Helping Brecksville Residents Uncover Their Ancestry

Through June 8, Brecksville residents have the chance to get help creating their family tree. Every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the , Wallace Huskonen will work to uncover the genealogy of Brecksville.

“In workshop format, I get them started on filling in a four-generation ancestor chart with what they know,” Huskonen said.

In these sessions, Huskonen takes a handful of people through the process of searching for and filling in information about ancestors. He notes that the internet is a great tool to find free information regarding relatives.

“You learn about the life and times of your ancestors of each generation,” he said.

Using birth, death and census records, Huskonen is able to help Brecksville residents piece together their family tree. He does this primarily through Ancestry.com, which he is subscribed to.

Huskonen is dedicated to genealogy as a researcher, writer and lecturer. Even his license plates read “NEOH GEN” for Northeast Ohio Genealogist.

“I’ve learned a tremendous amount about what my ancestors had to do to get where they lived, and I get to understand how I got here,” he said about why he studies genealogy.

In a recent workshop session, Peg Prerost, a Brecksville resident for 23 years, discovered someone from the United Kingdom also working on her family tree. The two connected anonymously via Ancestry.com as they researched and are going to be able to learn more than either could have alone.

“My dad never gave me a lot of information about his family and where they were from,” Prerost said. “I’m really looking forward to finding out.”

Before she connects overseas, Prerost plans to gather a bit more history. Her goal is to learn more about her family before they came to the United States.

To join in learning about ancestors, call the Brecksville Human Services Center at 440-526-2499. Workshop space is limited, so Huskonen urges those interested to sign up before arriving.