This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: SMITH, GONSOLUS, GUNSOLUS Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/14.64 Message Board Post: Hi Paul - Could you clarify the spelling of this surname? Is it spelled with an "O" or a "U" in the second letter position? Thanks. Glen F. Pritchett, USGENWEB volunteer

Hi List, Can someone check on a family called Mathewson? I am helping a friends daughter find information on her husbands family. Looking for William Alan Mathewson. He died in 1972 Spain. It is understood that his parents had brought his remains back to the US for burial. It was thought that William was born in California, but I haven't found him on the Cal birth index. The family had been in Arizona. Maybe he was born there. He had a sister, named Edith or Edna. Don't have or know name of parents. Any obits would be a great help. William would have been born somewhere in the 1930s. William was supposed to have married Martha Lee Morrison. They had two children, Denice and Victor Alan. Victor Alan is my friend's daughter's husband. Its his Father that they are looking for information on. Would appreciate it if anyone could find something. My many thanks and appreciation for any help. Take care and have a great evening. Carol Stewart California

I am seeking on obituary look up for Janice Ferguson who died 22 July 2000 in Sun City, Arizona. I have tried looking in newspaper websites in the area to find an archive but there are none. Thank you for your help. Sandy Daltrey hotspurs@gwtc.net

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: LOWREY, KUHLHOFF Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/xU.2ADE/436 Message Board Post: George H. Lowrey Dr. George H. Lowrey, a pediatrician and resident of Sun City West retirement community in Arizona, died Nov. 22, 2001, at age 84. A private memorial service has been held. Lowrey, who was born Nov. 14, 1917, in Mansfield, Ohio, was a professor emeritus at the University of Michigan Medical School and at the UC Davis Medical School. He moved in 1989 from California to Arizona, where he lived the rest of his life. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Y. Lowrey; daughter, Patricia Gail Kuhlhoff; sons, Thomas H. Lowrey and Geoffrey Y. Lowrey; and two grandchildren. Contributions may be made to the Sun Health Hospice at 21739 N. 151st Ave., Surprise, AZ 85375. Arrangements were coordinated by Maryvale Mortuary in Phoenix, Ariz. (Obituary from the "The Davis Enterprise," Thursday, December 6, 2001, (Yolo County). Submitted with the permission of the "The Davis Enterprise," 315 G Street, Davis, CA 95616, <http://www.davisenterprise.com/>. Please note: I am not related to the family listed above, and I do not have any further information on this family.)

Is anyone available to do a look up for an obituary & photograph a headstone? I am looking for Elizabeth Draper who died April 3, 1952 in Phoenix, AZ and is buried in Glendale Memorial Park. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Janice in Ontario, Canada

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/418.2.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Thank you very much for the information. Have a nice day! Jean-Guy Ouimet!

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: DANNER, SMITHHART, FRANKLIN, MARTIN Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/421.1.1 Message Board Post: Thank you Very much for your help, Glen! Anything you can come up with from resources you have is certainly appreciated! I still have not managed to locate any des. of 'Will' and Fannie Danner. Anything I've tried online so far hasn't turned up any des. Nor have any of the phone calls I've made to Danners in Maricopa co. (I did not happen to catch many at home tho'). I believe you were the one who suggested a search by a library in Maricopa, but they didn't turn up anything. Another library source would charge more than I could allow for search help. I had wondered if the J.W. stood for Jack William as father of 'Will' Danner was called 'Jack', and Wm. was father of 'Jack'. My notes on search after your last help (maybe on a different board?) escape me at the moment. But seems I found that the address no longer exists that you first found for Fannie, and I didn't get anywhere trying to track down an undertaker who may have handled her funeral. You have given me more to search on here. Thanks for your help! Carol :-) <+}}><

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Lookup Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/435 Message Board Post: Hi there to all fellow Researchers - The Maricopa Board is becoming more and more popular. Many of the requests are for the same subject so I thought I would establish a "Self Help MENU" which will list a series of "Self Help TOOLS" in the hopes that you can speed along your own research with an aid or help tool that hopefully will be useful for your endeavor. The Self Help MENU (aka MENU) will include all the titles, names and numbers given for any specific Self Help TOOLS (aka TOOLS). The actual TOOLS themselves will include contemporary instructions on how to find or obtain some item of interest to you, the researcher. It might be something as common as how to obtain a birth certificate or a copy of an obituary. It may be something more complex such as how to find a person that you have lost contact with. Whatever the subject, an attempt will be made to develop a specific TOOL for the subject. Each TOOL will be given a title or a name and a number. As an example the first will be "Self Help TOOL #1 - Vital Record - BIRTH CERTIFICATE - Maricopa". While the tools might be useful in other counties in Arizona, the TOOLS posted at the Maricopa board will be tailored specifically for Maricopa County queries. As "Rome wasn't built in a day" eventually a "Self Help MENU" will take shape and be posted as well. However, the MENU will, of necessity, take time to develop and won't be finalized OR posted for some time. The MENU, when posted, will list all the "Self Help TOOLS" for which a posting has been made that offers you guidelines, suggestions or how-to instructions for working on a research subject of your choosing. The "Self Help TOOLS" will be in a numeric format and will be posted one at a time over a period of time. Today Self Help TOOL #1 will be posted. This TOOL will outline how you can obtain a birth certificate from Maricopa County Records. Inorder to find a specific Self Help TOOL or the Self Help MENU when finalized and posted, merely click on "Advanced Search" at the top right center of this web page, click "Maricopa Board" at the top of the following web page and then type "Self Help TOOL" or "Self Help MENU" in the text OR subject box and press your enter key. The search engine should have no trouble finding the text OR subject you want to obtain instructions for and then you can "print" the instructional text and utilize it as a guide in your research efforts. If you have a suggestion for a Self Help TOOL you'd like to see posted, start a new, separate posting regarding your suggestion and then we'll work together (you and all board volunteers that wish to participate) to craft a new TOOL that will benefit every researcher. If you have a suggestion as to how an existing Self Help TOOL can be improved start a new, separate posting offering your suggestion for discussion with the participating board volunteers. Once a refinement or improvement is confirmed a revised "Self Help TOOL" will be posted incorporating the suggested changes and improvements. Hopefully, as time goes on, the MENU and TOOLS will prove to be worthwhile to us all. Happy Hunting to one and all!! Glen F. Pritchett, USGENWEB volunteer

In a message dated 8/4/02 8:49:07 AM US Mountain Standard Time, pritch4398@aol.com writes: > Hi Melanie - In my 1975 metro phone book for Phoenix and surrounding areas > including Mesa the following listing is found on page 315, left column: > "Fair W D 5701 N 12 Pl.....266-2333". This residental listing of 5701 > North 12th Place is in Phoenix near and east of Central Avenue. And about 3 blocks from my house. Definitely NOT Mesa. The address is almost identical to mine. Those houses were built circa 1950, as postwar housing designed by an architect named Haver. At least your forebear, if indeed it is your forebear, had good taste. The houses have of course, been dressed up in the intervening years, but were built with clerestory windows and interesting interiors Sorry about the side trip - if you'd like me to go take a look, I will on a day under 100. Cheers, Noel Marcy

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: BLEO, BLEOO, OUIMET Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/418.2.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi Jean-Guy - Yes, you make a good point. I too would be surprised if William were in the draft records as I believe they did not require registration on anyone over age 45. I myself do not have access to the microfilms as I do all my research from my home. Perhaps another volunteer can help you with that. Good luck and have a great weekend. Glen F. Pritchett

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/418.2.1 Message Board Post: Thank you for the information I will appreciate if you can look on that mkicrofilm but I will be very surprise if he is on it because in 1915 he should have 48 years old but. In the family there is a rumour that mentione his son Walter Bleoo left Canada and went in the USA army. Thank you for your help. Jean-Guy Ouimet

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/418.1.2.2 Message Board Post: Donna, Thank you for the information. Do you know if they have an e-mail address? I am from Canada and I am far of Arizona. Thank you for your help. Jean-Guy Ouimet

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: THARP, ROBERTSON Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/416.1 Message Board Post: Hi Neal - In my 1975 Phoenix metro phone book, page 985, left center column is "Tharp William E 1116 E Portland 252-8604". There is no sure way to confirm this is your "William E. THARP" research subject, however it is the only listing for a William E. Perhaps you can trace forward the property records to his date of death to confirm one way or the other if this is your research subject and who may have taken possession of the property following his death. Good luck. Hopefully another volunteer can help you with the obituary or use the search utility at this board and search on "Mesa Public Library" for instructions as to how to ask them to find you an obituary. Glen F. Pritchett, USGENWEB volunteer

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: BLEO, BLEOO Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/418.1.2.1 Message Board Post: Hi Donna - Thanks your great suggestion. I've left another posting for Jean-Guy as I'm not sure he would have gotten a email message from the board about your posting. I also included one other idea for him as well. Take care. Glen F. Pritchett, USGENWEB volunteer

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: BLEO, BLEOO, OUIMET Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/418.2 Message Board Post: Hi Jean-Guy - Please see Donna Ramsey's posting of 8-30-2002 which may be helpful to you. I have checked the 1920 federal census for Arizona and there is no listing for a William BLEO or BLEOO either using exact or soundex spelling. The thought occurred to me, other than Donna's suggestion, that William probably would have had to register for the draft for World War I. The Selective Service Act was brand new during the era of 1915-1917. I would contact the nearest National Archives to you (NARA or www.NARA.gov) or the FHL has microfilmed all 24 million records and presumeably you should be able to get microfilm rental copies at the branch library nearest you. The registration form, of which there were three types used, could contain invaluable genealogical information that may be helpful to you. Good luck. Glen F. Pritchett, USGENWEB volunteer

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: RICKETSON, PRITCHETT, WINTERS, WILLIAMS, STROH, DILKA Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/423.1 Message Board Post: Hi Sue - Thank you for your kind words. My apologies for not being able to post earlier than this but I had been away for an extensive period of time doing genealogical research (a traveling vacation of sorts) and just returned in the last few days. Arizona is one of those states that's become very picky about who they release birth certificate copies to. I recently had no trouble acquiring a copy of my father's brother's birth certificate (Richard George PRITCHETT) from the Arizona Archives on Washington Street, but that was because my uncle was born in 1912 and these confidentiality rules are not applicable to records of that era. As a matter of fact the copy was free of charge, the archivists were extremely helpful and courteous too, and took virtually no time to respond to my request for a copy. Don't we all wish all our experiences could be that way!?!? While not a lawyer, I work hand in hand with the legal field every day in my profession. It would seem to me there should be a way to obtain the certificate but it may take a court order or some notarized letter of permission to do so if the record is sealed. First, I presume your sister was refused a copy of the original birth certificate by some county record keeping official? Or was it from someone at the adoption agency? Secondly, just because the address shown on the certificate is thought to have been of the adoptive parents doesn't mean that it was. It's possible the address was of the natural parents. If you think this might be a possibility, please identify the address or addresses and I'll check my address cross directories to see if the address is listed under another person's name if I have a directory of the era you and your siblings were born in. Assuming every official is playing by the rules, and assuming birth certificates exist with your natural parents names on them, then I'd start with the easiest thing and that would be to have a letter prepared by your grandparents authorizing the county clerk to release your birth certificate to you. Make sure the letter is very specific in that you want the birth certificate that shows your natural parents, not the adoptive parents. Have the letter notarized and submit it to the clerk to see what happens. Even if this doesn't prove useful to begin, this document could be useful for the second idea. Realizing your oldest brother and sister don't have quite the same situation, and while I wouldn't rule out trying the same tactic noted above, the clerk may reject the request more easily because the relation line is more distant (being raised by mother's cousin instead of being raised by your mother's mother). So a second approach would be for all four of the children (you and the other three) to marshall your resources and to make a singular request (petition) of a empathic judge. It's hard to imagine that a judge would deny the request of four children who already know who the natural parents are and who have permission from their adoptive parents, two of which are natural grandparents. According to a search done on Google, adoption in Maricopa County is fundamentally all handled through the Superior Court, the Clerk of which is Michael K. Jeanes. Their email address is www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov. They may have a list of attorneys qualified to practice before the Superior Court on this type of matter. They also have a "Confidential Intermediary" program wherein if you call 602-542-9586 they can provide you with information of who is qualified to possibly act on your behalf. Obviously, anytime you get "anybody legal" involved in anything the cost is going to go up. I would make sure the addresses on the birth certificates you already have are NOT those of your natural parents first, confirm who (what official) said you can't have the original birth certificates second and thirdly, I would try the notarized letter(s) last and see how far you get with the clerk before going the legal route. I hope some of this helps. If you need some lookups just leave a posting. Good luck. Glen F. Pritchett, USGENWEB volunteer P.S. By the way Diane WINTERS is making great progess with her research effort; she's down to trying to find two persons. She's been successful in finding two natural grandparents (one of which is deceased - STROH), her natural father (deceased - STROH aka DILKA) and her natural mother (living) and we're still looking for two other natural grandparents (WILLIAMS). I believe she's still waiting on the birth certificate however. The nice thing about all this is, when the "log jam" starts to break it becomes much easier to find additional resources who can help solve the puzzle. Often the slightest clue provides the "key" to begin opening the door. By the way, Diane has received help from a number of volunteers in several states, not just myself.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: HOLLY, PARMER, PIERSON Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/424.1 Message Board Post: Hi Taya - Working outside in towards your range of date era I found no John HOLLY or PARMER surname in my 1947 Phoenix city directory. In my next directory, the 1955 Phoenix city directory there is no listing for John but there is one PARMER listing on page 1413, right column that reads"Parmer Jesse N (Zelda L) (spouse of Jesse) 1 (1 child under age 18 residing at this address) H (H - owner of the property address in this listing, a homeowner) formn (occupation - foreman) Bldrs Equip Co (employer - Builders Equipment Company) h (head of household - other relations may be present) 4213 E Lewis Av (residence address in Phoenix) AM 6-7584 (phone)". In my 1957 directory there is no listing for John HOLLY but the PARMER listing is still shown essentially as noted in 1955 EXCEPT for two things. First Jesse PARMER is now shown as the "prodn mgr" (occupation - production manager) at his employer shown for 1955 and the child who was under age 18 is now NOT listed, meaning the child reached age 18 either in 1955 following the publishing of the '55 directory, or turned 18 in 1956 or pre 1957. Whether this child is a male or female cannot be determined. As there is no other PARMER listing, either the child died, moved away or married and now has a different surname if a female. In my 1959 Phoenix city directory there is still no John HOLLY listed nor is there any HOLLY residing at the PARMER address of 4213 East Lewis Avenue. The Jesse PARMER listing is still the same as 1957, but the strangest thing, the child that was resident there in 1955, and who disappeared in 1957 is now BACK in the listing for 1959. This might represent a child who went away to some sort of prep-school for a year or two and returned home later. A second PARMER listing shows up for the first time, a single man, one "Parmer Arth E (Arthur) wtchmn (watchman) State Hwy Dept (Arizona Highway Department) h Apt 5 9 Capitol Way". No spouse or children nor a phone is shown for Arthur. In my 1960 Phoenix city still no John HOLLY, and the PARMER listings are the same as 1959 except that the listing for Jesse PARMER shows the child as NOT being listed again. However, right below the Jesse PARMER listing is a new third listing for a "PARMER Noland J student r (resides, rents, rooms or boards at this address) 4213 E Lewis AM 6-7584". This appears to be the son of Jesse and Zeda PARMER. This exhausts my collection of city directories, however in my 1975 Phoenix metro phone book, page 464, right hand column, there is the following listing: "Holly John 6808 N 31st Av 973-2525". Whether this is your "John HOLLY" research subject cannot be determined from this publication. In the same publication Jesse N. PARMER is still listed, same residence, and there are several new PARMER's, a David A. of Tempe, James E. of Phoenix, Jesse N. of Phoenix, K. M. of Phoenix, Merle of Phoenix, and Richard of Phoenix. Whether any of these are related to your PARMER surname research subject cannot be determined. Do you have the parents names for John HOLLY and his wife PARMER? Do you have the given name of John's wife? Do you have any residence address for the HOLLY/PARMER husband and wife when they were in Phoenix? I hope some of this helps in your research. Glen F. Pritchett, USGENWEB volunteer

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/418.1.2 Message Board Post: Check with the Arizona Genealogical Library at the Arizona State Capital.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/432.2.1.1.1 Message Board Post: glen, thank you, God Bless You sue

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: DANNER, WILL, MARTIN Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/xU.2ADE/421.1 Message Board Post: Hi Carol - In my 1955 Phoenix city directory on page 1127, left column is the following listing: Danner Fannie J Mrs H (H -owner of the property listed) h (head of household, other relations may be present) 1908 E Lincoln (residence address in Phoenix)". If this is your research subject Fannie, as the owner of the property she would have left in public archives, both land and property tax records. Such records could be traced forward from 1955 to her date of death to note who the new owner of the property is, often times a relation. Also, most property owners are registered voters and registration records may be available to assist in your inquiry. Such records can be a huge souce of genealogical information. In the address cross directory on page 371 she is confirmed as the primary occupant of 1908 East Lincoln and also the owner of 1908. She is not shown as employed or as having owned a phone. On the same page, same column further down the page is "Danner Jack Wm (William) r (resides at this address - usually a boarder, renter or relation) lab (occupation - laborer) 1908 E Lincoln". It appears this Jack William DANNER matches the initials of one of her sons you posted as "J. W. DANNER". Given the fact that this Jack William is living with Mrs. Fannie J. DANNER it seems likely this is her son. I have other directories going back in time beginning next with 1947 and going forward beginning next with 1957 if you'd like me to continue to look for further information. If so, just leave another posting. I checked my 1975 Phoenix metro phone book and both Fannie J. and Jack William DANNER are not listed which of course, is certainly consistent with Fannie having died in 1971. As to John William WILL draft registration records compiled prior to 1920 as a result of World War I may lend insight into John's family background. Such records are available at the National Archives, regional offices of NARA and the FHL. Hope this helps. Glen F. Pritchett, USGENWEB volunteer