MORE THAN A PAPER TRAIL

SHARE ELECTRONICALLY | SHARE VIA USPS

Purpose of This Page:

Most of us interested in family genealogy are aware of the value of an individual's (or that family's) paper trail. That paper trail can sometimes be based upon birth records, marriage records, probate records (especially a Proof of Heirship), and many other "official" documents.

Seldom will the typical researcher locate a piece of a paper trail which goes far beyond the simple statement of WHO, WHEN and WHERE a particular action took place. The following records illustrate how some of a family's paper trail can actually record emotions or confusion in addition to names, dates and actions.

Item #10 - Articles posted in the 20 January 1911 issue of the Weekly Fair Dealer. The humorous intent of the two passages indicates what passed as humor in 1911. As no names are stated, perhaps the "articles" were simply meant to be "fillers." View articles.

 

 

 

Follow These Steps to Share Via Email:

Would you like to share a piece of your family's paper trail? Simply do the following:

  1. Create a digital copy of your record in the format of a JPEG, GIF or PDF file.
  2. Attach your digital record to an email addressed to the LSCGG.
  3. In the body of your email proposal, explain the provenance of your record, i.e. where or how this record was originally located by you.
  4. If your proposal is found to fit the nature of this webpage, your record will be posted to this webpage for the enjoyment of other genealogists.

Click Here to Begin Your Email Proposal

 

Follow These Steps to Share Via USPS:

Would you like to share a piece of your family's paper trail? Simply do the following:

  1. Make a copy of your paper record, most likely with a photocopier or Xerox machine.
  2. Mail your paper record and an explanation of the provenance of your record, i.e. where or how this record was originally located by you. Use the following address:

    La Salle County Genealogy Guild
    Attn: Website Manager/Paper Trail
    115 West Glover Street
    Ottawa, IL   61350

 

 

 

PAPER TRAIL ARCHIVE

As of 01 SEP 2024.

Item #1 - Ottawa newspaper obituary, for one Patrick Ryan, which appeared on 14 APR 1894 (View Original Newspaper Copy HERE)

Item #2 - marriage record for William L. Burlingame and Catherine J. Morse who were married 17 NOV 1863 (View Original Certificate 2536-c HERE).

Item #3 - newspaper accounts for death of Ralph B. Esmond who died 16 DEC 1922 (View Original News Articles HERE). A transcription of the various headlines follow:

18 DEC 1922 - BANDITS KILL, THEN ROB MAN / Murder Ralph G. Esmond For Few Dollars In Purse

26 DEC 1922 - ... ESMOND KILLER; ARRESTED / Peru Police Nab Youth On Way To Railroad Station

29 DEC 1922 - SHIFTS FROM MURDER TO SUICIDE / Revolver Traced To Basement Of Dead Man's Home

23 APR 1923 - ESTATE OF MURDER VICTIM IS FILED TODAY FOR PROBATE / Heirs Of Ralph Esmond, Who Met Tragic Death On Dimmick Hill Start Court Proceedings To Settle Up Dead Man's Affairs

NOTE: these headlines and articles throughout the time period of December of 1922 through April of 1923 illustrate the penchant of newspaper editors to stress the sensational over fact. Even after the death of Esmond was judged to have been suicide, the headline in April of 1923 stressed the sensational while the accompanying article accepts the judgement of suicide in the final paragraphs.

Item #4 - Letter found in the probate files of Thomas Norton who died on 31 AUG 1853. The letter was written on behalf of the widow of Thomas Norton. A transcription of the letter follows the scanned image of the original letter. The portion of the original that is highlighted by yellow is what intrigued the discoverer of this document. It was researched on 30 SEP 2013 by an out-of-town visitor to the office of the LSCGG. The visitor's name is Donna Ebrk. (View Original Letter HERE.)

Item #5 - Announcement of the marriage, on 31 OCT 1882, of Stephen B. Stocker to Mrs. Rachel L. Neustadt in the "Tonica News," the issue released for 04 NOV 1882.    ( View Original Newspaper Article Here )

Item #6 - Announcement of the demise, on 20 AUG 1916, of Theodore Nelson, in an Ottawa newspaper issue released on 25 AUG 1916. ( View Original Newspaper Article Here )

Item #7 - Announcement of the marriage intention, in 1913, of Jerome J. Carter, in a La Salle City newspaper issues released on 30 Sep & 22 Oct 1913. ( View Original Newspaper Article Here )

Item #8 - Announcement of a plan to give away a real live baby as a prize. Article in the LaSalle Daily Tribune on 22 Feb 1917.
( View Original Newspaper Article Here )

Item #9 - Article and newspaper obituary about a woman who had sixteen sons who fought during the American Civil War.
( View Original Newspaper Article Here )

Item #10 - Article published 17 DEC 1915 about a suicide of a traveling salesman. (View Original Newspaper Article Here )

 

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