Genealogists Hope Readers Can Help Out

Today’s column features another batch of queries from readers. If you have a query pertaining to the life of a Pacific Northwest ancestor, please send it to me c/o this newspaper. Include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope if you would like a copy of the column when the query is published.

Caroline Wise, Rt. 1, Box 11, Mt. Vernon, OR 97865, writes to ask about her uncle, Charles Adelbert WOODWORTH, who died in 1968 in Spokane or Whitman county. His wife was Norma, and all their children were born in Nebraska: Melvin Adelbert, Harry William, Richard Alvadore, Juanita Frances and Cecil Willard Woodworth. Does anyone know descendants of this family?

G.F. Austin, with an Oregon phone number of 503-884-5600, is seeking to contact relatives of Henry HENDRICK and his wife Clarice. They lived in the Eugene, Ore., area in the 1940s attending college. Their daughter was born in March 1949. Henry and Clarice divorced soon after her birth; Clarice remarried an attorney and moved to the Spokane area. The daughter could be the recipient of a sizable estate of Henry Hendrick’s, and possibly is not aware of this. Please call if you know these folks.

Nancy Gregerson, 9015 24th NW, Seattle, WA 98117, writes on behalf of her father, Elton Leroy Anderson. They are searching for any living relatives of Elton’s biological mother, Ida BRIGGS (wife of Charles F. MANCKE; they married 1915 in Idaho, divorced 1921 in Spokane, had one baby in Spokane that died between 1915 and 1920, lived at 513 E. Bridgeport). Ida BRIGGS was born in Selah, Wash., and was 17 when Elton was born in 1914. Whatever happened to Ida?

Dorothy K. Kimball, 707 Stewart Ave., Cambridge, OH 43725-1851, writes that she needs information on Charles Enok KIMBLE or KIMBALL, born 1931 in Buckley, Wash., and known to be in Enumclaw, Wash., in 1955.

Virginia L. Basford, 3222 N. 25th St., Ft. Pierce, FL 34946, writes that she is searching for descendants of Andrew Jackson MOHLER and his wife Elizabeth Ann STILES. He died August 6, 1926 in Spokane.

Jeff Sims, 1604 E. Decatur, Spokane, WA 99207, has a different kind of query. He is researching the history of Spokane College, founded in 1905 by the Norwegian Lutheran Church. It was located at 29th and Grand, closed in 1929, and was torn down in 1969 to make way for Manito Shopping Center. He would like to hear from any former student or faculty, and would especially appreciate any photos or personal reminiscences of Spokane College.

Gloria Shellenbarger, 19449 Park Road, Big Rapids, MI 49307-9443, writes that she seeks information on Warren SCHMIDT. His son (and Gloria’s brother), John Joseph Schmidt was born to Mary GEORGE on Nov. 24, 1961, in Wallace. Warren was born in Spokane and Mary in Kellogg. They were never married; he had a family in Spokane.

Dorothy DeMers, 1508 Crestview Drive, Modesto, CA 95355, writes that she seeks to correspond with Norma Jean KALKAS who married Loren WILLS and lived in Snohomish around 1988. She’d also like to know more about the family of Wanda LANCE, born about 1917, who married Donald POOLE and lived in Medford, Ore. They had a daughter named Carol or Carla.

Rosemary Braun, 2709 W. Sanson, Spokane, WA 99205, seeks information on the SLAUGHTERBACK family from Pennsylvania. One branch of the family migrated to the Oregon Territory in the early 1880s. She would like to hear from anybody researching this family.

Goals for genealogists

A friend in Seattle recently sent me an interesting list that I’m happy to share with you. Titled “Personal Goals to Enrich Our Lives as Genealogists,” it presents some very good ideas:

Talk to or write to your older relatives NOW while there is still time to get their stories. Bring your forms and charts up to date NOW while you still have time.

Write at least two genealogical letters a month, and consider combining genealogical research with your vacation this year.

Plan to attend at least one genealogical seminar or workshop a year, and share your information with others for a round-robin effect. Always remember clarity, courtesy and an enclosed SASE for success in your letter writing.

Write and illustrate a four-generation book for your family for Christmas. Also, keep a journal, perhaps not every day, but about special events and things dear to you.

If you refinish a chest, sew a quilt or paint a picture, consider it a future heirloom. Sign and date it.

Make copies of those old photos and share them with relatives, and write up all of Mom’s and Grandma’s old recipes for your family. While you’re at it, visit your nearest genealogy library at least once a month. Most importantly, get to know your family better and enjoy them NOW.

Upcoming conference speakers

Desmond Walls Allen will be the presenter at the Washington State Genealogy Society conference on May 13 (see last week’s column for details). One of her topics will be on the American State Papers. Briefly, the American State Papers is a series of 38 volumes printed by the U.S. government spanning the years 1789 to various dates between 1823 and 1838.

These papers detail the government’s dealings with us, the American people. The volumes cover foreign relations, Native American affairs, finance, commerce and navigation, military affairs, naval affairs, post office, public lands, claims and miscellaneous.

Clifford Neal Smith has compiled an index to part of these papers in his “Grassroots of America.” I hope you are planning to attend the WSGS conference and hear Allen for yourself. If you would like a copy of a short article written by Willard Heiss in the 1980s telling a bit about the American State Papers, please send me a stamped, self-addressed envelope, c/o this paper.

The April 20 meeting of the Kootenai County Genealogy Society starts at 7 p.m., Hayden Lake Public Library, and features Judy DelComte speaking on “Immigration Records.” Everyone is welcome.

Today’s laugh

Genealogy is like popcorn. Once you start, it’s hard to stop.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Donna Potter Phillips The Spokesman-Review