We love our sponsors and one sponsor we want to introduce you to is Barry Kline of Trippin' Over Roots. Jean took some time to interview him and this is what we learned about his genealogy journey.
Jean: Barry,your business is called “Trippin’ Over Roots.” I know a lot of our readers have problems with their research and probably trip over a lot of roots before finding the right family. Is that where you name came from, or is there a story behind it?
Barry: When starting a
business, finding a unique name is always a challenge. I wanted a name that was memorable and one
that reflected a bit of my personality.
I have been researching my family’s history since being assigned a
family history project in high school.
One of the first things I learned is that researching an ancestor is
almost never as easy as you think. There
are always twists and turns, problems to solve and the need to untangle truth
from fiction. Trippin’ Over Roots
reflects the challenge we have when researching family history. Our ancestors quite often trip us up, but we
get back up and continue to untangle their stories.
Jean: So, you went to SLIG in January 2015 and took the
Advanced DNA class. You have a lot of courage. What are some of the most
important things you took away from that experience?
Barry: There are some
great opportunities to learn about using DNA in your genealogy research. I took the beginning class at GRIP in
Pittsburgh, the Advanced DNA at SLIG and the DNA and Adoption course at the
Forensic Institute in 2015. I first heard CeCe Moore speak about DNA and
genealogy at the APG Professional Management Conference in 2014. I knew after that lecture I wanted to pursue
DNA as a specialty in my business.
Taking these courses have been a challenge but they are so worth
it. One of the most important things to
remember when integrating DNA with genealogy is that DNA is just another item
in your toolbox. DNA will not
automatically fill out your family tree but it can help confirm your
traditional research or give it support where the paper records are not
available.
Jean: You live in the DC area and are able to help people with
their research in that vicinity. Tell the readers what repositories are
available, how you can help folks find their ancestors there, and how much
advance notice you need to do a lookup.
Barry: The DC area has a
wealth of repositories for genealogical research. I can either perform the research needed to
answer your questions or I can assist your research by retrieving documents,
like a Civil War Pension file from the National Archives, much faster than
having to order them directly. A few of
the repositories I frequent are the National Archives in Washington and College
Park, MD, the Library of Congress, the Daughters of the American Revolution
Library, the Library of Virginia in Richmond as well as courthouse houses and
other smaller local repositories in the D.C. area. One of the areas that I love to research is the
Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The
Valley runs from Morgan and Berkeley Counties in West Virginia south to Augusta
County in Virginia. Other counties that
are included in that area are Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Shenandoah, Page and
Rockingham Counties in Virginia and Hampshire and Hardy Counties in West
Virginia.
Depending on
current projects, turnaround time can vary although it is generally pretty
quick. For pulls and lookups, unless
they are urgent, I usually hold them till I have other work at a particular
repository which helps cut down on various costs, like travel expenses if applicable.
Jean: You have been doing your own research for some time, I
imagine. Can you tell us a family story from your own ancestry? Why is it one
you remember (what meaning does it hold for you)?
Barry: I have been
researching my own family’s history since I was in high school and was assigned
a project to create a family tree. To
complete the project, I turned to my grandmothers. They provided me a wealth of information I
used not only for the project, but to kick start my interest in genealogy.
Like everyone,
there are many stories that I have heard am still researching to either prove
or disprove. One that was combined with
a particularly memorable experience is that of Kline’s Mill in Stephens City,
Virginia. Early in my research, my
paternal grandmother had told me about a mill near Winchester that was
supposedly built by one of my ancestors on my grandfather’s side of family. We
found the location of the mill and I was able to take her to visit the site a
couple of years before she passed away in 2000.
The mill was still standing along with the original house and we were
able to walk the grounds. It was a connection
to my ancestors, to walk, with my grandmother, where they walked and to see
where they lived and worked. I have continued
to research the mill over the last several years and have learned a great
deal. The original mill was built by my
fifth great grandfather Johannes Jacob Klein as a flax-seed mill sometimes
after he moved his family to Frederick County, Virginia from Pennsylvania in
1764. In 1794, he and his son Anthony
expanded and converted the mill to produce flour. The mill actually continued to operate till
the 1950’s as a sawmill. The foundation
of the building is still strong and the legacy that Johannes Jacob Klein left is
as well. It left a huge impression on me
to be able to stand there with my grandmother and know that the success of this
mill, over 200 years ago, was one of the reasons I am here today. We are here today because of the triumphs,
hardships, risks and perseverance of our ancestors. I do the work I do to honor them.
Jean: When people hire a genealogist, they often have no idea
what to expect in time expenditure, fees, results, etc. What do you tell a new
client to expect from you and your services that maybe sets you apart from
others?
Barry: When beginning
work with a new client, I like to remind them that research is a process. Especially if they have not done any research
on their own. At the beginning there
might be lots of discoveries. But as the
research progresses, or if there has been lots of research done prior, then progress
may be slower. Managing the client’s
expectations as well as being mindful of their budget is part of my job. Client research, just like my own family’s
research, is very personal. I go on new
journey with each client and each is just as important as the next.
Genealogical
research is very rewarding. Even though
I do enjoy researching for my clients, I have come to find that I enjoy
researching with them even more. I have
had a growing number of clients that want to do the research themselves. Many have been true beginners. We sit down either in person or via a video
chat and create a plan for their research.
They do what they can, if they need information in my area I retrieve it
for them, or I help them find a researcher in other locations. It is extremely rewarding seeing, or reading
in an email, the excitement when they have made a new discovery!
Jean: Any other words of wisdom?
Jean: Thank Barry for being a sponsor of the Gena and Jean Genealogy Cruise!
-Jean Wilcox Hibben
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