Spring Blossoms

Photo by Patrick Jones. DC, 26 March 2019.

Friday Photo - Lanterns and Music

Photo by Patrick Jones. Kobe, Japan, 7 Mar 2019.

Japan

Photo by Patrick Jones. Invader's AstroBoy near Shibuya, 16 Mar 2019.

I'm back now from my trip to Japan. This was the longest I think I've been on, a trip that took me to Los Angeles, then Kobe, Kyoto and Tokyo. The photo above is a bit of street art by internationally-known artist Invader, taken near Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. I had a great trip and I will have more photos on the blog. 

Cherry Blossoms

Photo by Patrick Jones. Ikuta Shrine, 7 Mar 2019.

I am currently in Japan for meetings. On Thursday I had a chance to walk around Kobe. The photo above is from the Ikuta Shrine, which dates back to 201 AD. It is nice to see some early cherry blossoms here.

New sub-regions in AncestryDNA results

Another recent advancement by Ancestry on their ethnicity estimates in AncestryDNA is the addition of sub-regions within countries. If this is not new, I missed it before. When looking at my Dad's results, I see an update pointing to Central Ireland, specifically the region of Roscommon and Longford. This is an unfamiliar region. All of the known research about my 3rd-great-grandfather John O'Brien had said he came from County Clare.

Source: AncestryDNA. Updated results for my Dad.

To be fair, Roscommon & Longford are directly northeast of Limerick, where John likely joined a ship that took him into the British Navy. Perhaps this is a more ancestral region of the family, or the home of another Irish branch, such as the Connor family.

Here's another visual courtesy of Google Maps, showing possible routes from Limerick to Roscommon and Longford.

Source: Google Maps.

AncestryDNA also shows how many matches also share a region. My Dad currently has 19 matches who share East Roscommon and Longford. When I look at those with a common ancestor, the result lists O'Brien, Martin, Conner/Connor, and our Allman branches of the tree. As I currently have a brick wall on the identity of my third-great-grandmother, the mother of John J. O'Brien, there's a whole other set of branches that may also connect to this part of Ireland.

More Draft Cards

After looking at the draft cards for my grandfathers, and my Uncle Bob, I thought it was fair to look at the draft cards on Allison's side of the tree. Her Papaw signed his draft card on 13 December 1943. He was employed at the US Post Office in Evansville at the time.

Source: Ancestry. WWII Draft Cards, 1943.

Her other grandfather, James Ross Havens, was already a Navy veteran when he signed his draft card on 8 May 1946.

Source: Ancestry. WWII Draft Cards, 1946.

Her great-grandfather, Ross H. Havens, signed a draft card on 16 February 1942. He was a veteran of World War I, and was working for Chrysler Corporation in Evansville at the time.

Source: Ancestry. WWII Draft Cards, 1942.

Another great-grandfather, Clarence M. Boston, signed his draft card on the same day, 16 February, in Sturgis, Kentucky.

Source: Ancestry. WWII Draft Cards, 1942.

Her other great-grandfather, Calvin Luther Halter, signed his draft card on 16 October 1940. The reverse of his card showed that he had no appendix in 1940.

Source: Ancestry. WWII Draft Cards, 1940.

WWII Draft Cards

Ancestry has added an update to the World War II Draft Cards from 1940-1947. I was able to find the draft card for my grandfather. In 1942 Gumpy was working at Allison Engineering, the same place my Dad would later work for over 30 years. The reverse side of the card said he had a scar over his left eye.

Source: Ancestry. WWII Draft Cards, 1942.

Reverse of Draft Card.

The draft card for my Uncle Bob, Gumpy's brother, shows that he was also working at Allison Engineering in 1940. He was also 6 feet tall.

Source: Ancestry. WWII Draft Card, 1940.

The draft card for my grandfather Leo Reid is also interesting. He was 21 at the time, in July 1941. He later joined the Air Force. Leo listed his address as 1341 Kentucky Avenue in Indianapolis. I've previously posted photos taken in front of this building from around the same time period.

Source: Ancestry. WWII Draft Card, 1941.