Hello to the Hamilton Co. Researchers! This is my first attempt at finding old Hamilton Co. records. I spent about 15 years looking for a marriage record in Clayton Co. Iowa and, just recently, another researcher turned up a mention of it in Hamilton Co., Ohio. I believe the record is at the North German Lutheran Church. http://www.hcgsdata.org/grooms/Mein-Meyerr.shtml Hamilton County Genealogical Society Cincinnati Marriage Indexes 1840-49 E-P-F Menke, Ernst Koetting, Anna Cath. I have the exact date of the marriage as 19 Nov 1845. I wrote to the Public Library and asked if they could obtain a copy of that record for me. But they wrote back saying that they "tried to read the North German Lutheran Church film but it simply too faded to make out many names. We did not see a Menke, Kötting, Dubbels or Ribbe - but it could be there. While the names of the the bride and groom are difficult to make the rest of the information is almost impossible. The roll of film MF929.377177 H217 1989 is readable but it seems to be random records thrown together." Has anybody else had the good fortune to obtain a legible marriage record in the mid-1800s from the North German Lutheran Church? I am really hoping to find some parents or siblings or other family members for Ernst Menke and Anna Catherine Kötting. NOTE: This must have moved to Clayton Co., Iowa almost immediately after their wedding, as their first child (listed on the 1850 census) was born in Iowa. Federal Census on the 14th of Sept, 1850 for Jefferson Township, Clayton Co., IA Enumerated by Elipholet There is a big fat piece of old scotch tape over the first name of the head of household, but I'm reasonably certain that the name should be Ernest or Ernst. Dwelling 187 Family 187 Ernst MENKER, 30, m, Blacksmith, 100 in Real Estate, place of birth - Ger. Catherine Menker, 30, f, b. Ger., can not read and write Mina Menker, 3, f, b. Iowa Mary Menker, 2, f, b. Iowa Kathalena Menker, 1, f, b. Iowa Thanks for any help or background knowledge on the early North German Lutheran Church records in Ohio! Have a great weekend, Kathy in MN www.Kiva.org - loans that change lives. Change the world one loan at a time.