Newest Discovery: George Gorrell Was the Executor of Mrs. Hardin’s Estate

Before George J. Gorrell married Thelma M. Nilsen in 1951, he lived with Mrs. Annie G. Hardin at 2300 Portola Way.[1] She was a widow, forty years older than George. It was her suggestion that he attend the youth group at the Presbyterian church where he met Thelma. 

After he married, he still visited her often, bringing their children along. At this point, she had sold the Portola Way home and bought a home at 1640 Los Robles Boulevard in North Sacramento, probably to be closer to George.[2]

I have recently found a newspaper article about the proposed private sale of her real property. The private sale was to be to “the highest bidder for cash, subject to confirmation by the Superior Court, on or after the 29^th day of April 1963.

The land, located in Placer County, California, was described as “the southwest quarter and the south half of the northwest quarter of Section 28; the north half of Section 33; the northeast quarter of Section 31; the Southeast quarter and the south half of the northeast quarter of Section 30; the south ¾ of Section 29; the north half of Section 32; and the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 34, all in Township 12 North, Range 5 East.”[3]

Newspaper articles always lead to other records. With the information found in the newspaper, I can create a research plan in order to learn more about this transaction and others dealing with her estate,

Research Plan

1. Locate the probate records for Annie G. Hardin. I would look in Sacramento County, as that is where she lived, and in Placer County where the land is located.

2. Plat the land and locate its present location. The land description will help me. I could start at the General Land Office (glorecords.gov) and look up one of the pieces of land to get a general idea of its location. Or, I could locate a USGS map for Placer County and locate the various sections mentioned in the description.

3. Locate land records in Placer County. How did she acquire the land? How much was the land sold for? Who bought it?

4. Locate land records in Sacramento County, as she owned the house she was living in at the time of her death.

5. Search newspaper databases for articles mentioning Annie G. Hardin. Likely some real estate transactions may be mentioned in the newspaper. There might be other articles of interest, too.

6. Search home records. I have George and Thelma’s records of their family and perhaps because Mrs. Hardin was special to him, he kept these records of his acting as executor.

Summary
When you locate a newspaper article or other record that just screams of new avenues for research, do you make a research plan? Your genealogy research will be more successful if you jot these items down immediately. Do not forget to also record thoroughly what you find as you find it.

#52 Ancestors: Week 34: Newest Discovery

This is my sixth year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe. I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

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[1] 1950 U.S. census, Sacramento Co, California, Sacramento, ED 70-166, sht 2, line 28, George J Gorrell.

[2] “U.S., City directories, 1822-1995,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469 : accessed 22 Aug 2023) > California > Sacramento County > 1957 > Sacramento, California, Suburban Directory, 1957 > image 268, p. 166, Annie G Hardin (wid Jas L); citing Sacramento Directory Co’s Sacramento Suburban Directory, 1957 (Los Angeles: Sacramento Directory Co, 1957).

[3] “No. 54996 Dept. 3 Notice of Sale of Real Property at Private Sale,” Auburn Journal, 11 Apr 1963, p. B-9, col. 2.

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