Ancestral Findings

Of all the jobs people avoided, feared, or whispered about, the gravedigger stood near the top of the list. Working in quiet corners of churchyards, behind iron fences, or in the shadows of city cemeteries, the gravedigger did work no one else wanted—making room for the dead and handling what came after.

But for centuries, this job was a critical part of every community. It wasn’t glamorous, and it certainly wasn’t clean, but the p...

Long before cities had garbage trucks and recycling centers, there were the rag-and-bone collectors—wandering figures with pushcarts, sacks, and sharp eyes trained on the gutters and alleys of the industrial world. These scavengers were among the earliest forms of organized waste management, turning trash into treasure in a time when nearly everything had some kind of second life.

Though rarely respected in their time, these indivi...

Of all the historical occupations that could be found in a family tree, few were more pungent, more physically difficult, or more socially isolating than tanning. While farmers, blacksmiths, and even coal miners occupied central places in their communities, the tanner often worked on the outskirts—literally and figuratively. Tanning was essential to everyday life, producing the leather needed for clothing, shoes, belts, saddles, bo...

As the United States marks its 249th year of independence, it’s a fitting time to pause and reflect—not just on fireworks and parades, but on the remarkable clarity of vision held by those who signed their names to the cause of liberty. These were men who risked everything—their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor—not for gain, but for the enduring hope of a free and virtuous republic.

Their words, written in the heat of war and the ...

Coal built the modern world. It powered trains, lit homes, fueled factories, and kept furnaces burning during the coldest winters. But that power came at a steep cost. For every train that ran and every hearth that glowed, miners were working deep underground, chipping away at rock, swallowing dust, and risking their lives with every shift.

Mining was one of the most dangerous and physically demanding jobs your ancestors could have...

Before the comforts of indoor plumbing and municipal sewage systems, someone had to do the dirty work. And by dirty, we mean truly revolting. The Night Soil Man was the one tasked with removing human waste from privy pits, outhouses, and cesspools—usually under cover of darkness when the smell might be slightly less offensive and when the public eye wouldn’t witness the mess.

The term "night soil" refers to human excrement that was...

As we continue our journey through The Forgotten Seconds, we pause to examine the life of Schuyler Colfax—a name once associated with optimism, eloquence, and the future of the Republican Party. He was Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant, a former Speaker of the House, and one of the most prominent political figures of his time. But Colfax’s career was later marred by scandal, and his name, once linked to presidential potential,...

As we continue our series, The Forgotten Seconds, we take a closer look at those vice presidents who, despite standing one heartbeat away from the highest office, never became president themselves. Today’s spotlight is on Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln’s first vice president—a name that once carried national significance but has since faded from common memory. Hamlin’s life tells the story of New England grit, political courage,...

I found this old postcard the other day, and something about it pulled me right in. It shows a dimly lit room, heavy with shadow and curiosity. There’s a man standing with a bird—maybe a parrot—perched on his arm. A woman leans against the back bar. You can just make out a bartender. There’s a large wooden chest in the corner, chains hanging from the wall, and rough-hewn beams that look like they’ve seen more than a century of stor...

This one caught my eye for a completely different reason than most of the postcards I’ve written about. It’s not a quiet street scene or a charming old building—it’s people. A whole lineup of them. Dancers, performers, maybe a few singers too, all standing in formation in front of a dramatic backdrop. They’re dressed in full costume—fringe, sequins, feathers—ready to perform, or maybe just wrapping up another night’s set.

The capti...

Some postcards you flip past quickly. Others make you stop. This one made me stop. It’s not flashy—there’s no massive landmark or postcard-perfect sunset. Just a simple church nestled among a few trees, with a neat little gatehouse and a quiet street. What caught my eye was the caption: The Little Church Around the Corner. That name alone makes you want to find out more. It sounds like something you’d say if you were giving directi...

Every June, many of us pause to honor the fathers in our lives—the ones who taught us how to change a tire, tied our fishing lines, and maybe even showed us how to be brave in the quietest of ways. But for all the neckties and backyard barbecues, few people know the full story of how Father’s Day came to be. The holiday didn’t spring up as easily as Mother’s Day, nor was it without its share of controversy, setbacks, and surprising...

The 1925 New York State census holds a prominent place in the lineup of state enumerations. This is not only because it was the last one conducted by the state but also because of the historical moment it captured. Taken just five years before the 1930 federal census, the 1925 enumeration offers researchers a final glimpse of New York families as they transitioned from the post–World War I years into a new, modern era marked by rap...

By the time New York took its 1915 state census, the state was in the midst of dramatic social, political, and demographic shifts. The five years since the 1910 federal census had brought even more industrial growth, continued waves of immigration, and the rise of new housing, labor, and reform movements. Capturing all of this change in the middle of a federal census decade, the 1915 New York State census stands as one of the most ...

The 1905 New York State census is a cornerstone resource for anyone researching individuals or families who lived in New York at the beginning of the 20th century. Coming just five years after the 1900 federal census and five years before the 1910 federal count, this state census captures a critical snapshot of life during a dynamic and rapidly changing time in American history...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfind...

The 1892 New York census is an essential source for family history researchers working in the late 19th century. With the destruction of the 1890 U.S. federal census, the 1892 state count offers one of the only large-scale snapshots of life during that decade. For anyone tracing New York families through immigration, urbanization, or internal migration in the 1880s and 1890s, this record is a key substitute for the lost enumeration...

This postcard brought it all back. The steel-gray tones, the Point Bridge stretching across the Monongahela, and Pittsburgh’s unmistakable skyline—narrow, bold, and rising up from the meeting of three rivers. I remember the first time I ever drove through the Fort Pitt Tunnel. You’re surrounded by mountain, nothing but concrete—then suddenly, you burst out into the open and the whole city hits you at once. There’s nothing quite lik...

Among the many state censuses conducted across the United States, Iowa’s 1925 enumeration stands apart. Genealogists frequently cite it as one of the most detailed and valuable non-federal census records available. What sets it apart is not just the volume of information collected but the nature of that information—specifically, its emphasis on lineage. This census doesn’t simply capture who was living in Iowa at the time; it provi...

While most genealogists rely on the federal census as a foundational tool, those researching ancestors in New York State have a distinct advantage. In addition to appearing in the federal census every ten years, New Yorkers were also counted in a robust series of state censuses. These records, taken at regular intervals between federal censuses, offer an extraordinary opportunity to fill in gaps, confirm relationships, and capture ...