First off I apologize for the length of this message. It seems that we all concur that the courthouse staff and volunteers are overworked. It also seems that some are not knowledgeable about what records are available. These are things that we just have to live with I'm sorry to say. The internet has brought us wonderful things, like finding new relatives; but it has also developed the "I want everything now" of which we are all guilty. If you aren't willing to wait, you can look at some of the records yourself through purchasing books from the Morgan Co Gen. Soc. http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohmorogs/index.htm or by viewing microfilm at a Family History Center. Of course if you live nearby you can visit the courthouse yourself I did a search of the Family History Library and came up with ALL these films that are available to rent. Now I know some of you are reluntant because you feel that these were done by the Mormon Church, but rest assured. There is no catch involved. Their belief is family extends beyond death so the filming of these records aids all to find their "families". (I hope as a non Mormon I summerized that properly.) There are Family History Centers available all over the world. Check http://www.familysearch.org for a more thorough description and locations. Also one last thing---when you get records----Those extra non related records that are on the page--feel free to send them to me and I'll post them on the Morgan Co site. http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohmorgan/ Please include sources. Thanks now lets get back to finding families and helping each other <smile> Shannon Moore CC for Morgan Co, OH GenWeb; Noble Co, OH GenWeb and Guthrie Co, IA GenWeb resident of Jacksonville, FL ================================================== MORGAN COUNTY RECORDS AVAILABLE ON MICROFILM Court of Common Pleas (Morgan Co): Index of records 1819-1860 FHL US/CAN Film 911479 Appearance docket v. A-B 1819-1837 FHL US/CAN Film 911475 Appearance docket v. C-E 1837-1844 FHL US/CAN Film 911476 Appearance docket v. F-G 1844-1848 & v. I 1851-1853 FHL US/CAN Film 911477 Minutes v. A-C 1819-1837 FHL US/CAN Film 911480 Minutes v. D-F 1837-1844 FHL US/CAN Film 911481 Minutes v. G-H 1844-1851 FHL US/CAN Film 911482 Minutes v. I 1849-1852 FHL US/CAN Film 911483 Record v. A 1819-1853 & v. D 1835-1840 FHL US/CAN Film 911487 Record v. E-G 1840-1844 FHL US/CAN Film 911488 Record v. H-I 1844-1847 FHL US/CAN Film 911489 Record v. L 1850-1853 FHL US/CAN Film 911490 Naturalization Records: Genealogical extracts from naturalization records, Morgan County, Ohio Woodburn, Charles M. (Charles Morrison) , 1919- Naturalization record, 1861-1892 FHL US/CAN Film 911402 Birth records: Birth records v. 1 1867-1884 FHL US/CAN Film 911403 Birth records v. 2-3 1883-1908 FHL US/CAN Film 911404 Death: Index to death records v. 3 1867-1952 FHL US/CAN Film 910656 Death records v. 1-2 1867-1908 FHL US/CAN Film910655 Ohio vital records of Morgan county : deaths, July 1867-March 1896 by various people FHL US/CAN Film 859781 Item 3:; Another filming FHL US/CAN Film 317456 Marriages: Marriages, book A 1819-1841 FHL US/CAN Film 317454 Marriages, books A-D 1841-1864 FHL US/CAN Film 317455 Marriage records, v. A-C 1819-1860 FHL US/CAN Film 910657 Marriage records, v. D-E 1860-1878 FHL US/CAN Film 910658 Marriage records, v. F-G 1878-1898 FHL US/CAN Film 910659 Marriage records, v. H-I 1899-1912 FHL US/CAN Film 910660 Marriage records, v. J 1912-1923 FHL US/CAN Film 910661 Marriage licenses & index 1849-1859, 1840-1849, 1859-1867 FHL US/CAN Film 910662 Taxes: (Duplicate) Tax lists 1833-1844 FHL US/CAN Film 911484 (Duplicate) Tax lists 1848-1849 FHL US/CAN Film 911485 Land assessments, 1859, 1870 FHL US/CAN Film 911486 Tax records 975-984, 1820-1829 FHL US/CAN Film 514169 Tax records 985-989, 1830-1834 FHL US/CAN Film 514170 Tax records 990-993, 1835-1838 FHL US/CAN Film 514171 Wills: Deeds [and] wills, 1765-1851, Various authors FHL US/CAN Fiche 6100198 Estate docket v. A 1838-1856 FHL US/CAN Film 910666 Executors' docket v. B-C 1857-1884 FHL US/CAN Film 910667 Administration docket v. C-D 1870-1894 FHL US/CAN Film 911395 Guardians' docket v. C-D 1870-1894 FHL US/CAN Film 911400 Probate appearance docket v. A 1852-1869 FHL US/CAN Film 910668 Probate appearance docket v. B 1869-1885 FHL US/CAN Film 911393 Civil docket v. C 1885-1894 FHL US/CAN Film 911394 Administrators' bonds v. A 1821-1867 FHL US/CAN Film 911397 Administrators' bonds 1849-1882 FHL US/CAN Film 911396 Administrators' bonds 1882-1892 FHL US/CAN Film 911401 Executors' bonds 1870-1892 FHL US/CAN Film 911398 Guardians' bonds 1849-1870 FHL US/CAN Film 911399 Court journal v. A-B 1852-1862 FHL US/CAN Film 911405 Court journal v. C-E 1862-1872 FHL US/CAN Film 911406 Court journal v. F-G 1872-1880 FHL US/CAN Film 911407 Court journal v. H-I 1880-1886 FHL US/CAN Film 911408 Inventories v. 1-2 1853-1868 FHL US/CAN Film 911409 Inventories v. 3-4 1868-1880 FHL US/CAN Film 911410 Inventories v. 5-6 1880-1888 FHL US/CAN Film 911411 Sale bills of estates v. 1 1853-1865 FHL US/CAN Film 911412 Index to wills 1819-1953 FHL US/CAN Film 910665 Will records v. O-1 1820-1870 FHL US/CAN Film 910663 Will records v. 2-3 1870-1887 FHL US/CAN Film 910664 Wills 1823-1870 FHL US/CAN Film 317299

While searching for my own family on microfilm of Morgan County births 1867-1884, I also looked briefly for Thelma's Riley in 1868. I found the following, but not the ones Thelma mentioned: Thomas Riley 1867 Dec.14 Morgan Co. McConnelsville. male parents: James & Mary Riley who lived in McConnelsville. Reported by W. Kelly M.D. Frank P. Riley 1869 Apr. 16 Morgan County Penn male parents: G.W. Riley and Elizabeth Saylor (not sure on that name) who lived in Pennsville Riley {no given name} 1870 June 29 Morgan County Malta male parents: John M. Riley & Margaretta Palmer who lived in Malta Keren

I'm passing this along to the whole list. I want to include this comment. I, as the list manager and county coordinator, want to thank all for their thoughtful remarks about this thread. I don't think "we" were trying to single out anyone for not being patient, nor put down any volunteers or county workers. In a separate email, I'm going to try to give a summary and a some "work arounds". Thank you all for your replies! Shannon Moore CC for Morgan Co, OH; list manager for OHMORGAN-L -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Morgan County Information Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 16:39:06 EST From: NancyGen21@aol.com To: mgm@gate.net Hi Shannon - I'm writing you regarding the many letters written recently about obtaining information from Morgan County and the need to thank those who volunteer so generously to support genealogical research. If you think any part of my letter has merit, please pass it along to our fellow list members. My original letter was written in hopes of getting help in research I'd long been seeking. It was written quite simply because I hadn't received any feedback and was looking for direction. There was no criticism intended; I know what it's like to be overwhelmed with work and unable to respond on a timely basis. I thank all who have written. There have been many, many helpful suggestions and comments, and I am truly grateful for all the help and information generous list members and volunteers have provided in response to my questions over the two years I've been researching my family, plus I've found wonderful friends and some pretty terrific cousins! I also volunteer on an informal basis and "give back" from resources I've gathered and things I've learned, and get as much pleasure helping others "find their families" as I do in making discovieries about my own. I'm a member of the Ohio Historical Society, the Ohio Genealogical Society, the Perry County Chapter of the OGS, the Fairfield County Chapter of the OGS (new for me this year), the Muskingum County Chapter of the OGS, and the Morgan County Chapter of the OGS (new also this year). I enjoy feeling part of Ohio's "community" this way from my home in far-away California, and I believe in supporting these wonderful organizations. I don't feel a need to defend myself, and yet I find myself doing so. Perhaps it's time to close this thread and get on with the work at hand - seeking our own families and helping others. I have only compliments and many thanks for all the Ohio help that's come my way. I'm both proud and humbled by my Ohio roots - ancestors who pioneered in this beautiful state. As a native Californian I treasure my Ohio values (both of my parents were born and raised in Ohio - Mom's family from the Perry County area and Dad from Cleveland) - values I've passed along to both of my sons who now use them to guide their own lives. The past does carry forward into the future, and like all of us looking for family, I don't want those worthy people from the past to be forgotten. Thanks for listening - Nancy Thompson (California)

I wanted to write and also say that I think people are being wayyy too hard the researchers in Morgan County. I think we all have to remember that when we start down this road of critizing volunteers, it leads to one ultimate outcome. The volunteers COULD say who needs this hassle and thus do nothing for no one. Where does that leave us? Well, instead of getting information late, we would get NO information. I think we all need to ask ourselves, how much time have WE spent helping someone get information? I can bet its not near the time these Volunteers spend trying to help us. They are people, they're not perfect, but they also are VOLUNTEERS!!!!!!. The elderly lady, named Ruth and also an elderly couple in Morgan county are exceptional people. Lets all take a breath, and get off their backs. ! Stephen Fox ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dawn Finley" <dfinley@columbus.rr.com> To: <OHMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 15, 2001 5:17 PM Subject: [OHMORGAN-L] Research in Morgan Co. > Don't want the Morgan Co reseachER to get a bad name. She is in her late seventies and does all the requests which are sent there. No one in the Courthouse does it. There is just not enough people there in the county to take an interest in genealogy and willing to do volunteer work for others who need look ups. I personally know the lady who does it and she says that some time she spend many hours a day doing this because she loves genealogy. She is a wonderful lady and does the best she can. There are many requests and it takes her a long time to search due to the shape of lot of the records. Morgan has lots of records which are at the Library but those in the courthouse are not watched over and are in shambles. Sorry I am not there as I would love to help all who need help because I myself love genealogy. I don't have any solutions but hate to see bad things said about the county where I was born and raised. > Dawn in Ohio > > > ==== OHMORGAN Mailing List ==== > > >

I also was there this past October and they were very helpful. The records in the courthouse are on a top floor and no one really guarding them so a little distraught over that, but they are accessible. Yes, you have to carry them downstairs if you want copies. I carry a digital camera with me and that helps. The genealogy society is located at the local library and wonderful. People there were very helpful. I have found all the people in the court houses to be very courteous and helpful when they can, but they are extremely busy and I always try to be as inconspicuous as I can and do what I can without bothering them. I treat the records with respect. Do not take anything that is not mine and always thank them. Ohio is the best state I have ever been in to research so let's not start causing them to rethink their open book policy. Try some other states before you make any negative comments about the court houses in Ohio. They are doing the best they can. You will always run into someone who is grouchy-perhaps a bad day -- sometime in your research, but a negative attitude by you or comments won't help the situation. Remember that a lot of the counties in Ohio have been hit hard by recession years ago and haven't recovered. They don't have the money to copy all the books and neither do the genealogical societies. It is our duty to give donations to societies in our key counties so they can get to the court houses and copy the vital records before they disappear or disintegrate. If you live in the area, please offer to help. I would give anything to live in one of my key counties and be able to put together deed index's and will abstracts, but it is my lot in life to be in an area where I don't have a single relative and also a county that doesn't look kindly on researchers. Very expensive to look for an item here. $7 to go get the book you think you want and then they look it up and then another $7 if they find the record you want. The county I am from in Kansas has a woman who has been in the deeds section for about 45 years and she is a real grouch. I just work with her assistants and it is fine. Some people think they own the records, but haven't found that ever in Ohio and have now been in 15 different counties. Enough said -- please compliment and thank those who are doing the hard work for us. Jerilyn Jerilyn Lappin Koskan Cook Co., Illinois jlktrees@aol.com FTM user BREWER-Daniel Belmont, OH, Northumberland, Indiana and Jefferson, PA DAVIS/DAVIDSON-Marium/Mary b1803 Bucks, PA Mother Rachel Greene DUSATKO-Barbara, Anton late 1800s Butler, NE DYE-William, David, Daniel in Monroe, OH early 1800s. FISHER-Joseph, b abt 1805 OH, last Morgan, OH 1850. Wife Judith Lappin. Children John, Knight, Elizabeth, Thomas, Hannah, Mary, Rachel, Ruth GRAY-Ogden b 1850 Morgan, OH, d Fulton, IL. Children - Ogden, Lafayette, Mary A., Cornelius, Elizabeth, Rachel GREENE-Rachel, b abt 1770, Bucks, PA HANNA-Archibald, d 1793 Westmoreland, PA Children Hugh, William, Hannah, Mary (wed Robert Williams) KIRK-Elizabeth, Quaker, daughter Joseph Kirk/Judith Knight, wed Robert Lappin abt 1790. Chester & Fayette, PA Belmont, OH KOSKAN-Vaclav, b 1850s Czechoslovakia d Butler, NE LAPPIN-PA and OH late 1700s/1800s LEAK/LEEK-MD & Eastern, OH in late 1700s and 1800s MITCHELL-Thomas Mitchell, b 1770s Greene, PA -d Monroe, OH. Daughter Maria wed William Dye. MONROE-Nicholas Monroe, b PA, died Belmont, OH early 1850s. Children Curtis, William, John, Samuel, Mary (Hendershot), Eleanor (Maring), Rebecca (Murphy), Miller, George, Richard. MONTGOMERY-Daniel, d 1842 Vinton, OH Family to Wayne, IL Wife Alice Lappin, Children William, Mariah, John, Elizabeth, Rachel, Letticia, Ruth, Euphemia OATES-Sarah Elizabeth born Lewis, WV, adopted Samuel McCluster - to Decatur, KS Parents supposedly Elizabeth Puffenbarger/Benjamin Oates SLUSHER-Frederick, b PA, lived Monroe, OH, d Wayne, IL SMITH-Aaron 1755/Anna Foster Bucks, PA Children John, Amos, Hannah, Samuel, Charles, Mary STARBUCKS-John and Ann Lappin of Belmont, OH STARKEY - b 1810 PA, wed Belmont, OH TODD - Wm. & Rachel Lappin, d late 1800s Morgan, OH WADSWORTH-Alcinda, Martha, Wm., Rachel, Emily, Ruth b Belmont, OH

I have been reading with interest the comments on Morgan Co. I have been to the library and courthouse many times and they have always been very helpful---except on the recorders office. I also found Ruth to be wonderful. As a volunteer lookup person in Muskingum Co., it is so hard to keep up with the requests and we have more people doing the lookups than Morgan County. On an average, I answer 20 e mail a week and at least 5 through the snail mail. At the present time I am about 25 e mails behind. Some take 10 minutes, others take hours. I understand that people get upset because there requests are not answered--it has happened to me many times, BUT we are missing an important key factor. WE ARE VOLUNTEERS!!! We all try. I know how hard the Morgan County Genealogy Society is trying to keep going, so please be patient. Thanks for reading, Debbie

Good Morning: I have been following with interest the Morgan County Court House thread. If anyone has the names, addresses, emails, phone numbers of people who would do research in Morgan County for a fee, please post it to the list. Also, if you know the going fee for such services, I'm sure that would be helpful too. Many of us can't travel to Ohio, but are still very interested in the information there. I think this information would help many of us. Thanks, Nancy Boon Nancy Boon awboon@alltel.net Researching: My husband's family: Boon (Boone): UK, PA, VA, KY, IN, IL, NE McCammon, SCO, IRE, SC,KY, IN, MO Dunlevy, IRE, VA, OH, IL, NE Carrithers: IRE, PA, KY, IN, IL Robertson: SCO, NY, IL, NY, IA, IL, NE Schwarz: GER, NE, KS, NE Bennett: VA, NC, SC, KY, IN, IL, IA, KS,NE Abbott: PA or KY or TN Edmonston: SCO, MD, NC, IL, IA Daffron: NC, IN My family: McMillan: IRE, PA, NE Douglas: IRE, PA Asa: UK?. VA. OH,. NE, KS, NE McVeigh, IRE, PA, VA, OH, MO Fitch: OH, IA Bush (Busch): GER, IL, NE Beck: MD, PA, VA, KY, IL, NE Blair: SCO, IRE, PA, NC, KY, IL Barlow: SCO, VA, TN, IL Kingston: IL Wives of McMillans in PA 1740 - 1900 Rea, Brown, Anderson, Weaver, Johnston, Mitchell I am always willing to share information

Amid all of the criticisms, impatience, explanations and justifications about research in MORGAN county Ohio, I want to urge people to take a moment and reflect on a phrase I coined: "The plowhorse of Genealogy is the volunteer." As each of us hungrily scours every nook and cranny we can reach into, much of the time just for our own (selfish) research......we acquire skills and knowledge that we can pass on to others. It was made clear to me years ago that one can only get the booby prize of gratification if one just looks out for him/herself. It is giving to others, in service to fellow people, that gives us true satisfaction....... the feeling which lets us rest peacefully.... at night and in eternity. Contrary to one person's assertion that people might be too lazy to go to McConnelsville and do their own research (as he had done) there are many people in this passionate hobby who are strapped for cash and who live miles and miles away from the hamlet of McConnelsville. It ain't possible to do that for everyone. Clearly, what seems necessary to me is the expansion of the passion we have for genealogy into government so that some of the tax dollars that go for drug treatment, abortions, military hardware and God only knows what else might be sent to the counties, states and the National Archives to subsidize the wonderful work that is being done by volunteers or scant, underpaid professionals. I venture to say that if genealogical information was as easily accessible as porn or drugs in our society, we would be a very different society based much more on commonality than we are today. I am fortunate enough to have been out to Ohio from California 2 times in the last two years and I am astounded and aghast at the deterioration of the tombstones just in that period of time. I fear that the monuments to our progenitors, the heroes of our past will fall into chips and dust if something is not done to help with this. I encourage each genealogist to give back to the others..... indirectly if necessary.... but do something to help out. Write letters to congresspeople to open up and subsidize Write about deteriorating cemetereies Write about cultural enhancement through embracing our history Work locally to groom or restore tombstones Give classes on genealogy Give something back to those who lived and died and whose legacies lie in cartons, getting crisp and yellow......doomed to fragmentation and discarding if these are not embraced with the respect they could receive by active, concerned people. That old Hippie statement is true, unfortunately/fortunately: "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem." Saddle up and ride out! Cheers, Peter

I am looking for information on John Q.A. Milner. Here is what I know and what I think I know about him. John Q. A. Milner married Anne Gilham in Belmont County, Ohio, on Sept. 12, 1850. They had several children. There may have been as many as ten. I have ten names but I am not sure they all belong to the same family. 1) Alvian, b. abt 1851, 2) Alice, b. abt 1853, 3) Mary, b. abt 1856, 4) Lewis, b. abt 1858, 5) Malissa, b. abt 1859, 6) Martha Louise, b. Feb. 27, 1862, 7) John, 8) Joe, 9) Smith b. abt 1868 and 10) Sam. Anne Gilham, the mother, died Jan. 27, 1872, leaving several minor children. The children were raised by at least two different families of relatives. Martha Louise was raised by her uncle, Bill Gilham. In the 1880 census of Union Township, Belmont County, Smith, 12, was listed as a servant living with John Miller, who was a cooper. Martha Louise Milner married Hugh Hogue McWilliams in Belmont County on Jan. 14, 1880. They are my wife's grandparents. After Anne Gilham died, John Q.A. Milner remarried Hattie (last name unknown) and moved to Morgan County, Ohio. Most of the above is family lore. I have not been able to find John Q. A. and Anne's family in any census. I am hoping that someone researching the Milner families in Morgan County can connect John Q.A. to their branch of the Milners. Any replies would be greatly appreciated. Bill O'Neil Coraopolis, PA.

I though I knew a bit about Morgan County, but Professor Adams has shown me how little I really know about the County's history, I bow out of this debate. I think a person could make a fair living doing research for people into the Morgan County records. Many of the book's leather backs were falling apart in 1959, we did temp. repairs with duct tape (may have been masking tape) to hold them together. I was taught how to read the first pages to discover the title and I printed it on the binder with a pen, then we separated them into boxes (groups) and they were moved to be micro-filmed. When they were returned, some were put onto shelves, many in piles and folks have been digging through then every since. When I went back to research them in 1998, the Probate Judge took the time to show me the room were they stored on the 2nd floor. I would then carry the book back to the first floor, Clerk of Court, I think, and they would make copies for me. I believe the land records were in basement, and they made copies for me there. I know the two days that I went through the process was tiring for me, and no doubt they were glad when I left; but I must say that everyone was civil, and for the most part hid their feelings when they had to stop their real work to help me. Bless Ruth for her labor of love and god help us when her candle goes out! Dave Pickenpaugh - Marblemount, WA pickenpaugh@bigfoot.com

I'm sorry, but Roots Web does not and cannot support italics, color items, etc. Therefore, some things in here such as titles that should be in Italics ARE NOT and some that I put in color for emphasis ARE NOT. Hello and Good Day to all Morgan County researchers: This is addressed to anyone who wishes to read this general information about Morgan County. I was a charter member and have been a member of the Morgan County chapter of OGS since it was formed in the 1960's. The Historical Society and the Genealogical Society split and there are now two organizations. They split because the person who became president did not think history and genealogy "go together." IT IS LONG AND WILL TAKE A WHILE TO READ, BUT IT CERTAINLY WILL SAVE YOU TIME IF YOU KNOW THE LAWS OF OHIO about births, marriages and deaths in Ohio. 1. Morgan county has never had a fire in their courthouse, NEVER, EVER!!! The courthouse was built in 1886. That is taken from Development of Ohio's Counties and their Historic Courthouses published by the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. I don't know who told her that the adjoining building burned. The adjoining building is the County Jail. My cousin is the Sheriff, and my cousin is the Clerk of Courts, my cousin is The County Treasurer, and my cousin was the County Recorder. She retired this year. All four are different people. Therefore, I, like Dawn take exception to what the lady was told. I suspect the person that told her that, just plain did not know that there never was a fire and since they do not have the records before 1906 at the Board of Health, they thought they were destroyed. The records from 1906 to present are in the Board of Health, but prior to that are in the Archives in the beautiful County Courthouse. Further, as a professional researcher, I may take more than a year to get a reply to my clients, because I have a job just like everyone else. The VOLUNTEER there is an elderly woman and she is just that A VOLUNTEER. She has so many, (meaning several hundred) letters stacked up. She has a life like everyone else and cannot get to them in less than a few months. It may take more than a year before she gets to a letter. I wrote asking for something more than 20 months ago and she has not reply and I'm a close personal friend. What I need comes from her own school records. She is a retired school teacher with an avid interest in genealogy. 2. All of the records for Morgan County have been microfilmed from the beginning of the time the county was organized. THAT DOES NOT MEAN WHEN THE COUNTY WAS CREATED. The county was created on December 27, 1817, but NOT organized until 1820. Therefore, any mds. land records, etc. for 1818 through 1820 are in the original county. Morgan was created from Washington, Muskingum, Guernsey, and Athens. In 1845 two townships (Homer & Marion) were removed from Athens and added to Morgan. Also at various time small parts of Washington were added to Morgan In 1850 part of Manchester was removed from Morgan to create Noble. My Source is Randolph C. Downes book, Evolution of Ohio County Boundaries. All of those microfilm records can be borrowed from the Family History Library in SLC through your local Family History Center in Lancaster or Logan Ohio. There is also one in Zanesville and in Columbus. The person making the original comments says she has waited for 5 months, she is handicapped and has a difficult time getting around, thus she cannot get to Columbus, etc. I'm a disabled veteran from Korea, so I understand her problem, and I can relate to her problem, but I still manage to get where I need to go, even though others may get there before I do. I'm a professor at a university library with over 4 million books. We receive email requests, private mail requests, phone call requests, and people at the desk. It may take over a year to get some of them answered even with a staff of over 50. It is a VERY VERY TIME consuming process to do research. Just finding one birth certificate may take 2-3 hours, a will may take 5-6 hours, and land records are extremely time consuming. This is because it takes time to find the book or reel of film, then find the record in the book, etc. Of course, they go to different researchers and when it comes to the "top of their pile" so to speak then it gets a reply. I finished photocopying a request for extremely brittle, old newspapers, on Friday. It has been in my "request file" for months and came from Canada via email more than one year ago. Therefore, I suggest being patient. Ruth will get to it eventually. When Ruth passes away, there will be no one in Morgan County at all. The Clerk of Court has all that she and her staff can do to keep up with the cases in the court today and tomorrow; the criminal and civil cases, the wills being admitted, the wills submitted for probate, etc. It is a very time consuming job to keep up with the current cases. They have no time at all to go up to the Archives on level two, which is across from the Engineers Office, to get to the materials, they just DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME. That is why they rely on Ruth but further they rely on the LDS Family History Centers to provide us researchers with copies of their records. Further, Morgan is one of the poorest counties in the state. They do not even have email, --I'm sure that is a blessing and a curse-- so that is also part of the problem. 3. Birth records for OHIO: Began in 1867, but were not very well kept --meaning they were not reported to the Clerk of the Probate Court-- for about 20 years thereafter. If you are in a large city (the three C's) some clerks began in 1865 as a trial, but very very few were kept in 1866. By state law state all counties were to begin in 1867. Vol. one of the Birth Records is being printed in the chapter newsletter published quarterly. 4. Death records for OHIO: Began in 1867, but again, at first, they were not very well kept. They law states the clerk did NOT have to record the names of the parents of the deceased UNLESS it was a child under the age of one. Again, if you are researching in a big city (the three C's) some clerks began in 1865 as a trial, but very very few were kept in 1866. They have not been published anywhere at the present moment. 5. Marriage records for OHIO: Began at the county level at the time the county was organized, thus Washington and Hamilton counties have the earliest marriage records. Those counties were created in 1790 by Arthur St. Clair, the Governor of the Old Northwest Territory. Morgan County marriage records begin in 1820 WHEN THE COUNTY WAS ORGANIZED. Until about 1880 & that is a very rough date, the clerk recorded what was turned in by the officiator; JP, MG, or PJ. Justice of the Peace, Minister of the Gospel, and Probate Judge. The information required was A. The names of the couple, B. The date of the ceremony C. The name of the officiator & his title. If the bride was under age, the parents or guardian had to sign for her to be married and that is sometimes included in the record book. Sometimes the person signing was the brother of the bride and it would so state. In the 1880's a new form was created, which required the name of both people, their age, date of birth, place of birth, parents names including the maiden name of the mother, residence of both, and occupation of both. That was the application. Then the license was issued to them permitting them to get married. If it was returned then it was recorded by the clerk that they were IN FACT married. If it was not returned then you have an application but it does not say when they were married or by whom. The application BY STATE LAW had to be made in the BRIDE'S county of residence. In 1949, a statewide index of all marriages was begun. HOWEVER, ALL MARRIAGES FOR OHIO FROM 1875 BACK TO THE settlement at Marietta and Losantiville (now Cincinnati) are on the IGI, except Quaker Marriages or if the marriage was performed by BANNS. Banns are not commonly used in the 19th century, but occasionally they were used at a Catholic marriage. I do not think Banns were used in any Protestant Marriage at that time in the USA. Members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) do not look at marriage the way others do. They consider it a contract, therefore, they do not record it in the county records. You must look in the minutes of the monthly meeting. Chesterhill in Southern Morgan County, is an excellent example of a Quaker settlement. There is still a monthly meeting there. The records were recently found in upstate New York, when they were turned in. The "secretary" of the Chesterhill Monthly Meeting had moved to New York and took them with him. They have the marriages and the minutes of the men's meeting and the women's meeting. The marriage will record the name of every person present at the marriage. I believe they have been microfilmed and are available at the Ohio Historical Society, but I do not think the Family History Library in Salt Lake City has them. ALL OF THE MARRIAGES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE CHAPTER AND CAN BE PURCHASED from them. Some of you may ask why they are not online. First and foremost, first and foremost is because the published records are a major source of income to keep the chapter running. That is why they are not online. Anyone trying to put them online would run into a hornets nest of copyright violation in the blink of an eye. Now finally, as the Archivist from Arizona said, it is very time consuming. Let me give you an example. If all the books that are awaiting cataloging in the Library of Congress --especially genealogies-- were assigned immediately to catalogers AND NOT ONE MORE GENEALOGY not one more was written for the next 20 years, not one more was written for the next 20 years, the catalogers would not be caught up. They would still not have all of the books awaiting cataloging finished, the backlog is that bad. At our university, we estimate all of the catalogers will be retired before we can catalog just the sheet music collection that has been donated to us. It is just that huge, and we have 5 professionals working on it each day of the week. Of course they are doing copy cataloging online, they are not doing original cataloging unless the piece has never been cataloged at any library online. Of course, that presupposes that not one more piece of sheet music, not one more CD Rom, not one more tape recording, not any music collections at all will be purchased or donated and not one person will walk in the library and want our assistance in trying to find something, it will take us 20 years to catalog it. Now that is a terrible thing to admit, but every archive, every library, every keeper of books, including local historical societies like Fairfield County and the Fairfield County Public library which is where the lady lives that started this whole thing and caused me --and others-- to take time to reply. I'm not begrudging it, I'm just saying this has taken me about three hours two compile and get it the way I want it, and even at that I'm not sure it is exactly the way I want it. It may be toooooo harsh, but it states it like it is. Just one last thing. This is not going to impact anyone reading this, but the archives of the Ottoman Empire are scattered all over present day Turkey. The Family History Library figures it will take more than 100 years to get them microfilmed and cataloged, and that is only Turkey. What about Russia, Ukraine, the other former Soviet Republics, The People's Republic of China, India, and a raft of other smaller nations in the world where genealogical records are stored? I'm not talking about going back one thousand years --although all of wish we could get back just that far and some of us truly wish we could just figure out who our great grandparents were-- I'm talking about the records of the former Soviet Union before it became the Soviet Union when it was Czarist Russia in the 18th century. There are many people in the USA who have roots in Russia in the 18th century. Fiddler on the Roof is a very very good example of that. At the end of the movie, where did they move? THE GOOD OLD USA! Mr. K. Haybron Adams Associate Professor of Library Science President emeritus of the Utah County Chapter of Utah Genealogical Association Brigham Young University Provo, Utah 84602

Peter, Yes, I was told that there wwas papers that were burned up in the old courthouse fire and I was told by someone from the Health department. If there wasn't any fire why would this person tell people story to throw them off line from their reseach? You tell me. Talk later Thelma

Dawn, Sorry if this message upsets you but I have been down to the Morgan County Courthouse and knowone would offer their help and same way through the mail. I also had contacted a relative that volunters her help with the research and I got no response from her. I waited from August of 1999 clear up to X-mas of 1999. So I been getting alot of my info on my own and through other family members. I also sent info down to the Health Department this past August and still haven't gotten anything back yet. They are telling me that the info that I'm looking for has been in a fire or wind damage. I don't believe a word of it. I have been down there on the floor where they have records and I have no idea what I'm looking for. The last time I was down there there wasn't even a copy machine around. It get's so frustrating at times. I'm from Morgan County also. I lived there for five years. Sorry if I sound like I'm being rude. Talk later. Thelma

I believe that the Ohio Historical Society http://www.ohiohistory.org/ will loan their microfilm via interlibrary loan. They have a nice web-site and if I remember correctly, a listing of all the microfilm they have. If I am mistaken, I'm sure a phone call or e-mail to them would result in assistance. Good luck. Sharyl

"...is it possible to get hold of or view those records that your company filmed? If so, where and how? Thanks Joan Boyd" I believe the Cott Index Company (Columbus, OH), micro-filmed the Court House records for the Ohio Historical Society. I do not know how to contact the company or agency, but I believe for the most part, that records can best be obtained through the Kate Love Simson Library in McConnelsville, OH, Genealogical Society Records Room. The question is, who will find them for you? You might try to contact a volunteer at the library, or join the Morgan County Genealogical Society, or request the information from them. The problem is, both the Library and the Court House, does not have the money to staff either location to find and provide the information to people outside the County. Morgan County has a large lumber of early settlers that passed through the County, lived there for awhile and then moved on. This information is important to a great many people, all living outside the County. Non voters and non tax payers.......not the people that a money strapped County and Library System is likely to listen to. You could write the County Commissioners and try to get them to allocate money for the project, or write the Ohio Historical Society, or State government officials. Hell you could write new President...the chances are still the same.... little to none. I don't like having to pay for genealogical information, or court records more then anyone else....but it costs me time and money to travel to McConnelsville, OH from Marblemount, WA. I am running out of time for such trips in this life. Anyone got any answers, now is the time make them known. Dave Pickenpaugh - Marblemount, WA pickenpaugh@bigfoot.com

I came all the way from Arizona and did research in Morgan County. I found the people to be most helpful and kind. They pointed me in the right direction, and I did the searching myself. I have been in a lot of Court houses in the US doing research, and some are watching you all the time. (to make sure you don't steal anything). Morgan County has a beautiful research area in the library there, and the court house is full of records. Sure it takes time, but that to me is the fun of doing genealogy. Our libraries here in Arizonz could take some lessons from the one in Morgan County. (ours here are terrible). Remember, the people who work in small county court houses have to do a lot of work for not much pay. Be kind to them, and thank them. They deserve it... __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/

I wanted to follow up on Dawn's message. I have researched in Morgan County for almost 20 years and my research was almost exclusively done through correspondence. I have to agree that I did not receive replies to the inquiries I directed to the Court House. However, they were not discarded and were referred to the Morgan County chapter of the OGS. My experience with the society has been very positive and I feel that the group has done an excellent job publishing several resources, such as index to wills, cemetery records, marriages, census listings, to name several I have used. The researcher who Dawn refers to is a wealth of information. She is thorough and knows the Morgan County history well. As Dawn says, she volunteers her time and I'm sure has more inquiries than she can possibly keep up with. She has never charged me for her time, but I always sent a donation whenever I received information. Hiring someone to do specific research is an option, which is one that has benefited me. I'm sure the local society could recommend names of researchers who are willing to locate specific records. In case anyone is interested in contacting the Morgan County Chapter, OGS, the address is PO box 418, McConnelsville, OH 43756-0418. By becoming a member you will receive "The Morgan Link" which is a quarterly newsletter. I haven't made any recent requests, so things may have changed. However, I, like Dawn, wanted to give credit to the society members for all the fine work that they have provided me over the years. Cheryl in Michigan

Good for you Dawn. All to often people want something for nothing and expect it immediately. Give consideration to those who do your work for you. If you are to lazy to go there at least be patient enough to wait for a response. I have visited the Library and met some nice people and I have visited the Courthouse and was pointed to the third floor and told it is up there. It is up there, if YOU can find it. -----Original Message----- From: Dawn Finley <dfinley@columbus.rr.com> To: OHMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com <OHMORGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, January 15, 2001 4:11 PM Subject: [OHMORGAN-L] Research in Morgan Co. >Don't want the Morgan Co reseachER to get a bad name. She is in her late seventies and does all the requests which are sent there. No one in the Courthouse does it. There is just not enough people there in the county to take an interest in genealogy and willing to do volunteer work for others who need look ups. I personally know the lady who does it and she says that some time she spend many hours a day doing this because she loves genealogy. She is a wonderful lady and does the best she can. There are many requests and it takes her a long time to search due to the shape of lot of the records. Morgan has lots of records which are at the Library but those in the courthouse are not watched over and are in shambles. Sorry I am not there as I would love to help all who need help because I myself love genealogy. I don't have any solutions but hate to see bad things said about the county where I was born and raised. >Dawn in Ohio > > >==== OHMORGAN Mailing List ==== > > >

Don't want the Morgan Co reseachER to get a bad name. She is in her late seventies and does all the requests which are sent there. No one in the Courthouse does it. There is just not enough people there in the county to take an interest in genealogy and willing to do volunteer work for others who need look ups. I personally know the lady who does it and she says that some time she spend many hours a day doing this because she loves genealogy. She is a wonderful lady and does the best she can. There are many requests and it takes her a long time to search due to the shape of lot of the records. Morgan has lots of records which are at the Library but those in the courthouse are not watched over and are in shambles. Sorry I am not there as I would love to help all who need help because I myself love genealogy. I don't have any solutions but hate to see bad things said about the county where I was born and raised. Dawn in Ohio

Morgan County marriage records for 19th century at least through the 1870s can be found at the familyserch web site listed by Shannon. If you can't find them click on what comes up for adjoining counties as some Morgan County residents seemed to go to Muskingum and other counties to marry. Also play around with spellings as the name may either have been recorded with a different spelling or it may be transcribed incorrectly on familysearch or printed lists. If addition there is the possibility that the person used their middle name or a generally unused first name or that the woman married before. The statement above about Morgan County marriage records being found on family search is true for other Ohio Counties. There was a discussion on this a while back on OHWood-L. I think most of these records were actually recorded in bound books and not loose pieces of paper and know this is true of at least Morgan marriage book A which I've handled. I've also viewed microfilm of the actual Muskingum County records at my local FHC and made copies of marriages for my records. I presume I could do the same with Morgan County. Keren