Getting Started

So hopefully now you are ready to get started on your "Family Tree". What are the steps involved in climbing up that family tree? Here are a few suggestions that can help you along the way.

1. Find a good genealogy software program if you plan on putting your information on the computer. There are a number of them available. You need to decide if you want to pay big bucks and get one that does everything for you, or if you want to start out with very minimal output of your dollars. Here are some suggestions for you to check out: a.) PAF (Personal Ancestral Files) is probably the most inexpensive program you can purchase. I believe it costs around $5-$10. This is a program put out the LDS Church (which by the way is into genealogy BIG TIME!) You can locate this online and then download the program. b.) Generations Family Tree by Sierra is also an excellent program (will cost you more money but well worth the investment). Do a Google search and see what other programs are out there and read the information on them and then make your decision as to which program seems to fit your needs the best.
2. If you can afford to purchase a subscription to "Ancestry.com" this would be well worth the money also. There are several other genealogy programs online, but most of them aren't as big and well known as "Ancestry.com". They have less expensive sign-up fees though and if your money is limited, they would be better than nothing.
3. Okay - lets get started in getting that information. a.) Start with yourself and put down everything about yourself, ie. birthdate, spouse name, marriage date, baptismal info., children, parents, etc. b.)Now you are ready to move up the "tree". List all the information about your parents and your siblings. c.) Now move up to your grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. d.) Then your great grandparents, and you are on your way to the top of your "Family Tree".
4. Here are a few genealogy helps online that don't charge to access their information: a.) www.cyndislist.com; www.ancestorhunt.com; www.rootsweb.ancestry.com; www.familysearch.org; www.ancestralfindings.com; www.olivetreegenealogy.com; http://usgenweb.com. That should give you an excellent start when you need to start doing some research on your family.
5. Be sure to look for census records, death records, marriage records, military records and social security records.
6. You are now well on your way to climbing up your "Family Tree". I wish you an exciting and invigorating hobby that you can continue to work on throughout your lifetime!

CEMETERY INFORMATION:



When walking through a cemetery and looking at the headstones, you will notice quite a few different epitaphs/abbreviations on the headstones. This can tell you about your ancestors and there is also some fantastic information included on some of the headstones. For example: One cemetery I was walking through had the following information included on the headstone.

"Born in Arnsfeld, Prussia. She endured mistreatment from Russians at the end of WWII, from which she suffered the rest of her life. An accomplished horsewoman."

Another headstone stated: "Mother of 13".

Here's a good one: "A pioneer, the 1st settler in Lane County - 1846"

This is downright exciting!!! You can find all kinds of things about people - just by reading what is written on their headstone.

Some headstones include the branch of the service they were in, their rank, etc. Other headstones include the date married, the names of their children, the names of their parents, their spouse, whether they are a member of IOOF, a Woodsman of the World, etc.

One of my hobbies is to walk through cemeteries, write down the information on the headstones and then put that information into a paperback book. I then make these books available for sale, at a small price. If you are interested in these books, you can email me at: kbcreat@qwest.net