Jim Panttaja’s Genealogy Research

One of the tools that I use for my genealogy research is Gensmarts. I got a copy of it when I purchased Family Tree Maker 16. I have used Family Tree Maker for many years - but decided to buy a new copy (rather than upgrade), partially because Gensmarts was bundled with it.

Gensmarts looks at your data file (for Family Tree Maker, as well as a number of competitive products), and identifies possible errors, as well as items for research. I use it with my Ancestry.com account to look up data that it suggests. I have about 8000 people in my Family Tree Maker database. When I first pointed Gensmarts at my database, the To Do list showed over 32,000 items to research. Fortunately, you can use radio buttons to limit the list. I started by only looking at information tied to my direct ancestors, that are available on Ancestry.com. I then moved on to items that fill missing data, and that are available to me on Ancestry.com.

Gensmarts uses the information in my database to project what records might be available. It suggests which states the person might be found in for a given census year, and also suggests things like birth and death records if it knows these are available for actual (or likely) years of birth or death.

I work my way down the list of suggestions - using Ancestry.com to look for the records.

Gensmarts hasn’t yet provided mappings to all Ancestry.com data. But I have found its suggestions on Census records, California birth and death records, and marriage records in a number of states to be very useful. I also look at the full search results from Ancestry.com for other records that might be useful. I tend to work through the list of suggestions from Gensmarts alphabetically by surname. This let’s me focus on a related family, and often find additional records.

There are a couple of other capabilities in Gensmarts that are useful. It’s Data Cleanup tab shows locations that probably aren’t correct (in my case, typos, or sometimes cities without states), or it suggests the appropriate county, given a city. I wish that it would let me choose some of its suggestions, and have it apply the changes to my Family Tree Maker file, rather than make me do it with find and replace - but the information is very helpful.

I am sure as I finish the 1100 remaining suggestions, I will find other ways to use Gensmarts to help me add to my research.

In my experience, genealogy research includes a lot of digging, a few ‘challenges’, and a few ‘goldmines’. The challenges include my ancestor Noah Scudder - after many years of research, I can’t satisfactorily identify his parents. More on Noah another day. John Miller Camron is in the goldmine category.

John Miller Camron had as a boarder, Abraham Lincoln, so he is mentioned in some of the biographies of Lincoln - and one book even includes a photograph of him. He was a 49er, first coming to California in 1849, so he is mentioned in some of the early California records. But most importantly, there was a pamphlet written in 1962 by one of his great-granddaughters, Alice Purvine Murphy, about John, and his descendants.

She includes a history of John, including his trip to California in 1849. She also includes birth, death and marriage information for all of the descendants that she could identify. What a treasure trove.

I have recently corresponded with Mrs. Murphy’s daughter Margaret Turner. Her note read in part “Mother had only a pencil and paper to keep track of all this information and my cousin Helen to help type it. Computers are wonderful”. I have also corresponded with Helen Purvine Kolb who typed it. She remembers the effort - and is pleased that others are still benefiting from that effort.

John and his wife had 10 children. The following provides the basic information on this first generation of John’s descendants.

JOHN MILLER CAMRON (THOMAS, THOMAS) was born 12 Aug 1790 in Elbert County, Georgia, and died 21 Feb 1878 in Sebastopol, Sonoma, California. He married (1) NANCY (POLLY OR MARY) ORENDORF 26 Jan 1812 in Enfield Twp.,Henderson, Kentucky, daughter of CHRISTOPHER OHRENDORF and ELIZABETH PHILIPS. She was born 13 Jan 1794 in Wilkes County, Georgia, and died 25 Mar 1875 in Sebastopol, Sonoma, California. He married (2) SARAH ANN ROGERS 12 Aug 1876. She was born 11 Apr 1811 in Alexandria, Virginia, and died 06 May 1887 in Oakland, Alameda, California.

Notes for JOHN MILLER CAMRON:
John Camron left Oskaloosa, Mahaska, Iowa on May 1, 1849 with a 40 wagon train, Camron arrived at Lassen’s ranch on the Sacramento River with 4 wagons on the last day of October, 1849.

More About JOHN MILLER CAMRON:
Burial: Sebastopol, Sonoma, California

More About NANCY (POLLY OR MARY) ORENDORF:
Burial: Sebastopol, Sonoma, California

More About SARAH ANN ROGERS:
Burial: Sebastopol, Sonoma, California

Children of JOHN CAMRON and NANCY ORENDORF are:
i. ELIZABETH PRESTON4 CAMRON, b. 13 Jan 1813, Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky; d. 03 Apr 1896, Sebastopol, Sonoma, California; m. BAXTER BELL BERRY, 02 Oct 1832, New Salem, Sangamon, Illinois; b. 25 Oct 1807, Near Nashville, Franklin, Tennesseee; d. 02 Dec 1891, Sebastopol, Sonoma, California.

More About ELIZABETH PRESTON CAMRON:
Burial: 05 Apr 1896, Sebastopol, Sonoma, California

Notes for BAXTER BELL BERRY:
Left Oskaloosa, Mahaska, Iowa, 26 April, 1852 with Charles Pruvine, Silas Martin for California. Served in the Black Hawk War in Captain Adam Smith’s company, 2nd regiment of Mounted Volunteers of the State of Illinois, commanded by Colonel James D. Henry, 4 June 1831 - 2 July 1831. Private When discharged, commanded by Brig. Genl. Joseph Duncan.

More About BAXTER BELL BERRY:
Burial: 03 Dec 1891, Sebastopol, Sonoma, California

ii. THOMAS PORTER CAMRON, b. 24 Feb 1814, Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky; d. 15 Apr 1854, San Pablo Bay, California; m. (1) ZILLA EMERY, 19 Apr 1837, ,Fulton, Illinois; b. 1816, Ohio; d. 1845, Oskaloosa, Mahaska, Iowa; m. (2) CYNTHIA Y. HILLS, 27 Feb 1847, Oskaloosa, Mahaska, Iowa; d. 1861, California.

More About THOMAS PORTER CAMRON:
Burial: Cypress Hill Cemetery, Petaluma, Sonoma, California

iii. VIENNA MITCHELL CAMRON, b. 30 Dec 1815, White County, Illinois; d. 11 Apr 1906, Burnett, Los Angeles, California; m. (1) WILLIAM PROSISE, May 1835, Fulton County, Illinois; b. Kentucky; d. 12 Feb 1846, Mahaska County, Iowa; m. (2) HENRY LYSTER, 18 Dec 1848, Oskaloosa, Mahaska, Iowa; b. 21 Mar 1806, ,Shelby, Kentucky; d. 31 Jan 1889, Burnett, near Long Beach, Los Angeles, California.

More About VIENNA MITCHELL CAMRON:
Burial: Signal Hill Cemetery, Long Beach, Los Angeles, California

More About HENRY LYSTER:
Burial: Signal Hill Cemetery, Long Beach, Los Angeles, California

iv. NANCY MILLER CAMRON, b. 16 Jan 1818, White County, Illinois; d. 27 Jan 1890, Two Rock, Sonoma, California; m. SILAS MERCER MARTIN, 30 Oct 1838, Birmingham, Van Buren County, Iowa; b. 12 Jan 1816, Muhlenburg, Kentucky; d. 26 Feb 1894, Two Rock, Sonoma, California.

More About NANCY MILLER CAMRON:
Burial: Two Rock, Sonoma, California

More About SILAS MERCER MARTIN:
Burial: Two Rock, Sonoma, California

v. MARY JANE CAMRON, b. 31 Jan 1820, Sangamon County, Illinois; d. 28 Jan 1898, Petaluma, Sonoma, California; m. CHARLES PURVINE, 16 Jan 1839, Birmingham, Van Buren, Iowa; b. 14 Sep 1815, Chattanooga, Hamilton, Tennessee; d. 08 Sep 1869, Petaluma, Sonoma, California.

More About MARY JANE CAMRON:
Burial: Two Rock, Sonoma, California

More About CHARLES PURVINE:
Burial: Two Rock, Sonoma, California

vi. MARTHA (MARTY) M. CAMRON, b. 06 Jul 1822, Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois; d. 27 Mar 1905, Ocean Park, California; m. (1) JOHN B. THOMSON; m. (2) DR. BENJAMIN BLACKMAN BONHAM, Feb 1839, Fairfield, Jefferson, Iowa; b. 01 Jan 1814, Maryville, Blount, Tennessee; d. 28 Jan 1884, ,Los Angeles, California; m. (3) REV. NOAH MCCUISTION, 25 Mar 1891; b. 04 Oct 1822, Tennessee; d. 10 Jun 1903.

More About REV. NOAH MCCUISTION:
Burial: Fair Haven Cemetery, Santa Ana, Orange, California

vii. SARAH N. CAMRON, b. 31 May 1824, Sangamon County, Illinois; d. 07 May 1854, Green Valley, Sonoma, California; m. REV. ANDREW MCNAMAR, 30 Oct 1846, ,Mahaska, Iowa; b. 20 Jun 1819, ,,New York; d. 25 Jul 1891, Willits, Mendocino, California.

More About SARAH N. CAMRON:
Burial: Spring Hill Cemetery, Sebastopol, Sonoma, California

More About REV. ANDREW MCNAMAR:
Burial: Willits, Mendocino, California

viii. SOLENA CAMRON, b. 1827, Sangamon Valley, New Salem, Illinois; d. 1848, Oskaloosa, ,Mahaska, Iowa; m. SAMUEL T. MCMURRAY, 17 Jun 1846, Mahaska, Iowa.

More About SOLENA CAMRON:
Burial: ,,Iowa

ix. SORENA CAMRON, b. 1827, Sangamon Valley, New Salem, Illinois; d. 29 May 1915, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; m. REV. BAXTER NEWTON BONHAM, 20 Jan 1846, ,Jefferson, Iowa; b. 06 Oct 1819, ,Blount, Tennessee; d. 15 Feb 1889, Santa Clara, Santa Clara, California.

More About SORENA CAMRON:
Burial: Sebastopol, Sonoma, California

More About REV. BAXTER NEWTON BONHAM:
Burial: Sebastopol, Sonoma, California

x. ELIZA ARMINDA CAMRON, b. 13 Feb 1832, Petersburg, Maywood County, Illinois; d. 03 May 1916, Long Beach, Los Angeles, California; m. (1) CAPT. HIRAM FOGG, 01 May 1850, Sacremento, Sacremento, California; b. 1816, ,,Massachusetts; d. 18 Feb 1861, Martinez, Contra Costa, California; m. (2) GEORGE BRUNSON, 31 May 1862; m. (3) HUGH MUNDELL, 14 Jun 1864, Austin, Nevada; b. 21 Jun 1823, Salem, Hamilton, Ohio; d. 13 May 1900, Long Beach, Los Angeles, California.

More About ELIZA ARMINDA CAMRON:
Burial: Signal Hill Cemetery, Long Beach, Los Angeles, California

xi. CAROLINE THIELIA CAMRON, b. 05 Jan 1834, Bernadotte, Fulton, Illinois; d. 14 Jan 1922, Martinez, Contra Costa, California; m. THOMAS ALLEN (JUDGE) BROWN, 20 May 1851, Martinez, Contra Costa, California; b. 16 Oct 1823, Greene County, Illinois; d. 05 Aug 1889, Martinez, Contra Costa, California.

More About CAROLINE THIELIA CAMRON:
Burial: Alhambra Cemetery, Martinez, Contra Costa County, California

More About THOMAS ALLEN (JUDGE) BROWN:
Burial: Alhambra Cemetery, Martinez, Contra Costa County, California

xii. MARGARET ANGELINE CAMRON, b. 15 Jun 1836, Canton, Fulton, Illinois; d. 14 May 1928, Pomona, Los Angeles, California; m. JESSE CLARK THOMPSON, 10 Nov 1852, Green Valley, Sonoma, California; b. 17 Feb 1829, ,Greene, Missouri; d. 18 Mar 1908, California Hot Spr, Tulare County, California.

More About MARGARET ANGELINE CAMRON:
Burial: Garden Grove, Orange, California

More About JESSE CLARK THOMPSON:
Burial: Garden Grove, Orange, California

I am including below my current ’sources’ that contain information about John Miller Camron:

• 1852 California State Census, Schedule 1 - Population, (County of Sonoma, August 1983).
• Bergevin, Charlotte, “Research of Charlotte Bergevin, 1975-1984.”
• Bergevin, Charlotte, Daisy Sundberg, Evelyn Berg, Camerons, Westward They Came, (1983).
• Death Certificate for John M. Camron.
• Dodd, Jordan., Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850, (ancestry.com), “Electronic.”
• Drake, Julia A., Flame O’ Dawn, (Vantage Press, 1959.).
• Drake, Julia A., Alfred Lueck and Emil Flender, The Christian Ohrndorf Family in Germany, (Anchor Publishing Co., San Angelo, Texas, 1968.).
• Hamilton & Ostendorf, Lincoln in Pictures, (University of Oklahoma Press, 1963).
• History of Contra Costa County, California, (Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA, 1926.).
• Howell, Esther Hyde , “The Story of John Miller Camron and Nancy Orendorff Camron,” 1962.
• “John M. Camron Cemetery Plot, Sebastopol, Sonoma, California.”
• Land Patent, (Bureau of Land Management, General Land Records Office, http://www.glorecords.blm.gov), “Electronic.”
• Lorant, Stefan , Lincoln His Life in Photographs, (Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1941).
• Lorant, Stefan , Lincoln, A Picture Story of His Life, (W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1969).
• Marko, Ruth Z., Transcribed, Federal Census, 1830, Sangamon County, Illinois, (Sangamon County Genealogical Society of Illinois).
• Marriage record of John Camron and Nancy Orinduff, (Kentucky marriages to 1850), “Electronic.”
• McClure, Evelyn S., Sebastopol’s Historic Cemetery, (Belle View Press, Sebastopol, Sonoma, California, 2000.).
• Murphy, Alice Purvine, The Rev. John M. Camron and Descendants 1790-1962, (1962).
• Native Daughters of the Golden West, Native Daughters of the Golden West Records, (http://cagenweb.com/cpl/ndgwmaster.htm).
• Native Daughters of the Golden West Index, (http://www.cagenweb.com/~cpl/ndgwmaster.htm), “Electronic.”
• Native Daughters of the Golden West Roster of CA Pioneers.
• Paull, Margaret Martin, The Valley of the Trail Between The Two Rocks.
• Pension Records, Baxter Bell Berry.
• Sandberg, Carl, Abraham Lincoln, The Prarie Years.
• Sebastopol Cemetery, 2/83, notes from visit to cemetery, Jim Panttaja.
• Sonoma County Deeds.
• Sonoma County Genealogical Society, Inc. Santa Rosa, Sonoma, California, Sonoma County, California Death Records, 1873-1905, Second Edition, (Heritage Books, Inc., Bowie, Maryland, 2001.), “Electronic.”
• Sonoma County Genealogical Society, Inc. Santa Rosa, Sonoma, California, 1999, Sonoma County Cemetery Records, (Heritage Books, Inc., Bowie, Maryland, 2001.), “Electronic.”
• Sonoma Searcher, Vol III, #3, April, 1976.
• Spears, Zarel C. and Robert S. Barton, Berry and Lincoln Frontier Merchants, The Store that “Winked Out”, (Stratford House, Inc., New York, 1947).
• Thomas, Benjamin P., Lincoln’s New Salem, (The Abraham Lincoln Association, Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois, 1934).
• “Vital Records from Cemeteries in California, Sonoma County Cemetery Records 1846-1921.”
• Walsh, John Evangelist, The Shadows Rise, Abraham Lincoln and the Ann Rutledge Legend, (University of Illinois Press, 1993).