He Had a Brother Who Disappeared: Finding John H. Hickey, Formerly of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois

Family tradition holds that John H. Hickey of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois, disappeared. This case study proves John “disappeared” and establishes the missing man’s fate. A patchwork of records allowed a glimpse into the life of a person thought dead.

Debbie Mieszala, Certified Genealogist(R),specializes in forensic genealogy, and 20th-century and Midwest research. She conducts genealogical research for the military to locate relatives of service members missing in past wars, and formerly conducted adoption-related research as an Illinois Confidential Intermediary. A national-level lecturer and author, she has taught at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, and she developed an Ancestry Academy course. Debbie’s work has been published in NGS Magazine, The Digital Genealogist, and OnBoard. She formerly served as a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Debbie has attended IGHR, the former NIGR, and GRIP. Visit her website and blog, The Advancing Genealogist at advancinggenealogist.com.