Hardin County, Ohio Genealogy

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

Historical Facts

 * Parent Counties: Formed from Logan County 12 February 1820.
 * County Seat: Kenton

Description
The county was named for John Hardin, an officer in the American Revolution. It's county seat is Kenton and was founded 12 February 1820. It is located in the Northwestern 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
Hancock County •  Wyandot County  •  Marion County  •  Union County  •  Logan County  •  Auglaize County  •  Allen County

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Ohio county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Ohio County Boundary Maps" (1788-1888) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

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

Bible Records
For an extensive list of resources for Bible Records see Ohio Bible Records.

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

Local Histories

 * Blue, Herbert T.O., Centennial History of Hardin County, Ohio, (Canton, Ohio: Rogers-Miller Co., 1933).


 * The History of Hardin County, Ohio: Containing a History of the County, Its Townships, Towns, Churches, Schools, Etc., (Chicago, Illinois: Warner, Beers and Co., 1883). Digital copy at Google Books


 * Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio, (Chicago, Illinois: Chapman Publishing Co., 1895). Digital copy at Google Books Internet Archive


 * Kohler, Minnie Ichler, A Twentieth Century History of Hardin County, Ohio: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People and Principal Interests, (Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Co., 1910). Digital copy at Google Books Internet Archive

Land and Property

 * 1790-1907 - General Land Office records Courtesy OhioGenWeb
 * various years - community contributed deeds Courtesy OhioGenWeb Arcihves

Maps

 * Maps of Ohio (1788-1940)

Military

 * 1888-1919 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Civil War
Civil War service men from Hardin 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 Hardin County.


 * - 4th Regiment, Ohio Infantry (3 months, 1861), Companies D and G

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1800-1977 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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

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
Hardin County Courthouse Public Square; Kenton, OH 43326 Phone:419.673.6283 Clerk Court has divorce and court records from 1864; County Health Department has birth and death records; Probate Court has marriage, death and probate records Recorder has land records

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

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * various years - community contributed births Courtesy OhioGenWeb Archives

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
 * 1866-1868 - extracted marriage records, 1866-1868 Courtesy OhioGenWeb
 * various years - community contributed marriages Courtesy OhioGenWeb Archives

Original Marriage Records on Microfilm

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records
 * 1840-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Original Death Records on Microfilm

Websites

 * Hardin County, Ohio OHGenWeb
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Hardin County, OH History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Hardin County OH Genealogy
 * Ohio Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Ohio Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Ohio Genealogy Network Group on Facebook