Welcome to Family Finds
An Adventure in Genealogy
In addition to stories about my ancestors, I share tips for conducting online family history research. Genealogy is a great past time, join me on my journey to uncover and document my ancestors lives.
My Experience with DNA
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 15: DNA
I tested my DNA back in 2013, expectations were high. But, for me, the DNA test results have been interesting, but not particularly useful.
Genealogy Brick Walls
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 14: Brick Wall
We all have a brick wall, that one ancestor who defies all research. I decided I would work at my brick walls by generation, I broke through the last of my 3rd great grandparent brick walls, now I am working on 4th great grandparents.
In The Paper
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 13: In The Paper
It’s fun to find articles in the paper mentioning one of my relatives. Mostly they are birth, marriage, divorce and death events. But, it’s the oddball articles in the papers I like the most.
John Rogers: 12
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 12: Twelve
John Rogers is one of my 12th great grandparents, of which we all have 16,384. What made him remarkable enough to leave a record 450 years after his death? I admit my shock to discover an ancestor with the moniker “The Martyr”
George Lafary and Catherine Landon: Large Family
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 11: Large Family
My great-great grandparents, George Lafary and Catherine Landon, had a relatively small family, three of their six children survived to adulthood. However, they both came from large families of nine siblings and nearly all survived to marry and have children.
Conrad Rumple: Bachelor Uncle
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 10: Bachelor Uncle
My uncles are the marrying kind, sometimes more than once!
I had to go back four generations for a bachelor uncle, my great-great-great uncle Conrad Rumple, 1833-1911.
Conrad was an older brother to my great-great grandfather on my matrilineal line, William Rumple, 1839-1912.
Rumple Family Photo 1895
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 8: Family Photo
For all of us who are procrastinating about labeling photos I have one thing to say, “Be considerate of the genealogist of the future!” My maternal grandmother was very good about labeling old family photos, and there is one in particular I found very informative.
Luella Pressell: Surprise!
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 6: Surprise!
Just when you think you know everything about an ancestor, surprise! I thought I knew most everything about my paternal great grandfather David L. Osborne, 1848-1942.
Digital Bookshelf
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 5: At the Library
I rarely go to “brick and mortar” libraries, I prefer to do most my research using online resources. I have built a fairly large virtual bookshelf of digitized books for use in my genealogy research.
Admiral Byrd: I’d Like to Meet…
52 Ancestors, in 52 Weeks – Week 4: I’d Like to Meet…
Richard E. Byrd, my sixth cousin, 3 times removed, was a famous aviator, in 1929 he flew to the South Pole. His story inspired me when I was young.