Teri Wheeler, left, Kosciusko County genealogist, and Sharon Sucec, librarian for the Old Jail Museum in Warsaw, look at one of the many resources in the library.

WARSAW — Tracing the family tree now has roots going deep in the U.S. Genealogy, depending on which source one looks at, is considered one of the top two or three hobbies nationwide.

Taking up the hobby is done for various reasons, but there is one common thread. “I think everyone has a burning desire to know where they came from,” said Teri Wheeler, genealogist for Kosciusko County, in commenting on the popularity of genealogy.

Perhaps you have considered delving into genealogy, but don’t know where to start. Wheeler offered tips that can help open doors and start the journey for discovering your ancestors.

Exactly where to start depends on a few factors. One who is adopted and possibly trying to get information on their biological family would probably want to start with DNA testing, which is really popular now, Wheeler commented. Family Tree DNA, Ancestry DNA and 23 and Me are among online sites to consider.

DNA results can then be uploaded to gedmatch.com, she said, and cross checked with other results to see what matches exist.

For those not adopted, “start with yourself,” Wheeler said. Get information from parents and also interview the oldest family members first before they pass away. “Pick their brains and ask a lot of questions,” she said, including where they were born, what type of job they had, any family history memories they may have and more.

There are pedigree charts, some of which can be accessed online, and filled out to give a visual snapshot of your family history. Wheeler emphasized the importance of documenting everything found and citing sources such as birth certificates, marriage records, wills, land records, U.S. Census records and more.

As the county’s genealogist, she can often be found in the library of the Old Jail Museum in downtown Warsaw. She did not hesitate to highly recommend the library as a source for research. “It is a fantastic resource for Kosciusko County,” she noted. “It is a hidden gem. We have census records, marriage records, obituaries, wills, land records, plat maps, plat books and family histories.”

The Internet has tremendously impacted genealogy research and allows researchers to travel less and use their own computers at home. But there is a word of caution. “It’s still just the tip of the iceberg,” Wheeler said. “Many records are not yet indexed online. But there are some free websites, such as familysearch.org and findagrave.com.”

Kosciusko County has the luxury of having the Beacon, an online mapping source. Accessed through the county site at kcgov.com, the Beacon has an option to click on cemeteries. There one can find every known cemetery in the county and photos of all the distinguishable tombstones, in addition to names of burials. Wheeler stressed the county is fortunate to have this resource.

USGenWeb.org is an online source broken down by state, then by county. To varying degrees, each county has loaded genealogical resources online. Kosciusko County has many online resources, but some counties are lacking.

It also helps to know something about local history. For example, township plat maps show property owners and also schools, churches and other sites. Ancestors can not only be physically pinpointed, but one can also learn a few things about the surrounding area.

Patience and perseverance will be needed, Wheeler emphasized. One will encounter obstacles eventually while researching. One huge one is the 1890 U.S. Census records are almost completely non existent. That leaves a 20 year gap between 1880 and 1900.

Prior to the 1850 U.S. Census, only the head of the household’s name was listed. And researchers will discover many records were lost due to courthouse fires.