January 2002
Happy New Year. My New Year's Resolution is to get all these family files organized and onto the webpage. I have many many newfound cousins who are working with me on various branches of the family, and I'd like this page to be a resource for them to swap photos and info. 

Unknown Photos - In Progress
The first new addition of the year is "Unknown Photo" pages. I have many unlabeled photos that I acquired just in the past year. I have new Schmachtenberger, Watson, Rushton, Lawlor, and Lang photos that I've found within the family attics and basements, and other cousins who I've met this year have sent me some of theirs, so this will be a major project.

In December, I spent an evening with some cousins on the Lang side of the family: Therese Strucel, Rose Globke, and Barbara and Joe Callahan. They are desendants of James Lang and Catherine Lawlor. Therese brought a beautiful old photo album that probably belonged to James's and Catherine's daughter Mary Anne Lang. It was filled with pictures from the late 1800's, including some tintypes. I took digital photos of all the pictures and will begin to post them here. Many were unlabeled, and some had the family surname written right on the photo.

No matter what branch of the family you are, be sure to check the unknown photos links to see if you can identify some of your own ancestors. Please let me know if you recognize anyone and I will update and post them in the regular photo section.

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December 2001

Cemetery Trip
Finally got to the St. Thomas, Ontario, cemetery where much of my kin is buried. My father was born in St. Thomas and just about everyone in the preceding generations is buried there or in Hamilton.

John A. Billings was my great grandfather--my grandfather William's father. He is buried here with his wife, Emily, and 2 of their infant children. Amelia Dyker is Emily's sister.

Lesley Cairns, the caretaker of the St. Thomas West Cemetery, is a wonderful, friendly woman. She spent 3 hours with me going over records and puzzling over names and plots. She pulled out receipts from 1919 to help understand who purchased a plot and went through numerous books to find missing pieces of the puzzle. I had a great time and appreciate the time she took and the colorful stories she entertained me with. Lesley is a true genealogist and detective at heart. More tombstones.

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