The Infamous Mainard Brewster

There is a saying that good news doesn’t sell newspapers. And that is why you are likely to find more information about a troublemaker and his encounters with the law than you will about a regular law-abiding person. In fact, the actions of the notorious generate all sorts of records.

Each person chooses his or her path through life. Some take the wrong path but we still try to find the records they left behind and accurately record the stories of their lives, which may be quite colorful.

If you watched this past week’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? you learned that Tricia Yearwood had ancestors with a criminal past. It happened. And there is one such ancestor in my family tree.

I remember that my dad mentioned several times that we had a relative that had been in trouble with the law. My dad thought that he may have even been involved with the Dillinger Gang, but I have found no evidence of that.

Mainard Brewster, my first cousin twice removed, is that infamous distant relative. Mainard, sometimes spelled Maynard, was born 24 June 1906, the oldest son of Charles William “CW” Brewster and Maude Marsh. Daniel Brewster was CW’s father and Daniel is the common ancestor of Mainard and me.

CW (1871-1943) and Maude (1885-1920) had a family of 12 children: Clara E., Frieda Ora, Mainard, William Harold, Melvin Ora, Irene, Jennie “Dorothy”, Ray, Robert, Hulda, Alica, and Florence. They lived just across the state line in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana.

Brewster brothers, Mainard, Melvin, and William. (Photo courtesy of T Perkins)

Brewster brothers, Mainard, Melvin, and William. (photo courtesy of T. Perkins)

According to family accounts, when their mother Maude died in 1920 the boys were sent to an orphanage and the girls went to live with relatives. The boys learned the trade of furniture making and upholstery while in the orphanage. Melvin O.  Brewster eventually owned an upholstery shop in Waynedale, a suburb of Ft. Wayne. Mainard considered upholstery and furniture his occupation and likely worked with his brother. Even though Mainard worked in the upholstery business off and on, he always returned to a life of crime.

Family legend also says that CW Brewster tried to find a bride who would care of all the kids but she took one look at the situation and took off. That may actually be true. Research shows that CW did remarry after Maude’s death. A couple times, in fact. And fairly soon after Maude died.

CW’s second marriage was to Sarah E. (Finch) Washburn, 50, of North Carolina. This was her third marriage and they were married in Decatur, Indiana, on 26 June 1922. [1]

That marriage apparently did not last long and CW married a third time to Minnie E. (Fancher) Watson on 1 July 1924 in Fort Wayne. This was Minnie’s second marriage and they were still married when CW passed away in 1943. Their marriage license indicates that CW was a “draw wire” in Fort Wayne. I am not sure what occupation that was.  [2]

But what about our subject, Mainard? Family members recall that Mainard was “a character” and a real good time guy. He was fun to be around and he had a soft spot in his heart for his family. In fact, Mainard took the rap to protect his younger brothers who were involved in a robbery with him. This was during the depression era. Times were hard and this was Mainard’s way putting food on the table for his family, albeit not the most ethical or honest way.

Mainard Brewster. (photo courtesy of T. Perkins)

Mainard Brewster. (photo courtesy of T. Perkins)

Over the years Mainard was arrested for various criminal activities. His first run-in with the law appears to have occurred in 1923 in Bluffton, Indiana, when he was charged with contributing to the delinquency of minors. [3]

In 1926 he was fined on a fraudulent check charge in Decatur. [4] Over the years the offenses piled up: forgery, drunken driving, petit larceny, burglary, bank robbery, stealing bank safes, safe cracking, blowing up safes, looting an automobile…

In 1935 Brewster admitted to committing a series of 39 burglaries in several Indiana counties: Adams (17), DeKalb (5), Noble (2), and Allen (15). [5] Soon after that he was sentenced for 2-5 years at the Indiana State Prison on the single charge of robbing the Old Time Religion Tabernacle in Fort Wayne. [6] Newspaper accounts report that Brewster often boasted about his crimes during his confessions. When arrested he gave his occupation as upholsterer.

In November 1937, Mainard, age 32, was sentenced to life in prison. He was arrested for burglary but got a life sentence because of his habitual criminal record. Although the jury recommended leniency Judge Harry H. Hilgemann sentenced him to life. [7]

1940 census enumeration, Mainard Brewster, Indiana State Prison.

1940 census enumeration, Mainard Brewster, Indiana State Prison. [8]

Brewster’s Indiana State Prison record is available on-line, but his record is brief and no mug shot is available. The record indicates that he was prisoner no.19084 at Indiana State Prison North, from Allen County, receipt date 19 Nov 1937. [9] 

Mainard was paroled in August 1954 but his freedom did not last long. He ended up back in the Adams County jail in Decatur for a parole violation. And then he decided to break out of jail:

Decatur, Ind., Aug. 24-Mainard Brewster, 47-year-old life-termer, was back behind prison bars again today after 21 hours of freedom which he spent hiding along river banks or railroad tracks.

Brewster staged a one-man jail break from the Adams county bastille Monday about 3 a.m. by prying the bolted lid from an old hot air duct and tunneling trough four layers of brick. He left bound in the cell behind him, Richard E. Clark, 26, of Celina, Ohio, who refused to join in the escape.

Brewster’s freedom lasted only until midnight when he was captured without resistance… [10]

Another account of this jailbreak indicates that Richard Clark, Celina, charged with holding up the Berne bank on 29 May 1954, was also incarcerated at Decatur. When Clark refused to join the jailbreak Brewster bound him with wire and gagged him and left Clark behind. …Clark said Brewster tried to get him to join the escape at Decatur but he refused. He said Brewster threatened him with a knife while applying the bonds and gag… [11]

Rumor has it that Mainard was the last person to break out of the Adams County Jail in Decatur.

During all of this, Mainard Brewster somehow found the time to establish a relationship. Mainard married Ellen Murray on 15 March 1930. They were married by E.A. McClintock, the DeKalb County, Indiana, Justice of the Peace. [12]

Mainard Brewster/Ellen Murray marriage license, 1930.

Mainard Brewster/Ellen Murray marriage license, 1930.

Their marriage license indicates that Mainard was living in Auburn and his occupation was laborer. while his Application for Marriage License lists his occupation as “Furniture Co.” It also indicates that Ellen was born 19 August 1911 in Auburn, the daughter of Charles and Jennie (Ettinger) Murray. [13]

Mainard Brewster/Ellen Murray marriage record, 1930, DeKalb Co., Indiana.

Mainard Brewster/Ellen Murray marriage record, 1930, DeKalb Co., Indiana.

Mainard’s wife Ellen was involved in at least one crime. The incident below was a family affair that involved not only Mainard’s wife but his sister Jean and two of his brothers. I guess you could call them the Brewster Gang.

Fort Wayne, Ind., July 10—With three men and two women in jail today under high bond in connection with a wave of safe-crackings, the police took a breathing spell. The women held were Mrs. Maynard Brewster, 20, and Jean Lough, 22. Mrs. Brewster’s husband escaped the police when he drew a revolver and forced Detective Sergeant T. Harry Gibson from the running board of his car while making a getaway from his home. The men arrested are John O’Neal, 25, of Detroit and Melvin Brewster, 24, and his brother, William, both of this city. [14]

Did Mainard ever meet up with the Dillinger Gang? Maybe. They may have crossed paths in Indiana at one time or another. Robert Howard of St. Marys, Ohio, published a book a couple years ago entitled Fat Charley Makley and the Dillinger Gang. “Fat” Charley Makley, from St. Marys, did run with the Dillinger Gang and Howard’s book details many of the robberies committed by the Dillinger Gang from 1933-34. Dillinger and his men, along with Makley, robbed a bank in St. Marys and Makley later helped break Dillinger out of the Allen County jail in Lima, Ohio. Mainard Brewster was not mentioned in the Fat Charley Makley book but their crime stories sound very similar. [15]

Mainard Brewster died October 1970 in Allen County, Indiana, at the age of 64, this from the Social Security Death Index. I do not know the circumstances surrounding Mainard’s death or where he is buried. That will take some additional research or help from readers out there.

Obituary:
Mainard D. Brewster
Mainard D. Brewster, 64, of 1920 1/2 Broadway died at 11:45 p.m. Thursday in Lutheran Hospital.

Survivors include three brothers, William and Melvin, Fort Wayne, and Robert, Warsaw; and four sisters, Mrs. Nelson Hillock, Lansing, Mich., Mrs. Hulda Blocker, Marion, and Mrs. Clara Gunder and Mrs. Florence Niggemeyer, both of Fort Wayne.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at D.O. McComb & Sons Funeral Home, the Rev. Benjamin Antle officiating. [16]

[1] “Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXJX-MQ2  : accessed 2 September 2013); Charles W. Brewster and Sarah E. Washburn Finch, 1924; citing Vol. 1919-1923:141.

[2] “Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXV4-5JM : accessed 2 September 2013): Charles W. Brewster and Millie E. Watson, 1924; citing Vol. 59: 148.

[3] “Four Ossian Girls Accuse Bluffton Lads,” The Huntington Herald, Huntington, Indiana, 17 July 1923, p. 3; digital images by subscription Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 1 September 2013).

[4] “Cracked Six Safes and Now Confesses,” The Waterloo Press, Waterloo, Indiana, 23 September 1937, p. 1; digital images by subscription Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 1 September 2013).

[5] “Taken at Ft. Wayne,” Tipton Tribune, Tipton, Indiana, 11 July 1935, p. 4; digital images by subscription Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 1 September 2013).

[6] “Fort Wayne Bandit Meted 2 to 5 Years,” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, Indiana, 27 July 1935, p. 7; digital images by subscription Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 1 September 2013).

[7] “Burglar Gets Life Term,” The Kokomo Tribune, Kokomo, Indiana, 20 November 1937, p. 7; digital images by subscription Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 1 September 2013).

[8] 1940 US Census, Michigan City, LaPorte, Indiana, Ward 7, Indiana State Prison, ED 46-34, p. 24A, line 14,  Mainard Brewster; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 September 2013); from National Archives Microfilm T627, Roll 1069.

[9] Index to Life Prisoner’s Statements: State Prison at Michigan City, www.in.gov/icpr/2810.htm, accessed 4 September 2013; Mainard Brewster record, http://www.indianadigitalarchives.org/ViewRecord.aspx?RID=6AE1BC9B5D9D3830B885440D572FCAEA .

[10] “Captured,” Greensburg Daily News, Greensburg, Indiana, 24 August 1954, p. 1; digital images by subscription Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 1 September 2013).

[11] “Two Prisoners Escape in Separate Jailbreaks,” Logansport Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, Indiana, 24 August 1954, p. 3; digital images by subscription Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 1 September 2013).

[12] “Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXT6-L5S : accessed 2 September 2013); Mainard Brewster and Ellen Murray, 1930; citing Vol. 16:550.

[13] “Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:MM9.1.1/XXYD-VJD :accessed 2 September 2013); Mainard Brewster and Ellen Murray, 1930; citing Vol. 23:135. [note by kmb: Further research has shown that Ellen was born in 1913 and that her mother’s maiden name was Hettinger.]

[14] “Police Think They Are Busy,” Hammond Times, Hammond, Indiana, undated clipping, c1932.

[15] Robert Howard, Fat Charley Makley and the Dillinger Gang, The Great American Crime Spree of 1933-1934 (St. Marys, Ohio : Buzan Books, 2010).

[16] Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, 3 October 1970, p. 2A.

Tombstone Tuesday–Christian & Margaret Kesler

Christian and Margaret Kesler, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

Christian and Margaret Kesler, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2001 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Christian and Margaret Kesler, located in Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Christian
Kesler
Died July 11, 1904
Aged 60Y.  7M. 22D.

 Margaret
Wife of C Kesler
Died
Apr. 9, 1900
Aged 47Y.
6M. 3D.

Kesler is spelled “Kessler” in the church records as well as in this area, but for the sake of standardization, in this post I will spell the name as “Kesler,” as it is written on their tombstone.

I obtained information about Christian and his wife Margaret from the records of Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga. And I noticed that some of the information in the church records does not agree with the information on their tombstone. I do not know which record is correct. Their deaths were not recorded in the Mercer County Probate death records, so I was unable to compare dates and ages with an additional record.

According to the church records Christian Kesler was born 15 September 1845 in Walzheim, District Rhein, Kingdom of Bavaria, to Christian and Margaretha (Kable) Kesler. Christian [the son] came to America in 1849 with his parents and his brother and sister. He was confirmed at Zion on 1 June 1862 by Pastor Heintz. Christian died 11 July 1904 and was buried on the 12th. His death was a suicide.

Christian married Margaret Haffner on 30 December 1869 in Mercer County. The church records indicate she was born 6 October 1852 in Mercer County, Ohio, the daughter of Georg and Sophia (Martin) Hafner. She died suddenly from a stroke on 10 April 1900, at the age of 47 years, 6 months, and 4 days, according to the church records. She was survived by her husband, 11 children, and siblings.

The following death notice tells of the tragic death of Christian Kessler:

Despondent Since Wife’s Death, Christian Kessler Drowns Sorrow in Drink and Then Takes His Life
Christian Kessler, one of the wealthiest and best known farmers in Liberty township, committed suicide Monday morning by hanging himself in his wood shed. Mr. Kessler’s family supposed that he had gone to Chattanooga, near which his farm is located, and were horrified beyond measure when confronted with the ghastly body dangling from the rope which the unfortunate man had used to end his existence.

Several years ago Mr. Kessler’s wife died suddenly from heart disease. Her death gave rise to a profound melancholy on the part of her husband and his mental condition, together with excessive drinking of late, no doubt, gave rise to conditions which subsequently took the form of a suicidal mania.

Oil had been struck in paying quantities on Mr. Kessler’s farm and this brought him additional prosperity, but no increase enjoyment of life. He was the father of a large family who have been occasioned much sorrow by his tragic death. [1]

Christian and Margaret had the following children:

Magdalena, born 11 June 1871
Sophia Anna, born 16 November 1872, married Heinrich David Betzel
Maria Eugenia, born 14 February 1875, married Jacob Hoffmann
Edward Rudolph, born 11 February 1877
Clara Louise “Lula,” born 30 July 1879, married Warren V. “Nick” Detro
George Heinrich, born 8 November 1881, married Minnie Fowler
Ida Bertilie, born 9 January 1884
Friedrich Wilhelm, born 9 March 1886
Clara Henrietta, born 16 February 1889, married Martin V. Stamm
Johann Conrad Kessler, born 14 March 1891
Franziska Dova Aurelia, born 9 February 1894

Christian Kesler Barn. (2001 photo by Karen)

Christian Kesler Barn. (2001 photo by Karen)

The Keslers lived just south of Chatt. The 1900 census was taken in June, just months after Margaret’s death. That June Christian was living with eight of his single children: Lena, 28; Edward, 23; George, 18; Edith, 16; Frederick, 14; Clara, 11; John, 9; Farcis, 6. [2]

Kessler Cemetery is also called Liberty Cemetery and is located in Section 18 of Liberty Township, on Oregon Road, just about half a mile from Indiana. A number of Zion Chatt’s former members are buried there.

 

[1] Mercer County Standard, Celina, Ohio, 15 July 1904, p.1.

[2] 1900 US Census, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, ED 85, p. 11A (penned), p.207 (stamped),  line 99, dwelling 219, family 225, Christian Kesler; digital image by subscription,  Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 August 2013); from Family History Library microfilm 1241304, from National Archives microfilm T623, roll 1304.

 

Brewster DNA Test

DNA testing is rather popular among genealogists these days. The possibility of discovering ancestral origins, unknown relatives and family connections is appealing to us. So I recently decided to explore this area of genealogy, too.

I am still learning about using DNA for genealogy research but I know a little more about interpreting the results after last week’s Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) 2013 conference in Fort Wayne.

DNA

There are three main DNA tests for genealogical purposes, Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and autosomal DNA. When I first heard of using DNA in conjunction with genealogy I thought that a DNA test might provide answers to some questions in our Brewster line: Are we descended from the Mayflower Brewsters? Do we share a common ancestor with them?

My paternal grandmother was a Brewster. Gertrude Brewster was my dad’s mother and we can trace this line back as far as my third great-grandfather, Jackson Brewster (1816-1890).

I have always wondered (and hoped!) that my Brewster line was part of the Mayflower Brewsters. Some of our Brewster family histories have hinted at this and since we have not as yet been able to trace any further back than Jackson Brewster we have had no way of knowing for sure if this line did indeed descend from the Mayflower Brewsters. That is until now.

Researchers stress using genealogy research in conjunction with DNA testing. Thus far in my research I have found no link to the Mayflower clan and I decided the next step would be to test our Brewster line with a Y-DNA test. I would compare the DNA results to those of confirmed Mayflower descendants.

The Y-DNA is a test for males only and shows the DNA markers of the direct paternal line of a specific surname. It will show the DNA of the donor’s father, his father’s father, and so on. My uncles would not qualify for this test because they are Millers. Their father was a Miller and their mother was a Brewster. I needed a DNA sample from a male Brewster that descended directly from Jackson. My second cousin Brian fits that description and agreed to give a DNA sample. His grandfather was a brother to my grandmother, a direct male Brewster descendant.

I purchased a Y-DNA37 kit from FamilyTree DNA, got a sample from Brian and sent it back to FamilyTree DNA. This test shows 37 markers, but their Y-DNA tests can show 12, 37, 67 or 111 markers. I received the results a couple months ago.

I immediately joined the Brewster DNA Surname Project on FamilyTree DNA. By joining a surname project I could see the DNA results of several known Mayflower Brewster descendants as well as other Brewsters that have submitted DNA samples. FamilyTree DNA database has 7,659 surname projects and 482,854 Y-DNA records.

The DNA markers of all those in the Brewster Surname Project are shown and it is easy to compare the results. The Brewster Project has the DNA results from at least 13 known descendants of the Mayflower Pilgrim William Brewster.

DNA

Our Brewsters have the same haplogroup as the Mayflower Brewsters, haplogroup I1. According to FamilyTree DNA, a haplogroup is a major branch on either the maternal or paternal tree of humankind, associated with early human migrations. Migrations of this group date way back to the Vikings and early invasions by ancient Germanic people, about 4,000-5,000 years ago.  Today a haplogroup is associated with a geographic region and haplogroup I1 is the original paternal lineage of Nordic Europe. Its greatest frequency is in Northern Europe, in particular Finland, Denmark and Sweden. Our Brewster SNP is M253. SNP is a change in the DNA code at a specific point.

I then compared our genetic markers to those of the Mayflower Brewsters and saw that not all the markers were an exact match. To be exact, 13 of 37 of the numbered markers did not match. That seemed like quite a few miss-matches, although most were only off one number. There can be a few genetic mutations on an occasional marker, but I did not know how many there could be and still be considered “part of the family.”

To confirm my suspicious I spoke directly with Robert D. McLaren of FamilyTree DNA at last week’s conference. I showed him our DNA results and he compared the markers with those of the known Mayflower Brewsters. Unfortunately, he said there is “no way” we descend from William Brewster of Mayflower fame.

Now we know. On the bright side, more and more people are submitting DNA samples for comparison. I will remain in the FamilyTree DNA Brewster Surname Group and there may eventually be a match to another Brewster member. Some day we may get a clue to our Brewster origins as well as discover some new distant cousins.

And we may even discover who Jackson’s father was.

 

Further reading:

http://www.abroadintheyard.com/modern-faces-ancient-migration/ [Great article!]

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/yDNA_I1

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/HaplogroupIYDNA/

http://www.eupedia.com/europe/Haplogroup_I1_Y-DNA.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haplogroup_I1_%28Y-DNA%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haplogroup

Tombstone Tuesday–Martin V. and Clara H. Stamm

Martin V. & Clara H. Stamm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

Martin V. & Clara H. Stamm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Martin V. and Clara H. Stamm, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

STAMM
Martin V.
1882-1974
Clara H.
1889-1979

Martin Victor Stamm, born 1 March 1882, was the son of Peter and Mary A. (Breuninger) Stamm, of Harrison Township, Van Wert County. He died 30 March 1974 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Clara was the daughter of Christian and Margaretha (Haffner) Kessler, born in Chattanooga and from the Zion Chatt parish. Martin and Clara were married 7 April 1907 at Zion Schumm. The couple had three sons, Russell, Archie and Orval.

What is interesting is that I am related to both Martin and Clara. Read on to see how.

Obituary:

Martin V. Stamm

WILLSHIRE—Martin V. Stamm, 92, of Willshire, died at 11:55 a.m. Saturday in the Lutheran Home in Fort Wayne. He had been a resident at the home since Feb. 26 and had been in failing health for a week.

He was born March 1, 1882, in Harrison Township.

He married Clara Kessler on April 7, 1907. She survives.

A retired carpenter and farmer, Mr. Stamm was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Schumm.

Also surviving are three sons, Russell A. of Fort Wayne, Archie C. of Toledo and Orval P. of Atlanta, Ga.; a brother, Richard L., of San Diego, Calif., three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at Zwick Funeral Home in Decatur, Ind., at 2:25 p.m. EDT and at 3 p.m. EDT in Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, with the Rev. Robert Schuler officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 3-9 p.m. EDT Tuesday and Wednesday until the services.

Preferred memorials are to the church building fund. [1]

Martin’s birth and baptism were not recorded in Zion Schumm’s records.

According to the records of Zion Chatt, Clara Henrietta Kessler was born 16 February 1889 in Chattanooga to Christian and Margaretha (Haffner) Kessler. Clara was baptized 7 April 1889 there. Witnesses to her baptism were Jacob and Maria Kessler and her parents. The pastor was P.J. Oilkers. Clara died 20 February 1979 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Obituary:

Clara Stamm, 89, a resident of the Lutheran Home in Fort Wayne, Ind., and a resident of Willshire, for many years, died last Tuesday at her residence. She had lived there since 1974. Born in Ohio on February 16, 1889, she was the daughter of Christian and Marguerite Kessler, and was married on April 1907, to Martin V. Stamm, who died March 31, 1974.

Survivors include three children, Russell, A. Stamm, Fort Wayne, Archie C. Stamm, Palmer, Alaska, Orval P. Stamm, Atlanta, Georgia; one sister, Mrs. Marion (Frances) Watkins, Rockford, Illinois; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Zwick Funeral Home, Decatur. Burial was in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Schumm. [2]

So how am I related to both of these people? Martin’s mother, Mary A. Breuninger, was the daughter of my great-great-grandfather, Louis Breuninger, making Martin my first cousin twice removed. Clara’s grandfather, Christian Kessler, was a brother to my great-great-grandmother, Marie Kessler, the mother of my great-grandfather Jacob Miller. Clara was my second cousin twice removed.

This proves once again that it is a small world indeed.

 

[1] The Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 1 April 1974 p. 2.

[2] The Photo Star, Willshire, Ohio, 21 February 1979.

 

News From the 2013 FGS Conference

The time has finally arrived! This week I am attending the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) Conference in Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne’s Grand Wayne Center is a great facility for this conference. It is roomy and convenient, with the session rooms and the exhibit hall close to each other. Plus, it is right across the street from the Allen County Public Library. I am driving to and from the conference each day, which reminds me of when I attended IPFW and commuted to classes each day from Chatt.

Registration at the Grand Wayne Center, 2013 FGS.

Registration at the Grand Wayne Center, 2013 FGS. (2013 photo by Karen)

Wednesday’s sessions focused on ideas and issues for genealogy societies. One project I learned about was “Community Trees.” Presenter David Barss described the project as “a locality-based, lineage-linked, sourced, genealogy database” that “attempts to identify the genealogy of everyone in a community.” This would be an interesting project for Karen’s Chatt, using the church records of Zion Chatt and/or Zion Schumm. The project would consist of creating family pedigrees from the church records and a few other sources. Interesting, but would be quite an undertaking. We’ll see…

FGS 2013 Ambassador Badge

Of course I walked over to the Allen County Public Library to browse through some books on Wednesday. I was not surprised that it was very crowded over there.

Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana. (2013 photo by Karen)

Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana. (2013 photo by Karen)

Today (Thursday) was the actual beginning of the conference. The Keynote Session was about the history of Rock & Roll and presenter Richard Aquila explained how the music of that era reflected social issues of that time. Hearing those old songs brought back many memories.

After that I attended three excellent research methodology sessions by Tom Jones, Elizabeth Shown Mills and Patricia Moseley Van Skaik. Pat’s talk focused on a woman and her family who lived in an area of Cincinnati that was photographed in the Cincinnati Panoramic daguerreotype of 1848. In the fourth session I learned a little about interpreting DNA test results, but I still have questions and I am going to try to talk with someone at the FamilyTree DNA table tomorrow.

2013 FGS Conference Exhibit Hall.

2013 FGS Conference Exhibit Hall.

Some news from the conference: FGS will hold its 2015 conference with the RootsTech conference in Salt Lake City on 12-14 February 2015. They will have separate sessions and some shared events. That should be one great conference! FGS announced that they will hold a small conference in late summer of 2015.

In other news, Bruce Buzbee, of Roots Magic, said that a Roots Magic android app should be available in a couple months. It will be available for free from the Google Play Store. There is already a Roots Magic app for the iPhone.

And last but not least, PBS will begin a new series, Genealogy Roadshow with Josh Taylor and Kenyatta D. Berry. The show will air on 23 September and looks to be very interesting. We got to view a 5 minute segment from the show this morning.

2013 Conference Ambassador Bloggers Karen & Candy with their DeBrand candy bars.

2013 Conference Ambassador boggers Karen & Candy with their DeBrand candy bars.

The 2013 FGS Conference Ambassadors met today for a group photo and for a prize drawing. I won one of the gift bags. The bright green Allen County Public Library bag was filled with a variety of Fort Wayne goodies: a coffee mug, pens and pencils, a note pad and little notebooks, 2 key chains, a soft ACPL stress ball, and 2 delicious DeBrand chocolate bars. DeBrand chocolate is made right in Fort Wayne and is wonderful chocolate. I would like to take their factory tour some day.

Saturday will be the last day of the conference. A big THANK YOU to the conference planners, volunteers, speakers, exhibitors and everyone else who made this conference a success.