Defiance County, Ohio Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named after an early Army fortification, Fort Defiance. It is located in the Northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Defiance County Courthouse 665 Perry Street Defiance, Ohio 43512 Phone: 419-782-5931 Defiance County Courthouse

County Recorder has birth and death records 1867-1908, marriage records from 1845, land records from 1843, probate records from 1845, divorce and court records 1800’s, naturalization records 1872-1903 and military discharge records 1865-1973; County Health Department has birth and death records from 1908

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 Defiance County:

Biographies

 * Defiance County, Ohio: a collection of historical sketches and family histories ... Compiled by Defiance County Historical Society (Dallas, Texas: Taylor Publishing Company, 1976) Online at FamilySearch Digital Library

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Catholic
 * 1796-2004 Ohio, Diocese of Toledo, Catholic Parish Records, 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; original purchasers of land from the Federal government.
 * Deeds at OHGenWeb Archives

Local Histories

 * A History of Defiance County, Ohio containing a history of the county… (Chicago: Warner, Beers, 1883) Online at Internet Archive; FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * 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 Defiance 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 Defiance County.


 * - 100th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company D
 * - 111th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Companies E and F

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 1900's at History Connection —  Select county.
 * 1793-2009 Ohio Newspapers, 1793-2009 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * Early to late-1900's 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.
 * Wills at OHGenWeb Archives

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 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at MyHeritage ($); Index
 * 1800-1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.

Birth

 * 1800-1962 Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962 at Ancestry ($) — Index
 * 1841-2003 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
 * 1908-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1908-1998 at Ancestry ($) — 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.
 * 1908-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
 * 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

 * Fort Wayne Indiana FamilySearch Center
 * Wauseon Ohio FamilySearch Center
 * Allen County Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Defiance Public Library System 320 Fort St Defiance, Ohio 43512 419-782-1456 Website

Museums
AuGlaize Village Museum 12298 Krouse Rd PO Box 801 Defiance, OH 43512 419-990-0107 Email: [mailto:villageauglaize@gmail.com villageauglaize@gmail.com] Facebook Website Andrew L. Tuttle Memorial Museum 514 W 3rd St Defiance, OH 43512 419-782-0746 Website

Societies
Defiance County Historical Society Region 1 PO Box 801 Defiance, OH 43512-0801 419-990-0107 Email: [mailto:villageauglaize@gmail.com villageauglaize@gmail.com] Website Defiance County Genealogical Society PO BOX 7006 Defiance, OH 43512-7006 Email: [mailto:defiancegenealogy2002@yahoo.com defiancegenealogy2002@yahoo.com] Website Hicksville Historical Society PO Box 162 Hicksville, OH 43526 Email: [mailto:questions@hicksvillehistoricalsociety.org questions@hicksvillehistoricalsociety.org] Website

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
 * Defiance County at OHGenWeb
 * Defiance County OH Genealogy at LDSGenealogy
 * – 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.