ancestral clues and lessons

Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Ida May (Sargent) Trautvetter Miller

Ida May Sargent was born in 1874 the daughter of William Ira and Florence Ellen (Butler) Sargent. She married George Trautvetter in 1898 in Hancock County, Illinois, and later married William Miller after George died. She died in 1939 in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois. Some things I’ve learned about research from Ida: you may never […]

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Ancestral Clues and Connections: Christianna (DeMoss) Rampley

Christianna (DeMoss) Rampley was born in the later 1770s, probably in what is now Harford County, Maryland. She married Thomas Johnson Rampley in 1800 and died after 1830, probably in Coshocton County, Ohio. Some things I’ve learned from researching Christianna: the importance of somewhat unusual names. While Christianna is not the most unusual name, it […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: George A. Trautvetter

George Adolph Trautvetter was born in 1869 in Walker Township, Hancock County, Illinois, and died in Jacksonville, Morgan, County, Illinois, in 1934. Some things I’ve learned about research from George: the importance of keeping people with the same name straight. George had a paternal uncle George and paternal first cousins named George. Since they all […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Hinrich Jacobs Fecht

Hinrich was born in Wiesens, Ostfriesland, Germany, in 1823. He died in Elvaston, Hancock County, Illinois, in 1912. Some things about research that I have learned from Hinrich: those who are poor leave fewer records. Hinrich never purchased real property, does not appear on any tax lists, and has no probate record. immigrants get their […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Ida (Trautvetter) Neill

Ida (Trautvetter) Neill was born in Wythe Township, Hancock County, Illinois, in 1910 and died near Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois, in 1994. Some things I’ve learned about research from her: people give the information they believe to be accurate. Grandma thought she was born in Tioga, Illinois, and put that on every record throughout her […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Thomas Chaney

Thomas Chaney was born in Maryland in the 1780s and died in Bedford County, Pennsylvania in the 1850s. Some things I’ve learned from researching Thomas: People leave children out of their will. Records clearly indicate Thomas had ten children. Only a few are mentioned in his will. Thomas indicated that his other children had been […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Christian Troutfetter

Christian Troutfetter was born Thuringen, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in the 1850s. He lived in western Hancock County, Illinois, until he moved to Thomas County, Kansas, to homestead in the 1880s. He died in Thomas County, Kansas, in 1917. Some things I have learned about research from Christian: people can live in […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Philip Troutfetter

Philip Troutfetter was born in Warsaw, Hancock County, Illinois, in the 1860s and died near Colby, Thomas County, Kansas, in 1911. There are several things I learned about research from Philip: Some people move a great deal. Philip lived in Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and spent time in Cuba and Columbia, South America. After leaving […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Hinrich Mueller

Hinrich Mueller was born in Ostfriesland, Germany, about 1799 and died in Brown County, Illinois, in 1880. He married Geske Husmann in Ostfriesland and she immigrated with him to the United States. Some things I learned about research from Hinrich: don’t overlook anything–even if it’s not often helpful. Hinrich is the only direct ancestor I […]

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Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Sarah (Tinsley) Sledd

Sarah Tinsley was born in the 1770s probably in or very near to Amherst County, Virginia. She married Thomas Sledd in 1798 in Amherst County. She died probably in Nicholas County, Kentucky, after the 1850 federal census enumeration. Some things I’ve learned about research from Sarah: diminutives matter. Sarah is referred to as Sally in several […]

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