Oklahoma

I would like to use this opportunity to thank the many volunteers who participate in the USGenWeb project.  While many of the GenWeb sites have helped me in several ways, one in particular stands out in my memory.

I stumbled across a key piece of my research during a Google search for an Iowa ancestor.  At the top of the list was a link for newspaper transcriptions for Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.  This page was part of the Oklahoma Archives Project, a USGenWeb Archives Project.

Although I had no reason to suspect this couple having any ties to Oklahoma, the names matched and the date was about the right time period, so I decided to take a look.  While the short “wedding permit” notice didn’t give me much information, this little tidbit allowed me to dig a little deeper and eventually come full-circle.  (This is one of those touch subjects, where living individuals are involved and may not know about what I uncovered, hence the reason I’m not elaborating on the family members or the circumstances.)  Had this wonderful volunteer not submitted this transcription, I may not have know of this previous marriage and essentially a second family.

It just goes to show you all the great things that are out there.  And much of it wouldn’t be possible without the help of dedicated volunteers who strive to make data accessible.

Genealogy By the States is a theme created by Jim Sanders over at the Hidden Genealogy Nuggets blog.