Reaching for My 2015 Genealogy Education Goals

It's been months since my last post, but they were busy months. My last post was on my 2015 Genealogy Education Goals and this post will look at how I am doing so far.

The last post ended with these goals: I will...

1. make it to the end of 2015 still up-to-date with all my readings and homework in ProGen 25.
2. successfully complete Mastering Genealogical Proof Study Group 37.
3. learn to critically read articles in professional genealogy registers.
4. follow the GenLaw Study Group on Dear Myrtle's YouTube channel.
5. continue to add to my research library.
6. visit at least one courthouse for research.

So let's see what I've accomplished so far and what I need to do to accomplish those goals.

The first goal was to be up-to-date with readings and homework in ProGen 25. ProGen is an 18-month study course for learning professional genealogy research skills by reading and collaboratively studying the book, Professional Genealogy by Elizabeth Shown Mills. October 2015 marks the 8th of 18 months and I am proud to say I am up-to-date so far. I am a co-leader of our Wednesday group and it is a wonderful learning experience. Even though we are just under half-way through the course, I would recommend this course for anyone considering genealogy as a field of practice or study.

Goal #2 was to successfully complete the Mastering Genealogical Proof Study Group 37. This study group studied and discussed the Thomas W. Jones book, Mastering Genealogical Proof for approximately 12 weeks. I had previously followed two of Dear Myrtle's study groups of the same title and so was familiar with the book. Even so, this group study was challenging as the topic is complex. But it is a critical piece to the professional genealogist's toolbox. I was successful at this goal also and was recently rewarded with a certificate of completion.

The third goal was to learn to critically read articles in professional genealogy journals. I will be the first to say I am not an expert. However, I find that looking at the appendix articles in in the Mastering Genealogical Proof Study Group has changed the way I read articles. When I first started reading journals, I only read articles that I thought pertained to my research. Then I started reading other articles but I only glanced at the footnotes or endnotes while reading the article. Now, the footnotes and/or endnotes are first thing I look at. I try to read more critically and see if I agree with the author's conclusions. And when I find an article that covers an geographical location or topic that I am particularly interested in, I note the sources in the articles in case they may have information that I need. I joined an article study group but have only met with them one time due to scheduling issues on my part. I hope to continue to meet as this is an skill I need to grow.

Goal #4 was to follow the GenLaw Study Group on Dear Myrtle's YouTube channel. This study group read and studied the book Genealogy and the Law by Kay Haviland Freilich and William B. Freilich. I did follow through with this goal but recognize that this is an area that I need to grow in, also. What I appreciate about following the study groups with Dear Myrtle is that they are very non-threatening but still rigorous. That is, as rigorous as the follower wants to be. You can study along with the group or just observe. So it is a great introduction to the more difficult topics.

The fifth goal is always a fun thing for me. I love collecting so building a genealogy library was not a chore at all. Of course, I need to build it somewhat slowly as I can't afford to buy all the books I want at once. The book mentioned above, Professional Genealogy, has a wonderful list of sources and recommended reading at the end of each chapter. I used these suggestions when building my library. When available, I purchased or found ebooks online. But my library already fills three tall bookcases. So far I have catalogued about 80% of the books and plan to do the rest soon if for no other reason than to prevent duplicate purchases.

And as for goal #6: so far I am a dismal failure. Although I have broadened my knowledge by attending at least three lectures on the topic of courthouses and legal records, I have yet to visit a courthouse. I still have about 90 days so it is still something I hope to check off my to-do list.

I also created a more detailed list of topics and skills that I need to improve on, and will share that list and my 6 month progress toward those goals in my next post.

My 2015 New Year Genealogy Education Goals: Part 1

As challenged in a post by Randy Seaver in his genealogy blog, Geneamusings, I am going to list my genealogy education goals for 2015.

I am still employed full-time and so must limit my opportunities to after work, weekend and vacation hours. Still, I think I have managed to accumulate quite a list of opportunities for the advancement of my studies.

One very ambitious goal was just started this last week- I signed up for ProGen Study Group 25, which begins soon. I had signed up for a waiting list last summer as indicated in my earlier post here. I was unaware that there were some technical difficulties and some of the names on the waiting list were lost. After no word in over 6 months I decided to contact the new administrator of the program to find out when I might be included and found they had no record of my registration. Fortunately, I kept my copy and was able to promptly send it back. I was accepted into the newly formed group and am awaiting news of the first online meeting.

I also recently signed up for a week-long institute, the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama that runs from June 7 through June 12. I am very fortunate in that my sister lives in a nearby suburb and has offered to put me up and to put up with me. I am signed up for the Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies course  - I can hardly wait to get there!

And I am currently in the Mastering Genealogical Proof Study Group 37; we just completed our second meeting. This study group will run concurrently with my ProGen Study Group 25 but just for the first 2 months of ProGen study. So I should be able to work it out especially since this is my second time through the MGP book. I do need the practice!

I've been a member of several genealogical societies for years. I joined a few others this past year. Most have a quarterly magazine or journal and some educational opportunities. These are the societies I currently belong to and the publications (if available) that are a benefit of membership:

• New England Historic and Genealogical Society; NEHGS Register, American Ancestors
• National Genealogical Society; NGS Magazine and NGSQuarterly (e-magazine)
• Minnesota Historical Society; Minnesota History
• Minnesota Genealogical Society; Minnesota Genealogist
• Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International; Nase rodina (Our family)
• Association of Professional Genealogists; APG Quarterly
• New York Genealogical and Biographical Society; The New York Researcher, The Record
• Southern California Genealogical Society; The Searcher
• Tenney Family Association; Tenney Times
• Wright County (MN) Historical Society; no publication

Other family history/educational magazines I subscribe to:

• Family Tree Magazine
• American History

Some of these magazines are on my Kindle App on my iPad where I can read them on one of our many 3 hour summer car trips. Others, that arrive in PDF version, are on my iBooks app also on my iPad. I like being able to bring several months worth on one device.

I also have memberships in many genealogy and research websites. Some are free and some require a paid subscription. I will list these in a future post.

I am addicted to blogs! I have been following 50 or more (nothing like the 1500 that Randy Seaver follows) and find something new and helpful every week. I read them at least once a week, some post every day and so I read several days worth from that author. Many post weekly or slightly less often. I choose blogs that appeal to me based on interest, midwest genealogy or technology in genealogy, for example. Or blogs based on genealogy software that I use. I will list my old favorites, and some new ones, in a future post.

Webinars and videos, live and archived, are quickly becoming a favorite for me, too. I have several favorite sites which I will list in a future post.

And books! I love books; hardcover, paperback, e-books, it doesn't matter. In a previous post I indicated one of my last year's professional genealogy goals was to build a research library. I'm not finished yet but I have to say that it is a lot of fun.  It was somewhat difficult to find online references  listing "must have" books. I even posted online at Dear Myrtle last May to see if some of the others viewing would list their top ten. Dear Myrtle posted some of her favorites in her G+ post of December 26 (thanks, Dear Myrtle!) So I will follow suit and list some of my top favorites in a future post.

So I have lots of opportunities this year. My goals this year: I will...

• make it to the end of 2015 still up-to-date with all my readings and homework in ProGen25.
• successfully complete Mastering Genealogical Proof Study Group 37.
• learn to critically read articles in professional genealogy registers.
• follow the GenLaw Study Group on Dear Myrtle's YouTube channel.
• continue to add to my research library.
• visit at least one courthouse for research.

I have much to learn but lots of opportunities!

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Ancestor # 3: Joseph Oliver Eken

As announced by Amy Johnson Crow in No Story Too Small, there is a 2015 edition of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. I may not make 52 but I am going to post whenever time permits to share what I have learned with my family as suggested by Michael J. Leclerc in his blog. In this blog entry, I am sharing information about my grandfather. 

Joseph Oliver EKEN was born on Jan 13, 1894 at Lake Sinai, Brookings County, SD. He had one older brother, Ole Christian Eken, and two older sisters, Clara M. and Selma Eken. Another brother, Peter O. Eken, died as an infant.

He appeared on the census of Jun 8, 1900 in the household of his father, Ole Olson EKEN at Lake Sinai, Brookings, SD. His mother, Johanne Olsdatter Froisland Eken, had passed away the year before. His father passed away in 1902.

Joseph appeared on the census of May 2, 1910 as an adopted son of Sivert and Mattie Haffdahl at Lake Sinai, Brookings, SD. His older sister, Selma, was also living with them as an  adopted daughter.

Joseph was a Corporal in WWI serving in the 341st Field Artillery, 89th Division, Battery D which returned to the United States on May 24, 1919. His 1917 WWI draft card describes him as tall, medium build with brown eyes and dark brown hair.

Joseph appeared on the census of January 3, 1920 as the head of household at Lake Sinai, Brookings, SD. 

Joseph Oliver Eken married Julia Emelia MOE,  daughter of John Johnson MOE and Marie NELSON, on Mar 30, 1921 at Arlington, Kingsbury, SD. They became the parents of six children: 5 daughters and one son.

Joseph and Julia Eken appeared on the census of Apr 23, 1930 at Sinai, Brookings, SD. 

Joseph was the coach of the 1935 Junior Legion’s baseball team in Sinai, South Dakota. He is pictured with the team in the History of the Sinai Community, Sinai, South Dakota 1879 - 1979. The same book recounts that he was Commander of the Sinai American Legion in 1937.

Sometime between 1937 and 1940, the Eken family moved to Brookings, Brookings County, SD. Joseph and Julia appeared on the census of Apr 16, Joseph retired from the South Dakota Highway Department on December 31, 1961 after 24 years.

Joseph died from colon cancer on Jun 9, 1963 at Brookings, Brookings, SD at age 69. He was buried on Jun 11, 1963 at Brookings Lutheran Cemetery, Brookings, Brookings, SD, USA. 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Ancestor # 2: Myrle Piper Puncochar

As announced by Amy Johnson Crow in No Story Too Small, there is a 2015 edition of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. I may not make 52 but I am going to post whenever time permits to share what I have learned with my family as suggested by Michael J. Leclerc in his blog. In this blog entry, I am sharing information about my grandmother.

Myrle Eva PIPER  was born on Jan 25, 1901 at Bertha, Todd, MN. She had an older sister, Althia, and an older brother, Leon. In 1903, when Myrle was less than three years old, her mother, Julia Alice Riggs Piper, passed away.

Myrle appeared on the census of Jun 5, 1905 in the household of her father, George Edwin PIPER at Bertha, Todd, MN. Her father met and married Florence Draper, born in Rhode Island, in 1906 in Todd County, MN. George filed on a land claim in Scranton, Bowman County, ND. He had attempted a land claim earlier, in 1901, but failed when he and his family had to return to Minnesota due to his wife's health.

Myrle appeared on the census of May 6, 1910 in the household of George Edwin PIPER at Scranton, Bowman, ND. By this time her stepmother, Florence Draper Piper, was no longer with the family. Florence Piper was found in the Lamm household, in Deuel County, SD, in the 1910 census. She was the housekeeper for the family and had twins, Constance and George E. Piper, born in 1909. Family lore indicates Florence couldn’t handle the isolation of the land claim in North Dakota.

Myrle appeared on the state census of 1915 in the household of George Edwin PIPER at Scranton, Bowman, ND. By that time, Myrle’s father married again, this time to Estelle, last name unknown.

In 1915 and 1916, Myrle’s father sent her to a Sacred Heart Academy, a Catholic boarding school in Fargo, ND. The family wasn’t Catholic so it’s bit of a puzzle as to why she was sent there. She returned to Scranton to continue her high school career there. By this time, Myrle's father had married a fourth time, to Saxie Piatt Eisinger.

But Myrle didn’t graduate high school. In those days, a student could enter nursing school after her junior high school year.

Myrle attended St. Luke’s Nursing School in Aberdeen, Brown Co., SD and graduated in 1922. She remembered going to Pierre, SD, to take the nursing exam for her license and passing with flying colors.

Myrle married Francis Paul (Frank) PUNCOCHAR , son of John J. PUNCOCHAR and Anna PAVLIK, on Jun 16, 1925 at Aberdeen, Brown, SD. Due to Frank's job, the family moved frequently: 

• They moved circa Mar, 1926 to Watertown, Codington, SD where her first son was born.
• They lived in 1926 at Palace Apartments, 311 E. Kemp, Watertown, Codington, SD where they were listed in the directory.
• They lived at 216 9th Ave SE, Aberdeen, Brown, SD in 1929 and 1930 as listed in city directories. 
• They appeared on the census of Apr 3, 1930 at 216 9th Avenue SE, Aberdeen, Brown, SD. 
• They appeared on the census of 1935 at 715 S 4th Street, Aberdeen, Brown, SD. 
• They lived in 1936 at 816 w. 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha, SD, in the Sioux Falls directory.
• They lived in 1937 at 816 W. 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha, SD, in the Sioux Falls directory.
• Frank died Mar 22, 1940 at home at 1320 S. 1st Street, Aberdeen, Brown, SD. 
• Myrle appeared on the census of Apr 10, 1940 at the same address: 1320 S. 1st Street, Aberdeen, Brown, SD. 
• The family moved to Miller, Hand Co., SD shortly after Frank's death, probably 1940-1941.  An article in 1948 indicates Myrle had been the public health nurse for Hand County for eight years. She remained the public health nurse until her retirement.

Myrle liked to keep contact with her sister and friends via letters and saved many of them. She enjoyed playing and teaching piano to young students. 

Myrle Eva Piper Puncochar passed away Oct 19, 1990 in Hennepin Co., MN and is buried at St. Timothy's Cemetery, Maple Lake, Wright, MN, next to her husband, Frank.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Ancestor # 1: Frank Puncochar

As announced by Amy Johnson Crow in No Story Too Small, there is a 2015 edition of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. I may not make 52 but I am going to post whenever time permits to share what I have learned with my family as suggested by Michael J. Leclerc in his blog. I am starting with my grandfather.

I never met my paternal grandfather as he died when my father was not quite 15 years old. But I have enjoyed learning about him over the last 25 years as I researched my family history.

Francis Paul PUNCOCHAR  was born on Oct 2, 1898 at Maple Lake, Wright, MN, and died on March 22, 1940 in Aberdeen, Brown, South Dakota at the age of 41.

He appeared on the census of Jun 20, 1900 in the household of John J. PUNCOCHAR and Anna PAVLIK at Maple Lake, Wright, MN. His father was born in Bohemia, came to America in 1883 and was a farmer. His mother, Anna Pavlik was born in Illinois to Bohemian parents, and died on November 14, 1903.

He appeared as Frank PUNCOCHAR on the census of Jun 5, 1905 in the household of John J. PUNCOCHAR and his second wife, Frances PIRAM, at Maple Lake, Wright, MN. 


He appeared on the census of May 5, 1910 in the household of John J. PUNCOCHAR and Frances PIRAM  at Maple Lake, Wright, MN. 

According to his obituary, he attended business college in Minneapolis. He was bookkeeper on Sep 10, 1918 at McLaughlin Gormley King Co, 1715 5th Street SE, Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN, when he filed for WWI draft. His draft registration shows that he was short, of slender build and had blue eyes and brown hair.

He was clerk at McLaughlin Gormley King Company in 1919 at Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN, where he lived at 1609 Stevens Avenue, Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN when he appeared in the Minneapolis directory. This address now appears to be where the Minneapolis Convention Center is now located.

He appeared on the census of Jan, 1920 at 1609 Stevens Avenue, Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN. His occupation was listed as drug salesman. McLaughlin Gormley King Company dealt with importing spices and herbs when it was first formed in the early 1900's. It now deals with pest control.


He was a manager in 1923 at J. I. Case Threshing Machine Co. in Aberdeen, Brown, SD, when he was listed in the Aberdeen Directory. 

He married Myrle Eva PIPER, daughter of George Edwin PIPER and Julia Alice RIGGS, on Jun 16, 1925 at Aberdeen, Brown, SD. 

He and Myrle Eva PIPER  moved to Watertown, Coddington, SD circa Mar, 1926 and lived  at Palace Apartments, 311 E. Kemp when he was listed in the Watertown directory.


He and Myrle Eva PIPER lived at 216 9th Ave SE, Aberdeen, Brown, SD when they appeared on the census of Apr 3, 1930 

He and Myrle Eva PIPER appeared on the South Dakota state census of 1935 at 715 S 4th Street, Aberdeen, Brown, SD. He and Myrle Eva PIPER lived in 1936 at 816 w. 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha, SD according to the directory listing.

Frank suffered from a long illness before he died. He was seen at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for his illness but they were unable to determine a cure.

From the Obituary of Frank Puncochar: Long Illness Fatal to Frank Puncochar

Frank Paul Puncochar, 41, died Friday evening in his home at 1320 1st St. S., after an illiness of a year and a half duration.

Mr. Puncochar had been with the J. I. Case Co here for 20 years. He was a member of the Blue Lodge of the Masonic Order in Aberdeen.

Mr. Puncochar was born in Maple Lake, Minn, Oct 2, 1898, and graduated from high school there. He later attended business college in Minneapolis. 

Survivors besides the widow are two sons, Robert, 14, and Glenn Allan, 7, his father, John Puncochar of Maple Lake, three brothers, Ernest and Joseph of Maple Lake, and William in St, Paul; a sister, Mrs. Edwin Blizil of Buffalo, MN.

Services will be in Huebl Chapel at 4 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. Arthur Atack of the Methodist church officiating. The body will be taken to Maple Lake where another service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday and where burial will take place. 

My Professional Genealogy Goals

I expect to retire from my current profession within the next few years. Even though I don't anticipate taking fee-paying clients, I won't rule it out at this time. I do want to lend authenticity to my work, volunteer in a genealogy society, and teach genealogy; and so I would like to become a certified genealogist. ProGenStudy offers a 19-month study course with a mentor. I have signed up for the waiting list and am excited to study with others who have the same goal.

In the application process for the ProGenStudy group, I included the following genealogy goals:

– to attain one or more credentials in professional genealogy, lecturing and/or instructing.
– to complete eight professional quality family studies for my own family: one for each of my children's great-grandparents.
– to work and/or volunteer in one or more of our local historical societies: the Minnesota Historical Society, the Minnesota Genealogical Society and the Dakota County (MN) Historical Society are all nearby.
– to teach and/or lecture especially to those who are just beginning their family research, either through a local society or through community education classes.
– to continue to visit local, national and international libraries and research centers.

I will add one more:

- to build a genealogy reference library with print and ebooks to support my learning and research. 

I list them here because I have found that keeping my goals visible inspires me to work toward them.

The reference library has been difficult to research as there seems to be no single point of reference for high-quality genealogy reference books by topic or locality that I can find. So I have been using bibliographies, blog posts, and other finding aids to determine which books will be helpful to my research.

I'm not sure which certification I will work for, but I anticipate that the study group will help guide me in the right direction. I hope to use this blog to document my progress when I am accepted into the GenProStudy group.

Any comments guiding me toward a certification decision are certainly welcome!

Serendipity in Genealogy, Part II

In my previous article, Serendipity in Genealogy, Part I,  I gave the background information for the discovery of my mother-in-law's maternal family.

After discovering the Kline name in an excerpt of the Bill Holm book, "The Heart Can Be Filled Anywhere on Earth," I made the very short journey to the Minnesota Historical Society, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

I admit it, I am lucky, the Minnesota Historical Society is less than 12 miles from my home. So I used the clues from the excerpt to find her death record and then, her obituary. Her obituary indicated she was survived by a sister in Robbinsdale, Anna Hughes, and then I knew I had found the family. I almost heard that brick wall fall. With the new information, I spent the rest of the afternoon, searching the state census records and church records and building the family tree forward.

The original excerpt had explained that as a young boy, Bill Holm accompanied his parents when they visited the town of Minneota on Saturday evenings. Sara Kline was always on the sidewalk near the spot they always parked their car.  There, before he was allowed to run off with friends, his parents instructed him to greet her by "...shaking her hand, greeting her courteously in Icelandic, and, worst of all, bending down to kiss her on the cheek." His mother had short conversations with her in Icelandic, also.

So my husband's maternal grandmother was Icelandic? Why didn't my husband know that? Why didn't my mother-in-law, Anna's daughter, know that? Anna Hughes, Sara Kline's sister, died in 1971 at the age of 88. My husband would have been almost 23 years old. Surely Anna must have spoken about her Icelandic heritage the same way my grandparents spoke of their Norwegian heritage.

But when I queried my mother-in-law on our Christmas visit her response indicated otherwise.

"Was your mother's family Icelandic?" I asked.

"Well, maybe a little," she replied, after some thought.

Hmmm, my research indicated that Anna Kline Hughes' parents and older siblings arrived from Iceland three years before she was born. For whatever reason, my mother-in-law never talked about her Icelandic heritage even after I explained that her mother was 100% Icelandic. She also couldn't remember if the women with whom her mother often visited were aunts, cousins or just friends.

Apparently her mother was raised by another family after her father died. The family that raised her, the Christiansen's, may have been related but I have not yet found that family link.

After buying Bill Holm's book, "The Heart Can be Filled Anywhere on Earth," and re-reading the entire chapter that mentioned Sara Kline, I felt I needed to write to him. He had written that Sara Kline had "no family to sit in the mourner's pew." I wanted him to know that she did have family, and now, 45 years later, to thank him for singing at her funeral.

However, I was a little intimidated to write the letter as I knew he was a college professor at Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota which is not far from Minneota. I wrote and re-wrote that letter until I thought it was acceptable to send to someone who teaches writing at the college level. It was a painful experience - I almost felt like I was going to get a grade at the end, which I almost did.

Bill Holm replied with a postcard greeting and did acknowledge my feeble attempts at writing.

The postcard reads:

Dear Lynn, You deserve a longer reply to that magnificently written letter on Sara Kline. Darren G. is trying to dig up some more facts for you, but I am only stunned with admiration for your detective work. Come to Minneota in spring. You honor Sara with your prose!

Best, Bill


I wish that I could say I took him up on his offer and went to visit him in Minneota. I sincerely regret that I didn't although I intended to. Life got in the way and I thought I might have more time after retirement. Sadly, Bill Holm passed away in February of 2009.