Finding time.

I just got my dad's Vietnam scrapbook from my sister.  I'll get those images scanned this week.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what's in there.  Stay tuned.

Hang in there. I didn't quit.

I just wanted to let you all know (if anyone is even visiting here) that I have not stopped searching.  I took a part-time job as a Guide at ChaCha.com to earn some extra money so I can get a Ancestry.com account.  I've been using the local library but they have very limited search functions with their Ancestry.com account.  I really want to get the full search features so I can find the people in in my family.

I'll keep you posted :)

Library finds on April 13, 2010

I didn't find a whole lot of information on my lunch break.  I did, however, find a nice little tidbit.  Iowa State Census  Collection of 1836-1925 shows Flora E Vail's family as follows in 1885.

• William H Vail (37)
• Francis M Vail (34)
• Minnie M Stroud (12)
• Edward W Vail (10)
• John A Vail (7)
• Katie Vail (3)
• Flora E Vail (1)

William Henry Vail is my Great-great grandfather.

Gladys, Joe and Virgil photo

Well, look what I found in my stack of photos.  This rare picture of Virgil Vail with Gladys F Vail and Joe Oldenkamp. Now I don't know if Gladys and Joe were married at this point I but I know eventually got married.  I could assume that they were not because Joe is not wearing a wedding ring but that could simply mean he didn't wear one.  Unknown date and place.

Pansy F Vail Oldenkamp

I don't have any pictures of Pansy F other then the family photos I've posted here.  I did learn last week that she had married Joe Oldenkamp and had passed away on March 5, 2005.  She was 98 years old.  It kind of saddens me that I didn't get on this family history much sooner in life because I could have at least written to her or called or something.  It would have amazing to sit at her feet and hear her life's story.  Interesting to see that some Vail's stayed the Sioux Falls SD/Rock Valley IA area.

Lemi William Vail photo

Oldest son of William Edward and Anna Vail.  At least we know the place this was taken.  the back of the photo (right side) tells us it was taken in Vermillion, South Dakota.  If i'm wrong please tell me.

Dorothy Mae Vail photo

Again I have no idea when or where this was taken.  Dorothy Mae was the youngest daughter of William Edward and Anna Vail.

I should point out that in my research I have found a couple of different spellings of her name.  Dorothy and Dorthy.

Gladys F Vail photo

What a hottie!  I don't know who this photo not do I know the date at which it was taken.  I would like to think it was to a gentleman suitor.  Gladys was the oldest daughter of William Edward and Anna Vail.

William Edward Vail Family Photo A

I've edited this photo with names so you can see who is who.  Click on the image to download the full version for easier reading.

I have no idea when this photo was taken but I do know that Dorothy Mae Vail was born in 1914.  Guessing her age I would GUESS that this photo was taken about 1916-ish.  Edward is my great grandfather.  Harry was my grandpa.

Edward and his oldest son Lemi were both barbers according to census records I've seen.

shorpy.com: HD image scans of the past.

I've been going to http://www.shorpy.com/ for a couple of years now.  You may not get to see any of your family in these images but they are great to look through.

Harry M Vail and Alice May Rollings marriage certificate found.

I spent about 45 minutes at the library during my lunch break and found the marriage certificate of Harry Merle Vail and Alice May Rollings.

Harry and Alice were married for 22 years.  They divorced on September 32, 1946.  I have no idea what happened to bring about a divorce

Exciting stuff.

While cleaning out the garage the other week I ran across a binder that my dad passed on to me after he died in 2002.  The binder included ALL the genealogy work that he had done before he passed away.  I also, found a container full of historic family photos.

Here is William Edward Vail and his family.  

Rock Valley, Iowa's 1920 census records show that Edward and his son Lemi were barbers.  

His son Harry was a "laborer".

Edward, as he was known, died in 1940.  

Click image to see enlarged version.

So basically I caught fire for seeing how much further I can take the Vail name back.

This blog will be a history of what I find so check back often and see what gems I can share with you all.