The Social Security Index was another great tool I used. Go here: http://ssdi.rootsweb.com/

Then there is this site called Cindy's that is soooo chocked full of info it's unreal: http://www.cyndislist.com/

I would start there. She has a Geneology 101 type page you can read, and she even offers a kit you can buy to begin, if you want. I didn't buy it but used her site extensively. Don't forget census records. After 10 years they become available to the public. (I think it was 10 years???).

I found my grandfather, my Daddy's Dad, who my Daddy never knew. It was back when the Internet was first introduced to the world. Trouble was I found him in November of that year, and he had died just before that. Sad, huh? Two months before I found him was when my Daddy was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. He didn't really know what I was telling him when I said, "Daddy, we've found your Father." It was on Thanksgiving of that year. So sad! Come to find out, his Daddy had died of the same disease.

Sigh....it was still worth the years I spent looking.

JJ