Welcome to the Ohio - Reference Books

A Record of the Revolutionary Soldiers buried in Lake County, Ohio, with a partial list of those in Geauga County and a membership roll of New Connecticut Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution - Mary E. T. Wyman. In 1899 the New Connecticut Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, appointed a committee to locate the burial places of the Revolutionary soldiers of Lake County, and to prepare a brief personal and military history of each. This collection of biographical sketches includes date and place of birth and death, military service, rank, burial place, and names of spouse and children wherever known. (1902) reprint, 106 pp., fullname index, paper, $14.00 #ZW950

Index of Death Lists appearing in the Cincinnatier Zeitung, 1887-1901 - Hamilton County Chapter Of The Ohio Genealogical Society, indexed by Jeffrey G. Herbert. What makes this newspaper valuable to family history researchers is the list of German death records which were reported to the Cincinnati Health Department on a daily basis. Many of these deaths were reported due to the fact that these individuals died in a city institution. This index contains the names of more than 20,000 people who died between 1887 and 1901. A separate alphabetical list of maiden names provides the corresponding married names under which the death notices are listed. 1999, 301 pp., paper, $46.00 #ZH151

Pioneer History of Medina County [Ohio] - N.B. Northrop. Medina Co., OH, was formed on Feb. 18, 1812 out of a parcel of land known as the Western Reserve, located the north-east quarter of present day Ohio. N.B. Northrop's Pioneer History of Medina offers an insightful view of this historically significant region and is now available for the first time in over a century in this expanded Heritage Classics Edition. This informative history looks at the early settlement of Medina Co. with particular interest taken in the establishment of communities, public improvements, and the key figures and families responsible for the development of the region. Statistical data is included on population and the local economy with the text principally divided into chapters recounting the origins of individual towns and townships. (1861) reprint, c.236pp., new fullname index, paper, $21.00 #N569

Restored Hamilton County, Ohio, Marriages, 1850-1859 - Hamilton County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. This index contains over 30,000 marriages which occurred in Hamilton County during the 1850s; it reconstructs and supplements as much data as possible for the time period from January 1850 until December 1859 (records lost in an 1884 county courthouse fire). Sources include the restored marriage license applications and returns that are available at the courthouse, and also Protestantische Zeitblatter, a newspaper which published some marriages starting in January 1853. Alphabetical entries include the names of the bride and groom, date of marriage and source of marriage information. You can find marriages easily by searching either the brides' or the grooms' list. 1998, 852 pp., 2 vols., 8.5x11, paper, $112.50 #H172

Andreas & Baskin's Illustrated Historical Atlas of Lucas and part of Wood Counties, Ohio - The Lucas County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Originally published in 1857, this beautifully rendered atlas provides detailed maps of the city of Toledo, Ohio and the surrounding country of Lucas and Wood Counties. Toledo and its vicinity have been charted with painstaking detail, noting the locations of cities, towns, townships, streets, roads, railroads existing and proposed, parks, government offices, courthouses, public works, industrial buildings such as breweries and factories, mines, wooded areas, churches, cemeteries, farms, docks, waterfront areas, property lines and any other notable feature of the landscape. Accompanying the maps is an account of the settlement of Ohio and the continuing development of the region. Complete lists of the original patrons are included as well as a directory of businesses and professionals. (1857) reprint, 136 pp., 11x14, maps, illus., new fullname index, spiral bound, $60.00 #L810

HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY, OHIO, Volume 1: Containing a History of the County; Its Townships, Towns, Churches, Schools, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Map of Brown County - W. H. Beers & Co. The history of Brown County begins with pre-historical and geological information. It describes the life and customs of the Native Americans, the rough life of the pioneers, the influence of the Great Kentucky Revival and Shakerism, civil organization, the growth in population, infrastructure and economy, the Catholic Church, the county's military history, and an extensive list of political officeholders from 1818 to 1880. The township histories include such information as early settlements, physical features, important businesses, natural disasters, prominent citizens, churches and cemeteries. The first two boilerplate sections have been removed. (1883) reprint, 536 pp., illus., map, new index, paper, $35.50 #ZB119

Restored Hamilton County, Ohio, Marriages, 1808-1849 - Indexed by Jeffrey G. Herbert, Hamilton County Chapter, The Ohio Genealogical Society, Cincinnati, Ohio. This index contains almost 23,000 marriages which occurred in Hamilton County before 1850. The primary base of information for this index is the restored marriage license applications and returns. Church records were checked when available and permitted. This index is arranged alphabetically in two sections, first by groom and then by brides. 1998, 644 pp., 2 vols., 8.5x11, $87.00 #H168

The History of Union County, Ohio, Containing A History of the County; Its Townships, Towns, Churches, Schools, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Military Record; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc. - W. H. Beers & Co. Written by residents of various townships within Union County, Ohio, this text is one no Union County researcher should be without. This comprehensive work opens with 400 pages' worth of histories: those of the Northwest Territory, the state of Ohio and Union County. Histories date back to 16th-century inhabitants and explorers, and chart the regions' courses through the late 19th century. Government documents, records of businesses, organizations and churches, periodicals and private papers have all been tapped--and some transcribed--to write these chapters. Next, more than 100 pages are dedicated to a "Military Record," which details the county's roles in the Revolutionary, Mexican and Civil Wars, as well as the War of 1812. Rosters of soldiers, interments in military cemeteries, and "Marches, Battles and Sieges" complete this section. Finally, almost 700 pages comprise 14 chapters, each of which tracks the history and personalities of one of the county's townships: Paris (Marysville), Union, Darby, Jerome, Mill Creek, Dover, Liberty, Leesburg, Allen, Jackson, York, Claibourne, Washington and Taylor. Transcripts of numerous records, including land surveys, election results, cemetery records, log books of social organizations and businesses, school and church records, and more, can be found here. Along with the history written for each township are biographical sketches of township "patrons," listings which the preface indicates is "full and complete." A map of Union County, almost 90 portraits of residents and more than a dozen illustrations of historical events and locations complete the work; an everyname index makes finding people easy. (1883) reprint, 1417 pp., 3 vols., illus., map, index, paper, $85.00 #ZB121

The History of Warren County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County; Its Townships, Towns, Schools, Churches, etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Map of Warren County; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, etc., etc. - W. H. Beers & Co. This two-volume edition covers Warren County, Ohio, the next county northeast of Cincinnati. Portraits of 50 key figures of the county are included. Christopher Gist, Indians, pioneer life, snakes and leeches, the revival of 1801, and "first visit of Shaker missionaries" are among the many topics. Important "firsts" for the county politically and economically are also discussed. (1882) reprint, 946 pp., 2 vols., charts, illus., new index, paper $60.00 #ZB118

Warren County, Ohio and Beyond - Dallas R. Bogan. Mr. Bogan is the local history writer for The Western Star, the oldest continually published, weekly newspaper in Ohio. This paper, founded in 1807, is published in Lebanon, Ohio. Mr. Bogan has been writing his column since January of 1993. In this book, he has collected and consolidated a diverse assortment of his articles relating to Warren County history.

His chapter titles include: Warren County, Towns and Villages, Transportation, American Civil War, Biographical Sketches, Native Americans, Religious Denominations, and Lebanon, Ohio. There are articles on everything from pioneers demanding a system of county roads to courageous participants in the Underground Railroad, from facts about the corn canning industry to the origins of the Stetson cowboy hat, from political battles among local towns to communal bonding through such experiences as the devastating Harveysburg fire in 1939. A wide range of historical periods is covered. The Ohio researcher will find many names, from prominent citizens listed in the biographical sketches to happy elementary school children celebrating Easter or making the honor roll in the 1920s and '30s. An everyname index makes it easy to look up particular individuals. 1997, 419 pp., index, paper, $29.50 #ZB520

St Peter's Episcopal Church, Delaware, Ohio: The First One Hundred Years, 1817-1918. A Collection of Documents and Genealogical Data - Mary Anne Denison Cummins. This book contains a transcript of the church's Vestry Minutes of 1817-1918, which name pew-holders as well as all vestrymen. A list of marriages from church records, courthouse records and newspaper notices follows. The final chapter, biographical sketches of almost every person named in the Minutes, is a treasure trove. The obituaries usually tell where and when the decedent was born, the parents' names, the wife's maiden name, where surviving children had settled, and the daughters' married names. 1993, 397 pp., index, paper, $31.00 #ZC855

Hamilton County, Ohio, Burial Records, Volume 10, Green Township - Hamilton County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Green Township, located just west of Cincinnati was first established circa 1809. The township boasts some of the most scenic views in all of Hamilton County.

This new work is a reading of gravestones found in Green Township burial grounds. The burial records are preceded by a brief history for each cemetery. Records contain: the full name of the deceased, date of birth, date of death, and some form of additional information. Normally the additional information encompasses one or more of the following: deceased�s relations, date of interment, funeral home, location of burial plot, etc. Veterans are given a special notation, and cemetery plats are helpful in finding specific burial plots. Burial grounds examined in this work include Bridgetown Protestant Cemetery, Green Township Cemetery, St. Aloysius Gonzaga Churchyard, St. James of White Oak Cemetery, and more. A surname index makes records more accessible. 1998, 202 pp., 8.5x11, illus., maps, surname index, paper, $30.50 #ZH157

Index of Death Notices Appearing in the Cincinnati Volksblatt, 1846-1918 - Hamilton County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. T�gliches Cincinnatier Volksblatt, which means "people's daily news," was a German-language newspaper published from May 1836 to December 1919 in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. It featured the same sections and items as English-language newspapers of the time, but simply catered to German-Americans. It covered such things as local and national news as well as news from Europe.

One item published each day was a roster of the death notices of community members, and this particular index holds over 33,000 names of people who died between 1846 and 1918. Obviously these death notices are of great importance to a family researcher. The death notices for this period seem to be much more thorough than the official death certificates. Most of the time the notices contained: the deceased's full name, the names of those who survived him or her, the maiden name of either the deceased or surviving spouse, the deceased's age, the date of death, and often the place of birth and names of surviving children, etc. Although for the sake of brevity this index does not include all the aforementioned vital information, it does provide the means (i.e., date(s) of the original death notice) to carry out further research.

This index does furnish a comprehensive alphabetical list, which presents in each entry the full name of the deceased, the date the notice appeared in the newspaper, the actual date of death, the age of the person in YY-MM-DD format, and maiden name. The issues of T�gliches Cincinnatier Volksblatt covered by this index are those extant microfilmed issues from July 1846 to March 1918. 1998, 518 pp., 8.5x11, paper, $35.00 #ZH158

Ohio Families: A Bibliographic Listing of Books About Ohio Families - Donald M. Hehir. This book provides, in one source, a comprehensive listing of all printed Ohioan genealogies and family histories that have made their way into major library collections across the U.S. Many of the books deal with multiple familes, some with non-Ohio roots. Arranged for ease of use, the entries are presented alphabetically according to surname, with a cross index to family and secondary names to help researchers find surnames that would otherwise remain buried within the text. Also included is a separate bibliography of titles on microfilm at the Library of Congress. 1993, 403 pp., glossary, bibl., index, paper $32.00 #ZH141

Index of Death Notices and Marriages Notices appearing in the "Cincinnati Daily Gazette", 1827-1881 - Jeffrey G. Herbert. This volume is divided into two sections, death notices and marriage notices. Both sections are arranged alphabetically by last name. The marriages are entered under both the bride's and groom's names. Included in the introductory material are Reported Death Totals for Cincinnati (1828-1881), list of Cincinnati cemeteries in 1850 (name and address), list of Revolutionary War Soldiers (as mentioned in obituaries), members of the Pioneer Association of Cincinnati in 1858, and a list of marriage licenses issued by Gov. St. Clair from November 1795 to May 1796. 1992, 849 pp., 8.5x11, 2 vols., paper, $102.00 #ZH161

Index of Death and Other Notices Appearing in the "Cincinnati Freie Presse", 1874-1920 - Jeffrey G. Herbert. This major compilation contains the name, date of death (if published) and date of notice, age of person, the newspaper page on which the notice was printed, maiden names for married women, and the city of birth, if mentioned. The index contains the names of over 38,000 people who died between 1874 and 1920. Both the original German spelling of a name, and its English equivalent are given when available. Words frequently found in death notices are given in a list in both English and German. 1993, 701 pp., 2 vols., 8.5x11, paper, $88.50 #ZH162

Restored Hamilton County, Ohio Marriages, 1860-1869 - Jeffrey G. Herbert. On March 24, 1884, a riot in downtown Cincinnati resulted in a fire in the Hamilton County Courthouse. One set of records that was completely destroyed was the collection of marriage license applications and returns from 1860 to 1884. Less than 5% of these lost records had ever been recovered until the Hamilton County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society and Jeffrey G. Herbert sat down to the task. This compilation reconstructs 85% of the lost data from January 1860 through December 1869. During this period, approximately 27,000 marriages took place in the Hamilton County area; this collection contains over 23,100 of them.

The main source of information for these reconstructed records was the lists of marriage license applications published in the Cincinnati Volksblatt, a German-language newspaper for immigrants to Cincinnati. Another newspaper, the Protest"ntische Zeitblatter, also served as a source. Wherever possible, the spelling of names was checked against original church records, and sometimes these church records proved to be sources of additional marriage listings. The information in each marriage record includes the names of bride and groom, the marriage date and the name of the source. The records are listed alphabetically, first by grooms' names and then by brides' names. 1997, 652 pp., 8.5x11, paper, $40.00 #ZH164

Index of Death Notices Appearing in the Cincinnati Commercial, 1858-1899 - Jeffrey G. Herbert. Between 1858 and 1899, the Commercial published death notices of local citizens on a daily basis. These death notices are of great value to genealogical researchers since the city of Cincinnati did not keep any records of deaths prior to 1865, and until 1908 the records that were kept were not exhaustive. The information contained in each entry is name, death date, age, maiden name, publication date(s) and page number. The author has included an alphabetical list of women by their maiden names. 1996, 665 pp., 2 vols., 8.5x11, append., paper, $85.00 #ZH163

Ohio Hamilton County, Ohio, Burial Records, Vol. 11: Columbia Township - Hamilton County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, Mary H. Remler, Editor. This work compiles readings of headstones and markers for 25 Columbia Township cemeteries. Records are divided into sections by burial ground and are preceded by brief histories of the grounds and churches around which they are established. Each entry consists of a complete reading of an inscription, including the deceased's name, date of birth, date of death, and assorted information concerning family, military service, and in some cases the condition of markers themselves. The grounds examined in this work include: St. Michael Catholic Cemetery, United Afro American Cemetery, Columbia Pioneer Baptist Churchyard, Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Churchyard, Armstrong Chapel Methodist Churchyard, Fulton Mechanics Cemetery and others. 1998, 275 pp., 8.5x11, maps, surname index, paper, $44.00 #H171

Pioneer and General History of Geauga County, With Sketches of Some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men - The Historical Society of Geauga County. This book is a compilation of histories, township by township, of Geauga Co., Ohio, whose creation dates back to 1805, and whose settlement reaches even farther back, into the eighteenth century. The book opens with a general county history, which includes its establishment, geography, government, settlement, and just about every other conceivable aspect of its development and daily life. Transcriptions of historical speeches add to the flavor of the reading. Following this chapter are sections dealing with each of the county's sixteen townships, which are packed with details like those mentioned above, plus biographical sketches of notable citizens and local anecdotes. (1880) reprint, 861 pp., 1 vol. in 2, new index, paper, $55.00 #ZH377

Hamilton County, Ohio, Birth Records, 1874-1875 - Lois E. Hughes. The information was copied from Hamilton County, Ohio, Birth Registers received from Probate Court. Due to their fragile conditions, the original registers are not be available to the public. All of the pertinent information in the Birth Register is recorded here. Researchers should keep in mind that most of these names have been spelled phonetically. Accents and pronunciation changed the sounds of names The births were carelessly recorded by using abbreviations, failing to cross t's, dot the i's, crossing the l's, and even omitting vowels. Whenever accuracy of a record is questioned or indecipherable, a question mark has been included. 1993, 534 pp., 8.5x11, 2 vols., paper $69.50 #ZH827

Hamilton County, Ohio, Death Records - Lois E. Hughes. This massive volume includes approximately 20,000 records copied from the Hamilton County, Ohio, Death Registers received from Probate Court. All pertinent information in the Death Registers is recorded here. Includes names of the deceased listed alphabetically, death date, age, color, marital status, cause of death, occupation when known, last residence, length of residence, previous residence in some cases, physician, undertaker, and interment. Glossary of medical terms.

Volume I, 1865-1869 - 1992, 599 pp., 8.5x11, paper $77.00 #ZH824

Volume II, 1870-1873 - 1992, 359 + 588 pp., 8.5x11, 2 vols., paper $117.00 #ZH825

Volume III 1874-1877 - 1993, 544 pp., 8.5x11, glossary, paper $70.50 #ZH826

Greene County, Ohio: Past and Present - Arthur R. Kilner. Compiled from a wealth of personal knowledge and a series of articles Mr. Kilner wrote for the local newspaper, this book is the be-all and end-all of county histories! Art Kilner, a private investigator by profession, has gathered together an astounding amount of material about every aspect of Greene County history. The old railroad town and county seat, Xenia, figures prominently in this work.

Discover through this series of essays and photographs the history of the county's churches, schools, covered bridges, cemeteries, historical markers, hotels, banks, opera houses, courthouses, stores, factories, mills, dairies, abandoned businesses, festivals, historic homes, log houses and Indian burial mounds. A series of short biographical sketches remembers the "People who made a difference." A complete listing of teachers in Greene County, 1800-1900, and the schools in which they taught, is a valuable resource for family historians. (Greene County was the destination of thousands of immigrants, especially from Germany and Ireland, in the 1800s.) There is also a brief physical description of the cities, towns and villages of Greene County, and a discussion of the origin of Xenia street names.

Fires, floods and tornadoes have devastated various parts of Greene County, but the people have always been able to rebuild their lives. Writers, poets and underworld scoundrels alike have called Greene County their home. If you still haven't found a topic that interests you, try reading the report on the provenance of the abandoned outhouses that still dot the county. This volume is a wonderful keepsake for anyone who has ever visited or lived in Greene County. Lavishly illustrated with approximately 150 photographs and a county map; includes an everyname index. 1997, 370 pp., illus., map, index, paper, $27.50 #ZK346

The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, - Leggett, Conway, & Co. Originially published as one large volume it is here split into 2 individually available parts.

Volume 1: A general history of the county (1884) reprint, c297 pp., illus., new index, paper $24.00 #ZL123

Volume 2: A history of its townships. Includes numerous biographical sketches. (1884) reprint, c622 pp., illus., new surname index, paper $40.00 #ZL124

Historical Collections of the Mahoning Valley, Ohio, Volume 1 - Mahoning Valley Historical Society. This area in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties was originally part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. Significant settlement began shortly after 1800. This work consists of two major parts, the first 120 pages being records of the pioneer reunions held in 1874 and 1875, while the balance of the work consists of histories of the early settlement of the towns and townships in these two counties. The records of the reunions consist mainly of historical essays on the early settlements, so the volume is replete with biographical tidbits on early residents which is now made more accessible by the addition of a new everyname index. (1876) reprint, 548 pp., new everyname index, paper, $36.00 #ZM036

Butler County, Ohio, Land Records, Volume 1: 1803-1816 - Shirley Keller Mikesell. Butler County was formed in 1803, the same year that Ohio became a state. The county lost some land to Preble County when it was formed in 1808 and again in 1815 when Warren County took some land from Butler's north-east corner. Consequently, the county is a little smaller now than what it was originally. These abstracts generally contain the following information: type of transaction (most are deeds but there are also quitclaims, mortgages, etc.); grantor(s) and grantee(s) with the place of residence for one or both of the parties; the section, township, and range of the property; date of the transaction and date of the recording; signers and witnesses; and miscellaneous tidbits such as, "Final payment due...", "...no wife's signature", and "Land now lived upon by...". 1997, 287 pp., maps, index, paper $23.00 #ZM348

Butler County, Ohio, Land Records, Volume Two: 1816 - 1823 and Miami University Land Leases 1810 - 1823 - Compiled and Edited by Shirley Keller Mikesell. Picking up where Volume One left off, typical information in the entries includes type of transaction (most are deeds but there are also quitclaims, mortgages, etc.); grantor(s) and grantee(s) with place of residence for one or both of the parties; the section, township and range of the property; date of the transaction and date of the recording; signers and witnesses; and miscellaneous tidbits such as "Final payment due...," "no wife's signature" and "Land now lived upon by..."

The Miami University Land Leases were copied from two original ledgers that are part of the Havighurst Special Collection, King Library of Miami University. Three types of lots were available: the Oxford town inlot; the larger (four or five acre) outlot adjoining the town; and the farm or country lot, which averaged 100 acres. These lease records contain the lot numbers and the names of the leaseholders in chronological order.

Like Volume One, this work includes a brief history of Butler County, with maps of Symmes' Miami Purchase of 1788 and the Congressional lands of 1800 as contained in early Butler County, and the Butler County townships. The appendix explains some of the terminology used in land records, including the "Military Range" and "School Lands." An everyname index is included. 1997, 300 pp., maps, appendix, index, paper, $23.00 #ZM358

Early Settlers of Montgomery County, Ohio. - Shirley Keller Mikesell. According to the author, "the historian will find an interesting overview of pioneer society in the...abstracts. The rough and tumble frontier lives on in records of knife fights, etc. The genealogist will find a more human side of our ancestors in these records, more than simply born, married, died."

Genealogical Abstracts from Land Records, Tax Lists, and Biographical Sketches. 1991, 292 pp., index, paper, $25.50 #ZM341

Genealogical Abstracts from Common Pleas Court Records Civil and Probate. 1992, 325 pp., index, paper, $27.00 #ZM342

Genealogical Abstracts from Marriage and Divorce Records 1803 - 1827, Early Deeds Recorded Late, Election Abstracts, Obituary of an Early Settler. 1992, 208 pp., index, paper, $21.00 #ZM343

Men of Patriotism, Courage & Enterprise! Fort Meigs in the War of 1812 - Larry L. Nelson. The title of this fine book comes from a recruiting broadside published in Marietta, Ohio, July 29, 1812. The broadside was addressed "to men of patriotism, courage and enterprise" and promised five dollars a month pay plus 160 acres of land at the end of an honorable enlistment.

Here Larry L. Nelson, the site director of the Fort Meigs State Memorial in Perrysburg, Ohio, carefully follows the chronology of major events surrounding Fort Meigs. He recounts with thorough documentation the decisions and performances of the famous leaders on both sides of the conflict. However, he also uses many previously unknown sources, including diaries, journals and personal letters to evoke the emotional effects of the war's many sacrifices and bloody confrontations. The insights provided by these intimate sources give the reader a chance to examine the lives of the officers and soldiers in light of those recruiting poster ideals of patriotism, courage and enterprise.

The narrative focus of the book is the period from February through September of 1813, when the American forces at Fort Meigs, on the south bank of the Maumee river near Lake Erie, repelled two major attacks by the British and Indian forces. General William Henry Harrison, commander of the army of the northwestern frontier and future president of the United States, was the most colorful figure on the American side. His British counterpart was Colonel Henry Proctor, but the great Indian leader, Tecumseh, is perhaps the most legendary figure involved with Fort Meigs.

Many militia units from counties in Ohio and Kentucky are mentioned. A name and subject index is included, and all sources are cited in notes at the end of each chapter as well as in the bibliography. About thirty drawings, etchings, photos and maps help bring the stories to life. Originally published in Ohio in 1985, this book has been unavailable since 1989 despite continued demand. Heritage Books, Inc. is proud to be able to reoffer it now. (1985) reprint, 157 pp., illus., maps, bibl., index, paper, $16.00 #ZN151

The French Five Hundred and Other Papers - William G. Sibley. This book sprang from the desire of the author, a newspaper editor in Gallipolis, Ohio, to write about some subjects that particularly interested him at greater length than allowed by the constraints of newspaper journalism. Consequently several seemingly unrelated subjects are treated in this four-part work.

The book is primarily about Gallipolis, which is in the south central part of the state. The French 500 were a group of immigrants who migrated first to Virginia and then to Gallipolis, settling it in 1790. Roughly the first half of this book (about 120 pages) relates details of this process, in which an American land speculation syndicate called the Scioto Company opened an office in Paris and professed to own a vast tract of land in America that would offer an ideal refuge for gentlemen and gentlewomen who were discontented with conditions existing in France, where "the dark menace of the bloodiest revolution the world has ever known loomed high above the horizon, clouding every fair prospect." What the French 500 found on their arrival at Gallipolis was a rectangular clearing on the banks of the Ohio River, containing log cabins and surrounded by forested wilderness. Hardships notwithstanding, they made the best of it and preserved a high degree of their social culture in the new locality.

The second part of the book, about 90 pages, is an explanation of the origin, tradition, evolution and structure of the Fraternity of Freemasons, along with a history of famous attacks on it. This section will be of general interest to anyone who has ever been curious about Freemasonry, which is thought by many to have its origins before the time of Christ. Here readers will find Masonic facts from Artaxerxes to Zerubbabel, and more information than most Freemasons actually know about the order.

The third section returns to the history of Gallipolis for about 45 pages. This section is named "Bronze John at Gallipolis" and concerns the attack of yellow fever (nicknamed "Bronze John") which infected Gallipolis in 1878, as a result of the arrival of a steamer from New Orleans carrying infected persons. By the end of the crisis, 35 people in and around Gallipolis had died from the epidemic.

The fourth and smallest section of the book (about 40 pages) is entitled "Cousins of Suicide," and is a treatise on self-destructive behavior such as worry and anger, "abuse of the stomach," lack of exercise, impure air, faulty breathing, and "indiscretions in attire" (in which the dangers of wearing corsets are pointed out). This is a very readable book written in a pleasing style--at times rather like an editorial piece--with something for almost everyone. An everyname index has been added for convenience. (1901) reprint, c.308 pp., new index, paper, $25.00 #ZS305

History of the Maumee River Basin from the Earliest Account to its Organization into Counties - Charles Elihu Slocum, M.D., Ph.D., LL.D. Located in northwestern Ohio (and overlapping parts of Indiana and Michigan), the Maumee River Basin has been one of the state's richest sections in historic lore. This work begins with a discussion of the area's geology, topography and earliest evidences of prehistoric man, and tracks its history through the mid 19th century. The character, mode of life and warfare of Native Americans is faithfully and painstakingly described. The first explorers were French and British; their long and complicated contests for possession of this area, including the British government's "persistent treachery" against its Indian allies, are "thoroughly and correctly" covered.

Other noteworthy items that are extensively covered include: the conspiracies of Pontiac and Tecumseh; the organization of the Northwest Territory; the campaigns of Generals Wayne, Wilkinson and others; the War of 1812; missionary work; the drainage system; the first American settlers; the development of the Basin; the utilization of the public lands; and the founding of schools and libraries. The volume is copiously illustrated with photographs, drawings and detailed maps. The general index includes topics and the names of people found in this large volume. The author, an indefatigable and enthusiastic student of early Ohio history, was a life member of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, and contributed many interesting and valuable articles to its quarterly. (1905) reprint, 658 pp., 2 vols., illus., maps, name plus subject index, paper, $44.50 #ZS451

History of the City of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio - Clark Waggoner. In compiling this voluminous history, Mr. Waggoner sought to supply "such record as promised most of practical value for future use." His intent was to provide not a narrative, but a record of events and particularly the names of the individuals who brought about said events. In the fulfillment of these goals, he covers a number of major subjects. (1888) reprint, 1151 pp., 4 vols., illus., maps, new index, $60.00 #ZW022

History of Athens County, Ohio, and Incidentally of the Ohio Land Company and the First Settlement of the State at Marietta, With Personal and Biographical Sketches of the Early Settlers, Narratives of Pioneer Adventures, etc. - Charles M. Walker. This rare volume is highly desirable for its wealth of information and attention to detail. Chapters offer a smorgasbord of history, biography, narrative, reminiscences, lists and statistics. Appendices include several transcripts from the old journals of Congress relating to the sale of lands in the Western Territory in 1787 to the Ohio Company. Another appendix preserves the religious "charge," or commissioning speech, given in 1798 by the Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler at the ordination of Rev. William Story in Hamilton, Massachusetts. Reminiscences furnished by Dr. Chauncey F. Perkins, who lived in Marietta and Athens, make up the final appendix. (1869) reprint, 600 pp., map, illus., appends., index, paper, $39.50 #ZW046

History of Seneca County, Ohio. Containing a History of the County, its Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches; Industries, etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, etc., etc. - Warner, Beers & Co. Ohio researchers will treasure this extremely detailed book, and genealogists will find much material in the sections that deal with pioneers. A separate biographical section is particularly rich in family history, and is followed by an indispensable list of original land entries. We have omitted the first 184 "boiler-plate" pages of the original book, which consisted of the "History of the Northwest Territory" and the "History of the State of Ohio". (1886) reprint, c1038 pp., 2 vols, illus., new indexes, paper, $65.00 #ZW066