Using Excel as a family tree program.

Has anyone ever used a simple excel spreadsheet to organize your genealogy information?  I purchased Family Tree Maker and it's not loading on my computer.  I'm getting error after error. 

Tombstone Tuesday: Jacob Snook, Elmira Snook nee Tuttle

This week I wanted to share the tombstones of my Gr-Gr-Gr Grandfather and Grandmother Jacob Snook and Elmira Snook (nee Tuttle)

My grandfather's middle name was Tuttle.  This marriage is where the Tuttle family united with the Snook family.  Also my father's middle name is Jacob.  Jacob and Elmira also had a daughter named Ida May.  My daughter's middle name is Mae :)  I feel like so much of my family history can be found just on this one stone.

I've been slacking lately on my research on this side of the family.  Truth be told, I have no idea why I stopped.  However, as I work and get deeper into my family history, I want to get in my car drive the 400 miles home and spend a day "visiting" with my family.

New Roadblock - Peter Snook

I'm on a fall break for school and I refuse to do any homework so instead I dove head first into my family tree again.  This time I'm working on my father's side.  Things were moving pretty good thanks to a few books my father had given me the last time I was home until I hit Peter Snook. 

The only info I have on Peter Snook is that he was born about 1770 in/around Sussex New Jersey.  He was also married to Elizabeth Simmons. Their son Phillip Snook is my ancestor.  All information stops at him being the father of Phillip.

I'm taking this as a natural stopping point and walking away for a while.

Genealogy Software

I have a question for fellow genealogists.

When I started pursuing our family history, I really wasn't serious so I just used ancestry.com.  I'm now looking to move my information from ancestry.com to my personal hard drive.  What software do you all recommend?  I'm willing to pay for it, within reason of course :)

Thanks so much