The following is from notes taken at our April 11 meeting. The presentation by Henry Timman gave us new insight to not overlook sometimes obscure records in our researching of our ancestors. The following information is basic information for most any county government. We know that the Probate Court of any county holds Marriage Records - usually from the beginning of the county to the present; Birth & Death records (usually from 1867-1908); Estate records-from the beginning of the county to present (this includes estates with a will and without a will); Guardianship records - from beginning of the county to present; Some counties have Naturalization records from 1855-1900; Final Record volumes - 1851 to present; Settlement Record volumes - 1851 to present; Appointment of Administrator (or Executor) volumes - 1851 to ? ; Civil Docket volumes and Court Journal volumes - 1851 to ? Local Health Departments hold Birth and Death records from Dec. 20, 1908 to the present. The Recorder's Office holds Land Deeds; Mortgage records; Miscellaneous Records and Plat Records from the beginning of the county to the present time. They also hold Soldiers Discharge records from the Civil War to the present; and Soldiers' Burial records. The Auditor's Office will hold a Militia Record from 1864-1865; and Personal and Real Estate Tax Records from the beginning of the county to present time. The Engineers Office holds road records; current tax maps and older atlases and maps. The Commissioners Office holds journals from the beginning of the county to the present; County Home records; Burial of Indigent Solders ca 1885-1920; and Coroner's Inquest Records ca 1895 - ? The Clerk of Courts office holds Journals; Law Records; and Chancery Records from the beginning of the county to the present time. They also hold Supreme Court Records; Supreme Court Law Record; and Supreme Court Chancery Record from the beginning of the county to 1851. Also you will find Naturalization Records from the beginning of the county to about 1855 - possibly after 1900 and Partition Record volumes from the beginning of the county to present. We all have to remember that all records can become important when we are looking for our ancestors. While most of us are familiar with some of the above records, probably not all of us have had the opportunity to explore all of them! So, Happy Hunting! Margaret Cheney President - Lorain County Chapter/OGS