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Saddleback Valley Trails
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South Orange County California Genealogical
Society
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Vol. 18 No. 12
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P.O. Box 4513, Mission Viejo, CA. 92690
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December 2011
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Editor: Gary Schwarz
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Monthly meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month from 10:00
a.m. to Noon at the Mission Viejo Family History Center Institute Building, 27978 Marguerite Parkway,
Mission Viejo, between Medical Center Drive and Hillcrest Drive. Membership is open to anyone
interested in genealogy. Individual membership fees are $20 per calendar year, $25 for joint
membership.
SOCCGS is not affiliated with the LDS Family History Center.
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Please check your newsletter address label.
“1/1/12” means dues are payable in January.
It’s time for our annual Holiday Gathering when we celebrate past Christmas memories. Due to our
meeting location we will not have a full luncheon this year as we have in previous years. However,
your Board of Directors will provide holiday refreshments for the meeting. We will also have time for
sharing Christmas memories, so please plan to share your favorite memory of Christmas time -- a story
or perhaps a picture or ornament. Take time from your busy holiday schedule to relax and enjoy the
refreshments and holiday cheer. If you would like to share something with the group, please contact
Bill Bluett in advance by phone at 949-492-9408 or email [email protected]. We hope to see you on
December 17.
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2012 Executive Board Elections
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At the November meeting the following members were elected to serve for the coming year:
President-Bill Bluett, Vice President-David Flint, Recording Secretary-Patricia Weeks, Corresponding
Secretary-Marilyn Kowalski, Treasurer-Mary Jo McQueen. They will be installed on December 17.
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Safari News
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Our next safari will be after Christmas when we travel to the Los Angeles Public Library in January
of 2012. Additional details will be in the first newsletter of the “new year”.
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I like the Christmas that fulfills my needs ... to be forgiven from
greed and selfishness, to fill my empty soul with peace and compassion, for hope and faith and
charity, for myself renewed and hope restored in an erring world.
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-Robert D. Wigert
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May the spirit of Ramadan illuminate the world and show us the way
to peace and harmony.
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~Unknown
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Eight days the light continued on its own: A miracle, they say, but
not more so Than ordinary lives of flesh and bone, Consuming wicks burned ashen long
ago....
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~Nicholas Gordon
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Bring New Toys to the December meeting for the Homefront
America Toy Drive which supports local military families. Karyn Schumaker will collect the toys
at the meeting.
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President's Message
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~Bill Bluett
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Here it is December already and Christmas is nearly upon us. This past month I’ve been thinking
about the first Christmas that our ancestors were preparing for after the Civil War broke out in 1861
– 150 years ago. I wonder what it would have been like in all the homes across our country over the
next several years while the war raged on. Nearly every household was affected in one way or another
during this period of time. For a nation torn by civil war, Christmas in the 1860’s was observed
with conflicting emotions. Christmas made the heartache for lost loved ones and many familiar faces
were missing from the family dinner table as a result of enlisting in the military. The soldiers now
serving used to be the ones that “brought in the tree” and even might have been heard singing
Christmas carols in church. Now they were scavenging firewood and singing drinking songs around the
soldier’s campfires. The holiday celebration most associated with family and home was now a
contradiction. It was a joyful-sad, religious-boisterous, subdued event. Many folks were filled with
anxiety because their families were struggling emotionally and financially.
But, let’s back up a bit. Traditions that were in place prior to the civil war included Christmas
cards, caroling in public places as well as church, and the sight of greenery festooned nearly all
communities in the North and the South. Christmas trees stood in places of honor in many homes and a
mirthful poem about the jolly old elf (yes – an elf during this time period) who delivered toys to
well-behaved children. All these traditions captivated Americans on both sides of the Mason-Dixon
Line. A Christmas tree might be decorated with dried and sugared fruit, popcorn, ribbon, spun glass
ornaments, and silver foil. In December of 1853, Robert E. Lee’s daughter recorded in her diary
that her father – then superintendent at West Point – possessed an evergreen tree decorated with
the previously mentioned items. Maybe word got around and it became a tradition for many other
families. Speaking of silver foil (or tinsel), I hated putting “that stuff” on the tree as a kid.
It took so long to do! That tradition went away very quickly when I became an adult with my own
household. I don’t think my kids missed doing the tinsel routine at all.
To some degree, the North and the South were divided on the issue of Christmas as well as slavery.
Many Northerners saw sin in the celebration and felt that Thanksgiving was a more appropriate time to
celebrate. In the South, Christmas was an important part of the social season. The first three states
to designate Christmas a legal holiday was Alabama (1836), and Louisiana and Arkansas (1838). The
hardship on children was more profound in the South during the war because so many families made such
a meager living. A young child living in the Shenandoah Valley was quoted as saying he was “tired
of the war” because Santa Claus had forgotten to come to his home. Other Southern children were
told that “Santa was a Yankee” and that Confederate pickets would not let him through. In 1863,
Illustrator Thomas Nast began creating images of Santa for the Christmas editions of Harper’s
Magazine. This continued through the 1890’s. It is interesting to note that President Abraham
Lincoln asked Nast to create drawings of Santa with some Union soldiers (for Harper’s Magazine)
during the war. This image of Santa supporting the enemy had a demoralizing influence on the
Confederate army and the Southern residents. This may have been an early example of psychological
warfare.
The final Christmas of the war (December, 1864) was an interesting one. General Sherman had reached
Savannah during his “March to the Sea”. Sherman telegraphed President Lincoln either on or near
Christmas day with this message: “I beg to present you with a Christmas gift the City of Savannah,
with 150 guns and plenty of ammunition, also about 25,000 bales of cotton”. The South had been
crushed by Sherman’s March and the war would be over within 4 months.
I’m sure that there must have been a lengthy time of recovery for many Americans following the
Civil War Conflict. Families became even more thankful for a special season to celebrate and come
together. Since that time, materialism, media, advertising, and mass marketing has made much of the
Christmas season what it is today. Hopefully, we can get past all that hype and celebrate Christmas
for what it is for – a time to bring families together. After all, as genealogists, we understand
that the traditions that we enjoy today were brought about by the blending together of customs from
many different counties into what is considered by nearly all as a special national holiday. SO,
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! AND, HAVE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR! We’ll be looking
forward to seeing you in 2012.
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"People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already
believe."
~Andy Rooney (1919-2011)
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-Genealogists also require a primary source.
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November Meeting
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Nancy Huebotter’s topic on World War II Records gave us some clues and guidance on
how and where to access records that still exist today. Not all hope was lost in the St. Louis
Military Records fire of 1973. Nancy’s presentation even included websites that are available for
additional research regarding military history and military ancestors. One guest introduced at the
meeting was: Patty McNamee. Members providing refreshments were: Ann Hagerty, Joyce and Jim
Van Schaack, and Gary Schwarz.
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Brick Walls & Genealogy Research Suggestions
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Bill Bluett is finding information in Cornwall, England, that puts his ancestors and his
friend’s (Jim Hancock) ancestors in the village of Tywardreath (population: approx. 3000) at the
same time during the early to mid 1800’s. Bluett, Hancock & Husband family members worked
together in copper mines and worshiped together at St. Andrew’s Church. Many were married by the
same Vicar: Rev. Charles Lyme.
Mary Jo McQueen has discovered that Ancestry.com has put the “Iowa Birth & Christenings
Index” online.
Jack Naylor gave us a FamilySearch.org tip. On occasion, he has had a problem with census
images not fully loading. If this happens, hit the “back” arrow which takes you to the previous
image. Then hit the “forward” arrow to go back to the image you were trying to load. It should
then come up fully downloaded. Also, you can hit the “reload current page” arrow (refresh button)
on the right hand side of the tool bar.
Pat Weeks announced that she wanted to meet during the break with any folks that are doing
French Canadian research.
Barbara Harley wanted to know if she can put her great grandfather’s diaries from 1928-1936
on Ancestry.com.
Joyce Van Schaak asked about adding her family tree (on FTM) onto Ancestry.com.
Tom Corning and Mary Jo McQueen gave advice and information to Barbara and Joyce on how to
download family tree files onto Ancestry.com (or any other genealogy website). But, each of the
ladies was reminded that a subscription would be required for Ancestry.com.
Pat Russell indicated that there is a link on Family Tree Maker 2012 to Ancestry.com.
Barbara Taylor said that she and others have had problems with the FTM 2012 program.
Gary Schwarz warned that newly digitized images available online at Family Search require new
contracts with sources and that online access may be withdrawn without notice. Do not procrastinate
in saving you want because what is available today may not be tomorrow.
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Ralphs Community Contribution Program
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Jim Thordahl – Ways & Means Chairman
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Thanks to all who are enrolled in this generous fundraising program. If you are a new SOCCGS member
or have not yet enrolled, it’s easy. Get a Ralphs rewards Card, if you don’t have one.
Present a copy of the “Scanbar letter” which contains our code at checkout the next time you shop
at Ralphs. Please see me at the next meeting for a “Scanbar letter.” You may also enroll on-line
at www.ralphs.com. Your participation in this program does not
affect other Ralphs benefits you receive, such as “Ralphs Rewards Points.” Questions? e-mail:
[email protected] or telephone: (949)
492-5334.
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New on AmericanAncestors.org
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NEHGS has added The Essex Genealogist Vol. 1 – 10 (1981-1990) to its extensive online database.
This quarterly journal is the leading publication for genealogical research in Essex County,
Massachusetts, and has been published since 1981 by the Essex Society of Genealogists (founded in
1975).You will find cemetery transcriptions, Bible records, and vital and church records relating to
families from Essex County, including numerous member ahnentafels (ancestor tables), and
transcriptions of lectures. The database is searchable by first and last name; volume and page; and
article title and subject. Visit AmericanAncestors.org at the SOCCGS Research Center for more
information!
New on Ancestry - Iowa Births, Baptisms & Christenings (1857-1947).
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1928 - 1936 Diaries of My Great Grandfather
Albert A. Bolinger - b. 10 Jan 1860, d. 22 Jun 1936
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~Barbara Harley
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I retrieved these little diaries (3" x 5") from my Aunt in Ft. Scott, Kansas when we were back
there in June, 2011. My great grandpa, Albert A. Bolinger, began his first diary (that I know
of) beginning January 1928 as he turned age 68. His wife, Laura Jane Green Bolinger (b. 1862),
had died the previous spring, May 1927. They had a farm in Clearwater, Kansas (west of
Wichita, Kansas). Albert was one of 11 children, 7 still living in 1930. His wife was one of
10 children, 4 still living when she died at age 64. Also in 1927, William Isaac Whiteside (b.
1881-d. 1927), the husband of my grandmother, Mable Bolinger Whiteside (Albert's daughter),
had died in the fall. Albert's daughter, Mable lived in Ft. Scott, Kansas and had 9 children, ages 2
to 22 when her husband died. Her husband had been the proprietor of a grocery store which the older
children took over with the assistance of older relatives. Albert also had 2 sons, one in Kansas
City, Missouri and one in Shreveport, Louisiana.
In January 1928 he took a motor trip with his older brother, Sanford H. [b. 1/5/1855, d.
12/17/1952]. Sanford's wife was the sister of Albert's wife, Florence Green Bolinger (b.
1869), and she died a month after her sister. Sanford lived in Shreveport, Louisiana and was in
timber and lumber milling businesses.
The Florida Trip - 1928 is the title of the first diary. I will pull out some of the more
interesting excerpts that gave me some insight into him, his world, and the time he lived. I used his
spelling, etc., although I corrected some to make it easier to read. I have not been in this part of
the country, nor was I a student of history, so I've used Google for maps, historical facts, etc.,
while transcribing. Albert & his brother, 'S. H.' left Shreveport on Wed. Jan. 4, 1928 by car for
Houston, and Galveston, Texas.
"Galveston. Played golf, 9 holes before lunch and 9 after lunch. Had fresh fish (called sea
trout) very fine. And drove over the city, was my first sight of the sea and also of Ocean-going
vessels. Weather warmer but had froze even this far south.
Lake Charles, Louisiana. Drove through Beaumont to Lake Charles. Took lunch at 2 o'clock.
Played golf in afternoon. The country is level as a floor and looks like it is no good. "
"In Pensacola Fla. Drove 70 miles today in fornoon to Pensacola Florida over some very
interesting country. Mostly marshland, several bridges, 2 were toll bridges. This afternoon we drove
out to Barrancas Fort, a navy and Sea Plane Port. Also was at Gulf Beach nearby. Very interesting to
me."
They returned to Shreveport on Jan. 22, took care of some business, then left again, on Feb. 2,
1928
"Cloudy mostly. Started from Shreveport 7 o'clock. Took lunch at Bunkie, LA. We drove 285 miles
today. Ferried across Chafilai River. Ferried the Mississippi River just before we got in Baton
Rouse. We are stopping at the Heidelberg Hotel. Can see across the river from our room."
THURSDAY FEB. 8, 1928 - Miami, Florida- Hotel Columbus
We see most any kind of vessels from our window. We drove around quite a bit and played golf this
afternoon. And saw hundreds in Batheing. After lunch we heard Edward A Guest a noted humorist writer.
[Poet-1881-1959] It was a great treat for me.
FRIDAY, 10 - went to the coast along Miami Beach where many were in bathing and S. H. and I went in
for our first swim or wade principally, a very fine beach.
SATURDAY 11 - Was driving in fornoon over very interesting in the city. Many beautiful homes and
large business enterprises. Many unoccupied after effect of boom days. Also we thru Coconut Grove,
Wm. J. Bryan's former winter home. [Nebraska politician 1860-1925-presidential candidate] Was on
Miami Beach in p.m. Batheing with many others on the sand, a very good exercise way given for all who
wished.
SUNDAY 12 - heard a very interesting address to a men's class in the Olympia Theater by Dr. Everest
Smith, originally organized and taught by Wm. J. Bryan. At 11 o'clock heard a very able sermon by a
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago speaker.
Spending a little time in Key West. Saw many kinds of fish and turtles 2 ft. across. The U.S. has a
navy yard and airport. Principal things fishing and cigar making.
MONDAY 13 - On train for Isle of Key West. A wonderful sight of water and islands and long
bridges, so long can see nothing but water and seem to be traveling on water.
In Cuba, Havanah
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1928 On our way from Key West to Havanah Cuba by steamer Northland. About 590
people. A great site for me. Was out of sight land for my first time. Looked over Havanah after
arriving at 4 o'clock. A fierce jam getting off the boat. And saw a great scramble among the natives
mostly to relieve us of our cash.
They returned to Shreveport on March 1, 1928. After a week there, Albert visited a younger brother in
Oklahoma, before returning to Ft. Scott, Kansas by train. He stayed about a month with his daughter,
Mable, helping out at the grocery store and building a garage for Mable to house their new Whippet,
Sedan.
MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1928
Leaving Fort Scott by motor with trailer attached. Arrived safely at 5 p.m. Found everything as I had
left it. Not anything disturbed but the house sure needed a cleaning.
Out at the farm, Clearwater, KS
TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1928
Cleaning house.
WEDNESDAY 25
Still cleaning house. & went into Clearwater.
THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1928
Moved 80 rods fence between wheat and pasture.
FRIDAY 27
Went to Wichita Bot a Columbia ($39.00) Graphaphone & 7 record $8.25=$41.25
SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 1928
Moving fence in a.m. To Clearwater in PM
SUNDAY APRIL 29, 1928
To Sunday school at Christian. At night M.E. a sacred song service.”
He spent a month at the farm, breaking sod and taking care of other tasks at the farm. He returned to
Ft. Scott before Memorial Day to decorate the graves & attend a service at the cemetery. After a
week, he returned to the farm in Clearwater. By the end of June the wheat was ripening, but rain was
preventing cutting the wheat. By mid-July, the harvesting was complete. He sold 2180 bushels of wheat
at $.90 a bushel; he had hoped to get $1.05. Then began the tasks of 'listing', plowing, discing, and
harrowing the fields. He took the first week in September off, visiting his daughter and sister near
Ft. Scott, and then a couple days in Kansas City at his son and family's home. He returned to the
farm to finish readying the land for sowing ('drilling') the wheat. He finished sowing the wheat by
Sept. 28. It was "very dry and (wheat) can't come up until it rains.” He took the train from
Wichita to Kansas City to visit his son, Lyman. His brother, Sanford, from Shreveport was in Kansas
City and they played golf and visited other family in the area. Sanford & Albert drove to Ft.
Scott. "S.H. & I were out to Let's & Emma's.” (Sister & brother-in-law)
“Had quite a ramble finding our old school ground and the Rockford graveyard." He returned
to the farm; doing some burning of brush, ditching, repairing of tractor, car, repairing and painting
the barn. He drove into Wichita to get a radio repaired, and went the movie, Wings, and also
saw Hoover in a newsreel. Wings, was a silent film about WW I fighter pilots, with Clara Bow,
Buddy Rogers, Gary Cooper, Hedda Hopper. His diary entry on Tues. Nov. 6, 1928 reads, "Election
day and Hoover & Curtis were elected to High office with a big lot. I hauled 33 bu. of wheat
away. Got $.94 cts Amount+$32.00. On Sat. Nov. 24, Getting ready to leave for the winter to Ft.
Scott, K. City & Olathe. Paid Lumber Co. for oil & paint $12.25. Got $200 in traveler
checks.”
He spent Thanksgiving in Kansas City & Olathe, with his son & family, & visited his sis,
niece & family in Olathe. After 2 weeks he traveled back to Ft. Scott, to his daughter's home
& her 9 kids for Christmas and the end of the year.
Reading the daily entries of a great grandfather who died before I was born made me wish I had known
him. My mother gave me no idea of the man he was, although she was mentioned numerous times in his
diaries. She was 14 years old when he began writing his diaries and 22 years old when he died. She
did tell me that she drove his car on a camping trip to Colorado that she and her mother took with
him in 1931. He must have been a gregarious man, visiting many of his large group of relatives and
friends, picnicking in the parks, going to movies, traveling, and most of all, so hard working right
up to his last days at 76 years old.
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I don't see any difference in sex drive from the time I was twenty until now. A man ordinarily can
have sex anytime. Ain't that right?
~Joe Frazier (1944-2011)
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-Genealogists know an ancestor could have fathered a child at eighty.
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Soka University of America - Student Visit
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~Jack Naylor - Coordinator
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SOCCGS welcomed Professor Monika Calef and her students from Soka University of America for a
second visit to our library site. Professor Calef is an Assistant Professor of Physical Geography and
one of her student assignments is for them to do a genealogy search for their ancestors. This
assignment teaches search techniques.
This year we had students searching records for Chinese, Iranian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian,
Russian and Taiwanese relatives. We had some successes. Bunny worked with Nicolas Spector who had
done his home work, had his three generation pedigree chart filled out and was ready to research his
family. The first day we worked on his father's side. We were able to prove to the fifth generation,
where and when they immigrated to the US and where they came from and who with. The second visit we
worked on his mother's side. We were able to prove to the seventh generation. This family stayed in
the same area in Ohio for several generations. We proved they came from Hamburg Germany in the early
1800's.
We had little luck the first week with the Japanese students, Herb Abrams called his friend and
former SOCCGS member Sun Ha Kim and he graciously agreed to assist at the second meeting. He told the
students how they could find information about their ancestors in the Japanese Family Registry and he
impressed upon them the importance of recording their family information and saving it for future
generations.
The students this year were Lorene J Chung, Yoshiyuki Hara, Nashaw Jafari, Sophia N Kawada,
Elizavete Kuznetsova, Denise Lee, Maya T Miscione, Kenichi Shimizu, Nicholas Spector, Kristina
Stapehuk, Alex Y Taniguchi and Natsumi Ueda.
The volunteers from SOCCGS also benefited from this experience. They expanded their knowledge in
researching genealogy of other cultures around the world. Volunteers also learned some about other
cultures of today through their interaction with the students. All researchers were able to hone
their search skills by participating in this project.
SOCCGS members helping were Herb Abrams, Jack Naylor, Barbara Harley, Gary Schwarz, Bunny Smith
and Pat Weeks. Professor Calef said that she would be back next year so if you would like to try
your hand at a unique experience please see Jack Naylor to secure a place.
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Fluvanna County, Virginia
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~Barbara Taylor
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I have a copy of a book on Fluvanna County, Virginia, gravestone inscriptions - a survey of all
public and church cemeteries in the county, updated in 1994. If any other members have relatives
who may be buried in that county, I'd be happy to check for them. It's listed as: PUB-2:
Gravestone Inscriptions – Church and Public Cemeteries in Fluvanna County, Virginia; Edited by
Ellen Miyagawa; 1994, The Seven Islands Company for the Fluvanna County Historical Society and the
Point of Fork Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. The historical society's website is at:
www.fluvannahistory.org/bookstore.html. If
anyone wants me to check it for them, they can call me at 949-599-4701 or send email to [email protected]. I've found quite a few relatives listed
there so far.
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PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY - DECEMBER 7, 1941 – DECEMBER 7, 2011
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EL TORO MEMORIAL PARK
25751 TRABUCO RD.
LAKE FOREST, CA 92630
WEDNESDAY
DECEMBER 7, 2011
11:00 A.M.
Program will be held “Rain or Shine”
For information call: (949) 951-8244
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SOCCGS Free Websites Link
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To access SOCCGS Free Websites link just Google the SOCCGS website and scroll down to "SOCCGS Free
Websites". One of the sites is called "Free Census Sites" and has the LDS census records from
1850 to 1930. It is searchable and accepts the * wildcard after the first three letters of a name
or location. Census years 1850, 1870 and 1900 even allow you to view the original image.
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Library of Congress Historical American Newspapers
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The Library of Congress – Chronicling America website has free access to over 4 million pages of
American newspapers. You can access it at http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/.
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2011 Genealogy Events
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February 25: 29th Annual Whittier Area Genealogy Society All Day Seminar presents George
Morgan – Whitter, California
March 10: North Orange County Genealogical Society All Day Seminar – presenting John Coletta
– Yorba Linda, California
July 18-22: 42nd Annual Germans from Russia Heritage Society International Convention,
Bismarck, North Dakota
June 14-17: 2012 American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Annual Convention,
Portland, Oregon
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SOCCGS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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President, Seminar & Safari
Chairman_______________________________ Bill Bluett___________________ [email protected]
Vice President / Program Chairman _____ David Flint___________________ [email protected]
Recording Secretary____________________ Sandy Crowley_________________ [email protected]
Corresponding Secretary________________ Pat Weeks_____________________ [email protected]
Treasurer______________________________ Mary Jo McQueen_______________ [email protected]
Historian______________________________ Barbara Wilgus________________ [email protected]
Hospitality____________________________ Barbara Heebner_______________ [email protected]
Hospitality____________________________ Sharon Keener_________________ [email protected]
Librarian______________________________ Bunny Smith___________________ [email protected]
Membership_____________________________ Jack Naylor___________________ [email protected]
Newsletter Editor______________________ Gary Schwarz__________________ [email protected]
Parliamentarian________________________ Marilyn Kowalski______________ [email protected]
Publicity / Webmaster__________________ Herb Abrams___________________ [email protected]
Ways & Means___________________________ Jim Thordahl__________________ [email protected]
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SOCCGS Website @ https://sites.rootsweb.com/~casoccgs/
Mail List: [email protected]
SOCCGS Research Center, Mission Viejo Library;
Marguerite Parkway at LaPaz, (949) 470-8498
SOCCGS E-mail: [email protected]
Use this form to send with your dues payment
South Orange County California Genealogical Society Membership/Renewal Application
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( ) New ( ) Renewal ( ) Individual, $20/yr. ( ) Joint Members, same address, $25/yr.
Name(s)_________________________________________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________________________________
City_____________________________________ State_______ Zip _____________ Phone__________________
Email address:__________________________________________________________________________________
Make check payable to: SOCCGS
Mail with application to: SOCCGS, P.O. Box 4513, Mission Viejo, CA 92690
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