Genealogy

Try spelling variations. Older records often contain inconsistent spellings. "Camp" vs "Kamp" vs "Campbell." "McNeal" vs "McNeil." When one spelling yields nothing, try another.

Look for maiden names. Women in earlier generations are usually recorded under their married surname. A search combining a maiden name with a husband's surname often turns up records you wouldn't otherwise find.

Cross-reference obituaries. Our genealogy archive and obituary records cover overlapping but distinct people. A person found in one may appear (with different detail) in the other.

Use the cemetery index. Family members are often buried together. If you find an ancestor at Bethesda Cemetery, check who else is there — you may find a whole branch of the family.

Check county history. Our county history archive has scanned newspaper articles from as early as 1887 — marriages, deaths, property transactions, and community news from your ancestors' era.