Note: The Genealogical Publishing Company provided me with a free review copy of this book, but the candid opinions in this review are entirely my own.
Because so many of my husband's ancestors had "Ohio Fever" and moved to the Buckeye State after the Revolutionary War, I was interested in learning more about the state's genealogical sources.
Kip Sperry's Genealogical Research in Ohio is a handy guide to Ohio and its robust family history resources. The second edition has lots of web addresses but its real strength is in covering the many resources that aren't available with a click, such as:
- Substitutes for missing or incomplete civil vital records - Sperry fills 4 pages with good ideas for finding birth, marriage, and death info when official records aren't available. For instance, the Ohio Genealogical Society has on file ancestor cards and charts, First Families roster, and Bible records; the Ohio Historical Society has grave registrations of soldiers buried in Ohio. Not everything is online, and the book encourages researching off-line sources.
- Historical maps - Sperry includes 21 maps that are useful in understanding when counties came into existence, when borders changed, how early bounty lands shaped Ohio's development, county seats, regional history research centers, and much more. Sometimes I needed a magnifying glass but the maps were fascinating and informative.
- Chronology of Ohio's history - Shows years (sometimes specific dates) of the state's settlement milestones, wars, land development, population growth, and more. This is invaluable as background and context for researching Ohio ancestors. Having it in handy book format is a plus.
Meanwhile, I'll be reaching for this book regularly as I continue researching hubby's Ohio ancestors. I found much to recommend in Kip Sperry's expert review of Ohio genealogical resources!
