Deseret Morning News, Saturday, November 12, 2005 Fake family trees online may trip up genealogists By Lee Davidson Deseret Morning News Genealogists beware. A software company is marketing a new program to Internet advertisers that could quickly generate Web sites full of extensive, but fake, family trees. Critics say the approach appears to be part of a new money-making scheme to lure people who search for family names on Google, Yahoo or other search engines to Web sites that use bogus data to help ensure they appear high on "hit lists." They then make money if visitors click on advertisers' links. They worry that novices might download false information that is designed to look real, and then corrupt others' family trees if they share that bad data online or through family history databases such as those offered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the commercial Utah-based Ancestry.com However, Don Harrold, co-creator of a program called "Fake Family," which he sells for $75, says data it produces has "absolutely zero chance" of matching any real person or family. He says he has offered the program to fewer than 30 self-described Internet advertisers, so its use is not widespread, and he has not made money on it. Why make it then? "Why not? I enjoy trying to find ways to create computer simulations of organic life," Harrold told the Deseret Morning News. But online chat groups of both genealogists and Internet advertisers are buzzing about what the new program could do to genealogical research, and why Harrold is marketing it, even if, as he says, to a small group. Dan Eastman, author of Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, wrote this past week that he believes Harrold "wants to flood the Internet with bogus genealogy material, all for the purpose of making easy money." Online information that Harrold wrote says his product can "create thousands of pages of unique . . . content with almost no effort. Neither humans nor search engines will be able to tell whether the content is 'real' or 'generated.' " How could that make money? Josh Anderson, an Internet advertiser from Idaho, who also is a genealogist concerned about the product, explains Web hosts can program their sites to display "sponsored links." Advertisers pay search engines to have these appear on screen whenever certain key words such as "genealogy" are part of a search. When such links are clicked by a visitor, the Web site host and search engine company split revenue from an advertiser. (Of course, Web sites can also offer other forms of advertising.) "It can be a very profitable source of income. Some people make millions of dollars a year doing it," Anderson said. "The whole purpose (of Fake Family-style sites) is to trick the search engine, so they get a top listing for some search words" to attract more visitors and potentially more revenue-producing mouse clicks. Search engine companies say they hunt for and remove from listings any sites that are bogus or that scrape content from other sites merely to act as a vehicle to carry advertiser links. But Fake Family boasts in written information that it can fool search engines. It does not merely produce lists of random names, but links them generation-to-generation with bogus birth, marriage and death dates and places. It adds that its randomly generated names "are era-specific," meaning you will get more names such as Orville and Bertha in the 1880s than the 1980s. Infant mortality, marriage rates and migration data is also encoded, and more. It's the rich family "experience" that Fake Family provides that is significant and makes the output stunning in its ability to look real to humans. Internet advertisers helped the Deseret Morning News identify a few genealogy sites that appeared to contain only bogus information, along with plenty of advertiser links. Harrold, however, said he only knows of one generated by Fake Family (even though he said in written information that he has "monetized" several family history sites). "This is scary to me," said Mindy Koch, an Internet advertiser from North Carolina and an avid genealogist. "There is a great chance that a novice could think this is real. If they download it, and then later upload it into repositories like (the LDS Church's) Ancestral File, those databases would include lots of people who never existed." Also, she added that it potentially could make search engines more difficult to use for genealogy if bogus sites slow them or account for all the "top hits." Harrold says such threats are imagined and not real. He said the chances of randomly selected first and last names, coupled with randomly selected places and dates, being shown as married to the same persons as people who actually lived "are not just slim, they are nonexistent." He said if someone still mistook such information as real and downloaded it, "that's their fault." He adds, "If you want real family information, why are you not looking at Census records? If you're not paying for it, and I didn't ask you to take it, and the name and date don't match your family tree, why are you taking this information? Any onus is on the people who take this information." Some in genealogy chat groups, however, complained that a name that looks even roughly plausible could be mistaken as real by a novice, or cause even a genealogy expert to spend a lot of time and money to eliminate the possibility it is the person for whom they are seeking. "Boo hoo," Harrold told the Morning News in response to such complaints. He said "the real story" is how Google and other search engines do not verify content they seek and guide others to for profit. He said databases by the LDS Church and Ancestry.com also contain some incorrect information submitted by patrons. His obviously false data creates less threat to genealogy research than they do, he said. Harrold suggested in chat groups that he might sue people who referred to his work as a "scam." He also warned the Morning News to be careful what it said about him. In turn, makers of the Legacy Family Tree software threatened to sue Harrold if he did not remove from his Web site instructions about how to download free software from them that could assist the Fake Family program. Meanwhile, Mary Kay Evans, spokeswoman for Ancestry.com, a Utah company that, as part of its service, offers a large database of names, said, "It is so unfortunate that there are predators on the Web who target people interested in their genealogy. Genealogy is such a popular hobby that predators are moving to take advantage of that." Evans, as well as many genealogists and even Harrold himself, urges genealogists to verify carefully all sources of information in genealogy, especially any obtained online from people they do not know. "That is a primary role of Ancestry.com, to help people see source records," Evans said. Anderson, who operates a small family Web site, also encourages genealogists to actually talk to people operating such sites and ask for all source information. http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635160683,00.html

Does anyone have information about this family... John R (Heilman, Heylman, Heylmun, Holeman, Hoylman, Huylman, Hyleman, Hylman) or numerous other variations) HILEMAN, b. PA, c. 1835. Wife Mary Elizabeth MONAHAN, b. PA, c. 1845. John was a school teacher in Westernport, Allegany Co, MD, most of his adult life, the family retired and migrated to Mineral Co, WV. John died in 1905, in Mineral Co, WV. I don't know where or when Mary died. Does anyone know the parents of John and Mary, or any information about this family would be greatly appreciated? Thank you Ken

I have stopped receiving email postings from PALEBANO-L. Please add me back to the list. Thank you, Jim Mark jim@markclan.com

I need some help. I was recently sent a few pages of information on the Smutz family. The author made reference to "PC - S.P" Issues: IV-41 Jacob IV-42. John IV-43. Magdalena IV-44. Elizabeth IV-45. Ann IV-46 Maria m. Conrad Graff IV-47. Barbara m Michael Beshore. IV-48 Joseph IV-49 Elizabeth m John Stiner IV-50 Magdalena m Frederick May IV-51 Catharine m John Shaeffer Ok - that would be PC-S.P. Issue IV pages 41-51 Can anyone please tell me what PC-S.P. is and where I might obtain copies? Thank you.

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/jdB.2ACI/542.1 Message Board Post: Looked in Lebanon and surrounding counties of Dauphin, Lancaster, York and Berks and only found two records for the birth of an Edward Thomas. Source: Pennsylvania Births: Berks County 1781-1800 by John T. Humphrey Page 341 THOMAS Edward born 12-28-1781 Parents: Thomas and Rachel Records of the Robeson Monthly Meeting, Robeson Township (Quaker) Source: Pennsylvania Births: York County 1730-1800 by John T. Humphrey Page 429 THOMAS Edward born 6-25-1781 Parents: John and Jane Records of Warrington Friends' Monthly Meeting, Warrington Township (Quaker)

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: THOMAS, WEITZEL, YESLER Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/jdB.2ACI/542 Message Board Post: I'm looking for any information concerning the parents and siblings of Edward Thomas. Edward married Elisabeth Weitzel on January 14, 1823 at the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lebanon, PA. They had one son, John. Edward died between 1828-1834. Elisabeth later re-married to Samuel Yesler in 1835. Any information will be appreciated. Thank you.

Nancy J Hendricks wrote: > There is a Frantz line rooted in the Lancaster, Lebanon area that > matches the DNA of the Lehigh, Monroe and Bucks Co. group. This line > is descended from Daniel and Henry Frantz. This Henry was supposedly > killed by Indians. I am looking for Daniel Frantz from Leb. Co. and > his descendants. > The following records were found in the Vol 3 of Berks County Church > Records of the 18th Century. They are not believed to be Mennonites or > Brethren although could have come from the same family background. > The "Late" Daniel means he was dead at the time that Rev. > Waldenschmith wrote the records which started in 1752 and ended in > 1786. The date that concerns us is that in1772, Waldenschmith married > Jacob Frantz (s/o the 'late' Daniel) and Anna Gehr, widow of Paul > Gehr. This is page 221, V3. On the top of the page he married on Feb. > 4, 1777, the widow of the 'late' Daniel Frantz to John Newmann (third > wife). I assume by this that Daniel died bef. 1772. On page > 223,Waldenschmith married George Frantz, son of 'late Daniel' to Maria > Schoerck, daughter of the 'Late' Ulrich Schoerck, June 20, 1780. The > marriage before this last one on the page, was Adam Frantz, son of the > 'late' George Adam Frantz to Sarah Schroerck on June 15, 1780. This > leads me to believe that there is a relationship between Jacob and > George (brothers and sons) of late Daniel, and Adam, son of George > Adam Frantz. and cousin to Jacob and George, sons of 'late' Daniel and > Barbara. There certainly are a lot of 'Late's!!! Maybe some of these > guys were killed by Indians. > On page 85 of the Berks Co. Church Records of the 18th Century, Bern > Church there is Conrad, the son of Jacob Frantz and wife who was bapt. > April 15, 1781, sponsors were Conrad Loos and wife. This wasn't > Lancaster, it was Berks Records. There was also William, son of Jacob > Frantz and wife, bapt. Aug. 31 1777. There was on page 81, a William > Frantz and wife that had a daughter, Catherine who was bapt. Feb. 27, > 1774, Catherine Frantz, single that was the sponsor. There also was > another child for Jacob Frantz and wife, unknown child, bapt. 8 14 > 1774. On this same page was a Henry Frantz who was a sponsor for John > Henry, child of Sebastian Spaeth and wife, bapt. April 4, 1778. These > Frantz men and women were all the same generation. By this, it seems > that the 'late' Daniel d. bef. 1773 had wife, Barbara and a brother, > George Adam . It's strange that the name is the same as the son of > Balthzar. > Children of Daniel- 1.Jacob, widower b. abt 1755,( named the son of > 'late' Daniel), m. 1777 Anna Gehr widow of Paul Gehr had A-the unknown > child sp. Catherine Frantz , single 1774 (child of first wife?) > B-Conrad sp. Conrad Loos 1781 C-William. sp. Wm. Arbogast 1777 > 2.George Frantz was named as a son of 'late' Daniel. (m. Maria > Schoreck) 3. possible son- William Frantz and w. had daughter, > Catherine 1774 4. possible daughter- Catherine Frantz, sp.Jacob's > unknown child 1774 5. possible son- Henry Frantz, sp. Spaeth child 1773 > 'Late'George Adam Frantz d. bef. 1780 (probably a brother to 'late' > Daniel 1. Adam Frantz named as son of 'Late' George Adam m. Sarah > Schoerck 1780 2. Barbara Frantz named as d/o 'Late' George Adam, m. > John Stiens, s/o Jacob Steins 2/20/1781 p.224 Does anyone have any information on any of these families or corrections???? or connections? Regards, Nancy -- Nancy J (nee SMITH) Hendricks in Vero Beach, Florida Researching: Andreas~Betz~Bomberger~Cassel~Conner~Copenhaver~Detweiler~Fischer Funk~Frantz~Gafner~Gorius~Hager~Helfrick~Kolb~Landes/Landis Light~Lutz~Portz~Reiff~Smith~Van Sintern~Vautrin~Volch~Wotring Visit my Website at: <http://www.geocities.com/NJHendricks2000>

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: CASSIDY, Roth, Bleistein, Reigle, Hancock Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/jdB.2ACI/541 Message Board Post: Henry and Carol moved from Lawrence Co., PA after 1930 with their children: Kenneth G., Elaine (Bleistein) and Robert Lee. Kenneth married Alverta Reigle. Robert married Zoe Elizabeth Hancock. Any info.

Claire I. Irwin Claire I. Irwin, 94, formerly of Shillington, died Jan. 7 at 8:10 p.m. in St. Joseph Assisted Living Center, Hyde Park, where she had been a resident for eight months. Her husband, William W. Irwin, died June 24, 2003. Born in Reading, she was a daughter of the late James and Katie (Roth) Tobias. Irwin had been last employed for 12 years as a clerk at the Shillington Farmers Market. She previously worked for 19 years as a seamster at Berkshire Knitting Mills, Wyomissing. She was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ, Shillington. Irwin is survived by a son, David R., Dauphin Island, Ala. There is also one granddaughter. Services will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Bean Funeral Homes Inc., Shillington. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Shillington. Info I have: Clair I Tobias md 19 Oct 1935 Reading, Berks Co, PA to William W Irwin son of William To Irwin & Edna A Trexler. William W Irwin bn 7 Apr 1911 d 24 Jun 2003. Clair bn abt 1911 is the dau of James M Tobias & Catharine V Roth. James bn 16 Jun 1875 is the son of Jonathan R Tobias & Ellenora Madeira Jonathan bn 7 Sep 1843 is the son of Johann H Tobias & Maria Rapp Johann bn 16 Sep 1810 is the son of Jonathan Tobias & Catharina Hain Jonathan bn 3 May 1773 is the son of Ludwig Tobias & Maria Sophia Emerich Ludwig bn 24 Jun 1739 is the son of Hans Jost Tobe (the immigrant) Hope this helps someone! crystal

I am looking for any information on John Scholl Born 1867 in PA per the 1910 census of North Londonderry Twp Lebanon County Wife is Phebe Fields Born 1878 in PA Children named Dora 1898, Lawrence Wilbert 8/10/1898, John Cyrus 8/5/1905, Leroy 4/16/1910

Hello fellow List Members, I am hoping that someone can help me out. For years I have been searching for a baptisimal record for William Rosenberger (or Rosenberg) without success. I am trying to find the names of his parents. According to the Mt. Lebanon Cemetery records, he was born on 27 Feb 1821. William married Rachel Posey, daughter of Jesse Posey & Elizabeth Care, on 13 Nov 1845 in Middletown, Dauphin County (marriage register of Rev. Joseph Castle 1825-1874). He died on 11 Sept. 1888 in Lebanon (church record of St. Mark's United Church of Christ (Reformed)). William & Rachel's children (and their spouses) were: Henry Posey Rosenberger (Mary Seyler) Elizabeth Cyrus (Agnes Brandt) David (Clara A. Keller) Mary Alice (Jacob Louser) Samuel (Sallie E. Doll) John R. (Fannie Dunkle) - my gr-grandparents Ellen (William Hughes) Sarah Ann (Elmer Beard) Annie May Ida Luberta (Jeremiah Hummel) Gertrude (George Specht) I would appreciate hearing from anyone from any of these related families who could possible give me a clue as to where William was born. Thank you, Marjorie marjorie@gmavt.net

I am seeking information about HARRISON DEHART and his wife CATHERINE BENNETHUM.They lived in Meyerstown. Harrison had several businesses during his life time. One of them was as a Coal Dealer. Catherine and Harrison are my husband's great great grandparents. I have a great deal of info about them while the were living. What I do not have is HARRISON'S parents. I have been searching for them for about 10 years. The story in the family is, that the DeHart brothers came into the area of Lebanon running from the Canadian Mounted Police, as they were bootleggers. I would love to confirm the story. Any help any one can give me would be welcomed gratefully. TIA Anna in AZ

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/jdB.2ACI/540 Message Board Post: Looking for death/cemetery information for: David S. Mark, born Mar 1870 wife Clara Templin, born Dec 1871 dau's: Cora May Mark Fitting, died May 1979 (possibly Ebenezer Cem) Elsie Mark Walmer, died May 1974 Son's: Raymond C. Mark, born 9 Sep 1894 John Adam Mark, born 23 Feb 1899 Harvey Mark, born 31 Mar 1906 Thank help will be greatly appreciated.

Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the following book? Robert Allen Smutz, his ancestors and kinfolk [microform]: Being some account of certain families, among others, listed in the table contents, and including ... (Mason) Smutz and their sons, Bill and Mark <http://www.gamblercorner.com/detail/B0006ELLNK.html> by Harold Turk Smutz <http://www.gamblercorner.com/author/Harold+Turk+Smutz.html> If someone has a copy, is there any possibility that I could get copies of some pages? I am looking for the proof of a marriage between: Joseph GINGRICH Marriage 1 Catherine SCHMUTZ b: 7 OCT 1775 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania Sources: . Title: Robert Allen Smutz, His Ancestors and Kinfolk by Harold Turk Smutz Page: p11 I am willing to buy a copy of the book, or pay for copying the book, if at all possible. I have searched for years for this book. Thank you Barbara

Looking for ancestors and siblings of Jacob S. Bixler (Bicksler)of Lebanon County. He is listed in the 1850 Census with wife Elizabeth (Miley) and daughter Sarah and son Josiah. Josiah eventually came to Shady Grove in Franklin County, PA. Elizabeth is buried in Price's Church cemetery with her son Josiah and on her stone she is listed as the wife of Jacob S. Bicksler, but there is no Jacob buried with them. Jacob is my great, great grandfather. Any information on the Bixler or Miley families would be appreciated. I will be happy to share information. Gladys Hicks Nigro --------------------------------- Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever.

Hi Fred, I have no answer for you. If no one can help, try the Lebanon Daily News, www.LDNews.com, or try to find funeral directors of that period. Another good source is death certificate from the state of Pennsylvania. If there is a choice of forms, get the long form. It lists parents and other info, I am not sure of what. The short form is for proof of death to those who need it such as creditors. Don -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Frederick S. Frantz, Jr." <fsfrantz@juno.com> > Harry David SARGE was born about 1872. He moved to Lebanon and > became an insurance salesman and later ran successfully for a seat in the > legislature. He is buried in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. > He was married twice. Who was his first wife? His 2nd wife was > Stella Albright who had 2 sons by him. > An obituary would be very much appreciated. > > Fred Frantz > > > ==== PALEBANO Mailing List ==== > Lebanon County Gen Web Home Page: > >

Harry David SARGE was born about 1872. He moved to Lebanon and became an insurance salesman and later ran successfully for a seat in the legislature. He is buried in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. He was married twice. Who was his first wife? His 2nd wife was Stella Albright who had 2 sons by him. An obituary would be very much appreciated. Fred Frantz

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/jdB.2ACI/537.2 Message Board Post: You might already have this but--See below--I found Caspar Kohr and Anna Barbar Korr buried in Lebanon. Also Chrisitan Ohrendorf. Is Christian, Anna Barbara Ohrendorf's father? There are also many Meiss buried there as well. Bethel Moravian Cemtery, Swatar Township, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania Caspar Kohr born 7 Oct. 1724 died 28 May 1801 buried 30 May 1801 Anna Barbara Korr born Jul. 1728 died 20 Nov. 1763 buried 21 Nov. 1763 Christian Ohrendorff 80 yrs. several mo. died 16 Apr. 1772 buried 17 Apr. 1772

Someone was asking about the Ensminger family. There is a letter for sale on EBay. From what they said, it appears to be a "personal letter of death in the family" It is dated 1852 and sent to Mr. Philip Ensminger, Harrisburg. It was sent from Crawfordsville. I don't know where that is. I HAVE NO INTEREST IN THIS ITEM OR THIS FAMILY> This is for information only. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5654690466&fromMakeTrack=true

Someone was asking about the Ensminger family. There is a letter for sale on EBay. From what they said, it appears to be a "personal letter of death in the family" It is dated 1852 and sent to Mr. Philip Ensminger, Harrisburg. It was sent from Crawfordsville. I don't know where that is. I HAVE NO INTEREST IN THIS ITEM OR THIS FAMILY> This is for information only. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5654690466&fromMakeTrack=true