Interviewing My Grandmother

I'm currently uploading my very first you-tube video!  In 2002, 2003 and 2004, I did a number of family interviews (most were with my mother).  One of my favorites is my Grandma Naber's interview.  It started with my niece needing some information on the great depression and my sister asking me to videotape.  I think we planned on expanding it right from the beginning to a more in-depth interview.  My grandmother wasn't very convinced that she had any information of interest, but we did end up with almost 2 hours of footage.  The actual interview was done in March 2003 and she died later that year.  After re-watching and digitizing, one of the best parts is hearing Grandma laugh again!

I will post the video link after it is upload.  It is still only 1/2 done.

(update - part one is done and posted!)

1940 census

As you know the 1940 census was released at the beginning of April. I was very excited and I thought that was the first year that I would find my grandparents together.  But no, they were not married until 1941.  So 10 more years and 4 kids later, they will finally be listed together!  But I have been able to find a number of other folks.  Of course I have to page through each district but it does go pretty fast!

I found almost all of my great grandparents.  I did know where they would be located since they didn't move around much.  My other set of grandparents I haven't attempted yet since I only know they lived in Holland.  I also found a few the the great-great grandparents.  A couple as I was looking for other names and some because I looked through all three of the districts in Zeeland!

The census above is of my great-grand father Benjamin Groenhof.  My father remembers him so I went looking since I knew he had been living in Zeeland in 1940.  I found him living with his second born son.

Nellie & Asahel Tillotson

abt 1947

This is a great picture of Nellie & Asahel Tillotson.  Nellie died in 1951 and this is the last picture I have of the two of them together.  Asahel looks quite the gentleman in his suit and hat.    He died in 1963.  They had three children together, Harold, Bessie and Grace.