Vacation Means Family Research Time, Yes?

So two weeks from yesterday, my mother and I leave for vacation. We're going to Tennessee for a week: Memphis, Shiloh, Chattanooga and Gatlinburg.

I'm sure you're wondering where family research fits in, right?

Well, my great great great grandfather Emery Clifford fought in the Civil War, remember? He was part of the 17th Indiana and, in all likelihood, was at the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth (part of the Shiloh battlefield) and maybe even Chattanooga and Chickamauga. So I get to indulge my Civil War obsession AND be where my ancestor fought at the same time.

Be still my heart.

Anderson IN Research Weekend

I'm heading to Anderson in the morning, to spend some time in their library's genealogy collection. I'm going to spend some time looking for obituaries among other things. I'm also planning to head to a couple cemeteries to see if I can find any graves on my own. Last time, I had my aunt's help.

Compiling My Research

I'm undertaking the ambitious project to compile all my research, as well as more accurately document it.  Currently, my research consists of a total of several hundred pages (I think, might be closer to a thousand), split into four documents (one for each grandparent), of typed research, organized in my own fashion which pretty much only makes sense to me. My goal is to (1) get all of my research into genealogy charts (starting with five generation ancestor charts and I'll probably also do family group charts) (2) re do all my typed research into detailed research for each chart, including stories if I have them (3) document anything I can and include copies and (4) also include decent photocopies of all my family photos.  All of this is going to be organized into binders. I'll start with one per each grandparent, and break it down as necessary.

Speaking of, my mother just gave me a whole bunch of old photos! Including what we believe is Minerva and William G. Fink's wedding picture. She's one of my favorites. And one of William G. with his railroad crew, wearing a fantastic outfit. I may also be undertaking an ambitious sewing project of attempting to recreate Minerva's wedding outfit...

Gravestone #33 Floyd and Sarah Helen Curtis, Middletown, OH

My great grandparents Floyd and Sarah Helen (nee Fox) Curtis at Woodside Cemetery in Middletown OH. This one was taken recently, during Memorial Day weekend 2013.

Gravestones 30 thru 32 East Maplewood Cemetery, Anderson, IN

 Edna (nee Groff) and Willard Clement Cookman, my great grandparents. East Maplewood Cemetery, Anderson IN.

 

Belle (nee Sharpe) and Martin Luther Forkner, my great grandparents. East Maplewood

 

 Samuel Forkner's obelisk, my great great grandfather. East Maplewood. He's near his son Martin.

 

Close up of Samuel Forkner

Gravestone 29 Alfred Makepeace

 Alfred Makepeace, my 4th great grandfather on the Forkner-Clifford line. West Maplewood.

"The Home is located on Lot 3 of the original plat patented by President Monroe in 1823 as Andersontown by William Conner, son-in-law of Chief Kikthawenund (Chief Anderson). Here Captain John Berry built a log cabin. In 1865 Alfred Makepeace erected a dwelling which forms the East wing. In 1871 Moses Cherry started a French Second Empire Townhouse which forms the West wing. Martin Gruenewald finished the Townhouse in 1873."

Gravestones 21 thru 28, West Maplewood Cemetery, Anderson, IN

 

Daisy (nee Hollingsworth) Clifford, my great great grandmother on the Forkner-Clifford line. West Maplewood.

 

Hadley Clifford, my great great grandfather on the Forkner-Clifford line. West Maplewood.

 

Hannah (nee Irish) wife of Alfred Makepeace, my 4th great grandmother on the Forkner-Clifford line. West Maplewood.

 

Letitia (nee Makepeace) Clifford, my third great grandmother on the Forkner-Clifford line. West Maplewood.

 

Lieut. Emery Clifford, my third great grandfather on the Forkner-Clifford line. West Maplewood.

He served in the Civil War, in Company G of the 17th Indiana Infantry. From my research, it looks like he was promoted twice (sergeant to 2nd lieutenant to 1st lieutenant) and he served for several years. The 17th was part of Wilder's Lightning Brigade. As I'm sure you can imagine, I was beyond happy to find a Civil War veteran in my family tree!

 

Mary (nee Sangston) wife of Isaac Clifford, my 4th great grandmother on the Forkner-Clifford line. West Maplewood.

 

George and Sallie Groff, my great great grandparents on the Cookman-Groff side. West Maplewood. Sallie's name was Sarah Elizabeth Dobell, but they called her Sallie.

 

Minter Bailey and Sarah Jane (nee Meade) Cookman, my great great grandparents. West Maplewood Cemetery, Anderson, IN. Minter is pretty much the farthest back I've found on the Cookman line.