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John Harmon, a highly respected citizen is shot and killed in cold blood by Peter D. Cole on Main Street in the town of Deshler, Ohio just outside of Toledo, Ohio. Several witnesses were present in the six shot murder, including Mr. Harmon’s young son, as he is gunned down, traumatizing both families involved, as well as the town for one last time.
Read MoreA Strange Disappearance and Murder Without a Clue- Our story begins in 1887 when Mrs. Margaret Ellis disappears after a night at the theater in Toledo, Ohio. The only items found were her shoe and an article of clothing.
This strange case was brought to light and dimmed out just as quick, as we look at the circumstances and try to draw some of our own conclusions as to what happened to Mrs. Margaret Ellis.
The second story takes place in 1894 when the home of Mr. and Mrs. Seiner is entered, and both are brutally murdered. Their son is missing, and their barn is set on fire. The details around this story are hazy and it is said that the murders were done in a cruel manner. No clue was left behind.
And, finally, we are in 1897 when a suspected suicide is investigated further, after witnesses proclaim to have seen two men with the deceased, Mrs. Alonzo Bennett. We are led through twists and turns for this Who-Done-It crime to try to catch a killer.
Join me, Kelley Amstutz, The Genealogy Investigator, as we learn about the man inflamed by liquor and jealousy, shooting dead eighteen-year-old Caroline Hunt, and her family because she refused his affections due to him being married.
This case is full of bad decisions, which come to light as we move through the twists and turns to learn the fate of the Drunk Man's Deed.
Our first case takes us back to 10 Jan. 1889, with the Horrible Murder and Suicide of M. Shaffer and Mary Jane Valentine in East Toledo, Ohio on Front and Platt Streets.
Our second case takes place on 15 Apr. 1900 when two aged women, Kate and Joanna Sullivan, the Sullivan Sisters, are robbed in their Toledo, Ohio farm home and one is murdered and the other sister goes insane.
Join me, Kelley Amstutz, The Genealogy Investigator, as we hunt for the killer(s) of this notorious murder mystery.
Read MoreAmerican history was made with our immigrant and ethnic ancestors. Everyone has immigrant ancestors. It doesn't matter if your ancestor came to America in the 1900s, the 1600s, or were here to meet the rest of the settlers, all American ancestry leads somewhere else.
Read MoreThe Civil War produced huge amounts of documentation with over 3.5 million men (and a few hundred women) fighting for both the Union and Confederacy. But... because military records do not fit familiar patterns of most genealogical research you will conduct, vital records, passenger lists, and so on... these records can be overwhelming to a first-time researcher. But, by understanding a few key facts and having some great resources in your toolbox, you can start with a wealth of information about your Civil War ancestor before you even start digging!
Read MoreUS Federal Census reports are an important part of a Genealogist research. Census were taken every 10 years, providing the opportunity for genealogists to follow families back in time. They would provide locations of ancestors, age information, occupations and geographical data. They also hold clues about an ancestor's educational background, and even military status. So, with Census documents holding so much valuable information... it's so frustrating when you run a name search for an ancestor and you end up with NO RESULTS!
Read MoreOur weather is something that seems to always be a topic of conversation day in and day out. We always want to know what tomorrow will hold... especially with global warming being a hot topic. Weather is a worldwide subject of daily conversations, and it's also a great way to break the ice in awkward moments of silence.
Read MoreOur ancestors' lives were influenced by society, events, and external forces. Everything from the lands where a family lived to the social causes they endured could affect how our ancestors made decisions about where to settle down, where to start a family, and where to work. These values and motivators go far beyond traditional genealogy records, and can help you break down your brick walls!
Read MoreIt's summer vacation... and as a Professional Genealogist, running my own business, working for myself... that means I have two eager kids fighting for my time in between projects. We decided to set out and see Ohio this summer, taking in the History, learning about the land through visits to local battlefields, a trip to the public library and a tour of the Genealogy archives, and even some historical home tours that aren't too far from our home.
Read MoreSometimes the KEY to solving a genealogy mystery is going BACK to the BASICS!
When you run up against a genealogy BRICK WALL - try these nine (9) old-school ways to break that wall DOWN. You'll find that not only can old dogs learn new tricks... but dogs both young and old will benefit from practicing these time-tested strategies!
Read MoreAs a Genealogist... you've probably already discovered that the term "Brick Wall" is discussed almost regularly! We love to chat about the brick walls that are blocking our search into families' pasts. Usually, these brick walls are only detours that we can find our way around by stepping back and taking a fresh look at our research.... seeking out different record types... or doing some cluster research to find a clue buried in the overload of information.
Read MoreWe all love and live for the thrill of the HUNT... the challenge of a mysterious kinship or hidden story. We hone our research skills, learn about records and think over the evidence we uncover. But, there's another part of the detective work that we often overlook... writing reports about our research.
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