Big Timbers - Help wanted from Yorkshire, England. (Great Falls, Culbertson: real estate, crime rate)

[rustyruth]

Well I'm finally back from my travels, Spain was very hot, 109 degrees in the middle of the afternoon, we Brits are not built for that kind of heat. Had a great time though, even if most of it was spent in the pool.

I hope to get a little more time now to carry on with the family tree. I've had a quick look at the information on this thread, a few holes have now been filled, but as ever when researching families I seem to have come across a few skeletons in the closet which need more investigation. I've also come across the document containing the details of the three graves belonging to my Great Uncle in Big Timber, I was going to scan it and post it here, but sadly I've just updated my operating system to Snow Leopard and my scanner driver is not compatible so I'm awaiting a software update from HP them perhaps I can get it done.

Thanks again for the info, time to take an in depth look now

[Reziac]

No upgrades here, the main innards on my everyday PC are 11 years old (and parts of it are past 15) and my beloved scanner is, I think 13 now? if it ain't broke....

Skeletons, eh? Would be fun to know what mischief those MT relations were up to in their day!

Is Spain a dry heat like the American southwest, or is it soggy? never been there. I grew up in MT but have lived in the SoCal desert for 25 years... we hit 122 degrees last summer (usually get a month in the 115-117 range). This year we barely had summer, only one day above 110. My Brit and Norske ancestors are all spinning in their ice caves

For a while my sister's office assistant was a niece of the King of Spain -- he made them go out and get real jobs so they'd grow up to have a clue!

[rustyruth]

I think the 'mischief' took place in the UK according to my Mum anyway, she just can't remember what it was, but, it did result in three of my Grandfathers siblings leaving for the US. I suspect it has something to do with Great Grandfathers two marriages, I've already found out that my Grandfathers mother isn't the one I thought it was. It's all getting quite confusing, I need to sit down with all my paperwork and try to sort it out in my head.

Were we stayed in Spain was on the Mediterranean coast, the heat was dry, the only saving grace was a slight breeze off the sea, otherwise it would have been far too hot to walk around (well for us cold lovers anyway).

As for computer upgrades, It's all very easy with Apple, it's when I have to go near my husbands Windows laptop that I come out in cold sweats

[Reziac]

Write it all out on a dog pedigree form (one with big squares) -- makes it a lot easier to visualise. Here's a blank 5 generation form you can print out and use: 5 gen. template
or save it and edit it as needed -- it's just basic HTML.

When I had someone trace back my dad's side, I learned that it was largely Welsh... well, that explains a lot! Always wondered why I think like a Welshman, now I know!

Ah, but which upgrade made your scanner stop working?

[MTSilvertip]

Glad you had a good trip Rustyruth.
It is forcasted to be around 15 f here with wind chill down to around -10 F tomorrow.
A little of that spanish heat would be welcome right now. Already burning the wood I sweated all summer to get. Spring looks like a long way away right now.

I talked to some of the older citizens of Big Timber but nobody I spoke to remembered your Great Uncle, but that is not really surprising as it has been many years, and most of these folks would have been kids when he was already getting up in years.

If you have a name for the cemetary he is in, I am in Big Timber quite a bit, I might be able to locate the grave if it has a headstone.
If, (big IF), you have the name of the cemetary, and there is a stone, and I can find it, I would be happy to send you a picture of it if you like.

Big Timber has a very active historical society as well. I don't know if they have a website, but I will ask around for either a website or contact number if you would like.

Keep in touch.

[rustyruth]

Hmmm, the scanner is not working with Vista now, I'm starting to wonder if it ever did. Seems like when I get some time to spare I'm going to have to type out the copy of Great Uncle Joe's will.

Thanks for the template Reziac Wales, funny you should say that, at the end of the month we are going to Cardiff for three days, we've spent a lot of time in North Wales, but never been to the Capital before. I'll let you know how we go on.

MTSilvertip, Thanks for your efforts in trying to track Joe down, I'm not sure where he is buried (yet) the Will I have was taken care of by his brother Albert in California. His adopted daughter Mabel is mentioned in the document, but I don't have a clue what happened to her, other than she married a man by the name of Smith.

I've a busy weekend ahead, but as I said when I get a little time I'll post the contents of the will here. Also I'll try to find out where he's buried, I'm sure it won't be California.

[seven of nine]

I have not much to offer except were you visiting the Costa De Sol?
Pretty touristy but beautiful. I have seen much about Cardiff I have some distant roots there.
Welcome to the board.

[rustyruth]

Thanks for the welcome seven of nine

We were on the Costa Tropical in Spain, around 50 miles along the coast from Costa del Sol, not quite as touristy, and very lovely, also a lot warmer than the weather here in Yorkshire today.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by rustyruth

MTSilvertip, Thanks for your efforts in trying to track Joe down, I'm not sure where he is buried (yet) the Will I have was taken care of by his brother Albert in California. His adopted daughter Mabel is mentioned in the document, but I don't have a clue what happened to her, other than she married a man by the name of Smith.

Oh, that really narrows it down Some of those old wills had interesting terms. I remember a story about someone who didn't know who their relatives were until they found an old old will that left stuff to people they'd never heard of!

[rustyruth]

No it's not helped with Mabel becoming a Smith, I don't know what its like in the US, but there are no shortage of Smiths over here

Mabel is proving to be a bit of a mystery, I've found out that she was born in Oklahoma to British parents, she appears on the 1920 district census for School District 40, Sweet Grass, Montana aged 11 years. By the 1930 census she's disappeared, Uncle Joe is listed as farm owner, living along with his wife Laura and a lodger called Alice J Watt who is a school teacher.

Mabel is also one of the 13 beneficiaries in Uncle Joe's will dated May 10th 1961, his wife had already passed away in 1946. My own father is one of the other names mentioned, and here we go, 4 people whom no one has ever heard of over here, the unknown relatives in the will turning up.

I still haven't got the Attorneys document regarding the will scanned, but looking at the condition of it I don't think it would be of any benefit. I'm still confused over the three graves, cutting out all the legal bits of the document, this is how it reads -

'As a legatee under the Last Will and Testament of Joseph Edward Mitchell, you are entitled to a one thirteenth share of the residue and remainder of the Estate. This residue and remainder consists of the following assets:

a) Cash sum of $8,070,93

b) Three grave sites located in Big Timber, Sweet Grass County, Monatana.

It appears that the grave sites located in Big Timber, Montana are virtually valueless. It has been suggested that possibly these sites might be given to Mrs Mabel Smith, the adopted daughter of the deceased. However, nothing has been done to accomplish this'

I find the wording a bit strange, no mention of a cemetary, no mention of whether they are family graves, or who might be buried there. Also how can a grave be valueless, unless there is no-one in there. It would seem that Uncle Joe and his wife Laura were buried elsewhere, but where. And to cap it all, it would appear Mabel didn't want the graves either, looks like one thirteenth of them could now be mine

Looks like I've got a lot more digging to do,( please excuse the pun), plus I've four more relatives to try and track down, all of who are most likely to be in the USA - at least non of them are called Smith