Posted in Cemetery

My Interview on Extreme Genes – Family History Radio

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I was a guest on this week’s episode of “Extreme Genes”, where host Fisher interviewed me about an unlikely genealogy discovery I made on the island of Upolu, Samoa—the grave of one of my own family members I had never heard of!

Here is a link to the episode if you care to listen, with my interview coming at 25:01.

It was fun talking to him after listening to his podcast for the past several years. I didn’t have time to share all of the coincidences that were a part of this experience, so for even more information and photos of the records I found, you can read the post on the blog I kept when we were missionaries in Samoa last year.

 

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George “Eddie” Morris, 1908
George E. Morris headstone, Tuamasaga, Apia, Samoa (European Cemetery)
George E. Morris headstone, Tuamasaga, Apia, Samoa (European Cemetery)
Posted in Cemetery, Research tips

Margaret Mann Foutz burial record, Pleasant Grove City Cemetery, Utah

Here is the burial record for Margaret Mann, who was married to Jacob Foutz.  It is found in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery Sexton Records, 1866-1981, p. 18 (Family History Library microfilm 1,654,384). Image is cropped.  Margaret Mann is my 3rd great-grandmother.

Margaret Mann burial record, Pleasant Grove City Cemetery Sexton’s Record, 1886-1981

We learn several things about Margaret in this record.  Her birth date of Dec 1801 conflicts with data found in other records (1802).  Her birthplace is given as Pennsylvania and her father’s name is David Mun [sic] and the date of death is 5 Aug 1896. 

Research Tips:

Many beginning researchers limit their search of cemetery records to headstones or cemetery databases online, but one should always check in the cemetery office for other records.  Cemetery sextons or office managers usually have burial registers and /or card files with much more information than one will find on a headstone.  They may also have sales records, maps with names on them, and copies of burial permits. Often there is no headstone on a grave, so looking for these other records is essential.

Remember, also, to check for funeral records at the local funeral home, and obituaries in local newspapers.  These can often be found on microfilm at the local library.  Just call the library and ask the librarian what issues of the local newspaper are on microfilm, and if they can be borrowed through inter-library loan (ILL).

Happy Trails!

Posted in Cemetery, Photos

Thomas and Verlinda Gooch headstone, Bluffton Cemetery, Llano County, Texas

Thomas and Verlinda Jennings Gooch are buried in “new” Bluffton Cemetery, Llano County, Texas.  Thomas died 2 Mar 1885 and Verlinda died 5 Nov 1898.

394 graves from the original Bluffton Cemetery were moved in the mid-1930s because a dam was being constructed on the Colorado River (no, not that Colorado River) and the area would soon be under water.  Buchanan Dam was completed in 1937 using funds from the New Deal.

These are photos Thomas and Verlinda Gooch’s headstone, and the military marker for Thomas, as they were posted on Findagrave.com by Kim Runkel.  Thomas was a Mexican War veteran and I will be posting his pension file soon.

Link to Find a Grave post: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=48429174