So, you want to know a little about Allen County Genealogy?
Allen County was created in 1820 and later organized in 1831. The county gets his name from the War of 1812 hero, Colonel John Allen, who was killed at the Battle of Frenchtown. Some have said it was named after American Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen, who helped capture Fort Ticonderoga. Either is a possibility, but with Ohio's importance during the War of 1812 and how much conflict it saw, John Allen makes the most sense.
The county has a population of 106,331, and its county seat is Lima.
Allen County: Local Historical Sites
Allen County Museum & Historical Society: Located in Lime, Ohio, the museum is one of the best museums in Ohio. It has many exhibits that show the history of the country and what life was like during the time period. However, its exhibit shows the escape of John Dillinger in 1933.
Website: http://www.allencountymuseum.org/
Allen County: History
Like most of Ohio's history, the county's history begins with the Native Americans. Native Americans cultivated the land and lived on it for centuries until European exploration began, and slowly, the natives were outgunned and pushed off their land. By the end of the American Revolutionary War, Ohio had not been settled, but some of its lands had been delegated for settlement, and there were a few forts in the area.
The Treaty of Greenville was signed in 1795 and reserved Northwest Ohio for the Indians. After the War of 1812 and due to frontier hostilities of settlers and Indians, the terms changed. The treaty of Maumee Rapids was signed in 1817, and from it, Allen County, along with many others, would be created.
Christopher Wood and his family settled and founded the first permanent settlement that predated Allen County. The settlement was called Bath Township. Soon, the city of Lima was founded, and settlers began to settle in Allen County.
Meanwhile, the Shawnee Indians were again pushed off of their land when it was bought for $30,000. The once great Shawnee Indians lacked provisions and soon suffered from cholera.
They would continue to migrate due to continual expansion and would eventually find themselves in Oklahoma, then Spanish Texas, and then they would fade and merge with citizens of the United States.
One of Allen County's notable annual events is its County Fair. Run every August in Lima since 1851, the Fair is among Western Ohio's foremost agricultural showcasing events. In 2005, there were over 220,000 visitors and almost 3,000 exhibitors, making it the largest in the state.
The fair attracted many nationally known performers during the 1980s and 1990s, and combined with significant renovations to the county showgrounds, these factors led to a marked increase in attendance and notoriety over the past two decades
Allen County Genealogy: Geography
Allen County is located in Northwest Ohio and is surrounded by Putnam County (north), Hancock County (northeast), Hardin County (east), Auglaize County (south), and Van Wert County (west).
When researching Allen County Genealogy, it would be beneficial to take a look at the county using Google Maps. It provides the perspective of the various rivers, significant buildings, cemeteries, townships, cities, churches, and other important areas that your ancestor may have left a trail.
- Allen County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1910 and Probate Records from 1849. The County Clerk of Probate Court handles the probating of wills, estate administrations, trusts, guardianships, adoptions, birth corrections, delayed birth registrations, and issues marriage licenses. The Probate Court is that the Probate Judge is the ex-officio Clerk of Courts. Thus, the Court performs all the duties as its own Clerk of Courts.
- Allen County Recorder has Land Records from 1797. The County Recorder has the duty of keeping specific records, which may include deeds, mortgages, military discharges, plats, etc.
- Allen County Clerk of Court of Common Pleas has Court Records. The County Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas is responsible for duties that include filing, docketing, indexing, and preserving all court pleadings for civil, felony criminal, and domestic relations cases. Other services provided by the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas are administering oaths, keeping naturalization records, and recording and retention of coroner records.
- The Allen County Health Department has Birth & Death Records from 1908-Present. For birth and death records prior to Dec. 20, 1908, contact the Probate Court of this county.
- Federal Census Reports
- Ohio, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index 1790 - 1890
- U.S. Federal Census - 1880 Schedules of Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes
- Ohio Historical Society, Archives-Library Division
- Allen County Historical Society
- Lima Locomotive Works
- Allen County Genealogical Society
- Ohio Genealogical Society
- The History Junkie's Guide to Ohio Genealogy
