Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Some Semi-Random Research

Last night's "Saturday Night Genealogy Fun" challenge at Genea-Musings involved doing some semi-random research. I wasn't able to do the research last night, but I'm ready now!

Step #1: Go to your family tree database of choice (you know, like RootsMagic, Reunion, Ancestry Member Tree), and determine who the very first person on your list of C surnames is. Or the first person on your list of J surnames. Or P surnames. Or any other name you need to research. Your choice!

I chose the letter "U" and my name was Boyd Ungard.

Step #2: What do you know (or not know) about this person based on your research? It's OK to do more research if you need to - in fact, it's encouraged!

Boyd Ungard was born about 1875 in Pennsylvania and died after 1930. He was married in 1895 in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania to Edith Stewart. They had at least 7 children: 4 daughters & 3 sons including a son named Stewart, evidently from his mother's last name.

Boyd Ungard & Edith Stewart's 1895 marrige record
found at Ancetry

Records I have: 

• 1910, 1920, & 1930 census - all 3 near St Louis, Illinois (which is across the Mississippi from St Louis, Missouri) 
• a Methodist church marriage record stating both the bride & groom were "from Flemington" 
• a 1926 city directory showing his occupation as a laborer and his middle initial as "K" which I had never recorded 

New findings on Ancestry:

• U.S. Social Security Death Index - shows exact birth date (13 Feb 1875) & death facts (Oct 1968 in St Louis, Missouri) - age of 93 
• A listing for a St Louis obituary, though I wasn't able to view a copy of it 
• Several more city directories 
• A baptism as an adult in June of 1894 in the same church (& same month) as his marriage to Edith Stewart 
• A church record (same Methodist church) showing he was received in June of 1894 & later "removed to Pitsburgh" (no date recorded) 
• A church record (same Methodist church) showing his probationary membership starting in November of 1893 & "received into full connection" in June of 1894 

Findings at Mocavo:

• 1940 census - I had to play around with this to find it on Ancestry & found they'd transcribed the last name as "Ungood", not 'Ungard" (I found it by searching for the fairly unusual first name of Stewart with no last name) 
• 1880 census - he is 5 years old & living in same county as wife as a young girl - his 7 year old sister is listed as having scarlet fever - found siblings & parents 
• Methodist baptism record of two siblings listing same parents

front of Body Ungard's WWI draft registration card
found at FamilySearch

Findings at FamilySearch:

• WWI Draft Registration with date of birth! & his middle name & wife's middle name (she's the sister of a direct ancestor)! 

Records I'd still like:

• a copy of the obituary I found 
• probate records 
• 1900 census 
• location of burial 
• names of any other children (there is a 5 year & a 10 year gap between children) 

Step 3: How are you related to this person, and why is s/he in your family tree?

Boyd King Ungard is the husband of my great grand aunt, Edith Virginia Stewart. I try to research the siblings of my direct ancestors, so this was a great bit of research!

Step 4: Share!

Do we share common ancestors? I'd love to talk! Please write me at drleeds@sbcglobal.net