Do you use the hinting system found on some of the genealogy websites? Or, are you one that only searches for specific information?
When I first started researching my family history, my process was centered around locating specific information. In reality, this research involved locating specific types of records and then using those records to search for my famiily.
Today, I am spoiled. Even though I will search for a particular set of records or county histories, I spend most of my research time following those hints. Since I primarily use Ancestry, those leaf hints often take me to obvious sources such as census records, Find a Grave memorials or vital records. Sometimes, they lead me to a record that I wouldn’t have thought to research.
That is the case with a hint for my great grandmother, Josie Winifred Hammond Crawford. I had already done quite a bit of research on Josie. Thus, when I saw a new hint, I thought it would be to another Ancestry member tree. Instead, I was surprised to find the hint leading to an obituary.
Since I live in Kansas, I have access to a wonderful newspaper collection at the Kansas State Historical Society. Thus, I had already found my great grandmother’s obituary in the Dodge City Daily Globe. This find was in my early days of research, when I transcribed portions of the obituary and took notes on the other parts.
Even though many of the Dodge City newspapers have been digitized, the 1954 issues have yet to be digitized. Thus, I was surprised to find that the Ancestry hint led to a copy of Josie’s obituary. This obituary was published in The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas) on 28 Sep 1954.
Pioneer of Kansas Dies at Dodge City
(Special to the Eagle)
Dodge City, Kan. Sept. 27 – Mrs. Josie W. Crawford, 79, widely known resident for many years here, died Monday morning in Trinity hosptial where she had been a patient briefly for treatment. She had been active until her final illness.
Born Feb. 9, 1875 in Know County, Ill., she came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richmond F. Hammond to Pratt County. Two years later the family moved to a farm in Ford County southwest of Dodge City and later moved to Dodge city.
Miss Hammond was married to Judson F. Crawford Dec. 24, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1940. Mr. Crawford died in February , 1949.
Mrs. Crawford had been active in Methodist work since girlhood and received her 50 year pin several years ago. Among her many public services Mrs. Crawford helped organize and was an active member of the East Side Bible Class organized in 1917 and still active.
Final rites are slated for w p.m. Wednesday in the First Methodist Church here with the Rev. Alvin W. Murray officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery here.
“Pioneer of Kansas Dies at Dodge City,” The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), 28 September 1954, page 11; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 5 September 2021).
Without the Ancestry hinting system, I doubt I would have found this particular obituary for my great grandmother. Thus, I will continue to work thru these hints.