Week 40: Harvest

     Autumn is my favorite season. The weather turns cooler, the leaves change color, the air smells of burning leaves; this time of year makes me so happy. And depending on what you planted for the year, it's also Harvest Time. Cornfields and soybean fields are about ready, depending on your area. Soon you will see farm equipment on the roads or on the sides working hard. I never grew up on a farm though. The town we lived in was right on the edge of St. Louis County and Franklin County. Most of the farming was done in Franklin County. But that still didn't stop Dad and Papa from having a garden in the back yard.
     When we moved into the house on High View, there was a nice big back yard. And my dad and papa utilized it for sure. They planted a nice big garden in the back. We always had an abundance of tomatoes (which I could not stand) but also had zucchini, yellow squash, radishes, okra, pumpkins, and some other vegetables. There was no specific Harvest Time growing up. It was just going to the garden and see what's ready.
     It was the same way with my dad when he was growing up. When they lived in the barn on Antire Road, they had a huge garden. He and his siblings always helped out with the gardening duties. Dad told me they would plant so many vegetables, especially tomatoes. He said they planted so much because they wouldn't be sure if some would survive the frosts when they would come in. Dad told me one year, Papa was convinced all the tomato crops had died from the most recent frost so he bought more and planted them. Turns out, the original ones hadn't died and now they had double tomatoes!
     Dad also said they would set up the tractor at the end of their driveway right on Antire Road to sell vegetables to anyone who would pass by. That would help bring in some income. Papa would also go to the local Farmer's Market to buy, sell and trade. With having nine kids in the house, they had to do all they could to get extra food and money in the house.
     I was doing some research on the Great Depression recently and came across a book of stories that were told by people who lived through it. Something many people talked about was having their own gardens in the backyard and trading with others for different food. As they put it, if you had a garden, you would never go hungry. It reminded me of my dad and his family when he was a kid. As I've grown and learned more about my family, I've developed more of an appreciation for gardening and for farmers in general and doing everything you can to take care of your family.
     So while it is Autumn and Harvest time is fast approaching, I think of good memories I have with my dad and papa and the garden we used to harvest from. And with Thanksgiving coming up in just over a month, it reminds me how much I have to be grateful for.

Week 41: Context

Context: In its earliest uses (documented in the 15th century), context meant "the weaving together of words in language." This sense, now obsolete, developed logically from the word's source in Latin, contexere "to weave or join together." Context now most commonly refers to the environment or setting in which something (whether words or events) exists. When we say that something is contextualized, we mean that it is placed in an appropriate setting, one in which it may be properly considered. - Merriam Webster Dictionary

     When we are researching our ancestors to learn more about their lives, we have to make sure we keep everything in context. Decisions they made in their lives during a certain time period may be different than the decisions we make today. We have to make sure we keep this in mind when we write the story of our ancestors' lives. We do our best to communicate to the reader the details so they can gain a better understanding of how and why they lived and made the choices they did.
     So when we are putting together their story, it is our job to clearly state the details to provide a full understanding of the context of the situation. Context can be defined as “the formal or informal setting in which a situation occurs; it can include many aspects or dimensions, such as environment, social activity, goals or tasks of groups and individuals; time (year/month/day)." - Source While the source of this quote is referring to something completely different, it fits when it comes to writing the story of our specific ancestor.
     How many times have we heard a story, watched a movie, or seen something happen where we have spouted, "Oh, I would have done something different." The question is, would you? Would you really? Until you are in the shoes of that person, dealing with the same thoughts, circumstances, feelings, etc., you really have no clue what you would have done. We are so quick to pass judgments on people, including our ancestors, for the decision they made that we would have supposedly made differently.
     When I was writing about my 2nd great Uncle, I spent a lot of time researching the history of the town and the time period in which he lived. In doing so, it really opened up my eyes to understanding his life and what he and his family would have been going through and why they made the decisions they did. Read his story here: William Ilg, the gone but not forgotten Uncle. I also did my best to include some of this historical context in my writing, so hopefully, the writer could get a better understanding of his life. Without this context, his story was very dry and unrelatable.
     Recently, I also participated in a YouTube Collaboration called Project Genealogy. The topic we addressed was Migration. Each one of us recorded a video about Migration relating to our genealogy research. I filmed a video discussing the reasons why my German ancestors immigrated to the United States, more specifically Missouri. Without doing this research, I couldn't understand why my family would come to the state of Missouri. Now I have a better understanding. Watch my video below, and don't forget to check out all the videos in the Migration Series.


     While it's important to make sure you include context, it is also equally important to make sure you don't take things OUT of context. The media is famous for doing this. They will take a statement that is made and use it in ways it was never meant to be used. One statement I have made before is, "I don't like to watch Christmas movies." Now that statement is not completely true. I do like to watch Christmas movies. I love Christmas movies. So why would I say this statement? This statement is in response to my dad asking me if I will watch a Christmas movie in July. That is something I do not do. I will not watch Christmas movies outside of Christmas time. So while my statement is true, when taken out of context, it makes it appear that I am a liar. So when writing your ancestor's story, do not take things out of context.
     It's amazing how important context is when it comes to life. It's something we constantly forget about but should be considered daily. Whether talking, listening, writing, investigating, or reporting, we should always be thinking about the context.

William Ilg - Eligible for a medal: UPDATE

     Almost a year ago, in November, while researching my 2nd great Uncle William Ilg, I learned that he qualified for a Purple Heart Medal, posthumously for his sacrifice in World War I. From my understanding, he was never awarded this citation. Sadly, his military service file was destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center. I contacted the National Archives with my question about his eligibility and this was what I received back:

During WW1 the Purple Heart was not awarded for wounds inflicted by the enemy; it was awarded for military merit. During WW2 it was designated for wounded veterans; the following is an excerpt from our instructions:

"This award, the modern form of the original Purple Heart established by General George Washington in 1782, is conferred on any person wounded in action while serving with the Armed Forces of the United States. It is awarded for wounds or death as result of an act of any opposing Armed Force, as a result of an international terrorist attack or as a result of military operations while serving as part of a peacekeeping force, while serving with the Armed Forces of the United States. It is also awarded posthumously to the next of kin of personnel killed or having died of wounds received in action after April 5, 1917.

The original Purple Heart Medal was awarded for "Military Merit", and before World War II was only awarded to three men. During the early period of World War II (7 Dec 41 to 22 Sep 43), the Purple Heart was awarded both for wounds received in action against the enemy and for meritorious performance of duty. Executive Order 9277, dated 12/3/42 authorized the award only for wounds received."

For WW1 the Purple Heart was also awarded for exposure to Mustard Gas. So a WW1 veteran couldn't request the Purple Heart medal until after 12/3/42. - St. Louis National Archives

     So as you can see, he wouldn't have become eligible until almost 25 years after his death. By 1942, his mother had passed and the only family still living would have been his brothers: Joseph (my great-grandfather) and John. Grandpa Joe was great about making sure William had a headstone issued by the government (placed around 1931), but I doubt he went to the trouble of trying to get William's file amended to include a Purple Heart. He would have had to have contacted the Army Records office to inquire about it if he would have known. As I have learned during this process, it hasn't been an easy one.
 

   After gathering all the information I could about William, I filled out the application (given to me by the St. Louis Archives) to have his file amended to include the Purple Heart citation. I sent off the application in February of this year and had not received confirmation that they had received it. I've emailed them twice over the past few months, both confirming that they had not received it. This last email though, the customer service rep told me to email in my application along with my documentation so they could process it immediately. Oh, I am so happy to hear this! So I just emailed off the application and documentation to the Army Review Board. They said it would take a couple of days to process (to put in their system), but then the board still needs to review it. That could take a couple of weeks or more. Oh, I am going to be on pins and needles.
     What am I hoping to get out of this? Well, first the obvious, I am hoping they will amend William's Military Personnel File to include this citation. His sacrifice deserves to be recognized and remembered. After that, I don't know what to expect. From what I have learned, only the next of kin can receive replacement medals of fallen soldiers. William had no next of kin. He was never married nor did he ever have any kids. So all he has left is nieces and nephews. Half of me knows I will probably not receive the Purple Heart Medal in the mail for William, and I am ok with that. That wasn't the purpose of this journey. The purpose of this originally started with learning more about him and making sure he was never forgotten.
     I hope to update you soon with the outcome of this quest. It would be amazing if it happened around the date of his death so we could memorialize him with this award. Who knows? We will have to wait and see. Check be often for the conclusion to this magnificent story.

Here are some videos I put together about William Ilg

History Fair 2019

     I have exciting news! Coming up this month on October 27, the Franklin County Historical Society will be hosting its annual History Fair in Union, Missouri at the Senior Center. There will be many vendors attending this event... including ME!! Yes! I was invited to be a vendor for this event to showcase my blog, crafts, research, and the GAA facebook groups. This will be my first event showcasing my blog. I am just beyond excited! And the best part: it's FREE!
     Not only will there be vendors, but there will also be food, a silent auction, historical items on display, and a raffle! I know one thing my dad will be interested in is the Antique Tools they will have on display. Well, and of course coming to see me, but you know, Tools come first.
     Funny story: when my husband went to my dad to ask his blessing to court me, he was all serious asking my dad if he could talk to him. My dad's response to the question was, "Oh yeah sure! I thought you were going to ask to borrow a tool or something." I see how I rank in the scheme of things haha!
     Seriously though, I can't describe just how excited and honored I am to participate in this event. I also look forward to talking with the other vendors that will be there. For a list of the vendors, please see the flyer below. The items that will also be available for the Silent Auction are also listed. And did you notice who's logo is advertised on the flyer?

     So if you are available, please come on out, 

have some fun, and say Hi! 

Hope to see you there!

Consider becoming a member or donating to the 

Franklin County Historical Society.

Visit their website: http://www.franklincountymohistoricalsociety.com/

Book Review - Hiding the Past by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to read and give a review on the first book in Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery series: Hiding the Past by Nathan Dylan Goodwin. This is the first time I am reading a book by this particular author. I am always looking for something new to read relating to genealogy research. Something that I can relax with and lose myself in when I take a break from my own research. I was excited that this series fell into my lap. So below is my review of The Forensic Genealogist book #1: Hiding the Past. 

Cover 

Right away, the title grabs my attention. Mostly from my own genealogical research. My family has tried their best to hide the past. I am also a fan of crime mysteries, so this definitely has my interest. The picture of what appears to be an abandoned house makes you question, "What does this have to do with the story?" and "What is inside?"

Plot

Forensic Genealogist, Morton Farrier, is hired by Peter Coldrick to find out the truth behind his family, specifically the identity of his grandparents. Right away, Morton learns this isn't going to be a typical job. It has now become known as the "Coldrick Case" and he must navigate his way through secrets, lies, and missing documents to find what he is seeking. He keeps running into people that will stop at nothing to hide the truth, even to the point of murder. Soon his safety is threatened along with his long-time girlfriend, Juliette. He is also involving other people from his life, worried he is also putting them at risk. He must decide if the truth is really worth all that he is going through. In the end, he learns more than he ever thought he would and finds the answer he did not expect. Not to mention during all this, he is dealing with his own personal history that he knows nothing about and the man he calls father. He will have to face some truths from his own past that he was not prepared to learn.

Were Characters Relatable

I was able to relate to Morton in the sense that his past was shrouded in mystery. What he thought was truth was shattered by one revelation when he was younger, then again as he became an adult. Doing my own research, I've learned many truths about my family that has almost shattered my world. His reactions made perfect sense for someone who felt like they were in limbo and had no family to connect with.

Kept my attention

The story kept me guessing what was going to happen next. Whom could he trust? If I would have had the time, I would have read the whole book in one sitting. It was always hard trying to find a stopping place when I needed to continue on with adulting for the day. So yes, it definitely kept my attention. You would definitely call this "A Page Turner".

Easy To Understand and Follow

Nathan writes in a way that is definitely easy to understand and follow. A couple times I had to go back and clarify what I had read to understand what was going on, but that's only because sometimes I get ahead of myself. I am dying to know what happens next.

What I Didn't Like

The only thing I had trouble with the most in the book was understanding locations. The story takes place in the UK, and I am from the United States. It feels like he writes with the understanding that the reader knows or is at least familiar with the towns he is referring to in the UK. If anything, it just shows I really need to expand my knowledge of the UK. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It isn't hindering enough to keep me from enjoying the book and reading the rest of the series.

Would I Recommend the Book/Series

I absolutely would recommend this book and the Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery series. I'm actually going to be picking up the rest of the books myself to add to my personal collection. I'm hooked! If you are looking for an excellent crime mystery series with a bonus of dealing with genealogy, then this series is definitely for you!

There you have it. As you can see, I would absolutely recommend reading this book and the series it goes with. If the rest of Nathan's books are this engaging and enjoyable, he is quickly going to become my new favorite author. But don't take my word for it. Pick up the book today and give your own review!

Get it from Amazon today!