Elusive Ethel

I went hunting for Ethel Marie Ramshay York tonight, at the Family History Center. I went armed with the information I got from my great-aunt and great-uncle, which I posted about previously. I searched for any Ramshay in Frisco, Texas, in the 1920 census. Found nothing. I did a cursory search for any Ramshay in Frisco, Texas, in any census, and still found nothing.

I looked for her in the birth records, and found an infant Ramshay born on her birthdate, in Collin County, to a mother named Will. This was only an index of birth records, so that was all it had; to see more information, I'll have to see the actual birth certificate, which is not on the internet. I called the Texas Vital Statistics office, and they said I can send in a request with the certificate number (which was in the index I saw), or visit in person in Austin. Day trip to Austin, anyone?

My friend started helping me, and we found a cemetery listing in Bethel Cemetery in Collin County for Katie B. Ramshay and Infant of Katie and Joe Ramshay. I think we're getting warmer! Then we found death certificates for both Katie and the infant; they died in 1920, which may explain why I can't find the Ramshay family in that census. Also learned from that certificate that Katie's maiden name was Cole. I called my great-aunt Hazel and asked her if Ethel was about 6 1/2 when her mom died, and she said yes; also, that her mother was still alive when Ethel saw her carried out on the mattress to the hospital. This is exactly what the death certificate says, that Katie Cole Ramshay was in the hospital for 3 days before she died. Poor woman, in labor for 3 days (at least, who knows how long she labored at home before being carried to the hospital, most kids were still born at home in those days) and ending in both her death and the baby's. I can't imagine what her family must have gone through.

Looking in the Collin County records that are online, I've found an "Amendment to Certificate of Live Birth" for Ethel Marie Ramshay. It doesn't list her parents, but it confirms her date and place of birth (11 Nov 1913, Frisco, Collin Co., Texas), and it lists as supporting documentation an affidavit by C.B. Cole, her uncle.

Then I found a "Delayed Certificate of Birth" for Flossie Ramshay, who was Ethel's sister. This lists her parents as William (Will) Ramshay and Katie Cole.

Then I found a listing of a marriage record for Katie Cole and Joe Ramshay in Collin County, recorded 1 Jan 1911. Were Will and Joe the same guy?

I also found a "Delayed Certificate of Birth" for John Ramshay Jr., born to John Ramshay and Francis Irene Hassell in Frisco, Collin County, on 17 March 1919. Yay, cousins!

SO. I think I've found Ethel Marie Ramshay's family, but I don't have that one last bit of proof I want: Ethel's birth certificate stating who her parents are. What I DO have is that her uncle's last name was Cole, Ethel's mother died in childbirth when she was 6 1/2, and Katie Cole Ramshay died in childbirth when Ethel was 6 1/2. Is this enough information to say for sure that I've found Ethel's parents?

Welcome! Risher, Ramshay, Harding, and Newcomb

Welcome to my genealogy blog! I'm hoping to connect with other researchers on my family history. I've seen some of my ancestors' info re-posted in numerous places online, but with different name spellings, dates, places, etc. and I want to find out which is correct. I also would love to do some descendancy research and find out who on earth I'm related to!
I have a friend who works in an LDS Family History Center every Tuesday night, and she's invited me to come in when she's there and we can work on my family tree. I took her up on that, and the first time I went in she shared chocolate with me and found my great-great-grandmother that I'd been looking for for about ten years. I was hooked!
This blog was her idea, as well. I can keep up with what information I'm working on, here. I really only get a chance to work on it every Tuesday night, so writing down what we work on when I'm there will help me jump right back in when I go back in another week (two weeks, this time, since the Family History Center will be closed for Thanksgiving next week).

So! Last night we worked on cleaning up and organizing my family history, both online and on paper. I brought in a portable file organizer, all my disorganized papers, and chocolate. And my baby and 3-year-old! 3-year-old was asleep in the car when I got there, and by the grace of God he stayed asleep when I carried him in. I laid him on the floor and he slept for about 45 minutes; one worker said my ancestors were soothing him to keep him asleep so I could find them! My baby was easy, too, even slept in a worker's arms while I worked.
While cleaning up my family tree, my friend found two unnamed children of Ambrose Harding (1799-1881) and Amelia Newcomb (1799-1886). This couple were married and started their family in Kentucky, then emigrated to Texas. We have record of 5 of their children: Elizabeth, Amelia, Benjamin F. (my ancestor), F. M., and Spicy A. According to a couple of cousins of mine, they had two more children, but we don't have their names, places or years of birth or death. Did they even exist? Were they babies who died at or soon after birth? Or did they grow, marry, move away, and leave no trace?
Then we started looking for the parents of Ethel Marie Ramshay, 1913-1979. She was supposedly born in Frisco, TX, but I can't find record of her anywhere! She was my paternal grandpa's mother, and I know she still has some living children and grandchildren. I need to get in touch with them.

Last week we looked for my adoptive grandpa's parents. His name was John T. Risher, and he adopted my mom when he married her mom. He was born in Columbia county, AR, in 1935. We couldn't find any information online, so I called my Granny and asked her. She didn't know offhand who his parents were, but she said she may have his birth certificate in a lockbox at her bank, or my uncle may have it. Now that I think about it, perhaps the marriage record would have his parents' names on it. They married in 1955..... so next time I go I'll look for that. It'll be good to have the marriage record even if we do find the birth certificate.

So, that's what I've gotten done so far. I'm excited to be working on my family history again!