At my local society, new members are asked to stand, introduce themselves and list names of families they are looking for. Members of your local society will familiarize you with local records and this can save you months of research. If you can't wait for the next society meeting, ask your local librarian for help. Many libraries, even small ones, have special genealogy sections and larger ones have staff who specialize in this interest. If the library has a special genealogy section, you may be lucky enough to find a fellow enthusiast.
Local libraries can be an excellent source of information.
Many, if not most, of them have city directories, census records and local histories which are invaluable. Many also have microfilmed or microfiched copies of local newspapers, some of which were originally published over 100 years ago. These are tedious to search unless you know the dates to examine but they are like striking the mother lode if you find mention of your ancestors. Census records can be very useful but searching them can be hard work, even if you know the address where your ancestors lived. City directories once served much the same function as today's telephone directories but additionally list people's occupations.