Category Archives: Research Tips

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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Breathing New Life into Old Blurry Photos with AI

Posted on August 12, 2025 by Don Taylor

Tuesday’s TipsBy Don Taylor Sometimes I’m genuinely astonished by what new technology can accomplish. Recently, a friend asked if I could help clean up a couple of old, blurry images that had been cropped from a much larger family photograph. … 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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Ancestry, The 1950 Census, &  Grandma Donna

Posted on May 31, 2022 by Don Taylor

Tuesday’s Tips By Don Taylor I received an email from Ancestry that indicated due to their “proprietary AI technology,” they have an early index of the records. My recollection said it took several months to index the 1940 census ten … Continue reading →

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