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A biographical sketch is one of several ways you can write about the Stars in Your Family Tree for inclusion in the book that the Southern California Genealogical Society will publish in June 2021.
Family History Biographical Sketch is a brief essay that covers the genealogically significant details about one person’s life. The articles will identify your ancestors, parents, siblings, spouses, and children.
During the South California Genealogical Society Webinar on January 9th, I featured the following biographical sketch.
A Biographical Sketch for Elmira S Young
Elmira S Young was born on 3 May 1841 in Sharon, Richland, Ohio, United States. She is the daughter of Downing Hugh Young and Angeline Sherwood Marvin. She is the third of 11 children born to the couple.
In 1850, Elmira's family lived in Madison, Richland, Ohio. She appears in the record under the name Abigail. Elmira's niece remembers her aunt's middle name as Abigail, so this could be evidence of that memory.
At the age of 14, Myra's interest in medicine piqued during the birth of her sister Sarah Angeline Young. The family story states that when Myra's mother Angie felt labor impending, Myra was sent to call the doctor. Although uninformed about the birth process, Myra was drafted into participating since she was the only daughter at home. Her six younger brothers would not be helping. Myra gave her baby sister her first bath and always felt a maternal interest for her. That early midwifery experience would lay the foundation for Myra becoming a doctor.
At the age of 19, Elmira was still living at home in New Haven, Huron, Ohio, United States.
A year later two things happened. Myra married Jarome Bonaparte Howard, on 12 December 1861 in New Haven, Huron County, Ohio.v Jerome Bonaparte Howard was born on 14 May 1819 in Stephentown, Rensselaer, New York. According to family legend, Jerome's father said that all the George Washington's namesakes that he knew were liars and so he would name his son after the meanest man of whom he knew- Jerome Bonaparte. Jerome was a friend of Myra's younger brother Samuel “Hinck” Young.
She also gave birth to her son Jarome Bird Howard in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio on 12 December 1861.
In September 1862, Elmira gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Ellen in Cincinnati, Ohio.
On 29 Sep 1862, Jarome Howard enlisted as a private to serve in the 123rd Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry in Company C.
On 30 May 1864, Hiram M Howard was born in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. Meanwhile, his father was in Andersonville War Prison in Andersonville, Sumter County, Georgia. It began operation in February of that year as was notorious for its overcrowding, starvation, disease, and cruelty. On 20 October 1864, Jarome Bonaparte Howard died.
It is currently unclear where Myra and her children were living in 1870.
In 1880, Myra and three children lived in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States. The widow worked as a doctress with Jarome, 19, working as a teacher, Ellen, 17, and Hiram, 16, unemployed.
In 1900 and 1910, Dr. Myra Howard lived at Palmyra in Liberty, Marion County, Missouri. She lived with her son Hiram and his family. Her daughter Ellen was also living with them.
By 1920, she moved closer to Cincinnati and settled in the first ward of Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky. Dr. Elimra Young Howard died on 7 Aug 1921 at the age of 80 in Kenton County, Kentucky.
Total Word Count: 493
FYI: I still have enough room in the word count limit to include the short source citations.
Will You Submit a Biographical Sketch to the SCGS Book?
This article meets the requirements for The Stars in Your Family Tree book that the Southern California Genealogical Society will publish in June 2021 which I mentioned in this previous blog post.
Watch this FREE webinar entitled, "Writing About The Stars in Your Family With Ease" to learn how to write one of the following stories styles
How to Write a Brief Biographical Sketch (You are Here)
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Additional Family History Writing Articles
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