Breaking a "Brick Wall" and Uncovering a New Ancestry Puzzle

CLIENT SUCCESS: Tracing Philip & Mary Ann Hoffman – From Brick Wall to New Puzzle!

Today, March 27, I chipped away at another significant brick wall in my genealogy research! My latest challenge involved tracking down the elusive great-grandparents of my client: Philip Jacob Meyer and Mary Ann Hoffman. While we had their names, they seemed to vanish from conventional records, creating a formidable obstacle.

After some dedicated digging and careful analysis, I uncovered several key records: birth records for their other children, an 1880 census entry, and a marriage record! These finds are certainly enough to keep pushing forward, but the mystery isn't entirely solved yet.

A new puzzle has emerged regarding their birthplaces, which are truly "all over the map"! Philip's birthplace is inconsistently listed across documents as Germany, Chicago (IL), and Milwaukee (WI) across various documents. Mary Ann Hoffman's records are equally varied, suggesting Poland, Wisconsin, or Chicago (IL).

This is definitely going to be interesting! Pinpointing their true origins amidst these conflicting details will be the next phase of this exciting research. Stay tuned for updates as I chase down

these inconsistencies and trace the next generation of the Hoffman and Meyer lines.

1880 Census Chicago Illinois

This Hoffman-Meyer case is a perfect example of the complexities that arise in genealogy, even after a breakthrough. It shows the value of persistent, expert research in uncovering a family's full story.

Do you have a genealogical puzzle that needs a dedicated detective?

Contact Budget Genealogy today for meticulous research and compelling discoveries.

Visit my Services Page to get started!