User:Denisepoulsen/Sandbox/TempAlways

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

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.

County Courthouse
Wood County Courthouse 1 Courthouse Square Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 Wood County Website

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:

Church Records
Catholic
 * 1796-2004 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; to Browse images, select county, then town, then parish.
 * Ministers of Wood County Ohio

Land and Property Records
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.

Local Histories
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.


 * 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: FamilySearch Digital Library, 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)


 * Ohio Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 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 Records

 * 1888-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images or scroll to Browse by Admission Number and Year Range

War of 1812
 * Fort Meigs, Ohio's War of 1812 Battlefield
 * 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

World War I
 * 1914-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; images of cards.
 * 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, images of cards.
 * 1916-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; images of cards.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1800-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images; or scroll to Browse images by county.

Newspapers
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/


 * 1793-late 1900's at History Connection —  Select county to Browse.
 * Early- late 1900's Newspapers at Ohio Memory — sort by County, City, Time Period, and more.

Other Records
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.

Courthouse and Vital Records Courthouse and Vital Records


 * 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.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Probate Records
Online Probate 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; index and images; or scroll down to Browse images by county.

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

 * 1800-1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images; or scroll to Browse images by county.
 * 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at MyHeritage ($) — index

Birth

 * 1841-2003 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images; or scroll down to Browse images by county.

Marriage

 * 1789-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images; or scroll down to Browse images by county.
 * 1800-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index.
 * 1800-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; can browse images by film number at a Family History Center.
 * 1970-2003 Ohio, Marriages, 1970 - 2003 at MyHeritage ($) — index

Death

 * 1840-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images; or scroll down to Browse images by county; may be alphabetical.
 * 1908-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images; or scroll to Browse images by year.
 * 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


 * 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.

Divorce

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

Family History Centers

 * Toledo Ohio Family History Center (Perrysburg)

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.

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
 * 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.
 * – 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.