How many of these questions can you now answer about one town where your ancestor's lived?

  1. When was the town you are researching organized?
    (County histories give this information.)
  2. When was the county the town lies in established?
    (The Handy Book for Genealogists and The Redbook gives this information.)
  3. When did the state receive statehood?
    (The sources under #2 answer this question.)
  4. From what counties was your county formed?
    (The sources under #2 above or the Map Guide to the U.S. Census can help.)
  5. What groups of people lived in this town, this county?
    (County histories give this information.)
  6. What motives attracted settlers to this area?
    (County histories, state histories, and general U.S. histories can help.)
  7. What religion or peculiar local customs did the people of this town, or county, have?
    (County histories, state histories, and general U.S. histories can help.)
  8. Did any regional (Indian or border) or national wars take place during the lifetime of this individual?
    (County histories, state histories, and general U.S. histories can help.)
  9. Have these answers guided you to ideas for other sources of information on your ancestor? What are they?


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