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.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
County Information
Description
Defiance County was named after an early Army fortification, Fort Defiance. The county is located in the northwestern area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Defiance County Courthouse
221 Clinton Street
Defiance, OH 43512
Phone: 419-782-1936
Defiance County Courthouse
Defiance County Records Center
510 Court Street
Defiance, OH 43512
Phone: 419-782-8918
Probate Court holds birth, death and marriage records; older records are held at the Records Center.
The County Recorder holds deeds and land transactions, military discharges, and indigent burials.
The Court of Common Pleas holds the divorce records, civil, and felony criminal case files.
Defiance County, Ohio Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1867 | 1845 | 1867 | 1845 | 1843 | 1845 | 1820 |
Record Loss
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
|
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: [5]
| Cities | ||
|
||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
|
|
|
| Townships | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
For an extensive list of resources for Bible Records see Ohio Bible Records.
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
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1850 | 6,966 | — |
| 1860 | 11,886 | 70.6% |
| 1870 | 15,719 | 32.2% |
| 1880 | 22,515 | 43.2% |
| 1890 | 25,769 | 14.5% |
| 1900 | 26,387 | 2.4% |
| 1910 | 24,498 | −7.2% |
| 1920 | 24,549 | 0.2% |
| 1930 | 22,714 | −7.5% |
| 1940 | 24,367 | 7.3% |
| 1950 | 25,925 | 6.4% |
| 1960 | 31,508 | 21.5% |
| 1970 | 36,949 | 17.3% |
| 1980 | 39,987 | 8.2% |
| 1990 | 39,350 | −1.6% |
| 2000 | 39,500 | 0.4% |
| 2010 | 39,037 | −1.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Ohio denominations, see Ohio Church Records.
- 1765-1947 Ohio, Church and Civil Births and Baptisms, 1765-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Catholic
- 1796-2004 Ohio, Diocese of Toledo, Catholic Parish Records, 1796-2004 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
Court Records
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
|
Genealogies
Guardianship
- 1860-1905 Administrators', Guardians', Executors' Bonds and Letters, 1860-1905(*); Probate Court, Defiance County at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Land and Property Records
After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and are where records are currently housed. More information about why to use land records and what information land records includes can be found on the Ohio Land and Property Wiki page.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1790-1907 Land Records at OHGenWeb Archives; original purchasers of land from the Federal government.
- Deeds at OHGenWeb Archives
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for this county. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see Ohio 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.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Ohio (1788-1940) at MapofUS.org
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
- 1888-1919 Ohio Soldier Home 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 Ohio, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1914-1919 Ohio, World War I Statement of Service Cards, 1914-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1916-1920 Ohio, WWI Index and Return Cards, 1916-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1800-1977 Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
Newspapers
Defiance County newspapers often contain genealogical value including obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings.
- For more online Ohio newspapers index & images, see Ohio Newspapers.
- 1793-2009 Ohio Newspapers, 1793-2009 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1800s-late 1900s Newspapers at Ohio History Connection — Select county.
- 1800s-Current Ohio, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
- 1657-Onward Ohio Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
From 1797 or the creation of the county, probate records were held by the Court of Common Pleas. After 1852, records are held by the Defiance County Probate Court. See Ohio Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1786-1998 Ohio, Wills and Probate Records 1786-1998 at Ancestry ($) — index & images.
- 1789-1996 Ohio Probate Records 1789-1996 at FamilySearch.org — How to Use this Collection.
- Wills at OHGenWeb Archives
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Ohio tax records complement land records and can be used in place of censuses before 1820 or to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties.
Online Tax Indexes and Records
- 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at MyHeritage ($); Index
- 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
Vital Records
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Marriages were usually recorded from the formation of the county and are held at the office of the County Probate Court. Divorce records are located with the county Clerk of Courts.
Any existing birth and death records from 1867 through December 19, 1908 are located at the County Probate Court. The Ohio Department of Health has birth records filed after December 20, 1908 and death records filed after January 1, 1954, while the Ohio History Connection houses death records from December 20, 1908 through December 31, 1953.
Birth
- 1765-1947 Ohio, Church and Civil Births and Baptisms, 1765-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
- 1800-1962 Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962 at Ancestry ($) — Index
- 1841-2003 Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1908-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1908-1998 at Ancestry ($) — Index
- 1918-1953 Ohio, Stillbirths, 1918-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1959-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1959-1998 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Marriage
- 1789-2013 Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1789-Onward Ohio Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1800-1942 Ohio Marriages, 1800-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1800-1958 Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1970-2003 Ohio, Marriages, 1970 - 2003 at MyHeritage ($); Index
Death
- 1765-1947 Ohio, Church and Civil Births and Baptisms, 1765-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
- 1833-1967 Ohio, Church and Civil Deaths, 1833-1967 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1840-2001 Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1908-1953 Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1908-1932, 1938-2018 Ohio, Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2018 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
- 1913-1944, 1954-1963 Ohio Death Index, 1913-1944, 1954-1963 at MyHeritage ($); Index
- 1918-1953 Ohio, Stillbirths, 1918-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Divorce
- 1962-2007 Ohio, Divorce Abstracts, 1962-1963, 1967-1971, 1973-2007 at Ancestry ($)
Voting Records
- 1900-Onward Ohio, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Defiance County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Ohio Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Fort Wayne Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Wauseon Ohio FamilySearch Center
- Allen County Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Defiance County. For state-wide library facilities, see Ohio Archives and Libraries.
Defiance Public Library System
320 Fort St
Defiance, Ohio 43512
419-782-1456
Website
Museums
AuGlaize Village Museum
12298 Krouse Rd
PO Box 801
Defiance, OH 43512
419-990-0107
Email: villageauglaize@gmail.com
Facebook
Website
Andrew L. Tuttle Memorial Museum
514 W 3rd St
Defiance, OH 43512
419-782-0746
Website
Societies
Listed below are societies in Defiance County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Ohio Societies.
Defiance County Historical Society
Region 1
PO Box 801
Defiance, OH 43512-0801
419-990-0107
Email: villageauglaize@gmail.com
Website
Defiance County Genealogical Society
PO BOX 7006
Defiance, OH 43512-7006
Email: defiancegenealogy2002@yahoo.com
Website
Hicksville Historical Society
PO Box 162
Hicksville, OH 43526
Email: questions@hicksvillehistoricalsociety.org
Website
Websites
- Custom Browse of Historical Collections at Ohio Memory — Use map or alpha bar to select county or place, then browse search options in left sidebar.
- Ohio Genealogical Society ($) - online databases
- Defiance County at OHGenWeb
- Defiance County OH Genealogy at LDSGenealogy
- FamilySearch Catalog – 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.
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ohio.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ http://genealogytrails.com/ohio/defiance/ accessed 2/14/2017
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ohio.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ohio.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Defiance County, Ohio," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defiance_County,_Ohio, accessed 8 November 2018.