Ohio County, West Virginia Genealogy
Guide to Ohio County, West Virginia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for the Ohio River. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.[1]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Ohio County Courthouse
1500 Chapline Street
Wheeling, WV 26003-3553
Phone: 304-234-3656
Ohio County Website
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1853, marriage records from 1793, probate records from 1777, land records from 1778.
Clerk of the Circuit Court has divorce and court records from 1884.[2]
Ohio County, West Virginia Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1853 | 1793 | 1853 | 1884 | 1778 | 1777 | 1870 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
Ohio County was part of Yohogania County, West Virginia before most of that county went to Pennsylvania in 1776. For animated maps illustrating West Virginia county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation West Virginia County Boundary Maps" (1617-1995) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website. |
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[5]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Numerous biographies of citizens are available on the Ohio County WVGenWeb site - Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Occupations
- Cutten, George Barton. The Silversmiths of Virginia (together with Watchmakers and Jewelers) from 1694 to 1850. Richmond, Va.: The Dietz Press, Incorporated, 1952. FHL. Includes a section on Wheeling silversmiths.
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1790 | 5,212 | — |
| 1800 | 4,740 | −9.1% |
| 1810 | 9,182 | 93.7% |
| 1820 | 9,182 | 0.0% |
| 1830 | 15,584 | 69.7% |
| 1840 | 13,357 | −14.3% |
| 1850 | 18,006 | 34.8% |
| 1860 | 22,422 | 24.5% |
| 1870 | 28,831 | 28.6% |
| 1880 | 37,457 | 29.9% |
| 1890 | 41,557 | 10.9% |
| 1900 | 48,024 | 15.6% |
| 1910 | 57,572 | 19.9% |
| 1920 | 62,892 | 9.2% |
| 1930 | 72,077 | 14.6% |
| 1940 | 73,115 | 1.4% |
| 1950 | 71,672 | −2.0% |
| 1960 | 68,437 | −4.5% |
| 1970 | 64,197 | −6.2% |
| 1980 | 61,389 | −4.4% |
| 1990 | 50,871 | −17.1% |
| 2000 | 47,427 | −6.8% |
| 2010 | 44,443 | −6.3% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Ohio County census records online, see: West Virginia Census.
1890 Veteran's Schedule at FamilySearch
Mortality schedules for Virginia counties now in West Virginia, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Historic Churches of Wheeling[edit | edit source]
A website presented by the Ohio County Public Library [1]
Baptist
Early Baptist churches (with years constituted):
- Short Creek (1802) A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia. By Robert Baylor Semple and George William Beale. (1810; reprint, Richmond, Va.: Pitt and Dickinson, 1894), Page 440. Available online at Google Books.
- 1776 Petition of Baptists (10,000 names!) and sympathizers from all over Virginia, dated 16 October 1776, asking for an end to persecution of Baptists by the established church. After locating your ancestor, view the digital copies.
– Digital copies at Library of Congress; also at Library of Virginia using the code word "000606093"
– Hall, Jean Pickett. "Legislative Petitions: the 10,000 name petition" transcription in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vols. 35-38, with annotations in Vol. 39, (Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Genealogical Society, 1983-) online at Ancestry ($) and in book form at various libraries.
Ohio County fell within the bounds of the Red Stone Association.
Catholic
- Baptismal records for St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church 1873-1899 are available at WVGenWeb Ohio County.
Quaker
Early monthly meetings (with years of existence):
- Wheeling Monthly Meeting (1789-1823) aka Head of Wheeling. The Friendly Virginians: America's First Quakers. Jay Worrall. (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Publishing Company, 1994), Pages 537-539. FHL Book 975.5 K2wj.
List of Churches and Church Parishes[edit | edit source]
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
- The Leader, Wheeling city directory 1879-1880 at Family Search Digital Library
- Ohio County Directories, 1888-93 at Ancestry ($)
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
- Beeler - Pappas, Carolyn H. "Christopher Beeler, 1705-1775," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 43, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1999):243-255; Vol. 44, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 2000):18-30; Vol. 44, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 2000):115-125. Digital version at American Ancestors by NEHGS ($). FHL Book 975.5 B2vg.
- Craft - Craft, Kenneth Fischer. "The Craft Family in America," The Southwest Virginian, Vol. 4, No. 20 (Apr. 1981):43-45; Vol. 4, No. 21 (June 1981):36-39. FHL Book 975.57 D25s v. 4 (1981).
- Dulin - Boss, Lula Reed. "Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Mason County, Kentucky," The Kentucky Genealogist, Vol. 10, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1968):25-33.
More than a dozen genealogies are available on the Ohio County WVGenWeb site Genealogy files
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Guardian bonds, 1875-1928 unindexed records available at FamilySearch
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See West Virginia Land and Property for additional information about early West Virginia land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Survey books[edit | edit source]
- Index to Survey books 1779-1884 and Survey books 1779-1797 - typed transcriptions at FamilySearch
- Survey books 1798-1844 - typed ranscriptions at FamilySearch
- 1799-1859 - handwritten records with hand drawn surveys at FamilySearch
Deeds[edit | edit source]
Deeds are available from 1778-1901 at FamilySearch. Deed indexes for both grantors and grantees are available for 1778-1935. At the beginning of each book is an index of names that shows the page of the index that records for people with that surname will be found.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Ohio County, West Virginia Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section West Virginia Local Histories.
Books[edit | edit source]
- History of the Upper Ohio Valley Vol 1 online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- History of the Upper Ohio Valley Vol 2 online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and Representative Citizens online at: GoogleBooks
Online Resources[edit | edit source]
- Wheeling History Online Ohio County Public Library
- Wheeling 250 - In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the city of Wheeling lectures were hosted and are available at Wheeling 250. Topics include:
- Civil War Roundtable
- First Families of Wheeling
- African American Experience
- Prehistory Wheeling
- Weelunk publishes articles about local history
- Archiving Wheeling also has some original content
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Maps of West Virginia (1617-1995)
- Map of 1850 Virginia and West Virginia
- Wheeling Area Maps from the Ohio County Public Library
- Early Wheeling Street Names - A fun article about this change was published by Weelunk
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
The Ohio County WVGenWeb site contains numerous resources on military conflicts since the Revolutionary War.
Revolutionary War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Service men in Ohio County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Ohio County supplied soldiers for the:
- - 13th Virginia Regiment (3rd, 5th, 6th, and 9th Companies)[6]
Additional resources:
- A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services: With their Names, Ages, and Places of Residence, as Returned by the Marshalls of the Several Judicial Districts, Under the Act for Taking the Sixth Census. 1841. Digital versions at U.S. Census Bureau and Google Books. 1967 reprint: FHL Book 973 X2pc 1840. See Virginia, Western District, Ohio County on page 135.
War of 1812[edit | edit source]
Ohio County men served in the 4th Regiment.[7]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Regiments. Service men in Ohio served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Ohio County:
- 1861-1865 West Virginia Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
Civil War service men from Ohio County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Ohio County.
Union
- - 1st Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry
- - 1st Regiment, West Virginia Infantry, Companies A, B, C, E, and K.
- - 1st Regiment, West Virginia Light Artillery, Battery A Light Artillery.
Confederate
- - 27th Regiment, Virginia Infantry Company G (Shriver Greys).[8]
World War I[edit | edit source]
- 1917-1918 - West Virginia, World War I Draft Registration Cards,1917-1918 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
World War II[edit | edit source]
- 1940-1945 - West Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- West Virginia Naturalization Records, 1814-1991 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection - While the description of this database says it includes Ohio County it does not appear in the list of counties if you "Browse this Collection".
- Index to Ohio County Naturalizations at WVGenWeb Ohio County - an index to records presented by Linda Cunnigham Fluharty and Frank Manning from a book compiled by Audra Rickey Wayne, 1986.
- Book 1 of the Naturalization Declarations, 1854-1861 Ohio Co, VAwas transcribed by Sylvia Sligar and is available at WVGenWeb Ohio County
- Original unindexed records of Book 1 of the Naturalization Declarations, 1854-1861 Ohio Co, VA are online at FamilySearch
- Naturalization Book No. 2 - Municipal Court at FamilySearch
Alien Declarations[edit | edit source]
- Alien Declarations - Circuit Court
- Book 1, 1866-1882 at FamilySearch
- Book 3, 1876-1879 and continued at FamilySearch
- Book 6, 1854-1883 at FamilySearch
- Book 7, 1884 at FamilySearch
- Book 8, 1886-1906 at FamilySearch
- Book 9, 1907 at FamilySearch
- Book 10, 1878-1880 at FamilySearch
- Book 11, 1904-1906 at FamilySearch
- Book 12, 1904-1906 at FamilySearch
- Alien Declarations - Municipal Court
- Book 4, 1878-1888 at FamilySearch
- Book 5 at FamilySearch
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Wheeling Intelligencer and predecessors from the Ohio County Public Library
- The Wheeling repository (1807-1808) from Chronicling America
- Wheeling, West Virginia Newspaper Archives (1874-1897) - $ genealogybank.com
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Selected obituaries have been indexed at WVGenWeb Ohio County.
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Online Probate Indexes and Records[edit | edit source]
- 1724-1978 West Virginia Wills and Probate Records 1724-1978 at Ancestry — index and images $
- 1756-1971 West Virginia Will Books 1756-1971 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
Will Transcriptions[edit | edit source]
- Some individual wills have been transcribed and posted on Ohio County WVGenWeb
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
How can West Virginia tax lists help me?
- 1787 - Schreiner-Yantis, Netti and Florene Speakman Love. The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Male Tithable Over 21 Years, the Number of White Males Between 16 & 21 Years, the Number of Slaves over 16 & Those Under 16 Years, Together with a Listing of Their Horses, Cattle & Carriages, and Also the Names of All Persons to Whom Ordinary Licenses and Physician's Licenses Were Issued. 3 vols. Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. FHL. The source of this publication is the 1787 personal property tax list. Ohio County is included in Vol. 2.
- 1790 - Indexed images of the 1790 Personal Property Tax List of Ohio County, Virginia(now West Virginia) are available online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
- 1802 - Images of the 1802 Personal Property Tax Lists of Ohio County, Virginia(now West Virginia) are available to browse online, courtesy: Binns Genealogy.
- 1815 - Ward, Roger D. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer). 6 vols. Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997-2000. FHL Book 975 E4w v. 6. The source for this publication is the 1815 land tax. Ohio County is included in Vol. 6.
- Personal Property (1811-1850) Ohio County tax list at FamilySearch
- Land tax Records from Land Books 1785-1900 at FamilySearch
West Virginia real and personal property tax records are managed by the County Assessor in each county. Land and land improvements are considered real property while mobile property is classified as personal property.
Many County Assessors offer an online searchable database, where assessment record searches can be performed by name, account number, year, or mp/parcel number. Where online records are not available, requests for records can be made to the Assessment Office in person, by phone, or in writing.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
- West Virginia Vital Records, 1865-1969 (varies) - Includes birth, death, and marriage.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1853-1914 West Virginia Birth Index, 1853-1914 at MyHeritage - index ($)
- West Virginia Births and Christenings, 1853-1928 - How to Use this Collection
- West Virginia Births, 1853-1930 - How to Use this Collection
- West Virginia Births, WV Department of Arts, Culture and History, images available
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1776-1971 West Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1776-1971 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1780-1970 West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index - The search will link to the West Virginia Vital Records page. Those records will give the date and page number of the volume, but do not provide the volume number. However, with the date and page number information you can browse the FamilySearch collection to locate the appropriate volume.
- 1801-1962 West Virginia, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- West Virginia Marriages, 1854-1932 - How to Use this Collection
- West Virginia Marriages, WV Department of Arts, Culture and History, digital images available
- Ministers Bonds, Ohio County, Book 1, 1868-1903 at FamilySearch
Death[edit | edit source]
- West Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1854-1932 - How to Use this Collection
- West Virginia Deaths, 1853-1970 - How to Use this Collection
- West Virginia Deaths, - WV Department of Arts Culture and History, digital images available
- 1853-1964 West Virginia Death Index & Certificates, 1853-1964 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Ohio County. For state-wide archival repositories, see West Virginia Archives and Libraries.
Ohio County Public Library
52 - 16th Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
Ohio County Public Library Archives and Special Collections
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Ohio County. For state-wide library facilities, see West Virginia Archives and Libraries.
Ohio County Public Library
52 - 16th Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
Ohio County Public Library
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Ohio County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see West Virginia Societies.
Wheeling Area Genealogical Society
2237 Marshall Avenue
P O Box 6450
Wheeling, WV 26003-6450
Wheeling Area Genealogical Society
Wheeling Area Historical Society
63 Oakland Avenue
Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: 847-537-3119
Email: curator (at) wheelinghistoricalsociety.com
Wheeling Area Historical Society
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Ohio County, WV History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- West Virginia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- WVGenWeb
- Cyndi's List for West Virginia
- Ohio County, West Virginia Microfilms at the Library of Virginia
- FamilySearch Catalog - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Ohio County, West Virginia" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_County,_West_Virginia."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), West Virginia.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ohio County, West Virginia. Page 743-746 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 742-743.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), West Virginia.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Ohio County, West Virginia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_County,_West_Virginia, accessed 13 July 2018.
- ↑ E.M. Sanchez-Saavedra, A Guide to Virginia Military Organizations in the American Revolution, 1774-1787 (Richmond, Va.: Virginia State Library, 1978), 69. FHL Book 975.5 M2s.
- ↑ Stuart Lee Butler, A Guide to Virginia Militia Units in the War of 1812 (Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1988), 163. FHL Book 975.5 M2bs.
- ↑ Lowell Reidenbaugh, 27th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Va.: H.E. Howard, 1993). FHL Book 975.5 M2vr v. 90.
