There are many good resources available to you. Some are free and some require payment. I recommend starting with the free information.

Your local library likely has a section just on geneology. Some libraries even have librarians devoted solely to genealogical research. Also, the local or state library of the town where your family lived will be an invaluable resource to you. They will usually have old city directories, probate records, microfiche of old newspapers and many other resources for you. They can also share with you the local history.

I am not going to provide you with extensive web sites to go to because there are other web sites that already specialize in that and do an outstanding job at it. One of the best sites for finding both free and for pay web sites is Cyndi’s List.

My own family research has included a wide variety of documents, including interviews, city directories, census records, burial records, social security records, death certificates, birth certificates, marriage records, church records, obituaries, cemetery records, military records, and book references, just to name a few.