Sharing a passion for investigating family histories

(Photo by Kris Todd) Don Paulsen, a Spencer genealogist, has worked to uncover facts about his family, as well as his wife's biological and adoptive families, since October 1950. Paulsen has taken the time to neatly catalog their family artifacts, such as this photograph of his parents, in three-ring binders, which he stores in their basement. [Order this photo]

Connell began investigating her ancestors in November 1971 because her father wanted to know more about his family.

"That was back when postage was 8 cents," she reminisced with a chuckle. "Mother didn't know anything about her family either, but she didn't care. He did want to know, though, because he was curious. That's how I got started."

Connell began her research by visiting with friends of her grandparents and family members who lived in the area.

"I often say genealogy is like kids and drugs: You can get hooked on it and it can be every bit as expensive -- but it won't kill you," she said.

Over the years, Connell has uncovered that she is a descendant of royalty. Her familial research dates back to 200 A.D. on her paternal grandmother's side.

"I've had some amazingly good luck. (Holy Roman Emporer) Charlemagne is probably the one that really impressed me the most. We saw one of his castles in Germany," Connell revealed recently. "Also through the genealogy, I've found members of my husband's family that had contact with him during the war. They lost contact during World War II, but I found them again. I've also been to Denmark to visit my mother's family, my family."

Connell, meanwhile, is among the local genealogists who can remember getting involved in the Iowa Lakes Genealogical Society when it was organized in the mid-1970s.

"There were a lot of us working on our own at the time," she recalled. "We got to thinking that if we worked together, because some of us, like me, had done a lot of work with census records, and others had done more work with probate, that we could help each other. It's like any other group: If you work together, you get more done."

Connell also encouraged those beginning to delve into genealogy to consider attending this weekend's meeting. (See "Looking for an elusive ancestor" below.)

"If you're the least bit interested, come in and listen to Neila," she said. "We'll all help you get started. That's what we're all there for."

Like Connell, the 81-year-old Paulsen also had an interest in his family history.

"I had family living here in Clay County, but I had gone to Omaha to visit some relatives there and asked them how we were related. That's where I really started," he recalled of his October 1950 start in genealogy. "You start with yourself and then you branch out unto your parents and grandparents."

"Visit with your parents and grandparents, your aunts and uncles," Paulsen also advised others interested in genealogy. "Sometimes they come up with information that no one else has talked about or said."

The Spencer genealogist's first boot box filled with valuable Paulsen family information and artifacts has grown into a myriad of three-ring binders he's neatly cataloged, labeled and placed in his home's basement. The binders span 13 Paulsen generations dating back to 1685. One family line in particular dates back to 1614, he said.

Paulsen, who has also researched his maternal line, has uncovered much about his wife Jean's adoptive and biological families, tracing her biological family back to about 1750.

Together, the Paulsens have examined cemeteries, courthouses and obituaries for information about each of their families. Their search also took them to Germany in 1988, where the couple stayed in his maternal grandmother's home, which still belongs to the family. Their guide and translator during the two-week trip, a relative of Paulsen's, assisted in the uncovering of additional ancestral data.

"In Germany, you have to go through the churches to find most of your information," Paulsen said. "At that time, they did not have a central point where you could go. But they are getting central points now for the different regions."

The fellow Iowa Lakes Genealogical Society member said he's also had good luck with locating information about his family, as well as his wife's, at the Latter Day Saints libraries in Spencer and Storm Lake.

Looking for an elusive ancestor?

Do you have an interest in tracing your family history and don't know how or where to start?

Maybe you're stuck and don't know where to look next.

Answers to both of these predicaments will be offered during a 1:30 p.m. program Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Spencer Public Library. This Iowa Lakes Genealogical Society-sponsored program featuring 30-year family researcher Neila Rohan will be designed for beginner to experienced researchers alike. Participants will not only learn about different research methods at the workshop, they'll be informed about what's available locally in Spencer Public Library collections, as well as discover what research can be done on the computer.