Porting over from the blog I got locked out of.

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2010

Wish List

There are 2 things I am anxiously awaiting. The MAC version of FamilyTree Maker due out sometime this year and the 1940 census to be released in April of 2011!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2010

Death Certificates; a genealogist’s treasure

Death Certificates are one of my favorite sources for information about an ancestor. Not only can you find their date of death, date of birth, last residence, and parentage but also their cause of death. This little fact can sometimes solve or start a mystery. Take for example my great grandfather John Wesley Tracy. My father had heard that he died in a hunting accident. After ordering his death certificate and obituary I found that he had died of a massive heart attack while sighting a rabbit with his rifle. He was hunting and I guess it was an accident but not what my dad thought all these years. No big deal but kind of interesting nonetheless. You could make a great story for the fact that it was the beginning of the depression and times were tough for farmers but the reality is he died of a heart attack; happens all the time; the only thing interesting is that he was about to shoot a rabbit. I wonder if the rabbit understood its great luck that day? Then there was the curious coincidence between my great grandfather Charles Gotcher and his father Daniel Gotcher’s cause of death. No big deal if they both died of a hereditary disease but no, they both died of a fractured skull. Charles in an auto accident and Daniel in a Steel Rail accident. It was probably just a coincidence but an interesting one.
I just like that Death Certificates give me a little more insight into my family history.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

McConaughy 80th Birthday

80 years of Kenneth McConaughy!

We love you Grandpa!

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2009

Kissing Grandparents

It’s nice to know that my great grandparents still loved each other into old age. And weren’t embarrassed to show it. Pictures like this make me even happier to be part of this family.

Uncle Larry teaches me to stick out my tongue?

Okay, so either Uncle Larry taught me to stick out my tongue at that time or it is hereditary. I have stuck out my tongue when I’m thinking my entire life; as evidenced by this picture. So, Larry, did you teach me this embarrassing habit or was I born with it?

Some pages from Grandma Jean’s high school autograph book…

The first one is from her high school sweetheart and my grandpa. When questioned he couldn’t remember what “Amote” meant but after some research I found that it was latin and meant a very stong love (like a punch to the chest). Strong feelings grandpa. The next one is from grandma’s cousin Donna, who became my grandma several years after my grandma Jean died. And the last autograph is by my grandma herself. I never realized what a sense of humor my grandma had. She was a popular girl at her very small school and she stayed popular throughout her life. I would contribute that to the fact that she was genuinely interested in people.

4 Generation Pictures

The McConaughy side of my family has a tradition of taking 4 generation pictures. I love these and I am blessed to take part in this tradition.

Hannah Ward, Rosanna Gotcher Ward(me), Karen McConaughy Gotcher, Ken McConaughy

Rosanna Gotcher, Karen McConaughy Gotcher, Ken McConaughy, Eva Parmenter McConaughy

Karen McConaughy, Jean Siefken McConaughy, Beryl Richert Siefken, George Richert

Karen McConaughy, Jean Siefken McConaughy, Herman Siefken, Louisa Schael Siefken Clodt

Doris Siefken Pieper(Jean’s older sister), Herman Siefken, Louisa Schael Siefken Clodt, Amelia Beardenburg Schael

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About Rosanna Ward

Rosanna is a devoted mother of four children, two of which are homeschool graduates. She currently homeschools her 11 and 6 year old sons. Rosanna is a homeschool graduate and a graduate of Oral Roberts University: She grew up in Tulsa and has been homeschooling here for the past eleven years. Rosanna has loved family history for as long as she can remember and love genealogy for the stories of her ancestors.

View all posts by Rosanna Ward →

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Rosanna Ward

This entry was posted in Gotcher Family Research and Stories, McConaughy Research and Stories, Tracy Family Research and Stories, Website and Research Reviews. Bookmark the permalink.

5 Responses to Porting over from the blog I got locked out of.

Jeanette says:

September 27, 2011 at 8:04 pm

Rosanna, just love the findings and appreciate your research and sharing. How does one subscribe to your blog? Also, never noticed an obituary for Maria Sophia Rusler Tracy. Do you have a copy of that? That would be your Grandmother Mabel’s mother – wife of John Wesley.
Thank you so much!!! Oh, I was just at the Mormon Genealogical Library with a friend and was told that next January, all their records will be available and free to the public. They are tweaking the sites now.
Jeanette Tracy Kahl

- Rosanna Ward says:
  
  September 27, 2011 at 8:32 pm
  
  On my page when I am logged into wordpress there is a button on the top left that says follow. Not sure how it works if you don’t have a wordpress account. I will check though that is kind of important. Thanks. I have Maria
  Sophia’s obit but it is just one of those, she died and who her relatives are kind of obits – nothing very personal. I have heard of familysearch.org site being totally revamped and they have always been free. Can’t wait to check out what they have added.
  
- Rosanna Ward says:
  
  September 27, 2011 at 8:35 pm
  
  ah, I fixed it. I just had to add a widget for people to subscribe. LOL – thanks I never even noticed – such a novice at this blog thing.
  
  - Jennifer Tracy Bailey says:
    
    March 1, 2012 at 7:58 pm
    
    Hi Rosanna,
    
    I am thrilled to find your internet site. I have the same Tracy heritage down to John Edward. I have been having a grand time looking for information about our Tracy’s. You have answered some of my questions. Your work is very impressive. Thank you for sharing what you have learned. My grandfather was Bryce Dilworth Tracy. I have some information, pictures, and my dad’s report cards. Guess who his teacher was? I also have a story about John Wesley’s heart attack. I would love to correspond with you.
    
    Jennifer Tracy Bailey
  - Rosanna Ward says:
    
    March 2, 2012 at 11:31 pm
    
    Would love to correspond with you! And we have a Tracy family group on fb. Whose daughter are you?