Ross County, Ohio Genealogy
Guide to Ross County, Ohio ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
Ross County, Ohio | |
Map | |
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![]() Location of Ohio in the U.S. | |
Courthouse | |
Address | Ross County Courthouse 2 N. Paint St. Chillicothe, Ohio 45601 Ross County Website |
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Contents
- 1 Ross County, Ohio Record Dates
- 2 Resources
- 2.1 Bible Records
- 2.2 Biography
- 2.3 Business Records and Commerce
- 2.4 Cemeteries
- 2.5 Census and Directories
- 2.6 Church Records
- 2.7 Court Records
- 2.8 Emigration and Immigration
- 2.9 Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups
- 2.10 Funeral Homes
- 2.11 Gazetteers
- 2.12 Genealogy
- 2.13 History
- 2.14 Land and Property
- 2.15 Maps
- 2.16 Military
- 2.17 Naturalization and Citizenships
- 2.18 Newspapers
- 2.19 Obituaries
- 2.20 Periodicals
- 2.21 Probate
- 2.22 Public Records
- 2.23 Repositories
- 2.24 Schools
- 2.25 Taxation
- 2.26 Vital Records
- 3 Websites
- 4 References
Ross County, Ohio Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1867 | 1798 | 1867 | 1798 | 1797 | 1797 | 1820 |
- Parent Counties: Formed from Adams and Washington Counties in 1798.
- County Seat: Chillicothe
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for Federalist Senator James Ross of Pennsylvania.[2] It's county seat is Mansfield and was founded August 20, 1798. It is located in the Southcentral area of the state.[3]
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: [4]
Cities | ||
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Villages | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Townships | ||
Ghost towns | ||
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Pickaway County • Hocking County • Vinton County • Jackson County • Pike County • Highland County • Fayette County
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
For animated maps illustrating Ohio county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Ohio County Boundary Maps" (1788-1940) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Ross County, Ohio family Bible records, vol. 1
Biography[edit | edit source]
Business Records and Commerce[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.
Online Grave Transcripts | Published Grave Transcripts | County Cemetery Directories |
Family History Library | ||
WorldCat | ||
Billion Graves | ||
OHGenWeb Tombstone Photos | ||
See Ohio Cemeteries for more information. |
- Cemetery Index Ohio Genealogy Express
- Cemeteries of Ross County Linkpendium
- Many Cemetery Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
Census and Directories[edit | edit source]
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1800 | 8,540 | — |
1810 | 15,514 | 81.7% |
1820 | 20,619 | 32.9% |
1830 | 24,068 | 16.7% |
1840 | 27,460 | 14.1% |
1850 | 32,074 | 16.8% |
1860 | 35,071 | 9.3% |
1870 | 37,097 | 5.8% |
1880 | 40,307 | 8.7% |
1890 | 39,454 | −2.1% |
1900 | 40,940 | 3.8% |
1910 | 40,069 | −2.1% |
1920 | 41,556 | 3.7% |
1930 | 45,181 | 8.7% |
1940 | 52,147 | 15.4% |
1950 | 54,424 | 4.4% |
1960 | 61,215 | 12.5% |
1970 | 61,211 | −0.0% |
1980 | 65,004 | 6.2% |
1990 | 69,330 | 6.7% |
2000 | 73,345 | 5.8% |
2010 | 78,064 | 6.4% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
- Census
- Census Records
- Ross County Ohio Census
- U. S. City Directories (Chillicothe) $
- Canton, Ohio 1914 City Directory
- 1820 United States Census $
- 1830 United States Census $
- 1840 United States Census $
- United States Census (Mortality) 1850
- U. S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 $
- United States Census, 1850
- United States Census 1850
- United States Census, 1860
- United States Census 1860
- 1860 United States Census $
- United States Census, 1870
- United States Census 1870
- United States Census, 1880 (Index only)
- United States Census 1880
- 1880 United States Census $
- United States Census, 1900
- United States Census 1900
- 1910 United States Census $
- United States Census 1910
- 1920 United States Census $
- United States Census 1920
- 1930 United States Census $
- 1930 Census of Merchant Seamen $
- The 1803 Census Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
- Many City Directories Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
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.
- Bible & Church Records
- Churches
- Ross County, Ohio Churches
- Topographic Map Church Features in Ross County, Ohio
- Many Church Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- Gateways to the West $ (Includes Territorial Court Order Book, 1798-1799, 1799-1800, Index to Estates and Guardianships 1797-1820).
- Many Court Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, or Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
- Many Minority Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
Genealogy[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Ross County, Ohio Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Ohio Local Histories.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
- Bennett, Henry Holcomb, The County of Ross: A History of Ross County, Ohio, From the Earliest Days, (Madison, Wisconsin: S.A. Brant, 1902). Digital copy at Google Books Ancestry ($)(Indexed) FHL film 599261 Item 2; book 977.182 H2b
- Evans, Lyle S., A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio: An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with Particular Attention to the Modern Era in the Commercial, Industrial, Civic and Social Development, (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1987). Digital copy at Google Books, Ancestry ($)(Indexed); FHL fiche 6087727 and 6087728; 977.182 H2e v. 1-2
- Finley, Isaac J. and Rufus Putnam, Pioneer Record and Reminiscences of the Early Settlers and Settlement of Ross County, Ohio, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Robert Clarke, 1871). Digital copy at Internet Archive FHL film 824057 Item 3
- History of Ross and Highland Counties Ohio, (Cleveland, Ohio: Williams Bros., 1880). Digital copy FamilySearch Digital Library, FHL film 915745 Item 2; book 977.18 H2h
- Perkins, George, Pioneer Sketches, Life in the Northwest Territory and Ross County, Ohio: 1600s-1896, (Chillicothe, Ohio: Ross County Genealogical Society, 1999). FHL book 977.182 H2p
- Articles & Stories
- Biographies
- Histories
- Biographies extracted from The County of Ross: by Henry Holcomb Bennett 1902
- County History
- Biographical Sketches
- Many History Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
Land and Property[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Ohio Land and Property for additional information about early Ohio land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
- Land Records
- Land Patent Search
- U. S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 $
- Many Land Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Ohio (1788-1940)
- Ross County Ohio Maps
- Map of Ross County Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels
- Many Maps for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
Military[edit | edit source]
- 1888-1919 - Ohio Soldier Home Records, 1888-1919 at FamilySearch — index and images
General[edit | edit source]
- Many Military Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
- Military Records
- Military Records for Ohio Counties
Civil War[edit | edit source]
- Civil War service men from Ross 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 Ross County.
- - 1st Regiment, Ohio Cavalry, Company M
- - 1st Regiment, Ohio Heavy Artillery, Company B
- - 106th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company F
World War I[edit | edit source]
- 1914-1919 - Ohio, World War I Statement of Service Cards, 1914-1919 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1914-1918 - Ohio, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1916-1920 - Ohio, WWI Index and Return Cards, 1916-1920 at FamilySearch — index
- 1917-1918 - World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 ($)
World War II[edit | edit source]
- United States, World War II Draft Registratoin Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch
- U. S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 ($)
- Ross County, Ohio World War II Casualties Army and Air Force
Naturalization and Citizenships[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1977 - Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977 at FamilySearch — index and images
- Naturalization at RootsWeb
- Many Naturalization and Citizenship Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Ross County, Ohio Genealogy newspapers may contain genealogical value including obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings.
To access newspapers, contact public libraries, Ohio Genealogical Society chapters, college or university libraries, the Library of Congress, Google News, or the Ohio Memory. The Ohio Genealogical Society Obituary Database is another source of newspaper information.
For more Ohio newspaper information see the Newspaper Guides on the wiki page Ohio Newspapers and Obituaries. Online Newspapers
OnlineNewspaperAbstracts
Newspaper Extracts and Abstracts in Book Form
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate[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 {{{1}}} County Probate Court. Records include wills, estates, guardianships, naturalizations, marriage, adoption, and birth and death records (1867-1908 only). The records may give the decedent's date of death, name of spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
See Ohio Probate Records for information about how to use probate records. Online Probate Records
- 1786 - 1998 Ohio Wills and Probate Records 1786-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1789 - 1996 Ohio Probate Records 1789-1996 at FamilySearch.org — images
- 1790–1967 - Ohio, Probate Records, 1790-1967 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free. This collection consists of probate records and estate files from county courthouses in Ohio. The content and time period varies by county, with more records being added as they become available. This Collection will include records from 1789 to 1996. Currently, (September 2012) the collection is only searchable by browsing the images. A list of Fires that have destroyed records in the courthouses of several counties are listed on the Record Description page.
- Many Probate Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
- Wills and Probate Records
Finding More Probate Records[edit source]
Additional probate records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Ross County, Ohio Genealogy Probate Records in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search).
Public Records[edit | edit source]
Repositories[edit | edit source]
Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Ross County Courthouse
2 N Paint Street
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: 740.702.3085
Probate Judge has birth, marriage, death and probate records;
Clerk Court has divorce records from late 1800’s and court records;
County Recorder has land records[5]
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History 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 family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the FHC directory. Put your town name in the top search box.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Ross County, Ohio Genealogical Society
PO Box 6352
Chillicothe, OH 45601-6352
Telephone: 740-773-2715
Email:rcgs@bright.net
Website
Ross County Heritage Center
45 West Fifth Street
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
Telephone:740-773-1896 Library
Society 740-772-1936
Email:info@rosscountyhistorical.org
Website
Online Genealogy Research Groups[edit | edit source]
- U.S. Midwest Genealogy Research Community - FamilySearch Facebook Research Group
- Ohio Ancestors - FamilySearch Community group, must have a free FamilySearch account to join
- U.S. and Canada Genealogy Research - FamilySearch Community group, must have a free FamilySearch account to join
Schools[edit | edit source]
Taxation[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.
- 1800-1950 - Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- Ohio Tax Records 1816-1838
Finding More Tax Records
Additional tax records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Ross County, Ohio Genealogy Tax Records in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search).
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Marriages were usually recorded from the formation of the county and are held at the office of the County Probate Court. Divorce records are located with the county Clerk of Courts.
Any existing birth and death records from 1867 through December 19, 1908 are located at the County Probate Court. The Ohio Department of Health has birth records filed after December 20, 1908 and death records filed after January 1, 1954, while the Ohio History Connection houses death records from December 20, 1908 through December 31, 1953.
Birth[edit | edit source]
Online Birth Indexes and Records
- 1800-1962 - Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962 at ancestry.com ($)
- Birth Records 1867-1908
- 1841-2003 - Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1908-1964 - Ohio, Birth Index, 1908-1964 at ancestry.com ($)
Original Birth Records on Microfilm
Marriage[edit | edit source]
Online Marriage Indexes and Records
- 1789-2013 - Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1798-1849 - Marriages 1798-1849
- 1800-1958 - Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1958 at FamilySearch — free; Index.
- 1800-1942 - Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1942 at FamilySearch — index
- 1803-1900 - Ohio Marriages, 1803-1900 $
- Orena V. Grant genealogical collection at ancestry.com ($)
- Marriage Records
- at Ross County, Ohio marriage records at at ancestry.com ($)
- 1970-2003 Ohio, Marriages, 1970 - 2003 at MyHeritage ($) — index
Original Marriage Records on Microfilm
- Many Divorce Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details
Death[edit | edit source]
Online Death Indexes and Records
- 1840-2001 - Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1908-1953 - Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953. Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. Records include such information as birth date of deceased, city, county, and state of death, name of spouse if married, names of parents, maiden name of mother, name of informant, if deceased was single, married, windowed or divorced, occupation of deceased.
- 1908-1932, 1938-2018 Ohio, Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2018 at Ancestry.com ($) — index and images
- 1913-1944, 1954-1963 Ohio Death Index, 1913-1944, 1954-1963 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- Death Records
- Gateway to the West $ (Marriages from 1798-1809)
- Many Vital Records for Ross County have been microfilmed or abstracted. Some of those copies are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. For a listing of their holdings, see topic details.
- Orena V. Grant genealogical collection at ancestry.com ($)
Finding More Vital Records
Additional vital records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Ross County, Ohio Genealogy Vital Records in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Places Search).
Original Death Records on Microfilm
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Ross County, OH History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- Ross County OH Genealogy
- Ohio Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county. *Search This Site
- FamilySearch Catalog
- Ohio Genealogy Express
- Ross County, Ohio Chamber of Commerce
- Ross County, Ohio Genealogy Trails
- Ross County, Ohio Genealogy Forum
- Cyndi's List
- Records Project Ross County Public Record Information Online
- WikipediA Ross County, Ohio
- Profile for Ross County, Ohio
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ross County, Ohio. Page 540-547 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 531-533.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Ross County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_County,_Ohio accessed 2/22/2017.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Ross County, Ohio Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ohio/ross/ accessed 2/27/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Ross County, Ohio," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_County,_Ohio, accessed 11 January 2019.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ross County, Ohio. Page 545 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.