Insurance Applications
Insurance companies have extensive data that can be helpful to
genealogists.
For example, applications often include names, birth dates, and causes of
death of immediate family members, such as parents, children, and siblings.
The records are usually maintained in the home office, and policies
regarding
search or release of information vary. If the request concerns a close
relative or beneficiary, there is a higher probability of success.
Beware of the tip, often circulated through genealogical society
newsletters,
to write to Policy Search, American Council of Life Insurance to determine
if
an ancestor held an insurance policy. This suggestion is misleading because
the service that is offered is to help determine if a policy benefit is
due--not whether an individual owned a policy. If the American Council of
Life
Insurance has sufficient reason for believing a policy benefit is due and
such
a policy is located, the council will contact the beneficiary directly.
Inquiries regarding insurance payments to beneficiaries of veterans may be
sent to the VA Insurance Office, Department of Veterans Affairs, P.O. Box
13399, Philadelphia, PA 19101. Include as much identifying information as
possible.
The Directory of Health/Life Insurance Companies (Modesto, Calif,: HRS
Geriatric Publishing, 1989) lists names and headquarter addresses of the
major
firms. City directories and state business directories are also helpful in
determining which firms operated within a specific area and time period.
An unusual example of insurance claims data becoming available to the
public
is the abstracts made from original Union Pacific Railroad life insurance
records. The original claims are located at the LDS Family History Center
in
Las Vegas, Nevada. They have been microfilmed and are available at the
Family
History Library in Salt Lake City. Information may include Social Security
number, sex, race, occupation, birth date, birthplace, address, father's
name,
mother's name, marriage date, death date, cause of death, place of burial,
and
spouse's name.
Tips
This is a message to those people who are researching the surnames
BOWER[S],
BAUER[S], and their variant spellings. . .
Colleen Pustola has opened the Bower Family Homestead at
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/4501 . It's dedicated solely to the
BOWER[S], BAUER[S], etc. surnames worldwide and although small now, will
have
lots of goodies for BOWER/BAUER, etc. researchers as the site grows.
Colleen
invites you to drop in and look around.
Also, Colleen has begun a BOWER mailing ist. You can join at the Homestead,
or
send an email to BOWER-L-request@rootsweb.com and put the word subscribe on
the top line of the message part of the your email.
Queries
Searching for info on SUTTON family of Dubuque, Iowa in late 1800s and
early
1900s. In particular, family of John T. and Jessie SUTTON, who had a
daughter
Myrtle, b. in Dubuque about 1907. soot@tconl.com
Seeking for the Rogers and Judkins from Nacodgoches co. Texas. John(Johnny
Or
Dock) Rogers 1874-1914. Married Etta Judkins 1881-1962. Etta was the
daughter
of Charles Judkins 1846-1901-Her mother was Eliza Davis Johnson.
gcats@gte.net
Searching for parents of Russell Bales b. 1798 in TN? VA?
Eventually...1820...is in Gallatin County, KY. Believe had children named
Nathaniel, William and Harrison and married Nancy Goins. Sue Houchin
taffcat@aol.com
Pierre BLAIS m. Adelia DANSEREAU January 5, 1871. 5 children Joseph Odilon
(Charles) (born April 1872), Eli, Pearl, John, George. Seeking any
information. reply to kamdn@aol.com
Pietro DELUCIA m. Angela Marie PETRINO in San Fele, Potenza, Italy. 7 sons.
Pietro married prior; wife unknown. 2 sons, Antonio/Giuseppe. Seeking info
on
first wife/family. reply kamdn@aol.com
Looking for connection to Johnston ROBINSON b 1838 in Belfast, Married Mary
Jane HARPER b 1842 in Belfast, daughter of Simon HARPER.Three known
children,
James b 1865, Margaret b 1866 and Johnston b 1879. Please reply to
maryrk@aol.com
Searching for any information on JESSIE G. BEATY, b. abt 1820, married
SUSAN
NELMS, 1841 in Logan County, KY. Married 2d wife, EVELINE SIMMONSin 1847 in
Logan County, Ky. He also lived in Fannin County, Texas.
acbeaty@1starnet.com
Do you know of these people from Patterson, St. Mary, Parish between the
years
1880 and 1910? Parents Frederick and Irene (PROVO) MINGO. Children: Cary,
Isham, Shedrick, Lazuraus, Earnest, Martha, Mary, and Savinia MINGO.
Claybas@aol.com
Looking for name Van Crombrugghe.(Originates in Belgium) My adopted
Grandfather bn San Francisco-lost all records during great fire. I have
only
found three--all on the SS death index with one-Wilford-my grandfather.
Anytime, Anywhere. Iluvasl@aol.com
I'm looking for info. on John F. Bennett born in Arkansas in 1803. He had a
son named Daniel Bennett who moved to Nodaway County Mo. Any help is
appreciated. kenbennett@clearwater.net
Additional Articles:
Military Records
Federal Mortality Schedules
City Directory Research
The Genealogy Lady established the "Genealogy Today" newsletter in
April 1997. She answers questions online at New-Jerusalem.com, and
sells books at her Genealogy Book Store.
