One of my favorite places to search for family information is newspaper obituaries. So, when Amy suggested this week's topic, "In the Paper", I naturally thought of obituaries!
These days, I often check for obits on www.Legacy.com. There are many city newspapers represented and for obituaries in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, our local paper, I check it every day. I often see obituaries with names of persons I recognize, and knew about their death. But, very often I see listings for persons I know, but were unaware of their death. And sometimes I see surnames of persons also found in my family research, and wonder if maybe they are related. So, I have to get to work and try to find out!
Sometimes the obit shares a lot of information about the deceased,
I even found an article about a World War II Navy squadron that was looking for "missing" members for a Reunion in 1988, that listed was my uncle, George H. Springer. I was able to send him the article, which he had not seen, and he was able to reconnect and attend the Reunion!
'Til Next Time!
These days, I often check for obits on www.Legacy.com. There are many city newspapers represented and for obituaries in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, our local paper, I check it every day. I often see obituaries with names of persons I recognize, and knew about their death. But, very often I see listings for persons I know, but were unaware of their death. And sometimes I see surnames of persons also found in my family research, and wonder if maybe they are related. So, I have to get to work and try to find out!
Sometimes the obit shares a lot of information about the deceased,
 |
| Vera Whitten Springer Obit, my first wife, Fort Worth Star Telegram, March 22, 1991 |
And sometimes there is very little information!
 |
| Maggie Pitts Clark Obit, unnamed, only "wife of Tom Clark", my great grandmother Waxahachie Daily Light, November 1897 |
This last one only says, "Near Lawndale, Oct wife of Thomas Clark." That's all it says! And it took me a LONG time to learn more. Luckily, there are many more other sources online, in local libraries, court houses and museums, and I was able to locate and confirm the date, actually October 28, 1897 and her name. This actual date came from Probate records where Tom states the date of death, confirms they have 2 sons, and since Texas is a community property state, he assumes all of the assets. But not for a whole year after her death!
I also have found announcements of events, like my grandparents 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration in 1963.
 |
| Fort Worth Star Telegram, 1963. |
 |
| 1988 Fort Worth Star Telegram |
Another great place to search newspapers is https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/. On this site are newspapers from many states and many years. I have been able to locate lots of obituaries on this site, as well as marriages, births and news articles about people I am researching. One of those I found, I wrote about here https://regnirpsstories.blogspot.com/2018/11/random-fact-arrest-of-elijah-pitts-1871.html. Sometimes I am confident that the article I find is truly about the person I am researching, but sometimes, I am not so sure! But, in order to be complete in my research, I look for any and all references to any person with that person, that the same area!
So, you never know what you will find "In the Paper"!
So, you never know what you will find "In the Paper"!
'Til Next Time!
#52Ancestors
Comments
Post a Comment