I just returned from a trip to Williams County, Ohio 2 weeks ago. I visited the Library in Bryan, Records Office in Bryan, the Health Dept in Montpelier, and many of the cemeteries in Williams County. I have also been doing research for quite some time and have finally come to realize the places we all visit, have all the information available to them on the shelves or in file cabinets. What is unfortunate, is they have not been given all records recorded over the years. Everyone I contacted during my visit were most helpful to me obtaining documents, copies, etc. I have a couple of hand written cemetery records from years ago showing that a relative of mine was buried in a certain cemetery. I tried to find where she is buried, and they have no record. Apparently, these (hand written) records were (and still are) passed down from a clerk, to the next clerk, to the next clerk of said township. In todays world, all townships keep an inventory of all monetary items, but not paper items (archive records). They just disappear as they pass through hands. How can a dollar value be put on paperwork?


Just ask those of us doing research on our family ancestry!

Most of the cemetery records are from the many volunteers who have actually went to the cemetery and recorded all the information listed on the headstones. My ancestor apparently was from a family who could not afford a headstone. But, I do know she is buried there...somewhere.

Thanks for letting me speak my mind.

Marie Bostater Douglas
2spicy@moment.net