Our family has a similar story, my father-in-law, John BILLY, carried a copy of his baptismal certificate as his birth certificate. He was baptized in April 1921 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Byesville, OH. Mike McDermott, San Jose, CA In a message dated 8/10/2005 5:49:37 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes: I have been told by several individuals that documents were lost in a courthouse fire. When I contact the courthouse to inquire about the fire, and how a duplicate death certificate might be acquired, they tell me that there never was a fire in any Guernsey County government building that led to the loss of documents. I am curious if anyone knows whether there was or wasn't a fire. My Great-Great-Grandfather, Otho(Otha) Berg, died in Sept of 1913, in a mining accident in Guernsey County, near Byesville, according to mostly oral, and some written family history. I am reaching my wits end trying to verify this information, and/or get more information on him and his death. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Justin Berg