Family History Sweeps. $20,000 Ultimate Family History Journey™ Sweepstakes. Enter today

Family History Sweeps. $20,000 Ultimate Family History Journey™ Sweepstakes. Enter today.

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

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

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

Website Updates

I have added some more Funeral Cards, Coffin Plates and Store Ledger Books.

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.

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

Olive Tree Genealogy is giving away Subscriptions to Footnote.com , 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.

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

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.

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.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the OLIVE TREE GENEALOGY

WOW. The Olive Tree Genealogy is one of the oldest genealogy sites on the web. "HAPPY 14th. BIRTHDAY OLIVE TREE GENEALOGY!!" Subscribers to the free Olive Tree Genealogy newsletter will be
entered in a Birthday Draw to win one of three terrific prizes. Join
today for a chance to win! Read more about the February 15, 2010 Birthday Celebration

Battle of Stoney Creek Graves

Hamilton Ontario councillors are looking to the federal government to cover the cost of drafting a plan to excavate suspected soldiers’ remains near Smith’s Knoll on King Street.

Read More

Coffin Plate of William Cochran 1805 ~ 1881

The Coffin Plate of William Cochran 1805 ~ 1881 is now online on AncestorsAtRest.com

William Cochran 1805 ~ 1881

No room in the cemetery for Haiti dead

Even in death, there is no dignity for the abandoned people of Haiti. The Grand Cimetière, the last home of the country's most famous families, has in five days turned from a place of respect and mourning into an installation of horror.

Read More

More Fillmore, Andrew County, Missouri

I have added more pages from the Fillmore, Andrew County, Missouri ledger book.

Fillmore, Andrew County, Missouri ledger book

Fillmore, Andrew County, Missouri. Genealogy Database

I have added a great little genealogy resource for Fillmore, Andrew County, Missouri. Its a ledger book that was used by the Town Board Of Trustees to record the minutes of their meetings. The ledger starts in 1900 and ends in 1910. It has 200 pages containing hundreds of local Fillmore, Andrew County, Missouri names. I have the first 50 pages online right now. The rest should be on in the next day or so.

Fillmore, Andrew County, Missouri

Coffin Plate of Simeon Pearl 1782 ~ 1864

I have added the Coffin Plate of Simeon Pearl 1782 ~ 1864. Simeon Pearl 1782 ~ 1864 I went and had a hunt for Simeon Pearl 1782 ~1 864 in the 1860 United States Federal Census on Ancestry.com. I think I found him in North Andover, Essex, Massachusetts.

Hamilton County Ohio Records online

Wow I just found a bunch of Hamilton County Ohio Records online. If you have Hamilton County Ohio ancestors you need to take a look.
Hamilton County Ohio Records

Or if you want to take a look at my Ohio pages go to Death Records for Ohio

Naturalization Records Updates

Hi all. I have updated the Naturalization Records section of AncestorsAtRest.com
I have added some links and a cool new map that will take you right to the state page for Naturalization Records on NaturalizationRecords.com.

NaturalizationRecords.com is the best site on the net for starting your search for Naturalization Records. Naturalization Records can be very important to your genealogical research but they are often overlooked.

AncestorsAtRest.com Naturalization Records

Coffin Plate of Betsy G Gray 1825 ~ 1888

I have added the Coffin Plate of Betsy G Gray 1825 ~ 1888. Betsy G Gray 1825 ~ 1888