Wood County, Ohio Genealogy

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

Wood County, Ohio Record Dates

 * Parent Counties: Refactored from non-county territory in 1820.
 * County Seat: Bowling Green

Description
The county was named in honor of Captain Eleazer Darby Wood, an engineer in the War of 1812 who built Fort Meigs. It's county seat is Bowling Green and was founded April 1, 1820. It is located in the Northwest area of the state.

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:

Neighboring Counties
Lucas County • Ottawa County • Sandusky County • Seneca County • Hancock County • Putnam County • Henry County

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Ohio county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Ohio County Boundary Maps" (1788-1940) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Catholic

 * 1796–2004 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free. This collection includes images of parish registers recording the events of baptism, first communion, confirmation, marriage, and death in the Diocese of Toledo (Ohio), Roman Catholic Church. These records are accessed by browsing the images by county. In addition to traditional parish registers, this collection includes miscellaneous cemetery records, Books of the Elect, Professions of Faith, Sick Call registers, etc.


 * Ministers of Wood County Ohio

History
Wood County is located in northwestern Ohio and is surrounded by Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Hancock, Putnam and Henry counties. Wood County was established 1 April 1820 from Logan County and is named for Colonel E. Wood who fought in the War of 1812 and helped build Fort Meigs, which is located on the northern border of the county. undefined

Fort Meigs was built by General William Henry Harrison on a high bluff of the southern bank of the Maumee River to the east of the town of Perrysburg and was named for the Governor of Ohio Return Jonathan Meigs.

Originally, the land that became Wood County was swamp land known as the Black Swamp and was inhabited by a variety of native american tribes such as the Wyandot, Miami, Ottawa, Erie, Seneca and Pottawatomie. The land was very lush with forests of large oak, sycamore and hickory trees; wildlife native to this part of Ohio are boar, black bears, timber wolves and bobcats. Draining of the swamp and clearing the trees began in the 1850s as settlers moved in to create farm land and since then, Wood County has been mostly agricultural in nature, covered by farms growing mostly soybeans, corn and wheat.

After the treaty of Brownsville in 1808, construction of the Western Reserve Road began. The road connected the Maumee River to the western edge of the Connecticut Reserve stretching from Fort Meigs to Fremont, along present day U.S. Route 20. This route was difficult to travel due to high levels of water from rains and overflowing creeks, and the added danger of insects carrying diseases such as malaria.

Bowling Green, founded in 1834, is the county seat and is centrally located. It is the home of Bowling Green State University, established as the “State Normal School” in 1910 for training teachers; the first classes being held in 1914 and the first bachelor’s degrees awarded in 1917. A vast majority of the settlers to Wood County were from Germany or other Germanic-derived countries; in the 1990 US Census 31% of the Bowling Green population and 40% of the Perrysburg population claimed to have German ancestry.

Local Histories

 * Evers, C.W., Reminiscences of Pioneer Days in Wood County and the Maumee Valley: a Pioneer Scrap Book, (Bowling Green, Ohio: The Democrat, 1910). Digital copy at Internet Archive


 * Commemorative, Historical and Biographical records of Wood County, Ohio: Its Past, Present, Early Settlement and Development, Biographies and Portraits of Early Settlers and Representative Citizens, (Chicago : J.H. Beer, 1897). Digital copy at Google Books


 * Jones, Paul Willis, Human Interest History of Wood County, Ohio, (Bowling Green, Ohio : Ohio Genealogical Society. Wood County Chapter, 2007)


 * Van Tassel, Charles, Historical Highlights of Wood County, (Fort Wayne, Indiana: Allen County Public Library, 1984)

Land and Property
Deeds, estates, plat maps and other property records are located at the Wood County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402. These records may be copied or photographed and are available to the public. Records from 1821 through 1919 have been microfilmed and are available through the Family History Library.

Maps

 * Maps of Ohio (1788-1940)

Many maps are available at the various libraries and repositories listed above. The below are in addition to those that you can locate, view and download online.

Wood County Engineer This website has current township maps online as well as links to the current township leaders. http://engineer.co.wood.oh.us/TownshipMaps.aspx

Wood County Auditor http://auditor.co.wood.oh.us/ This site will allow you to search for existing land owners and locate maps of their property boundaries.

Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ohio.html City and state historical topographical maps; also outline county maps and National Parks maps.

United States Geological Survey http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/ Ohio Catalog of topographic and other Published Maps. This print publication is now available online at the link above. You can download historical topographical maps as well.

Military

 * 1888-1919 - at FamilySearch — index and images

War of 1812

 * Fort Meigs, Ohio's War of 1812 Battlefield
 * Excursion of veterans of the War of 1812 to Fort Meigs, June, 1870 (Lexington, Kentucky 1871 - 1953) pages 34
 * Nelson, Larry L. .Men of patriotism, courage, &; enterprise : Fort Meigs in the War of 1812 (Canton, Ohio: Daring Books 1985) pages 156 pages FHL Books 977.116/P3 M2

Civil War
Civil War service men from Wood 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 Wood County.


 * Ohio Genealogical Society. Wood County Chapter. Wood County's role in the Civil War. (Bowling Green, Ohio : Ohio Genealogical Society. Wood County Chapter, c1997-),


 * - 100th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company A
 * - 111th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Companies B, D, I, and K

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1800-1977 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
Online Newspapers Online Newspaper Abstracts Newspaper Extracts and Abstracts in Book Form

The libraries listed above have excellent collections of microfilmed newspapers for Wood County, including the small town and rural newspapers. The primary newspaper for the area was the Wood County Sentinel (also known as The Daily Sentinel, The Daily Sentinel-Tribune and other variations). Many of the newspapers are being cataloged and filmed via Chronicling America at the Library of Congress: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

Periodicals and Published Sources
Beers, J.H. Commemorative, Historical and Biographical Record of Wood County, Ohio. Chicago, Illinois. J. H. Beers and Co, 1897.

Burke, Thomas A., Ohio Lands. 6th Edition, Ohio Auditor of State, 1995.

Downes, Randolph C., Evolution of Ohio County Boundaries. Ohio Historical Society, 1970.

Schweitzer, Ph.D., Sc.D., George K. Ohio Genealogical Research. Published by the author, 1997.

Swanson, Hal, The Ohio Township Helper: An Aid to Locating Counties and Townships in the State of Ohio. Colorado Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, no date.

Wood County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, compiler, An Index to Wills and Estates 1820-1921, Wood County, Ohio. ECP Printing, Eau Claire, WI, 2009.

Wood County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, compiler, Fort Meigs Union Cemetery, Wood County, Ohio. Closson Press, Apollo, PA, 1998.

Wood County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, compiler, Index to Naturalization Records, Wood County, Ohio. Closson Press, Apollo, PA, 2000.

Wood County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, compiler, Oak Grove Cemetery in Bowling Green (Center Township) Wood County, Ohio. Closson Press, Apollo, PA, 1985.

Wood County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, compiler, Union Hill Cemetery, Plain Township, Wood County, Ohio. Closson Press, Apollo, PA, 1993.

Wood County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, compiler, Weston Township Cemeteries, Wood County, Ohio. Closson Press, Apollo, PA, 1985.

Wood County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, compiler, Wood County, Ohio Atlas: Landowner Maps 1871 & 1858, Tract Book 1830-1850, Road & River Tracts, Canal Land Purchases. Closson Press, Apollo, PA, 1999.

Wood County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, compiler,Wood County, Ohio Early Landowners, Recorded Patent Deeds 1822-1854. WCOGS, Bowling Green, OH, 2000.

Probate
Online Probate Records
 * 1786 - 1998 Ohio Wills and Probate Records 1786-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1789 - 1996 at FamilySearch.org — images
 * 1790–1967 - at FamilySearch Historical Records – free. This collection consists of probate records and estate files from county courthouses in Ohio. The content and time period varies by county, with more records being added as they become available. This Collection will include records from 1789 to 1996. Currently, (September 2012) the collection is only searchable by browsing the images. A list of Fires that have destroyed records in the courthouses of several counties are listed on the Record Description page.

Courthouse and Vital Records

 * Wood County Courthouse 1 Courthouse Square Bowling Green, OH 43402-2473 Telephone: 419.354.9230 Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am - County Health Department has birth records from 1908 County Recorder has land records Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Wood County, Ohio. Page 546 ; . There is an online index available at the above website


 * Wood County Ohio Health Department 1840 E. Gypsy Lane Rd. Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 General Phone: 419.352.8402 or toll free: 866.861.9338 Vital Statistics Office: 419.354.1050 Available records: birth and death records 1908-present.

Family History Centers

 * Toledo Ohio Family History Center (Perrysburg)

For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory. Put your town name in the top search box.

Libraries
Wood County District Public Library 251 N. Main Street Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 Telephone: 419.352.5104 Website Available records: Bowling Green phone books and city directories, family histories, Wood County First Families list, military rosters, newspapers on microfilm (Sentinel-Tribune under it’s various titles and other surrounding area newspapers. There are some gaps but collection is through the present.) They maintain a variety of publications, books and journals about Wood County but also have references for other counties as well. Also, Ancestry Library Edition is available for use in the library. Way Public Library 101 E. Indiana Ave. Perrysburg, Ohio 43551 Telephone: 419.874.3135 Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 8:30pm, Friday - Saturday 9:00am - 5:30pm, Sunday 1:00pm - 5:00pm (seasonal) Website Available records: family histories, house histories, maps and atlases, local church records, historic photographs of people and places in the area, pamphlet file, newspaper file on local topics; digital photo collection through OhioMemory.org/way; in-house database that includes vital statistics, newspaper surname index, surname index for the publications Bend of the River Magazine and Ohio Cues (of the Maumee Valley Historical Society); personal library of Willard V. Way including hotel registers beginning in 1865, oral histories and photographs. Bowling Green State University - Center for Archival Collections 5th Floor - Jerome Library Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 Telephone: 419.372.2411 Hours vary, check website for schedule Website Available records: manuscript collection, local government records, newspaper collection (for all of northwest Ohio and some in southern Michigan – full list on website), Civil War records, rare books and special collections. Website contains geographical name information by county. Microfilm rolls may be purchased through the CAC.

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Spiegel Grove Fremont, Ohio 43420 Telephone: 419.332.2081 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm Website Available records: besides the President’s own books and manuscripts, also are materials about the Lake Erie area, family papers and an obituary index for Northwest Ohio. There is an online catalog maintained through Bowling Green State University website.

Museums
Wood County Historical Center and Museum 13660 County Home Rd. Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 Telephone: 419.352.0967 Hours vary, check website for schedule Website The museum publishes the Black Swamp Chanticleer newsletter. There is no online catalog but they ask that you contact the curator if you are trying to locate something specific. They collect artifacts and items of historical interest to the Wood County area such as farm equipment, documents, etc. The museum is located at what used to the be the Poor Farm also known as “The Home.”

Societies
Wood County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society P.O. Box 722 Located in Courthouse Square Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 Telephone: 419.354.9557 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm Website Available records: Publications for sale include indexes to probate records of births, deaths, marriages, naturalization, cemeteries, agricultural census and plat maps. Will do research and look-ups for a fee. There are several online indexes and databases available as well at the above website.

Ohio Historical Society 800 E. 17th Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43211 Telephone: 614.297.2300 Hours: Wednesday - Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm Website Available records: artifacts, items of natural history interest, manuscripts and audiovisuals, photographs, oral histories, online indexes and digital collections, death certificate index, state and local government documents, newspaper collection (available through ILL).

Ohio State Genealogical Society 611 State Route 97 West Bellville, Ohio 44813-8813 Telephone: 419.886.1903 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm Website Available records: First families of Ohio records, state-wide obituary index, bible records, Civil War, Revolutionary War, cemetery, birth, marriage, divorce, tax lists, also various county-specific databases.

Online Genealogy Research Groups

 * U.S. Midwest Genealogy Research Community - FamilySearch Facebook Research Group
 * Ohio Ancestors - FamilySearch Community group, must have a free FamilySearch account to join
 * U.S. and Canada Genealogy Research - FamilySearch Community group, must have a free FamilySearch account to join
 * U.S. and Canada Genealogy Research - FamilySearch Community group, must have a free FamilySearch account to join

Taxation

 * 1800-1950 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Microfilm: "Tax records, Auditor 1822-1850" contains 3 rolls, beginning with film number 522854, available through the Family History Library.

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records

Original Birth Records on Microfilm

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1789-2013 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1800-1958 - at FamilySearch — free; Index.
 * 1800-1942 - at FamilySearch — index

Original Marriage Records on Microfilm

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * 1840-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1908-1953 - Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953. Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. Records include such information as birth date of deceased, city, county, and state of death, name of spouse if married, names of parents, maiden name of mother, name of informant, if deceased was single, married, windowed or divorced, occupation of deceased.

Original Death Records on Microfilm

Websites

 * Wood County, OH History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Ohio Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Ohio Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Wood County OH Genealogy


 * Wood County, Ohio GenWeb This site has not been updated for several years. Many links are broken and many informational items are out of date.