Grande Prairie & District Branch
Alberta Genealogical Society

Heritage Seekers
December 1997 Vol. 20, No. 4


Table of Contents:


The President's Cubbyhole - Bev Tucker

The Branch has had three very enlightening meetings in our fall programming. September was "Digging Around the Public Library" presented by Barb Moreau, Debbie Was and Paulette Hrychiw, informing our members what is available in the library, where to find it, and how to use it. This will also help with teaching other members on how to help out being "Genie's". It was well received. The October meeting had Laura Turnbull presenting "Computer Use in Genealogy", giving a general overview of factors to consider when choosing a program. November's program was "Checking out the Grande Prairie College for Genealogy Resources", to learn what is available there. There will be no meeting in December. Regular monthly meetings will resume on January 20, 1998. See you all then.

"DATES GONE BY" has been published. Remember to get your copy.

The Branch has kept a Scrap Book from 1977 and we have made a copy for our library collection as well as one for the AGS Library collection.

Now that summer is over, the Census extraction progress is going better. We have mailed the first completed set, and the rest are in various stages of progress.

For the months of July, August and September 1997 there were 163 1/4 hours of volunteer time generated by the group.

We have our first fund-raiser started, chocolate sales, and they appear to be going quite well so far, we are half way. The second fund-raiser we are going for is a raffle for a quilt that has been made by a couple of our members. Remember to pick up your tickets (contact one of the executive committee) in December, the draw date will be at our meeting in June 1998.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone on the executive who have been so helpful to me this year. Way to go! You've done an excellent job.

Here is wishing each and everyone of you a very safe and HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON, and may you find that elusive ancestor under your tree.

Meetings

Executive

Our Activities in 1997 Grande Prairie and District Branch - Barb Moreau

This year there were over 60 members in the branch searching their own family trees around the world.

The members helped other researchers, assisted with extracting information from the 1901 census, and completed the extraction of over 5,000 names from the Grande Prairie Cemetery for an AGS publication. By the end of the year the club members will have accumulated over 1000 hours of volunteer time.

The society continues to support the Grande Prairie Public Library "Genies" program. Knowledgeable members are available in the Isabel Campbell Room at the Grande Prairie Library to assist people researching their family roots on Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. and Fridays, 1 - 3 p.m.

This year we are proud to say we have completed and published a fully indexed book of extracts of births, marriages, and deaths from the Grande Prairie newspapers from 1913-1920 titled "DATES GONE BY". This book is available for purchase from the Branch.

On Saturday, February 28, the club will be holding a beginner's genealogy course. Please contact the Library for information and registration dates.

In May or June of 1998 we plan to hold a Genealogical Fair in Grande Prairie with resources from all over the province. Contact members or watch the Daily Herald-Tribune for the date and information.

Interesting programs throughout the past year included:

Another interesting year of programs has been planned for 1998. Guests and new members are always welcome.

Meetings are held every third Tuesday of the month except December, July and August at the Grande Prairie Public Library at 7:00 p.m.

Thumbnail Sketch - Paulette (Pivert) Hrychiw

The last time I did a thumbnail sketch was in the Vol.1, No. 3, September 1978 issue of Heritage Seekers. Our group had only existed a few short months.

At that time I had just made my first attempts at doing research in France and Madagascar looking for information on my paternal grandparents. My father André Pivert was born 11 November 1896 at Epinay-sur-Seine (Seine-St.-Denis), which is in the northern environs (districts) of Paris, France. He was the third of a family of four, three boys and one girl.

My interest in Madagascar is my grandmother, Hélène Berthe Emilie POUTEAU who had given birth to her fifth child, a still born son who had come into the world at 3:00 a.m. on 15 April 1901 in the district of Antsirane, in the port city of Diégo-Suarez, Madagascar. She had just passed her 25th birthday the previous January. Almost one week later, 21 April at 9:15 a.m., my grandmother joined her infant son in the soil of a foreign land. My father would have only been about 4 1/2 years old. His two older brothers were about 8 and 6 years, his little sister not even 3 years old. As far as we know, only a distant cousin of my grandfathers has been the only family to stand at my grandmothers grave. He had been stationed in Madagascar during the Great War (WW1).

In the years since this last thumbnail sketch, I've gotten my POUTEAU lines back to a Symphorien POTHEAU who was born ca 1641 in Morancez, (Eure-et-Loir), France. This community is immediately south of the ancient city of Chartres. The POUTEAU families have lived in and around this area in eight villages (all less then 25 km from Chartres) for over 235 years. Other names associated with the POUTEAU families are: GENET, DARIEN, AUDIS, PANTHOU, LAME, LECOEUR, BENOIST, ROCHE, BOUDAY, BONNEREAU, MAINTIEN, REVEIL, GLIN, BIGOT, BRAY, DUBOSC, GUILLET, GOUGEON, HURET, PERRUCHET, BERNARD, MOUNOURY, and TRICHEUX. The trades of these families are varied: tournear-lathe operator; day laborer; mason, grape-growers; wagon driver; shoemaker, farmers, several of the wives were servants; indicating that many of these ancestors lived simple lives.

Unlike my grandmother's family, my grandfather Alphonse Marie Frédéric Théophile PIVERT came from a family with itchy feet. Alphonse was born and died (1865-1937) in Clichy, a northern district of Paris, but when looking into his life a bit closer we see he traveled far and wide. He had taken his wife and small daughter to Madagascar to set up a brick and tile factory (or so the family story goes). His wife died there, he had to accompany his small daughter back to France and put her into the care of his eldest sister, who already had the care of his three sons. Back to Madagascar to see to his affairs, only to find he had lost everything. By August 1909 he is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We know he was still there by September 1914 (one of his sons had joined the army and given his fathers address as Kuala Lumpur). We know he came to visit his sons in Alberta sometime in 1917. He might have spent some time in Detroit, Michigan about the same time.

Great grandfather Frédéric was born (1820) in the village of Vitre, (Ile-et-Vilaine), near Rennes, but he married, raised his family and died in Paris (1898). His father before came from another village called Ballots, (Mayenne). The earliest PIVERT I have is Jean-Baptiste Gille, who died at Ballots in 1753 at 40 years of age. Here I have lost track of him. I am descended from his second marriage, so until I can find his first marriage which would name his parents and birth place, I am stuck here. The other families associated with Pivert's did not stay still either. I have chased these families all over the old provinces of Bretagne, Maine, Normandie and Perche. They are: ORIAU, RIVERE, MOUTELIERE, LEGUAY, HAMAR, LOUAISON, COESNON, SAILLARD - several lines, CHEVANCE, POIDEVIN, DESRUES, NEZ, GASTIME. These names I have been able to follow into the early 1701-1704 and late 1600's. L'HOMMET, BOURGUIGNAN, SAILLARD, TALLOPEU, LEGAL, CHEVEL. They have led me a merry chase all over France. I wish I had the opportunity to do some of it in person.

Most of the research I've done in France has been accomplished by ordering films through the Family History Center here in Grande Prairie. I have also used this resource to search in Catholic records in Poland for my husbandÕs maternal lines, and Greek Catholic records in Galicia for his paternal lines, with great results.

If anyone has a connection with any of the names I have listed, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Upcoming Events

Genies in the Library

Volhynia Records Extraction Project - Al Meyer

The St. Petersburg parish film records for Volhynia, Ukraine are now being extracted and will be indexed for a web site as they are completed. These birth, marriage and death records cover the years 1836-1885 for Zhitomir, Heimtal, Rozyszcze, and Volhynian Government.

Besides the normal information contained in these birth, marriage and death records, there is other information that can reveal important links to ancestral lines and previous residences. For instance, many colonists came from Congress Poland, and the town names are often noted in the various entries. Parents, god-parents and wife's maiden names (or previous married name in the case of a second marriage) are also contained in these records.

Some entries indicate that the records contain a great deal of extra family information. As these records are a rich source of information for Volhynian Germans, this information should prove to be a bonus to those researching their Volhynian roots.

This project was begun late last spring with a group of volunteers interested in the Volhynian Germans. By July of 1997, the project was in full swing with seven extractors and six data entry people. Three more extractors have joined the team recently and it is hoped that as word spreads, others interested in helping with this project will come forward. The years 1845, 1847, and 1883 have been completed and years up through 1861 are in process. Most extractors find that some knowledge of the German language and the old German script is helpful; but, it is not absolutely necessary.

For further information, or if you would like to help with this project, please contact:

Libraries in the Grande Prairie Area

Dates Gone By ...

The old Grande Prairie newspapers are located on microfilm in the Grande Prairie Public Library. The newspapers and films begin in 1913. Since June, 1983, Joan Bowman's ongoing contribution to Heritage Seekers has been to provide extracts of the births, marriages and deaths as found in these old newspapers (See the latest extracts further in this issue). These extracts are now available in a published and indexed book which contains the extracts from: a) Grande Prairie Frontier Signal, published September 1914 to August 1916, and b) Grande Prairie Herald, published March, 1913 to December, 1920.

Write to the Branch for an order form. Cost is $12.00 plus $1.75 for postage & handling. We look forward to sending this excellent work to as many as possible.

Old Newspapers

Births, marriages and deaths as contained in the Grande Prairie "Herald" newspaper. Continued from the September, 1997 issue of "Heritage Seekers", submitted by Joan Bowman, AGS #1108.

Mar. 1, 1921 Issue:
- In Memory of ... Charlie William BUCK who passed away March 4, 1920 ...
- Born to Mr. and Mrs. J. OLIVER, Feb. 23, a daughter.
- Born to Mr. and Mrs. Jens HANSON of Sexsmith, January 26, a daughter.

Mar. 15, 1921 Issue:
- Felix A. BAXTER, oldest pioneer of the North, passed away March 8 at the hospital ... came into this country in 1910 when he took up land one and half miles east of town ... 54 years old ... pneumonia ... survived by 4 sons: Howard and Clarence in Grande Prairie and two others in Seattle, Wash. ... Funeral at Salvation Army Hall ... officiated by Rev. J.B. OLIVER ...
- In the estate of Leonard B. SMITH (alias Richard CHESTERFIELD) late of Spirit River, AB., deceased, farmer, ... who died 30 April 1920 ...
- Born to Mr. and Mrs. J. BEADLE of Halcourt, March 1, a son.
- Isabelie Todd WOOLES, relic of the late John CAMPBELL, passed away March 6 at home of her son Calvin F. CAMPBELL of Hermit Lake. Deceased came from Aberdeen, Scotland with her parents in 1842 and settled in Quebec to farm. In 1860, she married John CAMPBELL who came from Ireland in 1911. She came over the Edson Trail with her son to Grande Prairie ... Funeral at son's residence, officiated by J.B. OLIVER ... buried at Richmond Hill Cemetery ... Leaves to mourn: Mrs. C. TOTTEN of Philadelphia, Mrs. E.J. WILKIE of Olds, Calvin F. CAMPBELL of Grande Prairie, Mrs. R. LISTER of Passburg and Austin M. CAMPBELL of Olds ...

Mar. 22, 1921 Issue:
- Frank M. CRONCHER of Good Fare died March 17 at age 63. He came to this country from the U.S.A.
- ÒMr. George DUNCAN (partner of the Grande Prairie Herald Ltd.) Married Mrs. Thea VIKEN, on March 19 at the Presbyterian Manse. Rev. FORBES officiated ... Miss Mabel FLOEN bridesmaid and Mr. Christopher DUNNE, bestman ... The bride being from Valhalla, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John VIKEN.

Mar. 29, 1921 Issue:
- Married at the manse by Rev. Dr. FORBES on March 4, William James WARD of Teepee Creek to Bertha STAUFFER of Teepee Creek, AB.

Apr. 5, 1921 Issue:
- Funeral of Mary G. BROWN, wife of Dr. D.C. SCOTT, at Richmond Hill Cemetery, April 2, service at Richmond Hill Church, officiated by Rev. BURNESS of Lake Saskatoon. Deceased died March 31 .. born Simco, Ont. April 26, 1894 ... nurse ... lived at Lake Saskatoon, AB. where her husband practiced ...

Apr. 12, 1921 Issue:
- ... the estate of Iver Peter JEREMIASON, died 25 Sept. 1920 of LaGlace ...
- ÒMarried at Christ Church Saturday last, Alice CARD, young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. CARD of Grande Prairie and Hadley RUSSELL. Rev LITTLE officiated ... will reside in Grande Prairie.

Apr. 19, 1921 Issue:
- Fatal accident last week ... death of Miss Catherine TAYLOR ... injured while milking a cow which resulted in a brain hemorrhage. Mrs. E. DUVITT, a sister of the deceased ...
- In the estate of Alexander CUMMINGS of Hythe, AB. Deceased died on 25 Dec. 1916 ...

Membership Renewals

Your Membership Renewal form for 1998 was handed out at the November Branch meeting, or you will find it enclosed with this newsletter.

Please return your renewal to the Grande Prairie Branch address indicated on the form by January 1, 1998.

Any renewals not received by the deadline may experience a delay in receiving their next issue of Relatively Speaking and Heritage Seekers.

New Genealogy Books - Library Report for December 1997 by Debby Was

The Grande Prairie Public Library has added several new genealogical books to their collection. Many of these titles can be borrowed from the library if you have a valid library membership.

The following titles can be borrowed from the library:

The following video can be borrowed from the library:

New to the Reference Area (non-circulating):

And coming soon:

CAN YOU HELP??? We are missing several newsletters from the Nova Scotia Genealogical Society box. If anyone has borrowed these newsletters, could they please return them as soon as possible.

Other News:

The chocolate sales are going well. If you have taken a case of chocolates to sell, please turn in the money by the January 19, 1998 meeting. We will be ordering the first part of the 1881 Canadian Census as soon as possible. We are starting with the films for Atlantic Canada.

The "Genies In The Library" program has finished for 1997. We will be back on Wednesday, January 14 from 7 pm to 9 pm. Sign up sheets for "Genies In The Library" are posted on the bulletin board in the Isabel Campbell Room at the Grande Prairie Public Library. Please sign up if you are able to help the "Genies".

If you require help with the Grande Prairie Branch library, contact me. I'm always glad to give a helping hand.

Heritage Seekers is published by:

Return to beginning
Return to GP Branch Main Page
Return to AGS Branches page
Return to AGS Home Page

February 22, 1998