ON ETERNAL PATROL

Final Epic Battle Aboard the Renowned Submarine USS Tang

During World War II while patrolling the Formosa Straits the USS Tang having already sunk seven enemy ships, launched a nightime surface attack firing two torpedoes.

The second torpedo malfunctioned and circled back and struck the USS Tang.

Yeoman Third Class Edwin Bauer 0878392 was one of those buried at sea with the USS Tang on October 24, 1944.
Edwin Bauer was my uncle and my grandmother anna Bauer was a gold star mother.

This was an article in an unidentified Hand County, South Dakota newspaper. It was probably the Miller Press. 

The USS Tang and the men who went down with her are memorialized at the Manila American Cemetary and Memorial Republic of the Philippines.

_____________________________________________

The history of the USS Tang is written about in the publications 
U. S. Submarines in World War II by Larry Kimmett and Margaret Regis, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Volume VII, Department of the Navy, and Clear the Bridge by Richard H. O'Kane.

* Note the name at the bottom of the letter above. Edwin Bahr Free and on way home.  "FREE?" Another story here.

See ya down the road,

Copyright @ 2015-16 Diane McClure Lott

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Amenuensis Monday

Dear Brother

This letter comes from the Myers surname file and are relatives of  my husband Jeffrey Mikel Lott.

A letter from Jacob Myers to his brother in Dark County, Ohio

on January 1, 1847.

Commiserating about the brother having fever and ague for some time.

John had the fever and ague and on the fourth day when the fever was at its highest 

"I had better than a pint of blood taken from me..."

Wm McCreary was buryed last week.

Another brother, John, picks up the pen and writes of his rumatism like his brother James...he has a fine son and calls him Robert Breckenridge.

He writes of Eliza Jane's marriage to Edmund Rockhold 

"A real go ahead Dutchman."

Jacob and Dolly were at the wedding and on their way home the carriage was upset but fortunately no one hurt.

Eliza has done well with her marriage and has a fine farm with a three story house and a bank barn.

"I received a letter from her this day and she is well and happy and has one annoyance and that is she is completely surrounded by dimacrats.

I went to McCrearys yesterday and he is not dead.

The letter continues from his nephew John Carpenter M.D. who writes of the fever and ague and it prevails in Hagarstown, Waynesboro, Chambergurg, Frederick etc. 

He continues and talks about the meeting of the brethern and them doing some considerable good in the neighborhood.

Daniel Sheets is preparing to build a bank barns so you may think he expects to raise something more than ___ and persimmons among the rocks of poor old Adams Co.

The men in writing this letter used every bit of space to compose their thoughts.

Three men wrote to John Myers on this letter.

The letter was send via the Robinsons.

NOTE: Eliza Jane's annoyance with the dimicrats (Demacrats).

See ya down the road...

Copyright @ 2015-16 Diane McClure Lott

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Reflections on getting ORGANIZED

NOW THAT I AM ORGANIZED

According to Denise Levenick in her article in Family Tree magazine, "cutting clutter will make you better organized and sharpen your genealogy focus."

I am here to tell you Denise is

 "right on the money."

Using Denise's techniques for organizing  documents on my computer, I can apply them to hard copy files in my file cabinet. My hard copy files are yet to be done. 

Remember the mantra:

1) read, 2) scan and, 3) recyle

don't print... don't print...don't print 

Note what Levenick says: "If it would be a financial or logistical burden to replace the item, consider it an original."

If the above definition meets the criteria for a document, then scan, keep the original, file in hard copy file.

_______________________________

Here are some examples of success from my organization project so far:

1) When I labeled consistently I found 2, 3 ,4 or more copies of documents, placed in several locations (so I could find it and still couldn't find it.)

I had a photocopied birth record for my mother Catherine (Kata) labeled:

Kata birth, 

Binder Kata Croatia birth, 

birth_record kata 

placed in several locations/folders.

Once all the copies were opened and labeled consistently Binder, Kata birth record, the computer alphabetized them and I 
1) noted that I had several of the same document, 2) practiced consistency and, 
3) trashed two of the copied.

I can easily find that document now.

_________________________

2) The family portrait that was within hundreds of pictures in iPhoto for which I had to search and search is now in a folder called Photos under each surname folder and labeled so I can find it. 

Binder, Joseph formal portrait. 

__________________________

3) Levenick says "label so you know what is in the folder." With consistency and labeling you KNOW what is in the folder.  For example:

What was in the folder I labelled Stoner information? The item in Stoner folder is now called 

S. Dak. neighbor letter re: Stoner.

____________________________

4) Found gold!
Going through email folders I reread, labelled, and placed emails in surname or appropriate folders. 

As I organized and reread emails I found contacts. I needed to reconnect with contacts and I did! 
I reconnected and it generated  

additional surname information and photos from  reconnecting with these contacts.

____________________________

5) I was always opening folders to see what was in them and then closing them because it wasn't what I was looking for. This was a waste of time and caused frustration.

___________________________

6) I located document, emails, and items that were 

  in the wrong surname folder

____________________________

I have not finished organizing. 
I am getting organized and it feels 

Great!

Thanks Denise

Share your reorganizing thoughts, surprises, esamples of success?

See ya down the road... 

Copyright @ 2015-16 Diane McClure Lott

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Amenuensis Monday: William C. F. Krabbenhoft WILL 1933

The Will of William C. F. Krabbenhoft

"The Final Report of Edward Krabbenhoft, Administrator of the Estate of William C. F. Krabbenhoft, respectfully presents to the court the petitions as follows:"

 * This is a small estate and subject to probate

* Edward Krabbenhoft was appointed executor as William C. F. Krabbenhoft died without a will

* This report or information about this report was printed in a notice for four consecutive weeks on the Shelton Mason County Journal

* Burial and funeral expenses were taken from the estate before all other distributions were made

* The estate was inventoried and the values of items were estimated 

* Without a will a list of relatives was made, their relationship (13 brothers, nieces and nephews) were determined, and a percentage or apportionment determined

* The executor and attorney asked for reasonable sum for their services

* The report then asked the court to take notice, recognize the recipients, pay certain bills, and close the report and distribution.

The estate was worth $4856.63 mostly from savings, checking and possessions before payments for funeral and other costs.

William C. F. Krabbenhoft was Jeffrey Mikel Lott's great uncle.

The listing of the Krabbenhoft relatives with names other than Krabbenhoft aided research for the Lott and Krabbenhoft genealogy and family history.

The names mentioned in the will appeared in documents and photos but the relationships were never known in relationship to the Krabbenhoft research. A brick wall was scaled with this listing of names and relationships in the will. 

See ya down the road...

Copyright @ 2015-16 Diane McClure Lott

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Ya Gotta Get It Together-Part Three

Adjusting Your Work Flow

As we continue to organize using Denise Levenick's article in Family Tree magazine, "workflow"will be the hardest element to internalize when organizing. Remember to "go paperless" and keep any more paper from coming "in."

To reiterate, I 
a) scanned or 
b) read and recycled papers/documents,
c) created naming system for documents/emails/text and.
d) created folder naming system.

Levenick suggests the following regarding WorkFlow:

1)  STOP yourself from pushing the PRINT button when you find something online or that might come by email. 

What worked for me:
* Practice cut/paste with non-genealogy email/web material. 

Here was my process:

* I have two Word documents on the desktop. For now, one for each major SURNAME.

* I cut text from email or websites, pasted it in my genealogy software or Word document (remember to capture the email or URL address).

* Levenick suggests to copy and paste to a document, research log, or a Correspondence folder.

2) Keep everything in digital format!

* Which leads to considering "tools"(See step 12 in Levenick's article) that will help you digitize like Evernote, maps, calendars and, other tools.
* I have not yet perfected Evernote.

3) Take a screenshot, copy and paste, or save/bookmark the URL to your favorites.

* I do screenshots, 
* practice copy and paste (see item 1 above), and 
* save/bookmark websites to favorites (to return to).

4) Get books digitized and not in print. Get conference syllabus in .pdf format or on a CD. Get society newsletters and magazines electronically. 

* I have not yet perfected reading a book downloaded from a website for reading.

(I had to literally hold my hand from requesting a print copy of a book to be snail mailed to me OR even printing out the 371 page book.)

* Look on conference registration forms and order the CD of the syllabus. 

* Get the Apps for conferences and take notes on devices.

* Most societies send newsletters electronically. Read and recycle or read and cut and paste.

5) Put your genealogy somewhere! What computer platform and program do you use? Wherever you keep it genealogy software, or genealogy website...keep a master copy. 

_____________________________________

 LOCKSS: 
* Back up not only monthly but keep a copy of your files on three or more locations. 

* Keep it safe and make one of those locations... the CLOUD.

Remember the goal is to become organized and productive by "going paperless." With suggestions from Denise Levenick you can "go paperless" or at least "go with less paper." 

Become a more organized and productive research genealogist.

It can be done. I did it!

___________________________________________

Denise Levenick,  Family Tree magazine, July/August p 21-26.

Glimpses on the Horizon Blog Ya Gotta Get It Together Part 1& 2

See ya down the road...

Copyright @ 2015-16 Diane McClure Lott

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Amanuensis Monday

Death by Run Away Team of Horses

The Death of Winfield Scott Bauer

(As reported in the Miller Press June 24, 1926)

Mr. Bauer was working on his farm when a team of horses became frightened and ran away. In his attempt to hold them, he grasped the wheel of the wagon. The horses did not slacken their speed and as the wheel revolved it carried the unfortunate man with it.

He was thrown to the ground with considerable force, falling on his head and shoulders. Mr. Bauer was still conscious when members of the family came to his aid, but shortly after the arrival of the physician he lost consciousness.  He died Tuesday noon.

The deceased was born in Pennsylvania and was 44 years of age. He has made his home in the county for some years. At one time he was in charge of the municipal light plant before it was taken over by the city.

He was survived by his widow and ten children. 
(My mother Catherine Mae Binder was one of those 10 children but not the daughter of Mr. Bauer.)

Funeral services will  be  held in Ree Heights Friday at 10:00.

Mr. Bauer was the husband of my grandmother Anna Marie Binder Bauer husband and son of Irvin Bauer. 

They lived in Hand County, Ree Heights, South Dakota.

See ya down the road...

Copyright @ 2015-16 Diane McClure Lott

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Throwback Thursday

Unknown Photo...Is it Myers?

Three unknown chldren was the caption attached to this photo.
My guess from clothing is about 1870.

This photo has been kicking around my iPhoto and desktop for several years. 
I keep attaching it to emails sent to surname contacts but no one recognizes it.

It could be surname Myers as it came with a collection of Myer photos. 
The person who sent the photos didn't know who the three children were either.

Do you have an photo with unknown persons?

How did you work out who your the persons in your photo was.  

Does anyone have suggestions as to how to proceed?

I am guessing that the three left to right are about the age 7, 6 and 10 years of age.

The clothing "smacks" of 1870 post Civil War.

If you are a budding Maureen Taylor and can help would you contact me?

Thank you so much.


See ya down the road...

Copyright @ 2015-16 Diane McClure Lott

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Ya Gotta Get It Together - Part Two

Getting Organized—Part Two

or 

Now that I got it what do I do with it?

A  practical approach to getting organized using Denise Levenick's article "The End of the Paper Trail" in Family Tree magazine.

Step One was to get rid of my flatbed scanner and buy a sheet feed scanner.  You can use a sheet feed scanner as a flatbed scanner if this capability is needed. 

Sheet feed scanning will produce an enormous amount of digital documents and NOW to deal with naming and filing.

Step Two was creating a "file-naming scheme" Levenick suggests a system that "you know what is in the file before you open it."

Levenick suggests these two naming options:

1) date first (1930 Smith_ James_census), 
or

2) surname first (Lott_ Cornelius_Jamaica-NewYork 
or even my suggested naming option by

3) type of document (Swiss_Lacapo_lecture)

Creating the file name and folder name system is not hard. It helps you:
*pull it together 
* get some semblance of order

BUT

* Now that you have named it 

where do you put it?

Step Three was to consider the " folder system" on my computer.

I had my own "folder system" and surprisingly it was almost what Levenick suggested. (See detailed example in Levenick's article step 8.)

It is all a matter of getting a file naming scheme in place "consistently" as well as a folder system in place "consistently."

(A suggestion from Nancy Loe and Sassy Jane Genealogy, too.)

This is time consuming work especially if you have not done any organizing but it is even harder when correcting what you thought was organization.

Levenick suggests a cheat sheet with the naming scheme(s) posted near your computer.  I concur Denise.

Personal Note:

Consistency (I fall down here)...I am working on it.  

  
More of my challenges in organizing with comments from Levenick on"Adjusting your Workflow" in Ya Gotta Get It Together — Part Three.

Have you been organizing? 

Please let me know your challenges and solutions.

See ya down the road...

____________________________________
Denise Levenick, "The End of the Paper Trail," Family Tree magazine, July/August, p 21-26.

"Everything Fine..."

Jeffrey Mikeal Lott

Born July 20, 1946

Celebrating 70 years

Happy Birthday Jeff. 

Jeffrey Mikeal Lott age 8 inTucson, AZ

Below is a copy of the original radiogram informing his father Archie V. Lott of Jeffrey's birth. 

His father Archie Lott was serving in the US Navy on the USS Boxer at the time of his birth.

Alice and Archie Lott resided in Puyallup, WA at the time of the birth.

Archie V. Lott was a RM1C—Radioman first class.

Jeffrey's mother Alice Burzloff Lott underlined the spelling of Jeffrey's middle name because of the unusual spelling that she wanted.

See ya down the road...

Tombstone Tuesday-Cornelius Lott 1738-1816

Captain Cornelius Lott

In my research this Cornelius Lott is identified by his rank as there were a plethora (16 by my count) of Cornelius Lotts. 

This can be seen by the inscription on the Lott cenotaph in Gettysburg, PA.

Captain Cornelius is buried in Millstone, New Jersey (previously known as Somerset Courthouse). 

Captain Cornelius Lott worshipped as Dutch Reformed as did most of the Lotts and associated families.

Inscription on the Gettysburg Cenotaph:

In perpetuation of the memory of Cornelius Lott, 1738-1816, and his wife Henrietta Brokaw, 1739-1829, both of whom lie buried in Millstone Churchyard, Somerset County, New Jersey.  

He served his country, 1779-1783, as 1st Lieutenant in Capt. Conrad Ten Eyck's Company, 2nd Batallion, Somerset County, New Jersey Troops, and later as Captain of Middlesex County New Jersey Men.  

The American Revolution.

And Their Son Cornelius Lott, 1762-1831, and his wife Magdalena Brokaw, 1769-1848 And Their Son Jacob Lott, 1808-1892, and his wife Ann Stallsmith, 1806-1888. 

All four of Whom Lie Buried Here.

Also to the memory of Cornelius Lott, son of Jacob and Ann Stallsmith Lott, Born November 15, 1835.  Served as Private and Corporal in Company I, 102nd Infantry Regiment Illinois Volunteers, Killed in the Battle of Auerysboro, North Carolina March 16th, 1865 -- The Civil War

Res:- Millstone, N.J.

* Wife of Captain Cornelius, Henrietta Brokow (1739-1829),  was believed to be a descendent of Bourgeon Brouchard, the Huegenot who came to America in 1645. 

* They were married for 57 years. 

* They attended The Church of Hillsborough which is Dutch Reformed and both their funeral services were performed at this church. 

__________________________________________

*  See: Cornelius Lott in Find A Grave  

*  A.V. Phillips, The Lott Family

Amanuensis Monday: A LETTER TO UNCLE JOHN

Genea-Musings:

The following is from Randy 
Seaver's blog:

Genea-blogger John Newmark started a blog theme called Amanuensis Monday and offers this definition:

A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

The following is a letter to John Myers in Darke County, Ohio from his nephew James M. Elderdice who writes from Stewartstown, York County, PA October 14 @1847.

The letter is included in .tiff format followed by a Word transcription:

NOTES:  Fellow researcher on the Myers surname Elizabeth Duncan sent me this letter and others belonging to John Myers and his uncles.

(The Reverand) John Myers was the GGGG Uncle of my husband Jeffrey M. Lott.

John Myers can be located in the 1850 census at http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/oh/darke/census/1850

(current as of 1998).

Information from the John Myers letter:

* John Myers was the maternal uncle of John M. Elderdice.

* John Myers is in the active service of the Methodist Protestant Church in the character of an itinerant (New Market circuit).

* His wife is ill and has had dyspepsia but health is better.

* An infant daughter died a year ago.

* Our cousin Henry Myers has returned from his excursion of 20 western states on a reconnoitering expedition.

"in this part of the country the people are not much disposed to immigrate westward..."

* I now live on a road leading from York to Baltimore 20m from the former and 30m from the latter.

* Crops of grain are good.

* James reports a considerable number of children deaths from dysentery in Pennsylvania.

* The last two paragraphs end much as with a sermon..." to cultivate Christian love...we are laboring and hoping for better times Paul may plant and Apollos may water but God gives the increase[sic].

* It closes with greetings from James' wife with remembrances and love to all and to direct your letter to Stewartstown, York Co. PA.

Other Myer letters, wills, and documents follow in future posts. 

See ya down the road...