For those of you following the news in the Pioneer Magnet, that I have been posting, a Page 2 has just been uploaded. http://www.rootsweb.com/~mimecost/ Jan

Just added much more to the Pioneer Magnet page of the Mecosta County site. Death, marriages, brevities, etc. Hope you enjoy reading them as much as I do. http://www.rootsweb.com/~mimecost/ Jan Cortez Mecosta County Coordinator ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----

RootsWeb Review: RootsWeb's Weekly E-zine Vol. 6, No. 46, 12 November 2003, Circulation: 941,133+ (c) 1998-2003 RootsWeb.com, Inc. http://www.rootsweb.com/ 1b. Grabbing Your Cousins' Attention When you see a message posted on the mailing lists and message boards with a subject line such as: "HELP!!!" "Searching!" "Looking for "Genealogy!" "Desperate!" and even (no subject) -- what's your reaction? Shrug and move on? We all were newbies once upon a time, but if you want to get the most out of your queries, spruce up your subject lines. For even though you might draft your messages carefully and explain in detail what information you seek -- including the name(s) of the ancestor(s), where the individual or family lived, and a time frame, if your subject line doesn't grab the readers, you won't hear from anyone. The vast majority of browsers and subscribers take roughly one second -- that's right, one second -- to decide whether a message is of interest to them and whether they are going to read further. The decision whether to bypass or read the message is often determined by the subject line alone and not the message content. Digest subscribers (on mailing lists) often scan the subjects of the messages in a digest index to determine whether they are going to scroll through to read the actual messages. Subjects such as the ones listed above, no matter how many exclamation points are added, no matter how urgent your pleas for help, and no matter how many caps are used, do not inform the reader of the message content. They do nothing to "grab" anyone's attention. Experienced researchers often lament that they'd love to help more, but don't have the time to wade through messages that do not contain the foundation of genealogical research: names, dates and places. No one, except a close cousin, really cares how you are related to someone. Save those relationship explanations for private correspondence. A good subject line should provide the reader with information about the message to which it is attached. It should be concise but complete enough to explain who or what the message concerns, the time frame, and the location, if known. Abbreviate only where necessary due to a character limit, such as on the message boards, and remember that this is the Internet and the boards and lists have an international audience. Don't assume your Australian cousins know what you mean with American abbreviations. Add USA, UK, etc. Examples of good subject lines are: --Information sought about Joseph JOHNSON, b. 1862 in Frederick County, Maryland, USA --Census info needed for George HOLTON, 1901, Somerset, England --Peter BURNS m. Olive HAWKINS, 1879, Melbourne, Australia--need parents for both --Susanna, m. Johannes BENDER, Rockingham County, Virginia, USA, 1788--maiden name? --Need date and place of marriage of John SMITH and Sarah JONES-- lived Ohio, USA 1850 The reader will know at a glance if the above messages are of interest to them personally and also if they may have resources that might have the information. A reader who has a book on Ohio marriages in the 1850s may well read the message about John SMITH and Sarah JONES and look for the information even if he is not personally connected to this family. Other important tips about using a meaningful subject subject line are: --If you are replying to a list or board message and the subject of your reply changes from the one in the earlier message(s) in the thread, change/update the subject line accordingly, and --If you are a digest subscriber and replying to a message in a digest, be sure to change the subject to pertain to the actual message to which you are replying rather than leaving the digest name and number as the subject line. The subject line you create for your query is the "hook" that either draws the reader in or sends him on to the next message passing yours by. So, don't cry aimlessly for "HELP!!!!!" -- let the reader know what you are looking for at a glance with a meaningful, concise subject.

If you haven't stopped in recently to the Mecosta County website, please do. I've added the *whole* 1879 Mecosta County Atlas, thanks to the hard work of Tim Totten, with my apologies for taking so long to get it online. It's been a hectic year, but, I am back and trying to make up for lost time on the site. Also added a new "In the Woods" story by Jim Wood, about The Mail Ladies of 1854. Jan Mecosta County Coordinator ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----

I also think I grew up with some of his children. Max

The Barryton Press or the Big Rapids Pioneer would have the obit. The Barryton press is on file in the Barryton Library or I think Big Rapids library. The pioneer is also online but doesn't show any archives material. Look under Michigan newspapers. The Barryton Press is not in business any longer but the papers are on file in some of the libraries. Max Ranshaw St.Clair, Mi.

Hi, I'm looking for an obituary for Warren W White who died in Barrytown in May, 1967. What paper might it be in and does anyone know how to get a copy from the newspaper or the local library? Thanks, Sharon

I am new to this list. I am interested in hearing from anyone that can tell me more about the family of WILLIAM MARSHALL who married EMELINE FELLER, Mecosta County, Nov 8 1885. Regards Jim, Ontario, Canada

I know this is lengthy, but I think a very worthwhile project. Database address is near the bottom of the email. Jan Cortez List Administrator 134 years ago the task of documenting the final resting places of Civil War Soldiers in the state of Michigan began. Through the foresight of Comrade I. M. Cravath, a Department of Michigan Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Officer, reports were solicited from Michigan GAR Posts reflecting the May 30, Memorial Day activities where veteran's graves were decorated. True Veteran's Son Francis E. Hall continued the effort in the early 1900's. He was a member of Robert Finch Camp 14, Sons of Union Veterans in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and documented over 12,000 records during a ten-year term as Graves Officer. His program was called "Mark the Graves", and until recently it was contained on 3 X 5 index cards in the Michigan State Library in Lansing. >From 1930 - 1950 the Daughters of the American Revolution included the marked graves of Civil War Soldiers in their effort to identify all veteran's graves in the nation. In the mid-1960s the Michigan Civil War Centennial Observance Committee added their efforts through the hard work of municipalities, historical societies, and students state wide. At the beginning of the new millennium, the combined research of all of the above and the tireless effort of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and their friends and families resulted in over 20,000 records retained at the Department (state) and at the National level from the Department of Michigan. At the present time, the Department database contains over 43,125 records, including all Civil War soldiers buried in Michigan from any units, as well any Michigan soldiers that are buried anywhere. We also include the burial places of veterans of any war from the American Revolution through the War of 1812, if they are reported to us. With a dogged spirit, and a mind to the technological advances that are being made in the world of communication, the Graves Registration Committee, Department of Michigan, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is honored to present this database to the public, keeping in mind that this is a "living effort" which will be updated on a quarterly basis. Any information in the dB is considered correct until we have a chance to verify it. If you have a question about a specific veteran, about a cemetery, or can provide us with updated (or corrected) information, please contact Rick Danes, our Department Graves Registration Officer at SUVMIDGRO@aol.com. You can access the database from the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Website, http://suvcw.org/mi/deptmi.htm. At this location you will find information about the program, and a downloadable Registration form. You can also choose the Graves Registration Database here, or access http://suvcw.org/mi/gravereg.html. The database information contained in this site is protected by copyright and is for personal research only. Any other use of this information without the express written consent of the Department of Michigan, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, a Congressionally Chartered Corporation, is expressly prohibited.

I haven't posted to the list in a long time and thought that I would repost the families that I am researching. Walker, DeClair (DeClare), Marsh, Wheeler, Poling Thanks Lynne in Oklahoma

Thank you all very much for your suggestions and leads. Happy searching! William "Bill" Barff

I'm interested in the following surnames Barclay Williams Barff Adams Chilton Darnell/Darnall Dodson/Dotson Haney/Heaney Duvall Evans Francois Grover Hanthron Heatherington Inman Keane/Kane/King Mann Larsen Lovelace/Loveless Merrill Nickens Pace Moss Powell Pruitt Ramsdell Tripp Wiggin(s) Tingler Pincock I would appreciate hearing from anyone with similar interest. And thank you for your time. William "Bill" Barff

A brand new project has started up called Family Group Sheets (FGS) and the MIGenWeb is becoming involved. If you would like to learn about the project or submit a FGS, please stop by and take a look. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usfgs/michigan/ You'll find All the states listed at this site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usfgs/ Jan Cortez List Manager

Dear Listers: Some of you may receive this letter more than once if you are on more than one county List in Michigan. I apologize for any inconvience this may cause you. I believe we all should be made aware of what is beginning to become a problem with our cemeteries through out Michigan. Yesterday, Detroit News Metro/State Section carried a news article about the City of Lansing wanting to reclaim thousand of unused gravesites so that they may resell them to bring money into their government. As the City of Jackson, Michigan has already done this and has netted them three hundred thousand dollars, we as descendants of the families who are buried in Michigan Cemeteries need to stand up as one to put a stop to this unlawful event. Yes, we have many old and historical cemeteries through out Michigan and its many counties, cities, towns, villages but I do not believe that any of these governments have the right to take back what your ancestors paid for with their blood, sweat, and tears. Our ancestors paid for these graves to be used by our families, not to be taken back from the descendants of these people who paid for these graves. Yes, families move and shift around the country and thus we leave unused grave sites but I believe that these unused sites should remain in the families of the people who are buried in these plots that have unused sites. I own plots in three different cemeteries in the State of Michigan and since I hold title to them that has been passed down from my great grandparents, grandparents, and parents does not give the city, town, county, or state the right to confiscate them to resell them at their gain. There is no way that my husband and I will utilize all of these gravesites but since I have the titles to theses plots I intend handing them down to my children to be used after our deaths and burial. In order to keep from having this event occur anywhere in our State, we as the family historians and genealogists need to stand up and voice our opinions and let these governments know that we won't stand for this thievery. We need to contact the Michigan Governor and the Senators and the House Representatives, the county executives, city mayors to let them know that we are going to protect our ancestoral burial sites from them. So what I am asking is for help here. With each one of us contacting the cemeteries in which your loved ones were laid to rest find out if there are unused spaces and find out how to go about getting the titles to these plots so that the government cannot take them and then resell them at inflated prices back to the public. Yes, the City of Lansing states they they are going to search for descendants but they already are in financial trouble and therefore could not afford to research and search out the owners or descendants of these family plots as it would cost a small fortune. As we all know the government states they will do one thing and they do entirely a different thing. Your ancestors that date back to the beginning of the State of Michigan only paid a few dollars for these plots which many hold 8, 10, 12 sites in each plot but it was their hard earned money not the governments money taht paid for these plots. Cemeteries are sacred ground and should not be desecrated by anyone including the governments of these cities, towns, villages, counties, and or State. Yes, our ancestors may have only paid 30.00-50.00 per plot but the going prices for these same lots today can bring in as much as four thousand dollars or more depending on where they are at. Checking the Want Ads this a.m. where I live the cheapest lots were going for $2,345.00 each. So you see the government will really be making a killing on these unused plots that our ancestors paid for and they want to take them away from the family descendants. What will happen if you live out of state and have not been contacted and a family member dies and you are going to bury them in the family plot only to find out that it has been sold out from under you without your permission to do this? So please list members write letters, email them, write to the newspapers to the governor and the senators, and representatives, county executives, mayors and let them know we are not going to allow this to go any further and also make the City of Jackson return the monies they made off of the resale of these private plots. I am including email addresses in which you can write to the two major newspapers in Michigan and I am also giving you email addresses for other government officials. To write to the newspapers: letters@freepress.com letteers@detnews.com www.LSJ.com click on the website and then click on the "contact us" and write your letters. Lansing State Journal Write to your local and county newspapers, let them know how you feel about what these governments are trying to do. Protect your cemeteries and your ancestral burial sites from these thieves before it is too late and they destroy them all because of their greediness. Write to the Governor of Michigan Janet Granholm by going to www.michigan.gov then register your email address and then click on Online Forms and Feedback and then write your letter. To address your letters to the Senators and House members address it like this JohnDoe@house.mi.gov putting the name of your house representative in place of John Doe. For the Senate you address is as JohnDoe@senate.michigan.gov putting your state senators name in place of John Doe. write to your county executive, mayors in the same way. If you want to fax a letter to the Governor of Michigan here is the number 1-517-373-3400 Lets get this out in the open so that everyone knows what is going on. We need to defend our ancestors final resting places and to retain them as they are now and not allow the government to sell them off. If we let them get away with this this time what will they do next? Dig up the bones and dump them in a garbage dump because they will stand to get more moeny from reselling these plots. I say NO! Dont' let them do this. Jean Payton

Is anyone researching, or have information regarding, RUTH JAY (married name unknown), a daughter of William & Permelia (Hancock) Jay?  She was born in Lorain County, OH about 1848 and moved to Michigan, probably about 1870 or later.   I believe she was married (unknown if in OH or MI) and lived in the Newaygo/Mecosta County or Big Rapids area.  Unknown if she ever moved elsewhere. Thank you. M. Brasfield

Jan, When I try to send email to your email addy it keeps coming back to me so will send here. I would like copies of some of the plat maps that you can view on your site but when I try to print them off I don't get all of it. Is there a secret to printing them or can I purchase them? Cathy __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com

Obituary published in the Lansing State Journal 08 Jun 2003 Edwin Dale Rose Jr Born: 19 Nov 1932 - Mecosta County Michigan Parents: Fitch Orval Rose & Mable Frasier Married: 13 Apr 1952 Mary Louise Palmer Died: 07 Jun 2003 - Laingsburg Michigan Jack & Marianne Dibean - Lansing Michigan Marriage Index Links: http://www.mifamilyhistory.org/dibeanindex/ GenWeb Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/marriages/michigan/michigan.htm ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

Looking for information on Big Rapids Baird's and Anderson's. I am particularly interested in finding a copy of a Big Rapids High School yearbook for the years 1940-1943. Thank you. Tonia Baird Interlochen, Michigan

My library said there was a Michigan State census taken in 1885. But they do not have it. Does anyone know if this is correct, and if so, does it exist for Mecosta county? And was it an every household census, or just veterans? Also, does anyone know what newspapers would have been around the Morley - Deerfield area in 1885-1900? And if they exist, where would copies be found (not that I want much!) Thanks for your help gypsy

Hi Betty, I know I cut that one out for the obit files that I do at the genealogical society. Can make you a copy on Monday and mail it. I don't remember whether Garry's picture was in it or not. I know he had health issues, but it was still a shock none the less to those of us who knew him. Jan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Betty Schlichting" <betty@restel.net> > Hi Listers, I am in need of an obit, the info I have is from the SSdeath index: > Garry L. MOORE, died the 24th of November of 2002, in Remus? Mecosta County Michigan, I would be very appreciative. I will gladly pay for copy, I would be really happy if there is a picture and would pay for that to be mailed to me. Thank you so much, > > Betty in North Dakota > RAOGK volunteer > > > ==== MIMECOST Mailing List ==== > Visit Jans Digs to see how we are growing. http://www.jansdigs.com > >