The Oregon Korean War Veterans' Memorial at Willamette National Cemetery

Oregon Korean War Veterans' Memorial
Memorial Day 2014

Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon is one of three Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemeteries located in Oregon. Willamette National Cemetery is the largest Veterans Cemetery on the West Coast. Authorized by the Secretary of War in 1941, it remained unfunded due to the United States' efforts in World War II. The State of Oregon donated a total of 201 acres between 1949-1952 and construction began in 1950. Burials began in 1951. In 1997 and again in 2011 additional land was purchased to expand for current and future needs. Today the Cemetery is is contained on 307 acres. Willamette National Cemetery is designated a Blue Star Memorial Highway site.

One war memorial - the Oregon Korean War Veterans' Memorial - is located at Willamette National Cemetery. On June 22, 1996 it was dedicated to the Oregon Veterans who participated in the Korean War. The memorial consists of a central bronze relief and the eight side panels (four on each side of the central memorial) list the names of 287 military personnel who answered the call and made the ultimate sacrifice for their County.

As part of the ongoing Honor Roll Project of blogger Heather Wilkinson Rojo of Nutfield Genealogy, this Memorial Day 2014, I went to Willamette National Cemetery, took photos of the memorial, and transcribed the names that appear on it.

Notes:
The individuals are listed by surname, given name and initial, branch of service (there is one medal of honor recipient, indicated by MOH). The branches of service are: USAF (Air Force), USA (Army), USMC (Marine Corps) USN (Navy). I transcribed the names in the order they appear (there are nine names out of alphabetical order and I have put an asterisk * beside those names).  

• Allen, Charles C. USA
• Allen, Richard L. USMC
• Anderson, Eugene A. USA
• Anderson, Harold E. USA
• Anselmo, Gabriel C. USA
• Amos, Gaylord USA
• Archuleta, Juan USA
• Asla, Felix Jr. USAF
• Atkinson, Carson J. USA
• Bahlman, Robert F. USN
• Balfe, Philip E. USA
• Balls, James H. USA
• Barker, Earl R. USA
• Bartholdi, Cyril B. USA
• Barton, Dwayne W. USA
• Barton, Eldon L. USA
• Bateman, Marlyn Jr. USMC
• Baxter, William T. USMC
• Beaverson, Billy W. USA
• Bebb, Wayne E. USA
• Betzer, Grover R. USMC
• Bilyeu, Michael G. USA
• Birkel, Peter A. USA
• Bohnas, Edward J. USMC
• Bond, Lee W. USA
• Bowden, William E. USMC
• Brackenbury, Billie, USA
• Brant, Albert W. Jr. USA
• Brant, Melvin L. USA
• Briscoe, Kenneth J. USA
• Bristow, James R. USMC
• Broad, Wendell I. USA
• Broadston, Merle D. USA
• Brockett, Norvin D. USA
• Brown, Ben L. USA
• Boyle, Douglas R. USA
• Becker, Roscoe G. USAF *
• Brown, Doyl G. USA
• Brown, James G. USA
• Brownson, Clifford USA
• Burgess, Burton E. USA
• Burke, John E. USMC
• Cain, Frank P. USA
• Calkins, Harold D. USA
• Calkins, James L. USA
• Carr, James T. USA
• Carroll, Robert L. USA
• Charley, Leo E. USA
• Cherry, Clarence M. USAF
• Christy, Alvin J. USA
• Clark, Edward L. USN
• Clark, Eldred B. USA
• Clarke, Jeanne E. USN
• Cook, William W. USA
• Corbett, Robert L. USMC
• Coulter, Leon S. USA
• Cozad, Donald E. USA
• Crary, William B. USA
• Crimin, Asa J. Jr. USA
• Crocker, Charles W. Jr. USAF
• Crowell, Dean G. USAF
• Crowell, William N. USA
• Curry, Charles M. USMC
• Davis, Nubern D. USN
• Denney, Clifford R. USA
• Deshaw, Phillip E. USA
• Dick, Donald  USA
• Dolan, James M. USAF
• Duffy, William T. USA
• Durochin, Robert G. USA
• Earls, Milo G. USAF
• Earnshaw, Arthur H. USA
• Elmore, Everett L. USA *
• Ebright, Wayne E. USA *
• Ellingson, Eugene M. USA
• Ellis, Donald D. USA
• Erickson, Lee E. USAF
• Essberg, David Jr. USA
• Forsgren, Eugene R. Jr. USMC
• Foster, Delmar L. USA
• Fox, Henry R. USMC
• Fox, Louis D. Jr USA
• Fanzen, Orville E. USA
• Gabrielson, Carl L. USA
• Geeslin, James D. USA
• Gerue, Louis O. USMC
• Gill, Wayne D. USA
• Glick, William A. USA
• Goodman, Donald R. USA
• Goodwin, Bert L. USA
• Gosney, Elmer E. USA
• Grady, Joe B. USMC
• Grignon, Clifford J. USA
• Grimm, William D. USA
• Guthrie, Patrick W. USA
• Hagan, James E. Jr. USA
• Haines, George E. USAF
• Hall, Ronald G. USMC
• Hamilton, Eugene E. USA
• Hamilton, Merlin J. USA
• Hancock, Richard L. USA
• Hankins, Jerald J. USMC
• Harmon, James E. USA
• Harr, Donald F. USA
• Harris, Ralph L. Jr. USAF
• Harvey, Earl D. USA
• Haworth, Wilbur A. USA
• Head, James E. USA
• Galberth, Thomas P. USA *
• Forney, Frank H. USA *
• Hedrick, Roy W. USA
• Heiple, Rayman G. USMC
• Henson, Freddie L. USA
• Herrick, Virgil B. USA
• Hightower, Ernest J. USMC
• Hill, Robert L. USA
• Hille, James D. USA
• Hills, Leslie B. USA
• Hitchner, Omar T. USA
• Hoff, Warren M. USAF
• Honeyman, Louis C. USA
• Hood, Haskel H. USA
• Hudson, Harry C. Jr. USA
• Hughes, John P. USA
• Inyard, John R. USA
• Jackson, Richard L. USN
• Jackson, Ronald C. USA
• Jarvis, Frederick C. USA
• Jenkins, Donald C. USA
• Jensen, Dale E. USMC
• Johnson, Arthur R. USA
• Jones, Thomas E. USA
• Juday, Ray A. USA
• Karlin, Arnold W. USN
• Keesee, Elmer W. Jr. USA
• Keith, Edward L. USA
• Kennedy, George Q. USMC
• Key, Arthur V. USA
• Keyser, Gerald E. USA
• Kilthau, James J. USN
• Kimball, Roger E. USAF
• King, Donald R. USA
• Klenz, Richard USA
• Kolb, Gary B. USA
• Koster, Julius H. USA
• Kaufman, Loren R. USA MOH *
• Kuenle, Adrian A. USA
• Landers, Homer J. USMC
• Lane, Thomas D. USA
• Laughlin, William R. USA
• Leno, John J. USA
• Leon, Robert V. USMC
• Lilly, James A. USMC
• Lionberger, George USA
• Mamaril, Manuel D. Jr. USMC
• Matzen, Melvin R. USA
• McAllaster, John A. Jr. USAF
• McAuliffe, Cornell USA
• McClellan, Harlan USA
• McCoskrie, David A. USA
• McCoun, Raymond J. USMC
• McInnis, Thomas A. USA
• McKinney, Ronald E. USA
• McQuien, William E. USA
• McVicker, Thomas USA
• Meacham, Marion G. USA
• Merrick, Richard C. USN
• Merrill, Donald L. USA
• Metz, Richard C. USMC
• Miljus, Brunko R. USA
• Miller, John A. USA
• Mitchell, John L. USN
• Moen, Howard M. USA
• Moore, John G. USAF
• Moore, William R. USMC
• Mortesen, William C. USA
• Mullen, John L. Jr. USA
• Murphy, James D. USA
• Nance, Wallace R. USA
• Neal, Duane B. USA
• Nelson, Ernest E. USA
• Neville, Ward O. USA
• Noud, William P. USMC
• O'Brien, James P. USMC
• Olson, Vernon D. USA
• Olvis, Leonard K. USA
• Ondish, Robert USA
• Osborn, Charles R. USMC
• Oswald, Jackie T. USA
• Otterson, Gerome E. USA
• Owens, Richard K. USA
• Parks, Raymond F. USA
• Payne, William F. USMC
• Peasley, Darrell D. USA
• Perkey, Charles R. USA
• Peters, Delbert O. USA
• Peters, Forrest L. USA
• Petersen, Marvin H. USA
• Petterson, Phillip N. USA
• Petterson, Philip N. USMC
• Phillips, Orville P. USA
• Pieper, Rolly L. USMC
• Pierce, Robert E. USA
• Polen, Richard A. USMC
• Postma, Andrew G. USA
• Privett, William W. USA
• Prunier, Harry C. USA
• Pugh, Henry Jr. USA
• Rackley, Irvin A. USA
• Reed, Howard R. USA
• Reich, George L. USA
• Rettinger, William USA
• Rhoades, Charles Jr. USMC
• Richards, George E. USA
• Richardson, Rolland USA
• Rodgers, Gary L. USMC
• Parmentier, Larry L. USMC *
• Ryan, Thomas K. USA
• Sarpola, Richard H. USA
• Saul, Leo R. USA
• Scherzinger, Herbert A. USMC
• Schlimgen, Clement USA
• Schoolcraft, Willia USA
• Schuh, Dwain A. USMC
• Schunke, Richard W. Jr. USN
• Scoggan, Randolph T. USN
• Sears, Jerome F. USA
• Settles, Gerald A. USA
• Shahan, Billy E. USA
• Sharp, J.D. USMC
• Simmons, Elred R. USA
• Slaney, Donald G. USA
• Smethers, Glen E. USA
• Smith, Donald L. USA
• Smith, Leonard L. USMC
• Smith, Therlo G.L. USA
• Sorensen, Mainerd A. USMC
• Spidal, John A. USA
• Stafford, Dorin S. USN
• Stark, Robert J. USA
• Stevenson, William USA
• Steele, Arthur J. USA
• Stockman, Richard W. USA
• Straughn, Deryle G. USA
• Stuart, Donald C. USA
• Swan, Gerald L. USN
• Swygart, Delbert V. USA
• Tabert, William H. USA
• Tangney, Clarence A. USA
• Tannehill, Charles USA
• Tasset, John R. Jr. USA
• Thompson, Albert USA
• Thompson, John W. USA
• Tierney, Michael J. USA
• Tobin, Robert W. USA
• Todd, Albert E. USA
• Todd, Phillip J. USA
• Toohey, Orlin R. USA
• Treece, William A. USA
• Upmeyer, Ernest H. USMC
• Vanloh, John E. Jr. USA
• Vian, Dallas W. USA
• Walker, Edward L. USN
• Walker, Javy C. USA
• Wallam, Kenneth P. USAF
• Ward, William A. Jr. USMC
• Ward William J. USA
• Warnock, David W. USA
• Watterson, Fred L. USA
• Watts, Sammy A.. USA
• Weaver, Robert F. USA
• Webb, Danna L. USA
• Westcott, Ernie E. USA
• Weston, Donald E. USMC
• Weston, Vernon C. USA
• Whaley, Willard J. USA
• Wheeler, James D. USA
• Whitaker, Donald L. USA
• Williams, James R. USMC
• Wilson, James W. USA
• Woods, Wilfred E. USA
• Worden, Dow F. USA
• Wright, Howard A. USA
• Wright, Kenneth E. USAF
• Younce, Donald P. USA
• Zech, John H. USA
• Cleveland, Stanley K. USA *
• Berreth, Clarence R. USA *

At the Information Center at Willamette National Cemetery

This Week on My Family History Calendar

Murphy-Keough Family Calendar, May 25 - 31 
Image made with wordle.net - thanks

May 25
James Robert Curtin [870] (1915-1990), my first cousin once removed, was born on this date in 1915 in Massachusetts. His parents were James A. Curtin [869] and Mary Assumption Murphy [213]. James married Cyrene Olive Parker [874] (1913-1997) in 1936 in Seattle, King, Washington. I need to do more research on James to see if I can find out more about him and his family. My to-do list keeps expanding every week but this is a great way to find those family members who need more work!

May 27
James Joseph Murphy [205] (1888-1950), my great uncle, was born on this date in 1888 in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska. His parents were Lawrence Edward Murphy [202] and Catherine Matilda Murphy [203]. James married Catherine Maud Allen [858] (1891-1968) in 1913 in Vancouver City, British Columbia, Canada. Jim and Cassie made their home in Washington State and had three sons. James was Nan's twin (see entry below).

Honora Agnes Butler Murphy [206], my great aunt, was born on this date in 1888 in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska. Her parents were Lawrence Edward Murphy [202] and Catherine Matilda Murphy [203]. Honora was named after her maternal grandmother Honora Agnes Butler and the family called her Nan. (I love my Irish families - following along with the naming pattern on Lawrence and Catherine's family I do get the first four children - two sons and two daughters all named after their grandparents in that wonderful Irish naming tradition - thanks!).  Nan married Duncan Johnston [862] (1879-1962) in 1910 in Vancouver City, British Columbia, Canada. Nan and Duncan made their home in Langley, British Columbia and had three daughters. Nan was James' twin!

Albert Joseph Watson [1973] (1924-1983), my third cousin once removed, was born on this date in 1924 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. His parents were Albert Ernest Watson [1503] and Suzanna Keough [1502]. Albert married Dorothy Violet Spencer [1987] (unknown-unknown) in 1947 in Windsor Junction, Nova Scotia. Albert and Dorothy made their home in Nova Scotia and had six children. Yet again, I have some work ahead of me and Albert and his family join my to-do list!


May 30
Valrea Rosemond Cleckner [3043] (1909-1987), the wife of my first cousin twice removed, was born on this date in 1909 in Nebraska. Her parents were Roland Stewart Cleckner [3045] and Edith Ann Gariss [3004]. In 1928 Valrea married Kenneth Patrick Malone [2994] (1908-1978), my first cousin twice removed, in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska. They made their home first in Nebraska, moved to Kansas, and finally settled in Oregon. Valrea and Kenneth had two children. When next visiting some of my family (or perhaps I could just put them to work as researchers), I need to stop by the Oregon Historical Society and the Central Library, both in Portland - to learn a bit more about the Malone family. 

Do you recognize any of these names or stories? Perhaps we have some extended family in common. Please contact me and we can share information and learn more about our people. Thanks

SNGF - Kenneth Patrick Malone [2994] Your Random Number Is Up!

Searching at FamilySearch.org because I am on a mission!
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net ID-10037896

If it's Saturday, you know Randy Seaver has some Saturday Night Genealogy Fun in store for us. The mission this week was as follows:

1) You're going on a scavenger hunt - for records of one of your relatives. You can pick a relative who lived in the 1800 to 2000 time period. A brother of one of your ancestors might be best (since males don't change their surname). Or the husband of a sister of your ancestor. Tell us the name of your chosen relative.

2) Go to FamilySearch and search for records for that relative. Start on the Search page. Search any way you want.

3) Tell us what you found in the FamilySearch record collections. Did you find something new about that relative?

4) Write your own blog post, comment on this post, or write something on Facebook or Google+.  

Okay Randy - I am up for it! The first thing I did was go to Random Number Generator and let it generate my choice by using a number from 1 - 6636 - which corresponds to the total number of RINs (record identification number) in my Legacy database. The random number generated was 3043, belonging to Valrea Rosemond Cleckner. Since Randy suggested we use a male (for easier record finding) I went ahead and choose her husband Kenneth Patrick Malone [2994].

Next I went to FamilySearch.org, signed in and used the search feature. I filled in the name (Kenneth Malone) and the birth and death information I already had in my database ( birth - 1908 in Johnson, Nebraska AND death 1978 in Clackamas, Oregon).

My first four hits in the record category all related to my Kenneth Malone and they were as follows:

1. Oregon, Death Index, 1903-1998 for Kenneth Malone - event date 31 Mar 1978, Clackamas, Oregon; birth date 29 Jan 1908; certificate number 78-03780 (no image available but I could always follow up and get the death certificate since I now have the number).
2. United States Census, 1940 for Kenneth P. Malone - in the 1940 census Kenneth (age 32) and his family reside in Portland, Oregon. The birth, residence, spouse and children are all listed on the results page - and it indicates Kenneth was born in 1908 in Nebraska, residence is Tract 17, Portland, Portland City Election Precinct 216, Multnomah, Oregon. His spouse is shown as Valria Malone and his children are Jacquelin Malone and Kenneth Malone. From the results I can check certain "facts" including marital status, race, status in household, gender, approximate age, and birthplace for all members of the household. I can click through to the actual census sheet and learn Kenneth's employment and wages as well as where the family was located in 1935. Finally I was able to get the record's citation as put together by FamilySearch.org including enumeration district, sheet and family number and lines where they appear on the page.
3. United States Census, 1930 for Kenneth P. Malone - in the 1930 census Kenneth (age 22), his spouse and their daughter reside with Kenneth's parents in Maple Grove, Johnson, Nebraska. I was able to find out information about Kenneth's wife Valrea (as well as learning that they just had their daughter Jacqueline). Based on the two censuses - 1940 and 1930 - it appears that Kenneth and Valrea moved to Oregon between 1930 and 1935. Now I am wondering why, who they might have known in Oregon, and when they made the move - inquiring minds and all that.
4. United States Census, 1910 for Kenneth Malone - in the 1910 census Kenneth (age 2) lives with his parents Patrick J and Margarit Malone and his four siblings.

Interestingly, I did not have the 1940 census for this family in my Legacy database and so I need to add it (thanks Randy). This reminds me that I need to run a search using the 1940 census to determine which of my families need that census added to their files! I did not get a result for the 1920 census for Kenneth, nor did I get any information on births or marriages through FamilySearch.org. I also did not see any public trees for this couple.

I think I will run the same search on Ancestry.com and FindmyPast.com later this week to see how they might differ. More on those results when they are in.

How about you - why not accept Randy Seaver's mission and learn more about one person in your genealogy database. Happy searching!

This Week on My Family History Calendar

Murphy-Keough Family
Image made with wordle.net - thanks

May 18
Anna Claire Shaughnessy [1008] (1920-2009) my second cousin once removed, was born on this date in 1920 in The Dalles, Wasco, Oregon. Her parents were Simon Shaughnessy [495] and Edna Melvina Shaw [838]. Anna was married first to Calvin L. Crill [5664] (1918-1967) and they had two children. She later married Anthony Zemaitis [1105] (1919-1973).

May 19
Gerald Keough [268] (1916- 2003) my second cousin once removed, was born on this date in 1916 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. His parents were James Keough [236] and Elizabeth Heaney [238]. Gerald married Ethel Bernadette O'Neil [269] (1925-1997) and they had five children.

May 21
Patrick Keough [239] (1880-unknown) my first cousin once removed, was born on this date in 1880 in Plate Cove East, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. His parents were Andrew Keough [172] and Mary Furlong [184]. Patrick served in the military and left Newfoundland, settling in the United States. Patrick is one of those Keoughs I need to find out more about - where in the United States did he live, did he marry and have a family, and where did he end up, are just some of my questions. I need to add Patrick to my to-do list (which keeps getting longer!).

Colleen June Wilcox [7] (1928-1982) my aunt by marriage, was born on this date in 1928 in Saint Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. Her parents were Seley Alvin Wilcox [37] and Neva Delores Rood [38]. Connie together with her two sisters were always referred to as "the Wilcox girls." She married my uncle Andrew Gordon Keough [6] (1926-1972) in 1946 in Seattle, King, Washington. Connie and Gordon had eight children, one of whom died within hours of his birth. Our Aunt Connie was beautiful, funny, clever and quite talented. She was an excellent seamstress/tailoress with an eye for high fashion and the ability to recreate those clothes on a budget. She was a terrific dancer, and had an energetic personality. It was always a treat to visit and play with our cousins and when we all went to my grandfather's home for birthdays or holidays - it was a very full and noisy house.

May 23
Mary Loretto Kelley [1640] (1882-1966) my great-great aunt by marriage, was born on this date in 1882 in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska. Her parents were William Arthur Kelley [1630] and Julia Agnes Kelly [1631]. She and my great-great uncle David Francis Murphy [476] (1880-1952) were married in 1906 in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska. Mary and David had two daughters. They farmed first in O'Neill and later in Tecumseh.  I have one of their daughters to thank for an assist with my family history as she worked on a collection of pedigrees, memories and photos of the various branches of the Murphy family that was given to family members including my father in the 1980s.

May 24 
Bridget Tracey [1387] (1895-1968) my second cousin twice removed, was born on this date in 1895 in Plate Cove East, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. Her parents were James Tracey [1222] and Agnes Walsh [1223]. She married Bernard Keough [246] (1888-1957) (my first cousin twice removed - it's a small world) in 1916 in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. Bernard and Bridget has eleven children.

This Week on My Family History Calendar

The Murphy-Keough Clover
Week of May 11 - May 17 
made with Tagxedo.com 

May 13

Marie Jeanette Murphy [1649] (1907-2005) my first cousin twice removed, was born on this day in 1907 in Tecumseh, Johnson, Nebraska. Her parents were David Francis Murphy [476] and Mary Loretto Kelley [1640]. Jeanette attended teachers college and taught school. In 1927, Jeanette married Galen Henry Pierson [1650] (1906-1958). Jeanette and Curly had two children. The family first farmed in Nebraska and later moved to Yakima, Washington.

May 14

John M. Murphy [472] (1873-1929) my great-great uncle and Isabella Grant [480] (1872-1966)  were married on this day in 1902 in Seattle, King, Washington [MRIN 131]. This is an excerpt from the Murphy Family History (an unpublished collection of information and memories put together by family members in 1982). 

Memories of John M. Murphy

John M. Murphy was born January 6, 1873. As a young man, he moved to the State of Washington and had a large farm in the Methune Valley in Central Washington. Here he had a lot of milk cows and a number of horses. He was somewhat successful and had a large farmhouse on the side of the hill.

While in Washington, he met and married Isabelle (Belle) Grant, a former school teacher from the Alaskan territory. Belle was originally from Scotland, having come to the United States at age seven or eight. For a time, he was County Sherriff of Arkanagen [Okanogan] County, and later had a grocery store in the Seattle area. Though they had no children of their own, both loved children, showing special fondness for his sister Catherine's children [Catherine was my great grandmother]. They also had an orphan boy named Howard who lived with them for a time. John died in 1932 at age 59 [he died 19 May 1929 at age 56].

Many years later [1937], when she was 66, Belle married John Grant [James J. Grant], a former railroad man.  She and John Grant had been on the same boat from Scotland as children [Isabella was 6 and John was 13], but had never known each other until they were widow and widower.  After her second marriage, she became liberated: she learned to drive at age 68 and learned to swim! (written by Johnee' M. Bartlett - 1982)

Some additional information:

I use Legacy Family Tree as my genealogy database software of choice. The numbers inside brackets [xxxx] are the record identification numbers [RINs] or marriage record identification numbers [MRINs]. As you may have guessed we have lots of individuals who share the name Andrew Keough or Patrick Murphy, so having a specific RIN for each person comes in handy (especially if you contact me about a potential family connection). I also use the brackets to show an additional piece of information or a correction in quoted material.

How are you doing with your family history research? This calendar meme is showing me that I need to get back to my research - my extended family members are calling out for some attention!

If any of these names and/or places sound familiar, perhaps we share some common ancestors. Let's pool our knowledge and share our stories. I would enjoy hearing from you.

This Week on My Family History Calendar

Keough Corner Anniversaries & Birthdays
Week of May 4 - 10

May 5
Joy Lafern Yount/Smith [1114] (1935-1991), was born on this day in 1935 in Elma, Grays Harbor, Washington. Joy was married to my second cousin once removed Daniel James Shaughnessy [1113] (1933-2000), the son of Charles Michael Shaughnessy [498] and Myrtle Maybelle Quigg [1109]. Daniel and Joy had four children. This was the week for finding that, for some extended family members, I need to spend some serious time doing research. There is conflicting information about Joy's surname and I have added a to-do to contact family members who can help fill in those blanks and recheck the 1940 US census.

May 8
Stanley Keith Bartlett [1183] (1914-1994) was born on this day in 1914 in British Columbia, Canada. Stanley was married to my first cousin once removed, Johnnee Marguerite Johnston [864] (1914-2004), the daughter of Duncan Johnston [862] and Honora Agnes Butler Murphy [206]. Stanley and Johnnee had two children.

May 9
Michael Joseph Davey [3059] (1899-1918), my first cousin twice removed, was born on this day in 1899. He graduated from high school in 1916 and listed his occupation as bank clerk on his draft registration form. Less than two months later in November 1918, he died at the age of nineteen. The gravestone lists him as a veteran and the son of Peter H. Davey [2989] and Katherine K. Murphy [995]. This is an area of research (my Nebraska Murphy-affiliated families) that I need to get back to and top on my list is to find out more about Michael's story (where and how he died is now a to-do on my research list).

May 10
My great grandparents Patrick Keough [159] (1859-1924) and Mary Driscoll [160] (1864-1915) were married on this day in 1887 in Plate Cove East, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. Patrick's parents were James Keough [170] and Margaret Dooley [171]. Mary's parents were Dennis Driscoll [1564] and Ellen Kenny [1565]. Patrick and Mary had ten children, including my grandfather Andrew Francis Keough [30] (1892-1963).

Robert Anthony McMillan [876] (1923-2014), my first cousin once removed, was born on this day in 1923 in Seattle, King, Washington. His parents were Ronald J. McMillan [875] and Margaret Cecelia Murphy [208]. Robert is another one of those extended family members that I need to learn more about. This weekly meme is certainly giving me all sorts of to-dos to add to my research list.

How are you doing with your family history research? This calendar meme is showing me that I need to get back to my research - my extended family members are calling out for some attention!

If any of these names and/or places sound familiar, perhaps we share some common ancestors. Let's pool our knowledge and share our stories. I would enjoy hearing from you.

Counting Cousins in SNGF

If it is Saturday, then Randy Seaver is at it again and here is our mission:

Murphy-Keough Cousins' Surnames
made with wordle.net - thanks

1)  Take both sets of your grandparents and figure out how many first cousins you have, and how many first cousins removed (a child or grandchild of a first cousin) you have.

2)  Extra Credit:  Take all four sets of your great-grandparents and figure out how many second cousins you have, and how many second cousins removed you have.

HINT:  Make a Descendants Chart with your genealogy software program!

3)  Tell us the grandparents and great-grandparents names, but don't give the name of living cousins unless you want to.  

4)  Are there any of those lines that you don't know all of the cousins names?  Do you care?  

5)  Tell us about them in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or in a Facebook or Google+ post of your own.  Be sure to drop a comment to this post to link to your work. 

I have lots of cousins but I had not really stopped to think about how many until tonight. Having tooled around in Legacy Family Tree (my genealogy database software of choice) I was familiar with something in the miscellaneous report section called Relationships. Running the report shows me how I am related to everyone in my database (because let's fact it, it is all about me!). Of course you can change the person of interest and run the Relationships report for them but that is not the mission - stay focused.

For this mission and this blog, I choose the Murphy-Keough direct line (my permanent tag 1). I printed the report to a csv file, then saved it as a Microsoft Excel workbook. Finally I filtered the data in my workbook - yes, you guessed it, Excel will let you filter your first cousins, your first cousins once removed, your first cousins twice removed, and so on and so on. Now I am ready if next week's mission is second cousins, third cousins and fourth cousins (or any other relationship).

So who are my people and what are my stats - well I'm glad you asked.

My grandparents Andrew Francis Keough and Dora Josephine Murphy had three sons and three daughters, one of whom is my father.  I have seven (7) siblings and twenty-one (21) first cousins. Oh yes my aunts and uncles had children and we grew up visiting at my grandfather's home on a regular basis and we took summer vacations together when we were young. We still get together for family reunions and had one just last summer.

Thanks to the Legacy Relationships report (in my handy dandy Excel workbook) which was crosschecked for quality control purposes - I have eighty-three (83) first cousins once removed, seventy-three (73) first cousins twice removed and thirty-three (33) first cousins thrice (is that a word?) removed. I am sure that I don't have all our family members included, but this mission definitely tells me that I have some cousins I need to get in touch with and get more information from.

I want that extra credit Randy mentioned (and Legacy did all the hard work). My paternal great grandparents Patrick Keough and Mary Driscoll had ten (10) children and my maternal great grandparents Lawrence Edward Murphy and Catherine Matilda Murphy (those who follow my LVUG Community Tuesday's Tips will recognize this couple and no, they were not related) had twelve (12) children (what can I say - I am sure the names gave it away but we are 100% Irish Catholic on this line).

I have two hundred twenty-seven (227) second cousins - fifty-three (53) are second cousins, one hundred fifty (150) are second cousins once removed, and twenty-four (24) are second cousins twice removed. I also have one hundred eighty-eight (188) third cousins of all stripes, and fifty-seven (57) fourth cousins of all stripes (that means I added together the standard issue and the removeds for each of these classes of cousins).

I am sure I don't have everyone and that is part of the reason I blog. In answer to Randy's question, I do care about those missing cousins as I want our family history to be inclusive. So, if any of these names are familiar, we might be related - so contact me! 

There you have it, Saturday Night Genealogy Fun, part one. Now I have to do this same mission again for the non-Irish side of my family (otherwise known as my mother's side of the family). 

Mission Accomplished!