Another Piece to the Hayes Puzzle

By shutterbug 18:00, 17 July 2006 (UTC) (shutterbug 18:00, 17 July 2006 (UTC)) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Over the weekend, I took advantage of my free time to get some genealogy in. Even though I have been focusing on my paternal line lately, something told me I needed to switch back to the maternal line, specifically the Hayes. I'm glad I listened to that little voice in my head.

As you may recall from previous posts, my 2nd great grandfather was James Thomas Hayes. I had found a possible family for him just before taking a break from my maternal line. When the little voice urged me to switch back to the Hayes' line this weekend, I decided to start with his possible siblings.

To date, all I had on the possible siblings was their appearance in the 1900 census with my 2nd great grandfather, the residence of the two brothers in the 1910 census and the brothers' WWI draft cards. I also had a reference to a Sally Hayes of Hahira (which is where the family was in 1900) visiting Valdosta twice in 1909.

I decided to start with the brothers. My first stop was marriage records. I knew both of the brothers had been in Berrien County in 1917 and my 2nd great grandfather had married there. I wasn't able to find a marriage record for John, but I did find one for Lee (actually his middle name, his first being Joseph). On 13 Jun 1925, he married Mamie L Brantley in Berrien County.

With his wife's name, I was able to finally locate him in the 1930 census living in Colquitt County. Apparently they had moved after their marriage. I also found that he had two children, Luel and Maude, at this point.

It took some creative searching, but I managed to find him in the 1920 census in Lowndes County. The reason he was so difficult to find is that the name had been poorly written on the page and the transcription was even worse. He is listed as Lu Hoze in the index. Just above his name was that of John. Both men were listed as brother-in-law of household head Goldie Griffin (actually Loldy Griffin but the transcription was off).

When I checked the name of the wife of the head, it was Belle Griffin. For the men to be brother-in-law to the head, that meant Belle was probably their sister Isabelle. I love records that give me more than expected. With one census record, I located three siblings, learned who the sister married and the names of some of her children.

With names in hand, I went back to marriage records. I first checked Berrien County since I knew all three brothers were there in 1910 and based on the ages of Belle's children, this would have been about the time of her marriage.

I struck out there so I switched to Lowndes County marriage records. After some digging and deciphering a really smudged entry in the name index, I found the marriage record. Belle Hayes and Loldy Griffin were married 19 Aug 1906 in Lowndes County. I was surprised that the marriage was as early as it was considering the oldest child living in the household was born ca 1912. Either she had difficulty carrying children to term, some had passed in their early years or something else was going on.

So I went hunting in the 1910 census for Belle and Loldy. Again, it took some creative searching because of the image quality and the transcription which has their surname as Chaffin. What was interesting is that they are living in the household with a family named Hays, Joe and Louisa Hayes to be exact. Both Belle and Loldy are listed as stepchildren of Joe. A child named Alder Chaffin (actually Griffin) is listed as his granddaughter.

The really curious thing about Joe Hayes, though, is that he is the right age to be Isabelle's father Joseph Hayes. I went back to marriage records and located a record for Joseph Hays and Louise Griffin. They were married in Lowndes County on 12 Feb 1905. According to the 1910 census, this was the second marriage for both of them.

According to the 1930 census, Loldy's mother was named Louisa. I suspect that Louisa was Loldy's mother and Joe was Isabelle's father. Belle and Loldy probably met as a result of their parents marrying. This means my earlier suspicion that Belle's father died between 1900 and 1910 is probably wrong.

I haven't been able to locate Joe or Louisa in the 1920 census. I know Louisa was alive because she appears with her son in the 1930 census. I did find a death certificate for Louisa. It appears she passed away shortly after the census was taken. She is listed as widowed in both the 1930 census and her death certificate.

I assume that Joe probably passed at some point between 1910 and 1930. This can probably be narrowed down even further due to absence in the death records available in Georgia's Virtual Vault. However, this isn't definitive since it may not have been recorded. A search of area cemeteries has not located him so I'm stuck for now on exactly when he passed.

Now for the last point of serendipity. As you may recall, one of my cousins set up a group on Facebook for everyone to connect and share photos and stories. I check in on the group this morning and saw that one of the cousins that descends from a Sweat-Griffin marriage remembered visiting the Hayes when my uncle Earnest was killed in WWII and thought there was a connection between the families.

Another cousin who also has Hayes and Sweat lines (her father was a Hayes and her grandmother on her mom's side was a Sweat) chimed in with another clue. She said that her dad had told her the Hayes and Griffin lines were related, but she didn't remember the exact connection.

Based on the information I've found so far and the comments I've got from my cousins, I feel confident that I'm on the right track.

Veterans in My Tree

In honor of Veteran's Day, I thought I'd share the military heroes found in my family tree. Since some of the veterans are still living (some still serving), I have chosen to list only their relationship and not their names. This is not all the veterans in my family tree, only the ones I have uncovered so far. Hopefully by next year, I will have uncovered more.

Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan

• My cousin
• My cousin's wife
• My nephew

Vietnam War

• Bobby Gene Hayes Sr, my cousin
• Donald Ray Rhodes, my cousin. Killed in action
• Harlin Asa Radcliff Jr, my cousin

World War II

• Earnest C Hayes, brother to my maternal great grandmother Alice Isabel Hayes Sweat. Killed in action at Iwo Jima
• Henry Eugene Hayes, brother to my maternal great grandmother Alice Isabel Hayes Sweat
• Roy Ethridge Hayes, brother to my maternal great grandmother Alice Isabel Hayes Sweat
• Walter Henry Vanzandt, brother to my maternal great grandfather Clyde Thomas Vanzandt
• Everett S Vanzandt, brother to my maternal great grandfather Clyde Thomas Vanzandt
• Clark Sutter, maternal step great grandfather
• Argial Waitman Carson, paternal great grandfather 
• Harlin Asa Radcliff Sr, brother of my paternal great grandfather
• My cousin

World War I

• Frank E King, paternal 2nd great grandfather.

Civil War

• Oliver Perry Register, maternal 3rd great grandfather. Confederate
• Burrell B Sweat, brother to maternal 4th great grandfather John Franklin Sweat. Confederate.
• Roland Sweat, brother to maternal 3rd great grandfather John Franklin Sweat. Confederate.
• John Guess Rice, maternal 5th great grandfather. Confederate. Died in Fort Delaware Prison.
• Frederick Grossenbacher, paternal 4th great grandfather. Union
• James A Carson, paternal 4th great grandfather. Union
• Aaron William Radcliff, paternal 3rd great grandfather. Union

Indian Wars

• William T Sweat, maternal 5th great grandfather

American Revolutionary War

• John Register, maternal 7th great grandfather
• Benjamin Register, maternal 8th great grandfather
• Aaron Adam Rice, maternal 7th great grandfather
• William Rhoden, maternal 8th great grandfather
• Nathaniel Sweat, maternal 6th great grandfather

Unknown

• John Cason, husband of my maternal great aunt Linda Faye Sweat Cason. Military gravestone marker says US Army

Update on the Search for Grandpas Hayes' Family

As you will recall, one of my 2011 genealogy goals was to determine the parents and burial place of my maternal 2nd great grandfather James Thomas Hayes. To that end, I put together a research plan. Unfortunately, life, moving and finances got in the way of my research. Recently, things have calmed down a bit and I've been able to do more research and I have to say that things are looking promising.

As I mentioned in my research plan, I had located a possible family in the 1900 census. The fact that the location matched his birthplace in his WWI Draft Registration Card as well as the names of the siblings made me suspect this was the correct family. So I decided to start my search with them.

The family in the 1900 census was located in Cat Creek, Lowndes County, Georgia. This is close to Valdosta, which is where the WWI Draft Registration says he was born. The head of the household was Joseph Hays, 44, born June 1855 in Georgia and a widower. Other occupants were Jonnie Hays (son, 10, born March 1889 in Georgia), Salley A (daughter, 10, born unknown month 1890 in Georgia), Thomas Hays (son, 9, born January 1891 in Georgia), Isabelle Hays (daughter, 7, born September 1892 in Georgia), Joseph L Hays (son, 5, born March 1895 in Georgia) and Salley Hays (grandmother, unknown age and birthdate, born in Alabama).

In tracing the family, it appears that the father passed away before the 1910 census. In 1910, Jonnie appears as John Hays, a boarder in the household of Zeke Bennett, living in Cat Creek, Lowndes County, Georgia.

Thomas as appears as Tom Hays in the household of Lee R Bennett, living in Rays Mill, Berrien County, Georgia. Lee Hays (which I suspect is Joseph L Hayes) also appears in the household. This is consistent with the fact that Thomas Hayes married in Berrien County in 1912 and 1918 residence in Ray City, Berrien County, Georgia when he registered for the WWI Draft. It also matches the information that a cousin gave me that he had a brother named Lee.

When you look at the WWI Draft Registration cards for Lee Hayes and John Hayes, they are both listed as born in Valdosta, Georgia. They are both living in Ray City, Georgia, as is Thomas. All three cards are close in number and signed on the same day. The physical descriptions are also a match. John Hayes is listed as employed by Tom Hayes, which connects him in another way to my Thomas Hayes

I'm still trying to trace where the girls ended up, but given their ages, I suspect they may have been married by 1910. In searching the Digital Library of Georgia, I found two references to Sallie Hayes of Hahira (Cat Creek) visiting the city of Valdosta. Both references were in early 1909 so if this is the right Sallie Hayes, this could narrow down my marriage search considerably.

Another thing I looked into was other Hayes families in the same area as my 2nd great grandfather.While not as common today, in the past families often stayed in the same area as other family members. So looking for people with the same surname nearby can offer clues as to family.

In 1920, the first census I'm positive is my Thomas Hayes is living in Massee, Cook County, GA. Another Hayes family is found in the same town-Curtis and Sousie Hayes. In other towns, but in the same county are more Hayes families-HH and Lenner Hayes, Elizabeth Hayes (living with daughter and son-in-law Mary and Honor Webb), IW and Lillian Hayes, Ed and Janie Hayes, WW and Ollie Hayes, and DN and Lizzie Hayes.

In 1930, the family of Thomas Hayes is living in Militia District 1487, Cook County, GA. Living in the same militia district are Edward and Floorvana Hayes. In the same county are Joe and Agnes Hayes, Irwin and Annie Hayes, Curtis and Serappie Hayes, JF and Mary Lee Hayes, Mallie and Pauling Hayes, Rudolph and Ella Hayes, John and Nancy Hayes, Dan and Lizzie Hayes, Winifred and Ollie Hayes, Willie and Edna Hayes.

I'm still trying to nail down everyone's relationship, but it appears that Irwin, Dan and HH (Henry) were all brothers, sons of Joseph Hayes and Rebecca Lassiter. John Hayes was a half-brother to these men, being born of Joseph's first marriage to Nancy Jernigan. Curtis, Winifred, Mallie and Rudolph were all sons of Irwin.

Given that most of the Hayes I had found were children or grandchildren of Joseph Hayes, I decided to take a closer look at him. I found that he had a son named Joseph whose age fits with the possible father Joseph Hayes from the 1900 census.

While more research is needed to definitely nail down Grandpa Hayes' family, I feel confident I'm on the right track with the family from the 1900 census. If my theory is correct, the other Hayes men in the same area would be his uncles and cousins.

As far as the burial place for Grandpa Hayes, my grandfather (grandson of Grandpa Hayes) told me that he was buried at Brushy Creek Cemetery with his wife and two of his children. I recently got confirmation from a cousin that she had been told the same by her aunt, a daughter of Grandpa Hayes.

With this confirmation, I feel comfortable saying that this is his burial place, although I will continue to try to reach someone at the church to see if we can nail down exactly which one of the two spots marked by pieces of concrete belongs to him and which one belongs to his wife, my 2nd great grandmother Minnie Rice Hayes. Once we have that determined, my plan is to go to other family members to see if they would be willing to donate towards a headstone.

Tombstone Tuesday: Clifford Eugene and Alice Isabel (Hayes) Sweat

Headstone for Clifford Eugene Sweat and Alice Isabel Hayes Sweat, Mount Peace Cemetery, St. Cloud, FL

Clifford Eugene Sweat and Alice Isabel Hayes Sweat were my maternal great grandparents. They both make their first appearance in records in the 1930 census. Clifford was listed in Colquitt County, Georgia, the son of James W and Addie (Deen) Sweat. Isabel appears as Izzie B in Cook County, Georgia, the daughter of Thomas and Minnie (Rice) Hayes. They married 20 September 1936. I haven't found their marriage record yet as available online records cut off just before that point, but I assume their marriage occurred in either Cook or Berrien County.

Granny and Grandpa Sweat ca 1960-1970

I've been told they lived with my great grandfather James Thomas Hayes when they first got married. They had four children that lived beyond infancy. Two of those children, my grandfather Thomas Walter Sweat and his sister Linda Faye Sweat Cason, passed away one year ago within a week of each other.

They moved to Florida around 1950 and lived there until Clifford's death on 6 Feb 1986 in St. Cloud, Florida. Isabel stayed in Florida until 1991 when she moved to Blackshear, Georgia with her daughter Linda. She lived there until her death on 23 May 2009.

My sisters and I with Granny Sweat, ca 1995

My mom was very close to her grandparents and I grew up hearing stories about her time with them. They were the backbone of the family and things have changed since they both passed. I don't remember my great grandfather since he died when I was pretty young, but I remember my granny well. While I didn't get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked, I still have some good memories.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Heritage Pie Chart

16 Great Grandparents

• William Merch Radcliff, born 1 Nov 1881 in Gilmer County, WV, died 15 Sept 1974 in Weston, Lewis County, WV. He married Bessie Ethel Collins 27 May 1910 in Oakland, Garrett County, MD.
• Bessie Ethel Collins, born 10 Nov 1891 in Gilmer County, WV, died Oct 1980 in Weston, Lewis County, WV.
• Riley Neal, born 15 May 1887 in Lewis County, WV, died 16 Nov 1968 in Linn, Gilmer County, WV. He married Aulda Jane Messenger 13 Aug 1911 in Gilmer County, WV.
• Aulda Jane Messenger, born 13 Aug 1891 in Gilmer County, WV, died 16 Jan 1973 in Weston, Lewis County, WV.
• Francis Scott Carson, born 20 Aug 1878 in Gilmer County, WV, died 23 Dec 1946 in Gilmer County, WV. He married Dora C Grose 29 Mar 1914 in Gilmer County, WV.
• Dora C Grose, born 10 Feb 1894 in Sand Fork, Gilmer County, WV, died ?
• Frank Elman King, Sr, born 19 Dec 1891 in Wetzel County, WV, died 21 Sept 1966 in Weston, Lewis County, WV. He married Alta Edith Smith 6 Jan 1918 in Wetzel County, WV. He married Anna Belle Jones 10 Dec 1921 in Gilmer County, WV.
• Alta Edith Smith, born 31 Mar 1895 in Green District, Wetzel County, WV, died 1919 in WV.
• James Walter Sweat, born 6 Nov 1874 in Ware County, GA, died 18 Feb 1940 in Nashville, Berrien County, GA. He married Addie Mae Deen 1 Nov 1896 in Pierce County, GA.
• Addie Mae Deen, born 8 Sept 1881 in Blackshear, Pierce County, GA, died 13 May 1966 in St. Cloud, Osceola County, FL.
• James Thomas Hayes, born 5 Jun 1889 in Valdosta, Lowndes County, GA, died 13 Feb 1960 in Nashville, Berrien County, GA. He married Minnie L Rice 27 Oct 1912 in Berrien County, GA. He married Charlotte Jane LNU
• Minnie L Rice, born Nov 1897 in GA, died ca 1931 in GA.
• William Walter Vanzandt, born 30 Jan 1884 in Kentucky, died 19 Jan 1963 in Chandler, Warrick County, IN. He married Martha Matilda Elizabeth Davis 20 Oct 1905 in Boonville, Vanderburgh County, IN.
• Martha Matilda Elizabeth Davis, born 19 Nov 1881 in Chandler, Warrick County, IN, died 22 Oct 1961 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, IN. She was previously married to Thomas Huggins.
• Lora D Boling, born 7 Nov 1897 in Pellville, Hancock County, KY, died 26 Sept 1961 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, IN. He married Eva Mae Sanders ca 1897 in Pellville, Hancock County, KY.
• Eva Mae Sanders, born 13 Jul 1907 in Pellville, Hancock County, KY, died 31 May 1988 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, IN. She later married Andrew Cooper.

In Memory of the Ancestors I Have Lost in My Lifetime

I spent the end of last month in Florida attending the funeral of my paternal grandfather. I lost my maternal grandfather just six months ago so it was difficult. On the drive back home, I was thinking about the ancestors I have lost in my lifetime.

Some I knew quite well, having spent a lot of time with them growing up. Others, like most of my great grandfathers, I don't really remember. They either passed away when I was really young or I didn't get to spend a lot of time with them. From the time I was born in 1982, I have lost:

Paternal great grandfather Argial Waitman Carson (1916-1985)

Maternal great grandfather Clifford Eugene Sweat (1911-1986)

Maternal 2nd great grandmother Eva Mae Sanders Boling Cooper (1907-1988)

Paternal great grandfather Charles William Radcliff (1915-1992)

~picture coming~

Maternal step great grandfather Clark L Sutter (1906-1994)

Maternal great grandfather Clyde Thomas Vanzandt (1922-1994)

Maternal great grandmother Virginia Leigh Boling Vanzandt Sutter (1925-2000)

Paternal great grandmother Evelyn Edna King Carson (1919-2007)

Maternal great grandmother Alice Isabel Hayes Sweat (1920-2009)

Maternal grandfather Thomas Walter Sweat (1941-2010)

Paternal grandfather Charles Leo Radcliff (1938-2011)

Research Plan for James Thomas Hayes

Research Problem

I want to find out who the parents of James Thomas Hayes are. I also want to know where he is buried.

Known Information

He was born in Georgia ca 1888-1889 per census records.

WWI Draft registration card lists birth as 5 Jun 1889 in Valdosta, GA. There is a note that says the age is guessed and not accurate.

Parents were both born in Georgia per census records.

He died 13 Feb 1960 in Berrien County, Georgia.

He had a brother named Lee.

He was married twice, first to Minnie L Rice, who died giving birth to their youngest child, and second to Charlotte Jane Unknown.

Suspected Information

According to his grandson, my grandfather, James Thomas Hayes is buried at Brushy Creek Cemetery in Cook County, Georgia. A visit to the cemetery found that there is no marker bearing his name. However, there are two nameless markers beside where two of his sons are buried..

I never asked my grandfather how he knew Grandpa Hayes was buried there and unfortunately I no longer have that option. He was 18 when his grandfather died so presumably he attended the funeral or was aware of it. I also know that James Thomas Hayes lived with his daughter, my grandfather's mother, after her marriage so it is conceivable that my grandfather spent time with him in his youth.

According to my first cousin twice removed, another grandchild of Grandpa Hayes, he is buried at Long Bridge Cemetery in Berrien County, Georgia. She said her information came from her aunt, a sister of my 2nd great grandmother and her father.A search of transcriptions available online didn't find his name. I haven't had a chance to visit this cemetery yet, but have it on the list for when I go back down in a couple months.

I found a family in the 1900 census for Cat Creek, Lowndes County, Georgia that might be his family. The family consists of Joseph Hays (b in GA Jun 1855, widowed), Jonnie (b in GA Mar 1889), Salley A (b in GA 1890), Thomas (b in GA Jan 1891), Isabelle (b in GA Sept 1892), Joseph L (b in GA Mar 1895) and Salley (b AL date unknown, widow, grandmother).

I have a few reason for suspecting this is the correct family. First is the use of Thomas. All census records I've found give his name as Thomas and that is what our family called him as well. Second is the sister named Isabelle. My great grandmother, the daughter of James Thomas Hayes, was named Alice Isabel Hayes. The brother named Jonnie is also significant since one of the Hayes children named their son Johnnie. Lee may be the middle name of the brother Joseph L.

I researched Cat Creek and learned that it is near Valdosta. According to Grandpa Hayes' WWI Draft Registration card, he was born in Valdosta.

Plan

Contact possible cemeteries to see if they have records of burials. If they do, hopefully he will be listed. If he's at Brushy Creek, I also want to find out who is interred in the other marker since this very well be his first wife, who I've been trying to determine an exact death date and burial place for.

Check local newspapers for an obituary. I'm hoping that there is an obituary available and it not only tells me where he's buried, but also who his parents and/or siblings are.

Continue researching possible family from 1900. I need to follow this family further to confirm they're the correct family.

Order death certificate. This is something I have put off for a while because Georgia charged $25. I'm on a budget and try to utilize all available free resources before shelling out money.

February Genealogy Goals

Research

Extract all Radcliff (and variations) vital records for Wetzel County.

Extract all Neal (and variations) vital records for Gilmer County.

Visit local library to explore genealogy-related holdings.

Develop research plan for determining parents and burial location of James Thomas Hayes.

Organization

Continue going through my sources to make sure I have citations for everything.

Continue building timeline of vital events for individuals in my family tree.

Writing

Write 12 posts a month for both blogs.

Write a few evergreen blog posts for both blogs for use when I don't feel like writing or am too busy to post.

Education

Make a list of genealogy societies to research for possible membership.

Other

Index at least 2,000 names for FamilySearch

Tombstone Tuesday: Earnest C Hayes (1925-1945)

Earnest C Hayes

21 Sept 1925-3 Mar 1945

Copyright D. Radcliff 2010

Earnest C Hayes was a younger brother of my maternal great grandmother Alice Isabel Hayes Sweat. He was born 21 Sept 1925, the son of James Thomas Hayes and Minnie L Rice Hayes. His birthplace was most likely Cook County, Georgia as the family was living there in both the 1920 and 1930 censuses.

At present, I don't have the exact day he enlisted in the United State Marine Corp to serve in World War II. His division, the 5th, landed at Iwo Jima, Japan on 19 Feb 1945. Just a couple weeks later, on 3 Mar 1945, he stepped on a land mine, killing him instantly.

His body was shipped home to his father, who was living in Nashville, Georgia at the time. The family buried him at Brushy Creek Cemetery in Cook County, Georgia and a military marker was erected.


Sources:
1920 US Census, population schedule, Massee Dist 1664, Cook County, Georgia, ED 82, Sheet 3A, Dwelling 34, Family 34, Thomas Hays household; NARA microfilm publication T625, Roll 246; digital image, Heritage Quest Online (accessed 4 Jan 2011)


1930 US Census, population schedule, Sparks Militia District 1487, Cook County, Georgia, ED 9, Sheet 7A, Dwelling 126, Family 130, Thomas Hayes household, NARA microfilm publication T626, Roll 349; digital image, Heritage Quest Online (accessed 4 Jan 2011)

Department of Navy, Bureau of Naval Personnel, State Summary of War Casualties Georgia, Page 7, NARA (accessed 4 Jan 2011) <http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/ww2/navy-casualties/georgia.html>

C Peter Chen, Battle of Iwo Jima, World War II Database (accessed 4 Jan 2011) <http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=12>

Interview with Thomas Walter Sweat (now deceased) by D Radcliff, 23 Dec 2009, interview notes in possession of D Radcliff


Earnest C Hayes headstone, Brushy Creek Cemetery, Cook County, Georgia. Photo taken 13 Oct 2010 and in possession of D Radcliff.

2011 Genealogy Goals

It's that time again, the time to set goals for the coming year. Unlike my previous goals, which focused on research, I will be setting goals in multiple categories. These are research (obviously), organization, writing and education.

Research

• Determine who the parents of my great great grandfather James Thomas Hayes are and where he is buried.
• Determine exactly when my great great grandmother Minnie L Rice Hayes passed and where she is buried.
• Determine if Bonnie Lee Radcliff and Lenia Pearl Radcliff were actually twins or if there was an error in the birth records.
• Determine who the parents of Thomas Vanzandt were as well as his exactly date of death. 
• Determine parents of husband's great great grandparents Joseph Koch Sr and Therese Ospelt Koch.
• Continue transcription project of all vital records for my WV surnames.
• Look into ordering death certificates for those individuals in my tree that I do not have a date of death or am missing information on parents. 
• Look into alternative record sources instead of only census, immigration, military and vital records.
• Visit at least one archive or genealogy library.
• Visit local libraries to see what they have to offer that may be helpful in my genealogy research.

Organization

• Continue with project to rebuild family tree from scratch adding only those people that I have sources to back up their addition.
• Make sure I have copies of all sources with citations.
• Make sure all sources I already have copies of have citations.
• See if there is a way to do a timeline for the entire family tree with one of my family tree programs. If not, begin compiling one.
• Get all photographs scanned in and labeled.
• Consistently use my research logs to avoid repeating searches.

Writing

• Write at least three blog posts a week for both of my blogs. One of the three posts here at Ancestrally Challenged can be a daily blogging theme.
• Participate in a genealogy blog carnival.

Education

• Attend at least one genealogy conference.
• Take at least six family history-related classes or webinars.
• Look into joining a genealogy society.
• Look into professional certification.

I know it seems like a lot, but I plan to break these goals down into more manageable chunks for my monthly goals. With luck and some perseverance, by this time next year, I will hopefully be able to check everything off.