Famous Women Who Are Members of DAR

Stars of DAR

I've written before about some notable women who are members of Daughters of the American Revolution.  Since then, I've done additional research about many more women who have made a place for themselves in history.

Today begins a five part series about these women.

JEANNETTE RIDION PICCARD    

Nathan Hale Chapter, Minnesota

Jeannette was a high-altitude balloonist and in later life an Episcopal priest. She held the women's altitude record for thirty years. She was the first licensed female balloon pilot in the United States and the first woman to fly to the stratosphere. 

MAMIE GENEVA DOUD EISENHOWER  

Gettysburg Chapter, Pennsylvania

First Lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961.

LILLIAN GISH 
Massillion Chapter, Ohio

Lillian Diana Gish was an actress, director and writer whose film acting career spanned 75 years, from 1912 to 1987.  She was called "The First Lady of American Cinema."  Lillian was the star in one of the highest grossing films of the Silent Era - D. W. Griffth's "Birth of a Nation."

LILLIE HITCHCOCK COIT
Sequoia Chapter, California

Lillian was a well-known patroness of San Francisco's volunteer firefighters and the benefactor for the construction of the Coit Tower in San Francisco.

NINA MCLEMORE
Cherokee Rose Chapter, Mississippi

In 1980 she founded Liz Claiborne Accessories. She is a fashion industry powerhouse and has even climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro.  Nina’s personal philosophy on life: “I have learned you can get through anything in life, if you just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and breathe very deeply.”

CLARE BOOTH LUCE
Putnam Hill Chapter, Connecticut

Clare is an author and playwright best known for her 1936 play "The Women" which had an all-female cast.  As Ambassador to Italy, she was the first American woman appointed to a major ambassadorial post abroad. She was the wife of Henry Luce, publisher of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated.

SUSAN KILRAIN
Descendant's of '76 Chapter, Washington, D.C.

She is a retired Commander, US Navy, a former NASA test pilot and an astronaut.  Susan has logged in over 3000 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft including an F-14 Tomcat.  As an astronaut, she has over 472 hours in space.

EMILY WARREN ROEBLING
Life Member, State of New York

Emily is known for her contribution to the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband Washington Roebling (who had been the chief engineer) developed caisson disease (decompression disease). 

HELEN EILEEN JOHNS CARROLL  
Sumter's Home Chapter, South Carolina

Helen won the gold medal in the 4x100m freestyle relay event in the 1932 Olympic Games.

TAMMY DUCKWORTH
Captain William Penny Chapter, Illinois

United States Senator from Illinois.  Tammy is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and an Iraq War Veteran.  While serving as a helicopter pilot, a rocket missile hit her helicopter and as a result, she lost both her legs becoming a double amputee.  She was awarded the Purple Heart. 


To read the next installment click HERE

Big and Fun News From MyHeritage!

MyHeritage has been announced today by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) as Presenting Partner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019! As the event’s main sponsor, MyHeritage has been granted extensive global association and event, media, and digital rights for the upcoming song contest.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a famous international song competition held annually since the 1950’s, primarily among the member countries of the European Broadcasting Union. It is the world’s biggest live music event, a hugely popular television event that has been watched live by an average of close to 200 million people in the past 3 years. The contest is hosted by the previous year’s winning country — as Israel won the 2018 competition, Eurovision 2019 will be held in Tel Aviv.

Some past winners of the Eurovision Song Contest:

1969 - Lulu won for her song "Boom Bang-a-Bang" - better know for her song "To Sir With Love"

1974 - ABBA for "Waterloo" - Who doesn't know ABBA?

1988 - Celine Dion for "Ne partez pas sans moi" - translated "Don't Leave Without Me"


1997 - Katrina and the Waves for "Love Shine a Light"- better known for their hit "Walking on Sunshine"

Another Great Story From The California Statutes - Deputy Marshall Andrew McGinnis

So I am back to extracting genealogical information from the California State Statutes.  I am in the year 1895 and it is mostly all payments made by the State of California to individuals.  As usual, one catches my eye.  Mostly because it is a payment to a woman and the amount of the payment - Mrs. Addie McGinnis for $7500.

So off I go, to ask The Google why Mrs. McGinnis is getting $7500 from the State of California.

At first, all I find is that the payment is compensation for the death of her husband who was "killed while hunting the reward for the capture of Evans and Sontag."

Clickity-clack, clickity-clack and it is now 3 in the morning.  HOWEVER, I now have the story.

In August 1892, George Constant, John Sontag and Chris Evans, using sticks of dynamite, held up a train near Visalia, California and made away with over $10,000 in gold and silver coins.  They shot Visalia Deputy George Witty and then escaped in the deputy's buggy.  This triggered a large possee to come after the desperados.  The train robbers were tracked to a cabin and as the lawmen approached, the robbers opened fire killing Andrew McGinnis.

McGinnis had just moved to San Francisco with his wife and daughter in February of that year from Modesto, where for eight years he had held the position of Deputy Sheriff.  After moving to San Francisco he had found employment at Friedlander Cigar Manufacturers.  When the possee was forming, the Southern Pacific Railroad asked his assistance due to his reputation as an efficient and intelligent officer.  He was sworn in as a Deputy U.S. Marshall the morning the possee left to find the robbers.  In a weird coincidence, McGinnis had at one time worked as a bill collector for Sontag and Evans when they owned a livery stable in Modesto.

Addie McGinnis left San Francisco and went to Modesto to bury her husband at Modesto Citizens Cemetery in Stanislaus County. A little less than a year later, Sontag was killed and Evans was apprehended after a gun battle with a posse. Evans lost an eye and his right hand in the fight.  Chris Evans was convicted of the murder of all three officers and sentenced to life in Folsom Prison. He was paroled in 1912.

 "Whatever happened to the Widow McGinnis and her daughter?", you ask.  Well, I caught up with Addie McGinnis in 1900.  

Addie McGinnis, age 45,  had moved to Stockton (of all places)  and was working as an attendant at the Stockton State Insane Asylum.  Daughter Etta May McGinnis was attending dental school.  Ten years later finds them both in Oakland, Alameda County working as dermatologists.  Sometime before 1920, Etta May McGinnis married Jeremiah Denahy and she and her mother moved in with him.  Jeremiah was the owner of a dancing academy in Oakland.

Owning a dancing school must have been good business because the Denahy's purchased a home valued at $3000 and all three lived in the house until their deaths.

Addie died first on 4 January 1943, then Etta May on 1 October 1955 and finally Jeremiah on 12 December 1958.  all are buried at St. Mary's Cemetery, Oakland, Alameda County, California.

There are no living descendants of Deputy Marshall Andrew McGinnis.  I am telling his story here so he will not be forgotten.


Sources
1900 U.S. census, Stockton, San Joaquin County, California, ED 108, sheet 5B, dw 39, fam 109, Addie McGinnis household
1910 U.S. census, Oakland, Alameda County, California, ED 121, sheet 1A, pg 53, dw 7, fam 15, Addie McGinnis household
1920 U. S. census, Oakland, Alameda County, California, ED 81, sheet 4A, pg 222, dw 73, fam 81, Jeremiah Denahy household
1930 U.S. census,  Oakland, Alameda County, California, ED 1-101, sheet 9A, pg 9, dw 126, fam 143, Jeremiah Denahy household
1940 U.S. census,  Oakland, Alameda County, California, ED 61-184, sheet 12A, pg 89, Jeremiah Denahy household 
Find A Grave Memorial 146896522
Find a Grave Memorial 146896470
Oakland Tribune, Friday 12 December 1958, pg 21, col 4, Obit for Jeremiah Denahy
San Francisco Chronicle, Thursday 15 September 1892, pg 2, col 1, "Inquest on the Dead"
San Francisco Chronicle, Wednesday 14 September 1892, pg 1, col 1, "Two More Victims, Deadly work of Evans and Sontag"
Stanislaus Historical Quarterly, Vol 7, No. 4, Winter 2014, pg 715
Officer Down Memorial Page, http://www.odmp.org/officer/16202-deputy-us-marshal-andrew-w-mcgennis

The DAR Library and Genealogical Lecture Series

Did you know that the Library at the National Society Daughter of the American Revolution has an archived lecture series that is absolutely free to anyone?  All the presenters are librarians or genealogists at DAR and there is a wide variety of topics to choose from.

This is a must to have on your list of genealogical education opportunities.  

DAR GENEALOGY 101 SERIES

"From Rhode Island to Australia and Back" by Andrew Boisvert
"Asian American Genealogy" by Pamela Loos-Noji
"FamilySearch:  Improving Your Research With The Search Tab"  by Anne Merrill
"Revolutionary Elizabeths" by Clare Marshall
"African-American Research in DC" by Stacie Newton
"Real Widows of the Pension Office:  Civil War Widow Pensions" by Pamela Loos-Noji
"Native American Genealogy"  by Briana Diaz
"Cemeteries and Death Records" by Karen Janczy
"North Carolina Land Records in Tennessee" by Stacie Newton
"Jewish American Genealogy" by Pamela Baster
"African American Genealogy" by Elizabeth Drembus
"Female Ancestors" by Darryn Lickliter
"Search Strategies" by Marilyn Mills
"An Ocean Away:  Immigration Records" by Stacie Newton
"An Introduction to Quakers for Genealogists" by Elizabeth Ernst
"Land and Property Records" by Forrest Crosley
"New York Military Records" by Tom Ragusin
"African American Research" by Yvonne Liser
"That's Revolutionary (War)" by Bevin Creel
"DNA Research" by Tom Ragusin

DAR LIBRARY LECTURE SERIES

"1777: Tipping Point at Saratoga" by Dean Snow
"Testing the American Way of War" by Edward G. Lengel
"The Swamp Fox" by John Oller
"Confounding Father" by Robert McDonald
"Abductions in the American Revolution" by Christian M. McBurney
"American Icarus:  A Memoir of Father and Country" by Pythia Peay
"Federal Style in the Federal City" by Ann Wass
"Washington's Circle" by David and Jean Heidler
"The Grand Forage 1778" by Todd W. Braisted
"Using Maps in Historical Research" by Charlie Grymes

Clues From Headstones

I came across this headstone photo on Find A Grave the other day.  The words in Latin with the insignia intrigued me so off I went to find out the meaning.

IN HOC SIGNO VINCES

The translation is:   "In this sign you will conquer."

This motto is used by about fifty different military groups, schools, sports teams and other organizations.  Here are just a few:

Is the motto on the Coat of Arms of O'Donnell

It has been used in some versions of the logo for the brand of cigarettes, Pall Mall

It is the motto of St Michael's Church School, Christchurch, New Zealand.

The motto of the Norwegian Army 2nd Battalion.

The motto of College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The motto of U.S. Marine Aircraft Squadron VMA(AW)533.

The motto of Saint Joseph's Grammar School in Donaghmore, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

The motto and engraving on the headstone mean that Joseph Peters is a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.  So if I wanted to learn more about this Joseph Peters, I might try contacting the alumni of this fraternity to see if they have any information.  But seeing as how this wasn't the Joseph Peters I was after, it will have to wait for another day.

10 Years of Blogging!

Ten years ago, Randy Seaver of GeneaMusings, invited me to write a series of articles on his blog as his guest.  They told the story of my attending the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama for the first time.  You can read all of the articles HERE.

The posts were well received but after the last one in the series, Randy kicked me off his blog telling me to go start one of my own.  And so the "Educated Genealogist" was born.

I didn't remember it was my anniversary.  I read about it on the GeneaBloggers Tribe website.  Thanks Geneabloggers!

According to Wikipedia, the traditional 10th anniversary gift is tin or aluminum.  However, the librarians at the Chicago Public Library created a modern gift list and they say that diamond jewelry is the proper gift for a 10th anniversary.  Librarians know best so I am going with diamonds.  Please feel free to send me either one of the tiaras below.

Just an FYI:  IGHR is now held at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel on the University of Georgia Campus in historic Athens, Georgia.  To learn more click HERE.

10th anniversary logo courtesy of 123rf

What is a Genealogy Blog Party?

Back in 2008 or so, there was a thing called "Carnival of Genealogy."  Each month a theme was announced for bloggers to write about.  One genealogy blogger would host the carnival.  Hosting meant that blogger gathered all the submissions for that month and then made one post that contained all the links to the genealogy blogs that had made submissions for that month's theme.

It was a great way to read new blogs and to promote your own blog.

Around 2012 or so, the carnival kind of faded away.

Elizabeth O'Neal, who is the author of "My Descendant's Ancestors," has decided that we need to bring back this tradition and has done so with a new name - "Genealogy Blog Party."  Elizabeth comes up with a theme each month and then asks genealogy bloggers to submit their post on that theme.  You can learn how to submit your post HERE.

Elizabeth has been hosting the blog party for awhile now and I feel really bad I haven't participated until now.  

This month's theme is "Potluck Picnic."  You can submit any of your favorite posts.  So here is my entry into the blog party.

I am almost finished with my project of abstracting genealogical information from the California State Statutes 1850-1910.  You will find wonderful information such as legal name changes, estate and probate, etc.  The link to my blog page where you will find all of the abstracts is HERE.

One of my favorite posts was written after I finished my four year term serving as president of the San Joaquin Genealogical Society.  I feel that if you belong to any organization, you should step up to the plate and take a turn at serving as an officer or a committee chair.  You can read that post HERE.

Some items from the California State Statutes caught my eye for one reason or another.  After some research in newspapers and local sources, I was able to find out the story behind some of these - some shocking, some terribly sad.


California Statutes - A Lesson Learned From Judy Russell

1913 Was An Interesting Year In California

A Juicy Nugget From The California Statutes

Stories From The Research Committee

After I termed out as president of the San Joaquin Genealogical Society, I remained on the board as immediate past president.  I am also head of the research committee, handling requests for research in our county.

Today a request for an obituary led me down a 2 hour rabbit hole.  The obituary was for a woman named Louise Leger who died in San Joaquin County in 1955.  The person requesting the obit was employed by an heir searching company in France.  He wanted the obit to determine if Louise had any children.

 When I didn't find an obit for Louise, I let the patron know there wasn't one and that concluded our business.  But I personally couldn't let the story go.  I decided to locate her death certificate.

After reading the certificate, I understood why there wasn't an obituary.  Louise had died at the Stockton State Hospital for the Insane.  She had been a patient there for over 22 years at the time of her death.  She was cremated by the hospital and her remains were buried on the grounds of the hospital.  This was usually done when no known next of kin could be located.

This poor woman died all alone. I needed to learn more about her.

The death certificate gave her address before she had been committed to the hospital - 128 Leland Avenue, San Francisco.  A check in the San Francisco City directories did not list a Louise Leger. 

The death certificate stated that Louise was born in France.  I decided to look at passenger arrivals.  I found her with two children.

Louise Leger, a widow, age 43 with her daughter Vivian Charlene Leger, age 19,  and son Andre Ernest Leger, age 18 arrived at the Port of New York on 22 February 1913.  They had sailed on the SS La Lorraine from Havre, France.

I did not find any of them in the 1920 census, but hit the jackpot in the 1930 census.  Living in the Bronx, New York I found that both children had married and had families of their own.

Jules Dumont   age 36, age 23 when married, born France, immigrated 1907, naturalized citizen, weaver in a lace mill
Vivian Dumont, age 35, age 22 when married, born France, immigrated 1913, naturalized citizen
Germaine M. Dumont, daughter, age 10, born Rhode Island
Robert Dumont, son, age 8, born Rhode Island
Andrew Dumont, son, age 6, born Rhode Island
Helen Dumont, daughter, age 4yr 6mo, born Rhode Island
Georgette Dumont, daughter, age 3yr 6mo, born Rhode Island
Louise Leger, mother-in-law, age 60, widow, age 23 when married, born France, immigrated 1913, alien

Andre Leger, age 34, age 20 when married, born France, immigrated 1914, naturalized citizen, weaver lace factory
Albertine Leger, wife, age 33, born Canada
Viviane Leger, daughter, age 12, born Rhode Island
Rene Leger, son, age 9, born Rhode Island
Leo Leger, son, age 10, born Rhode Island  
Elise Leger, daughter, age 8, born Rhode Island
Gerard Camil Leger, son, age 8, born Rhode Island  
Charlotte Leger, daughter, age 7, born Rhode Island  
Richard Maurice Leger, son, age 4, born Rhode Island 

In 1940 Vivian Dumont and her family are living in Passaic County, New Jersey and Andre Leger and his family are living in East Providence, Rhode Island. 

Where was Louise living in 1940?  At the Stockton State Hospital for the Insane.

Her children probably never knew what happened to her as evidenced by her death certificate.  Why did Louise move to San Francisco?  What happened after arriving in San Francisco that led to her commitment to the hospital for the mentally ill?

We most likely will never know what happened, but I feel better connecting Louise to her children.

State Lineage Societies and Pioneer Programs

Reasons for joining a lineage society are varied. Some join as a way to validate their research. While there are a few exceptions, nearly every lineage society will ask you to prove the dates and places of birth, marriage, and death for each person on the application and then prove the child to parent relationship for each generation starting with you, and going back to your qualifying ancestor. This is also a way to preserve history for future generations. Others join for the social and community service aspect.  Being around people who share your interests is a wonderful thing.

In my previous post, I listed some of the general lineage societies.

This post is a listing of some of the many First Family or Pioneer Certificate Programs at the state level.

I have only listed those who have a listing of proven ancestors or pioneers on their website.

If you don't see a state listing of your choice - just ask The Google if one exists.

Order of First Families of North Carolina

Lineal descent from an individual who resided in that part of the Province of Carolina that became North Carolina, before the creation of the Royal Colony in 1729.
List of Proven Ancestors

Order of the First Families of New Hampshire 1622 - 1680

Lineal descent from an ancestor who was a resident of, owned land in, was the chief proprietor of a business, or performed military or civil service, between 1622 and 1680 within the boundaries of present day New Hampshire.
Proven Ancestors

Order of the First Families of Maine 1604 - 1652

Lineal descent from an ancestor who was a resident of, owned land in, or was the chief proprietor of a business between 1604 and 1652 within the boundaries of present day Maine.
Proven Ancestors

THE ORDER OF THE FIRST FAMILIES OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS

Lineal descent from an ancestor who was resident on land presently a part of the State of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations prior to January 1, 1647/8
Proven Ancestors

First Families of Ohio

Sponsored by the Ohio Genealogical Society
First Families of Ohio is a lineage society open to OGS members who prove their descent from an ancestor who lived in Ohio by the end of 1820.
Proven Ancestors

Order of the First Families of Maryland

Lineal descent from either: (1) Sir George Calvert, The First Lord Baltimore, who was granted the Palatinate of Maryland by King Charles I of England, or (2) an ancestor who aided in the establishment of the Palatinate of Maryland or who was an office holder, real property owner or resident in Maryland prior to December 31, 1734.
Proven ancestors

Washington State Centennial Pioneer Certificate Program

Sponsored by the Washington State Genealogical Society
Proven Ancestors

Sons and Daughters of Oregon Pioneers

Direct descendants of pioneers who arrived and settled in the Oregon Country – the present states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, parts of Montana, Wyoming and most of the Province of British Columbia – prior to the entry of Oregon to the Union on February 14, 1859
Links to assist you in proving your ancestor

First Families of Alabama

Sponsored by the Alabama Genealogical Society
Proven ancestors

Prairie Pioneers

Sponsored by the Illinois State Genealogical Society
Proven Ancestors

Society of Indiana Pioneers

Proven Ancestors

Pioneer Descendant Certification Program

Sponsored by the Florida State Genealogical Society
Proven Ancestors

Missouri First Families

Sponsored by The Missouri State Genealogical Association
Proven Ancestors

Texas First Families

Sponsored by Texas State Genealogical Society 
Proven Ancestors

First Families and Early Settlers of Montana

Sponsored by Montana State Genealogical Society
Proven Ancestors

Order of the First Families of Mississippi:  1699-1817

Proven Ancestors

Daughters of Utah Pioneers 

Proven Ancestors

Native Daughters of the Golden West

The only requirement to join this society is that you be female and born in the State of California.  A real gem on their website is the database of California Pioneers who resided or were born in California before December 31, 1869.
You can access it HERE.