About
Me:
I
am Sandra Bengtson and I live in
Sidney, Iowa and have assisted
individuals with their family
genealogy and researched at the
Fremont County Courthouse since
2012. I have also researched for
historians, authors, and professional
companies looking for
heirs relating to estates.
When
researching a family, I use every
possible resource available. After
checking vital records, probate/will
filings, land records,
court records, tax assessment
rolls, cemetery records, newspaper
archives, etc. I can
compile a report that gives a story
and insight
into your ancestor's life.
I
mainly specialize in research and
retrieval of documents on file at the
Fremont County Courthouse. I will also
research at
neighboring courthouses (Page
County, Iowa; Mills County, Iowa; Otoe
County, Nebraska) for a minimal travel
fee.
What
Courthouse Records Hold & Why An
Experienced Researcher is Needed
Often
families are interested in having
copies of the original documents
for their family records, rather than
the indexing of an
event (birth, marriage, death)
that can be found online. Other times
finding an original document might
solve a family mystery.
For
example if your ancestor disappeared
from the census after 1870 or 1880,
the answer might be found in these
records:
Divorces
- These were recorded in the
Court Dockets from the time Fremont
County was established in 1851. The
court record
normally told why the parties
divorced, their current whereabouts
and who had custody of any children.
Deed
Records/Estate Transfers - If
your ancestor owned real estate, the
final deed shows if they were living
at the time the
property was sold or if it was
transferred through their estate. Also
shows whether a spouse was still
living that signed off on the
final deed.
Adoptions
- It is sometimes possible to find a
court record of the event in the late
1800’s to early 1900’s, prior to the
records
being sealed. Finding this kind
of record usually answers questions
families have had for many years.
Upon
completion of my research, all clients
receive a written report of my
findings, along with any relevant
copies of documents
and pictures.
Keep in mind that
historical and genealogy research
findings are unpredictable so no
guarantees can be made. Sometimes there
is
no record available to answer the
question you are seeking. If your
ancestor lived in this area, it is rare
that no record of them here
can be found at all, but it can
happen. Often the research here that
rules out possibilities is necessary
before continuing on with
your searching.
Documents Page
This page contains images of the types
of documents and other
resources to which I have
access.
Rates:
My
flat rate for document or genealogy
research is $50 per hour. Many
research jobs can be completed in the
hour time frame.
I do not charge clients for
travel time or report preparation
time.
If
I find more extensive research time is
required - such as looking through
several years of Court Dockets - I
will communicate
with the client prior to
expending the time.
$25
Travel Fee - An additional flat fee is
charged for travel to the Courthouses
located in Page County, Iowa; Mills
County, Iowa;
or Otoe County, Nebraska.
Programs,
Publications, Interviews
Settlements
& Towns of Fremont County, Iowa
History Program
Iowa Western Community College
September 12, 2019
The
Famous and Infamous of Fremont
County, Iowa
History Program
Iowa Western Community College
September 2020 - Exact
date To be Announced
Author
of several short stories included in
“View
from the Attic”
published by the Fremont County
Historical Society in 2018.
KMA
Interview - April 7, 2017
Bengtson
Digs Deep to Find Family Histories
in Fremont County
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Research. All rights reserved.
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by Bob
Jenkins
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