where2look4ancestors

Category: Genealogy

  • Life Interrupted

    She’s buried at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago. Until recently, I didn’t know much more than that about Waity Chandler Plum. According to the marriage certificate below, she was 32 years old when she married Carl E. Plum in July of 1901: She would not survive to celebrate their first…

  • Are We Polish? Part Two

    Maria Bukmakofsky wasn’t an only child. Her sister Caroline also immigrated to the Chicago area. Shown here in the 1900 census with her husband and children, Caroline’s family is listed as German but with a very Polish-sounding surname – Domkowsky: It wasn’t easy to prove the connection between Caroline Domkowsky and Maria (nee Bukmakofsky)…

  • Four Generation Photograph

    I love seeing pictures of my ancestors and multiple generation shots are my favorites. Four generations in the same professionally posed portrait are a rare find. That’s what makes this photograph so special. The baby in the picture is my grandmother Harriette Kathlyn Tolf born 02 Jul 1909. She’s posing with her father…

  • His Success is Written in Stone

    John Kauffman’s daughter Maria Elizabeth married my 2nd great-grandmother’s brother Emile Schmitt in the 19th century. Emile became an executive in John’s business, the Kauffman Brewery. The brewery flourished making John, his partner, and many others in the business very wealthy men. John Kauffman rests in Cincinnati’s historic Spring Grove Cemetery across the…

  • From Sweden to Chicago for a Better Life

    Both of my maternal grandfather’s parents were immigrants. Grandpa’s father arrived in his mother’s arms. James Walton was just seven months old when he and his parents traveled from the Isle of Man to Cleveland Ohio. Grandpa’s mother sailed alone across the Atlantic Ocean from Sweden to Chicago when she was 15…

  • 16th Century Swedish Records

    Today is the anniversary of my 9th great-grandfather’s death. I saw the record on a page in a parish book from 17th century Sweden. I have a direct line ancestor who’s death was recorded 330 years ago. How amazing is that? Even more amazing is the page I found at ArkivDigital scanned…

  • Did Harry Tolf mellow with age?

    One member of my family described him as “one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet”. Other family members, the ones with memories of Harry Tolf’s earlier life, told a different story. As a genealogist I try to keep all the stories in mind. And look for documentation to prove or…

  • Why I Love French Baptismal Records

    On this day in 1774, my 4th great-grandfather François Schmitt was baptized. Especially exciting for me was that François’ father Claude signed the document. Here I am at my desk looking at the crystal clear signature of my 5th great-grandfather written 241 years ago. Is this a great time to be on the planet or what? But…

  • Carolina Fredrika Tolf 1855-1930

    From page 1 of the Thursday, February 6, 1930 issue of the St. Charles [Illinois] Chronicle: “OBITUARY Mrs. Peter Swanson Mrs. Peter Swanson passed away at her home on Fourth St. south at 10 p.m. Thursday, January 30. Her death was the result of a paralytic stroke which she suffered…

  • Pullman Employee Charles Youngberg

    According to the Swedish Husförhörslängder or household examination records 1882 to 1885*: Karl John Ljungberg left Sweden for North America in 1883. He doesn’t appear in the Swedish Utflyttning or moving out records in that or surrounding years, but I can confirm he arrived in America. Americanized Charles Youngberg worked his…