Angela Befort (born 1892) and on the left, Susan Befort (born 1899).

This is my grandfather Edmund Befort. Having a face to go with your ancestors name is so incredibly awesome. When you spend years researching, you start to feel as if you know these people. When I finally do get a photo of an ancestor very rarely am I surprised by their looks - I already had a picture in my head of what I envisioned them to look like and haven't been too far off the mark yet.

The Best Monday Ever ! Part Dos (That's Spanish for two ya'll))

Wow. All I can say is Wow. Meeting up with Becky and Craig has been the highlight of my year.

I was so excited to meet Becky, I was outside my house waiting for her to drive up. When I saw her vehicle drive up, I opened up the car door and hopped inside and gave her a big hug. The connection with her was immediate. I don't think we stopped talking until she dropped me back at home later in the day! Yack, Yack Yackety Yack! My mouth hurts from talking and laughing so much today.

I had met Craig at Jamboree last summer but today got some quality time. I know I already told you how simply charming this man is but he is also a bone fide Brain-ee-ack. Today though, all formalities were out the window.

The three of us - it was like we had known each other for years, finishing each others sentences I think we discussed every topic known to mankind.

After vowing to meet again at Jamboree this summer, we headed to the parking lot to rumble with the local gang take photos.

Craig and I posed for Becky first with our "seriously, we mean business" faces

Then we had a giggle fit

Becky and Craig get it right the first time

Craig, what the hell are you doing?

OK Funny Guy, cut it out!

Ah here's the one we wanted!

The Best Monday Ever! Part Uno

Mondays are known to be synonymous with the likes of Bad Hair Days. But not this Monday. I feel like my Fairy Godmother has rocked my wish list!

Yes, it is unseasonably cold and rainy today but I am sharing the day with a couple of people who I admire, respect and am in such awe of all their accomplishments.

Becky Wiseman, author of Kinexxions, will be here shortly to pick me up and then we are taking a short drive North to Sacramento to have lunch with the one of the most charming men I know - Craig Manson. Craig is the author of GeneaBlogie as well as a fellow columnist for Shades - The Magazine.

Becky is the Geneablogger from Indiana who has been traveling all over the United States and sharing her trip with us through her stunning photography which she posts regularly on her blog.



Craig is (amongst a whole lot of other things) a Distinguished Professor and Lecturer in Law at the Capital Center for Public Law and Policy at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. Don't let the fancy title and words fool you, stuffy this man is NOT!



When I return, I promise photos and details of the day.

Comments Left On Germans From Russia

Awhile back I wrote a little article about my German-Russian heritage. I was pleasantly surprised at the interest in Germans from Russia and even more amazed that a few of the people who left comments were actually from Munjor, Kansas!

I want to discuss this topic further and follow up with those who left comments but I have no way to reach them. Please contact me either through this blog or email - sherifenley@gmail.com

Joanne Gartner - left a comment that she actually grew up in Munjor, Kansas and said that her dad had loads of stuff on the town and of genealogical interest and would LOVE TO SHARE. Joanne - don't leave me drooling and twisting in the wind!

YoungSmith - also left a comment that she was from Munjor . I mean what are the odds - the population is only about 10 people. Youngsmith - come back and talk to me!

Joanna from San Francisco - her people are Lutherans but are from the Saratov region.

Don't make me have to get all "Mother Superior" on you people!

Well No Wonder I Couldn't Find It !

I can remember clearly my grandmother telling me (on more than one occasion) that her wedding anniversary was the same day as her parents - November 4th.

When I requested a marriage certificate from the State of Kansas for my grandparents, I was told "Sorry but it didn't happen in this state on that date."

Well today look what I found hiding between the pages of an old bible that no one in the family claimed as belonging to them:

Back dating their marriage to August puts my mother's birth at just about the nine month mark. Good thing someone had an "In" with the press. It's easier to swallow a "Secret Marriage" story than having to explain a 9 pound baby who was 3 months premature!

For Brenda

Brenda Dougall Merriman, the author of Genealogical Standards of Evidence, Genealogy in Ontario: Searching the Records and most recently United Empire Loyalists: A Guide to Tracing Loyalist Ancestors in Upper Canada (which won the 2009 National Genealogical Society Book Award) recently lamented about the lack of humor in the Geneablogger world.

Well, as Underdog would say, "Here I Am To Save The Day!" I am not sure that this is what she had in mind, but I think it is pretty damn funny!

Shades The Magazine Celebrates Women's History Month

Well the footnoteMaven has done it again - another most excellent issue of "Shades - the Magazine." Always filled to the brim with carefully selected photos for your viewing enjoyment, this issue includes articles on photo restoration (by guest author Janine Smith), another installment of the tales from Penelope Dreadful and of course my column. This month I take you back to the year 1925.

As always, you may view the magazine online, print it or download and save to your computer. Which ever way you decide is groovy with me, as long as you give yourself a real treat and read it cover to cover!

Hey Emmitt Smith - It's "Ourstory"

Emmitt Smith's journey to find his ancestors on last night's "Who Do You Think You Are?" was simply Mahvalous! He did not have any preconceived notions about his greats. All he had was an eagerness to learn. He didn't seem concerned whether any of his ancestors were famous or wishing that they had done something of historical importance. He just wanted to know them.

He began the search with the genealogist's mantra - "Start with what you know." Emmitt knew next to nothing about his grandparents so he went to the most likely source of information - his parents. His search progressed forward with each new piece of information just like it should have.

I am still reading comments left everywhere about the lack of demonstrating the research process. People, people - that is NOT what the show is all about. The show is about discovery of ones self through ones ancestry. Believe it or not, not everyone who is interested in their family history is interested in genealogy or wants to be a genealogist! Yes, they want to know who their ancestors are but they don't necessarily want to do the research themselves. That part of the discovery doesn't appeal to them. Enter - the professional genealogist. I do not intend to miss out on this opportunity.

The joy and "peace" Emmitt displayed at the end of the show was genuine. The best line of the show? At the end when Emmitt says, "It's not HIStory, it's Mystory."

Hey Emmitt - when it really comes down to it, isn't it "OURstory?

Zippity Do Dah!

Well it finally happened. The day I have been waiting for. I have my first client that actually went to the APG - Association of Professional Genealogists - website and looked at all of the genealogists that are registered there and chose me.

I have had many clients before this, both paying and pro bono. But when said client told me that they had found me through APG it validated my place in the world of professional genealogists.

Well, at least here in my world it did.

Zippity Do Dah!

Becoming a member of APG does not guarantee that clients will be lining up around the block just because you pay your yearly dues. I made the decision to become a member because of this statement -

"APG strives to support, guide, and protect all aspects of genealogy as a profession and promotes the highest standard of ethics and professionalism among our members."

Coming Attractions - San Joaquin Genealogical Society

THURSDAY - MARCH 18TH

The San Joaquin Genealogical Society here in Stockton, California would love to see you at their meeting on Thursday March 18th. Come and meet Leigh Johnsen - the new archivist for the Gerald D. Kennedy Reference Library at the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum. Leigh and his crew have whipped the library into shape and ready for action and he will tell us all about it.

The meeting will be held in the R.E.I. Community Room which in on the 2nd floor inside the REI Store located at 5757 Pacific Avenue in Stockton. We start at 7:00 PM and refreshments will be served.

The San Joaquin County Historical Society maintains an archival collection of historic records on behalf the County of San Joaquin which includes historic records, books, manuscripts, business and legal records, maps, photographs, and ephemera pertaining to the history of the County

Their genealogy collection includes directories that cover most of the 20th century and much of the 19th. It also holds published and unpublished records of births, marriages, and deaths, as well as marriage certificates from 1874 to 1950. Of special interest are the library's Pioneer Family Register, which includes genealogical research submitted by descendants of longtime County residents, a collection of more formal genealogical resources compiled by individuals, and plat books that afford visual evidence of landholding from 1876 to 1919. The library holds more than 7000 photo images—prints, slides, tintypes, and glass plate negatives—that cover a wide range of historical topics in San Joaquin County.

The archives and material in the Reference Library are accessible to researchers by appointment only. Materials in the library are non-circulating; however, photocopies and/or digital images of some materials may be made subject to the policies of the Society at the discretion of the archivist.

San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum

11793 N Micke Grove Road, Lodi CA 95240

Mailing address:

P. O. Box 30, Lodi, California 95241-0030



(209) 331-2055
(209) 331-2057 fax



info@sanjoaquinhistory.org