Desire to have contact with anyone having connections to the EAKIN families who first lived in Venango & Butler Co.'s then spread out to surrounding areas including Mercer Co. Many Blair lines lived in Northern Mercer Co. I have a huge data base covering any line allied to the EAKIN families. Emma Jean Smith ejsmith@transport.com

I am researching several of my family lines: Sharp, Munnell, Shannon, Rose, Elder, Neely. If you are working on any of these lines and would like to share, please email me at Patroon@ibm.net Thank you.

I found this site which is dedicated to Montgomery's. If you are searching for Montgomery's and have not looked here give it a try. Utilize the search. It gave me names and birth places to research for two additional generations. http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/monta/cmsi/ To those that responded to an earlier posting I made, this site has reference to Ann Muse and also Charles Montgomery related to my James. Check it out. jmohney@nauticom.net

I am looking for Louisa SHEPHERD b. 1823 She married John LIGO and I have information on that family thanks to Vera Tittsler but I'm tring to find Louisa's Line. Its hard to start a new line with just one female name. Do I have some cousins out there who can help? I know the Ligo family has an active group of family history buffs. Can someone start me on the SHEPHERD line? Suellen SueCharlie@aol.com

That Energizer Easter Bunny, Richard Winder, left another egg for Mercer Co. researchers. This one is the 1850 census transcription for Lackawannock Twp. You can crack open this egg at the Mercer Co. web site. Thanks Mr. Bunny! Mike _________________________________________ Mercer County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb County Coordinator and Listowner http://www.rootsweb.com/~pamercer/

Would very much appreciate if someone could check a marriage date for me. According to everything sent to me by other people in my family the date is 25 Mar 1887 Sharon,Mercer Co.,PA for John BAILEY (b 16 May 1848 Brookfield,OH) and Margaret LITTLEJOHN (b 05 Aug 1848 Carluke,SCOTLAND). I believe the year shoule be in the late 1860's to 1870. Thanks, in advance. jhart22036@aol.com or J. Hart 7319 Bertram Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28314-1600 will return favor if possible from my area.

The Easter bunny (Richard Winder) delivered one more egg in time for Easter. This egg is the 1850 census transcription for Sandy Lake Twp. It is now online at the Mercer Co. web site. Lackawannock Twp. will be next. Mike _______________________________________________________ Mercer County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb county coordinator

I want to apologize to everyone for the recent rash of "Genealogical Suicide" messages that flooded the list recently. I have been keeping the list open to make it easier for me to forward messages to the list. However, I have now closed the list allowing only messages from subscribers to appear on the list. I'm sorry for any inconvenience or irritation this recent flood of messages has caused. Thanks, Mike _______________________________________________________ Mercer County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb county coordinator

Fellow gatherers, An aquaintance of mine, Robert McCutcheon says his father, William Lief McCutcheon was born in Mercer County 26 Mar, 1892 and married Mildren Thayer in 1913. He evidently was an after-thought and not born until 1929 ! He also believes his grandfather was William S(possibly Samuel) McC and his grandmother was Emma Evans KERR. He has know other information on his family. Any information from Mercer County rooters on these McCutcheons will be thankfully accepted. Fred C McCutcheon, 219 Blossom Lane, Sewickley, PA., 15143

Can't some of you list owners do something about this tread? Brian L. Cartwright wrote: > I will say one thing, this is the first time I've ever felt I've been > spammed. Almost every mailing list I'm on was hit, I had 87 messages > in my mail, was only about 12 real messages, all the rest were > repeats...anyway, my two cents > > ----------

Hi folks! Is there a Rose Cementery in Mercer County? If so does anyone have an address? I need to find family members that might have been buried there 30-40 years ago. Thanks Karen Hughes Florida

“The problem with truth is its verification, the problem with fiction is its veracity.” It is neither the Internet nor its genealogical aspects that is wrong-headed, suicidal, or genocidal. Deamonizing what transpires across genealogy because of the Internet is wrong-headed. Humans have always chosen what they want to believe, frequently in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Critical reflectivity applied to any claim is intelligence applied whether it is genealogy or something else. Information is neither good nor bad but that reflectivity does make it so. Critically reflective intelligence is what we use to derive the value of someone’s claim, to assign it a truth value. The statment of the original problem in the first post is generically true of every human endeavor, not just of genealogy. Lack of a reflective intelligence leads many to develop a sense of ownership of information and knowldge that is not theirs to own, the is often seen in genealogy lists across the net. I wish no one to suffer fools lightly (I don't), but the proof of the efficacy and accuracy of genealogy on the net is within ourselves as we choose to believe. We define what is credible based upon our own standards for evidence. Garbage in, garbage out only happens when there is no application of intelligence. It does not happen because of a process like the internet genealogy system. If we were to cull from our lives all those things for which there is less than conclusive evidence, we would live lives of narrow isolation. Kat Steward’s post states all of this succinctly when she writes, “I just want to feel comfortable that the information I add is as accurate as possible.” She is the one who defines what it means to “feel comfortable” and what is “as accurate as possible.” She does it with the way she chooses to apply her intelligence. “The problem with truth is its verification, the problem with fiction is its veracity.” Thereby making critical reflectivity the most powerful tool for progressing through internet genealogy as well as through life. Indeed, the opportunity for this Saturday dialogue is all part of a very healthy process called thinking and learning. Randy Hoover DrRHoo@cisnet.com

Thanks for the enlightenment Larry, but I could do without the many different addresses in the header. Bryant

Folks!!!!!! While I found the whole genealogical suicide discussion quite interesting, I am HEARTILY DISMAYED to find it copied and forwarded, etc. to EVERY LIST I AM ON.......my mailbox took a very long time to load today for the simple reason that you all copy every one on God's green earth!!!!! Please, discuss stuff in the lists you use but don't innundate every single list with the same stuff. I am tired of deleting all the stuff that I had to open just to be sure it wasn't actually a real digest from the list I wanted to read, not a copy of the stuff I had already read from one county in PA that I subscribe to. Please do not think me unfriendly. You are all very intelligent folks who made a good variety of interesting points. But please, do not do this again. I had pared down the lists to which I subscribed for this reason..... Otherwise, happy hunting for your families. Deb Owens....who is only copying this once to all lists so all of you who did it get the message....

Dave, That may not be a very good idea, Gracie

I am researching my Sharp-Neely Line of Princeotn, Pa....Princeton once part of Beaver and Mercer Co's. Now is in Lawrence Co. Am interested in communicating with any other researchers who are working on the same line.

You are using the incorrect term here. It is not GENEALOGICAL SUICIDE, it in reality is GENEALOGICAL GENOCIDE. This is especially true when you have people who come along and say that you do not have the right to information that is rightfully yours. If in the process of preparing my family tree I come upon a name of an ancester, so I decide to go and get a copy of his/her birth certificate for the information that is required for this individual. Oh, no some politician somewhere along the line has decided that I can not have that information. If it is not available, WHAT ARE THEY MAINTAINING THIS INFORMATION FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE. It must have been started for some under handed reason on their part. Well these wrong doing people are long gone so make information available for those that request it. This Genocide is being promoted and exercised by people like WFT and Genserv. If you would realy like to further the usefulness of the internet and genealogy enter the census for your county for a particular year on your counties web site. Look at the Mercer County web page for the 1850 census for that county. I ordinarily do not write on these lists very often but this subject definately rubs me the wrong way. Most of you people do not realy see the forest because there are too many dead trees in the way. Clean up your acts and give the real problems some logical thought then do something about it, not just reterick. -----Original Message----- From: David H. Smith, Sr. <dsmith@servtech.com> To: CIVIL-WAR@rootsweb.com <CIVIL-WAR@rootsweb.com>; ohio-valley-l@rootsweb.com <ohio-valley-l@rootsweb.com>; paallegh-l@rootsweb.com <paallegh-l@rootsweb.com>; paallegh-memories-l@rootsweb.com <paallegh-memories-l@rootsweb.com>; paarmstr-l@rootsweb.com <paarmstr-l@rootsweb.com>; pabeaver-l@rootsweb.com <pabeaver-l@rootsweb.com>; pabedfor-l@rootsweb.com <pabedfor-l@rootsweb.com>; paberks-l@rootsweb.com <paberks-l@rootsweb.com>; pablair-l@rootsweb.com <pablair-l@rootsweb.com>; pabucks-l@rootsweb.com <pabucks-l@rootsweb.com>; pabutler-l@rootsweb.com <pabutler-l@rootsweb.com>; pacambri-l@rootsweb.com <pacambri-l@rootsweb.com>; pacatholics@gcm.org <pacatholics@gcm.org>; pacheste-l@rootsweb.com <pacheste-l@rootsweb.com>; paclario-l@rootsweb.com <paclario-l@rootsweb.com>; paclearf-l@rootsweb.com <paclearf-l@rootsweb.com>; pacrawfo-l@rootsweb.com <pacrawfo-l@rootsweb.com>; pacumber-l@rootsweb.com <pacumber-l@rootsweb.com>; padauphi-l@rootsweb.com <padauphi-l@rootsweb.com>; padauphi-history-l@rootsweb.com <padauphi-history-l@rootsweb.com>; padelawa-l@rootsweb.com <padelawa-l@rootsweb.com>; paerie-l@rootsweb.com <paerie-l@rootsweb.com>; pafayett-l@rootsweb.com <pafayett-l@rootsweb.com>; paforest-l@rootsweb.com <paforest-l@rootsweb.com>; pagreene-l@rootsweb.com <pagreene-l@rootsweb.com>; PAHUNTIN-L@rootsweb.com <PAHUNTIN-L@rootsweb.com>; paindian-l@rootsweb.com <paindian-l@rootsweb.com>; pajeffer-l@rootsweb.com <pajeffer-l@rootsweb.com>; pajuniat-l@rootsweb.com <pajuniat-l@rootsweb.com>; palackaw-l@rootsweb.com <palackaw-l@rootsweb.com>; palancas-l@rootsweb.com <palancas-l@rootsweb.com>; palancas-history-l@rootsweb.com <palancas-history-l@rootsweb.com>; palehigh-l@rootsweb.com <palehigh-l@rootsweb.com>; paluzern-l@rootsweb.com <paluzern-l@rootsweb.com>; pamercer-l@rootsweb.com <pamercer-l@rootsweb.com>; pamiffli-l@rootsweb.com <pamiffli-l@rootsweb.com>; pamonroe-l@rootsweb.com <pamonroe-l@rootsweb.com>; pamontgo-l@rootsweb.com <pamontgo-l@rootsweb.com>; panortha-l@rootsweb.com <panortha-l@rootsweb.com>; panorthu-l@rootsweb.com <panorthu-l@rootsweb.com>; paperry-l@rootsweb.com <paperry-l@rootsweb.com>; paschuyl-l@rootsweb.com <paschuyl-l@rootsweb.com>; pasnyder-l@rootsweb.com <pasnyder-l@rootsweb.com>; pavenang-l@rootsweb.com <pavenang-l@rootsweb.com>; pawashin-l@rootsweb.com <pawashin-l@rootsweb.com>; pawayne-l@rootsweb.com <pawayne-l@rootsweb.com>; pawestmo-l@rootsweb.com <pawestmo-l@rootsweb.com>; pawyomin-l@rootsweb.com <pawyomin-l@rootsweb.com>; penna-dutch-l@rootsweb.com <penna-dutch-l@rootsweb.com>; pennsylvania-roots-l@listserv.indiana.edu <pennsylvania-roots-l@listserv.indiana.edu>; philly-roots-l@rootsweb.com <philly-roots-l@rootsweb.com>; quaker-roots@rootsweb.com <quaker-roots@rootsweb.com>; roots-l@rootsweb.com <roots-l@rootsweb.com>; somgen-l@rootsweb.com <somgen-l@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, April 11, 1998 9:43 AM Subject: [PAMERCER-L] GENEALOGICAL SUICIDE >To all genealogists, > > I have been very concerned lately about the destruction of our hobby. The >fate of genealogy is being written as we speak and it is in your hands to >stop it. > >WHY THIS SUDDEN ALARM? > > Our data is being destroyed by two cancers known as "CUT AND PASTE" and >"MERGE". > >ONLINE GENEALOGY > > I began my online genealogy in 1981, the reason for purchase of my first >computer. Soon after I reasoned that if I could just afford that 3MB hard >drive at Radio Shack for only $5000.00 my problems would be over, now at >6GB I am running out of space. I used to prowl around courthouse attics and >weed covered graveyards to uncover a choice treasure now and then with >great anticipation and joy. Now I can get a hundred times more info in an >hour or two. So much so I haven't even had the time to read most of it, let >alone put it into my own database. Which leads me to my point. > >CUT AND PASTE > > Being involved in keeping a Family Website, I get many requests for >information, and some criticism as well. There are two camps. One thinks >every fact needs to be on the Two Tablets Moses brought down from the >mountains. The other thinks that if it is in ASCII it's proof enough. I >have submitted my own tree to the WFT Project, most of which was my own >work. Hoping to find corroborating works I check other trees often, only to >discover my own work pasted into someone else's tree. > >THIS PRACTICE IS DESTROYING ONLINE GENEALOGY. > >FIRST, it gives undue validity. When one piece of erroneous information >becomes 1000 pieces of the same erroneous information, it takes on a life >of it's own and an enearned "truth". >SECOND, it clutters up the internet search engines with hundreds of links >to the same bogus info. When someone does try to verify a fact, they can't >wade through the countless references. >THIRD, file sizes are increased to the point of unmanageablility with the >same, tired, redundant information, even when true. This makes sharing >impractical. >FOURTH, it discourages people with genuinely obtained first generation info >from releasing it. >FIFTH, if carried to it's logical conclusion, everyone will have the same >file. All of them wrong. >SIXTH, it makes compiling huge trees all too easy. >SEVENTH, it makes it impossible to tell whether you are seeing a >corroborating opinion of your data or a repeat of it. > >EXAMPLES > >Great database services, like GENSERV and the World Family Tree project, >although well conceived and of great potential, are being ruined by well >meaning genealogists who seed them with redundant information gathered from >those very same databases. > >Private websites, including my own, have been swamped by large file sizes >which are largely repeat information. (This was a result of my own policy, >which I have rethought, so no criticism intended) > >Believe it or not I have been offered "Family Trees" in excess of 75 MB and >over 125,000 names. I foolishly submitted some trees to add to this pile of >spaghetti. > >WHAT CAN WE DO? > > I propose creating a guide for online genealogists. A compilation of >voluntary "rules of the road". Netiquette for the Genealogist. > > To this end I am offering a few sample suggestions of my own to get the >ball rolling. Please send your comments, criticisms, suggestions, pros and >cons to me personally. (I do not subscribe to ALL the lists above) After >compilation of the ideas, I will submit them for a vote. Success will be >determined by the level of participation. Please submit ideas by April 24th. > >SUGGESTIONS > > If you have undocumented info to share, state that it is speculation. If >you receive that information, paste it into your own file if you choose, >but DO NOT redistribute it with your file. Instead, keep it as a separate >entity. > > As a general rule, do not combine other people's data with your own files >that you redistribute. Keep a file for your eyes only and another for >distribution. Distribute only work which you have done yourself from >primary sources, or have independently verified from primary sources. Do >not simply pass along someone else's data because they have it documented >either. > > Do everyone a favor and pass along transcripts of primary documents. > > If you find documents or trees on a website, download and keep it because >it may evaporate unexpectedly, but do not redistribute it. Instead, if >someone asks for it, check on it's availability and send them a link. > >SAMPLE SUBJECTS AND CATEGORIES > > Etiquette; File contamination avoidance; Source Documentation; Passing on >other's data under what conditions; Submission to databases; Merging trees; >Merging scraps of data; Requesting info; Providing info; Submissions to >redundant websites or databases; Should we pass secondary info at all or >just the source?; How about an unlinked but searchable family group sheet >database, each submitted sheet required to be nearly complete and well >sourced, and containing parents and children of the husband and wife? Any >interest in an online index of primary documents with the cost of >membership being to submit one? > >SEND ME YOUR IDEAS > >Thank you for your time, >Dave > >THE KEYSTONE PROJECT - A PENNSYLVANIA CARD CATALOG of GENEALOGY FILES >In it's infancy, please help! http://www.stonecabin.com/keystone >__________________________________________________________________________ >David H. Smith, Sr. Bensinger Family Genealogy >dsmith@stonecabin.com http://www.stonecabin.com/bensinger > > >==== PAMERCER Mailing List ==== > >Any questions/problems regarding the Mercer County, Pennsylvania list, >contact the listowner, Michael L. Hebert mailto:mhebert@geocities.com > >Visit the Mercer County, Pennsylvania Genealogy web site at: >http://www.rootsweb.com/~pamercer/ >

Hi All, The problem (as I see it) is not so much the duplication of information, as the reliablility of it. How often are we careful to document the information we send across the wires (and I'm as guilty as the next guy). -Barb Landis Carlisle Indian School Research http://www.epix.net/~landis Tammy Lamb wrote: > Hi Dave > > As a county co-ordinator and list server owner I don't see any > suicide here. I have many people that have donated records to the > Genweb page and I am always happy to add them. I have had countless > people write and thank me and others for adding them and allowing > these records to be accessable to those out of the areas. Many people > have found ancestors and links to other family members through > records. > As far as duplication information, its just part of life and don't > think there is any way you are going to get a control on it. What > ever one person has access or found another can do the same. > > Tammy Lamb > > Pa Luzerne County Co-ordinator > > ==== PACUMBER Mailing List ==== > Visit Cumberland County USGenweb and get the latest updates! > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacumber/cum_cty_index.html >

Personally I think this subject has been beaten to death! Think it is now time to move on to actual research - which is the reason I subscribe to mailing lists and go surfing the net - guess I'm naive but I thought everyone else had about the same objective - and thought most people out there were adults! Jane

I think it is up to each researcher to verify anything and everything they get off the internet. I have found family members on the internet but I always verify the information. At least it gives me a clue as to where to look. I never take anything as factual. I check it out. It is the same with the IGI or the Ancestral Files at LDS Family History Centers. I always search for proof before I put anything in my database. Janelle Tammy Lamb wrote: > > Hi Dave > > As a county co-ordinator and list server owner I don't see any > suicide here. I have many people that have donated records to the > Genweb page and I am always happy to add them. I have had countless > people write and thank me and others for adding them and allowing > these records to be accessable to those out of the areas. Many people > have found ancestors and links to other family members through > records. > As far as duplication information, its just part of life and don't > think there is any way you are going to get a control on it. What > ever one person has access or found another can do the same. > > Tammy Lamb > > Pa Luzerne County Co-ordinator > > ==== PAINDIAN Mailing List ==== > JOIN "THE HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL > SOCIETY OF INDIANA COUNTY" > 200 South Sixth Street > Indiana, PA 15701-2999 > Individual $15 Family $20 -- Janelle McEwen Osborn Visit McEwen Genealogy http://www.members.home.net/tarie2/index.htm