Shelley: Your efforts to reunite photos and families is a very generous, good-hearted act. Mark Lomax Pasadena, CA Shelley Cardiel wrote: > I've "rescued" an old photograph of Miss Catherine LAHORGUE which was taken > at the John A. Todd Studio in San Francisco, California. The photograph is > dated 1892 with Catherine appearing to be in her 20's at the time that it > was taken. In addition to her name and the date, someone has also written > "now Mrs. Bernard FERREMORE or FERREMON, Tacoma, Washington 1894" on the > back of the photograph. > > > > I'm hoping to locate someone from this family, so that this wonderful old > photograph can be returned to the care of family. If you are a member of > this family, or know someone who might be, please contact me. > > > > Thank you, > > Shelley > > > > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > Bulletin Boards at sfgenealogy.com: > http://www.sfgenealogy.com/boards/ > > >

I've "rescued" an old photograph of Miss Catherine LAHORGUE which was taken at the John A. Todd Studio in San Francisco, California. The photograph is dated 1892 with Catherine appearing to be in her 20's at the time that it was taken. In addition to her name and the date, someone has also written "now Mrs. Bernard FERREMORE or FERREMON, Tacoma, Washington 1894" on the back of the photograph. I'm hoping to locate someone from this family, so that this wonderful old photograph can be returned to the care of family. If you are a member of this family, or know someone who might be, please contact me. Thank you, Shelley

I’ve “rescued” a group of BUELL Family Photographs. Based on limited research I have been able to obtain some additional information regarding the photographs as follows: * Ida M. ELY of Tacoma, WA, Freneb Studio, no location, dated 18 May 1897, “daughter of Amelia BALLOU BUELL, sister of Guy A. BUELL”, appears to be in her 20’s or 30’s at the time 1900 census of Tacoma, WA includes the family of A. W. ELY as follows: A. W. ELY, age 55, born Sept 1845, married 20 years, born WI, parents born England/Canada, a Locomotive Engineer Ida M. ELY, wife, age 40, born June 1859, married 20 years, no children, born OH, parents born NY * Park A. BUELL of Stockton, CA, taken at J. Pitcher Spooner Studio in Stockton, CA, dated 1896, “Aunt Amelia’s son”, man in his 30’s Park A. BUELL married Ada MOORE on 19 Dec 1882 in San Joaquin, CA * Guy A. BUELL of Stockton, CA, taken at J. Pitcher Spooner Studio in Stockton, CA, dated 1891, man in his 20’s Guy a. BUELL married Bonnie FRYE on 24 May 1884 in Sonoma, CA 1900 census of Stockton, CA included the family of Guy BUELL with records providing the following information: Guy BUELL, age 35, married 16 years, born IL, parents born NY, Manager of Planing Mill Julia BUELL, wife, married 16 years, born IL, parents born NY/MI Amelia W. BUELL, Mother, age 69, born Aug 1830, a widow, 7 children/3 living, born NY, parents born NY, House Keeper Ross T. BUELL, son, age 14, born May 1886, born CA, at School 1910 census of San Francisco, CA includes the family of Guy A. BUELL as follows: Guy A. BUELL, age 46, 2nd marriage 2 years, born IL, parents born NY Emma E. BUELL, wife, age 29, 1st marriage 2 years, no children, born CA, parents born CA/OR Ross T. BUELL, son, age 23, born CA, parents born IL/CA, Works in Architects Office Amelia W. BUELL, Mother, widow, age 79, 7 children/2 living, born NY, parents born NY/MA Marella D. VOYT, Servant, age 19, born CA, parents born Germany, a Private Family Servant 1920 census of San Francisco, CA includes the family of Guy alley BUELL as follows: Guy Alley BUELL, age 55, born IL, parents born NY, Trade Journal Publisher and Editor Emma Ewing BUELL, wife, age 39, born CA, parents born CA/OR Norman S. BUELL, adopted son, age 5 ½ years, born CA, parents born OH/CA Nancy M. FELT, Mother-in-law, age 63, a widow, born OR, parents born KY/PA, Christian School Worker Catherine NEWMAN, Sister-in-law, a widow, age 32, born CA, parents born CA/OR, a School Teacher Ruth Merlin NEWMAN, niece, age 6, born CA, parents born CA Robert Erwin NEWMAN, nephew, age 4 years and 5 months, born CA, parents born CA Ruth Eddy FELT, Sister-in-law, age 26, born CA, parents born CA/OR, a vocalist * Amelia BALLOU BUELL, taken at A. L. Jackson Studio in Tacoma, WA, likely sometime in the 1890’s, woman in her 50’s (two copies of this photograph, slightly different poses) 1880 census of Santa Rosa, CA includes the family as follows: Amelia W. BUELL, a widow, age 49, born NY, a Nurse, parents born NY Ida M. BUELL, dau, age 21, born OH, a Dress Maker, parents born NY Park A. BUELL, son, age 20, born OH, Works in Planing Mill, parents born NY Guy A. BUELL, son, age 16, born IL, Works in Planing Mill, parents born NY I am hoping to locate someone from this BUELL Family so that these wonderful old photographs can be returned to the care of family. If you are a member of this family or know someone who might be, please contact me. Thanks, Shelley

Thanks Pat. That's interesting; I didn't know that. I wonder if there are some existing directories from that period for these agencies. Ken Pat wrote: > For what it's worth: > There was also a St. Vincent Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum of San Francisco for Boys for several years in San Francisco in the late 1800s and early 1900s. And there was a girl's school with the name St. Vincent's run by the same order of nuns. I cannot find the specific information at the moment, but they are listed in the City Directories somewhere between1890 and 1905. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ken Waters [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 2:16 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [CASANFRA] Help With St. Vincent's Orphanage in San Rafael > > Hi, > > It appears I have several SF ancestors who were put in the St. Vincent's > orphanage across the bay in San Rafael during the 1880-1900 period. I > discovered this when I found some familiar names in a CGS document > listing orphans in the bay area in the 1880's. > > Has anyone had any experience with locating and searching records for > this location? I drove out there this past Saturday just to see where > it is. It seems to be a home now for extremely disturbed youth so I'm > sure some sort of permission has to be obtained before visiting there. > > Thanks, > > Ken > > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > San Francisco 1906 Earthquake Marriage Project! > Were any of your ancestors married during or because of the 1906 disaster? > If so, we want to hear from you! > http://www.sfgenealogy.com/1906/ > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > Need an obituary lookup? > Visit sfgenealogy.com > http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sfrantip.htm#sfmainobit > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta. > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > San Francisco History at sfgenealogy.com: > http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/history/sindex.htm > > > >

Thanks much for the resource, David. I just sent a query to Ms. Gowdy and did visit the website. It appears there are five issues of the publication that seem to have information on this orphanage. Ken David Vernon wrote: > Hi Ken, > > You may want to try this website for the Marin County Genealogy Society. > They have a publication with a surname index, Kin Tracer, with some of the > inmates of St. Vincent's. > http://www.maringensoc.org/Resources/kintracer.htm > > Also, on the webpage is a link to contact a Cathy Gowdy. At one time in the > past I did contact Ms. Gowdy and she was very helpful in checking records > for St. Vincent's that she has access to. I believe she is compiling > records for future publication so she may have access to more records than > are available from Kin Tracer. > > David > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ken Waters [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 2:16 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [CASANFRA] Help With St. Vincent's Orphanage in San Rafael > > Hi, > > It appears I have several SF ancestors who were put in the St. Vincent's > orphanage across the bay in San Rafael during the 1880-1900 period. I > discovered this when I found some familiar names in a CGS document > listing orphans in the bay area in the 1880's. > > Has anyone had any experience with locating and searching records for > this location? I drove out there this past Saturday just to see where > it is. It seems to be a home now for extremely disturbed youth so I'm > sure some sort of permission has to be obtained before visiting there. > > Thanks, > > Ken > > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > San Francisco 1906 Earthquake Marriage Project! > Were any of your ancestors married during or because of the 1906 disaster? > If so, we want to hear from you! > http://www.sfgenealogy.com/1906/ > > > >

St. Vincent's is currently run by Catholic Charities CYO. I called there not so long ago in an attempt to get information on my grandfather who lived there as an orphan in 1880. The receptionist was very helpful and asked me to follow up with an e-mail, which I did. Unfortunately, there has been no follow up (by either me or the woman with whom I spoke.) I intend to do so at some point. The St. Vincent's contact did indicate that their records for this time period were limited. Also, I believe St. Vincent's has been sold to St. Ignatius (High School) in San Francisco and that there are plans to convert it to a retreat. I suggest just giving St. Vincent's a call and see what you can find out. Good luck! --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.

For what it's worth: There was also a St. Vincent Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum of San Francisco for Boys for several years in San Francisco in the late 1800s and early 1900s. And there was a girl's school with the name St. Vincent's run by the same order of nuns. I cannot find the specific information at the moment, but they are listed in the City Directories somewhere between1890 and 1905. -----Original Message----- From: Ken Waters [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 2:16 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [CASANFRA] Help With St. Vincent's Orphanage in San Rafael Hi, It appears I have several SF ancestors who were put in the St. Vincent's orphanage across the bay in San Rafael during the 1880-1900 period. I discovered this when I found some familiar names in a CGS document listing orphans in the bay area in the 1880's. Has anyone had any experience with locating and searching records for this location? I drove out there this past Saturday just to see where it is. It seems to be a home now for extremely disturbed youth so I'm sure some sort of permission has to be obtained before visiting there. Thanks, Ken ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== San Francisco 1906 Earthquake Marriage Project! Were any of your ancestors married during or because of the 1906 disaster? If so, we want to hear from you! http://www.sfgenealogy.com/1906/ ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== Need an obituary lookup? Visit sfgenealogy.com http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sfrantip.htm#sfmainobit --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

Hi Ken, You may want to try this website for the Marin County Genealogy Society. They have a publication with a surname index, Kin Tracer, with some of the inmates of St. Vincent's. http://www.maringensoc.org/Resources/kintracer.htm Also, on the webpage is a link to contact a Cathy Gowdy. At one time in the past I did contact Ms. Gowdy and she was very helpful in checking records for St. Vincent's that she has access to. I believe she is compiling records for future publication so she may have access to more records than are available from Kin Tracer. David -----Original Message----- From: Ken Waters [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 2:16 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [CASANFRA] Help With St. Vincent's Orphanage in San Rafael Hi, It appears I have several SF ancestors who were put in the St. Vincent's orphanage across the bay in San Rafael during the 1880-1900 period. I discovered this when I found some familiar names in a CGS document listing orphans in the bay area in the 1880's. Has anyone had any experience with locating and searching records for this location? I drove out there this past Saturday just to see where it is. It seems to be a home now for extremely disturbed youth so I'm sure some sort of permission has to be obtained before visiting there. Thanks, Ken ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== San Francisco 1906 Earthquake Marriage Project! Were any of your ancestors married during or because of the 1906 disaster? If so, we want to hear from you! http://www.sfgenealogy.com/1906/

I have copies of the 1928, 1931, 1932, and 1933 (spring semesters all) Mission HS (San Francisco) yearbooks and am happy to do lookups. Put "Mission HS lookups" in the subject line so I don't lose your query in the spam. These books are up for auction so the offer is good for as long as I have them. --Laurel

Hi, It appears I have several SF ancestors who were put in the St. Vincent's orphanage across the bay in San Rafael during the 1880-1900 period. I discovered this when I found some familiar names in a CGS document listing orphans in the bay area in the 1880's. Has anyone had any experience with locating and searching records for this location? I drove out there this past Saturday just to see where it is. It seems to be a home now for extremely disturbed youth so I'm sure some sort of permission has to be obtained before visiting there. Thanks, Ken

I would appreciate if someone could look up a Obituary for: Paul Joseph Roach, died Nov 5, 1989 in San Francisco (38) Thank You, Shirley Sullivan

I am looking for info on a Wesley Walker CROW born on 26 Nov 1894 in San Luis Olispo Co, CA and died unknown. Based off of the 1930 San Francisco Co census enumeration, Wesley married a Gladys M. UNKNOWN prior to 1930. She was born abt 1895 in CA. I am interested in any and all info on this couple, their children, time of death and location of burial. If you have any leads or info, please forward to me if you please. Thanks in advance. Johnny Lowery

This is the only Gladys M. Crow listed.....CROW GLADYS MANN 02/28/1901 RICE MANN F NEW JERSEY ORANGE 06/06/1981 570-64-8157 80 yrs According to CADI: Crow, Wesley, spouse GM, died age 43, San Francisco, 6/16/1938, cert #38487 The San Francisco Main Library has many old San Francisco newspapers on microfilm. Anyone may write them (via regular mail-NO email) to request a lookup at no charge. There is a limit of three lookup requests per month for California residents and one lookup request per month for non-California residents. You MUST provide the exact date of death. Provide a name and exact date of death, and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Mail your request to: Obituary Requests Newspapers and Magazines Center San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch 100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102-4733 If you think the listing above is correct for the wife, please visit the CADI website http://vitals.rootsweb.com/ca/death/search.cgi and use the ADD link in the right column and leave a message indicating information you might have on this person - maybe someone will find your post and contact you with more information; If you get further details, such as an obituary or death certificate transcriptions, edit your message to keep it current on the information you have on this person. I searched the CA birth index for Crow/Mann births and nothing came up. Colleen List Mom - CA Death Index mailing list [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2006 4:12 PM Subject: [CASANFRA] CROW, Wesley W 1894-???? > > I am looking for info on a Wesley Walker CROW born on 26 Nov 1894 in San > Luis Olispo Co, CA and died unknown. Based off of the 1930 San Francisco > Co > census enumeration, Wesley married a Gladys M. UNKNOWN prior to 1930. > She was > born abt 1895 in CA. > > I am interested in any and all info on this couple, their children, time > of > death and location of burial. If you have any leads or info, please > forward > to me if you please. > > Thanks in advance. > > Johnny Lowery > > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > Need an obituary lookup? > Visit sfgenealogy.com > http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sfrantip.htm#sfmainobit >

Very neat - thanks Ron..!! Ruth _______________________________ Ruth (Grady) Skewis [email protected] > -----Original Message----- > From: Ron Filion [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2006 9:57 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [NORCAL] VA expands online burial data features > > "VA expands online burial data features" > http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/41106-1.html > > It talks a little about the maps you can print out for burial > locations (definitely helpful!). But, now, you can print them > from home. > > Also, some interesting info: > > "...VA recently added to its database the mostly private > cemeteries in which 1.9 million veterans were buried with VA > grave markers. ...Beyond the 5 million records now available, > VA continues to add approximately 1,000 new records to the > database each day. VA also plans to add to its online > database the exact locations of veterans' gravesites in the > remaining state veterans cemeteries." > > Ron > > > ==== NORCAL Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from list version, send a message to > [email protected] with nothing but the word > UNSUBSCRIBE in the body text. >

"VA expands online burial data features" http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/41106-1.html It talks a little about the maps you can print out for burial locations (definitely helpful!). But, now, you can print them from home. Also, some interesting info: "...VA recently added to its database the mostly private cemeteries in which 1.9 million veterans were buried with VA grave markers. ...Beyond the 5 million records now available, VA continues to add approximately 1,000 new records to the database each day. VA also plans to add to its online database the exact locations of veterans' gravesites in the remaining state veterans� cemeteries." Ron

Hi, I'm trying to narrow down when my gggf might have died. PETER JOHNSON (b. 1828-1833 approx. Sweden) I have him with my ggf in the 1870 Census and he was working as a Copper but by about 1880 he is working in a Grocery/Liquors store. My ggf's brother (Charles G. Johnson) is living with him at the time. That was the last time I can link him with a relative. I did find a few Peter Johnson's in 1890 City Directory Johnson, Peter Liquor saloon, 617 617 Seventh pg.699 Johnson, Peter Liquor saloon, Railroad Av bet Trinidad and Bahama Johnson, Peter wines and liquors, 10 Steuart Johnson, Peter A., Liquor saloon, 812 Kearny , r.827 Montgomery Does anyone have access to any City Directories from 1891-1897 time period. I think he must die around 1893, I was hoping to find an entry for 1891-1893. I tried finding him in a 1900 Census with no luck. There is a listing in the SFCALL for 1893 death I will check out. Strange thing was two Census listed him being married. His wife was a Josephine Johnson the only one that fits the age was in Napa at a Mental Hospital, it says she's married too. Are there records or anyway to find more about the patients? Josephine Johnson b. 1837 apprx. Sweden I would love to hook this all together and find there deaths!! Thanks, Cathie

Thank you for posting this information - I printed the article. Jeanne --- Nancy Crowley <[email protected]> wrote: > I was married at NDV in 1991. NDV just celebrated > its 150th anniversary. Father Siffert, who is the > current pastor, was there in 1991, although he did > not marry me. I pasted an article that ran in the > SF Chronicle Magazine this past April, by Sam > Whiting, regarding the 150th anniversary of NDV. > You can search for it at sfgate.com. > > > Nancy Hayden Crowley > > > Notre Dame des Victoires (San Francisco's > neighborhoods) by Sam Whiting > > > > What's left of San Francisco's French Quarter can be > found at 10:30 a.m. today when Parochial Vicar > Etienne Siffert gives his homily beneath the stained > glass at Notre Dame des Victoires. > After starting in francais, the Rev. Siffert will > size up his congregation and decide whether to > translate it into English. That's how it is with the > French. "I know my people," says Siffert, who has > been at this pulpit since 1975 and is 75 himself, > half as old as the church. > Notre Dame celebrates its sesquicentennial with a > free concert Friday night, a ticket party Saturday > night and a Mass at 12:15 next Sunday said by > Bishop John Wester. That will be an anglicized > event. If you want pure French, come at 10:30. > A Parisian, Siffert has lived in just one place in > San Francisco, the rectory attached to Notre Dame. > "The second one will be Holy Cross," he says in > English that is only passable. "Holy Cross Cemetery > in Colma is where the Marists are buried," > clarifies his housemate, Pastor Rene Iturbe, who > will be 60 this month and is a native San > Franciscan of Basque shepherd stock. > The diminished influence of the French is made > apparent as soon as the fathers walk out their > front door. There, on Bush Street, is an orange > directional sign for Chinatown above a green one > depicting the Italian boot for North Beach. > Siffert doesn't mind. "Moscone, Alioto, Sangiacomo," > he says, naming prominent Italian San Franciscans > who have worshiped at the French altar. > Like every other nationality, the French came for > the Gold Rush. According to a history compiled by > Siffert, Napoleon's government held a lottery for > passage to the "Golden Ingots," which resulted in > 3,000 soon-to-be rich winners coming over in 17 > ships. > The first ship departed from France in October 1851, > meaning the gold was gone by the time the lucky > panners got here. Their free passage must have been > one way because they were still here in 1855 when a > minister was sent to tend a flock of wayward French > huddled in the vicinity of Kearny and Montgomery > streets. The Roman Catholics were more stubborn than > the Baptists, who gave up and went home after > selling their temple to the French. > What became the French National Church pulled the > French Quarter toward it. Then, as now, 3,000 to > 4,000 French live around the bay, Siffert > estimates, while Bush Street, between Stockton and > Grant, has become the most international block in > San Francisco. > Next to the church is the French Consulate. > Downstairs is the Goethe-Institut German cultural > center, and upstairs is the Ukrainian Consulate. A > bazaar on the corner of Grant sells crystal and > sculpture from 30 countries. Then come the gates to > Chinatown. > Stopping at a street sign, Siffert notes that "Grant > Avenue used to be Dupont, which was a French > street." Pointing to Chinese symbols beneath the > word "Grant,'' he says, "That means 'Dupont.' A > Chinese man told me." Across from the gates is Cafe > de la Presse. "It used to be a French cafe opened by > Mr. Gabriel," Siffert says. "He sold it to an > Italian." Two doors down is Le Central, which was > here when he got here. "It was French too, but they > sold it to an Asian." > Now he only eats there "when I am invited," he says. > Asked if the food is still good he says, "I will > tell you if you take me." > At Claude Lane, Siffert points out the location of > the Old Poodle Dog restaurant, now a Subway. "It > was started during the Gold Rush," he says. "The > owner called it Le Poulet D'Or. The name got > bastardized to the point that the French owner gave > up. The history, written in French, calls it > "Bergez-Fran's Old Poodle Dog." > Siffert turns up Belden Place just as Cafe Bastille > manager Pierre Klein is coming out. When these two > meet it may as well be the 6th Arrondissement. > After some banter, Klein is on his way and Siffert > regretfully goes back to English. But not for long. > Cutting up Pine Street, the fathers turn into Ecole > Notre Dame des Victoires, the K-8 Catholic school > attached to the church known as 'NDV.' > They cut out across the playground as a kickball > game is under way, girls against boys. The girls > are winning. Siffert crosses the outfield, > impervious to a line shot that comes screaming by > his ear and bangs off the back wall. > Students must speak French 45 minutes every day, not > counting the minutes when they may encounter > Siffert. He enters the sacristy as a class of > seventh-graders in their uniform blue sweaters is > leaving after praying. "Bonjour," he says to each, > with a pat on the back. They silently file by until > a schoolgirl stops, smiles and says, "Bonjour." > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam > protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > Bulletin Boards at sfgenealogy.com: > http://www.sfgenealogy.com/boards/ > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

Finding family Online census data is genealogy treasure trove - Benjamin Pimentel, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, June 22, 2006 Back in 1930, Tom Hanks' grandfather chased squirrels for a living, Walt Disney lived in an $8,000 Los Angeles home, and Elvis Presley's family didn't own a radio. These are just a few tidbits one can dig up from Ancestry.com, which has compiled an online database of information on 500 million people, culled from every U.S. census record from 1790 to 1930. The census database -- a smaller and incomplete version of which has been publicly available for years -- has just undergone a major upgrade. Ancestry.com said this week that it has just completed a yearslong project and the genealogy Web site now includes all available information on people who lived in the United States across 140 years. While other companies, such as HeritageQuest Online, and religious organizations, such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have similar databases, Ancestry.com offers a comprehensive and searchable set of census data to consumers with a home computer and an Internet connection. The site offers consumers a way to track down information that in the past could have taken months, even years, of painstaking research at libraries and archives. Ancestry.com sells subscriptions for $29.95 a month, or $155.40 annually. The site also includes marriage and death records, and other public information. "The thrill of being able to go online, and finding information in five minutes -- you can see what an incredible difference it makes," said Lou Szucs, Ancestry.com's chief genealogist. "There is something very magical when you find your family in the census. You want more and more. It's very addictive." Chris Cowan, vice president of publishing at ProQuest Genealogy Center, which owns HeritageQuest Online, called the Ancestry.com database "a wonderful accomplishment." "It is a massive undertaking to not only scan and digitize all the pages from the U.S. census, but then to have them indexed and to have all these millions upon millions of names identified and searchable, it really facilitates genealogical research in the consumer market," he said. HeritageQuest's own census database covers the same period but it has not been indexed and is not directly available to consumers, he said. HeritageQuest is used by more than 4,000 public libraries. A census of the U.S. population has been conducted every 10 years since 1790. Personal information is kept sealed for 72 years after each census, which explains why Ancestry.com's database ends at 1930. Data from the 1940 census will be unsealed in 2012, Ward said. Records for the 1890 census were destroyed in a fire in 1921. The Ancestry.com project began shortly after the Web took off. MyFamily.com Inc. was a genealogy how-to publishing company when it started the Ancestry.com Web site in 1997. Ward said researchers used to have to fly or drive to a library or local office of the National Archives to do research. "Incredible," was how Szucs said she reacted to the possibilities the Web offered to genealogy research. Sorting through microfilm reels containing census records can take enormous amounts of time. "When you are researching on one family, that can be a lifetime project," Szucs said. U.S. census data offer a broad range of information, including the names, ages, occupations in each household. For specific years, the data even state whether a family owned a radio. Ancestry.com includes screen shots of the handwritten forms filled out by census-takers. For those curious about famous people, one can find out from Ancestry.com that Julia Roberts' great-grandfather worked as a farmer in 1910 and 1920; by 1930 he was a cafe manager. In 1900, Henry Ford worked as an engineer and lived in rented quarters, according to census records. Twenty years later, he had a maid, a laundress, an English butler, a Japanese cook and a chauffeur. The 1930 census says actor Hanks' grandfather worked for "Rodent Control." Another document in the Ancestry.com database is even more specific: "squirrel inspector." Records also show that Hanks is related to President Abraham Lincoln "through their common ancestors Sarah and William Hanks." The database is also important for individuals trying to trace their roots. "The U.S. census is where everybody winds up going to," Cowan said. "It's the core and centerpiece of genealogy research, and to be able to go back to 1790 is just invaluable." The Ancestry.com database led Andrew Wait, a senior vice president at MyFamily.com, to question stories about his family. Census records confirmed family tales that his grandfather worked as an air mail pilot, the occupation he listed in the 1920 and 1930 counts. But an entry in the 1920 census made him suspicious of the family lore about struggling with poverty: The entry said his dad's family had a live-in maid. "My father told me a lot of stories -- and over the years it got better," Wait quipped. E-mail Benjamin Pimentel at [email protected] --------------------------------- Sneak preview the all-new Yahoo.com. It's not radically different. Just radically better.

I was married at NDV in 1991. NDV just celebrated its 150th anniversary. Father Siffert, who is the current pastor, was there in 1991, although he did not marry me. I pasted an article that ran in the SF Chronicle Magazine this past April, by Sam Whiting, regarding the 150th anniversary of NDV. You can search for it at sfgate.com. Nancy Hayden Crowley Notre Dame des Victoires (San Francisco's neighborhoods) by Sam Whiting What's left of San Francisco's French Quarter can be found at 10:30 a.m. today when Parochial Vicar Etienne Siffert gives his homily beneath the stained glass at Notre Dame des Victoires. After starting in francais, the Rev. Siffert will size up his congregation and decide whether to translate it into English. That's how it is with the French. "I know my people," says Siffert, who has been at this pulpit since 1975 and is 75 himself, half as old as the church. Notre Dame celebrates its sesquicentennial with a free concert Friday night, a ticket party Saturday night and a Mass at 12:15 next Sunday said by Bishop John Wester. That will be an anglicized event. If you want pure French, come at 10:30. A Parisian, Siffert has lived in just one place in San Francisco, the rectory attached to Notre Dame. "The second one will be Holy Cross," he says in English that is only passable. "Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma is where the Marists are buried," clarifies his housemate, Pastor Rene Iturbe, who will be 60 this month and is a native San Franciscan of Basque shepherd stock. The diminished influence of the French is made apparent as soon as the fathers walk out their front door. There, on Bush Street, is an orange directional sign for Chinatown above a green one depicting the Italian boot for North Beach. Siffert doesn't mind. "Moscone, Alioto, Sangiacomo," he says, naming prominent Italian San Franciscans who have worshiped at the French altar. Like every other nationality, the French came for the Gold Rush. According to a history compiled by Siffert, Napoleon's government held a lottery for passage to the "Golden Ingots," which resulted in 3,000 soon-to-be rich winners coming over in 17 ships. The first ship departed from France in October 1851, meaning the gold was gone by the time the lucky panners got here. Their free passage must have been one way because they were still here in 1855 when a minister was sent to tend a flock of wayward French huddled in the vicinity of Kearny and Montgomery streets. The Roman Catholics were more stubborn than the Baptists, who gave up and went home after selling their temple to the French. What became the French National Church pulled the French Quarter toward it. Then, as now, 3,000 to 4,000 French live around the bay, Siffert estimates, while Bush Street, between Stockton and Grant, has become the most international block in San Francisco. Next to the church is the French Consulate. Downstairs is the Goethe-Institut German cultural center, and upstairs is the Ukrainian Consulate. A bazaar on the corner of Grant sells crystal and sculpture from 30 countries. Then come the gates to Chinatown. Stopping at a street sign, Siffert notes that "Grant Avenue used to be Dupont, which was a French street." Pointing to Chinese symbols beneath the word "Grant,'' he says, "That means 'Dupont.' A Chinese man told me." Across from the gates is Cafe de la Presse. "It used to be a French cafe opened by Mr. Gabriel," Siffert says. "He sold it to an Italian." Two doors down is Le Central, which was here when he got here. "It was French too, but they sold it to an Asian." Now he only eats there "when I am invited," he says. Asked if the food is still good he says, "I will tell you if you take me." At Claude Lane, Siffert points out the location of the Old Poodle Dog restaurant, now a Subway. "It was started during the Gold Rush," he says. "The owner called it Le Poulet D'Or. The name got bastardized to the point that the French owner gave up. The history, written in French, calls it "Bergez-Fran's Old Poodle Dog." Siffert turns up Belden Place just as Cafe Bastille manager Pierre Klein is coming out. When these two meet it may as well be the 6th Arrondissement. After some banter, Klein is on his way and Siffert regretfully goes back to English. But not for long. Cutting up Pine Street, the fathers turn into Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires, the K-8 Catholic school attached to the church known as 'NDV.' They cut out across the playground as a kickball game is under way, girls against boys. The girls are winning. Siffert crosses the outfield, impervious to a line shot that comes screaming by his ear and bangs off the back wall. Students must speak French 45 minutes every day, not counting the minutes when they may encounter Siffert. He enters the sacristy as a class of seventh-graders in their uniform blue sweaters is leaving after praying. "Bonjour," he says to each, with a pat on the back. They silently file by until a schoolgirl stops, smiles and says, "Bonjour." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

About 10 years ago I had written to the Nortre Dame des Victories about my husband French family line, they sent me the baptism, communion and marriage certificates. They were very kind and helpful. Donna ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pat" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 12:58 PM Subject: [CASANFRA] Notre Dame des Victoires > For Jeanne and Andre and others, > > There is a French National (Catholic) Church in San Francisco called > Notre Dame des Victoires. People of French origin automatically belonged > to that Church and usually attended Mass there rather than the Church in > their Parish. It also had a grammar school and a high school and buses to > collect students from all over the city. The high school has since > closed, but the grammar school and Church are still functioning. The > Church is at 566 Bush St. and school is right behind it at 659 Pine > Street. > > Pat > > > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football '06 - Go with the leader. Start your league > today! > > > ==== CASANFRA Mailing List ==== > Bulletin Boards at sfgenealogy.com: > http://www.sfgenealogy.com/boards/ >