Postcard by I T Goodridge & Co.
Date postmarked unclear–1906?
I picked up this great postcard in an antique store only 900 miles or so from its subject. A modern-day DMV office,the courthouse in Corning was built in 1903.
Steuben county NY is a key location to my family history and research. There are fantastic online resources for this county, and it’s a good thing, because two attempts to do on-site research have failed.
Attempt # 1: This was the same trip when I wandered into the Potter County Historical Society, as you may recall. I had a list as long as my arm and limited time, and the present courthouse is in Bath NY, far out of the way of the circuit I had planned.
Attempt # 2: Almost two years ago I took a madcap trip, not about genealogy at all actually, but I had some down time and I would have taken it to make the drive to Bath, except that it was snowing. Not enough that seasoned upstate drivers would change their plans, mind you, but I’m a Georgia girl and the little driving I did was terrifying enough. No trip to Bath for me.
Too bad the courthouse wasn’t still in Corning, or I could have probably managed it on one of the two trips.
A Genealogy Wishlist
When I eventually do make the trip to Bath, I’ll be toting a wishlist of records to find, including (but not limited to!)
- Nellie Cornell and John C Smith married in about 1912, but the 1908-1935 New York marriage database is bereft of Steuben marriage licenses. I want to find theirs!
- Myra Smith died intestate in 1900, before the census was taken in June. The Whitesville newspaper didn’t run an obituary or death notice–I know because I browsed six months worth of images at fultonhistory.com. She was only twenty-one–so how did she die?
- William R Loop married Eliza Clark in about 1880–but which Eliza Clark? A Steuben marriage record would go a long way toward proving she was the one who lived in Lindley.
- Another thing about Eliza Clark Loop–in 1910, she was head of a very unwieldy household of teens and adult children, married and not, plus grandkids. I know her husband outlived her by ten years, but where on earth was he? (Prison is not outside the realm of possibility…)
- Ruby Allen Taggart was her husband’s connection into the family-only Allen Cemetery–but his grave is marked and hers isn’t. When did she pass on? Is there a record?
- And speaking of the Allen Cemetery–I’ve already blogged about who Anna Stiles wasn’t–but is there a will or a deed that might offer a clue about who she was?
Whew! So now you know the Steuben stones I’ll be looking to turn on my next visit, but what about you?
Question for You
Is there anywhere you’re longing to travel for your genealogical research? Where to? And what do you hope to find there?
(PS– Speaking of research trips, I’m trying to talk hubby into taking me to Los Angeles and Hollywood to research the new novel! So far he’s not buying it…)