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"wow your family goes back that far.How did you look up your ancestors?"

Some of my more recent ancestors were interested in keeping old letters and records. I finished it with my know-it-all research methods used as a know-it-all university English student (secondary ed) and other duties later on (investigation, etc., and no, I'm not a cop now). From one record to another, following records of ancestors from one state to another, with the help of some relatives (even distant ones).

Found quite a few missing links (heh) on the Net (various distant relatives postings of family trees and references). Met/corresponded with some distant relatives. Large parts of the work had already been done by others. I also have a surname that wasn't so common and didn't enter America through many.

Wasn't much interested in doing the whole thing myself (too much attention to the dead and kinda goes against my beliefs). Dad wanted to know more in his last years before he died. I did it mostly for him.

At least one more recent European arrival on my mom's side did fight for the South, BTW. He lost a leg. Wasn't able to get back further in time with ancestors on my mom's side. Quite a few of them came over from northern Europe and landed from the Midwest to the South later on.