April Ancestor: William Johnson Lindsey

Well there are only 2 days left in April so I better get my blog done on my April ancestor.
For April I chose from my dad's side of the family William Johnson Lindsey.

William Johnson Lindsey was born about 1821 in Kentucky, possibly October 4, 1821 in Mason county, Kentucky. Census records are consistent with his birth year and state of birth. I am unsure of his parents at this point. The 1880 census records his father born in Scotland and his mother in Kentucky.
I don't know much about his early life as early 1800 census records don't list much info, and I don't live close to Kentucky.

The next fact I know is William Johnson Lindsey married Lucinda Elisa Gardner (daughter of Reverend Matthew Gardner and Sally Beasley) in Kentucky (likely Mason county) about May 30, 1842. I have 7 children born to this union: Sarah Belle Lindsey (born 1847), Mary M. Lindsey (born 1850), Barton Beasley Lindsey (born 1853), John Gardner Lindsey (born 1855), George W. Lindsey (born 1857), Charles D. Lindsey (born 1859) and Franklin S. Lindsey (born 1875). There is a David Lindsey living next door in the 1860 census, which I wonder if he is an older son or perhaps a much younger brother.

In the censuses from 1850 to 1880, William Johnson Lindsey is listed a farmer. He lived in Brown county, Ohio in 1850, and then in Adams county, Ohio from 1860 on probably until his death.
William Johnson Lindsey passed away in 1898 (probably 15 May 1898) in Ohio. He is buried in the Manchester IOOF (Odd Fellows) Cemetery, in Manchester, Adams County, Ohio. His wife is listed on the same gravestone located there. Thanks to a photo volunteer on Findagrave who was able to get a photo for me, since I've never been to Ohio, although I was only about 7 miles from it once.

Here are sources for what I have found on William Johnson Lindsey: US Federal censuses: 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880; A book on Reverend Matthew Gardner available on Google books listing Lucinda's marriage to William; and the previously mentioned gravestone photo. There is also an American Revolution application (DAR/SAR) online with some information.

Sources I should look into for William Johnson Lindsey: His marriage license probably from Mason county, Kentucky which hopefully would list his parents. Any death notice or obituary in an Ohio newspaper, any death record available from Ohio. Likely a birth record would not be available, so if I figure out what church or denomination, perhaps I could track down a baptism record.

I have met some Lindsey cousins online, and some who think they are my cousins. If you are related or think you are, feel free to contact me. And please let me know if you have more sources or information. Thanks for reading.

How I Use Excel in Genealogy

Genealogy lends itself well to forms. Forms to organize our information, to see where our holes are, to gather like information, and many other reasons. Excel is a great tool to use to organize your information, because if you can't find a form to suit you, you can use Excel and make your own. Here are the different ways I have used Excel in genealogy:

1. Timelines: I love timelines. I make a timeline for a person (usually a man because there's more information). I put the left column as DATE, then WHERE or PLACE, then EVENT, then SOURCE and last THOUGHTS or TO DO. Here is an example of what I do:

2. Cemetery directory: I am on the cemetery board for the local cemetery and we are putting up a cemetery directory. The directory manufacturer recommended Excel for it, and I would've used it anyway. They would've done it for us if we provided the information. However I'm kind of a control freak and wanted it correct, or at least as correct as possible. So my headings there are for Name (alphabetized last name first, then first name, then middle initial or name), Date of death (abbreviated DOD) and included because we have too many Anna Andersons, etc, Block and Lot. FYI we have 5 Anna Andersons, an Annabelle and an Annie; three of those Anna Andersons have the same middle initial. So I am helping by listing the date of death. 

3. Transcribing marriage index: I started transcribing the marriage index of the county where I live and want to put it online. The index book already had headings so I just used those: Bride's Name, Groom's Name, Date of License, Volume and Page. Really if you are transcribing any kind of index or census, Excel would work well, but maybe not for transcribing an obituary. 

4. Documentation: I like to keep track so I don't look twice for the same info. Did I find great grandma in that 1900 census? So I use my Excel spreadsheet to keep track. My columns are named Last name, First and middle name, DOB, Marriage date, DOD, Birth record, Marriage record, Death record, Census records, State & City records (state census and/or city directory), Immigration, Land record, and Other (where I put military). 

5. Others: I also use Excel to keep track of my goals, make financial statements for clients, and keeping lists of potential clients. 

Do you have other ways to use Excel in genealogy. Feel free to comment below or leave a link to your blog.