how to find dead relative info?

[pinkytoe]

I have very fond memories of visiting a certain relative in Colorado Springs when I was growing up and I would love to figure out where her house was. All of my relatives who would know are gone now and she passed away at least 30 years ago. Any idea on how to figure out where she lived?

[Tradd]

Do you know how long she lived there? Info from the 1940 census is available online. I found stuff about my grandparents I didn't know. I found it through ancestry.com. Not sure if it's available on the .gov website.

ETA: 1940 census

http://1940census.archives.gov/

[iris lilies]

Census is good idea,as long as the relative lived there during the year of the census. And it's easily accessible.

Old city directories and phone books are usually kept by the public library in any municipality. Call their reference department and ask if they will look up something for you or if they will answer an inquiry by mail.

[catherine]

I'm on Ancestry.com and that may be a good resource

[CathyA]

I appreciated the census link, but dang..........I just keep going in circles with that. I wonder why you can't just type in a person's name?

[ToomuchStuff]

I appreciated the census link, but dang..........I just keep going in circles with that. I wonder why you can't just type in a person's name?

Because if you had a common name, you would end up with a LOT of them. They need other variables to narrow it down.

We have a Mormon geneology center that was recommended to me years ago, the only issue is you will start to get harrased by them to join their church. I didn't use it (sometimes it is better to not know things).

[JaneV2.0]

Try using Heritage Quest through your local library's website. You can search the census by name and year.

[Spartana]

My local library has a genealogy dept with a lot of resources. Here's a link to them and if you scroll down it has links to a lot of different genealogical sites. Since my Mom and her parents, and my Dad's parents as well, are from Europe (and my Mom was adopted without documents when her parents were killed during WWII in Germany) I have had a very difficult time finding info about ancestors. http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/Government/Departments/Library/books_computers_research/genealogy_links.cfm

[pinkytoe]

I didn't realize public libraries had all this info. I found one address in the 1940 census which matches where I THINK my aunt lived. And when I do a search for that zip code, the houses and neighborhood look like what I recall. And just as I remember, there is a lovely view of Pike's Peak from this street. This is just the beginning of my quest for a place to retire to and for whatever reason, that place sticks in my memory.

[Tussiemussies]

Do you have a birth date or death date? Without one of these it makes it very hard to find the information, unless you go to the church where she was baptized, they should have records and have the birth date. If she lived in the same town her whole life and you know what religion she was, you can check the local church. Once you have the birth date Ancestry.com will then be very helpful. Good luck!

[Sad Eyed Lady]

Because if you had a common name, you would end up with a LOT of them. They need other variables to narrow it down.

We have a Mormon geneology center that was recommended to me years ago, the only issue is you will start to get harrased by them to join their church. I didn't use it (sometimes it is better to not know things).
I have a good friend who is Mormon and she recently she recommended www.familysearch.org when I was looking for some family info. This is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' genealogy records online. You have to register but it is totally free and there is a lot of info there.

Also you can contact the county clerk's office where your ancestor lived and they should have all sorts of records such as tax rolls, deeds, mortgages, wills, marriages, etc. Sometimes they will themselves check something out for you or hook you up with someone that will. Worth a shot. I cannot stress enough how much wealth of information is contained in old files in courthouses - I spent several years looking up things in these old records when I worked for attorneys.

[iris lilies]

My local library has a genealogy dept with a lot of resources. Here's a link to them and if you scroll down it has links to a lot of different genealogical sites. Since my Mom and her parents, and my Dad's parents as well, are from Europe (and my Mom was adopted without documents when her parents were killed during WWII in Germany) I have had a very difficult time finding info about ancestors. http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/Government/Departments/Library/books_computers_research/genealogy_links.cfm


My public library in St. Louis has one of the largest genealogy collections in the country.

But for your first request, the address of your relative, that's easy.

Everyone can start with the digital databases, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Do not assume that everything is online, hah! Most of the information is not.

[Tradd]

Ancestry.com often has a free week or two deal, so perhaps you might do that, too.

[goldensmom]

Family last name forums. I typed in my great grandfathers last name on a forum and after sifting through a lot of interesting but irrelevant posts I came upon something that sounded familiar, contacted the poster, found family history back to the 1700's and struck up an e-mail correspondence with a far out relative who lived half way around the country. Found that he had children who lived within 20 miles of me. Fun.

[pinkytoe]

Fun
Yes, and in my case, somewhat addictive.

[Rogar]

I didn't realize public libraries had all this info. I found one address in the 1940 census which matches where I THINK my aunt lived. And when I do a search for that zip code, the houses and neighborhood look like what I recall. And just as I remember, there is a lovely view of Pike's Peak from this street. This is just the beginning of my quest for a place to retire to and for whatever reason, that place sticks in my memory.

If you are thinking of a retirement location, I was raised 40 miles south of Colorado Springs in Pueblo. I think Colorado springs is nice. It is know as being a very conservative town and the home of the conservative evangelical Focus on the Family and has a significant military presence with it's proximity to Ft. Carson. Things I could easily overlook. Kiplinger magazine just named Pueblo the second cheapest larger town in the country to live. It's a little further out on the plains so not quite as scenic, but still not too bad of a place.