Father's Day 2011 - David Earl Savage

As I worked on a Facebook post for my husband on Father's Day, I decided to take out my new FlipPal scanner and find some pictures of my dad.  He died in August 2001, and I only wish he could have spent more time with my son.  Ryan was 5 when my dad passed, but it was clear from the few years that they did have together that my dad got a kick out of my son.  Even at that young age, Ryan had a great sense of humor.  I wish I could say that it all came from my side of the family, but I am afraid my son gets it from both sides!

David Earl Savage as a young boy

One year we were down visiting my folks in Vancouver, Washington, and we went shopping at Nordstroms.  My parents loved to buy my son nice clothes.  Ryan picked up a Peter Rabbit stuffed animal and hugged it.  That was all it took - my dad said he had to have it.  "Petey" was really the only stuffed animal that Ryan loved.  Petey had to go everywhere with us.

High School Graduation Photo

Sometimes, when I look at my son, I see my dad staring back at me.  There is something about his mouth, particularly when he is grinning, that reminds me so much of my dad.

I know that Dad would be so proud of his grandson.  I'm sure he is smiling down on him from heaven.

Dad in military garb, circa 1950's

Burial Site Sleuthing

I heard this great story on NPR this morning (Saturday) about folks working on finding the burial sites of Negro League baseball players.

From NPR's website:  "Dink Mothell played in the Negro Leagues for 15 years. He died in 1980, and his gravesite has been just a patch of grass, no nameplate, marker or anything. On Saturday, a ceremony will at last grant Mothell's gravesite a tombstone, the result of efforts by two men to locate the remains of former Negro Leaguers."

Here's a link to the story: 

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/18/137265793/negro-leagues-players-honored-with-gravestones

The Negro League website is: http://www.negroleaguebaseball.com/

As far as I know, I don't have any African American ancestry...but who knows what I might find someday.  I just really enjoyed hearing the story and thought I would share!

SCGS Librarians and Volunteers Rock!

I just wanted to say thank you to the volunteers at the Southern California Genealogical Society library.   The staff on hand during my visit to the library during Jamboree this year were wonderful.  Not only were they helpful and knowledgeable about the library, they were gracious and warm.

I know that a lot of work must have gone into planning such a large event.  This kind of pressure can turn even the kindest person into a monster - not so with those SCGS library staffers!

So, thank you, thank you, thank you.  Hopefully, I will be able to see you all again next year!

Jamboree Madness!

What a great first day at Jamboree!  I started the day with a tour of the Southern California Genealogical Society library.  JACKPOT!  The German collection is just awesome.  I made some photocopies of things to track down.  The Cornish Collection - again awesome.  But my biggest discovery?  A copy of the 1949 Yearbook for my mom's high school in Pocatello, Idaho - with a picture of her in it!!!  Mind you, the Idaho section of the collection is small (well, tiny would probably be more accurate), so to find a copy of her yearbook....I was thrilled.  

I attended Thomas MacEntee's class on looking for living relatives.  Of course, his lecture was excellent.  And funny.  He let us know that if any of our phones rang during his presentation, he would answer it and ask the caller what they were wearing.  Thomas!

Spent the rest of the afternoon, emphasis on "spent", at the exhibitor's hall.  Finally broke down and bought a FlipPal scanner.  I can't wait to get home and put it to use.  Got a great "goody" bag from GeneaBloggers and SCGS (more on that later).  It's a good thing that I can only buy things that will fit into my one carry on bag.

More fun to come later.  A GeneaBlogger radio show and Geni.com sponsored ice cream social.  Honestly, this is as good as it gets for a geneaholic :)

A little housekeeping item: I am alternating posts between this blog and the GenerationsOfGermans blog.  So check out the posts there too.

Fishing for Family

My dad loved salmon fishing off the Washington coast.  The one and only time the whole family went with him, it was so rough that even the captain was throwing up.  Not my dad.  He kept on fishing.  My brother, sister and I were down below in beds with buckets next to our heads.  This was probably more than 40 years ago, and I still have vivid memories of my brother getting sick.  So fishing – the deep sea variety or the calm lake variety, has never really appealed to me.  I don’t mind being on a calm lake, it’s the baiting the hooks and dealing with the fish that I have a problem with.

But, here I am, trolling the deep waters of the internet, “fishing for family.”  I have decided to cast a wide net and post some surnames related to the Savages I am researching.   Hope I am using enough “bait” to find some of those unknown cousins!

Allen PRESTON and Alice WEST – 1700’s Middlesex, England

Allen PRESTON and Ann WOODHOUSE – 1760’s Middlesex, England

Thomas POWER and Jamima PEVERLY  - 1770’s Middlesex, England

John POWER and Sarah Matilda PRESTON – 1800’s Middlesex, England

Sarah POWER and Henry SAVAGE – 1800’s – Middlesex >Nottingham>Utah

Will throw out a few more "nets" in the next couple of days!