The Importance of U (A Part of the 7 Days, 7 Requests Series)

On my desk, I have a sticky note that has two words written on it. The words are “fried” and “friend.” Notice that the two words have much in common. In fact, except for one additional letter, an “n,” the two words are identical. But oh, what a difference that “n” makes. You would never mistakenly interchange the words in a sentence as in, “You are my best fried" or "I love friend chicken.” The addition or omission of the “n” is important. 

So when I went looking for the grave of my great great grandfather Edward L. Jacobus, and found instead the grave of Edward L. Jacobs, I believed it should be corrected. Jacobs was not Jacobus. The missing “u” mattered.

Edward Jacobus enlisted for service August 2, 1862 in Henry County, Ohio. The harness maker reported to Camp Toledo on September 1. A member of Company B of the 100th Infantry Regiment Ohio, he was detached for duty to the Quartermasters department on September 21. By the November muster roll, he had rejoined his company stationed in Kentucky, where their job was to protect the city of Cincinnati. At the time of his enlistment, he and his wife, Mary Thorn Jacobus, had been married for not quite 5 years. They had three children, Frank, John and Clara, ages 4, 1 and 5 months respectively. 

His death, which would be reported in Edward’s pension files by his Captain, H.D. Taylor, would come almost 8 months to the day after his enlistment.

 “E. Jacobus was a private in my said company and that on or about the 20th day of February, 1863, at or near Lexington, Kentucky, while in the line of his duty, he was taken sick with Lung Fever and after a few days, was removed to the hospital at Lexington where he died of said disease on the 2nd day of April 1863. “ 

Taylor further went on to state: 

“I was present with my company during the time he was sick in hospital and visited him frequently, and I saw him the day before he died and my first Lt. G.D. Forsyth saw him after he was dead and reported the fact to me.” 

The body would not be shipped back to Henry County, but instead, be interred at what was to become Lexington National Cemetery. Edward was 27 years old. The error of the missing “u” was foreshadowed earlier, in the muster roll taken for September and October 1862. A hurried hand wrote, “Edward L. Jacobs.”

Certainly, Captain Taylor knew the correct last name as indicated in his statement in Edward’s pension file, but the clerk who filled out the casualty sheet, probably did not. The casualty sheet read Jacobs, and officially, when the markers were ordered for the graves at Lexington National Cemetery, my gg grandfather became for all intents, Edward L. Jacobs.

On the US Department of Veteran Affairs website, under the heading, “Replacement Headstones and Markers” I found the following information: 

Headstones and markers previously furnished by the Government may be replaced at Government expense if badly deteriorated, illegible, stolen or vandalized. We may also replace the headstone or marker if the inscription is incorrect, if it was damaged during shipping, or if the material or workmanship does not meet contract specifications. 

And For guidance on obtaining a replacement headstone or marker, you may call the Memorial Programs Service Applicant Assistance Unit between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday, at the toll-free number below:1-800-697-6947 

So that is what I did. I called them. From there I was told I had to contact the superintendent at the national cemetery where Edward was buried. The office girl at Lexington National Cemetery told me to send an email. A reply email referred me to Camp Nelson, which is the department that oversees Lexington National Cemetery. Lexington will change their online listing once Camp Nelson has approved and made the change, if I email Lexington and let them know.

A call to Camp Nelson gave me the next hurdle to cross. I needed to bring in the documentation proving that Edward Jacobs was really Edward Jacobus. When I explained I was in Ohio, I was told to send the information along with a phone number. 

So as soon as I am done making this post, I will write the letter, include what I hope to be appropriate documentation, along with a printed copy of this blog post. I will keep you informed of any developments. 

When I have put the letter in the mailbox at the Clyde Post Office, I will post an updated scoreboard to my blog. Of all the requests made this week, this is the one that I hope succeeds. 

Until Next Time – Happy Ancestral Digging!

© 10 August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

Ordering GGGG Grandpa's Compiled Civil War File (A Part of 7 Days, 7 Requests Series)

Look! Me ordering!

Thank you for Your order!

Updated Scoreboard!

So I Went for a Little Car Ride (Part of the 7 Days, 7 Requests Series)

Yesterday, I made my first trip the Family History Center in Perrysburg. I’ve been spoiled by having the Hayes Presidential Center’s Library and its wonderful genealogical resources nearby But let’s face it, if you need records from another county, there’s no place like a Family History Center, no matter how far the drive. 

The people at FHC were very nice and friendly, and I ordered three films – two related to Jackson County, Ohio and one dealing with Gallia County, Ohio. I’m hoping to find out what happened to the land that my fifth great grandfather, David Thacker, owned. I know that he did not make out a will, so what happened to the land? 

The price to order film is $5.50 per roll and it will stay at the center for 30 days. The Perrysburg Center has a wide variety of films that are permanently housed at their facility. I was happy to note that films from the Budow Parish where my great grandparents were baptized are part of this collection.

If you are planning a trip to the Perrysburg office, you should know that the hours listed on the FamilySearch website are not accurate. Below are the hours they are currently open.

 

However, effective September 1, the Monday hours will be changing to 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. I can chalk up another request for the scoreboard!

© 9 August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

 

7 Days, 7 Requests - Hold That Thought!

Well, yesterday's request has required four phone calls (okay, I created an extra one by my own stupidity), one email, the scanning of several pages of material and you guessed it, I'm still not done.

It looks like I will now need to scan and print some additional material to put into the mail. No wonder I had procrastinated on this one! I would really like to tell you more about it, but if I want to get today's request accomplished, I have to leave RIGHT NOW for points north and west.

So remind me, who's brilliant idea was this 7 days, 7 requests? Gees, I really have to lay off the caffeine the first thing in the morning! Stay tuned!

© 7 August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

The Envelope (Part of the 7 Days, 7 Requests series)

The envelope addressed to the New Jersey State Archives had sat propped against the small lamp on my office desk since the second week of January. At first, it sat there all bright-eyed and perky, reminding me that I needed to type a letter, write a check and mail it – nothing too difficult. Then, as time went on, it began to snarl and stare accusingly at me as I continued to ignore its presence. Finally, as often happens to things that are continually ignored, it faded into the background, much as the canister of pencils and file holder that also sat on the desk. 

Yesterday, I wrote the letter requesting information on the marriage of Thomas D. Jacobus and Catherine? who married in Essex County, New Jersey, sometime between 1827and 1832. Jacobus appears to be the early 19th century equivalent of Smith or Jones in New Jersey. I’m not sure if I have given enough information for the Archives to find the marriage record, but I am only going to be out $5 if they can’t fulfill my request.

So while my grandson was busy saying, “Eenie, meenie, minee, moe” to determine which of two identical spinners would be mine as we played “Dora Bingo,” the very nice mail carrier stopped at my rural mailbox, grabbed the envelope and sped it happily on its way. 

Score another one on my request counter.

© 6 August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

 

7 Days, 7 Requests - Immigration Files

On September 12 of 1906, my great grandfather, Leo Schrader, signed a Declaration of Intention stating that he intended to become a citizen of the United States. Five months earlier, Leo, his wife, Emma and his two young sons, Willi and Max had disembarked from the SS Amerika at Ellis Island. The declaration was the first in a series of steps leading to US Citizenship.

 

Changes made on September 27, 1906 may have created impediments to Leo’s completing the naturalization process. As far as we know, this is where Leo’s path to citizenship ended.

 In 1940, with the threat of global conflict, the Alien Registration Act of 1940 was enacted. It required registration and fingerprinting of all aliens 14 years old and older. Almost 5 million people were registered and fingerprinted at their local post office from August 27, 1940 to December 26, 1940. As a direct result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, President Roosevelt issued a proclamation requiring further registration of all aliens, fourteen and older, from enemy nations – Germany, Italy and Japan. 

Leo and Emma were among those required to register in the month of February 1942. Information on the 1940 form included:

1. Name (maiden names for females as well as any other names the individual had used) 

2. Current Address

3. Birth date and Birth place

4. Country of Claimed Citizenship 

5. Marital Status, Sex and Race 

6. Physical Characteristics 

7. Information on the last port of arrival in the US

8. Length of time in the US 

9. Occupation 

10. Membership in clubs and organizations 

11. Any Previous Military or Naval Service 

12. Names of relatives living in the US

13. Any arrests 

14. Any political affiliations in past 5 years 

While Leo and Emma were required to register twice, it is important to know that if your ancestor was living in the US in 1940 and was not a US citizen, he or she would have been required to fill out an Alien Registration form regardless of their country of origin. If that is the case, there is a file out there waiting for you to view. The request must be made in writing and to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. 

Taken from the USCIS website, you will find the four steps needed to make the request: 

1. On your written request, include a daytime phone number so that we may contact you. Fees in searching, copying and reviewing records may apply, see below. 

2. Provide as much information as possible on the subject matter. This will help expedite the search process. 

3. Verification of Identity, Guardianship, Accompanying Persons, and Amendment requests are requirements for making a request for records of a personal nature. Requests for disclosure of records on individuals other than yourself require consent or proof of death. 

4. Mail requests for USCIS records to the National Records Center, FOIA/PA Office, P. O. Box 648010, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064-8010. 

The USCIS website goes on to state: 

 Requests are deemed to constitute an agreement to pay any applicable fees that may be chargeable up to $25.00 without notice. Most requests do not require any fees; however, if fees exceed $25.00, we will notify you beforehand. Do not submit fees with initial requests. 

You can download and use a form G-639 to make the request. Because my great grandparents are deceased, I had to furnish proof of death, which for Leo was an obituary and for Emma a copy of her death certificate. I requested their complete immigration file, including but not limited to their alien registration forms. The requests went out in yesterday’s mail. Two letters, two requests – Boo Yah!

©  5 August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder 

7 Days, 7 Requests

Inertia is defined as the resistance to motion, action, or change. We all suffer from it. Some of us are card-carrying members of the “Inertia – A Way of Life” club. I know I qualify. That’s why a recent blog post on “Copyblogger,” caught my attention. (That and the first line in Sean D’Souza’s post, “Let’s say you have to pee.” He had me at pee.) 

Sean went on to say that in these economic times, you have to drive people to purchase by giving them a sense of urgency. Buy now, or else!

I wondered, how could I put this theory to work for me? How could I use the idea of urgency to overcome my resistance to writing for that marriage record for my ggg grandparents or the Alien Registration cards for my great grandparents? 

So, I’ve created my own urgency, by publicly stating that I am going to write, fax, email, call or send smoke signals to request some of the information I have been putting off getting. In fact, I’m officially calling my plan, “7 Days, 7 Requests.” I have until next Monday at 3:00 PM to complete my personal challenge. 

If anyone decides to do his or her own 7 Days, 7 Requests, please feel free to drop me a line and let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear all about your own personal challenge and the results.

© 4 August 2008, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder