Henry County, Ohio Genealogy

Guide to Henry County, Ohio ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
The county was named for Patrick Henry, the Virginian famous for his "give me liberty or give me death" speech. It is located in the Northwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Henry County Courthouse 660 N Perry St Napoleon, OH 43545-0546 Phone: 419-592-5886 Henry County Website

Probate Judge has birth and death records 1867-1908, marriage and probate records from 1847; Clerk Court has divorce and court records 1880; County Recorder has land records from 1835

Populated Places
 Populated Places  For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline
Freedom was one of the first townships organized in the territory which made up Henry County. It included nearly all the territory north of the Maumee River and had a population of one hundred and five people according to the 1840 US federal census. Immigrants from Hanover and Prussia arrived in Freedom township before 1860. Letters and reports sent back home about the fertile and abundant land available would encourage others to come and by 1880, the population had grown tenfold, to 1,235 people. In time, an area known as “Little Hanover” would be established, with many residents having come from German villages around Rotenburg, such as Kirchwalsede, Suderwalsede, and Westerwalsede.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Catholic
 * 1796-2004 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1790-1907 Land Records at OHGenWeb Archives

Local Histories

 * Henry County Historical Society; Henry County, Ohio: A Collection of Historical Sketches and Family Histories (Napoleon, Ohio: Henry County Historical Society, 1976). Online at:FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1; FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2; FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 3.


 * Aldrich, Lewis Cass; History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio: With Illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its Prominent men and Pioneers (Syracuse, New York: D. Mason and Co., 1888). Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Internet Archive.
 * Ohio Genealogical Society, Henry County Chapter, Towns and Ghost Towns of Henry County, Ohio: 1794-Present, (Ohio Genealogical Society. Henry County Chapter, 2002).
 * Overman, William D.; Ohio Town Names (Acron, Ohio; 1958) Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust
 * Ohio Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Ohio (1788-1940) at MapofUS.org
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * 1888-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.

Civil War Civil War service men from Henry County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Henry County.


 * - 68th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Companies A, D, E, F, G, and I
 * - 100th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company B

World War I
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
 * 1914-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
 * 1916-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1800-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.

Newspapers

 * 1793-late 1900s at History Connection —  Select county.
 * 1793-2009 Ohio Newspapers, 1793-2009 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * Early-late 1900s Newspapers at Ohio Memory — sort by County, City, Time Period, and more.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1786-1998 Ohio, Wills and Probate Records 1786-1998 at Ancestry ($) — index and images.
 * 1789-1996 at FamilySearch.org — How to Use this Collection.

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1800-1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
 * 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at MyHeritage ($) — index

Birth

 * 1841-2003 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
 * 1908-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1908-1998 at Ancestry ($) — Index
 * 1959-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1959-1998 at MyHeritage - index ($)

Marriage

 * 1789-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
 * 1800-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
 * 1800-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
 * 1970-2003 Ohio, Marriages, 1970 - 2003 at MyHeritage ($) — index

Death

 * 1833-1967 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1840-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
 * 1904 and after Death Certificate Index at Ohio History Connection - index
 * 1908-1932, 1938–1944, and 1958–2007 at FamilySearch– How to Use this Collection; Index of deaths from the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus. Index provided by Ancestry.com.
 * 1908-1932, 1938-2018 Ohio, Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2018 at Ancestry ($) — index and images
 * 1913-1944, 1954-1963 Ohio Death Index, 1913-1944, 1954-1963 at MyHeritage ($) — index

Divorce

 * 1962-2007 Ohio, Divorce Abstracts, 1962-1963, 1967-1971, 1973-2007 at Ancestry ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Wauseon Ohio FamilySearch Center
 * Toledo Ohio FamilySearch Center
 * Toledo-Lucas County Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Deshler Edwin Wood Memorial Library 208 North East Ave Deshler, OH 43516 Phone: 419-278-3616 Website ​Napoleon Public Library 310 W Clinton St Napoleon, OH 43545 Phone: 419-592-2531 Website Holgate Community Library 204 Railway Ave P.O. Box 726 Holgate, OH 43527 419-264-7965 Website Liberty Center Public Library 124 East St P.O. Box 66 Liberty Center, OH 43532 419-533-5721 Website ''' Patrick Henry School District Public Library 208 N East Ave Deshler, OH 43516 419-278-3616 Website

Museums
Henry County, Ohio, Historical Society W Clinton St P.O. Box 443 Napoleon, OH 43545 Website

Societies
Henry County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 231 Deshler, OH 43516 Website Website 2

Websites

 * Local Gov't Records by County at Ohio History Connection — Browse their list; records are not online.
 * Custom Browse of Historical Collections at Ohio Memory — Use map or alpha bar to select county or place, then browse search options in left sidebar.
 * Ohio Genealogical Society ($) — online databases
 * USGW Archives
 * Henry County OHGenWeb May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * Henry County OH Genealogy at LDS Genealogy
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.