Helen I live in Jackson and I work with Karen on many thin's and where it is true that "Some" of the ladies at the courthouse aren't informaed or "equipped" to handle thing's aother's are not. I have nothing but success in all of my searches there and in them getting the information and copies that I need. If it isn't there it isn't there. If you have been to the courthouse then you have seen the way the old books look in probate and whereas there was a marriage or something that was once recorded it may not be able to be found because there ARE pages missing from these books. One of the nice ladies at the probate office was sent elsewhere to find an OLD file for the courthouse while in the process of looking for this she found Will Book A and returned it to the courthouse because so many people request thing's from there. I do not want to step on toes here but I think it is unfair to judhe the ladies working at the courthouse because they do the best that they can and I have left! long list of wills/estates etc and have gotten them looked up and every page copied and a courtesy call to come get them in around 2 days to a week. They help as much as they can there...along with doing their own jobs.If you look back through Jackson county history there has always been a problem in keeping and preserving records. There are many to blame in this. I have spoken with several people in Jackson about these thing's. Shane Goodman is the new Mayor and he seem's nice enough but I don't know at this time on his feeling's about the old records and thing's at the courthouse but I do know that several organizations were looking for storage space at one time for these records and said none were available in Jackson...what people don't know is that the Courthouse does have a storage somewhere because that is where the clerk found the old file and Will Book A. It has been brought to the Genealogy Society's attention as Karen and several other's have mentioned it to the! m, but their hands are pretty much tied until they get permission to o btain these records and then they too have no where to store these records. They operate out of the Jackson City Library and there is no room there and the Society does not make enough money to purchase a larger place to help in preservation of these records. I make weekly trips to the courthouse and the one's are in very bad shape in the various departments but the one's people should really throw a fit about is all the one's in the attic that are just throwed on the floor in piles, corners etc and have bird crap all over them and dust so thick you can barely breathe. I have seen many posts on this subject on the list and I am sorry if I offend anybody but I just wanted to throw in my two cents as well. I was told by one nice lady that there was "talk" of putting these records onto a "computer" somehow but no definate plans were made and that they were going to "look" for someone to do this for them, and that they were "supposedly" waiting on "approved" funds to get this do! ne. Last I talked to this person [who does work there} nothing has been planned or taken care of and they have heard nothing else. Plus in the last year as I have been in there, there have been several rude people come in demanding information on someone that they do not even know the correct name of and have no dates or anything and the ladies cannot help like that, because if they have nothing to go on or a correct name how can they find someone and there have also been a few people try to "walk out" with thing's there. One nice lady even took old photos off of the wall and made copies for a nice old man who came from way out of town. So I think they do a good enough job there, it isn't their fault that Jackson's Officials don't care about this stuff. Karen does try to do what she can but right now she has alot going on from where her husband had back surgery and all, but she does speak up when she can. Once again I am sorry if I offended anybody just thought I would thro! w in what I know and have seen. Schannon > > From: <[email protected]> > Date: 2004/04/10 Sat PM 12:07:17 EDT > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Re: [OHJACKSO-L] Courthouse records issue > > Hi Karen Davis, > > PS. I'll be through the area April 26. Thanks for help in cemeteries. > > Gallia Co has also given it's OLDEST wills/estate records to the Genealogical Society in Galliapolis. Unfortunately, the records are falling apart and I'm not sure IF they were microfilmed before they were donated to them. So this could result in them being unreadable very soon. Space could become a problem for a Genealogical society if they accept records. Gallia Co courthouse was writing a GRANT request in about 2001 to get some help on costs to microfilm. I'm not sure how that turned out. Why doesn't Jackson county look for OUTSIDE help? They never let their records be microfilmed by WPA or the Mormans. Surely Jackson Co could qualify for some funding. I even proposed this to the governor in 2003 when the cost of documents was being raised to $15.00 with no uncertified copies available because of the disportionate need of Jackson, Gallia, and Vinton County (# of requests vs. tax base ratio in those counties). > > (I know you're just the messenger, but I hope you can convey this info to the NEW MAYOR of Jackson Co. I don't think they realize how much travel (including gas/meals and possibly lodging) that folks do from out of town to do research in Jackson and it's one of the most "difficult" places to do research. Yes, they recently added a little room for folks at the courthouse at about the time the state raised the rates to $15.00 for b/d certificates. > > The Register of Deeds here where I moved, gives $5M BACK to the county just based on USER FEES alone, above their costs, to run their department. Counties like Jackson, Gallia (and possibly Washington County--the oldest in OHIO?) get a disportionate amount of requests since they are the OLDEST and instead of understanding the issue and going with the FLOW to make it work, they have dragged their heels, in the past, refusing modern but also cost effective ways to deal with the issue and turn it into a "plus" for visitors to come to Jackson. > > No statistics are kept at Jackson County on number of requests. Also, because they don't have a policy in the courthouse, nor understand the genealogy "process", they have ill-equipped the young ladies in the department to know what is a "REASONABLE" request and which requires a referral for "UNREASONABLE" requests to "paid researchers." The ladies are not required to "GIVE ME ALL YOU HAVE ON A SURNAME" or my "Aunt Jennie married sometime between 1800-1850. Find her." > > Because there is lack of understanding the young ladies in the department deam it a "chore" to respond. It is NOT the main focus of their job which is to serve the citizens of the community who are the current tax payers and to the attorneys who practice through this courthouse. BUT other counties have solved this problem, Jackson County needs a strategy, and a method to get funding to make it happen to enable them to reap economic benefits while serving the community. They have an untapped economic benefit in their genealogical records. They could host one more event (besides Apples Days, etc) for "Old Settlers Day." A day to encourage, FAMILY reunions by SURNAMES in the area, to open up the historical places (Buckeye, Welch Museum), to have the genealogical societies host "programs"--for small fees and to sell cemetery books, etc. to have someone present "talking history" of Fairmount Cemetery or "Ridgewood Cemetery". Their records could be a big PLUS. But again! ,i! > t is one of the worst counties for gaining access to records and I have been doing this for over 25 years in over 7 states and too many counties to mention and so speak from experience of comparison. If you now someone in government, please pass this along. There are people out here that would volunteer their TIME if they could solve their "vision" of what they think should happen to government records that they are ENTRUSTED to perserve. > > Helen > > > > From: "Kathy Hines" <[email protected]> > > Date: 2004/04/10 Sat AM 08:58:57 EDT > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: [OHJACKSO-L] Courthouse records issue > > > > Karen, > > > > Depending upon how active your genealogy society is, perhaps they could act > > as the storage site. Here in Hardin County, once the records are > > microfilmed, the court has given us many of the original probate volumes. > > We have an entire room dedicated to court records begining with the chancery > > courts and including many probate documents. The probate court has also > > given us permission to copy all delayed birth records from the beginning of > > Hardin Co. recording them. In fact we have so many records that we are now > > in the process of refurbushing another room to hold the additional volumes > > that are being given to us. I invite anyone with Hardin County roots to > > visit the Hardin Co. Genealogy Society, you will be absolutely amazed at the > > amount of material we have. We are easy to find, if anyone is interested in > > finding us let me know. > > > > Kathy Hines > > > > > >

Hey There Everyone! I am new to genealogy research and looking for my family lines. I have had "no problem" with Jackson County Probate Court nor with their County Health Department. They have went out of their way to help me in my quest. Other counties i have contacted have turned a cold shoulder when asked. Tom Anderson Lima, Ohio ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 12:25 PM Subject: Re: Re: [OHJACKSO-L] Courthouse records issue > Helen > I live in Jackson and I work with Karen on many thin's and where it is true that "Some" of the ladies at the courthouse aren't informaed or "equipped" to handle thing's aother's are not. I have nothing but success in all of my searches there and in them getting the information and copies that I need. If it isn't there it isn't there. If you have been to the courthouse then you have seen the way the old books look in probate and whereas there was a marriage or something that was once recorded it may not be able to be found because there ARE pages missing from these books. One of the nice ladies at the probate office was sent elsewhere to find an OLD file for the courthouse while in the process of looking for this she found Will Book A and returned it to the courthouse because so many people request thing's from there. I do not want to step on toes here but I think it is unfair to judhe the ladies working at the courthouse because they do the best that they can and I have left! > long list of wills/estates etc and have gotten them looked up and every page copied and a courtesy call to come get them in around 2 days to a week. They help as much as they can there...along with doing their own jobs.If you look back through Jackson county history there has always been a problem in keeping and preserving records. There are many to blame in this. I have spoken with several people in Jackson about these thing's. Shane Goodman is the new Mayor and he seem's nice enough but I don't know at this time on his feeling's about the old records and thing's at the courthouse but I do know that several organizations were looking for storage space at one time for these records and said none were available in Jackson...what people don't know is that the Courthouse does have a storage somewhere because that is where the clerk found the old file and Will Book A. It has been brought to the Genealogy Society's attention as Karen and several other's have mentioned it to the! > m, but their hands are pretty much tied until they get permission to o > btain these records and then they too have no where to store these records. They operate out of the Jackson City Library and there is no room there and the Society does not make enough money to purchase a larger place to help in preservation of these records. I make weekly trips to the courthouse and the one's are in very bad shape in the various departments but the one's people should really throw a fit about is all the one's in the attic that are just throwed on the floor in piles, corners etc and have bird crap all over them and dust so thick you can barely breathe. I have seen many posts on this subject on the list and I am sorry if I offend anybody but I just wanted to throw in my two cents as well. I was told by one nice lady that there was "talk" of putting these records onto a "computer" somehow but no definate plans were made and that they were going to "look" for someone to do this for them, and that they were "supposedly" waiting on "approved" funds to get this do! > ne. Last I talked to this person [who does work there} nothing has been planned or taken care of and they have heard nothing else. Plus in the last year as I have been in there, there have been several rude people come in demanding information on someone that they do not even know the correct name of and have no dates or anything and the ladies cannot help like that, because if they have nothing to go on or a correct name how can they find someone and there have also been a few people try to "walk out" with thing's there. One nice lady even took old photos off of the wall and made copies for a nice old man who came from way out of town. So I think they do a good enough job there, it isn't their fault that Jackson's Officials don't care about this stuff. Karen does try to do what she can but right now she has alot going on from where her husband had back surgery and all, but she does speak up when she can. Once again I am sorry if I offended anybody just thought I would thro! > w in what I know and have seen. > Schannon > > > > From: <[email protected]> > > Date: 2004/04/10 Sat PM 12:07:17 EDT > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: Re: [OHJACKSO-L] Courthouse records issue > > > > Hi Karen Davis, > > > > PS. I'll be through the area April 26. Thanks for help in cemeteries. > > > > Gallia Co has also given it's OLDEST wills/estate records to the Genealogical Society in Galliapolis. Unfortunately, the records are falling apart and I'm not sure IF they were microfilmed before they were donated to them. So this could result in them being unreadable very soon. Space could become a problem for a Genealogical society if they accept records. Gallia Co courthouse was writing a GRANT request in about 2001 to get some help on costs to microfilm. I'm not sure how that turned out. Why doesn't Jackson county look for OUTSIDE help? They never let their records be microfilmed by WPA or the Mormans. Surely Jackson Co could qualify for some funding. I even proposed this to the governor in 2003 when the cost of documents was being raised to $15.00 with no uncertified copies available because of the disportionate need of Jackson, Gallia, and Vinton County (# of requests vs. tax base ratio in those counties). > > > > (I know you're just the messenger, but I hope you can convey this info to the NEW MAYOR of Jackson Co. I don't think they realize how much travel (including gas/meals and possibly lodging) that folks do from out of town to do research in Jackson and it's one of the most "difficult" places to do research. Yes, they recently added a little room for folks at the courthouse at about the time the state raised the rates to $15.00 for b/d certificates. > > > > The Register of Deeds here where I moved, gives $5M BACK to the county just based on USER FEES alone, above their costs, to run their department. Counties like Jackson, Gallia (and possibly Washington County--the oldest in OHIO?) get a disportionate amount of requests since they are the OLDEST and instead of understanding the issue and going with the FLOW to make it work, they have dragged their heels, in the past, refusing modern but also cost effective ways to deal with the issue and turn it into a "plus" for visitors to come to Jackson. > > > > No statistics are kept at Jackson County on number of requests. Also, because they don't have a policy in the courthouse, nor understand the genealogy "process", they have ill-equipped the young ladies in the department to know what is a "REASONABLE" request and which requires a referral for "UNREASONABLE" requests to "paid researchers." The ladies are not required to "GIVE ME ALL YOU HAVE ON A SURNAME" or my "Aunt Jennie married sometime between 1800-1850. Find her." > > > > Because there is lack of understanding the young ladies in the department deam it a "chore" to respond. It is NOT the main focus of their job which is to serve the citizens of the community who are the current tax payers and to the attorneys who practice through this courthouse. BUT other counties have solved this problem, Jackson County needs a strategy, and a method to get funding to make it happen to enable them to reap economic benefits while serving the community. They have an untapped economic benefit in their genealogical records. They could host one more event (besides Apples Days, etc) for "Old Settlers Day." A day to encourage, FAMILY reunions by SURNAMES in the area, to open up the historical places (Buckeye, Welch Museum), to have the genealogical societies host "programs"--for small fees and to sell cemetery books, etc. to have someone present "talking history" of Fairmount Cemetery or "Ridgewood Cemetery". Their records could be a big PLUS. But again! > ,i! > > t is one of the worst counties for gaining access to records and I have been doing this for over 25 years in over 7 states and too many counties to mention and so speak from experience of comparison. If you now someone in government, please pass this along. There are people out here that would volunteer their TIME if they could solve their "vision" of what they think should happen to government records that they are ENTRUSTED to perserve. > > > > Helen > > > > > > From: "Kathy Hines" <[email protected]> > > > Date: 2004/04/10 Sat AM 08:58:57 EDT > > > To: [email protected] > > > Subject: Re: [OHJACKSO-L] Courthouse records issue > > > > > > Karen, > > > > > > Depending upon how active your genealogy society is, perhaps they could act > > > as the storage site. Here in Hardin County, once the records are > > > microfilmed, the court has given us many of the original probate volumes. > > > We have an entire room dedicated to court records begining with the chancery > > > courts and including many probate documents. The probate court has also > > > given us permission to copy all delayed birth records from the beginning of > > > Hardin Co. recording them. In fact we have so many records that we are now > > > in the process of refurbushing another room to hold the additional volumes > > > that are being given to us. I invite anyone with Hardin County roots to > > > visit the Hardin Co. Genealogy Society, you will be absolutely amazed at the > > > amount of material we have. We are easy to find, if anyone is interested in > > > finding us let me know. > > > > > > Kathy Hines > > > > > > > > > > >