Getting to Know...Arthur Henry Kimple

Arthur Henry Kimple was the son of Mary L. McCaskey and William L. Kimple, and brother of my Gr Grandmother Esther "Bobbe" Kimple (Minnigh).

Arthur Henry Kimple born 11/28/1892

I don't know much about Arthur yet, but there is quite the mystery beginning to unfold.

Arthur was 13 years old when Bobbe was born, so he was quite a bit older then her.

He married Mildred Amelia Prescott on 9/7/1923 in Wentworth, Ontario. Mildred was from Canada.

Arthur Henry Kimple

Arthur and Mildred Kimple

Recently my wonderful Aunt has taken the time to scan in photos my Grandfather had and found out that Arthur had a son named Lloyd (Loyd). Yet from the census records I've reviewed Arthur and Mildred had no children listed as living with them.

Bobbe holding Arthur's son Lloyd

Mary Kimple, Bobbe Kimple and 

William Kimple holding Arthur's son Lloyd

Based on these photos...he grew up to be a grown man.

Arthur Kimple and son Lloyd

The plot thickens...

The 1920 census...Arthur is 27 years old and living at home and he's listed as married. Married!!

He didn't marry Mildred for 3 more years. (I have the marriage certificate to prove it.)

So why in 1920 is he listed as married but living with his parents and sister? Where's his wife?

After a bit a searching I found a Lloyd H. Kimple born 1919 and his mother's name was Mary E. Yohe (Kimple). In 1920 she is living with her parents and her 1 year old son Lloyd. Census says she's been married for a year.

By the 1930 Census Mary E. Yohe (Kimple) is still living with her parents Frank E and Margaret J Yohe and her now 11 year old son Lloyd....but now she's listed as a widow.

We know that Arthur H Kimple is very much alive in 1930, so either this is the wrong match...or it was easier to call herself a widow. Were Arthur and Mary ever divorced?

Arthur was a mechanic. In the 1940 census he was unemployed for 30 months and shortly after in 1941 his father William Kimple died of stroke. Mary L. Kimple his mother sold the house and moved. The 1945 Florida Population Census shows her living in Florida with her son Arthur.

Then in 1946 Arthur and Mildred divorce in Osceola, FL.

I still can't find any marriage records for Mary E. Yohe (Kimple)...there is much more to uncover here.

How Genealogists Can Use Social Media

Social media is such a big word in our culture. It's become a way for news to be shared, families to keep in touch and companies to market their goods and services. The possibilities are endless!

So can family historians get in on this action? Is there any benefit to using Facebook, Twitter or Google +?

The simple answer is...YES!

Social media allows you to make connections. With Twitter and Facebook you have an opportunity to not only meet and connect with like-minded individuals, but distant cousins and professionals you wouldn't have been able to meet otherwise.

Twitter and Facebook can seem overwhelming. It's a 24/7 live stream of conscience thought and advertisements. If you let it, it can consume an enormous amount of time.

Here's what I recommend:

1) Have a goal in mind before logging on. Having a purpose or goal for your visit will help keep you focused instead of getting caught up in all the feeds and posts just to come away from your computer forgetting why you logged on in the first place.

2) Give yourself a time limit. Whether it's 10 minutes or an hour and stick to it. Log off when you've hit your limit.

3) Keep each account focused. I have a personal twitter feed and a twitter account for AncestryChick. This way I can follow the appropriate people and not mix the two. This also helps to have the appropriate people following me. If I mixed them all together those who are following me would become frustrated by my jumble of tweets and posts. I wouldn't post ancestry/genealogy information to those who are following me personally or about writing and vice versa. Facebook allows you to have a personal page and a public page, which I suggest utilizing. My personal page is for friends and family and my public page is for AncestryChick. This is where I post about my blog updates or information about genealogy related stuff.

4) Connect and Engage. This is important! Ask questions. Tell others what you are looking for. Hit a wall in your research? Put it out there and see if anyone can help. Comment on blog posts, Facebook posts and twitter feeds. Just like any other relationship you must do your part and be present and engaged.

I've found Social Media to be a great addition to my genealogy research. I've been able to connect with distant cousins, learn about conferences and online webinars, and read get answers to my research questions. If you haven't tried it yet, I would highly recommend it.

Getting To Know Jane Theresa Adams

I never had the privilege of meeting my grandmother, Jane Theresa Adams...she passed away a few weeks after my older brother was born.

She was born on June 9, 1930 in San Francisco, CA. She was adopted by Miner Barnes Adams (b. 4/9/1899 in Mt. Vernon, NY / d. 5/17/1969 in Palo Alto, CA) and Honor Jane Boland Adams (b. 12/22/1900 in San Francisco,CA / d. 1/3/1988 in CA)...everyone called Honor "Ben". Yet no one can tell me why. Hmmm??

Miner and Ben had a daughter Nancy Ruth Adams (b. 12/20/1926 d. 5/24/1993). They had two other children that I have evidence of...both died at birth. Judy Adams on 11/29/1928 in Palo Alto, CA and John Adams on 2/20/1930 in Palo Alto, CA.

(left to right: Amelia Fries Beyl, Honor "Ben" Boland Adams, Ernie Beyl, Jane Adams, Jeff Beyl, Roxanne Minnigh, Joseph Beyl, Janet Burns Minnigh and Robert Minnigh)

Now what I find interesting...is that Miner and Honor were preparing for a baby to be born in February of 1930 (if that was full-term) and yet my grandmother was born in early June in 1930. That's only a little over 3 months. Adoptions usually took longer than that. So either my grandmother Jane wasn't adopted immediately after birth OR Miner and Honor knew the birth mother perhaps??

Growing up there were only a few things I knew about her...

1. She was adopted.
2. She played the piano.
3. She'd been married twice and divorced twice.
4. She was beautiful.
5. She died of cancer.
6. I supposedly resemble her.

I don't remember seeing pictures of her growing up. I mourned her absence in my life. Maybe it was easier to idolize someone who wasn't there. But I did miss her. I use to talk to her late at night when I was trying to work out some adolescent problem...thinking she would have the answers. 

Jane Theresa Adams

(I LOVE this dress. I even have a pair of shoes just like the ones she's wearing)

Jane was always a mystery.

My mom met my dad when they were just teenagers so she has been a huge help in filling in some of the blanks. 

I may never know Jane's entire story...and that's truly a tragedy. She was given up for adoption and brought into a family who from all appearances loved her. I believe they did. But I also think, from all I've been told, that Jane also had a darkness to her....a pain that was deep. 

After pestering my dad a bit, he finally sent me some photos of Jane last March. I was coming home from a business trip in Chicago and there was a large envelope from my dad and inside were a handful of B&W photos of Jane and my Grandfather Ernie. I cried! It was the first time I'd seen a photo of her. It was such a special moment. 

Jane Adams fixing her veil on her wedding day. Ernie and her mother are standing beside her.

I love the kid in the background...was he part of the wedding or was he a creeper? 

Ernie Beyl and Jane Adams on their wedding day

Amelia Fries Beyl, Jane Adams with son Jeffrey and Joseph Beyl

Jane with her sons Jeff and Michael

This photo is my favorite...after being told I resembled her...I could finally see why. I sit just like this, with my shoulders rolled forward. Our bodies are very similar and I have her hands.

Adoption As Part of Your Genealogy Research

Ancestry.com had a great video about Adoption Research and Genealogy. Very interesting...so please watch! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bemP0LQ4lik&feature=youtu.be

My Grandmother Jane Theresa Adams was adopted and I've begun my research on finding her biological family. She was born in San Francisco, CA on June 6, 1930 and she was adopted by a wonderful family. Honor Jane Boland and Miner Barnes Adams from CA.

I've begun to look into finding her birth parents and since she was in CA that requires quite a few of hoops to jump through.

My first step is to get a copy of her birth certificate. Now this will list her adoptive parents, but I want to start with that so I know I'm working with the correct county. I've filled out the application and now have to take the sworn statement to be notarized before mailing with the fee. It needs to be notarized since I'm not able to walk into the county office myself. In a few short weeks I will get a copy of her birth certificate.

But in order to view her original birth certificate I will have to first petition the courts for permission. Once a court order is granted, I will then mail a copy of that with an application and fee. And that's if I'm even given permission.

It all seems daunting, but I'm curious and it's a mystery I'd love to solve. Plus, I believe many of my own health issues come from her family line and it would be nice to have a bit more information.

Anyone had any luck uncovering an adopted relative's birth parents? I'd love to hear your story!!

Mystery Photo

As family historians you'll come across photographs of unknown individuals from time to time. Don't push them aside assuming you'll never know who the picture is of.

Here is a photo my Grandpa Minnigh gave to me over 18 years ago and I can no longer remember who he saidwas in this photo. Sadly there is no note on the photo either.

I believe the photo is of a Minnigh and his wife. I've always thought this was of George Minnigh, my 4x Great Grandfather.

There are a few things I find so interesting about this photo. First that's it's taken inside of the home. Usually you see photos standing outside, I would imagine due to lighting issues with those old cameras. And why did they decide to have a photo done of them this way? It's such a domestic scene.  

Interesting features:

• The man is sitting in the forefront, while his wife is sitting some distance in the back. (How did that conversation go? Or was it just assumed and she quietly took her place?) And the rocking chair he is sitting is looks beautiful, while she is sitting in a straight back chair.

• He's holding 2 shotguns and she's sitting beside her spinning wheel. This shows their positions very well.

• He's dressed in nice trousers and a very nice jacket. His wife looks to be wearing a very fine blouse. I can't tell if she's wearing a hat or if that is just her dark hair. 

• I love the wood burning stove in the front left corner...what a gorgeous antique that would make these days.

• The fireplace is roaring and they have two cauldrons hanging from the hooks. Those would be cast iron and well used. I wonder what's cooking inside? A stew perhaps?

• There are two oil lamps on the mantle just behind the clock.

• And the clock...this I just love...why? Because it says 10:30 and since there is light coming through the windows...I assume it's 10:30 a.m.

• The house/cabin is small. There isn't a great deal of floor space and what flooring there is...it's brick. The living room/kitchen is very functional. Maybe there is a dining table positioned behind her. 

• Can you see the firewood? There is a piece beside him and some next to her. But then look in the fireplace...you'll see the same type of wood is burning there.

• It's hard to see exactly what is behind her...but it appears to be fabric hanging over her left shoulder...maybe a curtain or room divider of some sort.

I believe this is a Minnigh. In fact, I see a strong resemblance between the gentleman and my own Grandpa Minnigh.

If there is anyone out there who might recognize these two...I would LOVE to hear from you.