Danish research opportunities

I am continually amazed at how much there is still to be done on our Danish family research. For those of you not that closely related to me, if you have any Danish ancestors, this will still be of interest to you.

My father and mother and previous ancestors worked hard over many years to collect as much as they could on family research and we benefit greatly from their tireless work. Much of their work was focused on poring over page after page of microfilmed documents in the old genealogy library, only able to do their research when they could get away and go to downtown Salt Lake City to get access to these films (or later, have them shipped to local libraries, then using that same process).

I have mentioned several time to many people about the wonderful resources now available on the internet, both from the Danish state archives and also now on FamilySearch resources. It helps to understand some basics, including the language, but anyone who wants to spend a little time can start to pick up some techniques.
Try my page: http://buchananspot.com/joseph/genealogy/DanishHelper.html

With all that said, I want to show exactly what I mean by the many names still available to be researched and done. Granted, it is for cousins and their families, because most of the direct line work is complete as far as it can be with the records at hand, but I am still amazed at the close cousins that I have been finding.

A month ago, on my Grandmother Sarah Delilah Anderson Jacobson's line, I found some close cousins and have 55 names ready for temple work to be done. These are mostly 3rd cousins of our ancestors. Then, just two days ago, spurred on by a research suggestion on FamilySearch, I looked into the family of another close relative: Sidsel Jacobsdatter, the aunt of our ancestor Ole Hansen Jacobson. Her daughter Inger Kirstine Jensdatter was the suggestion to me, a simple source suggestion was offered. As I looked at it, I wondered why there were not any other children listed for her, or what her husband's last name would be. Just in the last two days, I have started filling in her family and have added 9 children and two husbands (most of those shown in dark blue on the right in the list below).

My point is this. Go to any of our ancestors, look at their aunts, uncles, first cousins, and then click on the descendancy chart and list 4 generations. If there are any without death dates, or if they lived to adulthood AND in either case do not show spouses or children, then there is likely someone to be found. This can be for people born even in the 1900s.

In this case, I haven't even started looking at the children of these children. As it is, many of these are second cousins of my grandfather, Eddie Jacobson. How many of you know personally some or all of your second cousins? These are not distant relatives! And they can be found in resources available from your home.

I am very willing to spend time helping anyone who would like to try their hand at this. It is fun. I love it when I have those "Eureka!" moments and I find someone. It is exciting.

It was particularly touching for me to find the twins in that Johansen family. They are listed as only living 1/2 hour and 1 hour respectively and were not given names, but they are now not forgotten.

As it happens, I have so many of these people that I cannot get to all of them for temple work. I would love to share them. I am getting to the point of sharing those a little father removed with the temple so that they can at least get some attention sooner. I would rather have those closely related do their proxy work.

Please pass this on to others in the family.

- Joseph

February Update

The mission continues in keeping us busy. We are enjoying our experiences, especially the combination of helping members and friends here, finding new friends, and being with our daughter's family.

One of our highlights (of many) is being in the temple with one of our dear families of the branch- the parents this time. We went with them as their boys were baptized for family members last fall and a few weeks ago we were with their parents as they did other ordinances, this time for his parents and paternal grandparents. It was the first time they had been back for these ordinances since they were sealed in the temple over 16 years ago. It was an amazing experience.

We visit with their family every week, mostly because we teach their two older boys as their seminary teachers. Shauna also has been helping them in their kitchen remodel.

They have a pet dog, named Silly, who is extremely paranoid and skittish. She finally is willing to take some food from my hand (if I do not look at her). She is loved by the father of the family (as you see above).

Ray has been in the military and has had a lot of difficult times in his life. He has an interesting collection of pictures and other items. One picture I wondered about, until it was explained to me that this is a famous painting of a buffalo-hunting Indian as he reloads while in pursuit of his prey.

The area here is still somewhat in winter. We have had all sorts of weather, besides the real cold times I mentioned earlier. On interesting thing I have noticed is that along the roads, where the roadbed has been cut away from the bedrock, there is a lot of seeping of water continually, and in some places in the cold times, ice flows develop where you really do not notice water flowing. It is gradual and forms there flows of ice. This picture was taken when it had gotten up to above 70°F, so it has melted some, but you still can see the ice flow. The flow does not come from the top, but seeps from the rock itself.

The hills in the warmer months are thick with trees and overgrowth. At this time of the year, especially with some snow on the ground, you can see through the bare trees. Here are some pictures of the hills around here. (The local people refer to these as "mountains.")

One of our recent activities was an Elders Quorum bowling night. These show some of our people, including one man who was baptized just a few months ago, and another who is recently coming back to church. The branch members are doing well in helping these people feel welcome. The last one is a wall mural in the bowling alley depicting Hornell as it was in the heydey of the railway boom.

(Elders Lawrenz and Kerwin)