Genealogy Expo in McCook Oct. 25

Susan Doak

SW Nebraska

Genealogy Society

McCOOK, Neb. -- Wild plum jam anyone? The preservation specialist (me) has now made wild plum jam. I find it interesting that I don't eat jam, jelly, apple butter, BBQ sauce or ketchup and yet, here I am putting by those things. BBQ sauce comes next because the tomatoes are ripe and ready to go, but the ketchup will be a real learning experience because I am going to try and replicate my father's green tomato ketchup. The last time he made it, we were still living on the acreage east of Indianola and I remember he sterilized clear beer bottles and capped them with his bottle capper (which I might add is still in the family, but I'm not going down that path). The chili peppers are being bagged and frozen so I can pull them out when making batches of green chili and the last of the red tomatoes will be frozen also! There is nothing better than pulling a tomato out of the freezer, popping it under hot water to easily skin it and then adding it to homemade soup. While I am doing all of this my mind is wondering where summer went and hoping we have a fall, not an early winter.

Fall and winter are great for genealogy, though, and our society has a fabulous lineup for our first Tri-State Exposition on Oct. 25 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in McCook.

Our first speaker, Charles Real, is a McCook alumni, a long-time historian and currently an instructor at Omaha Metro Community College teaching American history and world civilization. A Vietnam veteran, Charles is also a published genealogist whose subject for the expo is: "Genealogy and DNA- The Bloodline Tells Its Tale."

Mr. Real will take his audience down the path of combining his 40 years of genealogical research with his most recent findings through DNA testing results. He brings a unique look at how families and historical events are interrelated over a period of time that can stretch before marriage and birth records were recorded. Mr. Real's presentation will begin at 9 a.m.

Ruby Coleman, the current president of the Nebraska State Genealogical Society, has been an active genealogist for over 25 years. Ms. Coleman has written for many genealogy and computer publications. She is a lecturer, presenter of genealogy workshops, designer of e-learning genealogy CD's and specializes in courthouses, migrations and on-site research with emphasis on Nebraska.

Ruby will present at 1:30 p.m. her topic, "Lonesome Wives, Wanton Women and Prairie Mothers." She will explore the difficulty in researching women, covering the early settlement of the United States well into the 20th century. She will cover legal terms that apply to women as well as the various time periods and laws that regulated their lives.

Between these two powerhouse speakers, small group classes will cover such subjects as grave dousing, timelines and collateral evidence, newfamilysearch.org and Fold 3- the five civilized tribes.

The small group of SWNGS active members is also excited to be involved in Heritage Days by having a booth in the park. Sign-up sheets for the expo will be available there or watch for the ad in the Buffalo Nickel. As always, our library will be open the first and third Saturdays of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. at 110 West C, Suite M-3.