I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 46: Wartime

Introduction

My grandfather, Edward Joseph Anderson (1912-1985), was a small child when World War I broke out. My father told me that Grandpa always felt he had an education gap about the war, due to the timing. He was too young when the events were current to really know what was happening, but the war had not yet been added to the curriculum at school.

Grandpa, according to Dad, sought out books about the war to help him to understand more about it. I’m sure he knew many, many people affected by it.

Maybe that curiosity never left him. He lived through the sound of distant news and ration talk he couldn’t quite grasp, and spent the rest of his life filling in what those childhood memories left unsaid.

That curiosity must run in the family. As a genealogist, I find myself chasing the same questions Grandpa did: trying to understand how war shaped the lives of people who lived in its shadow. His books led him to the battlefields of Europe; my search led me to the stories of our own family during wartime.

Discussion

Grandpa wasn’t the only one shaped by war, even from a distance. Once I started exploring our family’s wartime stories, I realized that every generation had its own version of it.

There were those who registered but never served, those who built ships and newspapers and families while the world was breaking apart, and those who were too young to know why the adults whispered at night. Each carried a piece of the story, whether they realized it or not.

It turns out, wartime isn’t just about those who fight – it’s also about those who remember, imagine, and try to make sense of what they lived through. Discovering those stories isn’t always straightforward. Records can be scarce or scattered, but even fragments can lead somewhere.

How AI can help

These stories aren’t always easy to find. Military records can be confusing, incomplete, or hidden behind unfamiliar names – but that’s where a bit of modern help can make all the difference.

Some ideas:

• Many draft registration lists are now online.
• Newspapers frequently printed the list of draftees (and newspapers are going online)
• Censuses often show us those who served (extra shoutout to the 1865 New York State census!)
• Censuses also show us occupations, which may be war-related ones
• Family ephemera may include this type of memento, such as when my grandmother showed me my baby father’s ration books

Ask AI for more ideas – or where to find them. Better yet, tell it what you know. (“My ancestor John Q. Doe, born 1842, lived in Argentine, Kansas during the Civil War. Where might I find records around any military service he may have done?”)

But don’t limit yourself to military service – remember not all those who served carried a gun. Maybe they carried water or provided food.

Or maybe they got shot in the draft riots?

Challenge for Readers

Option 1: Trace a Wartime Shadow

Pick one ancestor who lived during a major war – even if they never served.

• What might they have seen, heard, or felt?
• Search a newspaper from their hometown during that era and read the local headlines.
• Bonus: Ask ChatGPT or another AI tool to describe what life was like on their street in that year.

You may not find a uniform, but you’ll find the echoes.

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Option 2: Find Service Between the Lines

Review your family tree and see whose records fall between 1861–65, 1914–18, or 1941–45.

• Who was the right age to serve but didn’t?
• Can you find a draft registration, ration book, or even a letter?
• Use AI to suggest possible record sets or archives for your search; try phrasing it as:

“Where might I find Civil War service records for a 23-year-old farmer in Ohio?”

Sometimes the “almost served” stories are just as revealing.

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Option 3: The Home Front Project

Choose one ancestor who supported the war effort in a civilian way; through work, care, or quiet resilience.

• What was their occupation during wartime?
• Search for how that industry contributed to the war effort.
• Then ask AI to summarize what that role might have looked like day to day.

Think of it as writing a tribute to the people who kept the lights on while the world went dark.

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Optional Add-On: Reflective Prompt

If your ancestors could tell you how war changed them, what might they say?
Try writing a short paragraph, diary entry, or AI-assisted dialogue in their voice.

Want to Learn More?

National Archives – Military Service Records
https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
Request copies of World War I and II draft cards, enlistment papers, or service records. You can also explore state-level archives for older conflicts.

FamilySearch – Military Collections
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/location/1927084
Free access to global military collections, including U.S. draft registrations, Civil War pensions, and state militia rolls.

Fold3 (Ancestry)
https://www.fold3.com
Digitized military records, photos, and unit histories. Look for regimental pages to understand where and when your ancestor might have served.

Newspapers.com or Chronicling America
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
Historic newspapers often printed lists of draftees, letters from soldiers, or wartime updates from hometowns.

WWI Draft Registration Database – National Archives Catalog
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/641776
Search for men born between 1873 and 1900 who registered for the Great War, even if they were never called up.

AI Prompts for Wartime Research
Ask ChatGPT or a similar tool:

• “What military units were based near [ancestor’s hometown] in [year]?”
• “List possible civilian roles in [industry or location] during WWII.”
• “Summarize how [occupation] supported the war effort.”

For Context and Reflection

• JSTOR Daily: Life on the Home Front – https://daily.jstor.org
• Smithsonian Magazine – Stories from the Great War – https://www.smithsonianmag.com

Summary

My grandfather filled his understanding of war with books. I’ve tried to fill mine with stories—his, and those of the family who came before him. In both cases, the search is what keeps memory alive.

Next Week’s Topic: “The Name’s the Same”

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.

I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 45: Multiple

Introduction

My ancestor Charlotte DuShannon West had multiple birthdays.

Discussion

The family stories on my WEST line generally proved out, time and again. So, I can enter into this with high confidence.

The family said that Charlotte DuShannon was orphaned “around age 3,” and they (officials? the orphanage? Oh the questions I should have asked!) didn’t know her birthday, so they chose Christmas.

Lottie’s tombstone has an 1867 birth, and her death certificate has a death on April 10, 1922 at age 54/3/15, calculating to December 26, 1867. So the family had, indeed, pinned her birth at Christmas 1867.

Figure 1 Charlotte DuShannon West, 1866-1922

But when was she actually born? I wasn’t sure I’d ever find her real birth date—but then I stumbled onto a tool that opened a whole new world: the Family History Center (now FamilySearch center) and its microfilm ordering.

Lo and behold: Bridgeport, Connecticut had her birth recorded:

Very clearly on May 14, 1866.

To the same parents I found her with (age 3) in the 1870 census.

Great-grandma Lottie now has her true birthday.

How AI can help

AI can’t rewrite the past—but it can help us recognize patterns, surface forgotten records, and challenge long-held assumptions.

In Lottie’s case, AI tools can:

• Surface hidden records: Language models can help generate search strategies to uncover early-life records, especially in unfamiliar places or when names vary slightly. For instance, suggesting that a “Charlotte Dushannon” born in Connecticut in 1866 might appear under “Shannon,” “Duchennan,” or “Chanon.”
• Check the math: AI and genealogy apps can cross-check reported death ages and calculate likely birth years automatically—especially when the age-at-death is written as years/months/days.
• Fill narrative gaps: Story generators like ChatGPT can simulate possible journal entries or “what it was like” vignettes of life in an orphanage in the 1870s, giving context to records that lack detail.
• Create timelines: Use AI-assisted timelines to reconcile census entries, birth records, and tombstones, highlighting discrepancies like Lottie’s multiple birthdays.

Lottie’s birth wasn’t celebrated on her actual birthday during her lifetime, but with the help of research and modern tools, we can give her story a more complete arc.

Summary

There’s something quietly heartbreaking about not knowing your own birthday. No candles. No certainty. No story behind the date, just a placeholder.

For Lottie, the family chose Christmas. A beautiful guess, full of warmth and meaning. But it wasn’t hers.

Thanks to one lonely line in a birth register, we now know the truth: she was born on a spring day in May.

And somehow, after all this time, that feels worth celebrating.

Challenge for Readers

Option 1: The Birthday Audit

Check your family tree for ancestors with:

• Conflicting birthdates across records (e.g., tombstones vs. census vs. certificates)
• “Estimated” birth years based on age at death

👉 Use a date calculator tool or AI to double-check the math. Post about your findings – did anyone else get a holiday birthday as a placeholder?

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Option 2: Find the Forgotten Birthday

Pick one ancestor with no known birthdate and challenge yourself to:

• Search at least 3 record types that might include it (census, church, delayed birth certs, military draft cards, etc.)
• Use AI to generate alternative search spellings or suggest overlooked sources

Bonus: Let ChatGPT write a hypothetical birthday scene based on what you do know about their childhood.

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Option 3: The Mystery Birthday Prompt

Ask ChatGPT:

“Write a fictional diary entry from a woman in 1922 who has just discovered that the birthday she’s celebrated her whole life is wrong.”

Post or reflect on what that might have felt like—for her, or for one of your ancestors.

Want to Go Deeper?

FamilySearch Record Hints
https://www.familysearch.org

• Use AI-driven record suggestions to find alternate birth, census, and death records.

Date Calculators for Genealogy
Legacy Date Calculator

• Check calculated birthdates from death ages (like 54 years, 3 months, 15 days).

ChatGPT Genealogy Prompts
Try asking:

“What name variants might I search for Charlotte DuShannon in 1860s Connecticut?”
“Simulate a diary entry for a 3-year-old girl entering an orphanage in 1870 Connecticut.”

Historic Context
Orphanages in 19th Century America – JSTOR Daily

• For background if you want to explore what Lottie’s early years might have been like.

Next Week’s Topic: “Wartime”

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.

I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 44: Rural

The Organist from Liberty Center: A Rural Life Worth Recreating (With a Little Help From AI)

Some ancestors are loud. They leave behind war records, dramatic migrations, or juicy newspaper clippings. Others, like A. Gordon West, a linotype operator from tiny Liberty Center, Ohio, make their mark in quieter ways. But quiet doesn’t mean unimportant.

Gordon’s life, filled with music, roses, typefaces, and the occasional practical joke, offers a beautiful glimpse into rural America during the rise of the 20th century. And with today’s tools, we don’t need a time machine to visit his world. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help us recreate and explore rural lives like Gordon’s in ways his generation couldn’t have imagined.

Let’s see what we can learn from a small-town organist who pressed letters into lead by day and grew tomatoes by twilight.

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Meet Gordon: Organist, Typesetter, Tomato Whisperer

Gordon West was born in 1907 in Liberty Center, Ohio, the youngest child of Adam and Charlotte (DuShannon) West. His mother was 40 when she had him, and he was very much the “surprise baby.”

As a young man, Gordon played the organ for silent movies; a job that required timing, musical improvisation, and the ability to work in total darkness except for the flicker of the screen. He shifted gears after “talkies” replaced silent films and the Great Depression hit full-on, becoming a linotype operator at the Staten Island Advance newspaper.

Imagine the jolt of going from a Liberty Center of 748 people to a city of nearly 7 million people, and living there for 40 years.

After retirement, he moved to upstate New York, growing roses and tomatoes, playing the organ for his granddaughters, and slipping jokes into everyday moments. His life was rural, yes; but rich, rhythmic, and full of character.

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Recreating Rural Lives with AI

Let’s say you want to bring Gordon’s world to life for a blog post, family gathering, or research journal. AI offers tools to fill in the sensory gaps and imagine the life behind the records. Here are a few ideas:

🧠 1. Rebuild a Scene with AI Art

Using image generators (like DALL·E, Bing Image Creator, Leonardo.ai (I recently used ChatGPT to create a prompt for Leonardo – big success), or Midjourney), you could describe Gordon’s world and get a visual to share:

Prompt: “A small-town movie theater in 1927 with a man playing a pipe organ, children watching silently, flickering film projection, Liberty Center, Ohio.”

You can generate what his work looked like, or the family garden in bloom – right down to those roses and tomatoes.

🗞️ 2. Simulate a Newspaper Page

Use AI text tools (like ChatGPT or Sudowrite) to help you generate a mock Staten Island Advance page from the 1950s, maybe even one that mentions Gordon’s role in the print room. Combine this with templates from historical newspapers to bring it to life.

🎹 3. Create a Soundtrack to His Life

Tools like Soundraw or Mubert let you generate music in different genres and moods. Try crafting a short organ interlude or instrumental that fits a 1920s silent film. Pair it with a photo of Gordon and his organ, and suddenly your ancestor becomes an experience.

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Your Challenge: Make Rural Real

If you’re ready to play time traveler, try one (or both) of these challenges using free or freemium tools:

🧪 Challenge 1: Build Gordon’s Garden

Use DALL·E or Bing Image Creator to generate a visual of a Liberty Center backyard with roses, tomatoes, and a retired organist in suspenders. Add this to your genealogy blog or family tree. Let your readers see what he might have seen.

🧪 Challenge 2: Write a Fictional Entry in His Voice

Ask ChatGPT (or another text-based AI) to help you write a short journal entry from Gordon’s point of view:

Prompt: “Write a 100-word diary entry from a retired linotype operator named Gordon West in rural Ohio, talking about growing tomatoes and playing the organ for his grandkids.”

This builds connection. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be personal.

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What We Learn from Lives Like Gordon’s

Genealogy often celebrates the pioneers, the politicians, the rebels. But the rural linotype operator? The silent movie organist? They matter just as much.

Gordon West’s life was ordinary in the best possible way: full of music, work, and love for his family. AI gives us new ways to honor these lives – by imagining their world and sharing it with future generations.

Whether you’re using AI to restore a photo, simulate a voice, or generate a visual of your ancestor’s life, remember this: even the smallest towns hold big stories.

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Further Resources

• Bing Image Creator: https://www.bing.com/images/create
• DALL·E (via ChatGPT): Use image prompts to recreate scenes https://chatgpt.com/
• Historic Newspaper Templates: Try Canva for vintage layouts https://www.canva.com/
• Soundraw (AI music): https://soundraw.io
• Explore Silent Movie Music: https://silentfilmmusic.com

Next Week’s Topic: “Multiple”

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.

I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 43: Urban

Introduction

What brings a country boy to the city?

At the recent 22nd Annual Genealogy Lock-in co-sponsored by the Ridgewood Public Library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County (both New Jersey, USA), I told another attendee that I had three separate SMITH lines (oh joy). But Jason M. Smith (1807 – 1890) of New York City is easier than he might have been, because he (and his children) very consistently recorded his place of birth as Vermont.

What prompted this move?

I found an article mentioning that move at NYS Historic Newspapers, a free online newspapers site focused on New York State where you can filter by county.

“His 80th Anniversary,” Richmond County Advance (Staten Island, NY), 17 Dec 1887, page 4, column 2, As found on nyshistoricnewspapers.org

Discussion

Jason Smith moved when he was just 7, so it wasn’t likely to have been his decision. The early move combined with the mention of an apprenticeship makes me wonder if he didn’t lose a parent at a young age. Another possibility is the War of 1812, since he would have turned 7 in 1814. Or perhaps it was economic conditions.

Nonetheless, Jason clearly “made it” in New York. He married twice and raised several children, all of whom seemed to live reasonably comfortable lives.

At 80, he was called “remarkably well preserved for a man of his advanced age.” Whatever the reason for his move, it was apparently a good thing for him.

Figure 1 ChatGPT’s imagining of Vermont to New York City

How AI can help

I can run my theories past AI as a sounding board:

Me to Google: economic conditions in 1814

Google AI’s response: In 1814, the United States experienced severe economic hardship, characterized by high inflation, a trade – crippling British blockade, and a government drowning in debt from the War of 1812.

Or, which theory makes sense? I ran this blog post through Copilot Researcher and asked it.

Me to Copilot Researcher: Using the attached blog post, what do you think of the three options I mentioned for why he moved? Are there reasonable alternatives I didn’t consider?

Copilot Researcher’s response:

Most plausible: Jason’s move at age 7 was likely due to the loss of a parent. In early 1800s New York, fatherless children were often placed in apprenticeships or sent to live with guardians, especially if the family lacked resources. The mention of an apprenticeship strongly supports this scenario. If his father died around 1814, it would explain both the relocation and Jason’s early entry into city life.

Also plausible: Economic hardship during the War of 1812 – especially the trade blockade and inflation – could have pushed the family to seek better opportunities in New York. The timing aligns with widespread financial strain in Vermont, and urban centers offered more support and work options.

Less likely but possible: If Jason’s father served in the War of 1812 and died or was disabled, that could have triggered the move. However, without direct evidence of military service, this remains speculative.

Other ideas: Family migration, remarriage, or urban job prospects may have played a role, but they’re harder to confirm without more records.

I don’t think Jason’s parents had died, but I am not GPS – level confident (I’m not sure I could meet the Genealogical Proof Standard on that supposition). But, AI can be a great sounding board for my theories, and can provide valuable historical context.

Challenge for Readers

Try this two-part “urban exploration” challenge:

1. Map It Out – Pick one ancestor who lived in a city or town. Use an online historical map (such as the David Rumsey Map Collection or Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps) to locate their neighborhood. What was nearby – factories, churches, schools, or parks?
2. Ask AI – Upload a short description of that ancestor’s life to an AI chat tool and ask:

“What might daily life have been like for someone living here around [year]?”
Compare the AI’s answer to what you find in city directories, newspapers, or censuses. How close is it?

(And for extra credit: see if AI can find connections between your ancestor’s city job and migration patterns of the time!)

AI can suggest possible scenarios, but remember it doesn’t replace checking probate or church records.

Want to Learn More?

• Copilot Researcher: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/copilot – overview of Microsoft Copilot features for research and writing

Here are some free, trustworthy resources to look into your city – dwelling ancestors:

• NYS Historic Newspapers: nyshistoricnewspapers.org – already helped in this post!
• Chronicling America: chroniclingamerica.loc.gov – U.S. historic newspapers searchable by city and date.
• City Directories on FamilySearch: familysearch.org/search/catalog – find local residents, occupations, and addresses.
• David Rumsey Map Collection: davidrumsey.com – high – resolution maps for historical city research.

Jason’s story reminds us that even a childhood move two centuries ago can echo through generations – and with a little AI help, we can listen more closely.

Next Week’s Topic: “Rural”

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps sort out research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.

I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 42: Fire

Introduction

Most of us hope to find old photos, love letters, or maybe a land deed in our genealogy research. I found a fire.

It came by way of a newsletter from the now-defunct Henry County Genealogical Society. Inside was a reprinted clipping from the Democratic Northwest and Henry County News, and there, under the quiet clatter of the surname “West,” was a fiery surprise. A few page flips later, I had the full story. And sure enough, there was my ancestor, J[ohn] T. West, listed in the aftermath of a town-wide disaster.

Discussion

On Sunday morning, May 26, 1889, a fire broke out at 2 a.m. in the oil room of Viers’ hardware store in Liberty Center, Ohio. It spread fast. In the words of the article:

“Seven buildings with most of their contents were licked up by the fierce flames.”

John T. West owned the stable across the alley from the hardware store, and it didn’t stand a chance. The flames jumped to his property almost immediately. By the end, the fire had consumed:

• Two stables (including West’s)
• A residence
• A barber shop
• A saloon
• A meat market
• A large ice house

The community fought the blaze valiantly, but with no functional fire engine – locked away due to a legal dispute with the town council – there was only so much they could do.

John T. West’s stable was insured for just $100. In today’s dollars? Still not enough.

How AI Can Help

Once I had the article, I was curious about the broader picture. Could AI help me:

• Understand the historical value of $100 in 1889?
• Reconstruct what a livery stable might have looked like?
• Locate other fires in Liberty Center’s past?

It turns out, yes.

I asked ChatGPT to help me estimate the 1889-to-modern equivalent. It also described the typical use of a stable in a rural Ohio town at the time: transportation hub, business asset, sometimes even housing for boarders or deliveries.

The most helpful prompt I used:

“In 1889, if a livery stable was insured for $100, what would that cover, and what might the true loss have been?”

The answer wasn’t exact (and shouldn’t be taken as legal advice), but it painted a richer picture than I could’ve imagined. A stable wasn’t just a building; it was a livelihood. Which means the West family didn’t just lose lumber and nails. They lost income.

Challenge for Readers

Have you ever found your ancestor in a newspaper article – burning barn, flood, blizzard, or scandal?

Try this:

• Search local newspaper indexes or newsletters for your ancestor’s surname + town.
• Ask an AI tool: “What disasters happened in [town] between [year] and [year]?”
• Use AI to recreate a scene: “Describe what a town fire in 1889 would have looked like.”

And if your ancestor lived through a town-wide disaster, try mapping their recovery. Did they move? Rebuild? Disappear from the record?

Sometimes, it’s the smoke that shows us where to dig.

🧭 Summary

Thanks to one local newspaper and a dedicated genealogical newsletter, I discovered my ancestor wasn’t just living in Liberty Center: he was living through literal fire. AI helped me understand the scale of the loss and place the event in context. The past doesn’t always come quietly. Sometimes, it burns.

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📚 Want to Learn More?

• Liberty Center Conflagration
• Inflation Calculator: 1889 to Today
• Ohio Memory – Historic Newspapers
• Prompt idea: “Explain what a livery stable was like in rural Ohio in the 1880s.”

Next Week’s Topic: “Urban”

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.

I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 40: Cemetery

Introduction

Even experienced genealogists get it wrong sometimes. Here’s a quick story and a simple tip for cemetery lookups.

Discussion

Some years ago, I wanted to request a photo on Find A Grave of my husband’s great grandparents’ grave.

I was quite pleased to have located death records for them with the cemetery identified, and created memorials so I could ask for photos. I created a Joseph Frank memorial and one for his wife Jennie Felder or Feldeloss in 2011. They were buried in the same cemetery in different sections.

Joseph’s photo was added the following year, but Jennie’s just languished. I couldn’t figure out why, but went on with other things.

Perhaps you’ve already spotted my error. In 2020, a kind genealogist located Jennie Frank, and uploaded the photo. Oops. As a genealogist, I only thought of her under her maiden name, but she was buried under her married name. That must have been one dogged photographer, and I am so grateful to that volunteer.

How AI can help

My mistake with Jennie sat for years because I didn’t circle back to unfinished requests. Today, AI tools can nudge us when something looks unfinished. For example:

• Name Variations: AI can spot common errors like using a maiden name instead of a married name. Upload your records, and an AI assistant can suggest alternative searches you might have overlooked.
• Research Reminders: Instead of forgetting a stalled request, you could ask AI to keep a “research to-do” list. It can summarize what’s pending, flag what hasn’t been wrapped up, and even generate reminders to check back on memorial sites or archives. (Side note: AI even reminds me weekly to report on my foster cats!)

The goal isn’t to let AI “do the genealogy” for us, but to use it as a second set of eyes: a patient research buddy who notices what we miss when our attention drifts elsewhere.

Challenge for Readers

Try one (or both) of these experiments with free AI tools:

1. Name Variations Test: Take a record from your own research where you’ve been stuck. Ask an AI tool (like ChatGPT or Claude) this:
   “Suggest possible alternative names or spellings for [insert ancestor’s name], including nicknames, misspellings, or married names, that might appear in records.”
   See if it sparks a new search idea.
2. Research To-Do List: Paste in a short list of your current “incomplete tasks” (like pending Find A Grave photo requests, document orders, or unanswered emails). Ask:
   “Turn this list into a simple research reminder I can check weekly.”
   Bonus: Have it format the list as a timeline or checklist to keep things moving.

Next Week’s Topic: “Water”

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.

I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 39: Disappeared

Introduction

My ancestor Andrew DRISKOL never existed.

At least, not on paper.

Several people, born England and New York from the 1860s to the 1880s, claim their father was Andrew DRISKOL born Germany.

I’ve written about him before, 35 weeks ago, in Overlooked. But he truly is a disappeared also.

Discussion

I wish I could say that since I wrote about him early this year, I have uncovered some miracle findings. Unfortunately, though I have re-examined records, I have no new revelations.

A son was born in 1883.

Andrew’s wife was a widow in 1900.

His eldest son seems to have bought property in 1890, so one can speculate that he had died by then, as son Edward seemed to be acting as head of the house.

So the first step in any research question is, “What do you know?” Here’s my writeup on him:

Andrew Driskol was born ca. 1835-1840 in Prussia. He married Malvina Hendell probably between 1860 and 1865, possibly in England. Andrew immigrated to the United States about 1868-1869, followed by his wife and eldest children about 1875. He died between 1883 and probably 1890. Documentation for Andrew’s life derives primarily from his children’s vital records, as direct records for him have not been located in standard repositories.

Immigration and Settlement:

Andrew’s initial settlement in New York City, evidenced by his daughter Mary’s birth there about 1876, was followed by the family’s relocation to Staten Island, where subsequent children were born between 1878 and 1883. The family’s absence from both the 1870 and 1880 federal censuses suggests either enumeration under variant names or temporary residence outside standard enumeration areas.

Death and Family Survival:

Andrew’s death occurred by 1890, as evidenced by his son Edward’s property purchase on Van Pelt Avenue at age 25, suggesting assumption of family financial responsibility. By 1900, Malvina was enumerated as a widow. Edward Driskol survived as the family’s last known member, residing in Kew Gardens, Queens, as of 1938.

Possible timeline:

He was married to Malvina Hendell.

Ultimately, Andrew disappeared – on both ends of his life – to me.

How AI can help

Let’s not use any fancy tools this time, but some good old-fashioned LLM prompting.

Using ChatGPT 5, ask:

Using the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) as a basis, create a research question for Andrew Driskol. His biography so far is: <paste it here>

Its research question (RQ) was far too long; it responded:

What are the origins, immigration circumstances, and death details of Andrew Driskol, born ca. 1835–1840 in Prussia, who married Malvina Hendell about 1860–1865 (possibly in England), immigrated to the United States ca. 1868–1869, settled in New York City and Staten Island, and died between 1883 and 1890?

I encouraged:

What are the standards around generality vs granularity of a research question? Is that a good RQ, or is it too broad?

ChatGPT justified itself using the GPS, so I looked up Standard 10, Effective research questions, which covers how to frame a clear, testable research question. And while I would not ever draft such a research question, it does seem that the LLM’s is supported by Board for Certification of Genealogists. However, my brain would get overwhelmed, so I forced a narrower question:

OK, Let’s focus on the death so that I can understand. Create a research question for that, and a research plan to answer that question.

I got the updated RQ:

Research Question (Granular)

When and where did Andrew Driskol, born ca. 1835–1840 in Prussia and husband of Malvina Hendell, die between 1883 and 1890, likely on Staten Island, New York, and what records document that event?

And the research plan:

Research Plan

1. Define Context

• Known facts:
  • Last known child born Staten Island, 1883.
  • Absent by 1890 (Edward assumed financial role).
  • Malvina a widow by 1900.
• Death window: ca. 1883–1890.
• Likely place: Staten Island (Richmond County, NY), but consider broader NYC.

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2. Identify Possible Record Types

Civil Records

• NYC Death Certificates (1866–1897): Check NYC Municipal Archives index (also on FamilySearch/Ancestry).
• NYC Department of Health death registers: May list cause of death, burial place, occupation.

Church & Cemetery Records

• Search Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish, Episcopal churches near Staten Island residences.
• Identify burial grounds: Silver Mount Cemetery, Moravian Cemetery, St. Peter’s Cemetery, Lutheran Cemetery (Middle Village, Queens), etc.

Newspapers & Obituaries

• Staten Island Advance (began 1886), New York Herald, New York Times.
• Local German-language newspapers (if Driskol/variant targeted immigrant community).

Probate & Court Records

• Richmond County Surrogate’s Court: estate files, guardianship if minor children.
• Deeds in Edward’s name may reference inheritance or widow’s release of dower rights.

Directories & Tax Records

• NYC and Staten Island directories (late 1870s–1890s).
• Absence after certain year may suggest timing of death.

Census & Substitutes

• 1880 Census: already noted missing.
• 1890 NYC Police Census (1890–1891): Surviving substitute for parts of NYC (check Staten Island).

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3. Search Strategy

1. Start with death indexes (FamilySearch, Ancestry, ItalianGen, NYC Historical Vital Records site).
   1. Try variant spellings: Driskol, Driscoll, Driskoll, Driscol, Drisckel, etc.
   1. Search both Andrew and possible Anglicized/Germanic versions.
2. Check cemeteries
   1. Query burial registers (FindaGrave, BillionGraves, local cemetery offices).
   1. Look for Hendell family burials; Malvina may be buried near Andrew.
3. Newspapers
   1. Search 1883–1895 in local & regional papers for death notices.
   1. Broaden to German-language press (e.g., Staats-Zeitung).
4. Probate
   1. Search Richmond County Surrogate’s Court (on-site, microfilm, or via index).
   1. Look for estate of Andrew or guardianship for children.
5. Property Records
   1. Review 1890 Van Pelt Avenue purchase by Edward.
   1. Check grantor/grantee indexes ca. 1883–1890 for Driskol/variant.

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4. Correlation & Resolution

• Compare death certificate data, if found, with known facts (age, occupation, spouse).
• If absent, correlate indirect evidence:
  • Last mention (1883 child’s baptism/birth).
  • First absence (Edward’s property purchase, widow status in 1900).
  • Directories/obituaries/probate to tighten timeframe.
• Write a conclusion using the GPS elements: reasonably exhaustive research, correlation of sources, resolution of conflicts (e.g., multiple men with similar names), and soundly reasoned conclusion.

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✅ This plan moves you from the umbrella RQ → a specific, testable sub-question → a roadmap of sources, with contingency steps if the death certificate itself isn’t found.

So I guess I’m off and running. Again. Andrew, your elusiveness is only temporary!

Challenge for Readers

Have someone on your tree who “disappeared”? This week, try this:

1. Write a brief timeline for your ancestor, just like the Andrew Driskol example. Keep it simple: birth, marriage, immigration, kids, last known date.
2. Craft a research question using Standard 10 from the Genealogical Proof Standard. Don’t overthink it—aim for something testable, not perfect.
3. Use ChatGPT (or a free LLM) to check your research question. See how it responds. What would you keep or tweak?

Bonus: Post your research question in the comments or your favorite genealogy group to crowdsource ideas. You’re probably definitely not the only one chasing a ghost.

Want to Learn More?

• Explore the Genealogical Proof Standard: Start with this article from BCG and focus on Standard 10 about research questions.
• Prompting Tips for Genealogists: Try different phrasing in ChatGPT. Compare broad vs. narrow questions and ask, “What records would help answer this?”
• Free LLMs you can use:
  • Perplexity.ai
  • Claude.ai
  • Microsoft Copilot (built into Edge)

Even if you’re not an AI expert, you can still use these tools to test ideas, brainstorm new paths, or just help spot what’s missing.

Next Week’s Topic: “Cemetery”

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.

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[1] Census ages varied but ultimately since Malvina likely immigrated April of 1875, I feel Mary was born 1876.

I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 38: Animals

Introduction

If not for a horse, I might not be here.

Figure 1 Henry

Discussion

My grandmother said her father, Henry MACKEY / MAKEY (1881 Buffalo, New York –1958 NYC) was short of stature (“Medium” height in his WWI Draft card, but probably much less in his WWII Draft card – it’s somewhat illegible), worked as a “horse jockey until a fall.”

WWI:

WWII:

Sure enough, the 1900 census has him in Chicago as an “asst Horse trainer.”

1900:

However, by his 1903 marriage he had moved to Staten Island New York, likely following his brother William, who had married a Buffalo-born girl in Staten Island in 1902. He ended up working as an engineer, helping to pave the streets of Queens, New York with a steamroller.

If not for that fall from a horse, he might not have followed his brother to NY and might not have met my great grandmother and had my grandmother. So while my great grandfather might have disagreed at the time, I am grateful to that horse!

How AI can help

If you have an ancestor like Henry, whose occupation shifted because of an animal-related incident, here are some ways AI tools can help you explore more:

1. Simulate Historical Jobs

You can ask ChatGPT to recreate a “day in the life” of a horse trainer or steamroller operator in 1900s Chicago or New York. These simulations help you understand the physical demands and risks your ancestor might have faced.

Try this prompt:

“Describe a typical day for a horse trainer in Chicago in 1900.”

Or if you want more detail:

“What kind of injuries were common for jockeys or horse trainers around 1900?”

2. Contextualize Job Changes

Henry’s shift from “asst horse trainer” to steamroller engineer was big. [That change might sound dramatic, but it may have felt familiar—his father worked on ship steam engines.] AI can help make sense of that pivot by explaining industrial changes in transportation, paving, and labor trends in early 20th-century urban areas. That gives more context than census records alone.

3. Read Hard-to-Read Documents

Your WWII draft card might be as hard to decipher as mine. AI-powered OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tools can help extract and interpret text from poor-quality scans. Upload the image to a free OCR tool and then ask ChatGPT:

“Help me interpret this draft card. What does the height field say?”

ChatGPT told me 5′ 7 ¼”. But I know that’s wrong because it’s clearly ¾”. So the takeaway here is that if it’s tough for me, it’s tough for AI as well.

4. Visualize the Journey

Use AI to map Henry’s path—from Buffalo to Chicago to Staten Island—by creating a timeline or travel route. Ask:

“Create a travel timeline from Buffalo to Chicago to Staten Island around 1895–1905 for a working-class man.”

Challenge for Readers

• Do you have a relative whose life was changed by an animal—whether through farming, injury, or friendship?
• Can you identify a job title in the census that involved animals? Try asking AI to explain what that job involved, or generate a short description of a typical workday.

Next Week’s Topic: “Disappeared”

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.

Prompt: “The theme for Week 37 is “In the News.” Have you made a family history discovery in a newspaper? What about a reporter, editor, or newsie in the family?”

I’ve combined Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, and Steve Little’s The 2025 AI Genealogy Do-Over, to create a unique 52 AI ancestors in 52 weeks party!

52 AI Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 37: In the News

Introduction

What newsworthy discoveries have you found in your family history? You might have found a family link, or an ancestral accomplishment. Perhaps a scoundrel was exposed, or a migration uncovered.

For me, it’s finding good people. I just love reading my ancestors’ obituaries and finding that they were well-respected among their peers, and learning that I have good in my blood.

Discussion

Of course, it’s not all good. My grandfather, who worked for a newspaper, took a jab when his daughter married a man he disapproved of: “Elise West, Dongan Hills Man Wed” read the headline. [1]

But it’s mostly good news. Adam West was “a good citizen, a dependable merchant, honest and upright in dealing with everybody.”

William Carey’s obituary discussed his “faithfulness to duty” and stated that he “was a man highly respected by his acquaintances, and a good citizen.” [2]

Adam’s father, John T. West, “was a faithful worker and supporter of the church.” [3]

Jason M Smith got to see his celebration while he was still alive, in an article lauding his 80^th birthday, calling him “remarkably well preserved.” [4]

Michael Dobbins’s 1886 obituary called him “an old and respected citizen.” Sadly, I don’t have a clipping in my e-files, and don’t have the energy for my paper files.

His wife Mary Malone “is much respected and will be sadly missed.” [5]

I do know that I have more of these which have not yet been organized. “Don’t take me, Lord, my genealogy isn’t done yet!”

But think how much fun you can have looking for your ancestors in old newspapers, more and more of which are coming online!

How AI can help

AI is OCR’ing and indexing newspapers all the time!

Crawling AIs like Microsoft Researcher can find newspapers for you too.

When I asked Copilot for Kansas City newspapers in 1886, it listed seven of them:

It offered help locating digital copies of these newspapers online, and provided more information:

AI is a big help for projects like newspaper research!

Challenge for Readers

Newspapers are coming online all the time. Don’t let a lack of past success stop you from trying now. Go to your favorite LLM and ask a question like I did:

What newspapers were in <location> in <year>? Help me find them online.

Then go follow the trail!

Want to Learn More?

• For researching:
  • Microsoft Researcher is found within Copilot
• • Perplexity
  • Google Gemini
• For newspapers:
  • Free
    • Chronicling America
• • • List of links: Wikipedia
• • • Google News
• (goodness, this WordPress formatting is a bear. Go easy on me, please.)
  • Paid
    • Newspapers.com
    • Newspaper Archive

These are just a sampling of the many, many links out there!

Next Week’s Topic: “Animals”

AI Disclosure

This post was created by me with the help of AI tools. While AI helps organize research, the storytelling and discoveries are my own.

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[1] “Elise West, Dongan Hills Man Wed,” Staten Island Advance (Staten Island, N.Y.), 22 May 1965, page 5, column 3.

[2] “William Carey,” Madison Eagle (Madison, NJ), 20 Mar 1903, page 5.

[3] Source unknown, but would have been a Liberty Center or Toledo-area newspaper in Ohio in 1924.

[4] “His 80th Anniversary,” Richmond County Advance (Staten Island, NY), 17 Dec 1887, page 4, column 2, As found on nyshistoricnewspapers.org

[5] “Argentine,” Kansas City Times (Kansas City, Missouri), 02 Feb 1886.