Medina County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society

Purpose of the Society

 * Promote public awareness of the value of preserving the past for the future
 * Promote good genealogical practices
 * Promote preservation of family histories
 * Provide genealogical research services of Medina County records
 * Promote preservation and availability of Medina County historical records
 * Provide guidance to those tracing their family histories

History of the Formation of Medina County
Medina County is located southwest of Cleveland and west of Akron in northeast Ohio. In 1795, the Connecticut Land Company purchased most of the Western Reserve land. In 1800, Connecticut and the US Government agreed to attach the land to the Ohio Territory. During the same year, Trumbull County was established which entailed present day Medina County lands. Ohio was admitted to the US as the 17th state on 19 Feb 1803. In 1808 Portage County (incorporating present day Medina County lands) was formed from Trumbull County. In 1812, Medina County was establish from Portage County, but not officially organized until 1818. In 1822, the western townships of LaGrange, Wellington, Pittsfield, Brighton and Camden were ceded to the newly formed Lorain County. In 1827, the western townships of Grafton, Penfield, Huntington, Rochester, Troy, Sullivan, Spencer and Homer were also ceded to Lorain County. In 1840, the eastern townships of Richfield, Bath, Copley and Norton were ceded to the newly formed Summit County. To compensate Medina for the loss of these townships, the townships of Spencer and Homer were returned to Medina County from Lorain County.

Obviously it is important to genealogists to understand where their ancestors lived, when and where any records might be maintained. Townships like Spencer or Homer have belonged to five counties during their history. Finding the proper records can be challenging. The Medina County Genealogical Society can certainly be a help in such a situation.

An interesting website that shows the changing formations of Ohio counties is contained at: www.mapofus.org/ohio/

Record Collections
All collections of the Chapter are donated to the Medina County Library and are contained within the Franklin Sylvester Local History and Genealogy Room of the Main Branch of the Medina County Library.


 * Located: Medina County District Library, 210 South Broadway St, Medina, OH 44256

Family Files (any other paper files)

 * Lineage Society papers are available for review in the Franklin Sylvester Room of the Medina Library

Publications for Sale

 * Tombstone Inscriptions from the Cemeteries in Medina Co., OH, 1983 on CD; $18 plus $3 S&amp;H
 * Index of Early Marriages in Medina Co., OH – Vols A-D 1818-1878 on CD; $18 plus $3 S&amp;H
 * Cherished Memories: A Collection of Obituaries and Death Notices of Ancestors Buried in Liverpool Township Cemeteries 1871-1985 on CD; $18 plus $3 S&amp;H
 * Index to Church Records at Emmanuel E &amp; R Church Established 1838 with images of actual records on CD; $18 plus $3 S&amp;H
 * Index to Church Records at Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Established 1830 Indexed for 1851-1903 with images of actual records on CD; $18 plus $3 S&amp;H
 * Revolutionary &amp; War of 1812 Veterans Buried in Medina County on CD; $18 plus $3 S&amp;H
 * Index to Declaration of Intention &amp; Final Naturalization Medina Co., OH Book #1, Microfilmed Roll #3 1833-1904; $3 plus $3 postage
 * Index to Medina County Divorce Records 1825 through 1900; $6 plus $3 S&amp;H
 * Index to the Probate Court Records of Medina Co., OH 1825-1900; $15 plus $3 S&amp;H
 * Indexes to the Medina County Story Per 5-year indexes (1982-1986, 1987-1991, 1992-1996); $8 plus $3 S&amp;H
 * The Medina County Story, 4 issues per Year with index. 1982-1989 1990-2006; $10 per set plus $3 S&amp;H
 * Centeseptequinarian Chatham Vital Records from Chatham Township, Medina Co., OH, compiled for the 175th anniversary of Chatham Township; $8 plus $3 S&amp;H
 * Membership List of the Chatham United Church of Christ Congregational for the years 1834-1904, Including a List of Ministers; $5.50 plus $3 S&amp;H

For a current list of publications for sale, visit the Society's website. http://medinacoogs.org/index.html

Look up Services
Chapter members are pleased to provide research for individuals seeking information about their ancestors who resided in Medina County. The following types of services are available upon written request along with an initial payment of $10:


 * Courthouse Records: Births (1867-1908), Deaths (1867-1908, Marriages (beginning 1818), wills and divorce records.
 * Records Office: Land Records
 * Library: Early county and township records, histories, obituaries, newspapaer article, civil war indexes and tax records.
 * Cemetery: Tombstone Inscriptions, cemetery locations and photographs of tombstones.

Schedule of fees: $10 per hour plus additional charges for photocopies, certified copies and postage. $10 for multiple tombstone photographs in one cemetery. Additional requested cemeteries are $5 each cemetery. Fees over the initial payment of $10 will be invoiced to you.

Local Repositories Society Members Visit

 * The Medina County Health Department, 4800 Ledgewood Drive, Meidna, OH for borth and death records after 1908.
 * Medina County Historical Society, 206 North Elmwood, (P.O. Box 306), Medina, Ohio www.medinahistorical.com/
 * Medina County FamilySearch Center, 4411 Windfall Road, Medina, OH 44256 (330)723-5200

Benefits to Those Who Join the Society
The Chapter holds monthly presentations that focus of educational skill-building as well as presentations with Medina County historical/genealogical interest. More experienced members can assist beginning members with their family research.

Cost of membership and how to join:

Annual Membership is: $15.00 Single and $20.00 Family

Lifetime Membership is: $150.00 Single and $175.00 Famiily

Newsletter/Periodical:  Members receive an electronic newsletter published by the Chapter

Meetings
The Chapter meets of the 2nd Sunday of the month (except July and August when we meet on the 2nd Saturday of the month). We have social time at 1:30 p.m. and our programs begin at 2;00 p.m.. We meet in the Medina County Public Library located at 210 South Broadway, Medina, OH. Please check our website for current meeting dates, locations and program subjects. http://medinacoogs.org/index.html

Indexing

 * The Chapter is currently assiting with the indexing of the 1940 Census.

Affliation
Our Chapter is a Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society ogs.org/index.php

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