Let Kelley Amstutz, Professional Genealogis, tell your Ancestors' story!

The Genealogy Investigator Blog

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Posts in Latest
MAY 2024 - Let's Learn More About the Origins of Mother's Day

The History of Mother’s Day

Anna Maria Jarvis (May 1, 1864 – November 24, 1948) was the founder of Mother's Day in the United States. Her mother had frequently expressed a desire to establish such a holiday, and after her mother's death, Jarvis led the movement for the commemoration.

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A Gun Battle in Bowling Green, Ohio

Did you KNOW about the SHOOTOUT in Bowling Green, Wood County, Ohio in 1931 between Police Chief Carl Galliher and thugs “Billy the Baby-Faced Killer” and “Pretty Boy Floyd” ? Well, I have the FULL story HERE for you! CHECK IT OUT NOW!

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PODCAST -- The Murder Record -- Brawling At The Brewery -1-2024

Brawling At The Brewery

Tonight we investigate THE HADDOCK ASSASSINATION that took place on August 3rd, 1886 about 10:00 PM in Sioux City, Iowa.

This story has nine (9) criminals surrounding the MURDER of Rev. George C. Haddock. The killing of Rev. Haddock was one of the sensational mysteries of the YEAR in 1886, and baffled authorities in Iowa... and the details that unfold from these criminals is nothing short of astonishing.

Join me on this fantastical journey of whodunits as each part of the story begins to unravel to learn WHO took the life of Rev. Haddock, the prohibition crusader.

***VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED***

LISTEN HERE: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2108410/14409301

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Lake Township History - 2024 - The FURRY Family

Lake Township, Wood County, Ohio - The Furry Family

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Happy New Year! Let's Get Back to Our ROOTS!

New Year - Let’s RESET!

Who doesn’t LOVE those resolutions? …. said noone ever! Let’s dig into some great HISTORY, TIDBITS, and some HELPFUL HINTS as we dive into JANUARY’s COLD.

WINTER IS COMING!!!

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PODCAST -- CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- ANOTHER HORRIBLE MURDER in Toledo, Ohio (Ep 22)

ANOTHER HORRIBLE MURDER in Toledo, Ohio

We find ourselves in Sylvania, Ohio in 1857 where we are introduced to Mr. Return J. M. Ward who is assumed to have killed his wife and burned her body in a truly horrific manner.  I take us through the gruesome crime, confession, and trial with one of Toledo, Ohio's most horrible crimes.

***VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED***

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PODCAST -- CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- LAD KILLED HIS MOTHER in Toledo, Ohio (Ep 21)

LAD KILLED MOTHER in Toledo, Ohio

We are diving into one of Toledo's MOST NOTED MURDER MYSTERY CASES with the murder of Mrs. John F. Hazel by her seventeen year old son, Harvey Hazel.

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PODCAST -- CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- A DEED OF BLOOD (Ep 20)

A DEED OF BLOOD

Join me as we take a walk back in time to 1854 when a murder takes place between two women of the night over a pair of gloves.  We will learn about one notorious BIDDY FURY, and her multiple brushes with the law over her lifetime.

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PODCAST -- CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- GHOST STORY (Ep 18)

GHOST STORY

Spooky season is under way and I searched HIGH and LOW to find a GREAT (and slightly spooky) story to share! I have one from 1897 and a catch up from 1874 in the Ohio area that give you a few different angles as to what the times held.

Sit back… have a laugh… and enjoy some great old stories that haven’t seen the light of day in ages!

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PODCAST -- CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- TIME POINTS OUT A GUILTY MAN (Ep 19)

TIME POINTS OUT A GUILTY MAN

JOIN ME AS WE JUMP INTO A 37-YEAR OLD COLD CASE MURDER AND AN UNEXPECTED CONFESSION WITH A TWIST THAT EVEN I CAN NOT BELIEVE I WAS ABLE TO UNCOVER!

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PODCAST -- CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- JOCK BROWN'S GHOST (Ep 17)

Jock Brown’s Ghost

Some five or six miles from the circuit town in the North in which my son practices there is a village which I may name Heather Howe. As a matter of fact the commonty close to the village- a long piece of rocky ground covered with fine grass and furze - is so named by the inhabitants; and as it was on this lone common, and near the old quarry hole, that Jock Brown’s ghost appeared, the name is not so very far-fetched.

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CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- A KEROSENE MURDER & A CHOKING (Ep 16)

A KEROSENE MURDER & A CHOKING MURDER

We are heading back to 1874 in our first case where we meet Mrs. Charles Hoover who meets her fate in a horrific kerosene accident.

Then, we move to 1895 and a case that sounds eerily familiar to today’s crimes in A CHOKING MURDER. We find a missing Mrs. Jane Merrill and a husband/wife duo, Mr. and Mrs. Enos Larkins at the center of the case. This case is sure to capture your attention with all the details uncovered along the way.

Did they get ‘em? Find out in this exciting episode!

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CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- MURDER IN SALEM (Ep 15)

A MURDER IN SALEM

Crime Travel is on the ROAD! We are taking a trip back to 1830 and the brutal crime that riveted the nation in Massachusetts of Captain Joseph White. We get a little history lesson before jumping in, feet first, into the trial that caused a media frenzy! This episode is LONG, but well worth the listen!

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CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- FOUND DEAD ON THE TRACKS (Ep 14)

FOUND DEAD ON THE TRACKS

Tonight’s story takes us to Air Line Junction in Toledo, Ohio and one of the oldest conductors on the Lake Shore who is met with death, which is suspected to be murder.

Our second story is an 1895 suspicious disappearance with evidence of axe marks and blood found in the home where Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Smith are missing. Fred is suspect number one.

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Tips for Saving Money on Genealogy Records

Money Saving Tips for Genealogy

If you work with Genealogy Records… then you KNOW how FAST those memberships, record requests, and supplies can ADD UP! Most of my business budget goes to having SEVERAL memberships to HUNT DOWN and INVESTIGATE anything and everything I can get my hands on… BUT… I have some GREAT money-saving TIPS to help out — without sacrificing our research!

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CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- Revealing a Mysterious Murder (Ep 12)

Revealing A Mysterious Murder

Who is Mrs. Mary Munday? Her body is found in the basement of a vacant home on Wisconsin Street in Toledo, Ohio and her husband is missing.  This is a real WHO DONE IT!

The Stone Murder takes us to Akron, Ohio in 1896, where we meet Mr. Anson Strong, an Ohio Horse thief who is charged with the double murder of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin N. Stone. Mr. Stone had been a prior witness to Mr. Strong’s crimes…

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CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- Looks Like a Murder (Ep 11)

In this episode, we find ourselves in the year 1899, on the 24th of November.  This case revolves around Mr. W. L. Thomas, of Bradford, Ontario,  who is in Toledo, Ohio to attend college as a Medical Student. Mr. Thomas is found dead and a series of speculation begins to occur at this very dark and mysterious case as it unfolds, all stemming from finding the body on Adams Street.

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CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- The Mysterious Suicide of a Well-Dressed Stranger | Foul Murder (Ep 10)

On the 8th of March 1891 there is a mysterious suicide in one of the best hotels in Toledo, Ohio, the Boody House of a man with the name Charles J. Edwards. Charles had no listed residence and had met with Rev. Father Quigley, a prominent Catholic priest, telling the Reverend that he had come to Toledo to commit murder.  This story is interesting to say the least with a plot of murder that turns into suicide and a great mystery that has not been solved, to this day.

Our second story takes place in 1895 with the wife of Peter Peaney of Tontogany, Ohio found DEAD with a bullet through her heart.  There is not a clue of motive or a culprit in sight. Learn about the gory details in this tragedy with a story of cold-blooded murder.

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TIME TRAVEL in Toledo, Ohio -- WEEK of May 15th - May 19th 2023

The Hartshorn Family

This week we are traveling BACK IN TIME through a BRANCH of MY OWN FAMILY… the HARTSHORN FAMILY branch. This branch is connected to me through my paternal side and has roots in Maumee, Toledo, and Perrysburg, Ohio.

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TIME TRAVEL in Toledo, Ohio -- WEEK of May 1st - May 5th 2023 (Copy)

The Adkins Family

This week we are traveling BACK IN TIME through a BRANCH of MY OWN FAMILY… the ADKINS FAMILY branch. This branch is connected to me through my paternal side and has roots in East Toledo, Ohio.

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