Angel in the wings

Back in Sept I took a Virtual Genealogy Conference. I did so with the hopes of getting some more guidance on how to go about finding my elusive grandmother Elise Howard. This was not my first virtual conference but it was the first one where I had a set goal in mind. So I paid my fee for this conference with just that one and only goal in mind; attend that class so I could get tips; advise suggestion from the experts on how to find proof of Elise in South Carolina. At the end of the class and the conference all I got was the same old usual tricks to try. Follow employment and / or land records. Look for neighbors or collateral lines; follow them. I did all of that yet still nothing which is why I wanted help from the experts. Needless to at the end of the conference I was extremely upset and disappointed. I felt that the virtual conference was a total waste of money and time.

That is until a few hours after the event ended. I received an email from a lady I now call my angel. She just so happened to live in South Carolina, saw my post and wanted to offer her help. She understood my frustration and was determined to help me find documents of Elise's life in South Carolina.

Even though the extent of her research was limited to online; she offered to research information, make phone calls and even drive to locations for me. She asked for nothing in return.

Here is what I gave her:

* There will be no birth certificate for her she was born 1913; which is before SC required them.
* Common parent names Tom Howard and Sally Borden.
* Moved from Eastover to Sumter somewhere between 1928 and 1930.
* She married Isaac Ballard
* Isaac died prior to 1935.
* May have lived on Blanding St around 1936
* 1940 census has her living on Green or Grier Street
* She never owned land so there will be no land records
* She is believed to have worked for private families so no payroll or employment records.
* She had at least one child listed in the 1940 census who died but not sure when / where.
* Sometime in the 1950's she moved to Philadelphia, PA.

We sent a few more emails back and forth. Then a few days later she was off a running. She made calls, poked online at records I do not have memberships to and then finally off to actually locations. First she to the local genealogical society which was closed even though over the phone they advised her they would be open at that time. Then off to the probate court to look for marriage records. No records what so ever where found for Elise.  Next she dashed over to the church near Elise's 1940 address. No church just a vacant lot with a sign advising services would be held at a local school.

She may not have been able to locate anything new for grandma Elise; she did however locate the death certificate of my aunt Elise and renewed my hope that sooner or later I will find more on Elise. At the same time she showed me that there are still people out there willing to offer help expecting nothing in return. To pay it forward as many would say.

To my angel I owe you a great big thank you. From the bottom of my heart thank you for all of your help and for renewing my hope.

My many brick walls.

As with so many other people who are researching their family tree I have hit that dreaded brick wall. So far I have hit that wall for at least four people.

My grandmother Elise Sally Howard ~ she was born 1913 in Eastover, Richland County, South Carolina to Tom Howard and Sally Borden.  She moved to Sumter, South Carolina married Isaac Ballard had several kids with him. After Isaac passed away she had several children with Paul Smith. I cannot determine when she married Isaac nor can I locate her parents. I know she had a sister named Rosa Lee but we called her Aunt Honey.  

My grandfather Paul Smith ~ I know nothing about him other than that he lived and owned property in South Carolina in the 1930’s and 1940’s and had at least four children with Elise Ballard. I am also told that he died prior to 1975 but my dad could not remember exactly when.

Harry Walker ~ He seemed to have just appeared from nowhere.  Harry married a lady then divorced and married Harriet Rorabaugh in 1914. He listed his birth date at 1881 / 1882 / 1883. I believe that I have found his family but so far I cannot prove the connection with any records as of yet.

Ida Ketton Heinonen ~ she was born in Finland and moved to Minnesota to be with her husband Mike Heinonen. She is believed to have died between 1906 and 1910 but I cannot find a death certificate. I believe that she came to the United States around 1894 but so far have not located her in any ship records.

These brick wall people give me the blues, they just seem to either appear or disappear without a trace. With these few people it seems as if they don't want me to find them but I will contuine to shake the tree they are attached to until something shakes lose. Over the next few days / weeks I will discuss each one of these individuals a little more indept. Check in later to learn more about them and many other family members.