“Shaking the Family Tree” is my very first blog… an attempt at weekly exercise…in the hopes of becoming a disciplined writer. I’ve done a fair bit of research on my family roots of late…made some interesting discoveries… but what do I do with this information? Does any of it really matter? Perhaps this blog will help me figure it all out… I hope you’ll join me on the journey… C
Update 2018:
Thanks for visiting!
I no longer post to this blog, and I have moved all of these genealogy posts to my main website: https://mickeyherr.com/category/genealogy/
Please contact me and/or make comments HERE
Update:
As of October 2012, I have started to write an additional blog “Don’t Judge a Fish” which covers everything beyond my genealogical journey. Turns out I had a lot more to say than I first imagined. I hope you will check it out at http://www.mickeyherr.com
Update: August 2013
I am now about two years into writing this blog and researching my genealogy. I have learned quite a lot. One thing is that people take what you write–the stuff you send out in blogs–very seriously. It has been fascinating to discover that when others are researching their family roots, this blog comes up in their searches. Because of this, I have “met” a number of “cousins”–those individuals related to me through great-great grandparents going back multiple generations. I love that we have connected through time and space. It is quite inspirational. But I would like to add a caveat for those reading this blog to track down roots that we have in common. While I do my best to present correct information, I cannot guarantee all of the information I present. Sometimes it is an educated guess. Which seems to me what this whole world of genealogy is all about…finding the needle in the haystack, sharing information with others, and hopefully finding the trail of bread crumbs that leads you to your next discovery. That’s the fun part. So please, by all means, use any information I provide here, but know that I am not an historian or official genealogist. If you find something that doesn’t make sense to you, please let me know. Perhaps together we can solve the mystery.
Shaking the Family Tree 
15 comments
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April 15, 2012 at 11:43 am
Tina G
I posted a prior comment not sure where it went, I was at work so maybe it didn’t take…My Mother is the youngest Daughter of Bernice McGuffin Watt, and Bernice is the sister of Clifford McGuffin. In the McGuffin Family photo Bernice is in the black dress. I’ve connected with Becky and she told me about all your efforts. Thank you for this, this is exactly what I wanted to do, now I can just do the traveling!
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May 20, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Patrick
Hey, Mickey, I was doing research on my maternal grandfathers side and I found that my 10th great grandparents are John Briscoe ( a name of which many of my family members still carry) and Elizabeth Dubois. I was wanting to know if you had any more information beyond that? I’m making a family tree, and I want to go back as far as possible. It would be really cool if you could share your half of the tree and I could connect it to mine. Once you think about, We’re related lol we’re most likely distant cousins! That’s amazing! Thanks, and it would be really appreciated for any help you could give me.
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May 20, 2012 at 10:44 pm
shakingthefamilytree
Patrick…FYI, I sent a reply directly to your email address…I look forward to talking to you
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May 23, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Cindy Bott Reed
“You have my grandmother’s eyes” – Julia was my great-aunt. I lived in the Denver area and saw her on occasion. Your photo of her was wonderful to see and brought back many memories. Would love to be in touch.
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May 23, 2012 at 7:44 pm
shakingthefamilytree
Hi Cindy- I sent you a message to your regular email…I look forward to speaking to you soon! So glad you reached out!
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July 14, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Lisa
A Zartman descendent finding out about them only recently,and enjoying the details,while hoping to make the reunion for the first time this year.meanwhile Dayton, Ohio has the German Picnic at carillon Park celebratiing all things german in August as well.
Besides Sortman(Zartman),I’m solid on the german heritage, as Keller,Meyer,Tangeman,and Pfuhl.
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July 14, 2012 at 3:47 pm
shakingthefamilytree
Please let me know if you do attend the reunion this year…I haven’t yet figured out my schedule. Thanks for the info on the Dayton event…I want to visit there as that’s where my paternal Otte family was early on.
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August 9, 2012 at 12:45 am
Shawn McGuffin
I stumbled across your blog researching McGuffin family history. Not related (at least not closely), but I found your writing very interesting and enjoyable to read. Thank you for sharing and I have subscribed.
Keep up the great work.
Shawn McGuffin
PS. If you’re on facebook, search ‘McGuffin Family Historical Research and Discovery Group’ and request to be added.
Cheers
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August 9, 2012 at 9:37 am
shakingthefamilytree
Hi Shawn…thanks for the compliment. Have you figured out when your McGuffins came to America?
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January 2, 2014 at 11:25 pm
Lynda
Hi Mickey! I came across your blog while researching the Zartman cemetery in Northumberland County, PA.(Revolutionary Roots and the 4th of July) I have an ancestor who was also buried at that cemetery, and I was having difficulty finding out exactly where it is. So your blog was instrumental in helping me locate it.
However, I feel that the cemetery you found and photographed in the blog is not the correct one, since you did not find the graves of your ancestors Jacob Zartman and his son Henry Zartman, who are said to be buried there.. The website FindAGrave.com has been very helpful. I eventually found the cemetery called Zartman’s, and found photos of the graves for both Henry and Jacob Zartman. Here are the links for those 2 graves:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=2337372&GRid=46467989&df=p&
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=46467955
You’ll see that the dates in those grave photos match the dates you mentioned in your blog.
The cemetery you are looking for is listed on FindAGrave as “Zartman’s Evangelical Church Cemetery,” and it is located in Herndon, not in nearby Dornsife. It is on private property, and does not have another name (that I know of).
The FindAGrave researcher posted a photo of the cemetery today, and you’ll see that it does not match the church cemetery in your photos.
Here’s the cemetery photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pis&PIcrid=2337372&PIpi=94782453&PIMode=cemetery
I’ve asked him to kindly describe how to get to that cemetery, since there is no address on the website, and I can’t seem to find any other reference to it.
If you’d like, I can pass along the information to you once he sends me a reply.
Best wishes to you!
Lynda
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January 3, 2014 at 1:21 pm
mcherr
Hi Lynda…this is all great info…and someone else had commented to me that I “had the wrong house”…so I am grateful to receive your updated info and will take time to check out those links. This is why I love the internet! I would be happy to receive the directions when you get them…as I would love to go back and go where I thought I was! Ha! Thanks again and keep in touch!
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January 3, 2014 at 2:20 pm
mcherr
Lynda- I can see on the map where the cemetery would be…and I used Google view to see that actual road, looks like it might be up a private hill…which has lots of trees that block the view. I hope that person replies back to you with specific directions!!
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May 4, 2014 at 1:37 pm
Kristi Davis
Thanks for posting this stuff. I'[m a great granddaughter of Alexander Zartman down through Isaac Zartman to Evon Zartman Vogt, my grandfather. Love all this…can’t afford to sign on to Ancestry.com anymore, but I have a public tree there called Davis/Vogt family tree.
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May 5, 2014 at 4:52 pm
mcherr
I just glanced at your tree…thanks for pointing it out, it looks like you have cool photos etc. I look forward to perusing a bit! So we share a grandfather…Henry Zartman is my 4th great-grandfather…if I am remembering correctly your Alexander and my Samuel (sons of Henry) moved to Ohio together. Your grandfather Evon sounds very interesting…I am fascinated by all the academics in the Zartman family that I’ve come across! My tree isn’t public ’cause I’m always cautious that I am sharing info that people take as “perfect” and I’m sure there’s mistakes in places. But feel free to contact me if there’s info you are looking for…although your tree looks to be in much better condition than mine!! So nice to hear from another cousin!
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May 5, 2014 at 5:11 pm
mcherr
BTW…I LOVE those bird illustrations…so cool. Thanks for sharing them on your tree
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