I recently discovered an amazing way to organize my ancestor Matthew J Dickson’s family census data using ChatGPT 4. The process was quick, easy, and the results were impressive! Step-by-Step Guide: Turning Census Data into a Spreadsheet Here’s how I did it: Access the data: I used the original census images on Ancestry as my source. Input the data: Utilizing the dictation tool in the ChatGPT mobile app, I transcribed the census information by speaking directly into the app, which converted my words into text. Create the initial file: I instructed ChatGPT to generate a spreadsheet with columns for year,...
As I continue to share family stories for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, this week’s theme is “Favorite Photo.” Sadly, while looking for this photo I realized I have misplaced hundreds of scanned family photos! I am trying not to panic, but it’s a great reminder to share your photos while you can! Thankfully, I can rescan these photos from a relative, but it will take many hours of work. Grandmother Evelyn (Dickson) Kaechle This is the only photo we have of my grandmother as a little girl. When Evelyn was less than 8 months old, her mother...
This post is based on Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.” This week’s theme is: INVITE TO DINNER. My great, great grandmother, Sallie (Dickson) Ward, was born 27 November 1860 in Perry County, Tennessee, with the Civil War just months from starting. She lived until 21 August 1960, about 3 months short of her 100th birthday. Over almost 100 years, she saw and experienced an incredible amount of change, both in the world and in her family. Sisters Mary (Dickson) Dickson Sutton, Julia (Dickson) Dickson, and Sallie (Dickson) Ward in Perry County, Tennessee. Photo was hanging on Perry...
This post is based on Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” challenge. This week’s theme is: FAVORITE PHOTO. My grandmother, Evelyn, the youngest of five children, was born 10 October 1915. Sadly, when she was only 8 1/2 months old, her mother died. Although Evelyn’s father raised the four eldest children, Evelyn was raised by her maternal grandmother, Sallie (Dickson) Ward. Evelyn grew up near family, including her father and siblings, in Perry County, Tennessee. Photo likely taken in Perry Co., Tenn. in ~1918 – Elsie Ward (~15), Sallie (Dickson) Ward (~58), Evelyn Dickson (~2), and Ethel (Ward)...
Last week, I attended my local DAR meeting and the guest speaker was retired Colonel and Vietnam veteran, Albert Nahas. Colonel Nahas has written a photo documentary book, Warriors Remembered, highlighting the images and stories behind 100 Vietnam memorials in the United States. Part of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Photo taken by me, 2010) Several of those memorials include special images like a face without features or a dog tag without a name. Those images are to memorialize those who weren’t killed during the war, but who died as a result of the war. For example, some died later...
If you know of a newspaper clipping but can’t find it online, maybe it hasn’t been digitized. If so, a great place to find out what repositories have copies of it is at the Chronicling America site. I’ve been working on my Dickson family of Tennessee. A 1998 post on RootsWeb by David Walker mentioned an 1846 legal notice. The notice is in regards to the estate of my 4th great grandfather, James Dixon [or Dickson], and also mentions his son, my 3rd great grandfather, Joseph Dixon/Dickson. But, I could not find this article on any of the digital newspaper...
While researching my great, great grandfather, Reuben Houston Ward (aka Rev. R. H. Ward), I came across this short, sweet newspaper article today: LINDEN, Sept. 22.-(Special.)- James W. Lewis, Circuit Court Clerk, and Miss Dickson were married by Rev. R. H. Ward at his residence on March Creek Sunday afternoon. The couple came to his residence in a buggy, and stopping under the cool shade of a beech tree they called for the minister. He went out and while seated in the buggy they were united in the bonds of humanity. The newly married couple started at once for Linden. Lewis-Dickson Marriage,...
As part of Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo has created 31 blogging prompts which you can find on her blog, The Accidental Genealogist. If you’re participating in the Fearless Females blogging challenge this month, let me know & I’ll hop over & read your posts! March 1st prompt: Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key fact you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check. Sallie (~ age 58) is in the middle...
Sarah E. McCage (~1812-1860), who married William Kennedy Dickson (1811-probably 1860s), was born in Tennessee and lived in Perry County, Tennessee by 1840 (if not before). I’d seen her maiden name, McCage, on other researchers’ trees, but last year is the first time I found it on a document. One of her children, Jacob Tipton Dickson, had written his mother’s name as Sarah McCage on a Civil War Questionnaire in 1920. Jacob Tipton’s Civil War Questionnaire (Question #8 lists “Maiden name in full of your mother: Salley McCage.) She was the daughter of “dont know” and his wife “dont know.”...
William Kennedy Dickson (~1811-1860s), my 3rd great grandfather, signed a petition in 1845. At the time, he was living in Perry County, Tennessee. The petition? Some citizens of Perry County are asking that their county be divided. So, why do they want the county divided? Detail from map of the United States of America by H. S. Tanner, 1834 (found on various sites) Above is an 1834 map of Perry County, Tennessee. Running almost down the center is the Tennessee River. Perryville, the county seat, is on the west side of the river. That was the issue. The people on...
