Mystery Woman

This woman's photo was in my husband's mother's collection.  We have no idea if it is friend or family.  If a friend of Bill's mom, it would be around Stamford, Connecticut.  Bill's mom was born 1905.  However, this may be a 1905 photo, making a birth date about 20 years earlier than 1905.  The rattan chair shows up in some baby photos of Bill's mom so this woman may have been a friend of her mother's, Mary Ann Connors Beck.  If you recognize this woman, please let us know who you think it is!

Free Ancestry Marriage Records

• Ancestry.com has made its marriage records collection free to search through April 21 at midnight ET. These records are great sources for female ancestors' maiden names and sometimes the couples' parents' names, in addition to the marriage date and place. You'll need to register for a free account, if you don't already have one, to view records.

Edna Elizabeth Sites Barr

I am looking for an obituary for Edna Elizabeth Sites Barr, born in 1888 in Adams County, Pennsylvania.  She married Dr. Charles F. Barr (a dentist) and lived in Wichita, Kansas, dying there in 1976.  I have Charles' obituary but need Edna's.  This is a quest for my Pennsylvania cousin, Carol.

Here is Dr. Barr's obituary; now I just need Edna's.

1966 Dec 21, The Gazette, P6, Emporia, Kansas
Dr. Charles F. Barr Dies
Dr. Charles F. Barr, a retired dental surgeon and a brother of Everette Barr, Rt. 5, and Mrs. H. W. Spencer, 925 Chestnut St., died Tuesday evening in Wichita where he had lived for the past 46 years.  A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Oliver F. Barr, Doctor Barr was born in Chase County and reared in Chase County and Reno County.  He was graduated from the Western Dental College in Kansas City and served during World War I as a captain with the 89th Infantry Division.  Doctor Barr, who had practiced in Wichita from 1920 until he retired, was a member of several professional organizations, among them the American College of Dental Surgery, the International College of Dental Surgery, and the Kansas State Dental Association.  He is survived by his wife, of the home, 1475 Woodrow, Wichita; one brother, Everette; three sisters, Mrs. E. J. Dealy, Sylvia, Mrs. Marshall Maupin, Hutchinson, and Mrs. Spender[sic], and several nieces and nephews.  Funeral arrangements have not been completed.

Gracie is 16

Grammy's Gracie Girl turns 16 today!  Being at her birth seems like yesterday - and now she's driving.  Slow down, Girl!

Wisconsin Cousins

My mother had an aunt and cousins who lived in Wisconsin.  They stayed in touch through the years, but the next generation lost touch. I have now made contact with a 2nd cousin in Wisconsin.  Her mother-in-law, my 1st cousin once removed, will be celebrating her 90th birthday next month, while her sister just passed away at age 91.  These ladies were daughters of my grandma's brother, Irwin Phelps.  Family reunions aren't as easy to pull off these days, but how nice to have the Internet to keep in touch with cousins. 

Flickinger Findings

It's been a busy genealogy time this winter.  I made contact with Margaret/Maggie on her line that involved the Flickinger that is mentioned in my blog under the Libby Murder.  That research is ongoing and very much fun.  We may solve a mystery of many decades!

Update:  We did indeed solve a decades old mystery!  Maggie's father had a daughter by an earlier marriage that no one in his second family knew about.  After a divorce, his first wife married three other men, the last of which was Flickinger.  This was the connection that helped us fill in the puzzle pieces.

Maggie has found the half-sister, unfortunately over a year too late since the half sister died in 2011 always wondering about her father and keeping his last name as her middle name, but Maggie now has new nieces who are busy getting acquainted with their "step aunt."  As the two families swap stories, they are filling in the gaps for each other, and planning a get together.  What a fun and rewarding time this has been!

Genealogy Cousins Meet

Genealogy has its wonderful surprises.  We have been blessed by a visit from fourth cousins from New Hampshire, Bill and Karen.  Our weather was very cooperative and we've enjoyed getting acquainted while sightseeing in and around St. George.  On our first day we found cowgirl boots, shopped the Outlets, dined at Bucca di Beppo and saw The Piano Men at Cox Auditorium, Dixie State College.  It was a full, fun-packed day and we are excited to gain such wonderful cousins from my Libby line.  Here's a photo from on top of Red Hills Parkway overlooking St. George.

  And dining at Buca di Beppo:

Normally, New Hampshire natives don't play golf in February: