Family Trees and Branches
My journey through family history.
Sunday, May 22, 2022
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 20: Textile
Sunday, May 8, 2022
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 18: Social
It's Week 18 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. The prompt for this week is ‘Social'.
One thing that has always amazed me when reading old newspapers is what was considered newsworthy. Not just engagements and weddings, but showers and house warmings. Not just births, but also christenings and parties afterwards. Here is an example from a 1934 newspaper.

I'm not only surprised by the fact that these events are considered newswothry by the entire community. I'm also surprised by the amount of detail included. As in this article, often everyone in attendance is listed, along with the place of residence. It isn't unusual to see a listing of who traveled furthest to get to a family reunion. In shower announcements, the food served and the decorations are reported in detail. Wedding announce not only give detailed descriptions of the bride's outfit, but also the attendants.
Look at the detail in this one wedding announcement. The outfits, the flowers the decorations, and the names of the guests. This was the 1950s version of Facebook!
Sunday, May 1, 2022
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 17: Document
It's Week 17 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. The prompt for this week is ‘Document'. I decided to blog about a document that I found with my grandmother’s important papers—a petition for naturalization filled out by her youngest brother.
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“Adam does not appeal to my sense of hearing.”I don’t know if Albert ever filed this petition, or if he ever naturalized. This petition is not complete. I found a copy of his Declaration of Intention. It was completed and stamped in the Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago. The date is January 23, 1925. Albert would have been about 19 years old at the time.
Even though the petition is not complete, it does contain some valuable information. Once section lists places and dates of residence in the U.S. since his arrival.
The last residence listed is Richmond, Illinois from Jan 1926 to ‘present’. This tells me that Albert filled out the petition sometime after Jan 1926. He apparently intended to file the petition in the Circuit Court of Woodstock in McHenry County, Illinois. Now I have some hints to guide me in my search for Albert’s naturalization.
Albert died of tuberculosis on April 3, 1936 at a sanatorium in Ottawa, Illinois.
Sunday, April 24, 2022
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 16: Negatives
It's Week 16 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. I’m behind this week. Some of the reasons are good. I’ve been busily working to help index the 1950 US Census on FamilySearch. You can help, too. I’ve also spent the weekend participating in the WikiTree Connect-a-thon. It’s too late to participate in this round, but you can get involved on WikiTree, too. Check it out.
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Clip from 1923 passport application for Mary D Lane found on FamilySearch.com |
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Clip from Ohio death certificate for Willoughby N Lane - 10 Mar 1926 found on FamilySearch |
Friday, April 22, 2022
Photo Friday: Unknown Woman and Child
It's Photo Friday. Today I am sharing another photo from the Gunn collection.
I love this photo of the unknown woman and child. I don't know who they are, but I want to think that they are mother and child. However, the woman could be older than I think, and could be an aunt or a grandmother. I love the wicker baby pram! Based on the pram and the woman's clothing, I'm guessing this photo to be about 1900. There is not photographer mark.The photo was found with the Gunn famliy photos I posted about previously. Someday I hope they will let me know who they are!
Saturday, April 16, 2022
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 15: How Do You Spell That?
It's Week 15 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. The prompt for the week is ‘How Do You Spell That?’ That is a great question! After over 20 years of research, I still do not know the correct spelling of my grandmother’s surname! When I knew my grandmother, she was Susie Petrini. But before that she was Susie Janco…or was she? I have found so many variations of the spelling of ‘Janco’, and the longer I research, the more variations I find!
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Tombstone of Mara Miller Janco/Jancso Springdale Cemetery and Mausoleum - Peoria, Illinois photo by Karen Ziege Bartelt Find A Grave contributor # 48169864 Memorial #194939360 |
Friday, April 15, 2022
Photo Friday: Easter Sunday
It’s Photo Friday. It is also Easter weekend, so I am sharing a photo from an Easter past. This is a throwback photo of my sisters and I on Easter Sunday 1963.
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 20: Textile
It's Week 20 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. The prompt for this week is ‘Textile'. This is an easy one for me. I immedi...

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It's Week 13 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. We are a quarter of the way through the year! Even more amazing....I've kep...
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It's Week 20 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. The prompt for this week is ‘Textile'. This is an easy one for me. I immedi...
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A new blog, a New Year ... and a new start on the 52 Weeks challenge! I'm excited to start again, and hoping to do better on it after ...