Muskingum County, Ohio Genealogy
Guide to Muskingum County, Ohio ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Muskingum County was named using a Delaware American Indian word translated as "town by the river" or "elk's eye". The county is home of the "Y" Bridge which crosses the Muskingum and Licking Rivers. It is located in the central area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Muskingum County Courthouse
27 N 5th St #301
Zanesville, OH 43701
Phone: 740-455-7104
Muskingum County Courthouse
Probate Court has birth and death records 1867-1908, marriage and probate from 1804, and naturalization records for early 1800s;
County Recorder has land records from 1803 and and military records from 1865;
Clerk Court has divorce and court record from 1804[4]
Muskingum 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 | 1804 | 1867 | 1804 | 1803 | 1804 | 1820 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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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 this county: [7]
| Cities | ||
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| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
| Historic communities | ||
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History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
For an extensive list of resources for Bible Records see Ohio Bible Records.
Biographies
- Pioneers of Muskingum County, Ohio at Muskingum County Ohio Genealogy
- Everhart, J.F., History of Muskingum County, Ohio: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Pioneers, (Columbus, Ohio: J. F. Everhart, 1882). Online at Internet Archive, FamilySearch Digital Library.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
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Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1810 | 10,036 | — |
| 1820 | 17,824 | 77.6% |
| 1830 | 29,334 | 64.6% |
| 1840 | 38,749 | 32.1% |
| 1850 | 45,049 | 16.3% |
| 1860 | 44,416 | −1.4% |
| 1870 | 44,886 | 1.1% |
| 1880 | 49,774 | 10.9% |
| 1890 | 51,210 | 2.9% |
| 1900 | 53,185 | 3.9% |
| 1910 | 57,488 | 8.1% |
| 1920 | 57,980 | 0.9% |
| 1930 | 67,398 | 16.2% |
| 1940 | 69,795 | 3.6% |
| 1950 | 74,535 | 6.8% |
| 1960 | 79,159 | 6.2% |
| 1970 | 77,826 | −1.7% |
| 1980 | 83,340 | 7.1% |
| 1990 | 82,068 | −1.5% |
| 2000 | 84,585 | 3.1% |
| 2010 | 86,074 | 1.8% |
| 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
Roman Catholics
- The Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio Archives at The Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio
- St Nicholas Catholic Church
Lutherans
- Records kept by Carl Louis Wagner, Lutheran minister, 1920-1965; FS Library Film Number: 1036647 Item 1.
- Muskingum County OHGenWeb Project has additional information about various church groups and their records. Click on the "Select Option" links.
Baptists
Methodists
Court Records
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
- Lyford, W.G. The western address directory : containing the cards of merchants, manufacturers, and other business men, in Pittsburgh, (Pa.) Wheeling, (Va.) Zanesville, (O.) Portsmouth, (O.) Dayton, (O.) Cincinnati, (O.) Madison, (Ind.) Louisville, (K.) St. Louis, (Mo.); together with historical, topographical & statistical sketches, (for the year 1837,) of those cities and towns in the Mississippi valley; intended as a guide to travellers; to which is added, alphabetically arranged, a list of the steam-boats on the western waters, 1837. Printed by Jos. Robinson, Baltimore. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Archive.
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Guardianship
- Miscellaneous Records, Muskingum County, Ohio, by Sylvia Smedley Hargrove. South Zanesville, Ohio: S.S. Hargrove and H.E. Yinger, 1984. FS Catalog book 977.191 D2h v. 2; Online at: FamilySearch Catalog(*)
- 1804-1901 Index to Wills and Guardianship Records of Muskingum County, Ohio 1804-1901(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1804-1934 Ohio, Muskingum County, Probate Case Files, 1804-1934(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1854-1939 Ohio, Muskingum County, Probate Appearance Dockets(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1891-1935 Ohio, Muskingum County, Wills, 1891-1935(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1901-1942 Ohio, Muskingum County, Guardians' Dockets, 1901-1942(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Guardianship records are included in the records of the Court of Common Pleas. See Court Records.
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
- 1800-1907 Deed Records, 1800-1881; Index, 1803-1907(*) Muskingum County Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1828-1909 Inventory Record, 1828-1909(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1841-1924 Sale bill Record, 1841-1924(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 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.
- Sutor, J. Hope, Past and Present of the City of Zanesville and Muskingum County, Ohio, (Chicago, Illinois: S.J. Clarke, 1905). Online at Google Books FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Ohio Genealogical Society, Muskingum County, Ohio Families and History, 1803-2003, (Evansville, Indiana: M.T. Pub. Co., 2005). FS Catalog book 977.191 H2mu
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Muskingum County Maps at Muskingum County government website
- Maps of Ohio (1788-1940) at MapofUS.org
- 1866 Atlas of Muskingum County Ohio at Muskingum Genealogy.
- 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 Muskingum 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 Muskingum County.
- - 1st Regiment, Ohio Cavalry, Company B, also known as "Laughlin's Cavalry"
- - 1st Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company H, also known as the Zanesville Guards
- - 97th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Companies E, F, G, and K
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.
World War II
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1800-1977 Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
Newspapers
Muskingum 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 ($)
- 1800s-late 1900s Newspapers at Ohio History Connection — Select county.
- 1800s-Current Ohio, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Muskingum County, OH Newspapers at Muskingum County Ohio Genealogy lists the names of early newspapers for Adamsville, Dresden, New Concord, and Zanesville.
Obituaries
- 1657-Onward Ohio Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
From 1797 or the creation of the county, probate records were held by the Court of Common Pleas. After 1852, records are held by the Muskingum County Probate Court. See Ohio Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1786-1998 Ohio, Wills and Probate Records 1786-1998 at Ancestry ($) — index & images.
- 1789-1996 Ohio Probate Records 1789-1996 at FamilySearch.org — How to Use this Collection.
- 1804-1890 Will Records, 1804-1890(*) Muskingum County and Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1804-1934 Probate Case Files, 1804-1934(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1804-1952 Probate Records, 1804-1952(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1816-1848 Index to Guardian Book A, 1816-1848(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1828-1909 Inventory Record, 1828-1909(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1830-1889 Administration Docket, 1830-1889(*) Muskingum County Probate and County Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1841-1924 Sale Bill Record, 1841-1924(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1852-1885 Final Records of Court Cases, 1852-1885(*) Muskingum County and Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1852-1887 Journal Docket, 1852-1887(*) Muskingum County and Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1854-1939 Probate Appearance Dockets (1854-1939)(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1864-1898 Guardians Docket, 1864-1898(*) Muskingum County and Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1867-1900 Executor's Bond Record, vol. A-B, 1867-1900(*) Muskingum County and Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1885-1935 Probate Final Records, 1885-1935(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1891-1935 Wills, 1891-1935(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1901-1942 Guardians' Dockets, 1901-1942(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1912-1948 General Index to Probate Records, 1912-1948(*) Muskingum Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 1947-1958 Motion Docket, 1947-1958(*) Muskingum County Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Ohio tax records complement land records and can be used in place of censuses before 1820 or to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties.
Online Tax Indexes and Records
- 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at MyHeritage ($) — index
The records on FamilySearch are Tax Duplicates. Tax duplicates are records of taxes paid by individuals in Ohio. The tax duplicates were compiled by county auditors and sent to the Auditor of State. They list the property holders, the size in acres and location of their land (section, range, and township) and the rate at which the land was taxed. After 1838, the Auditor of State collected this information as tax abstracts, which do not record individual tax payers. Contact the County Auditor's Office for individual tax records for Muskingum County after 1838.
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
- 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 ($) — index
Death
- 1765-1947 Ohio, Church and Civil Births and Baptisms, 1765-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
- 1833-1967 Ohio, Church and Civil Deaths, 1833-1967 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1840-2001 Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1908-1932, 1938–1944, and 1958–2007 Ohio Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007 at FamilySearch– How to Use this Collection; Index of deaths from the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus. Index provided by Ancestry.com.
- 1908-1932, 1938-2018 Ohio, Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2018 at Ancestry ($) — 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 ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Muskingum County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Ohio Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Zanesville Ohio FamilySearch Center
- Muskingum County Genealogical Society Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Muskingum County. For state-wide library facilities, see Ohio Archives and Libraries.
Muskingum County Library System
220 N Fifth St
Zanesville, OH 43701
740-453-0391
Website
Museums
Muskingum County History
115 Jefferson St
Zanesville, OH 43701
740-454-9500
Email:director@muskingumcountyhistory.org
Website
Societies
Listed below are societies in Muskingum County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Ohio Societies.
MCCOGS
PO Box 2427
220 N 5th St
Zanesville, OH 43702-2427
740-453-0391 ext. 139
Email:genealogy@muskingumlibrary.org
Website
Muskingum County History
115 Jefferson St
Zanesville, OH 43701
740-454-9500
Email:director@muskingumcountyhistory.org
Website
Websites
- Custom Browse of Historical Collections at Ohio Memory — Use map or alpha bar to select county or place, then browse search options in left sidebar.
- Ohio Genealogical Society ($) — online databases
- Muskingum County OH Genealogy at LDS Genealogy
- The Muskingum County OHGenWeb Project
- The USGenWeb Archives Project for Muskingum County.
- 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
- ↑ Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries Ohio: Individual County Chronologies; Copyright The Newberry Library 2007
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Muskingum County, Ohio Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ohio/muskingum/ accessed 2/22/2017.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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, "Muskingum County, Ohio," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskingum_County,_Ohio, accessed 6 January 2019.