by Jean Taeuffer
Why do we do genealogy research?
For me, it's about connecting with family, history and all that makes me
who I am. Sometimes genealogy discoveries come from the most unexpected places. It is so important that people realize not
everything can be found online and that there are friendly volunteers out there just
waiting to help us in our quest.
What sparked the odyssey
Several years ago, during a visit to
my hometown of Healdsburg, California in Sonoma County, a dear cousin of mine
shared with me an old scrapbook she had come across while clearing out her
recently departed Mother’s home. In it was a newspaper article, written in the
1930s, that relayed some stories about our shared ancestor, John E. Congleton,
who had arrived in California during the Gold Rush.
The article quoted his daughter,
Amelia Jane (Jenny) Congleton Smith Cook, as having stated (among other things)
that her father “was not so much interested in gold mining as he was in the
lumber business, for he [had] established a sawmill at ‘Rough and
Ready.’”
I had never heard about the family
owning a saw mill in my prior twenty years of researching this family. I vowed
then that someday I would make an attempt to verify this for myself.
The research begins
In October 2016 I traveled back to
Healdsburg to attend my High School reunion. I decided to extend the trip to
include stops at several of the Northern California repositories I had wanted to visit since beginning my family research in
1994. My first stop was the California
Genealogical Society and Library (CGS) in Oakland.
There I found John Congleton’s name
in a microfiche of “Kitt’s Index to Records in the Nevada County Recorder’s
Office for July 21, 1856 to January 26, 1922.” It was not abundantly clear what
the notations following his name indicated, but it sure looked like it was the
location of a land record to me. A quick search of the Nevada County Recorder’s
Office website confirmed that they no longer were in possession of records of
this vintage. Too bad.
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| Kitts Index at CGS Library Photo courtesy of Jean Taeuffer |
If at first you don't
succeed...try...try, again
Armed with the cryptic notation, I
proceeded to the Doris Foley Library in Nevada City, California. I asked
the helpful volunteer if he was familiar with Kitt’s Index, to which he responded, “Of course. And we have
the original records on microfilm if you would like to see them.”
After a short happy dance, I found
myself looking at the records of my great great grandparents, John E.
and Almira Congleton, selling their property, which including their residence
and their one third interest in the “Newtown Sawmill,” to Porter Gilman in 1857
for $800. The description of the property indicated it was located at the
bridge on Deer Creek on the East side of the Newtown Road Bridge.
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| Saw Mill Deed at Foley Library Photo courtesy of Jean Taeuffer |
My new best friend at the Foley
Library encouraged me to head over to the Searls Historical
Library, also in
Nevada City, to look for additional details. Once there, the friendly volunteer
informed me that, sadly, the assessor’s records went back only to 1862 because
earlier ones had been destroyed in a series of courthouse fires.
However, she did bring me the
original book, “Kitt’s Index…” In it, I was able to find later transactions by the
individuals named in my ancestor’s deed. Using this information I was able to
locate the assessor’s record of the property in the 40-lb. Assessors Book of
1862 that the volunteer was barely able to wrangle off of the shelf. At that
time the 160 acres of land improved with “house, barn, fencing, fixtures, five
cows, two horses, and two mules” was valued at $450.
Ready to solve the puzzle
My next stop was on Google Maps to
look for the intersection of Newtown Road and Deer Creek. Unfortunately, I
learned that the current Newtown Road ends at Bitney Springs Road just a few
yards before it would cross Deer Creek. Undeterred, I headed out in the pouring
rain to see what I could find.
The GPS on my phone guided me onto
Newtown Road and I followed it as it wound around for several miles before it
turned and began running parallel to Deer Creek. As I approached the end of the
road, I pulled to
the side and took off on foot with camera and umbrella. As I gazed
across Bitney Spring Road I realized that I was looking at the abandoned
continuation of Newtown Road and the decrepit old bridge across Deer Creek!
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| The decrepit old bridge across Deer CreekPhoto courtesy of Jean Taeuffer |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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| Jean Taeuffer |
Jean Taeuffer, a California native
and amateur genealogist, has spent six years as a Volunteer Librarian for The Southern California Genealogical Society. She has also
served as a Member of their Board of Directors, as Recording Secretary, and
as 1st Vice President. She is also a member of The California
Genealogical Society, The Sonoma County Genealogical Society, and the
Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society.
Jean began researching
her family history in 1994 after finding a handwritten note containing details
about her great grandfather’s 1873 immigration from Alsace, France among her
late Mother’s belongings. Following those clues lead to the discovery of some
wonderful 3rd cousins still living in her ancestral village with
whom she continues to enjoy visits.
Jean feels that “genealogy
can provide us with insight into the challenges our ancestors faced, a
perspective on our place in history, and an understanding of how much more
there is that connects us than divides us. And besides, it’s fun!”
Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society
1 comments:
Wonderful story of your adventure in the Gold Country! So glad you were successful and our library served a part of your success.
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