Genealogy Scavenger Hunt

How about a Genealogy Scavenger Hunt? Randy Seaver at GeneaMusing posed a challenge to find a missing census entry a great-great-grandparent [or other relative] for SNGF or weekend genealogical fun. So here we go:

First, I did try one more time to find my second great-grandfather Sherman A. Bradley in the 1850 Census. I tried again a variety of strategies in the Ancestry.com search such as using just part of the surname like this: Bradl* plus born in Connecticut in 1835. And other variations. No luck.

I don’t think he was recorded. Neither were his parents, Leaming Hawkins Bradley and Mary C. Simons Bradley, as far as I can tell. The family was from Bradleyville, Litchfield Township, Litchfield County, Connecticut.

Sherman’s grandfather Horace Bradley and uncles John and Clark Bradley were in Trenton, Dodge County, Wisconsin, in the 1850 Census.  Sherman arrived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about 1857-1858, based on a Milwaukee City Directories.

What about Sherman’s other uncles and aunts in the 1850 Census?
> Frederick Abernathy Bradley was in New York City.
> Dan Augustus Bradley was in Washington, Litchfield County, Connecticut where Leaming H. Bradley was found in 1840.
> Julia Ann Bradley, not found in 1850 Census.
> Henry Bradley, only listed in a family genealogy book
> Edward S. Bradley, Guilford, Chenango, New York, a location where other of his siblings settled over the years.
> Aaron Bradley, Guilford, Chenango, New York
> Amelia Bradley, New York City, lived with brother Frederick

Since I wanted to find a new census record for the scavenger hunt, I returned to Wisconsin and my great-grandfather William Henry Luehr , an educator, newspaper publisher and state government official. I noticed that I had not found him in the 1895 Wisconsin Census. Attempts with his surname spelled correctly turned up nothing in 1895, but I was sure he should be there. He was a school principal and newspaper publisher at that time in the Grand Rapids / Centralia area, Wood County, Wisconsin, now Wisconsin Rapids.

After several more attempts, now using Luhr and Lehr, I searched in the 1895 Wisconsin Census, Wood County, with just William — and there he was, his surname mistranscribed as Luchr. The original clearly shows Luehr. So I have a new entry in his timeline:

William Luehr, household 1 male, 2 females [wife Clara, daughter Lucille], Grand Rapids, Wood, Wisconsin. Source:  Wisconsin. Wisconsin State Census, 1895 Microfilm, 10 reels. Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin. Via Ancestry.com.

I now have all eight possible census records for him, including the 1895 and 1905 Wisconsin Census records. Very satisfying.

This is one in a series of genealogy and family history research articles with ideas to help you find your family and ancestors. Please follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BBPetura

My Genealogical Threes

Randy Seaver at GeneaMusing posed a My Genealogical Threes topic for SNGF or weekend genealogical fun. So here we go:

Three genealogical libraries I frequent:
Since I live in Pullman and work full time, my library visits are virtual… but very successful nonetheless:
> Family History Library with resources via my local Family History Center
> America’s libraries via Interlibrary loan at WSU Libraries,  a helpful, low-cost service for which I am grateful
> GoogleBooks, an extraordinary genealogy “library” [also books at Heritage Quest and Ancestry.com]

Three places I’ve visited on genealogy trips:
> Benjamin Church House, now in Shorewood, built by my third great-grandfather and Milwaukee pioneer in the 1840s.
> Milwaukee, Wisconsin, my hometown but unappreciated from a genealogy standpoint until recently
> New Holstein, Wisconsin, where my ancestors from Bremen and Schleswig-Holstein settled in the 1850s.

Three ancestral places I want to visit:
> Litchfield & Guilford, Connecticut – Bradley
> Hodnet & Prees, Shropshire, England – Booth, Ebrey
> Wewelsfleth, Holstein, Germany – Tonner, von Thun, Suhr, Witt, Rossman, Stindt, Sommer, other ancestors

Three genealogy societies I belong to (or want to):
I list one historical society because they often offer invaluable assistance to genealogists as well:
> New Holstein Historical Society – Wisconsin
> Ulster County Genealogical Society – New York
> New England Historic Genealogical Society

Three websites that help my research:
> Ancestry.com
> Links to the Past – for Milwaukee County
> Calumet County Genealogy & History – for New Holstein

Three ancestral graves that I’ve visited (or want to)
> Boie Monument – New Holstein, Wisconsin
> Hachez Monument – New Holstein, Wisconsin
> Church Monument , Forest Home – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Three brickwall ancestors I want to research more
> Jane Ebrey – my gg-grandmother, b. abt 1839 in Shropshire, need to confirm her parents, said to be Thomas and Anne Ebrey
> Hannah Baker Church, b. 4 March 1773, Ulster County, NY, my fourth great-grandmother who became a Quaker minister, wife of Caleb and mother of 10. Parents unknown.
> Caleb Church, b. abt. 1772, possibly in Dutchess County, NY, my fourth great-grandfather, said to be descended from Richard Church of Plymouth, Mass., but unproven.

Other answers to this fun challenge have been posted by:
> Thomas MacEntee
> Randy Seaver
> and many more here!

This is one in a series of genealogy and family history research articles to help you find your family and ancestors, often for modest or no cost. Please follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BBPetura