Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 2, No. 3

Occupations: Punching the Clock

January 20, 2026 - Since we talking about family, how about sending this link to a sibling, cousin, or other relative to join us on this journey? The more the merrier!

I'm old enough to remember the days of using a time clock to record my work hours; taking my time card, slipping it into the machine, and "punching" it! Wow! Just writing that sentence makes me feel even old!

Like us, our ancestors had to work to meet the needs of their families. What did they do for a living? Many of my Adamson progenitors (my mom's side of the family) were miners - both here in Utah and across the pond in Scotland.

Finding this information can shed light (which my mining ancestors did not have as they worked underground) to what the lives of your great-great's were like.

Here's a few places where you can make these discoveries.

1. The first place is to ask living relatives. This can reveal not only what they did for a living, but also how they felt about their jobs.
2. How I love census records! You can also track them through the decades to see if their jobs changed.
3. Check the birth records of children to see if a parent's occupation is mentioned.
4. Obituaries frequently include a person's occupation.
5. Other sources such as church, probate, and military records.

And if all this feels a bit overwhelming, check out this article from FamilySearch. Who knows? Maybe through your research, you'll find one that had the same occupation as you!

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So until next time, always keep your eye on the One that loves you most. Ciao!

Janine

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