My mom has done her family tree back to the early 1800’s when some evil white Scandinavians settled in Virginia. Some of them later went to Texas and one got hiself kilt’ in 1863 when he went back to Va. as part of Hood’s calvary.
Another in Texas went on to become a minor politician and hosted a speech by Sam Houston on his front porch.
After that the only info she could find about those immediately before her grandfather were stories of them becoming prospectors and miners in the SW and Mexico.
Except for one who stayed in Texas and shot a man in church.
Sounds like a fun family!
Has your mom tried familysearch.com? There is so much information, there! Free, too!