Ohio Agricultural Schedules at the State Library of Ohio

As people moved into and across America, many of them had one primary objective: to find a piece of land where they could start a farm and make a life for their families. Personally, I’m descended from a lot of farmers. But there are all sizes and types of farms—wheat farms, vegetable farms, dairy farms, cattle ranches, and so forth. How do you find out what kind of farm your ancestor had, what he produced, how big it was, or what it was worth?

Fortunately, the U.S. government was interested in knowing that, too. Granted, their reasons were different than ours as family historians today, but their data will do just fine. From 1850 through 1880, they compiled an Agricultural Schedule along with the regular Population Schedule for each census year. These records provide a lot of interesting detail for our family stories.

Nancy of My Ancestors and Me recently wrote a wonderful blog post about the agricultural censuses. She described what they were, what questions the enumerators asked, and where you can find them. Because she did such a fine job, I suggest you hop over and read “Farmers in Your Family Between 1850 and 1880?” now. I was quite envious to hear that agricultural schedules for some states are available online. As far as I know, none of the Ohio ones are.

Here’s an example of what one page from an agricultural schedule looks like (this is Alexander Township, Athens County, Ohio, in 1860):

One of the largest collections of Ohio agricultural censuses (outside of the National Archives) is on microfilm at the State Library of Ohio in Columbus. Not all census years for all counties are there, but many are. I thought it might be helpful to give you a peek at this collection and a list of exactly what’s available. There is no name index for the Ohio agricultural censuses, so you need to know the county and the township your ancestor lived in to find him. You can get that information easily enough from the regular U.S. population census of the same year.

Here is a county-by-county listing of the agricultural schedules available at the State Library of Ohio:

Adams: 1850, 60, 70

Allen: 1850, 60, 70

Ashland: 1850, 60

Ashtabula: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Athens: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Auglaize: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Belmont: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Brown: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Butler: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Carroll: 1870, 80

Champaign: 1870, 80

Clark: 1880

Clermont: 1880

Clinton: none

Columbiana: none

Coshocton: none

Crawford: none

Cuyahoga: none

Darke: 1850, 60

Defiance: 1850, 60

Delaware: 1850, 60

Erie: 1850, 60

Fairfield: 1850, 60

Fayette: 1850, 60, 70

Franklin: 1850, 60, 70

Fulton: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Gallia: 1850, 60, 70

Geauga: 1850, 60, 70

Greene: 1850, 60, 70

Greene: 1850, 60, 70

Guernsey: 1850, 60, 70

Hamilton: 1850, 60, 70

Hancock: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Hardin: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Harrison: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Henry: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Highland: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Hocking: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Holmes: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Huron: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Jackson: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Jefferson: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Knox: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Lake: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Lawrence: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Licking: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Logan: 1850, 60, 70, 80

Lorain: 1850, 60, 80

Lucas: 1850, 60, 80

Madison: 1850, 60, 80

Mahoning: 1850, 60, 80

Marion: 1850, 60, 80

Medina: 1850, 60, 80

Meigs: 1850, 60, 80

Mercer: 1850, 60, 80

Miami: 1850, 60, 80

Monroe: 1850, 60, 80

Montgomery: 1850, 60, 80

Morgan: 1850, 60, 80

Morrow: 1860, 80

Muskingum: 1860, 80

Noble: 1860, 80

Ottawa: 1860, 80

Paulding: 1860, 80

Perry: 1860, 80

Pickaway: 1860, 80

Pike: 1860, 80

Portage: 1860, 80

Preble: 1860, 80

Putnam: 1860

Richland: 1860

Ross: 1850, 60

Sandusky: 1850, 60

Scioto: 1850, 60

Seneca: 1850, 70

Shelby: 1850, 70

Stark: 1850, 70

Summit: 1850, 70

Trumbull: 1850, 70

Tuscarawas: 1850, 70

Union: 1850, 70

Van Wert: 1850, 70

Vinton: 1850, 70

Warren: 1850, 70

Washington: 1850, 70, 80

Wayne: 1850, 70, 80

Williams: 1850, 70, 80

Wood: 1850, 70, 80

Wyandot: 1850, 70, 80

Whew, that’s a lot of counties, isn’t it? 

Some of the Ohio agricultural censuses are available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, which means you can order them for delivery to your nearest Family History Center. To see what they have, go to the article on “Ohio Census” at FamilySearch.org. Scroll down to the Federal Non-Population Schedules, and then to the Microfilm Images category.

The State Library of Ohio is located at 274 E. First Avenue, Columbus, 43201. It’s open 8 am-5 pm Monday to Friday, although as with any archive, you should call ahead to confirm if you’re making a special trip. I hope this information helps you discover more about your farmer ancestor in Ohio! 

--Shelley

Dublin, Ohio, Veterans Park and Indian Run Cemetery

A few years ago, the city of Dublin, Ohio, transformed a quiet spot behind historic Indian Run Cemetery into a Veterans Park. It features a Grounds of Remembrance honoring those who have served the United States in times of war and peace. Visitors walk down a Recognition Walk lined with dedication stones, some of which are inscribed with names of individual veterans from Revolutionary times to the present.

The park is a peaceful and inviting place. The young sycamore trees that have been planted will one day provide a shady canopy over the grounds. A POW/MIA memorial stone gives special pause, as does the POW/MIA flag flying overhead.

An open-air pavilion provides a backdrop for both official ceremonies and private reflection. Inscribed on the wall is this lovely except from Concord Hymn, by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

We place with joy a votive stone,

That memory may their deeds redeem,

When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

O Thou who made those heroes dare

To die, and leave their children free—

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

The shaft we raised to them and Thee.

Indian Run Cemetery is one of the oldest burial grounds in Central Ohio, with the first burial dating back to 1814. Although it has been restored, a long period of prior neglect means that many stones were irreparably broken and others were lost. Stones that could not be matched with a gravesite have been set against the old dry stone border wall that surrounds the cemetery. Many members of the families that founded Dublin are buried at Indian Run. At least one Revolutionary War soldier, Nathaniel Babcock, is among them, as a modern monument attests.

The design of the new memorial fits in with the historic cemetery it surrounds, with the American flag flying proudly over them both. I like the way this seems to bring history full circle.

Thank you, veterans!

--Shelley

If you go: Access to the Dublin Veterans Park and Indian Run Cemetery is not particularly well marked. From the downtown Dublin intersection of Bridge St. (State Route 161) and High St. (Dublin Rd.), go north on High St. one block to Darby St. Turn left as if going to the Dublin branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Cars should continue past the library and veer right to park in the Indian Run lot. For more information, see: http://dublinohiousa.gov/parks-open-space/grounds-of-remembrance

Previous Veteran’s Day posts:

Thank You to a Special WWII Veteran

In Honor of Veteran’s Day

Tribute to a Faithful Companion

Few days in a family’s life are as exciting as the day you bring a new puppy into the household. So it was for us in July 1998, when a little golden ball of fluff came to live with us. We named her Gracie. With her came new bowls, a new collar, new leash, new toys—and a new routine to our days.

Gracie quickly got used to family life. She became an expert at scratching up our floors, barking at dogs walking by and deer venturing into the yard, and gobbling up food left carelessly unattended on the coffee table. She assumed the job of greeting everyone who came to the door with unbridled enthusiasm. (I often told repairmen, “She thinks you came over just to see her.”) And she readily tolerated anything the kids and their friends wanted her to do. Being pushed around in a stroller? Wearing clothes out of the dress-up box? Happy to oblige. 

True to her retriever roots, Gracie loved the water. She would happily fetch a stick or ball we threw into the lake for her until we tired of the game. If we were lying peacefully on rafts, she wanted to be right there beside us, splashing away and trying to climb on. She may not have been the most graceful swimmer, but she certainly was the most eager.

But Gracie’s favorite time of year was winter. It was never too cold or too snowy for her. She loved to dig and roll in the snow, and the fact that she tracked half of it into the house with her didn’t bother her in the least.

Over the years, Gracie’s face turned whiter and her pace slowed. On walks, she’d start out at her usual near-run, tugging on her leash, but by the end she’d be dragging behind. As the kids grew up and left for college, one by one, she spent more time sleeping in her favorite spots. She became my constant companion, following me from room to room like a 70-pound shadow. Then, this summer, she was diagnosed with cancer, and the inevitable end drew near.

Gracie was a member of our family for 13 years. She never seemed to notice that she was a little furrier than the rest of us. Although pets don’t show up in our family trees, they hold an undisputed place in our family histories, and in our hearts.

--Shelley

Why I Recommend the NGS Home Study Course

If you’re weighing your options for genealogy education, you might be considering the National Genealogical Society’s American Genealogy Home Study Course. I finished the course in September 2011, and recently wrote about it for The In-Depth Genealogist newsletter. You can read the article, “Learn American Genealogy with the NGS Home Study Course,” to learn about what topics are covered. Today I’d like to share a little bit more detail about my personal experiences with the course, and hopefully answer some questions you might have about it.

To recap, the Home Study Course (HSC) is a 16-lesson program that explores all the essential types of American records, along with the principles of genealogical research, evidence analysis, and citation. It comes on a series of three CDs that are compatible with both PC and Mac systems. The National Genealogical Society does a good job of answering some questions about it on their FAQ page. But I recall having a few more when I was considering it.

What is the approximate level of this course?

I would classify the HSC as an intermediate-level course. It’s great for someone who has already done some family history research, explored resources online and at the local library, read books about finding ancestors, used a microfilm machine, and worked with a genealogy software program. I think beginners may find themselves in over their heads, and would be happier with the shorter, more basic course, Family History Skills, that is free with the cost of membership to NGS.

For example, one of the first assignments is to complete a pedigree chart and a family group sheet, with full source citations. If you haven’t done the research necessary to do that, or don’t know the basics of citation writing, you’re probably going to have a difficult time with it.

Why should someone take this course? What are the benefits?

• The HSC gives a systematic, step-by-step progression through record types and the research process. One reason I signed up for it was that I felt I had gotten a lot of information piecemeal, from a variety of books and lectures, and wanted something more structured. The course provided that structure.

• You can start whenever you want, and progress at your own pace. Each CD has four to six lessons, and you’re allowed one year to complete them (you can ask for an extension if needed). You don’t have to do the lessons in order.

• The assignments encourage hands-on experience at archives and courthouses to stretch your usage of various types of records. Because you can use your own family for the assignments, the work you do actually helps your research.

• The course serves as a foundation for more advanced study. If you’d like to attend one of the genealogy institutes, take a methodology-focused course, or are considering genealogy as a profession, it’s a good step to take. The HSC is one of five accepted prerequisites for the Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis course at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University.

What does “graded” mean?

When I started the course, you had the option of taking it graded or ungraded. Now it appears that everyone takes it graded, which is the best option anyway. “Graded” means that a genealogist who has volunteered to be a grader for a particular lesson will read over your assignment, check to make sure you’ve included everything that was asked for, and appear to understand the material. He or she will then stamp your assignment as “Complete” or “Incomplete.” You’re not given letter grades or number scores, but the grader will usually write a few lines giving feedback on what you’ve submitted. If an assignment is incomplete, they’ll tell you what you need to do differently, and how to resubmit it.

What tips would you give someone taking the course?

• Do the recommended reading. Because it’s a home course, and essentially at a college level, no professor is standing over you to make sure you’ve done your reading. But you will get far more out of it if you do. I’d suggest buying the following three books at the outset, and highlighting, underlining, and making notes to your heart’s content as you go along:

1. The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, Third Edition, by Val D. Greenwood (Genealogical Publishing Company, 2000)
2. The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, Third Edition, by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking (Ancestry Publishing, 2006)
3. Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, Second Edition, by Elizabeth Shown Mills (Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009)

• Create a binder or file with sections corresponding to each lesson, to collect information. I ended up with three binders, one for each CD, in which I keep copies of my assignments, printouts of journal articles and supplementary reading, lists of resources, and more. I even printed out the lessons so I could highlight and refer back to them easily.

• Try to keep a consistent pace. I tried to do one lesson a month, but because I had a lot of other things going on and the last few assignments are pretty complex, it took me a little over two years to complete the course. Still, it felt good to make steady progress.

• Sign up for the Home Study Course mailing list, which you should receive information about once you enroll. It provides a forum for questions and answers, with frequent input from graders. 

I hope this information is helpful if you’re trying to decide whether the NGS Home Study Course is right for you. If you have specific questions, you can email the course administrator at: courses@ngsgenealogy.org. I really do feel any investment you make in genealogy education is well worth it, and wish you all the best whatever path you choose!

--Shelley

Heading into the Homestretch

Can you believe it’s November already? This year has just zipped by. We’ve rounded the final turn and are heading into the homestretch of 2012, with the finish line in sight. (Ok, you’ll have to forgive the racetrack analogy—my Dad had a horse and I spent a lot of time at the track growing up.) It’s time for me to check back on my 2012 goals and see what I might be able to wrap up during these last two months. The year took some unexpected twists, and I know I’m not going to meet some of my original goals, but there’s no sense dwelling on those now. I think it's best to focus instead on what I still want to accomplish.

Research:

• Finish and submit an application to OGS Century Families of Ohio on my Eberhard and Ballenger ancestors
• Finish and submit an application on my husband’s behalf to Century Families of Ohio on his Evans ancestors
• Continue researching the Sanborn families of Loudonville, Ohio, to trace their path back to New Hampshire
• Do research for my clients 

Organization:

• Process and file all loose research notes from this year in the appropriate surname binders (my mantra: no new piles!)
• File more lecture handouts, notes, and research guides for easy retrieval when I need them

Writing:

• Write research reports for clients
• Write research plans on two families for my personal research
• Write columns for The In-Depth Genealogist 

Blogging:

• Continue posting regularly here at A Sense of Family
• Decorate my blog for the holidays (I had to throw something fun in here!) 

Education:

• Participate in my NGSQ Study Group discussions
• Watch two webinars 

Well, that sounds like more than enough to keep me busy for the next couple of months. Some of these things I’ve already started, and just need a little push to finish. I’ve found that if I put it out here for everyone to see, it gives me that extra kick to get it done. And I’m hoping it will help me stay focused during the holiday rush. How about you? What do you hope to get done before the year ends?

Early American Roads and Trails: Tuesday's Tip

An old mile marker on the National Road near Hebron, Ohio

Have you ever wondered how your ancestors got from one place to another? Most families moved to a new locality within America at least once. Today I’d like to spotlight a resource that can help you figure out the migration path they might have taken. It’s a free website created by Beverly Whitaker, MA, called Early American Roads and Trails. Beverly, a professional genealogist in Kansas City, Missouri, has assembled individual guides to 18 of the most popular frontier migration routes.

Early American Roads and Trails gives a brief overview of each route, to help you determine which one(s) might be of interest to you. Once that’s done, you can download a free two-page PDF document that details the trail’s traffic, features, timeline, route, and map. Each document provides a gold mine of information to help put your ancestor’s move into historical perspective, and to use as a springboard for more in-depth research.

For example, my immigrant German ancestor, Johan Adam Rausch, signed his oath of allegiance in Philadelphia upon his arrival there in 1736. The next solid record I have for him is a land grant he received from Thomas Lord Fairfax for 400 acres in what is now Shenandoah County, Virginia, in 1773. How did he get from southeastern Pennsylvania to the Shenandoah Valley? The answer becomes clear in the PDF guide to The Great Valley Road, which brought hundreds of German and Scots-Irish families into the region during that time period.

In addition to the detailed trail guides, Beverly Whitaker offers some suggestions for further migration route research, and provides a link to her personal bibliography. Her companion site, American Migration Patterns, provides helpful links to a number of other websites and resources. Think your ancestors might have traveled by river or canal, rather than over land? Check out all the resources listed on yet another of her sites, American Rivers and Waterways. Trust me, you can lose yourself in this stuff for days at a time.

Together, Beverly’s websites can help you find the information you need to connect the pieces of your ancestor’s puzzle as he moved from place to place. Kudos to her for sharing these resources so freely.

What routes did your ancestors take in their journey through America?

--Shelley

Related Posts:

Social History Resources for Genealogists

Finding Historical Maps for Genealogy