Time for Bike Rides!

With my sweetie

My bikes have both been sitting in the office, one in mine, and the other in MSH's office space.  He keeps his bike in his office, too.  Why are they inside, you might ask?  Because we now live in a 4th floor condo with no garage.  We do miss the space that a garage gave us for all those years, but giving that up also resulted in no more yard work.... which pleases us both.

My favorite cycling buddy is MSH, but as he has many other activities keeping him busy, I've had to figure out other riding options.  Most often I go out with my friend Jana.

Yesterday, April 2, we were able to get in a 21 mile to the north of Eugene - we call it "Bottom Loop" because it involves riding on that road north of Coburg.  We try to fit in multiple rides each week, when the weather permits and when we're both in town.  

Fellow cyclists Dave, Rex, Jana, Karen, me, MSH

Rides in the 20-35 mile range are just right, taking a couple of hours out of my generally very busy days.  Cycling is the perfect exercise for me, and I'm planning to ride as much as I can over the coming months. 

I have knee problems (and who, at this stage in life, doesn't...), but what I've found is that cycling does not hurt in the way that walking does.  

Take care of yourselves, dear readers, and I wish you a happy Spring!

The Importance of Volunteering

I'm finding myself extremely busy as we wrap up the FIRST QUARTER of 2024.  Two major changes are happening in my life:

• After 40 years of being a computer trainer and consultant, I am wrapping up my "paid career" in this field.  I have loved almost every minute of this wonderful opportunity which landed in my lap in 1984, when the City of Eugene decided they needed someone to teach WordPerfect for staff.  They asked me, and the rest is history.  Thanks to ALL of the local government organizations with whom I was blessed to work over the past four decades.
  
  
• 
  In November 2023, I was elected new governor for the Oregon Society of Mayflower Descendants (OSMD), at a lovely Compact Day Meeting at The Edgefield in Troutdale, Oregon.  More than 85 Oregon Society members attended the luncheon.  We were especially blessed with the visiting of Governor General Lisa Pennington from Plymouth.  She spoke to our group on the importance of sharing our Mayflower history to keep the story alive, and she also inducted those of us who were new officers.
  

I have served on a variety of boards in the past, both arts, non-profits, and elected positions.  What I've discovered about this new position is that it's a full time job right now!  I'm loving working with the people on the board and those who are members of this organization. 

We will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of OSMD in 2028, so we're already thinking about that event.  Meanwhile, both May 2024 and November 2024 meetings and luncheons are on the schedule, with places reserved, and I've begun preparing our agenda for the Spring event.  

The title of this post is the importance of VOLUNTEERING, both in our communities and at further distances.  I hope every reader of this article is already volunteering, even if you are still employed. If you are not volunteering, please think about where you can contribute. There are so many tasks in our communities which would NOT get done if it were not for volunteers. If you ARE a volunteer already, 

 Thank You!

I'm a Williams!

 

Cecil Williams and
Mildred Bassham - 
wedding day 1929

Having been married for over half a century, there are many people who assume Sorensen is my given name.  When correcting people's spelling of SorensEn (not SorensOn), I have been known to say that I never experienced people misspelling Williams.

I realized recently that I have rarely mentioned my paternal family in this blog, and today I want to fix that.  My father's family settled in Tennessee and Alabama, with deeper roots in Kentucky, Virginia, and the Carolinas.  Much like my maternal line, these people arrived in the US centuries ago, fought in the various wars of our nation, and mostly farmed and raised large families.

Cecil & Mildred
with Opal (age 3) and
my dad Theo (about 1 yr)
Top left is Mildred's sister

My paternal grandparents, Cecil Williams and Mildred Bassham Williams married in 1929.  They raised six children, four girls and two boys, and my father was the second child and older son.  The family lived in Lawrence County, Tennessee, and I remember many fun times at the farm when I was a child, playing with my brothers and cousins, helping feel the animals, bringing in eggs, collecting produce from the garden, and learning to make biscuits with grandma.  

Cecil & Mildred, probably in the 1950s

Four generations:
Mildred, Cecil, Theo, with
Shawn (9 months) and me

I really enjoyed my grandparents and the love and attention they gave us. 

Grandma lived until 2002, when I was 48 years old, and my last visit with her was the summer before she passed at her home in Illinois.  She was in good spirits, cleaning her home, insisting on cooking for me, and giving me more information about our family, providing pictures, and sharing stories and memories.  It was a wonderful visit. 

Mayflower Descendants visit Plymouth MA

That's the Mayflower II
behind me in Plymouth Harbor.

 For those of us with Mayflower ancestry, a visit to Plymouth Mass is a wonderful way to spend some time.  There is so much to see, as well as lots of our shared history to learn.  On a September 2023 visit I was blessed to be involved in the following:

• MWH (my sweet husband) and I spent several days on Cape Cod, including seeing Provincetown, First Encounter Beach, and Corn Hill.  All three are important parts of my ancestors arrival in November 1620.  Friends from Boston gave us the use of their home in Wellfleet, which was a very nice place to rest for a few days.
• We traveled to the Massachusetts Statehouse, with a special viewing of the William Bradford documents.  These are not available for the public to view, but were brought out for our members to see... a wonderful opportunity.
• I attended a banquet and meetings for the Pilgrim John Howland Society, of which I am a member.  It was great to meet some of my "cousins" and get to know more about this organization.
• I wore my Mayflower costume for the first time!  Well, part of it anyway.  I left a number of pieces home, as I knew the weather would be warm AND when traveling I only bring a carry-on suitcase.  So the sleeves for the jacket, chemise, apron, and hat didn't make the trip. Next time!

My new costume!

PJHS banquet, with re-enactors John and
Priscilla Alden, and (in the dark costume),
my 12x great-grandfather John Howland.

• 

  Nancy (from the Texas Society),
  me, and Jenney (Oregon's
  in-coming deputy governor).
  
  

  I was privileged to participate in the GSMD (General Society of Mayflower Descendants) Congress, which happens every three years.  As an Oregon board member, I was one of two voting delegates representing the Oregon Society of Mayflower Descendants.  Votes  were held for the GSMD Governor General  and other national board members.  As the in-coming Governor for Oregon, this was a wonderful learning and observing opportunity for me.  Oregon's out-going Governor, Beth Lambright, was elected to one of three member-at-large positions, which is a huge honor both for Oregon AND for the entire western US.  

I hope you are all enjoying the Fall weather, dear readers.  Carry on!

My Navy Connections

I've been working on family history for quite a few years, and I've just this week come around to the fact that I have a larger (wider?) connection to the US Navy than to the USAF.  This was a surprise to me, as my father was career USAF and served in Germany, Philippines, Japan, and Vietnam, along with a dozen or more bases in the US.  

Shawn, my first child
taken about 2012

My son, Shawn, joined the Navy in 1971 and retired in 2014, serving on submarines at Bangor, Pearl, Kings Bay, and also assignments in California and South Carolina, prior to retiring as a Chief.  His father, MSH (my sweet husband), did not serve in the military but was a super supportive dad.  

If you have read some of my earlier posts, you may recall that MSH was adopted at birth, and in finding his biological father we learned that HE was also in the Navy.  He served during WWII, followed by many years in the Montana National Guard.

Earl Hansen, the father-in-law I never met

Kenneth Brown

In addition to these fine guys, my great-uncle Kenneth Brown was also in the Navy in WWII, as was MSH's uncle Jack Soderling.

My own family, both paternal and maternal, has served in every war back to the beginning of this country, so I probably shouldn't be surprised when I find these connections.  

Jack Soderling

My real interest comes with the fact that in my DNA work with adoptees and NPE folks (not parent expected), I am amazed at the number of men I am finding that also have a USN connection.  

Take care, dear readers, and enjoy the end of summer wherever you are!

Williams Family in Walla Walla!

 Family get-togethers are a wonderful opportunity to visit, catch up on what everyone has been doing since our last meeting, and see how big our younger folks are become.  Fact... I am quickly becoming one of the shorter people in my family. 

Four Generations, Scar, Logan,
Shawn, Dolores, Emily, Debra

A total of 29 family members joined in for some or all of the week, July 24 to 29, 2023, in Walla Walla, Washington, coming from as far away as North Dakota and Nebraska.  This area in the southeast corner of Washington state has long been known for   "Walla Walla Sweets" onions, but has also become a wine-mecca over the past several decades.  

My mom, Dolores  (age 87), was joined by her three children and spouses/partners, seven of her nine grandchildren and some spouses/partners, along with seven great-grandchildren, for a total of 29 people attending the fun week.  The food offerings were wonderful, and a 50th birthday party with cake and balloons was held for Shawn, the eldest of those grandchildren.  

Logan, Emily, Jeanette

Wednesday was "lake day" which was spent at Bennington Lake.  People brought paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes, and there was lots of swimming and splashing around in the water.  

Logan Standing on paddleboard

I managed to get a few short bike rides in, including a ride out to the lake and back, and I handed out family history/Mayflower line packets to the great-grands in attendance.  

So, I managed to address BOTH of my passions of genealogy and cycling during our vacation week!

I hope you are having a wonderful summer, dear readers.  

Me with my sweet little Bike Friday "Emerald"

So much to learn!

I've spent the past week in GRIP class, sponsored by the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburg, and I learned SO MUCH!  All classes, meetings, and even our small group assignments, were done on Zoom, so I didn't have to make my way to Pennsylvania.  While I do have some PA ancestry, it's not on my list of things to research at the moment.

The focus for the week was "Digging Deeper: Records, Tools, and Skills" and I was online about 6am each day learning from some excellent instructors.  Most attendees were from the eastern or central time zones, so it wasn't so early for them!

The coordinator for this event was Paula Stuart-Warren, and I enjoyed so much learning from her - she's an excellent presenter and I will be looking for more presentations by her!

In addition to the three other instructors (Cindi Ingle, Debbie Mieszala, and Cari Taplin), who were also great, it was so interesting to be in a group of folks who love genealogy and are eager to learn more AND to discuss what they're finding, offer advice, ask questions, and all those things that I also enjoy.  

I am very inspired to work harder on not only work I've taken on for other people, but also my OWN family work... of which there is so much to be done! 

Carry on with your own research, dear readers!

100 Years Plus

 After my November 2022 article telling about Aunt Peggy's 100th birthday party, I decided it was high time I write about my OWN grandmothers who have surpassed the century mark.

As I have done research over the past years, I have been fascinated by two of my grandmothers who lived for over 100 years.  

First, my 2x great-grandmother, Martha Jane ALMOND Johnson.   She was born on 10 January 1846 in Kentucky, the fourth child of William ALMOND and Nancy Spradling ALMOND.  By 1855 her mother had died, her father had remarried, and the family had moved to Illinois.

Martha married Joseph Henry JOHNSON in 1872 and their six children were born in Illinois.  By 1900, the Johnson family had migrated to Oklahoma, residing in Saline, Alfalfa County, for many years.  Their children included a set of twins, Alma Jane and Alta Ann, born in 1981.  Alma survived less than one year.  Alta Ann was my great-grandmother, the mother of my maternal grandfather, James Henry Walton. 

Martha lived a very long life, passing in 1946, seven months past her 100th birthday.  Her life started during the Mexican American war and ended after World War II.  Her life of almost 101 years in Oklahoma qualifies me (and my siblings, kids, and grands) for pioneer status in Oklahoma!

Second, my 3x great-grandmother, Sarah BORTON Shaffer, lived from 1834 to 1936, passing just one month shy of her 102nd birthday.  She was born on 20 September 1834 in Ohio, daughter of Asa Borton and Elizabeth Hazen.  In 1852, Sarah married David Shaffer, and their first four children were born in Ohio.  By 1867 they had moved to Michigan, and my 2x great-grandmother, Emma, was born there along with two younger siblings.

Grandma Shaffer was honored by the Charlotte, Michigan newspaper on her 101st birthday, with the article saying she was Eaton county's oldest resident.  A party was held in the home of her daughter, Lillian Ives.  She married at age 18, and told of cooking on a fireplace when first married, picking wool and spinning yarn for mittens and stockings for her family.

At the age of 102, she had 111 descendants, including 4 (of 8) children, 25 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, and 27 great-great-grandchildren.  What a woman she must have been!

Keep up the good work on your research, dear readers!

Zoom by Bike!

While I have been out for a few short bike rides in 2023, our weather has not been conducive to longer rides. Saturday April 22 was the first excellent cycling day! Temp got up to 70 degrees, with no moisture and very little wind.  I rolled along north of Eugene, past Coburg to Herman Road, and south until I made it home, for a total of 33 miles!

“Garnet” has been my trusty friend for 23 years.  We’ve completed over 29,000 miles of riding, including Cycle Oregon , the Montana Bike Ride, and STP (Seattle to Portland).  But most of our rides are in the Eugene area and are between 20 and 40 miles.  

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have been teaching on Zoom, and most all of the meetings I have attended over the past three years have also been on Zoom.   One day early in the lock-down, I was out for a ride and happened to look down at my handlebars and notice that my headset cap says ZOOM - how appropriate!

I hope your Spring is off to a wonderful start, dear readers.  Enjoy!

Success Finding Two Fathers

 Helping people understand their DNA tests and identify some of those cousins on the match list is one of my favorite tasks, and over the past month I am pleased to say that I have identified birth fathers for two more people!  

Both people, one male and one female, were born during the 1960s and are both now parents and grandparents themselves.  All these years they have not known who their birth father was.  Well, now they know!

First is a friend living in the Pacific Northwest.  The woman (SF) contacted me after learning that I had identified both birth mother and birth father of PB, my husband's half brother.  For a bit of history on this, see my blog article published August 2019 for more information on MSH (my sweet husband) and his two half-brothers.

SF was born in Bozeman, Montana, in the 1960s, and placed for adoption at 4-months of age.  She was the youngest child in a large farm family, growing up with older brothers and sisters who were all adopted. As with many adopted children, she longed to know the circumstances of her birth and why she was placed.  She was able to identify and meet her birth mom prior to her passing about ten years ago, but the woman was not able or willing to share who SF's birth father was.  

With the help of DNA testing, my research identified the two ancestral couples who were her great-grandparents.  Both couples were primarily from Montana, lived between the mid 1800s up to the mid 1900s, and between them there were 15 children and more than 30 grandchildren.  Building a research tree and locating DNA matches for SF who fit in these trees was key.  

After many months of work, I requested one person take a DNA test, suspecting she was either a first cousin or a half-sister.  With over 1700 cM shared, half-sibling it was.  Birth father is deceased, but SF is now connected with three older half-sisters.

Second is a gentleman (AJ) who was born in Vietnam in the 1960s and raised by a single-mom.  His father was a US soldier stationed there.  A sister who was age 12 at the time of her mom's pregnancy had quite a few memories about the man who lived with them while stationed there.  When AJ appeared on my husband's match list in January 2023, I immediately checked to see if he was also on the list of MSH's two half-brothers.  He was, so I wrote an email thru Ancestry's message system asking if he would like to talk.  As he lives in Vietnam and does not speak English, we communicated via a family friend in the US who was the daughter of a Japanese mother and US soldier father who had married prior to moving to the US.  I was given access to AJ's DNA test and at the top of the list were second cousins of my husband and his half-brothers.  We've met one of the women and her husband at a family reunion, so I reached out to her and explained my findings.  She and her sisters reached out to AJ, resulting in his connection to nine half siblings on this side of the Pacific Ocean. 

I'm working with two more clients who are searching for their fathers, so watch for another article telling about those projects, hopefully this Spring!