In addition to speaking every week, I've managed to make it to 3 seminars. The first one was October 6th put on by the Allen County (Ohio) Genealogical Society. I was the chairperson so was kept hopping at this one. The theme was Native American Photo taken by Sara Crump, a Find A Ancestry presented by Snowflower. If anyone is trying to trace Grave volunteer, October 6, 2012 their Native American ancestry, especially if your ancestor hid and
did not go to the reservations, this is the person you want helping you. She is the leading expert in the field and always willing to help anyone. I can connect you with her if you need some help in this type of research. After the seminar, my friends and I took Snowflower, her husband, and her assistant, Bluecorn Woman out for dinner and then went to Shawnee Cemetery just outside of Lima, Ohio. At the cemetery, we showed them the memorial for Chief Pe-Aitch-Ta or PHT as he is better known.
PHT was the last chief of the Shawnee Indians in Allen County, Ohio during the time when they were removed to the reservations in Kansas. He is believed to have been buried in his garden next to his cabin, which would mean that he is actually buried under the road in front of the cemetery. No one knows for sure where his burial place is, only the location of his cabin.
The next Saturday, the Latter Day Saints Family History Center in Lima, Ohio put on their first ever seminar. It was fabulous. All day, LDS volunteers were teaching sessions to attendees on how to index for Family Search. It is so easy! I'm going to try my hand as a volunteer indexer when I finish my current projects and recommend it to anyone who would like to give back to the genealogical community. Indexing for Family Search is a great way to help preserve the old records and to get them online for everyone to use. Several speakers presented a variety of topics, including Karen Miller Bennett, CG, Karen Jones of the Family History Center, and national speaker, Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG. Needless, to say, the quality of the speakers and programs surpassed expectations for a small, local seminar. The highlight of my day was getting to talk and become acquainted with Peggy Clemens Lauritzen. So often at the big conferences, you don't get a chance to speak to the speakers except to ask a question and it was really nice to be able to get acquainted with a speaker whose lectures I've admired.
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of hearing "Miss Peggy" again all day! The Darke County (Ohio) Genealogical Society presented her as their featured speaker for their annual seminar at the Garst Museum in Greenville, Ohio. As usual, her topics were informative and sprinkled with her great sense of humor. What a wonderful finale for Family History Month.