Postscript, Thursday, 1 June 2017: Found another email letter from Alvin K. Funderburg. ~ Alvin K Funderburg letter dated 22 Dec 1996
Gone, they’re all gone! All my precious “cousins” (by blood, by faith, by hobby). Alvin K. Funderburg (2016-2014).
In the middle of the night, brain churning with thoughts about “the library,” the name Harlan Brooks came to mind. I mused “Will I come across his correspondence soon?” Seriously, it was about six letters down and less than one hour into today’s project.
Dorothy Parker (mentioned in the letters) was a dear friend and “round about” family. She was the step-mother of my husband’s first wife! Speaking of my husband: We were married forty years ago today on Memorial Day Sunday. It was a beautiful wedding in the gardens of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Donald Edwards died in 1983.
There are treasures stored in these many boxes?! Look at this beautiful lady (Ruth Frantz). Because my name was circulated (as a Frantz researcher), a lady sent this to me. Letter and picture from Linda Wells dated Jan 1997 ~~ Yes, I know which branch of the family tree. ~~ I haven’t accomplished much today; I spent hours on Ancestry.com documenting families from my recently viewed correspondence.Postscript, Memorial Day Monday, May 29: I hate Ancestry!! “Armchair researchers” can build their “tree” in a few hours. They seem oblivious to obvious mistakes. Along comes Lorraine–with the desire to establish lineage–and she sees errors and duplicates*. Yesterday (most of the day) attempting to correct members of the Frantz family. To each individual, I added a web link reference to Frantz Families–Kith & Kin, with volume and page number. (FF-KK was well researched, and well documented, checked and double-checked.)
*Duplicates: Twenty-four sons and daughters by two wives; identical, or almost identical, names and birth dates. One wife was erroneous; children names, and records, were merged. Time consuming!!
Another case of “too little information.” (See Armchair Research.) With all the data available on the Internet, and Ancestry, fewer letters are exchanged. However, “in the old days,” it was customary to send a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) and sufficient information to attempt a connection. Because there are Shanks connected to my Frantz family, eighteen years later I approached Ancestry.com for the answer. Spun my wheels, waste of time, no resolution.
Letter from Lynn Terpstra received 10 Apr 1999
The “bug” won’t go away; I’m still sick. However, the stacks of information haunt me and I’m forcing myself to spend a few hours.
Processing slowly through a mountain of correspondence, I read this letter (copy) and got a BIG LAUGH. Trivia letter. Indeed, “snail mail” is almost obsolete!! I do not remember the purchase of a scanner in 1998. I surmise it did not meet my needs (or it would have left an impression?). However, the 2017 purchase of a scanner has proved very valuable. The PaperPort software is very satisfactory. ~~ A big laugh relieves some of the stress of this almost overwhelming project.
HISTORY MYSTERY FROM A US $20 BILL
History MysteryHave a history teacher explain this-—– if they can.
Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.
Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.
Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.
Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head
Now it gets really weird.
Lincoln ‘s secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy’s Secretary was named Lincoln .
Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.
Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.
John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839. Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939..
Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.
Now hang on to your seat.
Lincoln was shot at the theater named ‘Ford’.
Kennedy was shot in a car called ‘ Lincoln ‘ made by ‘Ford’.
Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid in a warehouse.
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran and hid in a theater.
Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.
WHO FIGURED THIS OUT?
INCREDIBLE
1) Fold a NEW $20 bill in half…
2) Fold again, taking care to fold it exactly as below
3) Fold the other end, exactly as before
4) Now, simply turn it over…
What a coincidence! A simple geometric fold creates a catastrophic premonition printed on all $20 bills!!!
COINCIDENCE?
YOU DECIDE
As if that wasn’t enough…
Here is what you’ve seen…
Firstly The Pentagon on fire…
Then The Twin Towers.
…And now … look at this!
TRIPLE COINCIDENCE ON A SIMPLE $20 BILL
Disaster (Pentagon)
Disaster ( Twin Towers )
Disaster (Osama)???
It gets even better 9 + 11 = $20!
Creepy huh? Send this to as many people as you can, cause:
Hey, this is one history lesson most people probably will
not mind reading!.
For two days, I have done absolutely NOTHING. All I want to do is sleep. I do not have a teaspoon of energy!! When I’m not in bed, I’m reclining in my easy chair. The TV has been “on,” although I can’t give you specific details about the programs. However, one pastor on Trinity Broadcasting Network, was discussing health and healing. I suddenly felt I received “a word from the Lord.” The pastor said sickness, and disease, comes from STRESS. (You may disagree.) Well, I recognize that my recent project has been VERY STRESSFUL. Endless hours at the computer; numerous mental gymnastics!! Meals were skipped because I was “in the middle…” My body was vulnerable to a “bug”?! First: My throat so raw I could hardly swallow. Second: Headache (and I seldom have a headache). Third: Symptoms of a cold.
The “librarian” has been very busy loading the shelves with digitized information. More recently, the “librarian” focused on correspondence received with “additions and corrections” (after publication of Frantz Families–Kith & Kin). The following letter, postmarked 21 Nov 1997, captured the attention of “the librarian.” Read the letter closely and see if you agree that the query was difficult to decipher. Two days ago, “the librarian” (yours truly) began a lengthy search on Ancestry.com. Lengthy: Conservatively a dozen hours!! If you have Ancestry, click this link to go to Sue Vanatti. Over the hours, the Vanatti family was well-developed on Lorraine’s Ancestry.com tree. In desperation, the France family was documented from George Washington France down. Individual after individual was researched. The connection was never established between Sue Vanatti and her “great-great-grandfather David, b. 1857, d. 1919.” Part of the search was devoted to identification of her maiden name–which turned out to be Knox. Another clue: Sue’s name and address on the envelope. So an exhaustive search for Knox and France individuals living in the Brazil, Indiana, area. Disappointed: No link!!
Why spend so much time (when lots of information awaits scanning)?? There was every possibility George Washington France was another “leaf” on the Frantz family tree. We have several incidents of name change (see FF-KK, Vol. 1, p. 69). Another “armchair researcher,” on Ancestry.com, will now benefit from a long line of linked individuals. The records were all available: Birth, death, census, etc.; time and effort paid dividends.
Three Quarters & Counting 