Category Archives: Brick Wall Ancestors

Gideon Howell Reveals His Brother’s Secret: The Parents of Peter M. Howell

Posted on June 16, 2026 by Don Taylor

Howell Ancestry LineWho were Peter M. Howell’s parents?By Don Taylor Peter M. Howell (1805–1865) was a well-documented figure in my wife’s ancestry — a colorful itinerant preacher whose memoir, The Life and Travels of Peter Howell, never once names his … Continue reading →

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Ancestor Sketch – Johann Jakob Huber (1850–1926)

Posted on June 3, 2026 by Don Taylor

For eleven years, Johann Jakob Huber stood behind an impenetrable brick wall. A single page from the Bürger-Familienregister der Kirchgemeinde Stadel has shattered it. Now we know he was born 5 February 1850 in Pfündlauf, Zürich — a farmer, a father of seven, and the man who kept all but one child from leaving Switzerland. Continue reading →

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Howell’s in the Censuses – Henry, Gideon, and Peter

Posted on September 21, 2025 by Don Taylor

Exploring the census records of Henry, Gideon, and Peter Howell in Buckingham County, Virginia, to uncover clues about the father of Peter M. Howell (1805–1865). This research examines 1840–1870 census evidence, agricultural schedules, and possible family connections. Continue reading →

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Using mtDNA to Tackle a Maternal Brick Wall:

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Don Taylor

Exploring mtDNA matches to solve the mystery of Fanny Taylor’s maternal origins, I traced several exact matches but found no direct link—yet. This post outlines recent findings, including surnames from match lines and next research steps. The goal: to break through the maternal brick wall that is Fanny Taylor (1806–1889). Continue reading →

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Walls – Paper or Brick | John Montran – (b-186?/7? – d. Bef 1911) – BM-14

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Don Taylor

Walls – Paper or Brick? Rice Paper WallsPhoto by Matt Litt via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) We all have our genealogical walls. Often, we don’t know if a particular wall is a brick wall or a paper wall. It might be a … Continue reading →

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