Does anyone know how 1st Lt. ROBERT I. HITE of Texas faired after the war?  If so, please contact Elizabeth Umstattd, 733 Stoke Rd., Vallanova, PA 19805 or <ecu@fast.net>

Lt. Col. Kathy Lynn LeValley serves her country
Forsyth cousin, Lt. Col. Kathy Lynn LeValley is serving in the Middle East as the head nurse in a "Mash" type unit.  She was sent to Baghdad and now is in Kuwait City, Kuwait, where she is in charge of a large hospital.  Her own accommodations have been a cot in a tent - both in Iraq and in Kuwait. Kathy's church is in Texas had a had 24 hours vigil for her since she left and plans to continue until her return. Plans are that she will return in early June.

Friends and relatives have been sending boxes of goodies and supplies to her and she has shared these with soldiers and Iraqi orphans. She has received so many packages and envelopes that she has become known as  "The Mail Queen". She sent a picture of two soldiers carrying boxes on stretcher to the Chaplain's headquarters for distribution to the troops and orphans. Among  these items are: socks, underwear, candy, mouthwash, handiwipes, microwave popcorn, crystallite drink mix, packets of hot chocolate mix, school supplies and like.

Kathy Lynn is descended from David and Margaret McGibbon Forsyth, who came to America from Northern Ireland prior to the American Revolution. They arrived at the Port of New York, settled in Bunker Hill, Virginia (now West Virginia). After the Revolution they went by covered wagon and flatboat to Kentucky. David died in Kentucky and his widow and family moved to Johnson County, Indiana in 1820s. Kathy Lynn grew up in Johnson County, Indiana. She graduated from Center Grove High School in 1965. She studied to be an Registered Nurse.

If you wish to write to her or send some items, please mention that you are her cousin and a member of the Clan Forsyth Society - or are a Family Tree reader. If you would like your email address added to the distribution list, to receive reports about/from Kathy Lynn, please email member, Ivan Lancaster, of Trafalgar, Indiana <idl64@aol.com>. Current address for Kathy Lynn is: Lt. Col. Kathy L. LeValle, 332nd AEW/CASF AE  09336.

Arizona Birth and Death Records Online
There is a valuable genealogical Internet site with Arizona information you may need.  Arizona's laws state that birth certificates become public only after 75 years. Death certificates become public after only 50 years. The site is easy to use and is indeed a genealogy treasure house. You can access Arizona birth and death records on line at: <http://genealogy.az.gov>.

There are new ways to publish  your book
Self-publishing used to mean paying thousands of dollars and committing to hundreds of copies the book "up front". Today's companies use print on-demand (POD) technology to print books as they're ordered. The publisher does not print books in advance (for which the author must also pay in advance). Instead, books are printed one-at-a-time as orders are received. Print-on-demand publishers who take orders through the Web include: 1st Book Library at <www.1stbook.com/>, Xlibris at <www1.xlibris.com/>, IUniverse.com, at: <http://www.iuniverse.com>.
There are several Family Tree advertisers who do this kind of publishing as well.  (Please tell them you "saw their ad in The Family Tree!)

Order Federal military pension application files online
Are you aware that you can order Federal Military Pension Application Files on the Web? The U. S. National Archives and Records Administration has a safe and secure Web server for that purpose. You can also order various reference services that are useful for beginner genealogists. The National Archives' online ordering services accepts all major credit cards. To learn more, look at <http://eservices.archives.gov/orderonline/start.swe?SWEmd=start>.

Age gauge available
You have to try the "age gauge" and see what happens! Put your birth date in the pop up window after you go to the below link. What happens is pretty interesting. It's also amazing how quickly it computes!! <www.frontiernet.net/~cdm/age1.html>

Clan MacLaren has a new Chieftain!
The Lord Lyon has formally recognized James W. H. MacLaren, Son of the late Major Jim McLaren, as Chieftain of the Struthill branch of the Clan MacLaren.  Congratulations and good wishes to James.

Maps,  maps, and more maps
The Harold B. Lee Library of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, holds the largest collection of maps of any library west of the Mississippi River. Its collections includes 300,000 maps comprising international cartographic maps; U. S. Topographic, geographic, and road maps; and more than 6,000 printed atlases and gazetteers. Another "biggest": The BYU Family History Center (FHC), housed in this library building, is the largest of the more than 3,500 Family History Centers in the world.

Society promotes Prince Henry Sinclair and his voyage to America
The Prince Henry Society has a new website.  Please visit by going to: <http://www3.ns.sympatico.co/>
Would you like to learn more about Prince Henry Sinclair and his voyage of exploration and be part of an organized effort to promote his name and accomplishment?
If your answer is yes to this question, you should consider becoming a member of the Prince Henry Society of North America. Organized in 1993 in Nova Scotia, Canada for the purpose of memorializing "A man as worthy of immortal memory as any that ever lived,"  the society's objectives are: To promote the recognition of Henry Sinclair, Jarl or Earl of the Orkneys, as the first documented explorer of North America and to aid research for the confirmation of his historical legacy as it relates to his North American Exploration.
The Society has a newsletter which is published twice a year and is available in electronic format. For those interested in becoming of Society member, dues are $5.00 per person per annum. Checks should be mailed to treasurer Neil St. Clair, 19 Soley Cove Road, Lower Economy, N. S. BOM 1JO, Canada.
For additional information, contact Neil by phone: 902-647-2265 or by e mail: <neilcalyx@ns.Synpatico.ca>.

Do you have an "Indiaman" in your family tree?
The Indiaman Magazine is the only genealogical and history magazine in the world about the British in Indian and southern Asia from 1600 to the twentieth century.
The web site at <http://www.indiaman.com> offers a free version of the magazine. Visitors can join the British India List which is a free question/answer opportunity. The sponsors of this Web site have been transcribing the British library's Oriental and India Office Collections "Ecclesiastical Marriage Index" which will be made available at the site with the ability to search by bride's name as well as by groom's name.
Visit the site for additional information in database offerings and special projects.

Congratulations to Kent Whitworth!
Kent Whitworth has been named director of the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, Kentucky.
The KHS has a staff of 80 and a $7 million annual budget and is a repository of great importance to genealogical research.
Mr. Whitworth, a native of Louisville, was director of the East Tennessee Historical Society from 1995 until 2003. Prior to that,  he served as director of marketing and college relations at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky.

U. S. Census Verification Project is underway
One of the first societies to join the United States Census Verification Project is the Riley County Genealogical Society of Manhattan, Kansas. Society Members have finished reading and proofreading seven rolls of the 1920 Federal Census of Kansas.

This project seeks to correctly identify the enumeration districts on each roll of microfilm provided by the National Archives and Records Administrations (NARA).  The goal is to review every roll of microfilm from the 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 census. This Project was originally started by the St. Louis County Library and the St. Louis Genealogical Society. Group. Individuals wishing to participate or just learn more about the project can visit <http://www.fgs.org> and click onto project.

Pennsylvania application form available on Internet
Pennsylvania Vital records requests in Pennsylvania require the use of the new application available at <www.health.state.pa.us/vitalrecords>. The form must be completed and signed and a copy of a government-issued photo identification of the requestor is required for in-person mail, or facsimile requests. Telephone requests will no longer be accepted. Cost are given in the web site.

Medical conditions list available
Did you know malarial fever was called "ague?" Yellow fever was called "bronze John." Whooping  cough was called "chin cough."  A fever lasting one day was called "diary fever".
We have a page of what various illnesses were once called.  If you'd like a copy of the page, please send a request, along with a SASE, to The Family Tree, PO Box 2828, Moultrie, GA 31776-2828.  Please ask for the medical conditions list.

Dr. Charles B. Holder, Jr.,  passed on peacefully on Monday, December 8, 2003 in McLean, Virginia at the age of 89. His wife, Thelma N. MacPherson, predeceased him on May 14,1993. Both were life members of Clan MacPherson Association and attended many Northeast, national, and international gatherings. They were noted for their love of music, especially Scottish. They had met at a rehearsal of the Southern Duchess Singers, and later formed the core of the Duchess County Scottish Society's Ceilidh Singers.

Dr. Holder was a Senior Research Chemist at Texaco in Glenham, New York with a doctorate from University of Texas in Organic chemistry. He retired in 1980 with over 35 years of experience at Texaco, and several patents.  He was an elder in the Reformed Church and volunteered in the church and for Meals-on-Wheels.

He is survived by three daughters, Carla Holder of White Plains, New York; Mary Elkind of Arlington, Virginia; Teresa Martinson of Rock Tavern, New York; two sons, Charles B. Holder, lll of Phoenix, Arizona; William Holder of Vestal, New York; five granddaughters upon whom he doted. He was buried in his red tartan trews and tartan tie. Carla played Amazing Grace on the harp for the funeral service.
Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in his memory.

Phyllis Joan Riker MacPherson, 68, of Greenville, Michigan, formerly of Ionia, died on Sunday, October 12, 2003, at the home of her brother in Greenville. She was born in Greenville on November 27,1934, the daughter of Donald E. and Minnie A. Yoemans Riker. She was married in Greenville on April 18,1962 to W. Monroe MacPherson. He preceded her death in March 26,1993. Together they owned and operated WION radio station.

She was a graduate of the class of 1953 from Greenville High School and was a member of the Alumni Association. She was a member of the Ionia Historical Society, Library Friends and a long time member of the Ionia Business and Professional Women's Club, a member of the international Clan Macpherson Association, the Auxiliary of Post #101 American Legion of Greenville, TPA Post G, was a foster Grandparent and a member of the Library Club of Flat River Community Library.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Gary Betz of Ionia, her granddaughter, Meghan Betz of Ionia, her brother and sister-in-law Charles and Marilyn Riker of Greenville and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband her sister Nancy Guernsey in 1992. A private burial took place at East Montcalm Cemetery, Greenville. The family suggest memorials be given to the Hall-Fowler Memorial Library or the Flat River Community Library.