Researching Your Family Tree Online - Moving Past Beginner Basics

According to the article, the author never got far enough with her search to really look for the mother of James Jewel. Her name was listed in the records at FamilySearch.org as Lena Cane. A subsequent search of census records tells us that her full name was actually Lee Helene Cane, something that could be easily shortened to Lena. The 1930 census lists Lee Helene Jewel as a widower born in Vermont, with a father born in Germany and a mother born in Vermont. 1920 lists Lee H. Jewel, born in Vermont, as the wife of Martin D. Jewel. 1910 lists her as Lee Helen Jewel. Going back further we do find her listed as Lena Cane, living with her parents Solomon and Fanny Cane in the 1900 U.S. Census in Manhattan, New York.

The search for the Jewish grandmother, Evelyn Paulsen, also benefits from flexibility. A search for Jens Paulsen, as her father's name is listed in FamilySearch.org, came up empty, but the family is found living in Hudson County, New Jersey in the U.S. Census of 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. John and Marie (Mary) Paulsen were both born in Denmark, immigrated to the U.S. about 1890, and appear to have married soon after their arrival. Both also became naturalized U.S. citizens. John Paulsen listed his occupation as an engineer for the railroad. Their children were all born in New Jersey.