Will DNA Testing Help My Genealogy?

I'm debating whether I should take a DNA test or not. I had a distant relative ask me if I've taken a DNA test because he thought it would help tie our families together. But I was under the impression that unless you share the same male or female line, it wouldn't be useful. Since the relative and I don't share the same last name, and more importantly, don't share the same direct male line, I felt it wouldn't be useful. But I wasn't sure.

So after studying the various tests, I've come to the understanding that there are generally three basic types of tests available - one for the male line, one for the female line, and one for general DNA analysis. The test for the male line is especially useful because others having the same male line can be identified. This type of test is called a Y-DNA test because it looks at the Y chromosome. Since women do not inherit a Y chromosome, they have to rely on their father's or brother's Y-DNA test to learn about their own male lines.

Both men and women inherit an X chromosome, but an X-DNA test is usually not provided. It turns out that it more complicated to trace the origin of X chromosome DNA, since both men and women pass it down, men get it from their mother, and women get it from both their father and mother. More commonly, the female line is tested using what is called mitochondrial (mtDNA)  testing. Both men and women inherit mitochondrial DNA and can learn about their maternal lines using this test.

The third type of test commonly used is an autosomal test. This test looks at the remaining chromosomes, which are not X or Y. These tests are used to identify the general heritage mix that you have and can be helpful in proving a fairly close relationship between two people. It is not possible to identify a particular line as you can with Y-DNA and mtDNA.

So, for proving genealogical lines, the Y-DNA and mtDNA tests are the best. They can be used to positively identify paternal and maternal lines, respectively, and can be used to prove common ancestry between people. Unfortunately, these tests are limited to the maternal and paternal lines which excludes most of the family tree.

The autosomal test is interesting because it includes DNA from the entire family tree. Its weakness is that you can't know how the DNA was inherited. Comparisons can be made between individuals to determine a probability of relationship, but it doesn't prove how they are related. Even if you suspect that two individuals share a common ancestor, and the autosomal tests show a relationship, the two may actually have a different relationship than the one you suspect, and the suspected link may or may not even exist.

Its interesting to consider that relatives do not necessarily share any autosomal DNA (atDNA) at all. For example, two cousins could inherit entirely different sets of atDNA from their common grandparents - still cousins, just no DNA in common. The odds are extremely slim, but when you start talking about distant cousins, it becomes more likely. On average, second cousins share just over 3% of their atDNA.

It is also interesting to consider that you may have absolutely no atDNA in common with a known ancestor. In fact, your genetic family tree is considerably smaller than your genealogical family tree, because many ancestors do not contribute to your DNA makeup. It reminds me of pedigree collapse, the situation that occurs as your ancestry goes farther back, where people start showing up more than once in your ancestry.Your actual family tree is much smaller than your theoretical family tree. I wonder how this pedigree collapse and genetic tree collapse are related. It would seem that with an ancestor showing up in your tree multiple times, that it would be more likely that you would actually inherit DNA from him or her.

In any case, I don't have a reason for a Y-DNA test, since I'm pretty confident about my paternal heritage. And I'm not convinced that the atDNA test would help extend my genealogy. Perhaps it would give a few tips regarding general heritage.

But the mtDNA might be interesting. My direct maternal line ends with my 2nd great grandmother and her origins have puzzled me for years. Perhaps submitting mtDNA results to a database would yield some potential relationships. I think its going to take a bit more consideration and understanding. Hopefully what I have uncovered so far is correct. Please understand that I am certainly no expert in the subject. But I do hope that it helps to explain things some.

Bob Mesenbrink
July 8, 2015

Be an Ancestor Whisperer

Whispering refers to techniques in dealing with animals (commonly, horses and dogs) that emphasize understanding the animal rather than using brute force. Similarly, I like to think that there are a couple of approaches to genealogy. We use brute force when we look up census records, track down vital records or church records, and build up our database of names, dates, and places, and we add "meat" to the genealogy with stories that have been passed down, and information about our ancestors from obituaries, biographies, newspaper articles, etc. But sometimes there just isn't much available. You need to be an "ancestor whisperer". I know that sounds strange, but just as trainers learn about the basic nature of animals to get what they need from them, you need to learn about your ancestors' environments so that you can get the information you need from them.

How many times have you wished you could go back in time and visit one of your ancestors? You could ask any number of questions - the answers for questions which haven't yet been found. Who were your parents? What made you get on the ship to cross the Atlantic? Why did you move west? What was your childhood like? What was your day-to-day life like? Who did you vote for? Who were your friends? How did you learn to play the piano? And the deeper questions: What was the most difficult challenge you had? What was the saddest thing that happened to you? What was your happiest time? But since that isn't possible, we have to use the tools at hand to try to put together a mental picture of their lives. We need to understand our ancestor, his/her environment, and the current events of the time to put things into perspective. We need to use everything available to us to learn about our ancestors environment, to supplement the facts specific to our ancestors. We need to look for clues that say more. We need to be ancestor whisperers. While we may not answer all our questions with certainty, the understanding we gain can point us in the right direction.

Photographs - faces, clothing, others in photo, surroundings, all suggest more than meets the eye. Are the faces young, old, weathered, or delicate? Who else is in the photo? Why are they included? Who is missing and why? Do the surroundings suggest anything? Are the clothes homemade, or finely tailored? Besides the names and dates (hopefully) on the back, what is the photograph telling you?

Maps - I like to try to build a mental image of the surroundings where my ancestors lived. Many places change little over time. The natural geography seldom changes dramatically - lakes, rivers, creeks, hills, and mountains usually take centuries to change the slightest bit. Streets and roads generally run the same course they did when they were first built. Towns and cities don't usually move much. Cathedrals and castles stand for centuries, and even the most humble buildings might still be found a hundred years later. Of course human progress changes things over time. A new factory, bridge, or highway might wipe out an entire section of a city. Old houses are torn down to make room for the new. Nature takes its toll. Things do change. But finding and studying old maps of ancestral homes can be helpful.

Finding the exact location of an ancestor's home is always a thrill for me. Addresses from census, old letters, and other records sometimes reveal the address, but even knowing a village name is helpful. When I have a place to go on, I get on Google Maps and find the location. I love to use Street View to "travel" up and down the current streets and see the neighborhoods where my ancestors lived. Even if the buildings have changed, or if I don't know a street address, I can see what the area was like - hilly or flat, near a river, swamps, farms, forests, village, city. Where were the churches and schools nearby? How far did they travel to town? If I know what they did, I might be able to see where they worked. And then I can start to see the routes they took. Things like that all help me visualize my ancestors' lives. Maps can say a lot about your ancestors, if you take the time to study them and consider what they say about your ancestors.

Visit - Even better than looking at maps is visiting the ancestral homes. As good as Street View is, actually being there lets you more fully experience the sites, sounds, and smells. And local museums and libraries often have collections that are unavailable online.

Study History - Learning about the history of an area is also helpful. Maybe there are significant events that affected the community (and our ancestors). What were the major industries in the area? Were there any major migrations in or out of this location? Where did the people who settled this area come from? History may not mention your ancestor by name, but it tells you a bit about life at that time and place.

Broaden Your Approach - Study the area and learn who the other families were. These are the people that lived and worked and, often, intermarried with your people. Look for their biographies to learn how they lived, and consider how similar they might have been to your ancestral family. Take a broader look at census records to understand the neighbors a bit. Where did they come from? What did they do?

When you are successful, you will have a strong mental image of your ancestor's environment. You will find your imagination transporting you back to a time and place where your ancestors lived. When you think about this ancestor, you'll immediately have details of his or her life come to mind. And the more you learn, the more accurate your image will be. And this will lead to additional sources of information and research paths you had never thought of before. By studying and broadening your approach you can raise your level of understanding and become an ancestor whisperer.

Clarks of Early Clinton County Iowa

In an attempt to find family of my 2 great grandmother, Salucia Clark Squibb, I've studied the various Clark families in Clinton county Iowa, looking for her family. A young Salucia Clark married Robert Squibb in 1857 in Clinton county, so I was interested primarily in the Clarks from shortly before that time through the 1860s, those who could have been parents, siblings, or other close relatives. Although, this study hasn't led me to Salucia's family, I'm hoping others find it useful.

In 1840, Monroe H. Clark, was listed in the federal census for Clinton county. He was listed with a female:

• Monroe H. Clark, b. 1801-1810
• Mrs.(?) Monroe H. Clark, b. 1811-1820

Monroe Clark does not appear in Clinton county again, and may be the M. H. Clark of Newton county, Missouri in 1850.

The 1849 tax lists include J. Clark and M. C. Clark in Bloomfield township.

• J. Clark, Bloomfield twp.
• M. C. Clark, Bloomfield twp.

Also, Rev. Thomas W. Clark appears starting in 1849 in De Witt township. He was a Baptist missionary. He came to Clinton county in 1840 and patented land in 1845. He is also found in 1850, 1852, 1856 and 1860 censuses, and the 1879 county history, where much of the following comes from.

• Rev. Thomas W. Clark, b. 23 Feb 1808 New Brunswick, De Witt twp, d 1883, his wife:
• Ann Turner Clark, m. 1833, d. 1866, and children:
• George W. Clark, b 1844, lived in Nebraska in 1879,
• Amy T. Clark Miles, b 1835 Ohio, m. James M. Miles 1856, d. 1857
• Sarah J. Clark, d age 7
• Loretta L. Clark, 1849-1852
• Eliza J. Clark, 1853 - 1864
• A. Judson Clark, b 1837, Ohio, lived in De Witt twp, his wife:
• Tillie Bell Clark, b 1841 Penn, and five children:
• John W. Clark
• Francis W. Clark
• George H. Clark
• Albert B. Clark
• Anna M. Clark

• Elizabeth Marker Clark married Rev. Thomas W. Clark in 1872
• Alen (Henry) Clark, b 1821 New Brunswick, living with Rev. Thomas W. Clark in 1850, m Fannie Jones 1860, d 1899 Buchanan county

Also in De Witt was William Clark in 1856 and 1860.

• William Clark, b 1829 New York, his wife:
• Eliza Clark, b 1831 New York, and children:
• George Clark, b 1855 Indiana
• Frances Clark, b 1859 Iowa

The 1850 census shows Truman Clark in Bloomfield twp. He patented land in 1849. He is also listed in 1851 tax lists, censuses through 1880, and the 1879 county history.

• Truman Clark, b 1812 NY, d 1883, buried Union Cemetery, in 1834 married
• Axea Potter Clark, b 1815 Mass, d 1899, buried Union Cemetery, had five children:
• Matilda Clark, b 1837 NY, m Daniel Stockbarger 1854, d 1856
• Marietta Clark, b 1839 NY, d 1852, buried Union Cemetery
• Bryson/Byron Clark, b 1845 Illinois, lived in Lincoln, Nebraska
• Pauline Clark, b 1848 Iowa, married J. Taylor
• George T. Clark, b 1841 Illinois, his wife:
• Helen Germond Clark, b 1844 NY, seven children:
• Truman S. Clark
• Milton E. Clark
• Maryett M. Clark
• Carlota Clark
• Fred B. Clark
• Harry Clark
• Frank Clark

• Eli Clark, b 1835 NY, listed with Calvin Davis in 1850 census but isn't a son of Truman

Also in the 1850 census are:

• Arabella Clark, b 1847 Indiana with Andrew M. Johnson of Liberty twp.

The 1856 Iowa state census revealed a few more newcomers. Nathan Clark arrived in 1855 from Vermont and New York to Bloomfield twp. This family seems to have moved back east.

• Nathan M. Clark, b 1796 Vermont, his wife:
• Cynthia Clark, b 1796 Vermont, and children:
• Cynthia Clark, b 1828 Vermont
• Marcellus H. Clark, b 1831 New York
• Juliette Clark, b 1846 New York

Also in 1856 census is Jane Clark, coming from Canada in 1855 or 1856 to Bloomfield twp

• Jane Clark, b 1811 Canada, d 1892, Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa, Iowa
• James B. Clark, d 1855, also buried Mount Hope Cemetery, possibly husband, and children:
• Maryanne Clark, b 1832 Canada
• Frances Clark, b 1834 Canada, lived in Bloomfield twp.
• Estheranne Clark, b 1836 Canada, m. Levi Kittle in 1857, lived in Monona county, Iowa
• William B. Clark, b 1838 Canada, m Harriet Cotton in 1865, d 1926, Evergreen Cemetery, Delmar
• Elizabeth A. Clark, b 1840 Canada
• Jane H. Clark, b 1841 Canada
• John V. Clark, b 1843 Canada
• Benjamin G. Clark, b 1847 Canada
• Emma F. Clark, b 1850 Canada
• James F. Clark, b 1853 Canada
• Hannah L. Clark, b 1855 Canada

Barnabas Clark came to Brookfield twp in 1852. He patented land in 1854. He is in the 1879 county history.

• Barnabas Clark, b 1799 Massachusetts, d 1890, his wife:
• Submit Hitchcock Clark, b 1802 Massachusetts, d 1878 and their children:
• Samuel Clark, b 1827 Massachusetts, and wife Cathrine Clark, Germany, lived in Elwood, d 1906
• Sabra/Sarah Clark, b 1836 Ohio, d 1923, m George Wade 1855
• Fredrick H. Clark, b 1840 New York, m1 Mary Newkirk, m2 Lettie Thornton
• Lorinda R. Clark, b 1842 Ohio, married William A. Stanzel
• Mary Jane Clark, b 1835 New York, m. O.P. Dunkin 1854, lived in Sac county

Nathaniel Clark was in Camanche twp for the 1860 and 1870 census.

• Nathaniel Clark, b 1819 New York, living in Nebraska in 1880 and divorced from his wife:
• Betsy Clark, b 1820 Vermont, their children:
• Hannah Clark, b 1845 New York
• Lucy Clark, b 1847 New York, m Alexander Gordon 1863
• Delia/Adelia Clark, b 1849 New York, lived with Lucy Clark Gordon in 1870
• John Clark, b 1851 New York
• Charles Clark, b 1853 New York, with Udalls in 1870 Eden twp.

A Nathaniel Clark appears in the 1856 state census for Camanche twp as well. No family is listed with him, although he is shown as married and his birthplace is New York and age is close, so this is probably the same person.

Alexander Clark was in Center twp in 1856 and 1860.

• Alexander Clark, b 1832 Ohio, lived in Center twp in 1856 with Jacob Bohart. He married the widow of Peter Bohart in 1858, was in Center twp in 1860
• Martha Jane Bohart Clark, b 1821 Pennsylvania

Rev. Daniel Clark was in Lyons twp preaching at the First Presbyterian Church in 1856 and 1860. Also see Find A Grave Memorial# 55260494.

• Rev. Daniel Clark, b 1805 New York, d 1869 Plainfield Illinois, wife:
• Mary Parker Clark, b 1806 Vermont, living in Iroquois co Illinois in 1870, d 1885, children:
• William P. Clark, b 1842 New York, not in Clinton co in 1860
• Elmira P. Clark, b 1844 New York
• Arthur P. Clark, b 1846 New York, living in Iroquois co Illinois in 1870
• Eliza Clark, listed as Eliza Bird in 1856 census, b 1854 Iowa, living in Iroquois co Illinois in 1870

 De Witt twp had a Samuel Clark in 1856. They were in Iowa City by 1870.

• Samuel Clark, b 1827 Connecticut, wife:
• Eliza Clark, b 1828 Connecticut, children:
• Frederick Clark, b 1855 Iowa
• David Clark, b 1858 Iowa

Gideon Clark was in Deep Creek twp in 1860.

• Gideon Clark, b 1806 Vermont, wife:
• Harriet Clark, b 1823 Vermont, children:
• Lambert Clark, b 1842 Vermont, m Amelia Dover 1862, lived in Boone county in 1870, listed with John Collins as laborer in Deep Creek twp in 1856
• Julia Clark, b 1844 Vermont, m Robert Dickey  1861, lived in Deep Creek twp, d 1920, buried Preston Cemetery
• Charles Clark, b 1846 Vermont
• Estell Clark, b 1850 Vermont
• Harriet Clark, b 1852 Vermont
• Isaac W. Clark, b 1857 Vermont, lived in Boone county in 1870
• Eber Clark, b 1860 Iowa, lived in Boone county in 1870

Pulaski Clark was also in Deep Creek  twp in 1860. I haven't found them elsewhere yet.

• Pulaski Clarke, b 1835 New York, m Emily Lawry 1860
• Emily Lawry Clarke, b 1838 Michigan

In Sharon twp there is a Barney Clark(?) from Prussia, although Ancestry indexes the surname as "Cloth". I'm not sure the name is Clark.

• Barney Clark, b 1810 Prussia, wife:
• Elizabeth Clark, b 1820 Prussia, children:
• Mary Clark, b 1842 Prussia, m. William Lumback 1860
• Antoine Clark, b 1850 Prussia

George R. Clark arrived in Brookfield twp from Jackson county in 1867 according to the 1879 county history.

• George R. Clark, b 1819 Mercer co Pennsylvania, his wife:
• Gertie Elwood Clark, b 1824, children:
• Thomas J. Clark
• John A. Clark
• Ettie G. Clark, m R. W. Crane of Jackson co,
• George W. Clark
• Ruth Clark

And finally, my ancestors, Salucia Clark married Robert Squibb in 1857, at age 16. Where were her parents?

• Salucia Clark, b 1841 Ohio, m Robert Squibb. Squibbs lived in Center twp.

Then there are several that cannot clearly be tied to families. From marriage records found at the Clinton Iowa Genweb (http://iagenweb.org/clinton/records/marriages.htm) I've discovered the following:

• Anna Clark married Willis C. Flathers in 1846
• Betsey Clark married Calvin H. Davis in 1847
• Marilla Clark married Nahum W. Doton in 1849
• E. Romaine Clark married Anna M. Kole in 1856
• William Clark married Hannah Jones in 1856
• Lorraine Clark married Phineas Kenicow(?) in 1857
• Frederick H. Clark married Mary Markovitch in 1859
• Alexander Clark married Mary E. McAllister in 1862
• Sarah Clark married Hugh Boyd in 1863
• William Clark married Kate Blain in 1865
• Bryant Clark married Cynthia A. Patton in 1866
• Jane Clark married James McThorston in 1866

Land records are of interest too. They sometimes hint at a few family relationships. But there's no guarantee that the land owners lived on the property. The BLM GLO (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/) show the following land patentees/warantees:

• Merrilla Clark, Bloomington twp, 1846
• Lincoln Clark, Eden twp, 1850, elected to U.S. Congress in 1850
• Elisha F. Clark, Brookfield twp, 1851 (appears to have dealt in land all over county)
• Allen Clark, De Witt twp, 1851
• George A. Clark, Deep Creek twp, 1851
• John Clark, Elk River twp, 1853
• Eliza W. Clark, Deep Creek twp,1853
• David O. Clark and Elvira Clark, minor children of Benjamin W. Clark deceased, Orange twp, 1854
• Jonas Clark, Waterford twp, 1854
• Peter Clark of Erie co Ohio, Spring Rock twp, 1854

This sampling of Clinton county land records from LDS Microfilm # 1005141 show the following additional Clarks:

• Oliver Clark bought and sold land in 1848 and 1849 in three different townships
• Eli Clark bought land in Bloomfield twp in 1849
• P. W. Clark bought land in Brookfield twp in 1853 and sold it in 1854
• Orlando Clark bought land in Spring Rock twp in 1854
• E. S. Clark sold land in Brookfield twp in 1854

Census records are from Ancestry.com. The 1879 county history mentioned is "The History of Clinton County Iowa" by L. P. Allen.

Bob Mesenbrink
17 January 2015