Victoria Advocate from Victoria, Texas • 40

i E4 VICTORIA ADVOCATE, Sunday, ApriJ 22, 2007, VictoriaAdvocate.com Cowboy Jim rode out of Texas to find fame in Nebraska ride a horse and herd cattle at an early age," begins another brief on-line biography on a Web site of the Up-in-Smoke the most of it, Dahlman was returned to office in 1922. In 1910, while mayor of Omaha and supported by the state's liquor interests as the "wet Democrat," Dahlman was his party's nominee for governor. He was defeated 123,070 to 107,760 by Chester H. Aldrich, a Republican who supported county option elections for the sale of alcohol. Dahlman was inducted in 1964 into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum's Hall of Great Westerners as "Omaha's cowboy mayor, a cattleman and former sheriff of Dawes County." Cowboy Jim had ridden out of the Old West to make a name for himself in the 20th century.

Henry Wolff Jr. is a long-time Victoria Advocate columnist. He can be reached at wolJhaustxcr.net. DeWitt County native James C. Dahlman led an interesting life.

Dahlman fled Nordheim after a shooting and followed the cattle drives to Nebraska, where Alton Mueller of Yorktown says his great uncle on his paternal grandmother's side of his family would have a long and prominent career in politics. Mueller said to Google him and we did, learning of the colorful life of "Cowboy Jim" as James Charles Dahlman had come to be known in Nebraska. "He was later cleared of the murder charges which had put him on the run," Mueller notes. "His escapades have been a colorful part of our family history. These escapades included experiences as a sharp-shooting lawman in western Nebraska and later candidate for governor of Nebraska." One of Dahlman's greatest claims to fame was the 21 years that he served as mayor of Omaha.

win, whose brother Billy Irwin was the foreman of the Newman Cattle Ranch. He described the ranch in western Nebraska as having 10,000 to 15,000 cattle and that trail herds were generally made up of 2,000 to 3,000 head with the crew consisting of a foreman, about eight riders, a horse wrangler, and a cook. Most of the cattle on the big ranches in Nebraska had been trailed from Texas. Dahlman was serving four years on the city council at Chadron by 1884. He then served as sheriff of Dawes County for three terms from 1888 to 1894, after which he was mayor of Chadron in 1894-95, beginning a long career in Nebraska politics.

He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in 1892, was appointed secretary of the Nebraska State Board of Transportation in 1897, was chairman of the Democratic State Committee from 1896 to According to a book published in 1930, "Mayor Jim, An Epic of the West," by Fred Carey, Dahlman went to Nebraska to work on the Newman Ranch for six years. His getting there included trail driving a herd of cattle from Texas. The Douglas County Historical Association's Web site notes that after a few years as a cowboy, Dahlman became sheriff of Dawes County and then served as mayor of Chadron. "James 'Cowboy Jim Dahlman was Omaha's 'perpetual -in office from 1906 to 1930, except for 1918-1921," it is noted in a brief biography that explains the naming of Dahlman Avenue in Omaha A native Texan, he fled to Ne-braska because of problems with the law." "He later claimed he had shot his wife-abusing brother-in-law" it is further noted on the association's Web site, "but it may have been cattle rustling that set the Texas Rangers after him." "Born in Texas, he learned to 1900 and was a member of the Democratic National Committee from 1900 to 1908.. He would also serve as a U.S.

marshal for Nebraska in 1920-21. Dahlman became most famous, however, for his years as mayor of Omaha from 1906 through 1917 and from 1922 to his death in 1930. When he was first nominated by the Democrats, Dahlman gained the support of Omaha's political strongman, Thomas Dennison, one of the things in Dahlman's favor being that he seemed to be more tolerant of the "sporting district" controlled by Dennison's political machine. Dahlman won eight out of nine campaigns from 1906 to 1930, being voted out of office only from 1918 to 1921 after reformers placed their support behind Ed-ward Smith. After Omaha was engulfed in bloody race riots throughout much of 1919, with Smith's reform party being blamed, and Dennison's political machine making Sock Monkey Madness Festival Family researchers have common questions Cigar Band Mu-t Vswt wenttoNebras- 1 ka and found em-Jf? ploymentasfore- A man of a cattle FTptirv 811(1 later viriT as brand inspec-WolftJr.

tor for the HENRY'S Wyoming Cattle JOURNAL Association." Born on Dec. 15, 1836, son of Charles and Mary Dahlman of DeWitt County, he was married to Hattie Abbott in 1884, she being from Winterport, Maine. Dahlman presented some recollections of his early life as a cowboy at a meeting of the Nebraska State Historical Society on Jan. 10, 1922, saving that he had made the trail drive from Texas to Nebraska in March of 1878 with another young Texan, Bennett Ir- piece of information and see what additional information andor sources where they might lead you. Do this by answering the original five questions.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES 1. At home: Some of your best sources of genealogical information may be your own family and home records, such as a Bible, old letters, scrapbooks, diaries, copies of vital records (birth, death, and marriage certificates), school records, military records, obituaries, deeds and wills. You may need to visit or correspond with relatives in order to locate some of these records. Also, a visit to the cemetery where your family is buried may also be necessary. 2.

Other places: Excellent information is available from court? houses, archives, historical societies and other libraries. One of the best in the United States is in Houston the Clayton Public Library located at 5300 Caroline St They have numerous compiled family histories. 3. From your relatives: Share the information you have found with your relatives and gather any additional information they may have. Talk to, videotape or record elderly members several times to gather not only dates and relationships but also anecdotal information and first-hand accounts of family history.

Collaborate with other family members to write a family history and place it in a library where it will be preserved. Happy Researching. E-mail genealogy queries to mjonesvicad.com or mail query along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for a reply to Relatively Speaking, clo Martha Jones, Ph.D., Victoria Advocate, PO Box 1518, Victoria, Texas 77902. VCGS members will research queries requiring extensive study. Ballet Modern Jazz Nip Hop Tumbling 3 Sessions To Choose Froml Discount for additional siblings 1 As summer approaches, many would-be researchers who are not seasoned genealogists or family historians are thinking of taking the first steps toward climbing their family trees and recording their genealogy.

Many are hesitant to take the first steps and since it has been quite some time since I offered, "How to Get Started Suggestions," I decided to post them again today. Following are five basic questions researchers need to ask themselves over and over again: 1. What do I know about my family? Begin your genealogical research by filling out a Pedigree Chart You can find examples at your local library or by going online to download free copies: http:www.familytreemagazine.c omformsdownloacLhtml, and click the Five-Generation Ances-" tor Chart Begin with yourself as No. 1 and continue backward in time. Your father will be No.

2 and your mother will be No. 3. From there on, the males will have even numbers and the females will have odd numbers. If you don't know exact dates or places, simply provide your best "guesstimate." Next, fill out Family Group Sheets for each family, beginning with your own and then complete one for each of your siblings and their families. 2.

What do I want to learn about my family? To answer this question, select an ancestor you would like to learn more about If possible, select one who was born before 1920. Work on just one ancestor at a time. Identify what you want to learn, such as where and when the person was born, married or died, served in the military, etc. Then begin to search for records that document this information. One of my favorite genealogy "how to" books is "Unpuzzling Your Past" (3rd edition) by Emily Croom which can be found in most bookstores and online.

Also purchase the accompanying workbook that Contains forms you will need for your record-keeping. 3. What will totvt my research problems? Many documentssources contain information or evidence to help solve your research problems. Use these to document every fact on your pedigree chart such as names, dates, places and rela- No one knows who made the first sock monkey but everyone knows where the materials come from: John Nelson and his Nelson Knitting Co. of Rockford, the birthplace of the seamless sock with the signature red heel that serves as the monkey's mouth and also its behind.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO won the children's division as her protege, Cordelia Ruby Jane, played the piano and explained that she would give everyone bananas so no one would be hungry. "They've got their own little personalities," Gloria said. "Each one's face is different; it just makes them all unique." That would include Daisy Marie, the sock monkey created by adult-division winner Melanie Johnson-Moxley, who works at the University of Missouri and is finishing up a PhD in philosophy. But Daisy didn't win by quoting Sartre or Kierkegaard. "She more or less sang," Johnson-Moxley said.

"It's a performance-art singing piece that's mostly 'Rock Lobster' (by the B-52s)." With so many experts at hand, SEE MONKEY, NEXT PAGE Debbie Bennett Green L-j School of Dancing PV SUMMER REGfSTRATJON I Where Doncinq is'w'ljt Full Face includes Men's Beard 350,000 TREATMENTS Hipper Lip UJ Only $39! Fans meet at the place where it all started BY PATRICK KAMPERT CHICAGO TRIBUNEMCT CHICAGO When a friend in Canada heard that Scott McDonald was mourning a buddy's death, she wanted to give him a hug. But Canada was nowhere close to Rockford, 111., McDonald's hometown, so she sent the hug by proxy. She made a sock monkey for McDonald, snapped a picture of herself hugging the handmade toy and mailed them off. Maybe that's why McDonald, a burly, tattooed graphics-firm president, felt right at home among 900 kindred spirits recently at the Sock Monkey Madness Festival at Midway Village and Museum Center in Rockford. "There are a lot of stories like that around here," McDonald said as he manned a booth selling rubber stamps like the Monkey (Mona) Lisa.

"Sock monkeys aren't that weird." Sock monkeys came into vogue during the Depression but have been experiencing a renaissance during the last decade. Midway Village has been a catalyst in that comeback, championing Rockford's role in the craft Although no one knows who made the first sock monkey, everyone knows where the materials have always come from: John Nelson and his Nelson Knitting Co. of Rockford, the birthplace of the seamless sock with the signature red heel that serves as the monkey's mouth (and, yes, its butt). An Iowa firm bought the Nelson company in the 1980s but continues to make the socks, primarily for the monkey makers around the country. Midway began its festival two years ago with the blessing of Barbara Gerry, John Nelson's great-granddaughter.

In fact, Gerry, a vigorous 80, spent hours of both days at the festival, even posing for pictures with Nelson, the 6-foot sock monkey mascot who has been photographed on Capitol Hill with Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama. People came from all over the 7-9 yr old Dance Camp inly 9-13 Dance, Crans, Swim a Sing Something new every day! HibUJr country to attend the third annual Midway festival, including annual attendees Whitney Shroyer and Letitia Walker, married sock-monkey collectors from Asheville, N.C. They recently wrote the book "Sock Monkey Dreams" (PenguinViking Studio, $14.95) from the perspective of their sock monkeys. One of Shroyer's monkeys, named Baby Jane, charmed the crowd at the festival's Ms.Mr.

Sockford pageant by being reluctant to relinquish her crown as last year's winner. "Don't make me give up my crown," pleaded Baby Jane in Shroyer's scratchy falsetto. "I need this!" The monkeys were judged on couture, talent and their response to a question about how they would help the world with their superpowers. Gloria Young, 13, of Rockford i IBBHiM 10 MR tionships. Document your family tree with evidence from a variety of verifiable, independent sources which include birth, marriage and death records, census records, court records, diaries, letters, family Bibles, newspapers and recorded histories.

Do not rely on sources that cannot be veri- Martha Jones RELATIVELY SPEAKING fied. Reliable genealogical research is based on the quality of the evidence gathered, not the quantity. 4. Where do I find records? A growing number of online sites are available to assist genealogists in locating information about their ancestors. Remember, however, that all records created before the 1900s were handwritten and much of the information you find on the Internet has been posted by researchers who may not have checked the original records.

Be sure to carefully evaluate the compiled information you find published online or in books, and be prepared to check the original sources by visiting libraries, courthouses and archives. A good rule of thumb is to ALWAYS check and, if possible, copy the original source. 5. What do I do next? Organize and record: Organize your records for quick access. Carefully record your information on pedigree charts and family group sheets, or use one of the many available genealogy computer programs if you prefer.

I must caution you to always have a hard copy because computers do crash from time to time and you do not want to lose all your data in one bad incident Keep a checklist of all the records you look at and make copies of key documents. There are many excellent handbooks and forms that can show you how to organize and document your family research. These are called Research Logs and will help keep you from looking through the same books again and again and not finding what your are seeking. Evaluate: Genealogical research is a continuing process of finding pieces of a puzzle. Evaluate the accuracy of each new into the inner sanctum of a stinky business.

"The trip just creates an amazing platform for learning about biology, chemistry, earth science, business," said Robert Corbin, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' earth science academic content coach. He's taken students and teachers there for 15 years. "He treats every kid graciously and he's always entertaining. I told him he missed his calling, he should have been a teacher." The Charlotte Latin students SEE POOP, NEXT PAGE Unofficial professor of poop wows students VI EXPIRES 43007 Across From Crain Middle School I BY BRUCE HELOERSON THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVERMCT CHARLOTTE, N.C. You can imagine the giggle potential when a bunch of seventh-graders visited the Sugar Creek sewage plant But no 13-year-old can top plant manager Roy Purgason, Charlotte, N.C.'s unofficial professor of poop.

After 33 years at Sugar Creek and hundreds of tours, Purgason' heard it all -much of it from his own mouth. He's a hero to science teachers for his ability to draw students (SEP TEE R3 WMi iC-Ji! T3 361-573-2929 5803M John Stockbauer www.KelUrDanccDynamica.com A NAME YOU CAN TRUST.