Monday, May 20, 2013

Genealogy Help From a Second Cousin Once Removed

Genealogy research is a funny thing.  Just when you think you can't find one more connection or identify anyone else, something comes to your attention.  That is what happened to me this week.  I have been researching my dad's family for a very long time.  I have traced my great grandparents back to Germany.  I found that my great great grandmother actually lived and died in the city I was born in.  I figured out that my great grandfather had a sister who lived in Oconto Wisconsin.  I also found that she had two daughters.  By contacting the local library in Oconto, I found the obituaries for both daughters.  In the obituary it mentioned one living son, so last year I looked on the internet and came up with an address for this man.  I wrote a letter to him and asked him to let me know if I had the correct family.  I didn't hear back in a timely fashion so I assumed it was another dead end.  I was very surprised this week when I received an email.  This man who is my second cousin once removed (my grandpa and his mother were cousins) is eighty four years old.  His children encouraged him to learn the computer, and he got an ipad this spring.  He has been so helpful.  He sent me an obituary identifying two more brothers and also pictures of his grandmother.  It confirmed some things I suspected and opened up some new information.  Genealogy research is a process, but it is well worth the effort. 

He sent a few photos, but I don't recognize anyone.  They are supposedly family members from a long time ago.  If any of my family reads my blog and recognizes anyone, please let me know.  Great grandpa William Dux  died in 1906 at age 38.  The lady in the hat in these photos is his sister. 



As I am writing this, I am getting postings on Facebook from another relative from my mother's side of the family.  These are also photos I have never seen.  I haven't worked on this for a year and now this week all this information is coming in.  It is so exciting.

1 comment:

  1. Fascinating!
    Did I tell you there's a play I wrote online with genealogical research of the Norwegian side of my family. Have to admit Steve and a cousin (Tom) did the background work. Anita.

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