All posts by Julia Hogston

Christian, Family Historian, Wife, Mom, Grandma
Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip-On scanning black and white photos

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AH! Ha!

There are tips you learn before you try your hand at a task, there are others that jump out at you when you believe you are doing everything just right.

Well tonight’s tip comes from learning the hard way. I am just thankful I only scanned 20 photos and not a much larger number.

I am chugging along, remembering that I have seen that one should save photos in TIFF and at least a 300 DPI resolution if not more for archives. Scanner set for TIFF check, set at 600 DPI check, and set to black and white check! After all the photos I am scanning are black and white. What could go wrong, nothing this should be a breeze. Scanner is working quickly and it’s not taking all night. (that should have been a clue)

Pictures are all now scanned, and I am now cropping the photos. They look good in the thumbnails but when I open them up bigger they sure don’t look right, they are very grainy and and full of shadows! What the heck did I do! I know some of you are already chuckling, silly silly girl. These photos should be very fine, but they aren’t (scratching head)

This was scanned on black and white, tiff and 600 dpi and converted to jpeg so I could upload it.

OH!!! the light goes on! The pictures are indeed black and white, but in black and white photography there are nuances that scanning in black and white does not catch, it literally turns the photos black and white no in between colors. Now that I have figured that out and I am now scanning again, and in the mean time I have written this while re-scanning the photos.

This is scanned in color, tiff and 600 dpi, converted to jpeg so that I could upload it.

The settings that I am now using are color, TIFF and 600 DPI. I am much happier with these results! Maybe with the next batch of black and white photos  I will try gray scale. Never know what I might get it always helps to know how things turn out in other formats, a process that I might be able to use in other aspects of photographic work.

Now to upload the rest of the pictures to Ogilvie Family Photos so that I can share them with my family.

Happy Scanning!

Amanuensis Monday, Genealogy

Amanuensis Monday-Letter to home from somewhere in France (Toul)

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2nd Lt. Alexander Kaye Ogilvie
2nd Lt. Alexander Kaye Ogilvie

Somewhere in France .
Oct. 30 – 1918
Dear Aunt Hattie,

I have been intending to write you for some little time but something usually come up to prevent but tonight will start anyway. We are now located at a flying field, coming here last Friday and have been busy ever since. Started flying on Sunday on small ships that stay on the ground – gaining  from them dial instructions on a different type of plane, and in about half an hour was turned loose to solo. Finished my solo rides in the after noon and then waited around for a day and a half for stunts. Finished that yesterday and started cross country work getting in one trip. This morning went on a triangle cross country trip of about 150 miles and got back without any trouble in time for dinner. Had to land at two fields on the way to get some papers signed showing I had been there. After dinner went out on another trip about fifty miles each way, landing on the other end.  This is some beautiful country to fly over- being covered with forests which have a distinctive shape everyone of them, and lots of towns this country being fairly well populated. I got home about four o’clock, pretty well tired out.  I  have now finished all the work on three fields and tomorrow morning I go to another field for some work on a smaller plane and then about a day later will begin an Liberty.  I really don’t see the idea of all this instruction on small pursuit ships when the ones we are going to use in action service are great big ones. Possibly they figure that if we bust any up they might just as well be litte like to have had you along today in the front seat enjoying the ride, as it was a beautiful day and no bumps and the scenery was wonderful. Every once in a while you come across a chateau with turrets and cupolas all over them, and usually with pretty grounds all around them. They are fine place for aviators to stay who have been caught out over night, as they sure treat you nice. My pal (Boothe) who went out on a crosscountry (sic) trip this am. Had not reported in yet and I presume he is spending the night in some such place.

I got letters from Esther and Cecil yesterday, the former written on Sept. 20 th and Cecil’s on the 22 nd.  He told me that he understood from other sources that I was engaged to Esther and that he thought I had used exceedingly good taste etc. which coming from one of his pronounced ideas on the subject of marriage is taken as praise of the highest order. Seriously I am glad that he thinks so well of the idea as I didn’t know what he would think of it. Esther told me that she had read Bess’ letter to you and that both she and Norman liked her real well and hoped to have her for a sister some day. It sure feels good to know that some of the rest of the family endorse at it were my judgment or good luck or whatever you want to call it.

I have met any number of fellows that I have known at some time or another during my career in the  army, and It seems nice to be around with some body besides a bunch of strangers.

You sure ought to see some of the flying that goes on around here. Every body is good but some are away above the average and some of the things they pull off are sure thrilling. There is an English captain around here who is a wonder and is only about 21 yrs old. They say he leaves the grounds doing a loop and while I have never seen him do it I have seen him fly and he is sure good.  Perhaps some day I may be able to do such things but I don’t believe I will because there is nothing to be gained and the factor of safety is too low for comfort.  Flying machines have their weak points and its bad enough sometimes in ordinary flying.

I expect to be ready for action service with in a week or so if the good weather holds on, but it begins to look from the news yesterday and today as though this little scrap was about on its last leg. You cant’ tell about these stupid Huns thought, and perhaps they will keep on even if Austria does quit.  I should like to make it at least one trip over the lines after coming this far but after that they can call it off as soon as they please, and the sooner the better. The army is all right for a change but as a life job is not to be desired by me, anyway.  I will sure be glad when I am a civilian again and be back and move with some of the old bunch at a little gathering. However, if it wasn’t for the war perhaps I would not have had the some opportunity to know a certain young lady, and if I derive no other benefit, that alone will be ample.

Well, its is time for taps so must close. Write when you have some time to spare and I will keep you informed as to my activities.

Love to all
Kaye
Lt. Alexander K. Ogilvie.
U.S. Air Service
American E. F.
France

In closing there is really nothing more that I can add, this letter speaks volumes on its own. There is one fact that will make this letter all the more poignant, Kaye lost his life on 29 Nov 1918.

Letter transcribed by Julia K. Hogston great grand niece of Alexander
from a copy of the letter given to me by Jean Wells granddaughter of James R. Kaye, Uncle to Alexander Ogilvie aka Kaye, Hattie is James’ wife. Cecil is their son.

Happy Hunting!

Genealogy, Talent Tuesday

Talented Tuesday

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Girl of 12 Wins Washington Trip

Adela Ruth Ogilvie

News clipping 1917  paper unknown( my guess is one of the Muskingum Co.,  Ohio papers)

Ruth Oglivie of Dresden Proves Remarkable Expert in Canning Fruits and Vegetables

Dresden’s youngest disciple of Herbert Hoover is canning food for the home, Ruth Ogilvie, aged 12, is to be  probably the youngest tourist on the Home-maker special train, taking Ohio girls on a trip to the nation’s capital from a class of eight in the Dresden Home making club, Ruth will join the train at Trinway Monday morning.

The trip to Washington was won solely by her own work. The exhibition was held at the Dresden school last Friday and the selection of the best display of canned goods, made by an expert from the Ohio State university, Fruit, jelly , vegetables and preserves were exhibited by the young winner.

“I think this is just wonderful,” said Ruth when speaking of her coming trip to Washington.  She was very modest in telling of her culinary ability saying only that she canned the fruit and vegetables only two weeks ago. She used only the purest ingredients without artificial preservative of any kind.  Among a field of girls, all brought up as expert cooks , she captured the prize.

I don’t think anyone that ever ate at Nana’s table was ever greatly disappointed. My favorite to this day was her apple sauce, made either fresh that day, Grandpa and Nana had a fruit orchard, or canned the previous fall. Somewhere in my files, I do have photos of Washington, taken about that time period. They may well have been taken by Ruth at that time.

Ruth was talented in many other ways, but I think I will leave those talents for another posting.

Happy Hunting!

Amanuensis Monday

Amanuensis Monday/ Silas McCartney and Emma Berger

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Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. From The National Standard Encyclopedia

Amanuensis Monday was started on the Transylvanian Dutch Blog. This link will take you to the page concerning Amanuensis and why one should transcribe the records !

Below find my first offering for Amanuensis Monday.

In looking for information on my Second Great Grandfather, Silas Jackson McCartney. I came across this article. My first thought after reading it was, my how journalism has changed in the last 100 years. Sometimes for the better, but sadly I think  more often then not, journalism has suffered greatly from the “politically” correct syndrome that we are now plagued with.

I doubt that this article would have been printed in this way now.

From The Mansfield News, Saturday, October 7, 1911

Old Courtship Was  Renewed
It Resulted in a Wedding of Big People in Wooster Thursday.

A couple whose combined weight approached, if it did not exceed, 450 pounds, became man and wife in Wooster Thursday forenoon the ceremony being performed by Dr. W. B. Slutz, superintendent of this district of the Methodist church.

The man was Silas J. McCartney, of Barberton, formerly of near Fredricksburg, and the bride was Mrs. Emma N. Berger, of Fredricksburg. The groom told the clerk in probate court that he was 49 years old while the lady gave her age as 44 years.

The wedding was the result of a courtship of long ago, the couple having been close friends in their youth.  A cog in the wheel of love slipped at that time and they went separated ways, the woman, Miss Emma Sterling then, marrying in her girlhood. Her husband died some years ago, her old friendship with McCartney was renewed and it resulted in a wedding Thursday.

The couple came to Wooster, in an automobile Thursday morning, and all unknown to them a big banner bearing the words. “Are We Big Enough to be Married.” floated in the breeze back on the machine all the way from Fredricksburg. When they stopped at the court house the banner was removed, but as the machine was cranked up preparatory to going to the home of the minister it was again placed on the machine. Mr. and Mrs. McCartney will live in Barberton — Wooster News
The Mansfield News, Saturday, October 7, 1911

In closing, I find the fact that Grandpa may have had issues with his weight is a medical plus for me as I struggle with the same issues in my life. This all may have been negated had it been written today as the “Are We Big Enough to be Married” without the explanation  could have well meant “old enough”.

Note: Emma was not my grandmother. Silas’ first wife Nancy “Nannie” Curl Terry was my grandmother.

Happy Hunting!

Thursday Treasures

Thursday Treasures out of the past

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There are many treasures in my home. Dishes from the reaches of time, sitting undisturbed in my china closet. Family photos and much much more.

There is one that came to me truly as a treasure. A prize finding its way back home so to speak.

Its journey begins on November 29, 1918 in the open fields of France. A pilot practicing communication with the ground. Sadly that day was his last. I have received different detail as to what happened, but basically it was a misjudgement with the throttle.

Now to November 29, 2009 it is funny how things work out. Ninety one years after the accident. I receive an email from a gentleman saying he had seen the memorial page that I had dedicated to the young man. His letter was short and sweet.  My Grandmother has your Great Uncles dog tags. Being a careful internet user. I wrote back and asked this young man the 20 question, after I did some research. I really couldn’t under stand why they would have his dog tags. I was understanding that one was to remain with the body and one was to go his commander to indentify his body and to be sent on.  The young man answered my questions to satisfaction and I then contacted his grandmother. The tags and been locked in her fathers lock box these past ninety some years. They had been looking for its home.

Alex. K. Ogilvie 2nd Lt. Dog Tag

Kaye, as he was called by his family, was to have been married when he returned home. This of course never happened. So being his grand niece I felt this was a good home as any and they were sent to me. I have been given many more treasures concerning Kaye, but to me this is the one that should have never happened. Call it serendipity, I call it Gods hand working his wonders in the rhelm of men.

Happy Hunting! May your treasures be many!

note: Bi plane in Wordless Wednesday 08/17/2011 is believed to be his or what is left of his aircraft.