Last night’s “Saturday Night Genealogy Fun” challenge at Genea-Musings involved doing some semi-random research. I wasn’t able to do the research last night, but I’m ready now!
Step #1: Go to your family tree database of choice (you know, like RootsMagic, Reunion, Ancestry Member Tree), and determine who the very first person on your list of C surnames is. Or the first person on your list of J surnames. Or P surnames. Or any other name you need to research. Your choice!
I chose the letter “U” and my name was Boyd Ungard.
Step #2: What do you know (or not know) about this person based on your research? It’s OK to do more research if you need to – in fact, it’s encouraged!
Boyd Ungard was born about 1875 in Pennsylvania and died after 1930. He was married in 1895 in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania to Edith Stewart. They had at least 7 children: 4 daughters & 3 sons including a son named Stewart, evidently from his mother’s last name.
Boyd Ungard & Edith Stewart’s 1895 marriage record found at Ancestry
Records I have:
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- 1910, 1920, & 1930 census – all 3 near St Louis, Illinois (which is across the Mississippi from St Louis, Missouri)
- a Methodist church marriage record stating both the bride & groom were “from Flemington”
- a 1926 city directory showing his occupation as a laborer and his middle initial as “K” which I had never recorded
New findings on Ancestry:
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- U.S. Social Security Death Index – shows exact birth date (13 Feb 1875) & death facts (Oct 1968 in St Louis, Missouri) – age of 93
- A listing for a St Louis obituary, though I wasn’t able to view a copy of it
- Several more city directories
- A baptism as an adult in June of 1894 in the same church (& same month) as his marriage to Edith Stewart
- A church record (same Methodist church) showing he was received in June of 1894 & later “removed to Pitsburgh” (no date recorded)
- A church record (same Methodist church) showing his probationary membership starting in November of 1893 & “received into full connection” in June of 1894
Findings at Mocavo:
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- 1940 census – I had to play around with this to find it on Ancestry & found they’d transcribed the last name as “Ungood”, not ‘Ungard” (I found it by searching for the fairly unusual first name of Stewart with no last name)
- 1880 census – he is 5 years old & living in same county as wife as a young girl – his 7 year old sister is listed as having scarlet fever – found siblings & parents
- Methodist baptism record of two siblings listing same parents
front of Body Ungard’s WWI draft registration card found at FamilySearch
Findings at FamilySearch:
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- WWI Draft Registration with date of birth! & his middle name & wife’s middle name (she’s the sister of a direct ancestor)!
Records I’d still like:
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- a copy of the obituary I found
- probate records
- 1900 census
- location of burial
- names of any other children (there is a 5 year & a 10 year gap between children)
Step #3: How are you related to this person, and why is s/he in your family tree?
Boyd King Ungard is the husband of my great grand aunt, Edith Virginia Stewart. I try to research the siblings of my direct ancestors, so this was a great bit of research!
Step #4: Share!
Do we share common ancestors? I’d love to talk! Please email me at drleeds@sbcglobal.net.
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