Some of these skills were used only during military service, but some individuals used their acquired skills to make a living for themselves and to support their families afterwards. This training began a lifelong interest in the livery business. One of his later ventures was operating a livery stable in what is now the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Other military service and pension application records paint detailed portraits of our ancestors as individuals who advanced in rank and made lengthy careers in the service of our country. Their service record and pension files are, in fact, their detailed resumes.
Newspapers are, of course, the chronicle of the life of a community.
If city directories and other references provide clues to an employer of your ancestor, it is possible to begin searching for records of the employer and perhaps locate references to your ancestor in the newspaper. Once you know the name of an employer, it may be possible to contact the company if it is still in business and request copies of your ancestor's employment records. Some companies may still have older records, perhaps stored off-site, and will only perform a search and release any data upon satisfactory proof of your relationship. If you encounter a cooperative source, however, you may open new doors for yourself. This is the application form completed by your ancestor in order to obtain a Social Security Number.