Genealogy Friday: Obituaries can Unlock the Past

I shared with you over the last few weeks how I’ve broken through one of my brick walls. While traveling to another part of the state, I stopped to retrieve an obituary I needed.  Was this truly my great-great grandfather? … Continued

Genealogy Friday: Finding Common Sounding Names

While breaking through this brick wall I currently had a conversation with several other genealogists. We all agreed that when we have a common name such as Mary Smith, John Davis, etc.  Then it is almost impossible to find the … Continued

Genealogy Friday: Searching the Meaning of Unique Names

I told you last week about how I discovered my ancestor, Ariovistus.   He had such a unique name that I wondered what it meant. I knew this wasn’t a family name so where did it come from. I decided to … Continued

Genealogy Friday: New Records Constantly Appear

I’ve been sharing my struggle with breaking through a brick wall. I finally found enough circumstantial evidence to prove who he was, but I had no definitive proof. Not living in the area, I’d not been to check the records … Continued

Genealogy Friday: What is the Circumstantial Evidence?

Last week, I shared about my trouble with a brick wall. This week, I want to share more of the story. I kept finding a 1870 Census record for an Ario Davis, but he lived with no parents. My information … Continued

Genealogy Friday: Don’t Give up on Those Brick Walls

We all have brick walls we want to break through.   Some seem nearly impossible to break through. I had one just like that.   For 25 years I looked for the parents of my GG-Grandfather. All I had to go on … Continued