Monday, February 22, 2010

Daughter discovers a genealogy gold mine in father's letters

Oswald Holzer, a Jewish physician, deserted the Czechoslovakian Army in 1939 as Nazi Germany overtook the country and conscripted the army. He ended up in China where, eight days after they met, he married Ruth Alice Lequear on Sept. 20, 1940.

Nearly 60 years later, when Oswald and Ruth died within three days of each other, Schirm and her siblings discovered 534 documents dating back to 1885 and including 392 letters written to her father by 78 different people during World War II.

Read More

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Can You Help Find a WW2 American Soldier

The Ask Olive Tree Blog posted an interesting puzzle today. A lady in Australia has found a WW2 dog tag is trying to find out about the owner.

Read More

Friday, February 12, 2010

Ancient Greenland man's DNA decoded

Scientists have pieced together most of the DNA of a man who lived in Greenland about 4,000 years ago, a pioneering feat that revealed hints about his appearance and even an increased risk of baldness.

It's the first genome from an ancient human, showing the potential for what one expert called a time machine for learning about the biology of ancient people.

Ancient Greenland man's DNA decoded

Friday, February 05, 2010

56 kilos of opium found inside tombstone

Four people in Vancouver Canada charged with importing a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking after an imported tombstone was found packed with over 56 kilograms of opium. The 550-kilogram stone was shipped to B.C. from Iran and inspected at Vancouver International Airport, where border agents discovered a hidden cavity.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

OliveTreeGenealogy Gives Away Footnote.com, Ancestry.com And GenealogyBank.com

Olive Tree Genealogy is giving away Subscriptions to Footnote.com icon , Ancestry.com and GenealogyBank.com as part of the Olive Tree 14th Birthday Bash. The draw for 5 lucky winners will take place on Feb. 15th. Names will be chosen from subscribers to the Olive Tree Genealogy newsletter. So go and sign up for the newsletter if you want a chance to win.

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Hopewell Township, York County Pennsylvania, 1890 Tax Book

I have added some more pages to the Hopewell Township, York County Pennsylvania, 1890 Tax Book. Its an interesting little book that helps replace the missing 1890 census for Hopewell Township.

Hopewell Township Tax Book

I also have some pages from the Elk Creek Township, Erie County Pennsylvania, 1876 to 1878 Store Ledger Book.

Elk Creek Township

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Sharing Memories (Week 10) - First Day and Year of School

Well as I was saying yesterday I am taking part in Sharing Memories - A Genealogy Journey. This weeks journal topic is Sharing Memories (Week 10) - First Day and Year of School . So with that in mind.....

I actually do remember my first day of school. At least a little bit. I can remember walking down the street to the bus stop. A little girl crying. The stale musty smell of the bus. But what I remember most about that day is meeting my first school friend, Greg Scott. Greg and I became best friends that day and for that first year of school we were inseparable. Sadly a year or so later he moved to another school.

Its funny but as I write this, I find little bits of scatted memories are popping back in to my head. I remember playing the part of the innkeeper in the Xmas pageant, Making snow flakes out of paper. The large communal sink in the boys washroom that you had to use your feet to make the water come on. Strange what we remember.

My first teacher was Carole Peet. She was a nice lady. I think she still lives around here some place, but she is long retired now I am sure. I remember she lived on a farm. She would bring baby chickens to school and other small critters. Perhaps that's part of the reason I have a bunch of critters my self.

Monday, February 01, 2010

Sharing Memories - A Genealogy Journey

I am taking part in Sharing Memories - A Genealogy Journey. Lorine of the Olive Tree Genealogy is hosting what one might call a genealogy journal writing club. It is a really neat idea and I think you will want to take a look.

Take A Genealogy Journey

It's important as genealogists that we not forget about writing our own story. And this series of blog articles is a great help for inspiring the rest of us to share our story with future generations.