Success in our research depends on understanding the locality’s records, history, and required methodology. Whether we’re experienced in the research locality or a newbie, there is always more to learn. 

In this blog series on the FamilySearch Research Wiki, guest blogger Virginia Pratt will help us understand what the wiki contains and how best to use it. Virginia worked on the FamilySearch Wiki team for five years, writing and organizing Wiki pages. We’re excited to have her share some insider tips on using this free and amazing resource. I invite you to follow this series and try out Virginia’s tips.

by Virginia Pratt

In this last blog post, I will demonstrate how the Wiki helps with family history work through a case study.

I want to find more information about my 2nd great-grandfather, John J. Hoover. I have a birthdate of 20 May 1839 and a death date of 30 July 1901, but I do not have the actual records to show that these dates are correct. I know he grew up in Henry County, Indiana, and died in Otero County, Colorado. I am going to focus my research on the Wiki to identify which records are available in Henry County, Indiana, and Otero County, Colorado.

Otero County, Colorado

On the Otero, Colorado page, I see a table showing when official and genealogical records began to be kept on a county basis.

FamilySearch Research Wiki: Otero County, Colorado, GenealogySince I am focusing on a death record for John J. Hoover, I see that county-level records began in 1889 and statewide records began in 1910. I think my chances of finding a death or burial record are pretty good.

Further down the page, I see the “Cemeteries” section of the Otero County page. This may be a good place to find burial information.

You can choose any or all items in your search; however, I am going to click on the link to Find a Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/) to see if I can find a listing for John J. Hoover. A listing for a burial at the Valley View Cemetery in Rocky Ford, Otero, Colorado, was found. The birth and death dates on the tombstone match. Now, I am going to see if I can find a death record.

Since the county pages are arranged alphabetically, I know that further down the page will be a “Vital Records” section where I can see which types of death records are available.

It looks like online death records for Otero County, Colorado, are not readily accessible. But, I notice under the “Vital Records” section is the sentence and link, “See Colorado Vital Records for more resources.” Clicking this link takes me to another Wiki page that provides more information on Colorado vital records.

This Wiki page provides detailed information on the vital records kept by the state of Colorado and how to access them. The table of contents on the left side of the page shows the different topics covered on this page.

Under the “Death” section is a link to another Wiki page entitled “Colorado Substitute Records.” This page provides ideas for other records that may work if a death record cannot be obtained. This page tells what information may be found in and used in the substitute records.

Even though online death records are difficult to access in Colorado, the Wiki has given me ample alternate ideas of where I may find the record I am looking for.

Henry County, Indiana

Now, let’s look at what birth information I can find on the Henry County, Indiana, Wiki page. Remember, John J. Hoover was born in 1839. The first place I am going to look at is at the table that tells when county records were formally kept. The table shows that birth records were not officially kept until 1882, which is approximately 43 years after my 2^nd great-grandfather was born.

However, I will look at the vital records section of this page to see if there is any other information that may be helpful. Surprisingly, there is a record set with dates that encompass John J. Hoover’s birthdate. There are links to the record set and to a page that explains the information found in this set and how to interpret the records.

It also shows that this collection is available on Find My Past and My Heritage. The ($) means I will need to pay a subscription fee to see the information. From the name of this record, “Indiana Births and Christenings, 1773-1933,” I can ascertain that these are church records. The word “christenings” implies that these are church records.

I did not find John J. Hoover’s birth record in this collection. Now, I am going to the “Indiana Vital Records” page for more information.

This page is set up like the Colorado Vital Records page. Looking at the contents list on the left shows how easy it will be for me to find birth information because it is organized like the other vital records pages on the Wiki.

It is important to note that the detailed information is different from page to page. The Wiki Team researches each area to provide the most reliable information. For instance, the Colorado Vital Records page directed viewers to the substitute records page for Colorado, whereas the Indiana Vital Records page offers different options for finding birth records and the information you may find on them.

Although I did not immediately find the records I was looking for, I now know what my options are for finding vital records in these two states, and I know that when I am looking for information in different states, I will know where to look because the pages are organized the same way.

I was able to find the cemetery where John J. Hoover was buried, and I am excited to contact the cemetery to see what records they have. I am also going to contact the Colorado Department of Health to see what steps I need to take to get a copy of his death record.

For a birth record, I think I might see if I can find out what religion he was; maybe there will be a christening record for him in the records of different churches. Once I find his religion, I know I can go back to the Henry County, Indiana page and see what information is found under the “Church Records” section.

The FamilySearch Research Wiki is an important tool for anyone searching for their ancestors. There is information for anyone, professional or amateur, looking for their ancestors. It is an excellent source that answers or at least helps answer many family history questions.