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Resources to find a relative that is completely off the radar!

Jen Gaska
Jen Gaska ✭
January 16 in Search

I am at my wits end! I have an aunt that I can find an address for on the 1940's census. Between that, and her death in 1969, there is NO information on her, anywhere! Does anyone know, or can recommend, someone that could help me? I would love to put the puzzle pieces in place, but have no idea where to look. Thanks for any help! Jen

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Answers

  • dontiknowyou
    dontiknowyou ✭✭✭✭✭
    January 16

    Have you found all the rest of the family in the 1950 census? If not, do that next.

    Then, working from her 1940 and 1969 records, search local newspapers, telephone books, property records. Public libraries local to where she lived in 1940 and 1969 are good places to start.

    3
  • Jen Gaska
    Jen Gaska ✭
    January 17

    Thanks for repylying. The Aunt I am searching for got married and I have her address (Chicago) from the 1940's census. From there, family members (whom are all now deceased. I have no more family to ask questions to) said she got divorced and no one mentioned where she moved from there. My Aunt was the "black sheep" of the family, not sure why. But no one really talked of her. The next record I can find is her marriage, in Las Vegas, in 1957. After this, her tragic car accident death in a California desert, in 1969. No addresses.

    I only have Family Search now to do research. I don't have/want Ancestry anymore. Since they have the monopoly over newspapers and such, I may be at a permenant dead end here. I wish I could find a private detective to at least fill in where she was from when she left Chicago (maybe in the 40's or early 50's) and how she wound up in California.

    Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to answer!

    0
  • Chas Howell
    Chas Howell ✭✭✭✭✭
    January 17

    @Jen Gaska, it would be helpful if you post your aunt's ID number with the sources you already have to get more specific advise. doniknowyou gave you some possible areas to look at. A trip to your local FamilySearch Center may be of help to you also. https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/

    2
  • Jen Gaska
    Jen Gaska ✭
    January 17

    Thank you. I may search for a local family search center, when time permits me to dive into this a bit more. I appreciate the reply!

    Martha Marie Rezanka

    29 June 1915 – 1 August 1969

     LV61-RQF

    0
  • dontiknowyou
    dontiknowyou ✭✭✭✭✭
    January 18

    There are many ways you can improve the profile: standardize the event places, add her married names, add dates to sources, attach the hinted source.

    Ancestry.com does not have a monopoly on newspapers and at many public libraries you can search newspaper databases for free. You can also use Ancestry.com historical records for free at many libraries.

    The FamilySearch Research Wiki has a page of great information about finding records in the county where she died (and may have resided). See https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/San_Bernardino_County,_California_Genealogy

    2
  • Jen Gaska
    Jen Gaska ✭
    January 18

    Thanks for your help. I have been doing genealogy stuff for a bit, but always appreciate any help I can get.

    0
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