Mary's Autograph Book - Part 4

Death of Mary's son, Warren Fay.

Recap of Mary's children:

• Helen V.: 1891 – 1891 [in same lot with Mary, Robinson & Warren]
• Sidney Hill: 1888 - 1976
• Warren Fay: 1892 - 1909 [drowned]
• Leo Vern: 1894 - 1979

Drowns in the Pond

W. F. Bramwell Sinks While Friends on Shore Look On

At Stevens Place Saturday Evening, Occurs First Fatality in Fifteen Years

Brave Attempt at Rescue

Owner’s Son Jumps in, Clothes and All, But in Vain

A Poor Swimmer, the Boy Loses Plank, Use While in Deep Water

Mary's Autograph Book - Part 3

While researching Mary's brother, Samuel, I found a school teacher listing for Mary A. Hill for the years 1884-1886 and believed this was my Mary. One of the pages in the autograph book says "dear teacher" and dated 1883. She married in 1887 and no listing is found under her married name so perhaps she settled down to be a farmer's wife.

In the 1885 state census her brother Samuel was listed as a teacher. Taking a second look at that census I now see the ditto ["] marks under his occupation that would also be for his sister, Mary below.

I was tickled with this discovery!

[School records are 1884 to 1966]

Buffalo Pitts Rollers

Wonder if any were actually used in a cemetery?

The Modern Cemetery
March 1914

Mary's Autograph Book - Part 2

I found a few treasures inside the autograph book last night. I can't wait to share them with you in a future post.

I wish Mary Hill was my ancestor. What a treasure this little book is. It saddens me that it found its way to an antique store. Most likely the result of an estate sale clean-out. [Just an assumption]

Today I am sharing an outline of her family and census abstracts. I love being able to fill in all the years available with the Kansas federal and state census. Census are one of my favorite research tools for genealogy. Snapshots in time.

Mary's Autograph Book - Part 1

I generally research a person and then share it here. This time I will take you along with me. I've peeked ahead and have some great finds...But wait...Let's start here:

Recently I discovered this autograph book from the early 1880's. I came upon it in a local antique store and it beckoned me to open it. Mary Hill. This is the name on the first page. Flipping through the pages I see them addressed to Mary or Mollie. So, it belonged to Mary "Mollie" Hill.

Dust off the Cemetery Kit / Cart

Spring is in the air. At least today. A little cooler next week, but it will be here to stay soon. Right? I need to get my cemetery kit back in order. During the winter months I removed it from my SUV and so I need to get better organized. I showed you my cart back in 2009.

Researching a Photographer

Marion William Bailey - Part 1

Today I am interviewing the 80 year old grandson of an early day Hutchinson photographer, Marion W. Bailey. I have been researching Bailey for someone writing a book on a large collection of his photos.

It will be nice to finally see a photo of the photographer!

I research many people [along with cemeteries] but have never had a project include two of my favorite hobbies...photography and cemeteries [genealogy].

More to come...

Bean Cemetery
Rice Co., KS

Research in Progress

I've got several research projects underway, one being the murder of the 5 Moore children buried in Eastside Cemetery. Things got a little out of control! I also had a pile next to my chair in the family room where I work with my lap top. Guess what I'm doing Saturday?!