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Step 2: Decide What Fact(s) You Want To Find

Set priorities. Zero in on a particular person and event. Then ask yourself, what information do you need?

Where was that person when the event took place? For example, "where was Grandpa born? He was 90 when he died in 1976."

You need to look for evidence of his birth about 1886 in the place where his parents were living.

You might not find a birth certificate, but you can find out more about him and his family by looking in the 1900 Federal Census.

If you don't know exactly where they lived in 1900, you can use the "Soundex" to find them.