Wayne County, Ohio Genealogy
Guide to Wayne County, Ohio ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
Wayne County was named in honor of General Anthony Wayne, the victor at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. The county is located in the east-central area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Wayne County Courthouse
428 West Liberty St
Wooster, OH 44691
Phone: 330-287-5590
Wayne County Website
Wayne County, Ohio Record Dates[edit | edit source]
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 | 1813 | 1867 | 1812 | 1812 | 1812 | 1820 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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: [8]
| Cities | ||
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| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
For an extensive list of resources for Bible Records see Ohio Bible Records.
- Bible Records at Wayne County Public Library - includes copies of the family pages from the Bibles.
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
- Business' Abstracts Organization Portal at Wayne County Public Library - list of historical businesses and information of Wayne County
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 11,933 | — |
| 1830 | 23,333 | 95.5% |
| 1840 | 35,808 | 53.5% |
| 1850 | 32,981 | −7.9% |
| 1860 | 32,483 | −1.5% |
| 1870 | 35,116 | 8.1% |
| 1880 | 40,076 | 14.1% |
| 1890 | 39,005 | −2.7% |
| 1900 | 37,870 | −2.9% |
| 1910 | 38,058 | 0.5% |
| 1920 | 41,346 | 8.6% |
| 1930 | 47,024 | 13.7% |
| 1940 | 50,520 | 7.4% |
| 1950 | 58,716 | 16.2% |
| 1960 | 75,497 | 28.6% |
| 1970 | 87,123 | 15.4% |
| 1980 | 97,408 | 11.8% |
| 1990 | 101,461 | 4.2% |
| 2000 | 111,564 | 10.0% |
| 2010 | 114,520 | 2.6% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records[edit | edit source]
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.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Early court records may be found on microfilm at the Wayne County Public Library. Most of these records have been digitized and are available through FamilySearch.
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
- List of Directories at Wayne County Public Library
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
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Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
- 1849-1896 Court Records, 1849-1896(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1852-1900 Index to Wills and Estates II, Wayne County, Ohio, 1852-1900, by Richard G. Smith. Wooster, Ohio: Wayne County Historical Society, Genealogical Section, 1987. FS Catalog book 977.161 P28sm; Online at: FamilySearch Catalog(*)
- 1852-1919 Final Record, 1852-1919(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
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
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
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.
- Douglass, Benjamin, History of Wayne County, Ohio: From the Days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time, (Indianapolis, Indiana: R. Douglas, 1878). Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Google Books, Internet Archive, Ancestry (Indexed) at Ancestry ($)
- Bowen, B.F., History of Wayne County, Ohio, (Indianapolis, Indiana: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1910). Online at Google Books, Internet Archive, FamilySearch Digital Library
- Howe, Henry, History of Wayne County, Ohio: 1796-1889, (Knightstown, Indiana Bookmark, 1997), Reprint, 1898. FS Catalog book 977.161 H2hh
- Wayne County History Book Committee, A History of Wayne County, Ohio, (Dallas, Texas: Taylor Pub. Co., 1987). FS Catalog book 977.161 H2h
- Wayne County Historical Landmark Committee, Historic Heritage of Wayne County, Ohio, (Wooster, Ohio: Wayne County Historical Society, 1976. FS Catalog book 977.161 H2L
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- Many residents of Wayne County relocated to Northwestern Ohio, Indiana, and points further west during the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s.
- Many residents followed what is now the US Route 30, State Route 3, US Route 250, and Interstate 77 when moving into Wayne County.
- Many residents relocated to Wayne County from Southeastern Ohio and West Virginia in search for jobs.
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- 1888-1919 Ohio Soldier Home Records, 1888-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
- Hauenstein, Edward Harry, A History of Wayne County in the World War and in the Wars of the Past, (Wayne County History Co., 1919). Online at Google Books, Internet Archive
Civil War
Servicemen from Wayne 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 Wayne County.
- - 4th Regiment, Ohio Infantry (3 months, 1861), Company E (also known as Given Guards) with many men from Wooster.
- - 41st Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company C
- - 102nd Regiment, Ohio Infantry , Companies F, H , and I
- - 107th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company C, especially from the town of Wooster
- - 166th Regiment, Ohio Infantry (National Guard), Company G
World War I
- 1914-1918 Ohio, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
- 1914-1919 Ohio, World War I Statement of Service Cards, 1914-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
- 1916-1920 Ohio, WWI Index and Return Cards, 1916-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1800-1977 Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Wayne 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 ($)
- The Community History Archive at Wayne County Public Library
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- 1657-Onward Ohio Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
- Ohio Obituary Index at Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library.
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
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 Wayne 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 ($) — index & images.
- 1789-1996 Ohio Probate Records 1789-1996 at FamilySearch.org — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
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; index & images.
- 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at MyHeritage ($) — index
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Marriages were usually recorded from the formation of the county and are held at the office of the County Probate Court. Divorce records are located with the county Clerk of Courts.
Any existing birth and death records from 1867 through December 19, 1908 are located at the County Probate Court. The Ohio Department of Health has birth records filed after December 20, 1908 and death records filed after January 1, 1954, while the Ohio History Connection houses death records from December 20, 1908 through December 31, 1953.
Original records of Wayne County births, marriages and deaths for 1856-1857 are housed at the Wayne County Public Library.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1841-2003 Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
- 1918-1953 Ohio, Stillbirths, 1918-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1959-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1959-1998 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1789-2013 Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
- 1789-Onward Ohio Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1800-1942 Ohio Marriages, 1800-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index.
- 1800-1958 Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index.
- 1970-2003 Ohio, Marriages, 1970 - 2003 at MyHeritage ($) — index
Death[edit | edit source]
- 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; index & images.
- 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.
- 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[edit | edit source]
- 1962-2007 Ohio, Divorce Abstracts, 1962-1963, 1967-1971, 1973-2007 at Ancestry ($)
Voting Records[edit | edit source]
- 1900-Onward Ohio, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Wayne County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Ohio Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]
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
- Wooster Ohio FamilySearch Center
- Wayne County Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Wayne County. For state-wide library facilities, see Ohio Archives and Libraries.
Fredericksburg Community Library
108 S Mill St
PO Box 24
Fredericksburg, OH 44627
Phone: 330-695-2420
Website
Orrville Public Library
230 N Main St
Orrville, OH 44667
Phone: 330-683-1065
Website
Wayne County Public Library
Main Library
220 W Liberty St
Wooster, OH 44691
Phone: 330-262-0916
Email: genealogy@wcpl.info
Website
Wayne County, Ohio Online Resource Center
Museums[edit | edit source]
Wayne County Historical Society Museum
546 E Bowman St
Wooster, OH 44691
Phone: 330-264-8856
Website
Facebook
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Wayne County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Ohio Societies.
Wayne County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 856
Wooster, OH 44691-0856
Email: waynecogs@gmail.com
Website
Western Reserve Historical Society
Research Library in the History Center
10825 East Blvd
Cleveland, OH 44106
Phone: 216-721-5722
FamilySearch Wiki article
Website
Wayne County Chapter, OGS
PO Box 856
Wooster, OH 44691
Email: waynecogs@gmail.com
Website
Wayne County Historical Societies by communities
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- 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
- Wayne County, Ohio Online Resource Center available through the Wayne County Public Library, Genealogy and Local History Department's website.
- Wayne County OH Genealogy at LDS Genealogy
- USGenWeb Archives for Wayne County.
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the 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[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries Ohio: Individual County Chronologies; Copyright The Newberry Library 2007
- ↑ Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries Ohio: Individual County Chronologies; Copyright The Newberry Library 2007
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Wayne County, Ohio Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ohio/wayne/ accessed 2/27/2017.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Picturesque Wayne, page 34
- ↑ The Daily Record Tuesday, May 20, 1969, page 1
- ↑ Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries Ohio: Individual County Chronologies; Copyright The Newberry Library 2007
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Wayne County, Ohio," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_County,_Ohio, accessed 18 January 2019.