How is that for frustrating?

As more and more records become available online, things get a little easier for us family historians however, there are still a few glitches. The lack of the 1890 US Census, the destruction of records and documents in the 1906 SF Fire and Earthquake, and the destruction of Ireland census records to name a few.

This is a quote from http://www.oz.net/~markhow/writing/holl.htmwhich summarizes information from various sources regarding the destruction of the 1890 census.

"One of the things that you learn early on in U.S. genealogical research is that the 1890 census is not available. Usually beginners are told that it was lost in a fire. The individual census schedules from the 1890 which might have been microfilmed to the advantage of all family historians are a gaping hole in our research. The 1890 census was taken at a time of huge immigration to this country and it would have been one of the first Federal records a newly arrived immigrant would appear on after getting off the boat."

"In March of 1896, the special schedules for the 1890 census which included those for mortality, poverty, and handicap status were damaged by a fire and their remains were destroyed by order of the Department of the Interior. By 1921, the original and only copies of the 1890 census population schedules were stored in an unlocked file room in the basement of the Commerce Building, resting on pine wood shelving. A fire of unknown origin broke out in the basement on the evening of January 10th. The Washington D.C. fire department contained the fire to the basement of the building with at least twenty fire hoses pouring water into the basement. In the aftermath of the fire, the Census Director estimated that 25% of the 1890 schedules had been destroyed and 50% were damaged by water, smoke, or fire. Note that this estimate would suggest that 75% of the 1890 schedules survived the fire itself in either damaged or untouched condition."

"By the end of January 1921, the remains of the 1890 schedules were moved out of the basement of the Commerce Building and into temporary storage. The condition of their storage at the Commerce Building had helped to strengthen calls for a permanent National Archives to be built. Between 1921 and 1932, the history of these remnants is difficult to determine. It appears that no salvage or restoration efforts occurred. In December of 1932, the Chief Clerk of the Bureau of the Census sent the Librarian of Congress a list of papers to be destroyed. This was standard Federal record keeping procedure at the time. This list included the original 1890 census schedules! The Librarian was asked by the Bureau to identify any records which should be retained for historical purposes but the Librarian did not note any records on the list worthy of saving. Congress authorized destruction of that list of records on February 21, 1933 and thus the 1890 census remains were destroyed by government order by 1934 or 1935."

Genealogists and family historians have found some ways around the1890 census however, some of the information listed could have proven invaluable for us. What this means in the end is that we should all save our important documents, in multiple formats for the future.

In this age of computer records and huge databases; Where there are tons of extended families and twists and turns in family trees; In this disposable society, you might not care to hold on to a marriage certificate of an ex-spouse of your uncle or you might think that someone could obtain another copy, but who knows when someone will wish it was still around.

You don't need to keep all these documents yourself if you don't want to, there are numerous genealogy sites that collect this type of information. It's darn expensive to get copies of documents like birth certificates now. Hey, while you're at it, note names, dates and locations on those pictures. You might recognize those people and remember where you took the pictures, but your great great grand child won't.

Keep those obits too and burial/cremation records too. Submit the information to the various free obit collections and grave finders online. I know it sounds morbid now, but we all pass at some time or another.

The way I do it is to think, "If I dropped off the face of the earth today, who would pass along the information? Who would go through the photo albums with my son and point out his family that have long since past?"

Caroline Ann Rohrbach

Caroline was born on December 2, 1854 in New York. Her father, Henry Rohrbach, was born in Germany according to her death certificate, however I haven't found anything yet on her mother. We think her name was Martha... Most of this early info came from family records. I'll be adding more and more, needless to say...

On her son, Phillip's death certificate, her last name was spelled Roebuck. I'm adding this in case that particular error was perpetuated anywhere else.

She married Henry Edward Winkler around 1871 and began a family while still in New York. The order of their birth and places in family records seemed to indicate she traveled back and forth between the two coasts. Perhaps this is error, or perhaps she still had strong family ties back east that we haven't found yet. Or both.

Caroline passed four years after her husband in San Francisco on August 9, 1918. Ann Geglin, who lived around the corner at 257 Richland Ave, was the informant. I believe this was her daughter, Ann.

The first US Census we found of theirs was from 1880.
City of San Francisco, County of San Francisco, State of California
Page 33, Supervisor district 1, taken on the Ninth of June

Park Street, beginning on line 41

WINKLER, Edward
White male age 34, married, a Cabinet Maker born in Saxony, mother and father from Saxony. They left of the "Germany" part, but perhaps it was more understood back then.

" Caroline -wife
White female age 25, married, occupation Housekeeping. She was born in N.Y. and her parents were both from Baden. They left off the "Germany" here too.

" Phillip -son
White male age 8, single. He had whooping cough that year, attended school that year, was born in N.Y., father born in Saxony, mother born in N.Y.

" Annie -daughter
White female age 5, single, attended school that year, was born in N.Y., father born in Saxony, mother born in N.Y.

" Eddie -son
White male age 4, single, was born in N.Y., father born in Saxony, mother born in N.Y.

" Willie -son
White male age 2, single, was born in California, father born in Saxony, mother born in N.Y.

and Al Soon, a chinese male age 20, single, and employed as a servant. He could not read or write, he and his parents were born in China.

The next available census was from 1900. This census of San Francisco was performed on the 10th of June. Sheet number 13, beginning on line 81... I'll quote what's changed from 20 years before.

64 East Park Street

WINKLER, Henry E -Head
..born September 1843, age 56, married 28 years. Born in Germany, both parents born in Germany. Came to the US in 1864, has been here 31 years and was naturalized. Here he is listed as a Piano Maker, he can read, write, and speak English. He owns the home with a mortgage.

"Caroline -wife
born December 1854, age 45, married 28 years. Has had 10 children, 10 are living. Here it says she was born in New York and her parents were both from Germany.

"Phillip -son
born October 1872, age 27 and single. Here he is the only one listed as born in New York. He worked as a plumber and could read, write, and speak English.

"Edward -son
born September 1876, age 23 and single. He worked as a (Crofter? Crafter? something like that) was unemployed for 2 months last year, and could read, write, and speak English.

"William -son
born June 1878, age 21 and single. He worked as a peddler and could read, write, and speak English.

"Frederick -son
born June 1880, age 19 and single. He worked as a plumber and could read, write, and speak English.

"Florence -daughter
born February 1883, age 17 and single. She was 'at home' and could read, write, and speak English.

"Frank -son
born April 1888, age 12 and single. He was at school for 10 months last year and could read, write, and speak English.

"Louisa -daughter
born August 1890, age 9 and single. She was at school for 10 months last year. Not specified about reading and writing...

"George -son
born January 1892, age 8 and single. He was at school for 10 months last year. Not specified about reading and writing...

"Emilia -daughter
born July of 1893, age 6 and single.

Hessen, where Henry was from, is in the area of Frankfurt, Germany. Baden, where Caroline's parents are from, is just South, near Stuttgart. I'm still researching how these borders have changed over the years.

John Morgan Stewart

In Old Virginia on the 25th of September, 1827, John Morgan Stewart was born to Joseph Stewart and Margaret Jones. Scott County is the area attributed as his birth place.

The 1900 Census of Johnson County, Arkansas, Perry Township
- was performed on the 23rd of June, 1900.
Sheet 12 of district 35, lines 13 and 14 read as follows:

Dwelling 202, Family 209
Stewart, John- Head
White male, born September 1827, age 72, married 55 years. Born in Virginia, parents both born in Virginia. His occupation (at this age) was Farmer, not unemployed at any point. Can read, write, and speak English. Owns free his farm, which is #180 on the Farm Schedule.
Stewart, Sally- Wife
White female, born September 1833, age 66, married 55 years. She had 10 children, 5 of which are living. She was born in Tenessee, as were both of her parents. She can read and write and speak English.

We find them in the 1870 Census of Johnson County, Arkansas, Perry Township
Page 5 of Post Office district , line 36 reads as follows:

Dwelling # 36, Family #36
Stewart, John M.
44 year old male, white, Blacksmith... Value of personal estate $560, born in Virginia, was a male citizen of US 21 years of age or upwards, Male citizen of 21 years or greater whose right to vote is denied or abridged on other grounds than rebellion or other crime. (This one is interesting, it's clearly marked in this column... why would he not be allowed to vote as others?)

Johnson County, Arkansas, Perry Township, 1870 Census continued
Page 6 of Post Office district , lines 1 through 6 read as follows:

Dwelling #36, Family #36- crossed out.
(STEWART)" Sallie M.
36 year old female, white, occupation Keeping House. Born in Tennessee.
" James L.
15 year old male, white, at home. Born in Arkansas, attended school the previous year.
" Joseph I.
12 year old male, white, at home. Born in Arkansas, attended school the previous year.
" Amanda E.
9 year old female, white, at home. Born in Arkansas, attended school the previous year. Cannot write.
" Benjamin F.
3 year old male, white, at home. Born in Arkansas.
" Sarah A.
6 month old female, white, at home, born in Arkansas, born in December of the census year.