Gleaning history from the little details

If you’re like me, a little bit of information just makes you want to know more. In genealogy, knowing more is sometimes like a horseless wagon, you either hitch those ponies up or you’re not going anywhere. I’ve done a lot of sitting in that wagon looking at the harnesses and not knowing what the next step is lately.

Even if every newspaper printed in the United States was available online for research, some of my ancestors are ones that avoided seeing their names in the paper! Their bibles would have no carefully noted births, deaths or marriages and even if they had committed something to writing, Auntie May, two generations back, threw it away. Their obituaries, if they bothered to have one, would only reflect a death date and possibly a spouse.

What you hope for is that they married into a family that wanted the world to know their business and if that happened to be true, our little genealogy society can help you out with some details! Marriage announcements are available for research from the late 1800’s through 2017 along with obituaries, births and anniversaries that were in the local newspapers.

Here are some excerpts from the McCook Republican from 100 years ago. Note what information is told in these write-ups.

“ Wednesday evening, Miss Freida Hoff of McCook, and Mr. Otis Willis, of Palisade were united in marriage at the home of the bride’s sister, Mrs. Adam Baker. They will make their home in Palisade.” Jan 3, 1919

“Clarence Liston, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Liston, of Liston Lake, Hayes County, and well known to many in this city, was married to Miss Claribel Overby at the home of the bride, in Kansas City, the latter part of last month.” March 7, 1919

“By announcements received here today, the friends of Miss Elsie May Johnson, learn of her marriage on Thursday, April 24, 1919, at the home of her parents in North Platte, to Mr. John Addison Stryker. Mrs. Stryker formerly taught several terms in the McCook Public Schools. The groom was also a resident of this city a number of years ago and taught penmanship and bookkeeping in a business college here.” May 2, 1919

“Saturday evening, July 19, 1919, Mrs. Ness Bran and Mr. Jack Gildea were united in marriage at the Methodist parsonage. The bride has lived here several years with her parents and has been employed the past two years in the Penny Co.’s store and is very popular in the youngest set.” July 25, 1919

“Miss Dosia Justice and Hugo Nelson were united in marriage, Rev. W. H. McDonald of the Christian Church officiating. After the ceremony a three-course dinner was served. The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Riley. The groom is the son of Mrs. Joana Eckberg, and is a locomotive fireman for the Burlington on this division.” September 26, 1919

These examples show you so much more than just who got married. In them you will notice: a bride was previously married, some parents also, where some of the happy couples worked, who was the pastor at a church, what stores existed in McCook and the fact that there was a place called Liston Lake in Hayes county. Who knew? I’ve mentioned before that early write-ups even include what gifts the couple received so you can determine where that candy dish that has been handed down originated from!

Speaking of gifts, SWNGS is the recipient of a memoriam for Justine (Potthoff) Peterson given by Jeanie Mitchell. We are blessed to have people think of us in this way. We are a small organization (501 C-3) with big goals and every monetary gift, no matter the size, is greatly appreciated.

SWNGS library hours, weather permitting, are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 PM. We are located at 110 West C Street, Suite M-3.