Wow, I've been gone awhile! That wasn't intentional but I've done my version of Thomas MacEntee's "Genealogy Do-Over". When I first read his post I thought he was nuts! I've got too many years into my file and too little time to do what he's purporting. I'm not saying he's wrong, just not something I think I could find myself doing.
That said, I know a LOT of my early genealogy was done incorrectly and so many records have been added online to be able to verify my work. When the 1940 census was released I started going through my families, one at a time and adding the census transcriptions for each family. This expanded to me putting all census records for each family into my file, in order with birth and death and war registries all in chronological order. That took a LONG time. Then ancestry.com threw a wrinkle into my plans to "take a break" and released Michigan marriages and divorces through 1952, www.seekingmichigan.org released death certificates through 1952 and familysearch.org added a huge collection of Michigan obituaries. Given the fact that almost all of my family was in Michigan by the 1880s I decided to do another "do-over" and go through my file again.
I see in my first blog post that I had 44,993 names in my tree in March of 2014. I'm not a "collector" of names but I do add whatever offshoots I can as tracing down other lines has led me to so many rewarding connections that I've lost count. Here I am a year and a couple of months later and my tree has ballooned to 55,414 people. That's how many blanks this new information filled in. The number of "starter" marriages/divorces/remarriages I found was incredible. The "Susie Unknowns" in my file got surnames and allowed me to find other records. All in all I'm very happy with what I was able to put together.
At some point I may start sourcing my tree differently. I mentioned in an earlier blog
how I currently do my sourcing. I actually LOVE this system as it
provides links to the actual records and shows how the record is
transcribed if it needs to be quickly found again. That said, when I
try to share reports with others it's cumbersome to say the least. I also want to get my tree up at rootsweb.com
but I can't get it to take without the bio notes and given I've
transcribed so many obituaries that shouldn't be posted like that for
various reasons I've had to take the tree down. So perhaps my next big
project will be to go through and re-source. That'll be a time
consuming mess for WAY down the road but I still would rather do that than have to find everything again!
So what now? I think I'll take a respite from the tree for the summer. I'm sure new information will come forth and drag me back in but the heavy lifting is done. In the meantime I've got some blogging to catch up on and papers to organize. These are much less time-consuming than what I've been doing!
An example of what my tree currently looks like, taken from my 2nd great grandfather George Delmer Comstock's "notes" section:
Delmer Comstock Dies; Furniture Worker Here
Delmer Comstock, 86, furniture worker here many years until his retirement in 1920, died of a heart attack Tuesday night at his home, 1105 Burton-st., SE. He had suffered a dislocated shoulder in a fall at his home March 15.
Native of Grandville, Mr. Comstock came to Grand Rapids when he was 2. He was a wood turner in local furniture factories and had been employed by the Fancy Furniture Co. 18 years prior to his retirement. He was a member of Plymouth Congregational church.
Surviving are his wife, Augusta; a son, Charles D.; two daughters, Mrs. George Swank and Mrs. William Swank; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, all of Grand Rapids.
The body is at the Eggebeen funeral home. (unknown newspaper - clipping from my grandmother's belongings)
Delmer Comstock, aged 86, passed away suddenly Tuesday evening at the residence, 1105 Burton-st., SE. Surviving are his wife, Augusta; two daughters, Mrs. George Swank and Mrs. William Swank; a son, Charles D.; three grandsons, a granddaughter, two great grandsons and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Comstock reposes at the Eggebeen Funeral Home, 330 Eastern-av., SE. where funeral services will be held Saturday at 1:30. Rev. A. E. Potts officiating. Burial in Wyoming Township cemetery. (from the Grand Rapids Herald 4/6/1950)
According to Grand Rapids City Directories:
Ran GD Comstock Grocery at 40 Fountain from years 1889-1891.
In 1882 listed as boarder with mother working for GR Chair Co as a machinehand.
1892 listed as an insurance agent with "The Gilbert" and living at 80 Houseman
1893-1897 listed as a "lab", "checker", and "sealer" for C&W M Ry, at 18 Lamont Ct, still living at 80 Houseman in 1894.
1903 listed working at GR Chair Table Co as a wood turner
Name: George Comstock
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1900
Event Place: Precinct 3 Grand Rapids city Ward 2, Kent, Michigan, United States
District: 51
Gender: Male
Age: 36
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Number of Living Children:
Years Married: 12
Birth Date: Mar 1864
Birthplace: Michigan
Marriage Year (Estimated): 1888
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Birthplace: York State
Mother of how many children:
Sheet Number and Letter: 3A
Household ID: 53
Line Number: 25
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: T623
GS Film Number: 1240721
Digital Folder Number: 004120233
Image Number: 00804
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
George Comstock Head M 36 Michigan
Augusta B C Comstock Wife F 39 Germany
Clara B Comstock Daughter F 11 Michigan
Charles D Comstock Son M 7 Michigan
Minnie A Comstock Daughter F 3 Michigan
Citing this Record:
"United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MSMR-4FS : accessed 7 March 2015), George Comstock, Precinct 3 Grand Rapids city Ward 2, Kent, Michigan, United States; citing sheet 3A, family 53, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,240,721.
Name: George D Comstock
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1910
Event Place: Grand Rapids Ward 11, Kent, Michigan, United States
District: 114
Gender: Male
Age: 46
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Birth Year (Estimated): 1864
Birthplace: Michigan
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Sheet Number and Letter: 14B
Household ID: 319
Line Number:
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M1283
GS Film number: 1374671
Digital Folder Number: 004330156
Image Number: 00393
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
George D Comstock Head M 46 Michigan
Augusta B Comstock Wife F 47 Germany
Clara B Comstock Daughter F 20 Michigan
Charles D Comstock Son M 16 Michigan
Minnie A Comstock Daughter F 12 Michigan
William R Comstock Son M 8 Michigan
Citing this Record:
"United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/ML5B-8LB : accessed 7 March 2015), George D Comstock, Grand Rapids Ward 11, Kent, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 114, sheet 14B, family 319, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,671.
Name: George D Comstock
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1920
Event Place: Grand Rapids Ward 3, Kent, Michigan, United States
District: 78
Gender: Male
Age: 56
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Own or Rent: Own
Birth Year (Estimated): 1864
Birthplace: Michigan
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: United States
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Sheet Number and Letter: 17B
Household ID: 400
Line Number: 63
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: T625
GS Film number: 1820778
Digital Folder Number: 004311616
Image Number: 01006
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
George D Comstock Head M 56 Michigan
Augusta Comstock Wife F 58 Germany
Charles D Comstock Son M 26 Michigan
Minnie A Comstock Daughter F 22 Michigan
William Comstock Son M 18 Michigan
Citing this Record:
"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZ31-YBW : accessed 7 March 2015), George D Comstock, Grand Rapids Ward 3, Kent, Michigan, United States; citing sheet 17B, family 400, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,820,778.
Name: Delmer Comstock
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1930
Event Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, United States
District: 0095
Gender: Male
Age: 66
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Birth Year (Estimated): 1864
Birthplace: Michigan
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Sheet Number and Letter: 25A
Household ID: 316
Line Number: 13
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: T626
Affiliate Film Number: 1004
GS Film number: 2340739
Digital Folder Number: 004608261
Image Number: 00203
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Delmer Comstock Head M 66 Michigan
Augusta B Comstock Wife F 65 Germany
Clara B Comstock Daughter F 39 Michigan
William R Comstock Son M 28 Michigan
Citing this Record:
"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XQBL-DJ9 : accessed 7 March 2015), Delmer Comstock, Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0095, sheet 25A, family 316, line 13, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1004; FHL microfilm 2,340,739.
Name: George Comstock
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Ward 3, Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids City, Kent, Michigan, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 76
Marital Status: Married
Race (Original): White
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birthplace: Michigan
Birth Year (Estimated): 1864
Last Place of Residence: Same House
District: 86-167
Family Number: 222
Sheet Number and Letter: 10B
Line Number: 71
Affiliate Publication Number: T627
Affiliate Film Number: 1902
Digital Folder Number: 005461854
Image Number: 00492
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
George Comstock Head M 76 Michigan
Augusta Comstock Wife F 78 Germany
William Comstock Son M 38 Michigan
Citing this Record:
"United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KH3H-9VY : accessed 7 March 2015), George Comstock, Ward 3, Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids City, Kent, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 86-167, sheet 10B, family 222, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 1902.
Name: G Delmer Comstock
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 04 Apr 1950
Event Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 86
Marital Status: Married
Birth Date: 11 Mar 1864
Birthplace: Grandville, Michigan
Birth Year (Estimated): 1864
Father's Name: David B Comstock
Mother's Name: Barbara Harris
GS Film number: 1972831
Digital Folder Number: 005237796
Image Number: 02350
Citing this Record
"Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KF3P-L7J : accessed 02 May 2013), G Delmer Comstock, 1950.
