Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs February Genealogical Events (Most are Free)

Every month, the first week of the month, I list genealogical events being held in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago for about the next six weeks.  Most events are free, but sometimes you will need to register in advance, especially sponsored by a public library.  If it is sponsored by a genealogy society, you probably will not need to register unless there is a fee (which is designated by the $).  Check the website listed for more information.

 If you’d like individual help, the following public libraries’ websites state that you may make an appointment with a librarian or genealogy volunteer: Schaumburg, Palatine, Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect. On the first Thursday of the month from 3-4:30 PM, the Indian Trails Library, Wheeling has a genealogy question and answer session with the librarian.  The Bloomingdale Public Library has a similar group on the fourth Thursdays of the month at 6:30 PM.  See the library websites for more information and the Palatine Public Library holds a group Thursday evenings at 7:00 on January 7, March 3, and April 7.  Check the websites for more details.

If you know of any events that I have missed, please email me. I hope you see an event you’d like to attend.

February 1 (4 weeks) 1:30 PM
             Family History Writing Challenge
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

February 4 (4 weeks) 1:30 PM
Writing Your Family History

Arlington Heights Memorial Library
http://www.ahml.info/ and go to the events calendar

February 6 10:00 AM
Irish Emigrants to North America by Paul Milner

Arlington Heights Senior Center
http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/

February 9 7:00 PM
Finding Your Ancestors in Ireland by Paul Milner

Schaumburg Township District Library, Schaumburg
https://genealogywithtony.wordpress.com/2013-programs/

February 9 7:00 PM (4 week class)
Seeds to Tree - Beginning Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Fremd High School $
http://adc.d211.org/academics/continuing-education/continuing-education-home/

February 10 7:00 PM and/or February 11 3:00 PM
Learn to Use fold3 and Heritagequest Websites

Mount Prospect Library
www.mppl.org

February 13 1:00 PM
Truth or Fiction?  Unraveling a Family Yarn by Teresa McMillan

Northbrook History Museum
http://nsgsil.org

February 18 7:00 PM
Overseas Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Indian Trails Library, Wheeling
http://www.indiantrailslibrary.org/

February 20 10:30 AM
Uncle Jake's Farm:  Federal Land A - Z  by S. Elizabeth Ross

Schaumburg Township Public Library
http://caggni.shuttlepod.org/

February 22 7:00 PM (4 week class)
Seeds to Tree - Beginning Genealogy by Jacquie Schattner

Prospect High School $
http://ce.d214.org/adult_classes/

February 22 6:30 PM
Genealogy 101

Palatine Public Library
http://www.palatinelibrary.org/

March 5 10:00 AM
Reading Between the Lines of the City Directory by Teresa Steinkamp McMillan

Arlington Heights Senior Center
http://www.nwsgenealogy.org/

March 8 7:00 PM
Using Ancestry

Palatine Public Library
http://www.palatinelibrary.org/

My Top 2015 Genealogical Finds

As 2015 comes to an end, I like to look back and enjoy revisiting my big genealogical discoveries and events for the year.  Here are my top six:

6. I spent many hours using https://www.wiewaswie.nl/en/search/, the awesome archival website from the Netherlands to fill in information on my Dutch ancestors going back to the 1700’s. This includes many BMD’s I’d been missing for the Knudde and Verbeke (Verbeck) families.  Unlike 1996 when I ordered dozens of films from the Church of Latter Day Saints for information, it is now nicely indexed from all over the country.

5.  Likewise, I found the Geneseo Public Library, in Henry County, Illinois has the Henry County local newspapers 1836-now available online at http://geneseo.advantage-preservation.com/.  Love OCR! I spent many hours finding obits, and stories that would otherwise have been lost in time.

4. One of my genealogical goals is to present outside the local area. Last winter, the well-known and popular Florida State Genealogical Society asked me to present my “Overseas Genealogy” class as a webinar.  Information about giving and finding webinars is here: http://seedstotree.blogspot.com/2015/03/my-first-webinar-im-presenter-you-can.html  Also, about 10 years ago, my brother-in-law suggested teaching a class at the elegant Chautauqua Institution in New York.  I nervously applied for their summer 2015 program and taught a one week genealogy class there.  So one goal, two successes!  Yeah! Both were a thrill!

3.  While researching Rice Dunbar (b. 1802), the leader of a Oregon Trail wagon train, I found troubling information about his nephew, my 3x gr-uncle Rice O. Dunbar (b 1848), who served time in a Texas prison for a felony.  The courthouse in Fannin County, Texas sent me a copy 1875 trial transcript!  The three part story starts here:  http://seedstotree.blogspot.com/2015/10/rice-dunbar-familys-black-sheep-part-1.html

2.  For 18 years, I looked for the parents and siblings of my 3^nd gr-grandfather Hiram R. Dunbar (1804 KY-1880 KS). A sharp eyed genealogical friend, and a single article at http://www.genealogybank.com/ broke down that brick wall.  I’m still doing the happy dance.  You can read about it here: http://seedstotree.blogspot.com/2015/01/ater-18-years-hiram-dunbars-father-has.html

1.  The birth of my fourth grandchild, and third grandson.  In my eyes, the best genealogical event of 2016.

What strikes me is that there is such a variety of sources, websites, and just plain luck involved in finding new genealogy gem.  You never know what you are going to find next.  Isn’t that what makes it all so exciting?

As an additional review of 2015, my readers may be interested in my most read blogs.  Here are the links:

4.  George Smarsty (1896-1980) – Was Grandpa a High School Dropout? http://seedstotree.blogspot.com/2015/03/george-smarsty-1896-1980-was-grandpa.html

3.  After 18 Years, Hiram Dunbar’s Father has been Found

http://seedstotree.blogspot.com/2015/01/ater-18-years-hiram-dunbars-father-has.html

2.  Reflections of a Grandmother

http://seedstotree.blogspot.com/2015/08/reflections-of-grandmother.html

(Drum Roll)

My most read blog in 2015 is:

Crowd Control and Genealogy – What Would you Do?
http://seedstotree.blogspot.com/2015/06/crowd-control-and-genealogy-what-would.html

Thank you to all of my readers for a great 2015, and I look forward to the unexpected discoveries in 2016.

Husband’s Annoying Hobby? Why I Love It

No these wine bottles are not from a crazy New Year’s party!  My husband collects these.  This mess annoys me…for over 20 years we have had empty wine bottles in our basement.  But my husband’s hobby turned out to record some of our best family moments. 

Here’s the back story.  Born in Belgium, my father brought his love for fine wine with him to the United States.  Wine was served at nearly every dinner, just like in Europe.  Dad scoured stores for good wines, bought one bottle, tasted it at home, and if he liked it, bought more.  In the 60’s, we had a locked cabinet full of wine in our basement before wine cellars were fashionable. 

My husband, Fred who comes from a family of German beer drinkers, married into a family of wine drinkers. He knew nothing about wine, and realized he needed to learn more. Whenever there was a family gathering, Fred took the label (or the empty bottle) home.  On simple college lined paper, he pasted the wine label, and added the date, who drank the wine and something about the taste.  Being a detailed engineer, he put these pages into a three ring binder, and using page dividers, organized by type of wine, reds, whites etc.  To be truthful, I wondered how this would be useful.  But Fred continues to do this, even now.

 

Why would I write about this in a genealogy blog?  Interesting you asked.  About a year ago, he showed me his binder.  I was so surprised, I was moved to tears.  Reading the pages, was like reading the story of all of the major family celebrations, brought back to life.  Included in his notes were details such as, who was in attendance, what we were celebrating and a few notes about the day.  Here are some examples:

September 14, 1988

(Label)

Dinner at our house (address) to say goodbye Jacquie’s sister and her husband.  They are leaving to live in Geneva, Switzerland for three years. 

(Names of ten guests.)

Sister video taped some of the evening for the first time.

(Remember those big video cameras?) 

March 29, 2008

(Label)

Donna and Keith over for dinner.  Fun night.  Everyone like this wine a lot.  Very sweet.

First time we got together since Mary (our daughter) asked  Johnny  (Donna and Keith’s grandson) to be ring bearer in her wedding. They are thrilled.  Played speed scrabble.

Here are some of the many other notes:
 

September 30, 1982 – 1^st episode of “Hill Street Blues”.  Ate shrimp and this champagne we got from the hospital when first daughter was born.  Wine followed great evening.

Spring 1984 – Armando’s Restaurant in Chicago.  Last night of restaurant in operation.  Armando signed the bottle.

November 28, 1991 –1st Thanksgiving after Fred’s parents died. All siblings together in PA.

Dec 24, 1990 – Christmas Eve celebration.  Great anticipation of Santa coming.

March 31, 1995 – Lots of discussion about Jacquie’s brother’s wedding in May

October 2007 – Fred’s sister announces they are going to be grandparents for the first time.  Exciting special moment.  We celebrated.

January 2008- Celebrated daughter’s engagement – includes many details 

Reading about these events, took me to the wonderful celebrations and holidays in our lives.  Reminded us of where we were, what we were eating, who was with us, and long forgotten details.  It felt like I was reliving some of the best days and dinners, moments and memories. 

 

If you look carefully at the picture, you’ll see that each empty bottle has masking tape, which has the information needed for the notebook. That part, plus the many empty bottles in our basement, still annoy me.  But I love that I can read his book and be transported back in time. 

Simple as it is, I’m thrilled that he keeps this book.  He and I enjoy looking through it, and hopefully our children will enjoy it also.