Blog Content
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Your Ancestors and Crossword Puzzles
Jun 19
Working crossword puzzles have been a popular activity for many of you and your ancestors for years. The earliest ones were during the 1800s in England with a groups of words arranged so the letters read alike vertically and horizontally. They were usually in children's puzzle books. Once introduced in the United States the crossword puzzle was en...
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Listerine – How Your Ancestors Used It
Jun 17
This product we think of today for providing fresh breath, solve plaque and gingivitis really started out in 1879 to help medical surgeons to keep their hands free of bacteria. It was developed by Joseph Lawrence, a chemist in Missouri, who named the product after Joseph Lister, who pioneered antiseptic surgery. The company then decided to try ...
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Grand Island Public Library is a FamilySearch Affiliate
Jun 17
Grand Island Public Library has officially become an affiliate library of FamilySearch. This means the library has privileges to limited-access FamilySearch databases. Affiliate libraries may not have all the services of a FamilySearch Family History Center. The Grand Island Public Library is located in the City of Grand Island, Nebraska. I...
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Using ‘Paint by Numbers’
Jun 15
Using a 'paint by the numbers' kit was so popular several decades ago. Young and old alike tried their hand at producing some hand-painted artwork to be hung proudly. There could be some still hanging in family homes or storage in the attic. The kits started back in the 1950s by a commercial artist named Dan Robbins in Michigan. He had been in ...
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Two States Restrict Police Use of DNA Search Method
Jun 15
Maryland and Montana are the first states to restrict law enforcement's use of genetic genealogy. The New York Times reported in May of 2021. Genetic genealogy is the technique that identified the Golden State Killer in 2018. The laws in Maryland and Montana are an effort to ensure the genetic privacy of an accused person. Montana's House B...
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Advertisements to Marry Out West
Jun 13
In the western frontier regions in the mid to late 1800s of the Dakotas, Kansas, Wyoming, Utah, and California to name a few, it was difficult to meet a future female spouse. Ladies, few in number, were already married or not the marrying type. Men were plentiful out west, those seeking a new life and their fortune. One California newspaper claime...
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The Silver Spoons
Jun 11
The use of spoons for cooking and eating with has for centuries involved wooden spoons. Some even used spoons made of horn, bone or ceramic. Metal was reserved for horseshoes, wagon parts, keys and locks; not spoons. By the 1600s metal spoons started to be used more and the most important ones were made of silver. If someone was wealthy enough to ...
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23andMe Added Two New Medication Insight Reports
Jun 10
23andMe announced that they have two new Medication Insight Reports that are available to 23andMe+ members. The 23andMe+ Membership offers everything in the Ancestry + Traits Service and the Health + Ancestry Service. It also provides exclusive reports throughout the year. 23andMe released two new Medication Insight Reports as part of their...
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Hitchcock Chair
Jun 9
A classical American-styled chair once in nearly every household was the 'Hitchcock Chair'. It was developed by Lambert Hitchcock in Connecticut in 1819 in his chair factory. This early 1800s time period is known as the 'Federal Era' style furniture. Lambert Hitchcock came up with the method of making the parts of a chair and later developed kits ...
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AncestryDNA Updated Four Communities
Jun 8
Ancestry is continuously developing ways for you to learn about yourself through DNA and empowering you to unlock more discoveries about your family history. One way Ancestry applies advanced technology and evolving DNA science is by updating communities, which can connect people through their DNA to the places their ancestors likely lived and...
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Salted vs Unsalted Butter
Jun 7
Your ancestors always had 'salted butter' even if they made their own butter at home. The reason is that salt is the best preservative. If the weather was good and the family could get fresh dairy from livestock to make butter, then they would have unsalted butter. Having the unsalted, fresh butter was desired but not always available. Having the ...
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What Were Tin Can Camps?
Jun 5
With World War One and the Spanish Flu over, the 1920s were a time our ancestors let loose and wanted to get out and travel across America. Many wanted to spend a couple of weeks or so in warm Florida during the winter. Of course, this was possible because the new autos were improving and affordable. The roads still needed work and there were no s...
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1970s’ Pet Rock
Jun 3
A novel and very different toy and collector's item from 1975 was the 'Pet Rock'. This big fad was actually a stone from a Mexican beach town (Rosarita Beach), with hundreds of them purchased in bulk for a penny. The man behind the idea was Gary Dahl, who then sold these rocks for $3.95 each. His special idea was to use a special cardboard box wit...
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Texas Cemetery Receives Historic Designation
Jun 2
Sweet Rest Cemetery is located in Tamina, Texas. In May of 2021, the cemetery was officially designated as a historic place by the State of Texas. Tamina’s history can be traced back to R.B. Smith, an educator from the city of Montgomery, John Nailor, a Houston-area businessman. In 1871, freed slaves moved to Tamina to help build the rail...
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The Peacock Chair
Jun 1
You have all seen a peacock chair – that large rounded-back wicker chair. Especially look at old family photos, you may well see one that an ancestor is sitting in. Wicker furniture became popular in homes in the late 1800s. They were used also on porches and verandas so people sit and enjoy any breeze on hot days. People found it great insid...
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