Friday, February 20, 2009

Making a RESEARCH FIELD TRIP

Back in 1967 BC (before computers and the Internet), I was searching for my great grandfather Wm M. Johnson, and discovered looking through court records here in Utah that he had received an inheritance from an aunt in Middlebury, Knox County, Ohio. My mother remembered that her father (my grandfather) had received a small amount of money from this will since his father was deceased. So I had several clues to track down. I wrote to the COURTHOUSE in Middlebury, looking for probate papers or further information about this aunt. Unfortunately they couldn't locate anything for me. (Found out later Knox County was divided and her papers were filed in the next county Morrow.) It wasn't until 10 years later when I was finally able to make a trip to the courthouse in person, from California where I was then living, that the puzzle began to take shape. (Ohio state Knox County map below from www.usgenweb.org.)

I found a wealth of information at the COURTHOUSE as I searched for VITAL RECORDS, WILLS, PROBATES, LAND, and other records for this aunt. Discovering a handwritten will of her father which filled in many gaps for me. It listed all his living children and descendents of his deceased children. Now able to link my great grandfather to his father, mother and siblings, many doors were opened for me. I was able to trace my Johnson ancestors back to VERMONT and discovered they were involved in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Seems that soldiers in the military in those days were given land grants in Ohio to expand the frontier. All of this I found when I made the TRIP to a quiet little courthouse in the midwest but these days FIRST check the Internet and you might save yourself a trip! I also put a personal ad in the local newspaper there and found a cousin who offered me many valuable tips in locating family living in that area. Today you would call him an Internet cousin.

5 comments:

  1. My brother-in-law visited some courthouses in the midwest while traveling several years back and foud some very interesting family history which he shared.

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  2. You are making this into a book right? You really need to. This is valuable info and you have a nice way or presenting it.... Michelle

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  3. You sure do get a fair amount of regional history as you work your way through a personal mystery!

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  4. aren't there any more Ohioans you can research and come visit?

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  5. I know the internet is far more convenient... but, you make searching through small town courthouses sound almost like a scavenger hunt. Much more exciting when you add that personal touch. I can see how thins could become an addictive thing to get involved in. Perhaps that's one of the niggling concerns I have. Anyway.... I agree, you need to compile your posts and publish.

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