The internet is a big place, and while I firmly believe that Ancestry.com is the best place to start and store your finds, make sure you look everywhere. Here are few suggestions.  Feel free to add other ideas as comments.

• Rootsweb : http://www.rootsweb.com
• USGenWeb : http://usgenweb.org
• Fold3 : http://www.fold3.com (Ancestry.com sister site; lots of great military records)
• FamilySearch.org : http://www.familysearch.org
• Chronicling America: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov (Library of Congress newspapers; your tax dollars at work)
• Search for your county + state + “historical society” and see if there is an online site.

       For example:

     Finds:

Next hint:  Search #11:  Name Filters or review  Search Tip #9 : One World Tree