Bill's Genealogy Blog

Bill Buchanan is a long-time genealogy enthusiast, living in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada. This blog will describe my experiences as I research my family history and help others.

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Location: Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada

I am a retired online school teacher. I love family history. Since 2007, I have spent much of my time providing part-time support for the world's largest free family history site https://familysearch.org This is very rewarding. I have helped others with the Family Tree and related FamilySearch products.
In 2010-2018 I served in the Edmonton Riverbend Family History Centre. I have a FHC blog at Bill's Family History Center Blog For information the Latter-day Saints and family history click https://www.comeuntochrist.org/

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

More info on "Gertrude Buchanan" I would be really confused at this point, but other evidence proves this"Gertrude" is Lottie's daughter, who was born as "Verona May Higgins". Is this confusing or what? Read on ... Washington Births, 1907-1919 Name: Verona May Higgins Birth Date: 1 Jul 1917 LOCATION: Whatcom Sex: FemaleRace: White Father's name: Owen Higgins Mother's name: Lottie Buchanan Image Filename: 2746 Ancestry.com. Washington Births, 1907-1919 Original data:[Adopted by Edwin (Edward) and Clara Buchanan as Gertrude Buchanan.] In the 1920 census, Lottie and her daughter are living with Jennie and most of the rest of the family. In that census, the little girl is referred to as Gertrude Higgins (the ditto line representing "Buchanan" being there, but over-written by "Higgins"). She is described as a grandchild, aged 2 6/12. 1920 United States Federal Census [James A and Jennie seem to be living separately by this time] Name: Jennie Johnstone [Hodgson?] [Johnstone is written over Buchanan]Home in 1920: Ferndale, Whatcom, Washington Age: 34 years Estimated birth year: abt 1886 Birthplace: Canada Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Canada Mother's Birth Place: Canada Marital Status: Married [1891]Race: White Sex: Female Home owned: Rent Year of Immigration: 1891 Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Image: 210 Household Members: Name Age Jennie Johnstone 34 [Head, Married, Canada-English, Canada-English,Canada-English, General Work, Milk Products Co.] Lottie Buchanan 18 [Daughter, Divorced, Washington, Canada-English,Canada-English, Waitress, Restaurant] Mary Buchanan 17 [Daughter, Single, Washington, Canada-English,Canada-English, General Work, Milk Products Co.] Carl Buchanan 14 [Son, Single, Washington, Canada-English, Canada-English,None] Clifford Buchanan 12 [Son, Single, Washington, Canada-English,Canada-English, None] Robert Buchanan 11 [Son, Single, Washington, Canada-English,Canada-English, None] Everett Buchanan 8 [Son, Single, Washington, Canada-English,Canada-English, None] Florence Buchanan 6 [Daughter, Single, Washington, Canada-English,Canada-English, None]Gertrude Higgins 2 6/12 [Grand daughter, Single, Washington, Washington,Washington, none][Higgins is written over a horizontal line indicating ditto i.e. Buchanan] Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Ferndale, Whatcom, Washington; Roll: T625_1944; Page: 19B; Enumeration District: 252; Image: 210. Indexed by Ancestry.com Just received this from Susan:Hi Bill I have 2 Birthdays for you. I don't have the year they were born, but even so it might help. This came from Grandmas Birthday book. Lottie Buchanan April 16 Gertrude Buchanan July 2 From the SSDI we have a perfect match for the birthdate of "Lottie M."Buchanan :Gertrude ENDICOTT Birth Date: 16 Apr 1901 Death Date: Jul 1978 Social Security Number: 574-07-1042 State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Alaska [She lived in Sitka] Death Residence Localities ZIP Code: 98119 Localities: , King, Washington [Seattle] Note that the date is off by one day for her daughter Verona/Gertrude, as the birth registration says July 1. Each new piece of evidence seems to confirm that the older GertrudeBuchanan, (who later married Jack Endicott and lived at Sitka, Alaska) is Lottie M. Buchanan. But I welcome any new evidence to the contrary. With all of the name changes, this is a challenging but FUN family to sort out. Bill

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The Mystery of Gertrude Buchanan Who is Gertrude Buchanan, the daughter of James A Buchanan and Jennie Annie Hodgson? Over the past few days, Susan and I have been trying to figure this out, with help from Donald Hendrix, who is related by marriage to Mary M Buchanan's husband John Edward Newlean. Here is what the current version of my database has regarding James' children of his second marriage: Children of James A. BUCHANAN and Jennie Annie HODGSON 1. Corrine Andrew or "Norman" BUCHANAN (b.1897-Lopez Island,San Juan,Washington,USA;d.1951-Seattle,King,Washington,USA)2. Cora Ellen or "Carol" BUCHANAN (b.1899-Lopez Island,San Juan,Washington,USA;d.1966-Seattle,King,Washington,USA)3. Lottie M. BUCHANAN (b.1901-Lopez Island,San Juan,Washington,USA)4. Mary M. BUCHANAN (b.1902-Lopez Island,San Juan,Washington,USA)5. Robert BUCHANAN (b.1905-Lopez Island,San Juan,Washington,USA)6. Carl M. BUCHANAN (b.1906-Lopez Island,San Juan,Washington,USA)6. Clifford C. BUCHANAN (b.1907-Lopez Island,San Juan,Washington,USA;d.1937-Kodiak,Alaska,USA)7. Gertrude BUCHANAN (b.1909-Lopez Island,San Juan,Washington,USA;d.1974)8. Everett J. B. BUCHANAN (b.1911-Lopez Island,San Juan,Washington,USA;d.1995-Juneau,Juneau,Alaska,USA)9. Florence BUCHANAN (b.1914-Lopez Island,San Juan,Washington,USA;d.1971) Previously, I had Gertrude shown as born about 1901, which led Donald to ask whether she and Gertrude were twins. He was closer than I thought. In the last couple of days, I did some more searching. I found the family in the 1910 and 1920 censuses, but there was no Gertrude. Whether she was born in 1901 or 1909, she should be with the rest of the family in the census! At this point I concluded that she did not exist. One of the three online family trees I found for this family gives what I believe to be the correct answer. It gives Gertrude as a nickname for Lottie M Buchanan. http://awtc.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=DESC&db=*v111t0535&id=I0142 Yesterday Susan sent me her grandfather's obituary, which may hold the final piece of the puzzle: JAMES BUCHANAN James H. Buchanan, 60, died suddenly at his home in north Riverside Saturday following a heart attack. Although Mr. Buchanan had been in ill health for some time, he had been able to be up and around until the fatal attack Saturday.Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o'cloclt. in the Aaron Light Funeral home.Born November 9, 1883, in Carson City, Nevada, Mr. Buchanan had been a resident of this community for the past 16 years.Surviving him are his widow, Grace, one son, Virgil W. Buchanan, route 4; two grandchildren; brothers, Charles and Ed Buchanan of Lopez Isaland; Corrine, Deming; Carl and Everett, Sitka, Alaska.; four sisters, Mrs, Cora Graham, Seattle; Gertrude Buchanan, Sitka; Mrs. Mary Sampson, California; Mrs. Florence O'Sorrio, Philippine Islands. I notice that Gertrude is mentioned, but not Lottie. The evidence seems conclusive to me. If Gertrude is a nickname for one of the other daughters, "Gertrude" is not Cora, nor Mary, nor Florence, so Gertrude is Lottie M Buchanan. If you have any evidence to the contrary, please share it. Otherwise, I will consider that Gertrude is a nickname for Lottie. Bill Buchanan http://billbuchanan.clawz.com

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Hi Bill, I came across a card that was signed by Mary Buchanan. The name after Buchanan I don't recognize. It is spelled Newlean. Have you got any ideas if this is our Mary Buchanan? Your cousin Susan Hi Susan, This is Mary M. Buchanan, the daughter of James A Buchanan and JennieHodgson. ***** 154 ***** Mary BUCHANAN, daughter of James Alexander BUCHANAN and Jennie Annie HODGSON, was born about 1901 in Lopez Island, San Juan County,Washington. Mary married (1) to _____ NEWLAN born about 1900 in Washington(?). Marymarried (2) 1932 in Philippine Isl. to Joseph SAMSONIN born about 1900 inWashington(?).----- NOTES FOR Mary BUCHANAN:RESIDENCE: (1960) Wicksburg, Arizona.Mrs. Mary Sampson of CaliforniaMrs. Mary Sampson, of Wicksburg, Ariz The card shows us that her husband's surname should be spelled Newlean. Maybe on Wednesday I will be able to find more about him in the 1930 census. I also show her second husband's name as Joseph Samson or Samsonin. Maybe hewill be in Washington in the 1930 census too.I hope all is well out your way. Your cousin, Bill Buchanan Well, yesterday was really busy at the Family History Centre. I spent the first half of my shift helping a man researching his Norwegian ancestors, and he was ecstatic when I found them arriving at Ellis Island. Then I spend the rest of my shift helping a man researching his family in western England, with limited success. This left me only about 15 minutes to do my own research while downloading the lastest podcasts. When my shift ended, I went to the other FHC in Edmonton, where I could relax and do my own stuff for a while. I updated my blog, and I was able to find Mary in three censuses. In 1910 she is a child in her parent's family, in 1920 she is living with a Jennie (probably her mother) and siblings, and in 1930 she is married to John E Newlean and living in San Francisco. Her younger sister Florence is living with them, otherwise I couldn't be sure it was the right family. Lastly, I think I found the birth and death of her husband listed in SSDI and the Pedigree Resource Files. 1910 United States Federal Census about James A Buchanan Name: James A Buchanan Age in 1910: 57 Estimated birth year: abt 1853 Birthplace: Cair Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Ireland Mother's Birth Place: Ireland Spouse's name: Jennie Home in 1910: Lopez, San Juan, Washington Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Year of Immigration: 1868 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age James A Buchanan 57 Jennie Buchanan 29 Charley Buchanan 29 Carrinne N Buchanan 13 [Corrine Norman] Cara E Buchanan 11 Lattie M Buchanan 8 Mary M Buchanan 7 Carl M Buchanan 4 Clifford C Buchanan 3 Robert S Buchanan 1 10/12 Lyal Viscar 19 Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Lopez, San Juan, Washington; Roll: T624_1667; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 239; Image: 725. 1920 United States Federal Census [James A and Jennie seem to be living separately by this time] Name: Jennie Johnstone [Hodgson?] [Johnstone is written over Buchanan] Home in 1920: Ferndale, Whatcom, Washington Age: 34 years Estimated birth year: abt 1886 Birthplace: Canada Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Canada Mother's Birth Place: Canada Marital Status: Married [1891] Race: White Sex: Female Home owned: Rent Year of Immigration: 1891 Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Image: 210 Household Members: Name Age Jennie Johnstone 34 [Head, Married, Canada-English, Canada-English, Canada-English, General Work, Milk Products Co.] Lottie Buchanan 18 [Daughter, Divorced, Washington, Canada-English, Canada-English, Waitress, Restaurant] Mary Buchanan 17 [Daughter, Single, Washington, Canada-English, Canada-English, General Work, Milk Products Co.] Carl Buchanan 14 [Son, Single, Washington, Canada-English, Canada-English, None] Clifford Buchanan 12 [Son, Single, Washington, Canada-English, Canada-English, None] Robert Buchanan 11 [Son, Single, Washington, Canada-English, Canada-English, None] Everett Buchanan 8 [Son, Single, Washington, Canada-English, Canada-English, None] Florence Buchanan 6 [Daughter, Single, Washington, Canada-English, Canada-English, None] Gertrude Higgins 2 6/12 [Grand daughter, Single, Washington, Washington, Washington, none] [Higgins is written over a horizontal line indicating ditto i.e. Buchanan] Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Ferndale, Whatcom, Washington; Roll: T625_1944; Page: 19B; Enumeration District: 252; Image: 210. 1930 United States Federal Census Name: Mary Newlean Home in 1930: San Francisco, San Francisco, California Age: 27 Estimated birth year: abt 1903 Relation to Head of House: Wife Spouse's name: John E Occupation: Education: Military Service: Rent/home value: Age at first marriage: Parents' birthplace: View image Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age John E Newlean 31 Mary Newlean 27 Florence Buchanan 16 Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 201; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 186; Image: 486.0. [I believe this is John Newlean's death. He lived in California and died in Washington] Social Security Death Index Name: John Newlean SSN: 561-05-3921 Last Residence: 98273 Mount Vernon, Skagit, Washington, United States of America Born: 4 Dec 1897 Died: Oct 1973 State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951 ) Source Citation: Number: 561-05-3921;Issue State: California;Issue Date: Before 1951. And his birth, as the dates are a perfect match] Individual Record FamilySearchâ„¢ Pedigree Resource File Johan Edward Newlean Compact Disc #100 Pin #851024 Sex: M Birth: 4 Dec 1897 Place: Ferndale, Whatcom Co., WA Death: Oct 1973 Place: Burlington, Skagit Co., WA ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Father: Jonas Nilsson Disc #100 Pin #850997 Mother: Ingeborg Maria Johnson Disc #100 Pin #851021 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Spouse: Mary ? Disc #100 Pin #851030 Marriage: Place: ? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes and Sources: Notes: None Sources: None ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitter: Donald HENDRIX 63 Fern Place, Friday Harbor, Washington, 98250, United States of America ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Submission Search: 2906898-1110104174804 URL: CD-ROM: Pedigree Resource File - Compact Disc #100 CD-ROM Features: Pedigree View, Family View, Individual View, Reports, Downloadable GEDCOM files, Notes and Sources. Order Pedigree Resource File CD-ROMS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- So that is what I found. I found nothing on her second husband, Joseph Sampson or Samsonin. Bill

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Winter Driving This has nothing much to do with genealogy, but it has been on my mind. Last Wednesday, I did my shift at the Bonnie Doon FHC, went to the Riverbend FHC, and then with my wife to the Edmonton Temple. We started to drive home in the blizzard. As we left the city, Judy suggested that we spend the night with one of our children in Spruce Grove instead of driving home. Over the next few minutes we passed several vehicles in the ditch, including a black SUV lying on its side. We were welcomed at our daughter's house and spent the night there. Last night one of my sons phoned and mentioned that he knew the lady who had died in that accident. She wasn't wearing a seat belt, which I find surprising and very sad. Too many people seem to be unable or unwilling to learn a few basic principles that will keep them safe. Buying a 4x4 is no substitute for learning how to drive on snow and ice. One night in November our doorbell rang and a young man about 20 years old asked to use our telephone and for my help to get his car out of a snowbank. I discovered that he believed that spinning his wheels as fast as possible would help him to free his car. Obviously, the opposite is true. Traction was reduced to a minimum as he created a wall of ice around his tires, and his car dug itself deeper and deeper into the snow. With my shovels, and the help of his friends, we were able to get his car moving. He drove ahead about 3 feet in the snow and then deliberately stopped! I could scarely believe it! I told him, "If we can get your car moving again, you will keep driving until you are safely back on the road. You will NOT stop for any reason!" We were successful in freeing the car again, and he drove it onto the road. My thought was "This kid should not be allowed out of city limits if there is snow on the ground. He is a menace to himself and others." Genealogy Yesterday, a distant cousin emailed me the (1930 vintage) signature of a cousin of ours, Mary Buchanan Newlean. I was immediately able to identfy Mary, but discovered that I didn't have her husband's given names. I decided to look for her in the US censuses at the FHC today. I was successful in finding Mary in the 1910 census as a child in per parents home, in the 1920 living with her mother, and the 1930 living with her husband John E Newlean in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, and with her younger sister Florence. Success!