Genealogical Gems

One of my girls is doing a research paper for her English class and her thesis  - I forget the exact wording - concerns Auschwitz, the conditions there specifically and Hitler's prejudice against Jews. While she was surfing to find some additional credible sources, she came across the Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau . The site offers a database of those imprisioned at Auschwitz. While the Museum states it is unlikely to ever actually conatin ALL the names of those who entered the camp, it is compiled from the original SS paperwork. However, the SS ordered many of the records destroyed. The database pulls its information from several resources: Death Books Digital Repository—Prisoners of and Deportees to Auschwitz Gypsy Family Camp Record Books Memorial Resources The site does a great job explaining the references and terms as well, in addition to some of the more common translations. I search for Hruszczak, Kurenda and Skrabalek but found no one. When I search...

Thanksgiving Day is a day of reflection and giving thanks. Through my health blog - Facing Diabetes - I participate in Wegohealth's National Health Blog Post Month (NHBPM). Today's NHBPM topic is to write about what we’re thankful for! Very fitting subject for Thanksgiving Day. I am thankful for my girls. They are the reason I go on most days! I am thankful for my husband and that we are back together and have learned from past experiences. I am thankful that my girls are in good health and are good students. I am thankful for my faith, although admitedly when the depression hits hard I do question everything. It is my faith and my girls and my husband who pull me back. My best friend too. I don't understand how exactly but whenever I am at my lowest is when he calls to "just chat." That is what I am most thankful for. I gave up on my dream job long ago. I have no talents of any use. I am not pretty or sexy - good thing I am also not superficial...

Local libraries are always a great resource when working on genealogy. The Lancaster County Library , on Duke Street in Lancaster City, is no different. According to the Library's website, their collection includes: Census records (microfilm) Local newspapers (paper and microfilm) Local histories Atlases Select collection of family histories Select church and cemetery records Small collection of passenger lists and immigration records Lancaster City Directories The microfilm area is in the lower level. To use the microfilm, go to the information/help desk located pretty much at the bottom of the steps. Ask the person (the day I went I got a very helpful gentleman) for the roll you want. The older two machines are off to the left while the newer machine is straight back. Both work the same way way and if you are not sure the resource person will walk you through how to load and unload the microfilm properly. The advantage of the newer ma...

Seeing as it's Veteran's Week (I know I made that up but doesn't it sound better than just one day?), I thought I would look through some tombstone photos I had and choose a vet to honor today. Well I feel so bad - Sunday when I wrote of my family's vets, I omitted my Uncle Jim! James Franklin Still served in the US Army during WW2. He was born 5 September 1910 to Pierson George and Mary Kilpatrick Still in Unionville, Chester County, PA. He was the oldest son. Pierson and Mary had had a daughter - Margaret Nora Still - the year prior but she had lived only two months. In 1913 his parents had another daughter - Dorothy - who died within her first months as well. James' brother Lloyd Pierson Still - my grandfather - was born 24 March 1914. He lived a full life. Their mother passed two years later - in 1916 - due to complications of childbirth. So Pierson raised James and Lloyd on his own with help of course from the family and a housekeeper, Edith Maltby. On...

Yesterday I mentioned my side of the family who had served in the military. Today I would like to recognize some of my husband's side. Thank you to (in no specific order): Frank Eckman Jr (brother) -- Vietnam - Marines William LeMon Jr (nephew) - Marines William LeMon Sr (brother in law) - Marines - Vietnam Oscar D. Eckman (great granduncle) - Mechanic US Amb Corps Unit 583 - WW2 John Francis Deyoe (uncle) - Army - WW2 John C Eckman Jr (Uncle Bud) - Army - WW2 Thank you also to Frank Eckman III (nephew) who is currently serving with the Marines in Japan. I know there are many others who have served in the past. Thank you to everyone.  

Thank you to all who have served. Thank you to all who currently serve. Thank you to the families - the spouces, the children, and the parents - of those who serve. Thank you to my family members who have served: Joseph Ruczhak - s/o Joseph & Anna Kurenda Ruczhak (my dad) - Vietnam Teddy Ruzchak - s/o Theodore & Mary Chernecky Ruzchak (my cousin) - Vietnam Peter Ruczhak - s/o Panko & Bessie Matys Hruszczak (my uncle) - Korea John Kurenda - s/o Peter & Anna Kurenda (my cousin) - Paul Ruczhak - s/o Panko & Bessie Matys Hruszczak (my uncle) - WW2 Italy Nicholas Ruczhak - s/o Panko & Bessie Matys Hruszczak (my uncle) - WW2 South Pacific. He was awarded the Bronze Star for the Philippine Libration Paul Kurenda - s/o John & Frances Skrbalek Kurenda (my uncle) - WW2 KIA Joseph Welsh - s/o Martin & Catherine O'Flaherty Walsh (my uncle) - WW2 Leo Welsh - s/o Martin & Catherine O'Flaherty Walsh (my uncle) - WW2 Raymond Welsh - s/o Mar...

Today's GeneaBloggers theme is Thankful Thursday. I am thankful for my Aunt Helen. Born Helen Still in 1903 to Franklin and Jennie S VanHorn Still in East Fallowfield Township, Chester County, PA. She grew up on the same farm she was born on. In 1924 she married Elwood Webster. They had two children. One - Gloria - lived only a month and a half in 1926. Five years later they had another daughter Janet who had three children herself. Aunt Helen attended West Chester State Normal School with intentions to teach. Her father Franklin - in addition to his farm - was a rural school teacher. The lifestyle would have been one to which she was already accustomed. However she quickly realized she hated teaching. During World War II she went to work at a paper mill in nearby Modena.  She continued on doing odd jobs until she landed at Unionville School. She was there for 13 years on the janitorial staff. She was so well loved by teachers and students alike that one year the yearb...