Something neat from my Ogle research. If anyone is searching for proof of a "colorful" character in our heritage, I think that person might be Daniel Ogle. Here is a very interesting document regarding the reason he came to Texas... there are similar documents from his brother, interestingly enough named, Ben R. Ogles (yes, his signature clearly has an S on the end!) I guess the two of them were into some bootlegging over there in Georgia. As the document states, he and his family had already moved to Texas and he was arrested there and returned for sentencing, so I'm still searching for those arrest records for more details! Until then, enjoy this one!

As I promised a cousin recently, I WILL post something new each week related to our family history. There are so many things that are interesting to me that I doubt anyone even knows that I have over here. True treasures waiting to be shared. If you enjoy seeing these things, please write me a comment so I know someone out there is reading this! This is an article written about my Grandmother, Blanche Goodwin Granath in 1956. If any of you out there have an original of the photograph used in this article, I would love to have a copy or jpeg of it, because I haven't ever seen the original. Enjoy!

Books About Our Granath Family

I've been asked this question by cousins several times in the past few weeks, so I thought I would post it here for everyone to look up when they need to. I am SO blessed that in the past few years, several of my cousins have 'caught' an interest in family genealogy, and they keep me busy asking me questions about it. Of course, it may be because they suddenly have school age children who have "All About Me" projects, but I don't mind. I know that once bitten, there is no cure for the Genea-bug, and only regular feeding of new research makes the longings go away for a while.

Without future ado, here are the works that I know of that contain our Granath family information or are written by Granath family members:

The Girl From The Rimrocks by Adina Granath Yeager, 2003, Nucla, Colorado.

GRANATH, The Family Without End by Ruth Granath Yahr, 2005, Fullerton, Colorado.

Our Past -- The Portals To The Future, an oral history of Dolores and the surrounding areas by Dolores Public Library, Dolores Colorado. Volume 1, 1992, Johnson Printing Co, Boulder, Colorado. Volume 2, 1994, ISBN 0-9640770-1-9.

The Forefathers of Blanche E. Goodwin Granath and her Descendants, researched and compiled by her daughter, Ruth Granath Jahr.

If you can add any to this list, please let me know. I hope to someday soon have a title to add of my own. Happy reading until then!

A new Granath family photo

The Granath family, circa 1940, Hobbs, New Mexico.

I dont have an exact date for this one, but we can guesstimate from ages to be sometime after 1940? Anyone have any other ideas? Please correct me if I'm wrong!

I'll try to identify as I can:
Obviously, "Pappy" Walter Edward at the front right, and Blanche just above him. Ruby is next to her, holding baby who might be Tim?. My mom, Dolores Peggy Jane, is the one in the striped dress at the front. Above her to the left I think are Alta and her husband Holger Thompson is the far left by the bush. The rest I will have to get some help with.

The location was Hobbs, New Mexico, probably near their home.

Wow, it has been a very long, dry genealogy research period for me! I've been cleaning my office and have found a stack of documents that I promised to publish LAST year, so here is one finally. This one is a very special wedding gift that I received from my sweet Aunt Ruth Opal Granath Jahr. It is a tiny wedding keepsake book that belonged to my grandparents. As you can see, it details their wedding facts. Here is it in pdf form to share with my Granath relatives. How very sweet!

2011 Genealogy and Writing Resolutions, revisted.

Being such a newbie at Genealogy blogging, I had a little free time this evening and started browsing for genealogy blog prompts. I really liked the Carnival of Genealogy topic "Our genealogy research/writing plans for 2011!" After reading through almost all 30 of the listed fellow bloggers and their goals, I decided that my goals in my last post were entirely too vague and short-sighted... I have a long and distinguished history of NOT completing any goals I ever set for myself, but there is something to be said for seeing them set out in an online blog.

Seeing how "getting organized" is not very measurable, I guess I need to work doing a little more definition here. Ok, I was trying to keep it simple and doable, but what fun is that???

So here are my Genealogy Research and Writing plans for 2011:
1) Get a current backup made of my research, photos and documents.
2) Get my computer genealogy files all rearranged, renamed and sourced into Rootsmagic.
3) Upload my tombstone photos to FindAGrave and my Granath photos to Facebook.
4) Find a genealogist on Random Acts and ask for a search for Alfred’s burial place.
5) Create a workable website for Granath and Ogle.
6) Write my first biography mini-book, about my mom.
7) Volunteer once a month at the Tomball genealogy library.
8) Attend at least 3 seminars or classes at Clayton Genealogy Library downtown.

Whew! There you have it. Looks like I’d better get busy!

New Years Resolutions...

Well, I failed miserably at the 12 Days of Genealogical Christmas postings once I came down with the 'flu. I had lots more to say (dont I always???) but will pick up there next year, I guess.

On to more inportant things genealogical! Resolutions! I accomplished one already, which was to sign up for a couple of the new Rootsmagic webinars. I chose "Creating a Family History book with Rootsmagic" and "Sources and Citations"... both of which I desperately need.

Which brings me to the rest of my genealogy resolutions for 2011:

Get a Granath family reunion plan going for Summer 2011.
Get a Granath book on CD ready to show (handout? preorder?) at that reunion.
Get my Granath sources correctly entered into my database before either of those events occurs (after the webinar)!

On another note - a really really AWESOME thing happened shortly before Christmas - I have been searching for about 4 months for a distant Granath cousin who had posted on a genealogy forum, and I couldn't find him. Just about the time I was ready to give up, he checked back into the forum, and found me!! We have been shooting back emails and photos ever since. It was a wonderful break through for me and really inspired me to get started again. Thanks so much, cousin Mark !!