In this lecture, titled “Four Generations of Meekers on the Great Lakes,” attendees will explore a detailed case study centered on Stephen Ezra Meeker, a ship captain born in 1871 in Huron, Ohio. The presentation demonstrates how to apply the FAN Club (friends, associates, and neighbors) methodology and well-defined research questions to solve complex identity and activity problems. By seeking to identify Meeker’s paternal grandparents and the specific ships he piloted, participants will see how establishing the interconnectedness of a local community and extended family can lead to a larger, more accurate family tree. The session highlights how focused research into an ancestor’s career and social context assists in breaking through genealogical barriers, offering a framework that can be applied to the development of communities throughout the entire Great Lakes region.