Take some time to read those old newspapers instead of just searching for names. A recent gossip column for a newspaper in the 1870s discussed how cattle were transported to Chicago for butchering and the ease with which children on the orphan train were adopted by couples waiting at the train station.
I also like to browse all the names on the census page that happens to contain my relative. Sometimes you will find other family members or future spouses are living nearby
ReplyDeleteI love old newspapers. In addition to looking for names, you can find out what was going on in your ancestor's world. What were the fashions? How much did things cost? What was the weather like? Who were the movers and shakers? All of these things impacted our ancestors lives in one way or another.
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