Adrie Twede: Expert Indexer!

Yesterday I got a phone call from Adrie Twede. She was on family search and had a few questions. She asked me some names and dates and within a few minutes, she had set up her entire family tree on her own! I was so amazed at how fast, and how adept she was at navigating her way around Family Search.

I mentioned our June goal for indexing. Again, within minutes, she had found the online tutorials and dowloaded the program onto her computer. Today I got this email from her.

Hi Rachel.

this is adrie.

I got 15 points on indexing 

i just finished today

it was super fun i liked it.

i want to do some more

thanks for helping me out 

 

I am so proud of her! She is only 5 points away from achieving our individual goal of 20 points per person. Anyway, I thought I would spotlight her efforts. She is such an amazing girl! As you all begin the indexing challenge, send me an email and I'll put your experience up on the blog!

Getting Started with Indexing

The Church has a great resource for training you on Indexing.

Click here to go to the Indexing overview website. There are four tabs to help you get started.

The TEST DRIVE tab will take you through the basics of indexing. It takes less than a minute. It is a great way to get your kids involved.

The GET STARTED tab will help you to download the Indexing program to your computer and get registered.

The FIND A PROJECT tab will show you where projects are coming from around the world.

The GET HELP tab will give you all the info you need if you have any questions.

Goal for Month of June

For the month of June, I'd like to challenge everyone to try indexing! It's an easy way to contribute to family history work.

We have a goal for every person over the age of eight in the family to get 20 indexing points by the end of the reunion. So, lets get this going!

To get started, visit the "Indexing Tutorials" under the Tutorials tab. It will show you how to upload the indexing program from the church, and how everything works. If you want to email me with the points you earn, I'll add it to our running tally!

Love you all and have fun!

Memory of Her Mother and Sister Leone- By Sylvia Vivian Tuttle Howells

      My mother was very beautiful, high cheek bones, long auburn hair beautiful peaches and cream complexion, a lean shape and proud posture, evincing a fine discrimination of moral values.  It was her spirit that made her truly lovely.  She reverenced God and there was no insincerity, indolence or hypocrisy in her.   She was a wonderful cook, so proud of her children, generous to a fault, always mild disposition and loved my father.  My Mother’s sacrifices never once visiting her folds, her care of us when we were sick, and our happiness at meals when were altogether, yet her willingness to let us leave home just when we could have been much a help to her, to make our own way will ever be a constant reminder to me to live well and noble.

     There were 12 children in my Fathers and Mothers family.  Rena Kathleen, Sylvia Vivian, Bertha Lillian, Leone, Harvey Frederick Eugene, Frances Willard ( named after the great Temperance Speaker), Wallace Earl, Lulu bell, Virginia Rose (whom I named being born on my birthday 14 years later) Benjamin Ward, John Morrison, Earl Richard.  Leone was the 1^st to leave.  She was 14 years and 7 months.  She died of pneumonia. In life she was always such a little angel always unselfish and helpful.  She had beautiful brown hair curly and braided that hung down her back.  Her eyes were brown and I can remember how sober she was though never cross.  She like us all had whooping cough one spring, measles the next and the 3^rd spring pneumonia.  The Dr. came and told us she would not live until morning.  I had brought her a tiny bouquet of sweet smelling wild flowers called Hipatias colored a delicate orchid.  She was so weak she could scarcely hold them.  Mother asked me to go to the village and get my sister Bertha who was boarding with a family and going to school. With every step I took I prayed that Leone would live. Then as I hurried on I was impressed it was wrong and left off.  I brought my sister and soon after we arrived we were all standing around her bed when Leone looked at a big picture on the wall of Jesus as he taught the Wise men in the Temple. Mother said, “God will take care of you.” Leone smiled looking from face to face and died. My Mother and I knelt by the lounge in the kitchen and asked God to take care of her. For a long time after we’d set her place at the table and often spoke of her sweet ways. We never cried for Leone, she seemed nearer to us than ever she was before. I did her work in the Temple and hope I will be fine enough to enjoy her companionship in the Spirit world. I never heard of the Gospel as members of the church know it but my prayer had been answered. I knew the prompting of the Holy Ghost and accepted without question the inspiration not to pray for her recovery. To me she had always been like a little angel, a peace maker, always doing for others and so dear. After I had been in the Church several years I told a lie about a person who could have been hurt by what I said. (I believed I had told the truth but the evidence was only circumstantial reinforced by one I highly respected) I was going to the Temple frequently. One night I saw Leone. It was just a fleeting glimpse but it was enough to make me do everything in my power to correct what I had said even though I still believed I had not lied.

Memory of Frederick Eugene Tuttle- By Sylvia Vivian Tuttle Howells

 My Father was called Fred for Frederick Eugene.  He was over 6’ tall, lean, sported side burns, had dark wavy hair and hazel eyes after his great ancestor John Tuthill of Long Island.  I never can remember my Dad without a twinkle in his eyes, truly handsome but in a very humble self- effacing way.   The ladies were flattered by his slightest attention and Mother was a little jealous.  A pretty unmarried lady on the way to the Milk station used to seek a ride into town.  My Mother sent me to report.  I did. She told the pretty lady to get her rides into town elsewhere.  She did.  My father was a good man and gave measure heaped up and running over of his garden produce when he sold it.  He was a Baptist and sometimes went to church.  He was a man of few words, considerate and never harsh, living and giving of himself to neighbors, friends and family alike.  His vitality was a constant wonder to me as a child and now I know it came from a pure and thankful heart, clean living and a love of all good things.  He was a Latter-Day Saint through he had never heard the Gospel.  Years later when my son Tom did his work for him in the Temple he accepted it with a rejoicing heart.  My Father taught us from nature, the writings of Benjamin Franklin and the Bible.  The uncomplaining way he took the lean years with the good has been an inspiration to me to this day.  I have a home, a good husband six beautiful sons and a powerful testimony of the Gospel but I do not know the security as an adult that I did as a child with my Father and Mother.  How wonderful the Great Plan of Life and Salvation is.  What hope fills us, to know we will be to-gather again.  My father had little formal education but was a kind generous person loving the great out of doors, reverent and never tiring in giving.  At 21 years he went to De Smett Kingsbury South Dakota and took up a homestead with his brother Frank.  Before this he had appreciated as a carpenter.  He left off ranching and worked for the Wyoming Milling Company.  The ranch was sold in later years when I was little for $10,000.  In his early 30’s he went to Cedar Rapids Iowa and met and married Kate Verney Morrison daughter of John Dunlap Morrison and Mariah Clark Caldwell, the 26^th of July 1892, my mothers 17^th birthday.  They made a romantic and beautiful picture, he in his swallow tailed prince Albert and she in a lace trimmed cream white wedding gown with kid slippers of white, Her titian hair and green eyes him with dark brown curly hair and twinkling hazel eyes and deferential way.  The year she graduated from school she was chosen Queen because of her beauty.  They came East to Gouverneur, New York and using his carpenters trade built some of the finest homes in the village.  Some still standing to this day.  This place where we lived was a city once but the marble quarries gave out, the Paratese mines (containing a dark soft rock used for topping roads) reached the end of production, leaving great deep holes filled with water, the paper mills closed and also the lace factories.  It now has a population of about 5000.  It is one of the loveliest spots on earth.  In the middle of the residential section is a small park surrounded on all sides by churches, stores and the post office and Library.  Just to the west is $1,000,000 bridge crossing the Oswegtchie River (an Indian name meaning Hose – we – gotch – ye).  While in the building business my father fell.  When he recovered his health he farmed on shares.  In 1902 with six children he bought a five acre plot with a big house well built near a good Public School.  It was 1 ¾ miles to the town.  Here we all grew up and went our ways.  He made furniture, beds, bureaus, commodes, chairs, kitchen cabinets, and barns, milk houses and tool sheds for the farmers.  He had a big garden, a cow, a pig, and chickens and helped in haying season.  He could load more hay and milk more cows than any man around.  My mother never milked.  He sold his vegetables raising tomatoes when every on else still thought they were poison.   He had grapes and strawberries. 

Photos- Sylvia Vivian Tuttles

 

 I love this photograph, Grandma Tuttles was very involved in family history, and performed thousands of ordinances for our ancestors.

(If you would like to add a caption, leave a comment below, and I'll add it.)

Memory of her Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles- by Sylvia Vivian Tuttles

     There was 9 children in my Father’s family. Charles, Frederick, Eugene (my father) Edmond S., Frank, Byron, Matie Lillian, Nina Louella, Robert and Floyd.  I knew them all except Edmond S. and Nina Louella, they having died before I was born. Grandfather, of medium height, strong, blue eyed and kind to me loved my father as did all of his family.  I remember when Uncle Robert got sick Father took him to the hospital.  Aunt Matie owned and operated a drug store in Utica New York.  She never married and was so good to us my brothers and sisters as we grew up.  She dressed beautifully and very chic.  She was so pretty.  She died when I was about 8.  I remember how sad my father was when he went to the funeral.  Outside of my father’s brothers and his parents she was the nicest person I ever remember as I grew up.  Uncle Byron owned a grocery store.  I was so proud of my father when the hard years came and he never went to him for favors.  My Uncle Frank was a baker and worked for years at the St Lawrence Inn in Gouvernur New York where we all lived..  Uncle Robert worked at the marble quarries.  He made tombstones, book ends, door stops and many other things.  Uncle Floyd lived in Watertown, 30 miles away.  We never saw him after Grandmother died grandfather kept a residence while the people were away at their great summer home at the Thousand Islands.  He tended the horses and kept the grounds.  One day when I was about 12 he took me for a ride in the small rubber tired topless carriage of the time, drawn by a beautifully groomed chestnut horse.  Right down main street we went clippity – clop.  He sat straight and tall.  I was so honored I’ve never forgotten.  Once during school he loaned me $2.50 a lot of money in those days.  I told him I’d pay him back but never did.  His temple work has been done for him and his wife and family sealed also that of many of his great ancestors.  I hope it was a fair exchange.  My grandfather lived at our home for a while when I was small.  He was blind in one eye.  We would have the drippings of the pork for fat for our potatoes.  Also my mother made syrup from sugar cooked with water.  Both were kept in small bowls on the table at meal time.  One time Grandfather put syrup on his potatoes instead of the pork fat.  We kids hid our heads under the table and laughed.  My Father’s house was a haven for his family and some one was always staying with us until one day my Mother objected.  That was the end of it.  Father always listened.  There were 12 children at the time.

     My father’s Mother Harriet Cornelia Osterhout was a wonderful little person.  She had dark eyes and white hair.  When I was very small we would go to her home for dinner.  The table was covered with a beautiful white cloth and she had lovely silver ware. The lace curtains at the windows and beautiful soft chairs we sat on were the loveliest I had ever seen.  She made chocolates and I remember how she would press the trousers of my Uncles as they prepared to get ready for a date.  She was a quiet, humble little soul.  I take after her in coloring and features.  My Grandmother loved my father.

Tuttle Family Ancestors- By Sylvia Vivian Tuttle Howells

Everyone has a story and this is mine. My Fathers people are from England. Tuthill, The English spelling of the name) is spoken of as a grand old name. It is mentioned as one of America’s first families in all Genealogical records of those who first came to America and settled. In Ireland and later in Wales in the 700 they had 171 Kings. They have held positions of honor and trust for many centuries in England and America. There have been famous doctors, Ministers, Scientists, one planet being named after an Astronomer, teachers, farmers, men in Government including a Senator, bankers, genealogists, historians and printers. In England they were very wealthy and married royalty. Their coat of arms is beautiful, a lion and at the top a bird of peace. The lion meant they were of a ruling class.

     Mrs. Ralph A Vail who was a Tuthill of Michigan City Indiana P. O. Box 344 now deceased gave me my connecting link with those who came to America in 1630. She turned all of the data she had collected over a period of 50 years over to Professor A.M. Tuttle of Ohio State University. He has worked for 60 years on every Tuthill and Tuttle in America. He compiled a Genealogy on them.  I gave him $500 for it and thousands of United States census records to help.

     Our great ancestor John Tuthill who settled in Long Island New York was six feet tall with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was exceptionally good looking, had a good nose and a rare sense of humor.  He was loyal, steadfast and faithful. His father died when he was 6.  He was a small independent farmer.

     My grandmother’s grandfathers on my fathers side was John Osterhout. He was Dutch, one of 7 German and Dutch settlers at Andrustown, Herkimer county New York. John’s parents and grandparents were from Osterhout Holland coming to America and settled in New Amsterdam New York as early as 1620. Our great ancestor John and his family were the sole survivors of the Andrustown Massacre. The Indians attacked and he and his family reached the Fort in safety except for the eldest son who turned up after three days unharmed. This story is found in the Hatch Papers which I obtained from the Herkimer Historical Society of New York. The Osterhouts were a wealthy well educated people. John’s large home was used to establish the 1^st Dutch reformed church in this vicinity. I loved my dear little grandmother Osterhout and look forward to seeing her again in the Spirit world. My Mothers’s Mother’s Father was John Caldwell. He married 1^st Mary Duncan 2^nd Elizabeth Nickelson. My mother told me he was from Glasgow Scotland and farther back from Ireland. He was a teacher and shoe maker. In searching out my line I read that the Caldwells came originally from France, then to Scotland then to England. Mother says John Caldwell’s fathers sister was a lady in waiting to the Queen of England. There are Caldwells in every state in the Union. I found that a lady by the name of Ella Metsker a genealogist once living at Seven Oaks, New York, had a complete Genealogy of every Caldwell who came to America. I tried to trace this person but failed. There is a Caldwell Castle in Scotland. The Caldwells are of the line of Queen Elizabeth of England, Cromwell and William the Conquorer. They stood for Freedrom and education. They were of a religious nature and in several books on Genealogy I’ve read historians record that no family that ever migrated to America has done more to build this great nation. My great grandfather born 1805 in Pennsylvania settled in Ohio. I’ve searched for years but cannot trace him farther. My Mother’s father’s people, Morrisons came originally from the Isle of Lewis tracing back their life to the Royal House of Norway. They, like the Tuttles, Caldwells and Osterhouts earned the right to a coat of arms. My Great Grandfather’s son John my grandfather married Mariah Clark Caldwell. His father Thomas Morrison born 1799 came to America from Ireland. My grandfather John Morrison is found in the 1840 census records in the town of Jefferson Muskingum County Ohio with a large family. All in this family are now deceased. (1975). My mother living to the great age of 97 died in 1971. John’s father Thomas Morrison had a daughter Margaret who married Sedrick Shaffer. Some descendants live in Idaho Springs, Colorado.  Margaret Shaffer’s grandson’s wife Mrs. Leslie Chapman of California told me her husband had traced his family back to the Kings in Scotland.  I never found my Morrisons in Ireland.