Tuesday's Tip - Inputting Data on the 1890 U.S. Census

1890 U.S. Federal Census

Holy cow!  I haven't posted one of my U.S. Census forms since September 5th!  I knew that I had been distracted, but I didn't realize how distracted until seeing that!  Well, I should have been done by now, but still, we're a month away from the 1940 census is released and I should be able to get them all up easily by then.  The last census I posted was the 1880, so onward...

For most of us the 1890 U.S. Federal Census isn't available.  The majority was damage by a fire in the U.S. Commerce Building in 1921.  The records of just over 6,000 people survive.  Why is the loss of the 1890 census so significant to us in our research?  Here's a perfect example...

You are trying to figure out the parents of Melanie Beaty (made up name).  Melanie was born in 1881 and by the 1900 census she is married to George Quirk (another fake name).  You think that her parents were William and Dorris Beaty, but the only census you could check to see if she's with William and Dorris would be the 1890 census...and it's gone.

It doesn't matter if you're researching backward in time or forward (researching collateral lines, perhaps), the problem still exists.  Does this mean that you can't find out more about Melanie?  Does this mean that you'll never figure out if she is the daughter of William and Dorris?  No, but you obviously won't be finding it out from the 1890 census.  We love the U.S. Federal Census.  It's like a warm, cozy blanket and we love keeping it handy, but just because the majority of us can't find our ancestors in it doesn't mean we're at a genealogical brick wall.  We use other sources all the time (or at least we're supposed to be) so why wouldn't we now?  Even if we did find Melanie in a census it's our job to ensure we've got the right Melanie by seeking out other sources and discovering if our theory makes sense.

Ancestry.com has a 1890 Census Substitute that you can check through if you are looking for someone and, like most of us, don't have them in the surviving 1890 census.  Check it out.  You can see the various sources that compile their "census substitute".  But keep in mind that there are so many other places to check besides the 1890 Census or the Census substitute.  Yes, 1890 was before mandatory records were set by the federal government for registering births, marriages and deaths, but that doesn't mean that your state or county didn't have those records.  Know the church your ancestors went to?  That's gold waiting to be mined!  Everything non-census related that we would normally look in is fair game as a replacement.  It doesn't mean that we won't sadly reflect on the 1890 census and wish that we still had it, but it's not the end of days either.

I haven't really referred back to Ancestry.com for many of the posts that I've done, but they do have some very good tutorials about getting around the loss of the 1890 census, so I'll break from tradition and refer you there now!

-Blazing New Trails: Reconstruction of the 1890 Census
-A Fire Destroyed the 1890 Census, but it Doesn't Have to Destroy Your Search
-1890 Census:  Your Next Steps and Alternate Sources

FamilySearch.org has tons of tutorials that can pretty much help you with anything in your research.  While I didn't find anything dealing with only the 1890 census that doesn't mean that I didn't miss something in my cursory search.  Here's the link to the Family Search Learning Center.

Now for those of you that have won the figurative jack-pot and do have someone in the 1890 census, well, I'm incredibly jealous, but this post is for you.  I've never used this census and I can tell you it really made my mouth water.  As usual, I've kept the spreadsheet I've created as close to the original as I could while still making it visually useful.  Also, when you view the spreadsheet in Google Docs it's not going to look quite right, but once you download it, the sheet will be 2 pages and look very close to the original.  The sheet has been protected to you can only make changes in the open boxes.  This means that you just need to hit the "tab" key to move to the next box and you won't have to worry about accidentally erasing the worksheet! If you've got any suggestions to make the form more functional, please let me know!

Until next time have fun tending those roots!

You can check out the other census forms I've posted by clicking on the following links:
   -1790
   -1800
   -1810
   -1820
   -1830
   -1840
   -1850, Schedule 1
   -1850, Schedule 2
   -1860, Schedule 1
   -1860, Schedule 2
   -1870
   -1880

And now you've got census forms that you can input data into and save to your computer!

Sunday's Obituary - John Thomas Sonni

John and Rose Sonni nee Trunzo are my step-father's uncle and aunt.  As the obituary says, he was born in Italy and married Rose in 1918.  He was about 25 years her senior and had his first child with Rose when he was around 48 years old!

Indiana Evening Gazette (Pennsylvania)

According to the 1930 US Census (which was difficult to find them in since the enumerator spelled their surname as "Sowni".  Luckily, Plumville is only 13 pages long so they were easy to search for) John came to America in 1912 and Rose came in 1898.

Always good to note that Indiana (as mentioned in the obituaries) is in Pennsylvania.

"John Thomas Sonni, a resident of Plumville and vicinity for the past 37 years, died at 2:25 a.m. today in the Indiana Hospital where he had been a patient for several weeks.

Born in Italy June 24, 1871, he was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Sonni.  He was a member of the Sacred Heart Church of Sagamore; member of the Indiana Lodge Sons of Italy since 1918; member of UMW of A Local 473, Sagamore.

He married Rose Trunzo in 1918, who survives with these children:  Mrs. Kenneth (Kathryn) Clements of Harrisburg;  Rudolph Sonni of Hummelstown; Mrs. William (Eleanora) Zentner of Lucernemines; Samuel and Eugene Sonni of Plumville.  Nine grandchildren also survive.

Friends will be received at his late home in Plumville after 11 a.m. Friday, March 11.

Funeral arrangements, in charge of Bowser Funeral Home, Plumville, are incomplete at this time."

Indiana Evening Gazette 12MAR1955

"John Thomas Sonni, a resident of Plumville and vicinity for the past 37 years, died at 2:25 a.m. today in the Indiana Hospital where he had been a patient for several weeks.

Friends are being received at his late home in Plumville.

Requiem High Mass will be celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church of Sagamore at 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 14, sung by the Rev. John Cavanaugh.  Interment will follow in St. Bernards cemetery, Indiana.

The Rosary will be recited at the home at 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Bowser Funeral Home, Plumville, is caring for arrangements."

Those Places Thursday - No Longer the Follower

Can you see me?  I certainly look different back then (Hint: the red hair is there, albeit dark red)

I seem to be walking down Army Memory Lane quite a lot recently, but it was a big part of my life.  A part I want to share with my children and their children as well.

I joined the Army as a Private First Class (PFC), and after a year or so of believing that I wanted to be an officer, I came to realize that I wanted to be a Noncommissioned Officer.  A sergeant.  I eventually got to my promotion board (that's another post which I plan to do in April) and then on to the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC).  I was stationed in San Antonio, Texas when I needed to go to PLDC, so I was sent to the nearest Army post which happened to be Fort Hood (ironically enough where I am now!).

I was a little scared when I went.  I had a horrible fear of failure.  I wasn't afraid of the academic learning.  I could do that, no worries.  I was afraid of the practical, field-work.  I was stationed at a unit that didn't go to the field.  While it was a great assignment to gain some very good technical experience in my job it wasn't the best job for gaining tactical experience, and that's what a good portion of PLDC would be about.

I guess I was a little insecure with my experiences, but I had great leaders and they prepared me well. I was at PLDC from the end of January to the end of February 1999.  There were three moments that stand out in my mind from my short four weeks at this school.  The first was during our field exercise. It was pretty cold out so the cadre set up fire barrels and we stood around the fire in the dark with coffee made from our MREs.  We held our canteen cups over the fire to warm it up.  It sounds like a silly, trivial thing to remember, but it was a lot of fun being able to take some time and just talk with classmates.

The second was on the last day of our field exercise.  It was the day that we were heading back in for recovery.  We had gone well over 24 hours without sleep and we were tired.  My cadre called me over and told me that I was the Honor Graduate for the class.  I just stood there and stared straight ahead and said, "Huh?"  The words weren't making sense to me.  My brain wasn't working.  They repeated it and I just said "Oh.  OK."  They told me to head back to my tent.  Like the obedient Soldier I was, I did just that.  I sat there outside my small tent with my M16 in my hands and just stared at the grass in front of me.  I stared and the grass STARTED TO GROW!  I am not joking, my mind was so tired and I was so out of it that I actually was hallucinating.  I started giggling and then a couple cadre members (after asking what I was giggling about) told me to go to sleep.  I did and it wasn't until I woke up an hour or so later that what they told me sank in.  I was Honor Graduate.  That was the #2 graduate in a class of about 100 (the #1 person was called the Distinguished Honor Graduate).  I was excited.  I hadn't let my unit down.  My fear of failure was for nothing...or at least it drove me to succeed.

The last significant memory I have of PLDC was graduation.  My Battalion Commander, the acting Sergeant Major, and my Platoon Sergeant were coming to the graduation.  There may have been one or two other minions that came out with them, but I was excited that these leaders (mostly my Platoon Sergeant, who was so awesome!) were going to be there, and I was giving the commencement speech.  There were technically 2 graduations and the way they split the graduations up, the Distinguished Honor Graduate was giving the speech in the afternoon graduation so I was giving the morning speech.  Why was this memorable?  Because the speech was written by the NCO Academy and my Battalion Commander thought I had written it and she congratulated me for giving such a great speech.  Why does this stick out?  Well, I despised my Battalion Commander and saying something along the lines of, "Thanks ma'am, but I didn't write it." just to make her seem foolish is a highlight any day of the week.  You'll discover the reason for my animosity toward this woman in the April post I alluded to.  It should be a pretty good one.

The picture at the top of the post was just of the students in my actual classroom.  Sure we had about 100 Soldiers in the PLDC "class," but we had to be separated into groups so they could teach us better.  I had fun with these Soldiers, but sadly, I don't remember their names.  Even though their names elude me right now, they were a significant part of that experience that was PLDC.  We shared experiences and supported each other during our time at school, and that school, for most of us, was the final obstacle we had to go through to become Sergeants.  No longer the followers, but expected to be the leaders.  No pressure though....

Can't Wait Wednesday!

I know we're all very excited about the release of the 1940 census.  I'm also equally sure that most of you have already heard that Archives.com released a link to the webpage for the new census so you can head on over and bookmark it now!  Why wait until April 2nd?!?!

Anyway, the link to the Archives.com post about the webpage can be reached by clicking here.  While you're there, I hope you'll not only save the bookmark, but read the brief post by Archives.com and watch the little video that is posted there.  It really is very informative, and if you're a history buff that knows everything about the various censuses?  Well, the video will just be food for your growing anticipation!

I've got to admit that I can be a bit flighty sometimes.  I was extremely excited for the 1940 census the way it was and that was purely for it being another census to find people in!  Now, yes, that's excitement enough, but would you believe that the Great Depression never once crossed my mind?  Talk about not taking the census into proper perspective!  Watching the little movie on Archives.com got me wondering about my ancestors.  How did the Great Depression influence them?  I really don't have their stories to learn from, but my eyes have now been opened a bit more in anticipation of the 1940 census.  I can't wait and I know that you can't either!

Until next time, have fun tending those roots!


(Oh and if Mom, Uncle Ed or Aunt Cathy are reading, please feel free to pass on any stories about our ancestors and the Great Depression that were passed on to you!)

The Annual Making of the Fastnachts!

Frying the Fastnachts

Fastnachts.  Deep fried dough.  What could be better?  This is technically a post from last year, but since I made this lovely recipe today for Fasching I thought a repost was needed!

I grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania and went to college in Southeastern Pennsylvania so if you said "Fastnacht" to most people they knew that you were referring to a doughnut.  Being a German major in college and Catholic the terms Fastnacht and Fasching (Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras) were common terms as well.  

Essentially as Ash Wednesday grew near it would be time to eat all those fatty foods before fasting (clearing out the pantry of all the goodies, so to speak).  Fasching more commonly (at least today) refers to the day before Ash Wednesday and these doughnuts are a last hurrah of sorts.  

My mom would make these every year when I was little.  I remember coming home from school and seeing my mom surrounded by fastnachts.....mmmmm  Yummy!!!  The funny thing is we aren't even German...at all.  My mom's 100% Irish.  My dad 100% Lithuanian.  Apparently my mom's best friend in school was German and she'd get lots of cool recipes from her and would turn them into family traditions.  I would irritate my parents to no end because, as a child, I had a difficult time saying Fastnacht [fasst-nahkt].  I would say "fasst-snot".  It was not intentional...at least at first :)

Benjamin helping roll the Fastnachts

When I went away to college I was delighted to see that Fastnachts were served there on Fasching as well.  I'd grab a ton and eat them throughout the day.  I'm sure on-lookers found it quite amusing to see me walking away with so many!  

When I had kids this was one of those things that I just had to make each year.  Now I didn't when we lived in Hawaii.  My oldest was really too small to appreciate them, but when he was 2 years old and were living in California, it was game-on, and oh did my kids learn to love these doughnuts!  They are an all day affair though, so I actually make them on Monday for them to beready for eating on Fasching (that's not saying that we don't enjoy them Monday night as well...it's still Carnival after all!).

Fastnachts on the last rise with the slits cut in the middle

So here's the recipe if you'd like to take a whack at making them.  I guarantee that you won't be disappointed!

Fastnachts

2 c milk, scalded

2 tbsp warm water (110-115 degrees (F))

1 pkg active dry yeast

3/4 c sugar

1/4 c margarine, melted

1/2 tsp salt

7 c flour

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Canola oil

Powdered sugar (or granulated, if you prefer)

Scald milk and set aside to cool.

Dissolve yeast in the water then add 1/2 c flour to the yeast and mix.  Add this to the scalded milk (ensuring the milk is not between 110-115 degrees (F) as well).  Stir.  Transfer to a very large bowl.  Add 1 tsp of the sugar and 3 c flour.  Mix, cover with plastic wrap (spray plastic wrap with butter spray) or a towel and allow to rise overnight in a warm place.

Punch down.  Add the eggs, margarine (again, make sure it's not hotter than 115 degrees(F)), nutmeg, salt, and remaining sugar.  Add as much of the remaining flour as you can stir with a spoon.  Allow to rise until light (about 2 hours).  

Punch down.  Roll on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness.  Cut into squares.  Cut a slit in the center with a pair of kitchen scissors.  Let rise (about 45 minutes).

Heat oil to 375 degrees (F).  Fry in batches until golden, turning once.  Remove to paper towel-lined baking sheets.  While warm sprinkle with powdered or granulated sugar (we always did powdered).

Store in an air-tight container. 

HINT:  To proof the dough (make it rise faster) - Preheat the oven to 200 degrees (F).  When preheated leave on (and empty) for 4 - 5 minutes.  Turn the oven OFF and place the towel covered bowl in the oven (it's probably going to be on the lowest rack since you need a good-sized bowl for this and you don't want it touching the upper heating-element).  I only use the proofing for the first rise (about 3 - 4 hours), but you could probably do it for the second rise as well. 

Day old Fastnachts are no longer the lovely chewy goodness they were on that initial day, but fear not, just pop them in the microwave for a couple seconds or warm them up in the oven to bring them back to their first-day glory.  They take a lot of work to make, but I guarantee that once you've eaten them you'll be craving them! 

 

Military Monday - Benjamin Trunzo Jr.

Benjamin Trunzo Jr. was the son of Benjamin and Candus Trunzo nee Perry.  He married Edith Gay Boulanger on August 12, 1972 in Riverside, California (California Marriage Index 1960-1985).  They divorced ten years later (California Divorce Index 1966-1984).  I don't know if they had any children.  Benjamin is my step-father's 1st cousin and was most likely named for his father, Benjamin (naturally) and for their great grandfather, Beniamino Trunzo.

"NAVY ENLISTEES - Two local area men enlisted in the United States Navy it was announced today by Chief Petty Officer John O. Brown, local Navy Recruiter.  Kenneth Eugene Raymond, Penn Run R.D. 1,  enlisted in the seaman field under the High School Graduates Choice program.  Raymond is a graduate of Penns Manor Joint High School, Class of 1957.  Benjamin Trunzo, Jr., Beyer, enlisted as a seaman and is a graduate of Marion Center Joint High School class of 1961.  Both young men are currently attending recruit training at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill., after which they will receive 14 days leave before reporting to one of the many Navy technical schools or fleet assignment."

[Published in the Indiana Evening Gazette, Thursday, Nov. 2, 1961, pg 12]

Sunday's Obituary - Jennie Trunzo nee Ferraro

Giovanni Trunzo nee Ferraro

Jennie (Giovanni) Trunzo nee Ferraro is my step-father's paternal grandmother.  She was born in Calabria, Italy where she married Ralph Trunzo on November 13, 1895 and gave birth to her first daughter, Rose on November 15, 1897.  I still haven't found when they immigrated to America. Different sources have different dates, which may or may not be true.  The conflict lies in Ralph coming to America 10 years before his wife.  I'm not really sure that happened and I'm more inclined to think it was an error in the record.  That's not to say he couldn't have and then made a trip (or two) back to get his wife and daughter.  Still, I'll keep looking for that immigration record.

My step-father's Italian side is a joy to research.  Ancestry has a database devoted to Calabria, Italy, and the birth marriage and death records always have the woman's maiden name.  Even their death certificates list their maiden names.  Yeah, I know other death certificates show a maiden name, but the death certificates here list people solely by their maiden names.  In order to find out who their spouse is, you have to read farther into the death certificates.  It really makes it useful to ensure you're looking for the right person!  I will have to make sure to do a post on what I've discovered using that database sometime soon.  Until then, this post is for my baby sister and step-dad.  I don't post on his side of the family nearly enough!

The Indiana Gazette, 08OCT1964, pg 6

"Mrs. Jennie (Giovanni) Trunzo, 88, of Sagamore, passed away at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 7, 1964, at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital, Kittanning.

Born July 26, 1876 in Italy, she was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Ferraro.

She was the widow of Ralph Trunzo.

Mrs. Trunzo had resided in Beyer for 29 years prior to moving to Sagamore where she has lived for the past 33 years.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Church, Sagamore, and the church Rosary Society.

Survivors include the following sons and daughters:  Mrs. Rose Sonni, Plumville; Mrs. Louis (Mary) Russell, New Brunswick, N.J.; Benjamin, Beyer; Jim, Phoneix [sic], Ariz.; 18 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

Friends will be received at the Donald S. Bowser Funeral Home, Plumville, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

The Rosary will be recited at 9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home."

It's a bit disappointing that the obituary doesn't list anyone that predeceased her (apart from her husband that is).  My step-dad's father, John Trunzo, died before her and isn't listed in the obituary.  In fact there are a number of children missing (Samuel, Raffale Jr, John, and Nathle), but I haven't tracked down when they died yet (apart from John), so I can only imagine that they died before Jennie.