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Unraveling the Clarke–Goodan Mystery: How DNA Solved a 100+ Year-Old Family Mystery
Using DNA was the only way to answer the family mystery of who was the mother of Loulie Clarke. Kentucky vital records were gone and no one was alive to tell the truth.
Julie Tonseth
7 days ago6 min read


Case Study: The Vanishing Father
A family searched for decades to find what happened to their great-grandfather who disappeared in 1908. DNA evidence revealed he was living under a different name just a few states away. Read this fascinating genetic genealogy case study.
Julie Tonseth
Oct 84 min read


My very first blog post..
I posted this on an older blog site that I was using for my DIY renovations on my house. I guess this is what the universe was trying to...
Julie Tonseth
Sep 187 min read


Old World vs. New World: Finding the Magic of Christmas Markets
Christmas markets capture a kind of magic you can’t find anywhere else — equal parts tradition, community, and holiday sparkle. While the tradition began in Europe centuries ago, American cities have created their own festive versions that echo the Old World charm. But how do the “classic” European markets compare to their “new world” counterparts?
Julie Tonseth
Sep 164 min read


Your DNA Results Are In—Now What?
Just remember these 3 things when starting your DNA journey! What to Do First When You Get Your DNA Results Getting your DNA results back...
Julie Tonseth
Sep 113 min read


Genetic Genealogist vs. Genealogist vs. Forensic Genealogist
If you’ve ever thought about hiring someone to help with your family history, you’ve probably discovered there are multiple flavors of genealogists—and no, they don’t all do the same thing!
Julie Tonseth
Sep 43 min read


20 Fun Quiz Questions - For your family reunion!
Planning a family reunion? Make it unforgettable with our 20 fun family reunion quiz questions for family history. This activity goes beyond dates and places, helping you capture stories, heirlooms, recipes, and memories from every generation. Use these engaging questions to spark conversations, uncover family legends, and strengthen connections while building a richer, more meaningful family tree together.
Julie Tonseth
Aug 283 min read


Why Copying Family Trees Is Bad Genealogy (and When to Hire a Genealogist)
When I talk to people about genealogy, I often hear:“I built a tree on Ancestry.com in 20 minutes!”
Hate to break it to you, but that tree was probably someone else’s work—copied, unverified, and riddled with errors. It’s like claiming you “wrote a book” when all you did was photocopy it. (Or used AI to create the whole thing and claim it as your own.)
In my own family, I’ve seen at least three different women falsely named as my 3rd great-grandmother.
Julie Tonseth
Aug 262 min read


The Passenger Who Never Made It Home: Remembering Johannes Stokke's Final Flight
The pilot scheduled for that fateful flight was Lieutenant Thomas Pihl Jordan, a daring aviator who held Norwegian pilot certificate no. 27. But Jordan wasn't confident about this mission. In the days before departing Kjeller for the flight to Værnes and the major military aviation exercise, he expressed deep distrust of his assigned aircraft.
He called it the "coffin" and told his friends it would "probably become his coffin in the literal sense."
Julie Tonseth
Aug 225 min read


Grass Where Their Names Should Be: Searching for the Graveyards of Relatives and Finding Missing Headstones
The pursuit to find graves of my ancestors has led me to Maple Grove Cemetery in Wichita, KS. There I found my 2xgreats were buried without headstones.
Julie Tonseth
Aug 192 min read


From Brick Walls to DNA Mysteries: Why Hiring a Genetic Genealogist Can Help
Are you hitting dead ends in your family history research and hoping DNA matches can help? Sometimes the most rewarding genealogy discoveries require professional expertise. The Problem: You have hundreds of DNA matches but can't figure out how they connect to your family tree.
Why This Happens: DNA testing companies give you so many matches and may suggest a relationship. Those genetic relationships provided are simple and never meant to be final.
Julie Tonseth
Aug 153 min read


Do you have "famous" relatives in your family tree?
Many people know their siblings, aunts, uncles, and maybe a few cousins. But DNA and genealogy research often reveal connections that go much further — sometimes to people you’ve never met, yet share a slice of history (and DNA!).n my case, one of those connections is Didrik Tønseth — a Norwegian cross-country skier who competed in the Olympics and won the Gold Medal for 4x 10km relay in 2018. Didrik is my 4th cousin on my father’s Norwegian line.
Julie Tonseth
Aug 112 min read


1872 Rural Sweden & Illegitimate children
My great-great-grandmother, Emma Charlotta Berggren (1851–1946) , had a pretty rough life. Although I’ve mentioned her before, I want to...
Julie Tonseth
Jul 303 min read


10 Fascinating Genealogy Questions to Ask at Your Next Family Reunion
Family reunions are perfect opportunities to dive deeper into family history, hear old stories, and uncover hidden gems of your genealogy. Asking the right questions can reveal fascinating details about your heritage, your ancestors’ lives, and even uncover unexpected connections.
Julie Tonseth
Nov 6, 20243 min read


Exploring the Origins of Last Names: How Location and Occupation Shape Ancestral Surnames
In the intricate tapestry of our family history, surnames carry tales of our ancestors, echoing their occupations, locations, and the...
Julie Tonseth
Sep 23, 20242 min read


1851 Map of California Gold Rush Area Counties
The landscape of California's Gold Rush counties in 1851 was vastly different from what we see today. For instance, Calaveras County extended from the Nevada state line all the way west to Stockton, including what is now Amador County. One of the most fascinating facts from this era is that my small town of Mokelumne Hill was the largest town in the county at the time!
Julie Tonseth
Sep 9, 20242 min read


How to Wrangle Your DNA Matches Into a Group using Ancestry's Pro Tools
Although the method for adding multiple DNA matches to a group has been altered from the non-subscription approach, the option is still accessible. This quick guide will demonstrate how to effectively utilize Ancestry's Pro Tools to expertly organize your DNA matches.
Julie Tonseth
Aug 21, 20242 min read


William Henry Offenstein (1873-1954)
Meet my paternal great- grand uncle, William Henry Offenstein (1873-1954). He was the brother of my father's grandfather. He was born in...
Julie Tonseth
Apr 10, 20232 min read


Minnie (Powell) Offenstein (1881-1963)
The wife of my great-grand uncle, was instrumental in stopping a baby buggy ring in Wichita. How brave of her to do this! I love the last...
Julie Tonseth
Apr 10, 20231 min read


Augustin L. Guillory (1808 -1873)
I am starting to dread when I pick an ancestor's name, place and date and search on Newspapers.com to see if anything comes up. This...
Julie Tonseth
Mar 29, 20231 min read
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