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Holmes County History and Information

County History | Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
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Holmes County Ohio Map
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Holmes Co., Ohio
Township Map

Holmes County was created on January 20, 1824 and was formed from Wayne, Coshocton and Tuscarawas Counties. The County was named for Major Andrew Holmes, an officer in the War of 1812 killed at Mackinac Island, Michigan. Millersburg is the county seat of Holmes County. In 1824, Charles Miller and Adam Johnson surveyed the town. The town became the county seat the following year. See also County History for more historical details.

The Health Department has Birth & Death Records from 1908-Present, see the Vital Records section for more details. For birth and death records prior to Dec. 20, 1908, contact the Probate Court of this county.

Counties adjacent to Holmes County are Wayne County (north), Stark County ( northeast), Tuscarawas County (east), Coshocton County (south), Knox County (southwest), Ashland County (northwest).

Holmes County Municipalities Include Baltic, Glenmont, Holmesville, Killbuck, Loudonville, Millersburg, Nashville. Townships Include Berlin, Clark, Hardy, Killbuck, Knox, Mechanic, Monroe, Paint, Prairie, Richland, Ripley, Salt Creek, Walnut Creek, Washington. Other localities Include Berlin, Big Prairie, Charm, Lakeville, Mount Hope, Walnut Creek, Winesburg

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Click Here to Search Ohio Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records!
Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

Records at the Holmes County Courthouse

See Also Ohio Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

All Departments below are in the Holmes County Courthouse One East Jackson Street, Millersburg, OH 44654; Phone: +1-216-674-5916, unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.holmescounty.com/gov/ . NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Holmes County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1821, Birth / Death Records from 1867-1908 and Probate Records from 1825 and is located in Suite 201. Phone: 330-674-5881

Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

The Probate Court handles the following administrative functions: the probating of wills, estate administrations (full estates and releases from administration), trusts, guardianships of incompetent adults and minors, commitment hearings for the mentally ill and mentally challenged, adoptions, birth corrections, name changes, delayed birth registrations, custodial accounts, lost heir accounts, order disinterments, and issues marriage licenses. In addition, the Court tries litigation issues in all the above matters. A unique aspect of 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 (indexing, filing, docketing, etc.).

Holmes County Recorder has Land Records from 1808 and is located at 75 E Clinton St, PO Box 213, Ste 101, Millersburg, OH 44654; Phone: 330-674-5916 or 330-674-9519, Fax: 330-674-0782; Email: smiller@co.holmes.oh.us

In Ohio, the Recorder, as an elected official, is charged by law with the exacting duty of keeping certain specific records which may include: deeds, mortgages, financing statements, easements, leases, federal tax liens, personal tax liens, military discharges, powers of attorney, mechanics liens, plats, recognizance liens, partnerships, living wills, zoning resolutions, etc.

Holmes County Clerk of Court of Common Pleas has Court Records from 1825. Phone Number: (330) 674-0286

The Clerk of Courts of Common Pleas is responsible for various administrative and ministerial duties in conjunction with the Court of Common Pleas.  These duties include filing, docketing, indexing, and preserving all court pleadings for civil, felony criminal and domestic relations cases.  The Clerk of Courts must also follow procedure required by law and issues writs to carry out Court orders.  Some of these writs include summons, subpoenas, warrants to arrest and to convey to penal institutions, and signing the death warrant in capital cases. The Clerk is responsible for the receipt and disbursement of all money paid into the court system. Other services provided by the Clerk of Court of Common Pleas are accepting bonds, recording notary commissions, administering oaths, keeping naturalization records, and recording and retention of coroner records.

Below is a list of online resources for Holmes County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Holmes County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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Click Here to Search Ohio Birth, Marriage & Death Records!
Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Holmes County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Ohio

Ohio did not make it a law to keep birth records until 1867. Ohio made it a law to record births in 1867. County probate courts kept birth records between 1867 and December 19, 1908. There is no statewide index to birth records from 1867 through December 19, 1908. Go to the list of county probate court birth records held at the Ohio Historical Society. If the Ohio Historical Society does not hold a county's birth records, please contact the county's probate court.

Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 225 Neilston Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; (614) 466-2531. Same-day service available to walk-in customers (for Ohio birth and death records only)., P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Please allow up to approximately 3 weeks to 6 months for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

  • Birth & Death Certificates: The state of Ohio began issuing certificates for births on December 20, 1908. The Ohio Department of Health holds birth certificates for the state of Ohio from December 20, 1908 to the present. The Vital Statistics Office maintains statewide Death Certificates from 1954 to the present. Individual health departments in the county or city where the death took place keep certificates for their local area (not statewide).
    • Cost: $16.50 per certificate, payment is payable to the Treasurer State of Ohio. The cost for each authentication is $5.00 payable to the Secretary of State of Ohio. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $16.50 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 3-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL
    • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: The State of Ohio Vital Statistics Office maintains the abstracts of marriages and divorces that occurred in Ohio from January 1, 1954, to present.  Abstracts are brief forms that list limited information extracted from the original marriage licenses or divorce decrees.  This limited information is used for index purposes and the filing of the marriage or divorce within the State of Ohio. We do not have marriage licenses or divorce decrees on file, only abstracts. An abstract is not a marriage license or divorce decree. Please contact the following agencies: Marriage License - County Probate Court; Divorce – County Clerk of Court. To request a certified copy of a marriage license contact the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was obtained.To request a certified copy of a divorce decree contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the decree was granted.
    • Cost: Include a fee of $3.00 per 10 year search per last name with request.  Allow 4 to 6 months for the search. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: Allow 4 to 6 months for the search by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY. Mail your search request to: Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 246 N. High Street, 1st Floor, P.O. Box 15098, Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098
  • Ordering Vital Records Online - You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
Order In Person:

Same day service is available to walk-in customers. This is the fastest way to obtain a birth certificate. When you arrive, you will complete an application and pay the $16.50 required fee. Walk-in address is Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 225 Neilston Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; Phone: (614) 466-2531. You can also obtain the birth/death record from the city or county health department office where the event occurred, provided there is no court or legal action. You may download the application and submit it in person or by mail to the nearest local health department.

Order By Mail:

Turn around is estimated at 3 to 6 weeks from the day the request is received. However, people are urged to allow sufficient time for delivery for all birth/death records. Mail a check or money order of $16.50 for each certified certificate. Do not send cash. Mail to the following address: Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 15098, Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

Order On-Line:

To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by on-line purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek

Below is a list of online resources for Holmes County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Holmes County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek’s order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Ohio newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Search Ohio Death Certificate Index 1913-1944 from the Ohio Historical Society
  • Ohio Obituaries Index 1830s-present - mostly Northwest counties (over 800,000 names) includes obituaries from these Ohio counties: Allen, Auglaize, Belmont, Defiance, Erie, Gallia, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Huron, Logan, Lorain, Miami, Ottawa, Paulding, Ross, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Washington, Wayne, Wood & Wyandot - coverage varies by county - also see the links below (copies of the obituaries can be ordered for a fee)
  • MOLO Obituary Index includes obituaries from newspapers in Ashland County (Loudonville), Coshocton County, Holmes County and Stark County (Massillon)
  • Holmes County, Ohio Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
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Click Here to Search Ohio Voter Lists & Census Records!
Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Holmes County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Holmes County, Ohio are 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Holmes County, Ohio are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Holmes County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Holmes County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Ohio Census, 1790-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 (Northwest Territory) Federal Census Index; 1800 Federal Census Index (Washington County); 1810 Washington County Census Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index; Early Census Index; 1890 Veterans Schedule.
  • Holmes County, Ohio Census Books at Amazon.com
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Holmes County Maps & Atlases

 

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Ohio and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Ohio showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Ohio showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries.

Below is a list of online resources for Holmes County Maps. Email us with websites containing Holmes County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Search Ohio Military Records!
Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

Holmes County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Ohio

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Holmes County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Holmes County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Holmes County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Tax records for Ohio began as early as 1800. The archives section of the Ohio Historical Society has a collection of original Ohio tax lists from the state auditor's office. They include lists from the county's organization to 1838, usually arranged by county and township. They are not indexed. County courthouses hold various tax records that have not been inventoried. They are in the office of the county auditor or the county records manager. The FHL has microfilm copies of all known extant tax records 1800-38 for Ohio.

The National Archives-Great Lakes Region retains numerous federal tax records for Ohio. These include assessment books for 1867-73 and corporate and personal records for District 10, Toledo, and District 11, Columbus.

Below is a list of online resources for Holmes County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Holmes County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Holmes County, Ohio Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Holmes County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Ohio Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Holmes County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Holmes County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Holmes County Chapter, OGS, PO Box 136, Millersburg, OH 44654-0136; Holmes County Chapter, OGS meets at the Holmes County Library in Millersburg on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:30pm.
  • Local Ohio Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
  • Ohio Historical Society, Archives-Library Division,1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211; Telephone: 614-297-2300
    The Ohio Historical Society Archives/Library is, by law, the archives for the State of Ohio. As such, we collect, preserve, and make available to the public, documents pertaining to the operation of state and local governments.
  • Ohio Genealogical Society, 713 S. Main St, Mansfield, OH 44907-1644;(419) 756-7294, [EMAIL]
  • Columbus Metropolitan Library, Genealogy Division, 96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus, OH 43215. 614-645-2ASK (2275);The Genealogy Division holds microfilm; printed, typescript, and manuscript collections, including family and local histories; atlases; cemetery records; city directories; military records; censuses and census indexes; and transcribed records provided by the Ohio chapters of the DAR.
  • Ohio Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
  • Ohio Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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Click Here to Search Ohio Obituary Records!
This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

Holmes County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Ohio

There are many churches and cemeteries in Holmes County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Holmes County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Religion in Ohio was an early and important factor in settlement. The first Moravian mission was established in 1772. Presbyterians and Quakers were in the state at an early date, the latter having established forty-three monthly meetings and settlements between 1801 and 1883. The Presbyterians founded seventeen towns between 1784 and 1799. Baptists, Congregationalists, several reformed groups, Lutherans, Disciples of Christ, United Brethren, Methodists, and Catholics arrived prior to 1850. By 1890 the latter two denominations were the largest in the state. The Methodist circuit in Ohio was organized in 1798, with circuit riders traveling from log cabins to camp meetings across the territory. In 1831 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints migrated from New York to Kirtland in Lake County. No thorough survey exists of any of the holdings of individual churches in Ohio, although many are on microfilm through the FHL. The Ohio Genealogical Society is presently undertaking a church records survey.

According to the Ohio Genealogical Society, the majority of Ohio counties have published cemetery records in one form or another. They suggest contacting local societies or one of the major genealogical libraries in the state.

Below is a list of online resources for Holmes County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Holmes County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Click Here to Search Ohio Family Tree Records!
The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Holmes County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Holmes County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

Holmes County was formed by an act of the General Assembly of Ohio in 1824 and the actual organization was completed by the same body on January 4,1825. Its neighboring counties, Wayne to the north, Tuscarawas to the southeast, and Coshocton to the south, were all formed at an earlier date and the territory of Holmes County was taken from that of these three adjacent counties. The County was named for Major Holmes, a young officer of the War of 1812 who was killed in the unsuccessful attack on Fort Mackinack in 1814.

The first white settlers in the area which is now known as Holmes County came in 1809-1810 and, on February 4,1810, Hannah Butler became the first white child born in the County near Big Spring, a short distance north of present-day Holmesville. 

At about the same time, a group of Amish Mennonites from eastern Pennsylvania crossed the Alleghenies and made the first settlement of people of their faith in Ohio near the present Village of Sugarcreek in Tuscarawas County near the Holmes County line.  A young Amishman named Jonas Stutzman settled on lands near today's Walnut Creek. The deeds for these lands were signed by President Thomas Jefferson. Thus began the settlement of the Amish people in the area, a settlement which has grown into the largest in the world and which has contributed greatly to the picturesque quality of Holmes County rural life.

The Village of Millersburg was originally platted in 1815 and became the County seat in 1824 actually prior to its incorporation as a village by an act of the legislature dated February 17,1835.

Holmes County always was, and still remains, an Anglo-Saxon community with its ancestry almost entirely originating in central and northern Europe, primarily Germany and Switzerland with a smaller group from France. Among those coming from Switzerland were cheese makers who established their profession in the early days of the County. Today, their descendants produce large quantities of Swiss cheese known throughout Ohio and the neighboring states for its fine quality.

Holmes County is proud of its history, its fine farms, its good people, and its natural beauty. In a busy world, Holmes County still maintains a certain pastoral quality where those weary of the noise and pressures of life in larger industrial communities can literally "get away from it all."

The Holmes County Historical Society preserves the history of the County and maintains the Victorian House, a 28-room Queen Anne styled home at 484 Wooster Rd. in the Village of Millersburg. The Victorian House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public from June through October.

The Holmes County Commissioners, Emergency Management Agency, Environmental Management District, Buildings and Grounds, and Planning Commission have offices that reside in the "Old Jail Building" on Court Street. 

Holmes County is located in northeastern Ohio. It is predominantly rural, with less than one percent of the county’s 423 square miles consisting of urban areas. The county seat is Millersburg. With a population of 3,857 people, Berlin Township was the county’s largest community in 2000, but the next five largest towns are within five hundred people of Berlin in population. Holmes County experienced a significant increase in population—roughly 18.6 percent—between 1990 and 2000, raising the total number of residents to 38,943 people. Many residents of Ohio’s rural communities are seeking better lives and more opportunities in the state’s cities, but Holmes County is increasing in population. The county averages ninety-two people per square mile.

Farming is the largest employer in Holmes County, with 63.4 percent of the county’s acreage under cultivation. Within Ohio, Holmes County farmers rank second in oat and hay production, as well as in dairy farming. Manufacturing positions finish a close second, with furniture being one of the primary products that Holmes County residents produce. The town of Trail also has a meat-processing plant, which produces trail bologna. In 1999, the per capita income in the county was 17,591 dollars, with ten percent of the people living in poverty.

Millersburg is the county seat of Holmes County. In 1824, Charles Miller and Adam Johnson surveyed the town. The town became the county seat the following year.

The town grew slowly, having only 673 residents by 1840. In 1844, a fire erupted in the town, destroying much of Millersburg. In 1846, the village contained four churches, two newspaper offices, thirteen stores, one iron foundry, and one grist mill. Over the next forty years, Millersburg’s population tripled in size, having a population of 1,814 people in 1880. The town consisted of two newspaper offices, seven churches, two banks, and several additional manufacturing businesses. The town’s largest employer was Henry Snyder, a tile manufacturer, who employed twelve workers. Most businesses provided materials to farmers in the surrounding countryside or processed the farmers’ crops. The same remains true today. In 2000, Millersburg’s population was 3,326 people, making it the sixth largest urban center in Holmes County.

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