Thank You For The Support

Good news! My mom doesn't have cancer, despite what the doctors originally said. While she still isn't feeling very well, she atleast doesn't have cancer.

I would ust like to send out a huge thank you to everyone. Your thoughts, prayers, encouraging words, and words of advice are what helped get me through this. I have appreciated every comment and every email. Thank you so much for everything! Genealogists never cease to amaze me!

My Genealogy Now Has New Importance

In case you haven't heard on Facebook, my mom most likely has colon cancer. She is in the hospital right now and I won't know for sure until they do surgery on Monday or Tuesday. However, the doctor said that with this particular kind of cancer, it is considered cancer until proven not cancer.

So why am I writing on this blog right now? Honestly it is because I can't sleep, I feel nauseous and I don't know what else to do until tomorrow morning. I am new to all of this and never imagined myself in this sort of situation - especially while I am so young.

I have a million thoughts running through my head right now - most of which I am trying to block out. But one of the thoughts that feels "safe" for me to think about is how my genealogy has taken an all new importance.

While before today I was primarily doing genealogy for my own curiosity, everything has changed. I now keep thinking about how I should have asked my mom more questions and listened more carefully to her stories. I know that I am overreacting right now because she isn't dead and I am trying not to think like this - but a part of me just can't help it.

All of a sudden, I feel like my genealogy needs to be shared with as many people as possible. Suddenly, it is all about keeping the happy memories alive and in the front of everyone's minds because I could really use them.

I also wonder if any of my ancestors ever had to go through something similar to my situation. As an only child, I am shouldered with a lot of the responsibility of keeping family members up to date and organizing medical information. Since I've never dealt with anything like this before, I can't help but wonder what my ancestors did to deal with such huge news like this.

I guess I am a little strange to be thinking about genealogy at a time like this, but genealogy has always been a form of therapy for me. I think over the next few days I am going to be needing a lot of this sort of therapy.

P.S: I have never dealt with anything like this before, so if anyone has any advice on this, I would love to hear it. If you are not comfortable with sharing it in the comments section, please email me. I could use all the advice that I can get.

What's Your Top 40?

Family Tree Magazine wants you to nominate a genealogy blog for the Family Tree 40 Best Genealogy Blogs. (Read more about the project over at Genealogy Insider).

The good news is, you can nominate for as many blogs as you'd like - including your own! I highly suggest you all go out and start nominating your favorite genealogy blogs.

My goal is to nominate one blog per day (preferably a different blog each day). I have already nomintated Geneabloggers, Genea-Musings, footnoteMaven, DearMyrtle, and my own blog. However, I have a lot of blogs that I plan on nominating.

To nominate a blog, click here

Who will you be nominating?

Things Are Going To Be A Bit Slow...

Since school started last week, I have been constantly running around. My school schedule is a bit chaotic and I am extra tired as I try to adjust to waking up early and going to bed late and dealing with the stress of the financial aid office. Thus, I've had very little time for my own genealogy, let alone blogging.

However, I hope to knock out a post or two every week just to keep me sane. Because honestly, genealogy and blogging are my therapy. But if things get a bit slow over the next couple of months (The semester ends in December), then I apologize. I will do my best to post as often as I can.

I just want to thank all of my regular readers out there for sticking by me. I love you guys!

George Rogers - My Biggest Brickwall

Note: I have put my sources on the bottom of this post, in the order that I referred to them. Each source is numbered. I have included some links to Ancestry.com that links directly to the image, but you must have a subscription to be able to view it. I tried to include as must information and be as specific as possible in this post.


My biggest brick wall in my genealogy has always been my great grandfather, George M. Rogers. My hope is that by writing this out, I will get new ideas as to other places to search. I also hope that anyone else out there looking for George will be able to connect with me and we can share information. I'd also be happy to take any suggestions or comments - I am here to learn!

Back Story

I know very little about George and the few stories I have from family members haven't helped me at all - and truthfully, I am not even sure if they are true. Unfortunately, my dad's side of the family does not talk much about family and no one seems to know much. There aren't many older people alive on my dad's side of the family - only my aunt and my dad.

George's Story

George M. Rogers was born about 1882 in James County, Tennessee (Sources 1-5)



I don't have George in the 1900 Census. My guess is that he might be in Tennessee (he was born there) or Arkansas (he enlisted into the army in Little Rock, Arkansas.



However, I have George enlisting in the Army in Little Rock, Arkansas on the 7 of November 1904 (Source 3). His occupation before signing up is listed as farm hand, which makes me wonder if his family lives on a farm. Here is where it gets interesting though: under the remarks section of his enlistment record, it says "Disclid Nov 6, 07 at Fort Mott, NJ ???????". I can't read most of what it says in this section, so if anyone wants to help me out by telling me what this section says I would greatly appreciate it (click here to see the image on Ancestry.com)


George reappears in 1908 by enlisting in the army in Missouri. (Source 4)


George then appears in the 1910 U.S. Census at Fort Casey, King County, Washington. He is a soldier. (Source 2)

George reenlists into the army in 1911 in Missouri. According to this source, he is honorably discharged on Sept 26, 1914. (Source 5)

I believe George served in WWI (that is what I've been told by family members and I have some old notes my grandma wrote that correspond to this). But I have yet to find a service record for this. However, I think it will just take me longer to find his service record since his name is so common.

I have not been able to find George in the 1920 census. To be honest, I have no idea where he would be.

I believe George married my great grandmother, Julia Margaret Morris around 1923 (Source 1).

George and Julia's daughter, Nancy Jean Rogers (my grandmother) is born on 13 Dec 1924.

George, Julia, and Nancy appear on the 1930 U.S. Census in Seattle, King, Washington (Source 1).

My Goals andQuestions to be Answered

• When was George born exactly?


• Did George have any siblings?


• Find George in the 1900 U.S. Census.


• What was the names of George's parents?


• Find a marriage record for Julia and George.


• Where is George buried?


• When exactly did George die?


• Why was he in Arkansas when he first enlisted with the military?


• He was a postal worker in 1930 - are there any records that come from this?


• Did he serve in WWI?


• Did he recieve a pension for his service in WWI (assuming he served)?

Closing Notes

As you can tell, I do not have much on him. I know I have not exhausted all avenues of possible records - which is half of the reason I wrote this post. I wanted to lay everything out - be able to see what I have and what I don't in an attempt to lead me to other possible sources. Still, if anyone has any ideas, suggestions, or comments I would love to hear them. I am open to everything.

To be honest, I think George intimidates me because he has such a common name and so little is known about him. I need to break this cycle of fear and learn to face these brick walls head on.

Sources (source notes in italic):

Source 1: 1930 U.S. Federal Census

1930 U.S. Federal Census, King County, Washington, population schedule, Seattle, Block Number 5439, enumeration district (ED) 189, Sheet 1B, Line 76, dwelling 25, family 25, George M. Rogers; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed 23 August 2009); National Archives and Records Administration, T626.

Note: George is married to a Julia. George and Julia have a daughter named Nancy J. - Nancy is my grandmother.

Source 2: 1910 U.S. Federal Census

1910 U.S. Federal Census, King County, Washington, population schedule, Fort Casey, Coupeville Precinct, enumeration district (ED) 3, Sheet Number 9B, Line 69, dwelling 253, family 256, George M. Rogers; digital images, Ancestry (www.Ancestry.com : accessed 23 August 2009); National Archives and Records Administration, T624.

Note: Lists all soldiers as being part of "85 d Company" on the left side of the columns.

Source 3: Army Enlistment - 7 Nov 1904

Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94, "U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914," digital image, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed 23 August 2009), George M. Rogers, enlistment date: 7 Nov 1904, number 1454; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls.

Note: enlisted in Little Rock, Arkansas by Capt Wallace for a period of 3 years. He was born in James County, Tennessee. He is 22 years and 2 months old. His occupation is farmhand. He has blue eyes, dark brown hair, and tan skin. He is 5ft, 7 1/2 inches. He is in regiment G.J. E. Artry

Source 4: Army Enlistment - 7 Aug 1908

Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94, "U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914," digital image, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed 23 August 2009), George M. Rogers, Enlistment Number: 1568, Enlistment Date: Aug 7 1908; citing Original data: Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls.

Note: enlisted at Jefferson Bks, Missouri by Capt Gregory for a period of 3 years. Born in James County, Tennessee. Age: 25 years, 11 months. Occupation: Clerk. Blue eyes, dark brown hair, fair skin. Height: 5ft 6 1/2 inches. Regiment: C.A Remarks: "Dis Aug 6, '11 at Fort Casey, Washington

Source 5: Army Enlistment - 27 Sept 1911

Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94, "U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914," digital image, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed 23 August 2009), George M. Rogers, Enlistment number: 1905; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls.

Note: Enlisted Sept 27, 1911 in Jefferson Bks, MO by Capt Bryan for a period of 3 years. Born in James County, Tennessee. He is 29 years and 1 month old. His occupation is a soldier. He has blue eyes, dark brown hair, and medium fair skin. He is 5 ft ?in tall. Regiment 8 Inf Q.M.C. Company H. Hon Dis Sept 26 1914