What do you do when you come to a dead end while researching your ancestry?

Question

I have gone to the Jesus Christ of LatteDay Saints' web site. Dead ends there. I am new at this & don't have any money at the time. I have hit a brick wall with a couple of names: John Earl who died, March 25,1951; John Donald Wehrle, Pearl Belle Haws (Hass) both born around 1887 (these are all from Ohio) ; Nathan Stephens bornSept. 8, 1875 died April 21,1948 & the parents of Lolabelle, Faytema, Emmaline, Chester & Lester Cargile. From Barry/ McDonald Co. MO. Chester was my grandpa.

Answer 1

Hey Countrygal,

For every answer you get on your Ancestors, there will be 2 more unanswered questions. You are bound to run into dead ends. Records get burned, flooded, lost, and names change as your previous answers indicated. You can go to more sites, and possibly find people researching the same names.

The LDS Family Search site is not the end all to beat all, it is just a very good source. For the names you gave and dates, you may be able to get Birth, Death, Marriage records from Vital Records keepers in the towns, cities, counties, or states where the events occured. Obituaries are kept in libraries and give a lot of valuable clues. Librarians in near events will help you if you ask nice.

Probate, Wills, Property, all very good sources too. You should make use of GENFORUM too! In GENFORUM, you look for the SURNAME and there will either be a forum or not. If there is, you are in luck, start posting, communicating, emailing, etc. If not, then start one, post your questions. Make each question specific about one person. That way people can help focus on individuals. This will take time. Try some of these sites:

Answer 2

We reached a dead end about 30 years ago. We can get no further. Sometimes, a dead end is a real dead end, not just a bump in the road.
We know the first one of my dad's family in America got off a ship that came straight from England in 1800. But our name was spelled different then than now, and the ship was only on a stopover picking up passengers in England. It had originated in Amsterdam.
All trails are cold after that. And a lot of people continue to look into it. If I were to open it again, I suspect it might take some sleuthing in Europe, some continent hopping. But this side of the Atlantic, it is a closed case.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I believe there's no such thing as a true dead end. When you get frustrated and stop having fun, it's time to move on. But don't be afraid to come back at a later time. My immigrant ancestor was considered a "dead end" for more than 100 years, and many published genealogies stated so very adamantly. A few years ago, some fellow researchers and I decided to combine resources and reopen the search. We began to re-examine old research, and uncovered new sources through technology and communication methods that have only been available recently. Eventually, we not only discovered his English origins, but were able to trace his ancestry back several generations using long-lost primary source materials. It's breaking through those "dead ends" that makes genealogy such a rewarding hobby.

Answer 4

Is this the persons your looking for? per 1910 census at Ancestry.com
location: Seneca, Seneca Co., OH
name age married children ocup.
Frank A. Wehrle 37 20 Railroad
Emma E. 44 20 8/7
John D. 16
Thomas M. 12
Chester F. 10
Virgil V. 9
Ellen E. 5
Pearl C. 2

Answer 5

Have you tried posting on Rootsweb message boards? Post on the name and location boards. You might just get lucky and connect with someone who either has information, or who has access to help you.

My first major brick wall came by way of my Native American line, but I posted on the message board and connected with a gentleman who is a member of the Historical Society in the area and has been so helpful.

Don't ever let a brick wall stop you, you may never have the all the answers you are looking for for each line, but a brick wall just makes the information you do find all the more precious. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

Sean - you're an idiot!!! The "Mormon" church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Country Gal mentioned before. And they don't pray for ancestors to get them into heaven, they are concerned about Family History for the same reasons everyone else does. Thanks to rustskipper for an excellent answer there's really nothing to add after that.

Answer 7

Then you have to start spending money by sending for copies of public records. This is my main hold-up. On one line, I do not have a place to even begin to send my inquiries. My mother's grandparents had a dispute with relatives, moved away and changed their surname. At this point, genealogy can become quite costly.

Answer 8

Nothing but stop till I find a clue again to work it out. You can inform all your family about your efforts and invite them to help you out in finding a clue or any piece of information that might be useful.

Answer 9

Contact the Mormon church. They are the best ancestry researchers around.

They do this because, if you join the Mormons, they pray for all your ancestors who were not Mormon, so that they can be allowed into heaven.

Answer 10

You can try this site. I too have had some problems researching my ancestory.