Step-by-Step Ohio Research, 1880-Present
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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.[edit | edit source]
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.
What are the best questions to ask?[edit | edit source]
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
- 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History at ThoughtCo.com
- Creating Oral Histories at FamilySearch Wiki
What documents should be collected or copied?[edit | edit source]
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.
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Step 2. Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.[edit | edit source]
- A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
- For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
- Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
- Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.=== Using clues to lead to census record searches. ===
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This newspaper clipping gives clues on when and where to start looking for the family in census records.
The first step is search the 1950 and 1940 Ohio census of New Vienna for C.J. and Gladys Uible, with a son, Harold. |
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With information on when they were born, calculated from their ages in the census, the next goal is to find their records in earlier census records, 1930 and 1920.
Here is basic framework for the family, based on these censuses:
- Father: Cecil J. Uible, born about 1884 in Ohio, mother and father born in Ohio
- Mother: Gladys Hiestand Uible, born about 1893 in Ohio, mother and father born in Ohio
- Daughter: Mary Uible, born about 1914 in Ohio
- Son: Harold, born about 1926 in Ohio
Using the clues to lead to an earlier generation.[edit | edit source]
The next goal is to find Cecil Uible listed in his parents' home, possibly in the 1910 census when he is 25, but probably in 1900, when he was 15.
Cecil J. Uible is listed in the home of David and Andelia Uible.
In 1900, David and Andelia Uible give their birth dates as 1845.
They have only been married 7 years, and Cecil is 17. Therefore, Andelia is not Cecil's mother.
David Uible's parents were born in Baden, Germany.
There is no 1890 census. The 1880 census should show David's first wife, presumably Cecil's mother.
In 1880, David Uible's first wife is named "Sarah E." It is more likely that she is Cecil J.' mother
Look for ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.[edit | edit source]
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Quadrennial Censuses With Images Online[edit | edit source]
Ohio enumerated a quadrennial census at the county level. Some of these censuses still exist. Adult males age 21 and above were enumerated.
| County | Year | Links | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auglaize | 1851-1907 | at FamilySearch | images |
| Ashtabula | 1811-1835, 1843 | at FamilySearch | images |
| Washington | 1800, 1803 | at FamilySearch | images |
| Miami County | 1827, 1835 | at FamilySearch | index & images |
| Clermont County | 1820-1830 | at FamilySearch | images |
| Clermont County | 1801-1857 | at FamilySearch | index & images |
| Columbiana County | 1899-1903 | at FamilySearch | images |
| Coshocton County | 1883, 1891 | at FamilySearch | images |
| Gallia County | 1899 | at FamilySearch | images |
| Lawrence County | 1891-1907 | at FamilySearch | images |
| Perry County | 1847-1871, 1879-1887 | at FamilySearch | images |
| Pickaway County | 1863, 1891, 1895, 1899 | at FamilySearch | images |
For more information, see Ohio Census and United States Census.
Step 3: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for ancestors and their children.[edit | edit source]
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
- In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations. *A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
- A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.
Using census clues to lead to a birth certificate.[edit | edit source]
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents.
Example of an indexed birth record.
The index above leads to this image of the original register entry. County records are often organized in registers that spread across two pages.
Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.[edit | edit source]
Finding marriage records can:
- establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
- find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.
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Indexed record: |
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Using census clues to lead to a death certificate.[edit | edit source]
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death:
- birth date and place of the deceased
- maiden name of the wife
- names of the deceased's parents
- birth places of the deceased's parents.
Indexed entry of death record. David Uible's parents, who would be Cecil J. Uible's grandparents, are William and Mary J.Uible.'
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Gather as many birth, marriage, and death records as possible.[edit | edit source]
How to Find the Records[edit | edit source]
There are basically three ways to find these indexes or full original certificates:
- online databases
- writing to a county courthouse (prior to the beginning of state civil registration)
- purchasing them through the mail at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov
Online databases, usually indexes, with some images[edit | edit source]
Records at the County Probate Court, the Ohio Historical Society, or at the Vital Statistics Department[edit | edit source]
Almost always the full original certificate will contain information not contained in the index. Although it costs money, consider sending for the full original certificates, particularly for direct line ancestors (grandparents, great-grandparents, etc).
- State office has birth records since December 20, 1908. For earlier birth and death records, write to the Probate Court in the county where the event occurred.
- Copies of marriage records are not available from the State Health Department. Inquiries will be referred to appropriate office. For certified copies of marriage records, please write to the Probate Court in the county where the event occurred.
- State office has death records since January 1, 1964. For earlier death records, write to the Probate Court in the county where the event occurred. Death records that occurred December 20, 1908 – December 31, 1963 can be obtained from:
- Ohio Historical Society, Archives Library Division
- 1982 Velma Avenue
- Columbus, OH 43211-2497
- Vital Statistics Department has births from 1908 and deaths from 1964.
For contact information for the Counnty Probate Court, see the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Ohio Counties. For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Ohio, see How to Find Ohio Birth Records, How to Find Ohio Marriage Records, and How to Find Ohio Death Records.
Step 4: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.[edit | edit source]
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.
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Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- 1814-2013 Ohio Obituary Index, 1814-2013 at Findmypast — index & images ($)
- 1865-2012 Ohio, U.S., MOLO Obituary Index, 1865-2012 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Database at Ohio Genealogical Society — index & images ($)
- Ohio Genealogy Data at Genealogy Buff — index
- Ohio Newspapers and Obituaries at LDS Genealogy — index
- Ohio Obituary Index at Rutherford B. Hayes, Presidential Library and Museums — index & images ($)
- Online Ohio Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
Cemetery Collections[edit | edit source]
- 1833-1970 United States Deaths and Burials 1833-1970, Ohio at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- BillionGraves — index & images
- BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- FindaGrave — index & images
- Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- Ohio Cemeteries at USGenWeb Tombstones — index
- Ohio Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy — index
- Ohio Death Records and Ohio Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index
- Ohio Gravestone Photo Project at OhioGravestones.org — index & images
- Ohio Jewish Cemetery Project at International Jewish Cemetery Project — index
- Online Ohio Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com
U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007[edit | edit source]
- The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
- The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
- You can search these records online at
- 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($); Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process
- 1962-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.
For more information, see Ohio Obituaries and Ohio Cemeteries.
Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.[edit | edit source]
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information.
Example of a World War I draft card. Locating the draft cards for all of Cecil's brothers would detail their birth dates and places.
Example of a World War II draft card.
Search the World War I and World War II Draft Collections for male relatives.[edit | edit source]
- 1917-1918 United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1942 United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
For more information and additional collections, see Ohio Military Records.
Step 6: Look for church records.[edit | edit source]
Church records function as vital records.
- An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
- Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
- Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.
Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
Search for church records that can provide additional birth, marriage, and death information.[edit | edit source]
FamilySearch Indexes[edit | edit source]
- 1762-2008 Ohio, Church Records, 1762-2008 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1765-1947 Ohio, Church and Civil Births and Baptisms, 1765-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1800-1958 Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1821-1962 Ohio, Births and Christenings, 1821-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1833-1967 Ohio, Church and Civil Deaths, 1833-1967 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1854-1997 Ohio Deaths and Burials, 1854-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
Ancestry.com Indexes[edit | edit source]
- 1774-1973 Ohio, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1774-1973 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1789-1898 Ohio, U.S., Marriages Extracted from the Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly, 1789-1898 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1803-1900 Ohio, U.S., Compiled Marriage Index, 1803-1900 at Ancestry — index ($)
Dutch Reformed[edit | edit source]
- 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Lutheran[edit | edit source]
- 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800-1947 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Presbyterian[edit | edit source]
- 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Quakers (Society of Friends)[edit | edit source]
- 1681-1935 U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800-1990 U.S., Quaker Cemetery Records, 1800-1990 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. Vol. IV: (Ohio Monthly Meetings) at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. Vol. V: (Ohio Monthly Meetings) at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Shakers[edit | edit source]
- Shaker Membership Card Index(*) Western Reserve Historical Society (Cleveland, Ohio) at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Roman Catholic[edit | edit source]
- Catholic Heritage Archive at Findmypast — index & images ($)
Step 7: Search for wills and probate packets.[edit | edit source]
- County probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
- In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
- Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.
Search these indexes and images for probate records.[edit | edit source]
Online Records[edit | edit source]
- 1786-1998 Ohio, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1789-1996 Ohio Probate Records 1789-1996 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Probate Information in County Wiki Articles[edit | edit source]
Each Ohio county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Ohio Counties
For more information, see Ohio Probate Records and United States Probate Records.
Step 8: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.[edit | edit source]
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.
Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.[edit | edit source]
Ohio Immigration Records[edit | edit source]
- 1929-1958 Ohio, U.S., Crew List Arrivals, 1929-1958 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1952-1963 Ohio, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1952-1963 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1952-1974 Ohio, Passenger and Crew Lists arriving at Ashtabula and Conneaut, 1952-1974 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Ohio Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records[edit | edit source]
- 1794-1995 U.S., Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800-1977 Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; Also at: Ancestry ($), Findmypast ($), MyHeritage ($)
- 1852-1991 Ohio, Southern District Naturalization Index, 1852-1991 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1855-1967 Ohio, Northern District, Eastern Division, Naturalization Index, 1855-1967 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1888-1946 Ohio, U.S., Naturalization Petition and Record Books, 1888-1946 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1907-1946 US, Naturalizations - OH Northern, 1907-1946 at fold3 — index & images ($)
For more information, see Ohio Emigration and Immigration and Ohio Naturalization and Citizenship.
Step 9: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.[edit | edit source]
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
- Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Ohio; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
- Google Books. Use keywords "Ohio" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
- Family History Books
- County and Town Histories
- Internet Archive. Use keywords "Ohio" and the county name.
- Ancestry.com ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Ohio and the name of the county.
FamilySearch Collected Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
- If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
- Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
- In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
- A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.
Biography Collections[edit | edit source]
These collections of biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or use the "Find" function on a computer.
- 1775 Biographical and Historical Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio, With Narratives of Incidents and Occurrences in 1775, by Hildreth, S. P., R. J. Meigs and Ephraim Cutler. Cincinnati: H. W. Derby and Co., 1852. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Also at: Ancestry — index & images ($), HathiTrust ($), Internet Archive ($)
- 1787-1876 Ohio, Biographical Sketches, 1787-1876 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1900-1903 Representative Men of Ohio, 1900-1903, by Mercer, James K. and Edward K. Rife. Columbus, Ohio: James K. Mercer, 1903. Online at: HathiTrust
- A Biographical Cyclopædia and Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Men, With an Historical Sketch, of the State of Ohio, by Brennan, J. Fletcher. Cincinnati: J. C. Yorston and Company, 1879. Online at: HathiTrust
- County and Town Histories, Ohio at LearnWebSkills — index & images
- Historical Collections of Ohio ... An Encyclopedia of the State, by Howe, Henry. Columbus: H. Howe and Son, 1890-1891. Online at: HathiTrust
- Historical Collections of Ohio, by Howe, Henry. Cincinnati: Derby, Bradley and Co., 1848. Online at: HathiTrust
- History of the Western Reserve, by Upton, Harriet Taylor. Chicago, New York: Lewis Pub. Co., 1910. Online at: Vol. 1 - Internet Archive; Vol. 2 - Internet Archive; Vol. 3 - Internet Archive
- Ohio Biography at OhioBio — index & images
- Ohio, the Future Great State, Her Manufacturers, and a History of Her Commercial Cities, Cincinnati and Cleveland, With Portraits and Biographies of Some of the Old Settlers and Many of the Most Prominent Business Men, by Comley, W. J. and W. D'Eggville. Cincinnati and Cleveland: Comley Brothers Manufacturing and Publishing Company, 1875. Online at: HathiTrust
Step 10: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.[edit | edit source]
This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county: Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society.
Step 11: Use other FamilySearch tools.[edit | edit source]Historical Images[edit | edit source]Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
Ohio Online Genealogy Records[edit | edit source]Search any other online records listed in Ohio Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Ohio Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
Step 12: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Ohio.[edit | edit source]This article focused more on Ohio state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Ohio. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.
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