2025 Index of Blog Posts

This page provides a chronological index to posts published on Heartland Genealogy during 2025.

January 2025

• January 1, 2025 — Goal Setting
• January 2, 2025 — How to Access BIRLS Files for a Fee
• January 3, 2025 — Friday Find: Cecil Mentzer Wedding
• January 4, 2025 — WWI War News – Courier Democrat, June 14, 1917
• January 5, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• January 6, 2025 — My Genealogy Journey Beginnings (#52Ancestors: In the Beginning)
• January 7, 2025 — WWII War News – Courier Tribune, July 14, 1941 (Page 2)
• January 8, 2025 — New FamilyTree Feature
• January 9, 2025 — Blogging with AI
• January 10, 2025 — Friday Find: Leslie Mentzer Wedding
• January 11, 2025 — WWI War News – Corning Gazette, June 14, 1917
• January 12, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• January 13, 2025 — #52Ancestors: My Favorite Photo
• January 14, 2025 — WWII War News – Courier Tribune, July 14, 1941 (Page 1)
• January 15, 2025 — Thompson DNA
• January 16, 2025 — Herbert Mentzer Family Biographies
• January 17, 2025 — Friday Find: Emaline Minnick Mentzer Obituary
• January 18, 2025 — WWI War News – Courier Democrat, July 26, 1917
• January 19, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• January 20, 2025 — Relative Finder
• January 21, 2025 — WWII War News – Courier Tribune, July 17, 1941 (Aluminum)
• January 22, 2025 — Transcription Success – Annals of Platte County
• January 23, 2025 — Print My Blog
• January 24, 2025 — Friday Find: Anna Wells Mentzer Obituary (1938)
• January 25, 2025 — WWI War News – Courier Democrat, August 2, 1917
• January 26, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• January 27, 2025 — Kirkpatrick Cousins
• January 28, 2025 — WWII War News – July 21, 1941
• January 29, 2025 — Chancery Court Record
• January 30, 2025 — Maynard Family
• January 31, 2025 — Preserving Family History

February 2025

• February 1, 2025 — WWI War News – Courier Democrat, August 2, 1917 (Page 3)
• February 2, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• February 3, 2025 — Connecting Family
• February 4, 2025 — WWII Newspaper Accounts – July 24, 1941
• February 5, 2025 — Thank You, Mr. Otter
• February 6, 2025 — Bluesky Lists
• February 7, 2025 — Friday Find: Anna May Mentzer (Wife of Phillip Embry Mentzer)
• February 8, 2025 — WWI War News – Courier Democrat, August 9, 1917 (Pages 1–2: Physical Examinations)
• February 9, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• February 10, 2025 — Chance Family
• February 11, 2025 — WWII News – July 31, 1941 (Conscientious Objector and Service News)
• February 12, 2025 — Prompted (Isom Gallimore)
• February 13, 2025 — Photo Hints
• February 14, 2025 — Valentine's Day 2025
• February 15, 2025 — WWI War News – Coles Letter (Courier Democrat, August 9, 1917)
• February 16, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• February 17, 2025 — Bland Descendants
• February 18, 2025 — WWII News – July 31, 1941 (Tanks and Training Camp Letters)
• February 19, 2025 — Correcting a Tree (Evelyn Duncan Allen)
• February 20, 2025 — RootsMagic SQL
• February 21, 2025 — Friday Find: Fred Mentzer Obituary
• February 22, 2025 — WWI War News – Volunteers Depart (Courier Democrat, August 9, 1917)
• February 23, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• February 24, 2025 — Following Clues
• February 25, 2025 — WWII News – August 4, 1941
• February 26, 2025 — Matthew Martin Bland
• February 27, 2025 — RootsTech 2025
• February 28, 2025 — Friday Find: Lovell Mentzer Funeral Card

March 2025

• March 1, 2025 — WWI War News – Tuesday's Draft Examinations (Courier Democrat, August 9, 1917)
• March 2, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• March 3, 2025 — Am I Wrong? Relatives at RootsTech
• March 4, 2025 — WWII War News – Vincent Rethman (Courier Tribune, August 4, 1941)
• March 5, 2025 — Where Am I From?
• March 6, 2025 — DNA Mystery
• March 7, 2025 — Friday Find: Philip Mentzer Obituary
• March 8, 2025 — WWI War News – Wednesday's Draft Examinations (Courier Democrat, August 9, 1917)
• March 9, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• March 10, 2025 — RootsMagic Geocode
• March 11, 2025 — WWII War News – Buehler Information (Courier Tribune, August 4, 1941)
• March 12, 2025 — Historic Place Names
• March 13, 2025 — AI and Occupations
• March 14, 2025 — Friday Find: E. E. Mentzer Golden Anniversary
• March 15, 2025 — WWI War News – Draft Exemptions (Courier Democrat, August 9, 1917)
• March 16, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• March 17, 2025 — A Little Bit Irish
• March 18, 2025 — WWII War News – Lester Haug Letter (August 4, 1941)
• March 19, 2025 — AI Assistant
• March 20, 2025 — Using AI to Create a Research Plan
• March 21, 2025 — Friday Find: Obituary of Dixie Mentzer
• March 22, 2025 — WWI War News – Toelle Commission and National Guard
• March 23, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• March 24, 2025 — AI Locality Guide vs. FamilySearch Wiki
• March 25, 2025 — WWII War News – Pete Bieri and Son-in-Law Raab
• March 26, 2025 — Ancestry Network: Now What?
• March 27, 2025 — Hampton L. Crandall
• March 28, 2025 — Friday Find: Clara Williams
• March 29, 2025 — WWI War News – Stories from Page 1 of the August 16, 1917 Issue
• March 30, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• March 31, 2025 — Military Monday: WWII War News

April 2025

• April 1, 2025 — William Nafus
• April 2, 2025 — Branding
• April 3, 2025 — AI-Powered Genealogy: Summarizing Multiple Obituaries
• April 4, 2025 — Friday Find: Mentzer-Wells Marriage
• April 5, 2025 — WWI War News – Page 3 of the August 16, 1917 Courier Democrat
• April 6, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• April 7, 2025 — Military Monday: WWII War News – August 11, 1941 Service News
• April 8, 2025 — Wrong Mother: Nafus Research
• April 9, 2025 — Clues to DNA Matches
• April 10, 2025 — ChatGPT to the Rescue
• April 11, 2025 — Friday Find: Clarence Albert Mentzer Obituary
• April 12, 2025 — WWI War News – Page 7 of the August 16, 1917 Courier Democrat
• April 13, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• April 14, 2025 — Color Coding
• April 15, 2025 — Microsoft Publisher
• April 16, 2025 — Using Museum Collections
• April 17, 2025 — John C. Nafus: Narrative
• April 18, 2025 — Friday Find: Mentzer-Weide Clipping
• April 19, 2025 — Relatives in My Tree: Bernice Crawford
• April 20, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• April 21, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Alex Briles Letter of Administration
• April 22, 2025 — Maud Erwin's Family
• April 23, 2025 — Spelling: Name Variations (Van Arsdale / Nafus)
• April 24, 2025 — Soundex
• April 25, 2025 — Friday Find: Cecil Mentzer Marriage Clipping
• April 26, 2025 — Relatives in My Tree: Marion Crawford
• April 27, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• April 28, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Barbara Thompson Obituary
• April 29, 2025 — Merging Citations
• April 30, 2025 — Quick and Dirty Trees

May 2025

• May 1, 2025 — Confirming Hints: Daniel Bryant Family
• May 2, 2025 — Friday Find: Social Security Application
• May 3, 2025 — Relatives in My Tree: Helen Crawford Horton
• May 4, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun – Mom
• May 5, 2025 — ABC Biography Project – Part 1
• May 6, 2025 — ABC Biography Project – Part 2
• May 7, 2025 — ABC Biography Project – Part 3
• May 8, 2025 — ABC Biography Project – Part 3B
• May 9, 2025 — ABC Biography Project – Part 4
• May 10, 2025 — Why ABC? Leon Crawford Biography
• May 11, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun – Mom
• May 12, 2025 — Sharing ABC Biographies
• May 13, 2025 — Was Oliver Miles a Minute Man?
• May 14, 2025 — Questioning the Parents of Helen Bryant
• May 15, 2025 — Oklahoma Roots: Confirming a Crawford Family Story
• May 16, 2025 — Friday Find: Memorial Service Program for Lovell Mentzer
• May 17, 2025 — ABC Biography: Bernice Crawford
• May 18, 2025 — Our Lives Together
• May 19, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Walter Briles Obituary
• May 20, 2025 — Cora
• May 21, 2025 — ABC Biography: Marion Crawford
• May 22, 2025 — Transcribing Cursive
• May 23, 2025 — Friday Find: Clara Mentzer Williams – Senior Citizens
• May 24, 2025 — My Relatives: ABC Biography of Helen Crawford Horton
• May 25, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun – Mom
• May 26, 2025 — Memorial Day
• May 27, 2025 — ABC Biography with Endnotes: Oliver Miles
• May 28, 2025 — ABC Song and More: Oliver Miles
• May 29, 2025 — Telling Her Story: Dorothy Swart Tatum
• May 30, 2025 — Friday Find: Wilfred Mentzer Funeral Program
• May 31, 2025 — ABC Biography: Hugh Judson Crawford

June 2025

• June 1, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• June 2, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: 1983 Letter from Ysleta Bradshaw
• June 3, 2025 — AI: Finding Connections
• June 4, 2025 — ABC Biographies and WikiTree
• June 5, 2025 — William S. Nafus: Born in New York, Not England
• June 6, 2025 — Friday Find: Wilfred Mentzer Obituary
• June 7, 2025 — ABC Overview: Hugh Judson Crawford
• June 8, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• June 9, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: March 1985 Letter from Ysleta Bradshaw
• June 10, 2025 — Fresh Eyes on Old Records
• June 11, 2025 — Cornelius Nephew Will
• June 12, 2025 — Culver Will
• June 13, 2025 — Friday Find: Walter Beine Obituary
• June 14, 2025 — Celebrating the U.S. Army's 250th Birthday
• June 15, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• June 16, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: 1985 Ysleta Bradshaw Letter
• June 17, 2025 — Merges: Mentzer / Beine
• June 18, 2025 — Lost in the Login: A ChatGPT Lesson
• June 19, 2025 — Searching by Given Name Only (Nafus)
• June 20, 2025 — Friday Find: Cecile M. Beine Funeral Program
• June 21, 2025 — ABC Song: Hugh Judson Crawford
• June 22, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• June 23, 2025 — Who Was There? (RootsMagic Report)
• June 24, 2025 — Why Genealogists Need Good Citations
• June 25, 2025 — Crawford Family in Miami Valley Genealogies
• June 26, 2025 — Crawford Family Article
• June 27, 2025 — Friday Find: Woodson County Births
• June 28, 2025 — Overview of Hugh Judson Crawford's Life
• June 29, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• June 30, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Mildred Briles Barby Letter

July 2025

• July 1, 2025 — Relative Finder
• July 2, 2025 — Patrick Crawford Family
• July 3, 2025 — Andrew Crawford Deed – Botetourt County, Virginia
• July 4, 2025 — Patriots (From Previous Years)
• July 5, 2025 — ABC Biography: Esther Crawford Noll Narrative
• July 6, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• July 7, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Barby Letter to Pauline Briles (9 Nov 1983)
• July 8, 2025 — DNA Mystery
• July 9, 2025 — DNA Mystery – Part 2
• July 10, 2025 — Dooley Survey
• July 11, 2025 — Friday Find: Woodson County Briles Marriages
• July 12, 2025 — Esther's Song
• July 13, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• July 14, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: 1993 Letter from Barby to Marcia
• July 15, 2025 — Comments to Sources
• July 16, 2025 — Captain Moses Dooley
• July 17, 2025 — Capt. Dooley's Song
• July 18, 2025 — Friday Find: Mentzer-Christy Marriages
• July 19, 2025 — Esther Crawford Overview
• July 20, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• July 21, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Brile Letter
• July 22, 2025 — Learning AI
• July 23, 2025 — FAN Club Analysis
• July 24, 2025 — Following the Leaves
• July 25, 2025 — Friday Find: Ricketts-Wells Marriages
• July 26, 2025 — ABC Biography: Lois Crawford Maden Narrative
• July 27, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• July 28, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Barby's 1993 Letter – The Great Flood
• July 29, 2025 — James Crawford of the Cathey River Area
• July 30, 2025 — WeRelate
• July 31, 2025 — Cleaning Up Citations

August 2025

• August 1, 2025 — Friday Find: Rufus Mentzer Deed
• August 2, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• August 3, 2025 — ABC Biography: Lois Crawford Song
• August 4, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Mildred Barby Letter (March 1994)
• August 5, 2025 — Ancestry's Tree Tools
• August 6, 2025 — Misleading Hint
• August 7, 2025 — Same Land
• August 8, 2025 — Friday Find: Clara Mentzer Williams Obituary
• August 9, 2025 — ABC Biography: Ethel Frances Briles
• August 10, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• August 11, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Briles Barby 1994 Letter
• August 12, 2025 — How a Tax Record Helped Date a Migration
• August 13, 2025 — James Crawford Will
• August 14, 2025 — Berry-Crawford Family Connection
• August 15, 2025 — Friday Find: Mentzer Autograph Book
• August 16, 2025 — ABC Biography: Glen Briles
• August 17, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• August 18, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Mildred Barby Letter
• August 19, 2025 — George Crawford Will (Son of James)
• August 20, 2025 — Another James: Descendants
• August 21, 2025 — Chasing a Footnote: Pennsylvania Land Warrants
• August 22, 2025 — Friday Find: Ozias Wells Descendants
• August 23, 2025 — ABC Biography: Lulu Briles Cope
• August 24, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• August 25, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Letter from Elmer to Lena Shared by Mildred Barby
• August 26, 2025 — George Crawford Will (Brother of Alexander)
• August 27, 2025 — Following Randy's Lead
• August 28, 2025 — William Crawford Will
• August 29, 2025 — Friday Find: Woodson County Vitals – Wells, Christy & Ricketts
• August 30, 2025 — ABC Biography: Henry Currey
• August 31, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

September 2025

• September 1, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Old Ranch House Poem
• September 2, 2025 — Tradition or Fact? Alexander Crawford's Parents
• September 3, 2025 — Untangling the Rebecca Anderson Puzzle on FamilySearch
• September 4, 2025 — SAR Certificate
• September 5, 2025 — Friday Find: Wells School
• September 6, 2025 — ABC Biography: Herbert Currey
• September 7, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• September 8, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: A Lifetime in One Day
• September 9, 2025 — Essential Tools
• September 10, 2025 — Philemon Vawter Life Sketch: James Crawford
• September 11, 2025 — Searching for a Needle in a Haystack: Mary Crawford's Origins
• September 12, 2025 — Friday Find: Wells Letter from Burdette Hall
• September 13, 2025 — ABC Biography: Myrtle Currey
• September 14, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• September 15, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Range Index – Alex Briles
• September 16, 2025 — RootsMagic
• September 17, 2025 — Crawford Land Partition
• September 18, 2025 — Confirming Relationships
• September 19, 2025 — Friday Find: Wells Family Sheets
• September 20, 2025 — ABC Biography: Mary Currey Walters
• September 21, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• September 22, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Kansas Muster Rolls – Briles
• September 23, 2025 — Documenting a Family History: Robert C. Crawford Will
• September 24, 2025 — RootsMagic 11 Groups
• September 25, 2025 — Crawford R1b-01A Trees
• September 26, 2025 — Friday Find: White Family Information Copied from Elder John Book
• September 27, 2025 — ABC Biography: Earnest O. Currey
• September 28, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• September 29, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Jacob Broyle Land Grant
• September 30, 2025 — Is It Online? Historical Society Web Page

October 2025

• October 1, 2025 — Using AI to Persuade Us
• October 2, 2025 — Crawford Land
• October 3, 2025 — Friday Find: Kennedy Family Information
• October 4, 2025 — ABC Biography: Alma Jean Currey
• October 5, 2025 — Acorn Weekend Story
• October 6, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Frederick Broils Land Grant (p. 169)
• October 7, 2025 — Sellers DNA
• October 8, 2025 — How I Use AI
• October 9, 2025 — Comparing Narrative Prompts
• October 10, 2025 — Friday Find: Wells Family Information
• October 11, 2025 — Updated AncestryDNA Origins
• October 12, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• October 13, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: John Briles to Dan Briles Deed
• October 14, 2025 — Gemini AI
• October 15, 2025 — Comparing AI Prompts
• October 16, 2025 — Using AI to Create a Research Plan
• October 17, 2025 — Friday Find: Homer, Michigan Article – Wells Family into Michigan
• October 18, 2025 — ABC Biography: Gladys Mentzer Green
• October 19, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• October 20, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: John Briles to Jacob Briles Jr.
• October 21, 2025 — DNA Color Coding
• October 22, 2025 — Exploring My Crawford DNA Connections
• October 23, 2025 — A Promising Lead: Hiram Currey Bounty Land Warrant
• October 24, 2025 — Friday Find: Wells Births & Deaths – Calhoun County, Michigan
• October 25, 2025 — ABC Biography: Paul Mentzer
• October 26, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• October 27, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: John Briles Deed to Solomon Briles
• October 28, 2025 — Gone Missing, Part 2: Harris Whitaker
• October 29, 2025 — Continuing to Untangle My Crawford: Sellers DNA Connections
• October 31, 2025 — Friday Find: Wells-Andrews Marriage

November 2025

• November 1, 2025 — ABC Biography: Leslie George Mentzer
• November 2, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• November 3, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: John Briles Deed, Book 27, Page 37
• November 4, 2025 — Lessons from a Pension File: Using ChatGPT to Untangle a Civil War Soldier's Record
• November 5, 2025 — Pension File Overview: Albert Hutchinson and Honore Eliza Van Valkenberg
• November 6, 2025 — From Immigrant to Officer: The Cei Family's Legacy of Military Service
• November 7, 2025 — Friday Find: William O. Wells Obituary
• November 8, 2025 — ABC Biography: Herbert Wells Mentzer
• November 9, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• November 10, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: 1857 Sale of Land by Alexander Briles
• November 11, 2025 — Honoring Veterans
• November 12, 2025 — Troubleshooting with AI
• November 13, 2025 — Why Are You Stressing over an "End of Line"?
• November 14, 2025 — Friday Find: William O. Wells Biography and Photo
• November 15, 2025 — ABC Biography: Leon Crawford
• November 16, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• November 17, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: John Briles Deed to Noah Briles
• November 18, 2025 — Exploring Leon Crawford's Story Through AI-Created Media
• November 19, 2025 — Adding Substack Feeds to Feedly
• November 20, 2025 — Revisiting the Anderson-Maxwell-Crawford Connection
• November 21, 2025 — Friday Find: Lena Wells Marriage Record
• November 22, 2025 — ABC Biography: Winnie Letha Currey
• November 23, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• November 24, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: Jacob Briles Deed, Volume 10, Page 413
• November 25, 2025 — A Day in the Life of Leon Crawford (Military)
• November 26, 2025 — A Day in the Life – Part 2
• November 27, 2025 — Happy Thanksgiving
• November 28, 2025 — Friday Find: Florence Wells Birth Record
• November 29, 2025 — Video Tribute to My Grandmother
• November 30, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

December 2025

• December 1, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: John Briles Estate Record
• December 2, 2025 — AI Tools: Ethical Considerations
• December 3, 2025 — Infographic
• December 4, 2025 — Playing Around with Google Notebook
• December 5, 2025 — Friday Find
• December 6, 2025 — ABC Biography: Edward Osmund Briles
• December 7, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• December 8, 2025 — Monday's Diggings
• December 9, 2025 — Analyzing Crawford Network Using Google Vids
• December 10, 2025 — Retirement Day
• December 11, 2025 — AI Pedigree Chart Failures
• December 12, 2025 — Friday Find: The 1866 Marriage of Ida M. Wells and Jerome Gregory
• December 13, 2025 — ABC Biography: Pauline Edith Mentzer Briles
• December 14, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• December 15, 2025 — Monday's Diggings: 1787 Land Purchase of Adam Broils
• December 16, 2025 — A Day in the Life of Winnie Letha Currey (1903–1925)
• December 17, 2025 — Do You Use Shared Facts?
• December 18, 2025 — A Day in the Life of Edward Osmund Briles and the Lyric Theater (1932–1933)
• December 19, 2025 — Friday Find
• December 20, 2025 — An Act of Defiance
• December 21, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• December 22, 2025 — Reflections at Christmas Time
• December 23, 2025 — A Sad Christmas
• December 24, 2025 — Surname Tree
• December 25, 2025 — Christmas Memories
• December 26, 2025 — Christmas of Joy and Sorrow
• December 27, 2025 — Remembering Kenneth: A Chapter in the Life of Pauline Briles
• December 28, 2025 — Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
• December 29, 2025 — Monday's Diggings
• December 30, 2025 — Honoring Edward Osmund Briles Through Audio and Song
• December 31, 2025 — Year in Review