THIS is what makes a list worthwhile!! Di, you've just outlined exactly why I am grateful for Dave's presence on this list! He makes my job SOOOOO easy!!.....and the list enjoyable for all! As to others reading responses from him to others, I believe that anyone who has been on the list for any amount of time DOES do this........if they don't, they are losing out! I have to say too, that I have appreciated your contributions as well. You've proven to be a help to others on a number of occasions....... My thanks to you and Dave for being and continuing to be a part of this list! Mari WIGRANT List Admin At 09:22 PM 4/8/02 , KinDetective@aol.com wrote: >Dave, > >What a superlative, thorough and thoughtful post in reply to my >query for info from the "Commemorative Biographical Record," >as it was only partially source quoted from the transcription I had! > We on the list have been spoiled to anticipate no less than this >quality of assistance from you, Dave. There just aren't enough >ways to Thank You properly. > >Not only did your reply help me, but any who may have read it, as >it contained some wonderful caveats for genealogists and >reminders to be cautious in how we analyze our sources. >Many a grain of salt blow to the four winds and some grow into >large crystals of family history. I do read biographies especially >with that in mind. > >Some of the specific information about that particular source may >help any who look to it for clues. The preface stating that the >sketches were "gathered" then sent in typewritten form...Is a little >enigmatic. I first was pleased to see that typed information was >submitted, but it's not exactly phrased that way, leaving me to >wonder if that isn't one step among several that may have lead to >mistakes. Your observation that these biographical records were >likely written up by experienced writers, who, no doubt took >literary liberty to make the book and it's subjects more illustrious >to the reader, is an acute and important one. I could only add >to that, the apparent likelihood that they did not have any >researchers specializing in historical continuity on staff, or >utilize their services in this case. Either that, or they made >some grievous errors. > >In this instance, I left a portion of the Mary J. Shinoe bio in place >as part of my reply quote, below. I have to check my regimental >histories notes again, but I'm fairly certain that Lewis Shinoe's >furlough and death would have taken place before the Atlanta >Campaign, or at least prior to the March To The Sea. >Off hand, I'd say he likely contracted illness in Tennessee or >Mississippi, which eventually lead to his passing. Perhaps >such a famous clip of history was added to boost the pride >and ease the harsh memory of war for related family and friends. > >In all, I'm grateful to you for affording us your time, effort and such >intelligent help in our research, and I can only hope that because >it had your address on it, more folks who otherwise would delete >a message with a surname of no interest to them would have >read it and gained, among other things, the heads up and tips >to the difference between clues and facts. Pro, amateur or >beginner, I'm sure we all benefit from this, whether it's a >first-read or a reminder! > >Thank you, Dave!! > >Diane > > >PS: One thing I was hoping was a typo, and turns out is likely >somewhat accurate: a surprise surname, DALGRIL. >If anyone, anywhere comes across this name or related history >thereof, other than the Yukon Trail, James Dalgril, > Please let me know! TIA > > > >-- >In a message dated 02/4/7 8:35:29 AM, dtaft@cowtown.net writes: > ><< ..<snip>.. Unlike most traditional county histories of the 1880's >era, this book is strictly a biographical volume. There are no >chapters and the bio's are in not set structure that I can figure out. >They are neither in alphabetical, nor geographical order. Just bio's > from page 1 to 982. I due suspect that bio number 1 came at an >extra price to someone. > > >_Does the book have further information on how the biographical data >was acquired, (i.e., interviewer's names, dates, supplier's identity?) > > >As with bio's in other county histories, the information came from the > >family. It is unclear if they were published as written, written with > >assistance of the publisher or their local representative, or edited by the > >publisher. There is no bibliography or footnotes identifying the source of > >the information. It was likely a family project, however these generally > >contain some "flowery" language that had to have been crafted by a trained > >writer. In some cases, there are biographies of people who died previously. > >These were obviously submitted by the family. > > >Here is the preface to the 1901 History: > > >"The importance of placing in book form biographical history of > >representative citizens - both for its immediate worth and for its value to > >coming generations - is admitted by all thinking people; and within the past > >decade there has been a growing interest in this commendable means of > >perpetuating biography and family genealogy. > > >That the public is entitled to the privileges afforded by a work of this > >nature needs no assertion at our hands; for one of our greatest Americans > >has said that the history of any country resolves itself into the > >biographies of its stout, earnest and representative citizens. This medium, > >then, serves more than a single purpose: while it perpetuates biography and > >family genealogy, it records history, much of which would be preserved in no > >other way. > > >In presenting the COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD to its patrons, the > >publishers have to acknowledge, with gratitude, the encouragement and > >support their enterprise has received, and the willing assistance rendered > >in enabling them to surmount the many unforeseen obstacles to be met with in > >the production of a work of this character. In nearly every instance the > >material composing the sketches was gathered from those immediately > >interested, and then submitted in type-written form for correction and > >revision. The volume, which is one of generous amplitude, is placed in the > >hands of the public with the belief that it will be found a valuable > >addition to the library, as well as an invaluable contribution to the > >historical literature of the State of Wisconsin. > > >THE PUBLISHERS." > > >_Any author's/editor's notes or preface on how the subject selections were > >made? > > >This is an interesting question that many genealogists may not be aware of. > > > >From :The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy," by Val D. Greenwood, >"A feature of many local histories is a biographical section with short > >historical sketches of prominent citizens and early settlers in the locality. > Some of these are quite authentic because the families provided > >the information, and others contain many errors for the same reason. Those > >books which specialized in biographical sketches accompanied with pictures > >of the persons named therein are often referred to by book dealers and > >genealogists as "mug books" because anyone could get his "mug" in one if he > >paid the fee, and no one could if he didn't." > > > >From "Preserving Your American Heritage, by Norman E. Wright, "Many of these > >earlier histories were the work of commercial businesses that solicited > >subscriptions from local citizens to finance publication. For a price > >almost anyone could become prominent, and for additional fees pictures and > >sketches of farms and outbuildings were included. Biographical sections > >extolled in extravagant terms the lives of the simplest citizens, for those > >who could afford the subscription price. Unfortunately many otherwise > >stalwart citizens were not included." > > >This is really no different than many "Who's Who" type publications done > >today. I have heard that many early newspapers limited obituaries and > >mentions of births and marriages to paid subscribers...quid pro quo. > > >_Accuracy. You asked about this before. As stated above, there can be > >problems. Some could be a simple as typographical errors made in the > >publication process. Some could be bad memory or overactive imagination. > >Other information is simply "left out" for some reason. A case in point is > >the bio. of my GGGG Uncle, Seymour Taft, in the 1884 History of Crawford Co. > >Even though he married a 3rd time to Mari's (our Mari) GG-something > >Grandmother in 1879, she isn't mentioned, even though his first two wives > >were. > > >And now, here is the biography of Mary J. Shinoe: > > >Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, > >Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, 1901, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, Pg. 571-2: > >..<snip>.. > > > >During the Civil war, in September, 1862. Mr. Shinoe enlisted in Company I, >25th Wis. > >V. I., and served with his regiment on the Minnesota frontier, in Kentucky > >and Missouri, and then with Gen. Sherman on his famous March to the Sea. > >While in the campaign around Atlanta Mr. Shinoe was taken sick, and his > >malady proving serious, he was sent home on a furlough. He died in January, > >1864, after having faithfully performed his every duty as a citizen and a >soldier. > > >Dave Taft >> > > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, >go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237