Surname Saturday: SONNIER

SONNIER is the surname of my great-great-grandmother, Marie Alice (Sonnier) BONEAUX. She was my paternal grandfather's maternal grandmother. She was featured last Sunday in my Census Sunday post. In her older years, she lived in a little one-room house behind my great-grandparents house on Nelson St. in Vinton, Louisiana. I always thought that house was really cool when I was a kid because I had never seen such a small house, and it had a bunch of old stuff in it.

Marie Alice SONNIER

b. 07 Sep 1891 in Carencro, Lafayette, Louisiana
m. Maurice BONEAUX 10 Sep 1908 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Carencro, Lafayette, Louisiana
m. Hymel POTIER aft. 1934
d. 07 May 1970 in Vinton, Calcasieu, Louisiana

Joseph Numa "Babe" SONNIER

b. 03 Jun 1862
bap. at St. John's Cathedral in Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana
m. Marie Edmonia DOMINGUE 22 Jan 1883 at St. John's Cathedral in Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana
d. probably bef. 1906, probably in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana

He has been quite the mystery for my cousin Cheryl and I. The rumor in Cheryl's line of the family was that he had committed suicide (Cheryl's grandfather and Marie Alice SONNIER were siblings). We had both come across a reference to a 1906 courthouse marriage record for a woman named Mrs. Edmonia DOMINGUE and Laurent ARCENEAUX, but there was no way to tell for sure if it was our Edmonia. Several years later, as my grandmother was digging around in a desk inherited from Edmonia's granddaughter, she came across the actual marriage record buried in the desk, which confirmed for us that this was likely our Edmonia.

Simeon SONNIER

b. 18 Feb 1830
bap. 01 May 1830 at St. John's Cathedral in Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana
m. Rosalie Basilisse Armigela DOMINGUE 05 Aug 1861 at St. John's Cathedral in Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana
d. 15 Aug 1871
bur. St. John Cemetery in Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana

Cyrille SONNIER

b. abt Sep 1794
bap. 10 May 1795 at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville, St. Martin, Louisiana
m. Susanne PARR 13 May 1822 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Grand Coteau, St. Landry, Louisiana
d. 16 Apr 1859
bur. St. John Cemetery in Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana

Joseph SONNIER/SAULNIER

b. 30 Apr 1755
bap. 16 Nov 1755 in Petitcoudiac, Acadia
m. Marie THIBODEAUX 10 Jan 1779 at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville, St. Martin, Louisiana
d. 09 Oct 1820 in Carencro, Lafayette, Louisiana
bur. 10 Oct 1820 at St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery in Grand Coteau, St. Landry, Louisiana
Arrived in Louisiana in 1765 with his older sister, Madeleine. Read more about their journey here.

Etienne SONNIER/SAULNIER

b. abt 1702, probably in Minas, Acadia
m. Jeanne COMEAU abt 1729, prob. at Minas, Acadia
m. Anne Marie DAROIS 04 Jun 1740 in Beaubassin, Acadia (my line)
d. Unknown

Louis SONNIER/SAULNIER

b. abt 1663 in France
m. Louise BASTINEAU c. 1684 in Grand Pre, Acadia
d. abt 1730, probably at Minas, Acadia

Census Sunday: BONO/BONEAUX in 1920

This week I am featuring my great-great-grandparents, Maurice and Marie Alice (Sonnier) BONEAUX in the 1920 census for the Census Sunday post series. They were living in Police Jury Ward 1 of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, which I believe includes the present-day unincorporated area of Ossun. They were also living there in 1930. My family still owns this land. My great-grandmother, Beatrice, their only child, was age 9 at the time (though she is listed here as 10 years old). Their native tongue was French, and Marie could not read or write nor speak English. They had a 15-year-old servant named Joe Green living with them. Maurice was a farmer, so I am assuming Joe probably helped Maurice out on the farm. Joe's race is hard to determine. It looks like he was black, but someone tried to write either white or mulatto as well. I may have found Joe in the 1930 census living in Baton Rouge, and his race is listed as mulatto.

1920 U.S. census, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, Police Jury Ward 1, enumeration district (ED) 27, sheet 9B, dwelling 123, family 126, Maurice Bono household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 December 2011); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 615.

Maurice Bono Head M W 37 M LA LA LA Farmer

Marie Bono Wife F W 27 M LA LA LA 

Beadrise Bono Daughter F W 10 S LA LA LA

Joe Green Servant M B(?) 15 S LA LA LA Servant for private family

Tombstone Tuesday: Arnold Frederick and Alvina Florence (Pemberton) Beedon DISTELRATH

Photograph by Edward Goscicki (FindAGrave)

DISTELRATH

ALVINA F.

1919-1997

ARNOLD F.

1915-1983

My great-great-aunt and uncle

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Cemetery

Lewiston, Montmorency, Michigan

Alvina was the younger sister of my great-grandfather, John Vital PEMBERTON. She was the tenth child and youngest child who survived to adulthood of Lovell Hugh PEMBERTON and Alvina Mary LESPERANCE. She was born 19 Apr 1919 in Marine City, St. Clair, Michigan, and died 12 Nov 1997 in Fort Gratiot, St. Clair, Michigan. She married her first husband, Daniel Robert "Bob" BEEDON, 11 May 1938 in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan. They divorced in 1951. Interestingly, after divorcing Alvina, Bob married Alvina's widowed sister-in-law, Mabel (Crysler) PEMBERTON, who was my great-grandmother. From what I understand, this caused further tension between my great-grandmother and her Pemberton in-laws. There was already tension because my great-grandmother was not Catholic. Alvina then married Arnold Frederick DISTELRATH on 21 Jan 1956 in Angola, Steuben, Indiana. I presume they married in Indiana because there was no waiting requirement as there was in Michigan. Arnold was born 3 Dec 1915 in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan, to Frederick DISTELRATH and Anna VOSSEN. He died 4 May 1983 in Petoskey, Emmet, Michigan. In their later years, it appears that Arnold and Alvina retired to Northern Michigan.

Census Sunday: PREJEAN in 1920

Before I got married and moved across the country, I had started posting census records of my direct line ancestors each Sunday. I began with the 1930 census and posted about my great-great-great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents, and great-grandparents. I promised to post about the 1920 census after the wedding, and I am finally getting around to it. I've decided to only post on one family in each post because it was getting to be a bit much to put together one post with several families.

I am starting with my great-great-grandparents, but I'm skipping my great-great-grandfather, Oscar TRAHAN, because I haven't yet found him in 1920. I've found his wife, my great-great-grandmother, Virginia PREJEAN, in 1920, living with her parents in Police Jury Ward 2 in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. At some point, Oscar and Virginia divorced, but I haven't set out to find their divorce record yet. Virginia was listed as married in this census. I don't see my great-grandfather, Bienvenue, living with Virginia in 1920. He would have been 11 years old. I wonder if he was with Oscar, his paternal grandparents (whom I can't seem to find either), or if the census enumerator simply forgot him.

1920 U.S. census, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, Police Jury Ward 2, enumeration district (ED) 92, sheet 6A, dwelling 94, family 94, Luseus Prejean household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 

October 2011); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 630.

Luseus Prejean Head M W 55 M LA LA LA Farmer

Alicie Prejean Wife F W 57 M LA LA LA

Virgina Prejean Daughter F W 32 M LA LA LA

Ferdinon Prejean Son M W 17 S LA LA LA Farm Labor

Rene Prejean Son M W 15 S LA LA LA Farm Labor

Cleaning Up My Database: Lovell and Alvina (Lesperance) PEMBERTON

Since I am going family by family cleaning up source citations in my database, I figured I would share some of the sources that I have for the current family I am working. I am working on cleaning up the source citations for the family of my great-great-grandparents, Lovell and Alvina (Lesperance) Pemberton.

Lovell Hugh Pemberton was born 14 Jan 1878 in Almont, Lapeer, Michigan, to John C. Pemberton and Mary Ann Coombs. The funny thing about Lovell is that his birth certificate says he was born 14 Jan 1878, but his father's Civil War pension file and his own WWI draft registration card, death record, and obituary all give his birthday as either 17 Apr 1878 or 17 Apr 1879. I have yet to figure the mystery out. Lovell died 23 Mar 1952 in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan, and is buried in St. Denis Catholic Cemetery in Lexington.

Alvina Mary Lesperance was born 27 Nov 1881 in Anchorville, St. Clair, Michigan, to Charles Lesperance and Christine Goslin. She died 16 Jun 1961 in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan, and is buried with Lovell.

Lovell and Alvina married 10 Nov 1902 in Anchorville, St. Clair, Michigan, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. They had 13 children, only 6 of whom survived to adulthood.

When I clean up source citations on a family, I usually start with the children first. With Lovell and Alvina, I started with their seven children who died in childhood first, since they had the least amount of sources. Now I am working on the other children. Below are the sources I have for their children:

Gilbert Lowell PEMBERTON

b. 8 May 1903 in Ontario or Michigan
d. 21 Jun 1913 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
Sources: 

• 1910 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 208 Gratiot Ave. in Mt. Clemens, Macomb, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1913 state death certificate from "Deaths, 1897-1920" at SeekingMichigan.org
• 1913 death announcement in Mount Clemens Monitor obtained from a lookup volunteer at Mt. Clemens Public Library

Nellie Mary PEMBERTON

b. 25 Oct 1905 in Chesterfield, Macomb, Michigan
m. 9 Jun 1925 in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan to Darcy Merle VAN BUSKIRK
d. 18 Jan 1967 in Torrance, Los Angeles, California
Sources: 

• 1910 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 208 Gratiot Ave. in Mt. Clemens, Macomb, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1925 marriage register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007
• 1930 census with her husband and young daughter at Hathway Street in East China Township, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• Port Huron City Directory obtained from St. Clair County Public Library digital collection
• 1930: 1016-14th St.
• 1936-37, 1938-39: 1814-17th St.
• 1950 mentioned in her brother John's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 mentioned in her father's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1961 mentioned in her mother's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St Clair, Michigan
• 1961 mentioned in her sister Madeline's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1967 death certificate obtained by mail from Los Angeles County Recorder's office
• 1967 obituary from Port Huron Times-Herald obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007
• Letter from Los Angeles Archdiocese giving exact burial location in All Souls Cemetery in Long Beach. Asked a volunteer from FindAGrave to take a pic, but there was no headstone.

John Vital PEMBERTON (my great-grandfather)
b. 19 Feb 1908 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
m. 7 Aug 1927 in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan to Mabel Ellen CRYSLER
d. 22 Nov 1950 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan

Sources: 

• 1908 birth certificate obtained by mail from Michigan Department of Community Health
• 1908 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1910 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 208 Gratiot Ave. in Mt. Clemens, Macomb, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1925 witnessed marriage of sister Nellie and her husband, Darcy  
• 1927 marriage certificate obtained by mail from Sanilac County Clerk (he married in St. Clair County but obtained the license in neighboring Sanilac County)
• 1930 census with his wife and two young children at 1650 McPherson St. in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• Port Huron City Directory obtained from St. Clair County Public Library digital collection
• 1930: 1650 McPherson St.
• 1933-34: 622-11th St.
• 1936-37, 1938-39: 729-12th St.
• 1950 death certificate obtained by mail from Michigan Department of Community Health
• 1950 obituary from Port Huron Times-Herald obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007
• Photograph of gravestone at Elk Township Cemetery in Peck, Sanilac, Michigan, taken summer 2007

Charlotte Agnus PEMBERTON
b. 2 May 1910 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
d. 25 Sep 1910 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
Sources:

• 1910 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1910 state death certificate from "Deaths, 1897-1920" at SeekingMichigan.org

Madeline Marion PEMBERTON

b. 18 Oct 1911 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
m. 21 Oct 1933 in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan to Leo Clayton CARNAHAN
d. 18 Nov 1961 in Torrance, Los Angeles, California
Sources:

• 1911 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1925 witnessed marriage of sister Nellie and her husband, Darcy Merle VAN BUSKIRK
• 1930 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at Ditty Road in Kimball Township, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1930 Port Huron City Directory: 17 Rural St. (lived with her parents)
• 1933 marriage register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007 (she married in Sanilac County but obtained a license in neighboring St. Clair County)
• Port Huron City Directory obtained from St. Clair County Public Library digital collection
• 1936-37: 1131 Pearl St.
• 1938-39: 1103 Miller St.
• 1950 mentioned in her brother John's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 mentioned in her father's obituary as residing in Lakeport, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 newspaper article about the family home catching fire and burning to the ground in Lakeport, St. Clair, Michigan (two children died)
• 1961 mentioned in her mother's obituary as residing in Torrance, Los Angeles, California
• 1961 death certificate obtained by mail from Los Angeles County Recorder's office
• 1961 obituary from Port Huron Times-Herald obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007

Myrtie Elva PEMBERTON

b. 23 May 1914 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
d. 15 Sep 1914 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
Sources:

• 1914 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1914 state death certificate from "Deaths, 1897-1920" at SeekingMichigan.org

Lovell Henry PEMBERTON

b. 4 Jul 1915 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
m. 10 Nov 1934 in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan to Vera Delores BARNES
d. 22 Aug 1972 in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1915 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1930 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at Ditty Road in Kimball Township, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1934 marriage register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007 (he married in Sanilac County but obtained a license in neighboring St. Clair County)
• 1936-37 Port Huron City Directory: 1814 1/2-17th St. (next door to sister Nellie)
• 1950 mentioned in brother John's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 mentioned in father's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan 
• 1961 mentioned in mother and sister Madeline's obituaries as living in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1972 death register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007
• 1972 obituary from The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan) obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007
• Photograph of gravestone taken by a FindAGrave volunteer at St. Denis Catholic Cemetery in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan

Eva Edna PEMBERTON

b. 17 Jul 1916 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan
m. 26 Oct 1938 in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan to Truman Elnathan ROWLEY
d. 24 Jun 2001 in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1916 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1930 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at Ditty Road in Kimball Township, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1933 witnessed marriage of sister Madeline and her husband, Leo Clayton CARNAHAN
• 1934 witnessed marriage of brother Lovell and his wife, Vera Delores BARNES
• 1938 witnessed marriage of sister Alvina and her husband, Daniel Robert BEEDON
• 1938 marriage certificate obtained by mail from Sanilac County Clerk
• 1950 mentioned in brother John's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 mentioned her father's obituary as residing in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan
• 1961 mentioned in mother and sister Madeline's obituaries as residing in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan
• 1967 mentioned in sister Nellie's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1972 mentioned in brother Lovell's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1997 mentioned in sister Alvina's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 2001 death certificate obtained by mail from St. Clair County Clerk
• 2001 obituary from The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan) obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007
• Photograph of gravestone taken by FindAGrave volunteer at St. Denis Catholic Cemetery in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan

Orville Joseph PEMBERTON

b. 17 Apr 1918 in New Baltimore, Macomb, Michigan
d. 23 Mar 1919 in Marine City, St. Clair, Michigan

• 1918 birth register entry from Macomb County Clerk FHL microfilm #979569
• 1919 death register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007
• 1919 state death certificate from "Deaths, 1897-1920" at SeekingMichigan.org

Alvina Florence PEMBERTON

b. 19 Apr 1919 in Marine City, St. Clair, Michigan
m. 11 May 1938 in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan to Daniel Robert BEEDON
m. 21 Jan 1956 in Angola, Steuben, Indiana to Arnold Frederick DISTELRATH
d. 12 Nov 1997 in Fort Gratiot, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1920 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at 700 N. Vine St. in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1930 census in household of Lovell and Alvina at Ditty Road in Kimball Township, St. Clair, Michigan (Ancestry.com)
• 1938 marriage certificate obtained by mail from Sanilac County Clerk 
• 1950 mentioned in brother John's obituary as residing in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1952 mentioned her father's obituary as residing in Croswell, Sanilac, Michigan
• 1956 marriage certificate obtained by mail from Steuben County Clerk
• 1961 mentioned in mother and sister Madeline's obituaries as residing in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1967 mentioned in sister Nellie's obituary as residing in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
• 1972 mentioned in brother Lovell's obituary as residing in Atlanta, Montmorency, Michigan
• 1997 death certificate obtained by mail from St. Clair County Clerk
• 1997 obituary from The Times Herald (Port Huron, Michigan) obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007
• Photograph of gravestone taken by FindAGrave volunteer at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Cemetery in Lewiston, Montmorency, Michigan

James PEMBERTON (twin)

b. 22 Mar 1921 in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
d. 22 Mar 1921 in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1921 death register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007

Joseph PEMBERTON (twin)

b. 22 Mar 1921 in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
d. 14 Aug 1923 in Marysville, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1923 death register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007

Adele Christine PEMBERTON

b. 22 Nov 1923 in St. Clair, St. Clair, Michigan
d. 28 Dec 1928 in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan
Sources:

• 1928 death register entry transcribed at St. Clair County Courthouse in summer 2007
• 1928 obituary from The Port Huron Times-Herald obtained from St. Clair County Public Library in summer 2007

Yes, I Am Alive!

Just in case anyone is still reading my blog, I am alive. It seems like I write these posts more and more in the last year and a half. I guess life gets in the way of genealogy and blogging, especially since I started studying for the CPA exam in September 2010.

The good news is that I *think* I am done studying. I took the last part of the exam on 11/21. I should hear something tomorrow about my score (or at least within the next week). I think I did okay. I don't feel 100% confident, but I think I did well enough to pass. For those of you that don't know, there are four parts of the exam: Financial Accounting & Reporting, Business Environment & Concepts (economics, cost accounting, finance), Audit and Attestation, and Regulation (tax and business law). They can be taken in any order and as many times as you need, but they must all be passed within a rolling 18-month window. The Regulation test was the last one I took and the hardest for me because I do not deal with taxes or business law on a regular basis at my job. I primarily work in financial accounting and audit, so those two parts were my easiest.

I have now moved back to Louisiana. I am so excited to be back with my husband and the rest of my family and friends. I really did like North Carolina, but it's not about where you are. It's about who you're with. I am working for the same company but on a contract basis. Instead of working in the accounting department, I am working in the operations area of the company on a contract that monitors federal funds received by the state of Louisiana through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. I like the people I am working with, I work less than half the hours I used to work, and I make twice the pay, so life is grand.

In genealogy land, I am still cleaning up my RootsMagic database. I am primarily cleaning up the sources, but I am also fixing a few other things, such as how I enter events.

The sources were somewhat jumbled when I converted my Legacy 7.0 file to a RootsMagic 4.0 file two years ago (i.e. author's name in wrong position in source citation). They came over in free form, and I am transferring them to the RootsMagic source template forms based on Elizabeth Shown Mills' style.

Also, some of the dates that contained ranges in Legacy 7.0 (i.e. born bet 15 Apr 1886 and 15 Apr 1887) did not transfer properly. The second part of the date range was cut off, so those have to be fixed as well.

Overall, I feel that my research skills and experience have increased greatly over the last 3 to 4 years, so that adds to why I have a lot of clean up to do. I have a lot of events sourced with undocumented WorldConnect trees, and I want to remove those sources and put their information in the notes instead until I can verify the data.

As I do cleanup, I am also adding a few events and people on collateral lines that can be easily found online in Ancestry, FindAGrave, and FamilySearch databases. Sometimes I feel like I should be focusing more on the cleanup, but it does get a little boring doing the cleanup at times.

I started the cleanup with my own parents and then moved through the generations (primarily in order of Ahnentafel), including collateral lines in each generation. Currently, I am on my great-great-grandparents, Lovell Hugh PEMBERTON and Alvina Mary LESPERANCE. I am going through their children first, beginning with the children that died in childhood since they have the least amount of sources. Then I will go through their children that married and their collateral lines (and then their children's collateral lines). Sometimes as I am doing this, I realize I have way too much info on a collateral line. Then again, is it possible to have too much info on a collateral line? I typically struggle with how much info to research on a collateral line. Most of my collateral line research is stuff I've found online and stuff that was within easy reach at the courthouse while I was researching my direct lines.

I have not yet made it to the library or archives here in Baton Rouge since I've been back. I was busy studying the first month I was home, and then I've been busy with unpacking and holidays the last two weeks. I hope to get to the library before Christmas.

I start my first course in the National Institute for Genealogical Studies American Records Certificate program tomorrow. That was my gift to myself for passing the CPA exam (I know that some of you may be thinking I am crazy to reward myself with more studying...LOL...but this should be fun studying). It is the intro to genealogy course. It should be interesting since I've been doing genealogy for several years now, but I browsed through the first module (there are six total) today and noticed that they do have tailored suggestions on the assignments for people who have been doing it for years. For instance, one of the assignments was to start your pedigree chart using only resources in your home and your family members' homes until you get stuck. Well, I did that about 15 years ago. I believe the suggestion for experienced genealogists was to document where you got stuck after using resources in your family's home when you initially started doing genealogy years ago. Luckily, I still have my first pedigree chart (I can't seem to part with it), copies of both of my grandparents' and my parents' records that I found in their homes that are sourced in my database, and I've got a pretty good memory, so it shouldn't be too hard of an assignment.

Anyhow, my new goal is to blog at least once a week for the next 2 months. Then maybe I will be able to get back in the habit. Let's keep our fingers crossed.