More than a century and a half has passed since Ottawa County, in the middle of the "Black Swamp" of NW Ohio, had a reputation as having some of the toughest wagon road between "Cleaveland" and Maumee.  Gradually, the swamp was drained, the timber harvested and the stumps removed.  Now the area boasts some of the finest farmland found anywhere as well as the recreational playground of Marblehead, Lakeside and the Erie Islands.

If you're researching your Ottawa County ancestors, or just interested in the unique history of Ottawa County, this is the place for you.   If you're an experienced Ottawa County researcher, or just have something that might be of interest, you're invited to share genealogical or historical information you have about this county and its people with others through this site.

Ottawa County was created in 1840 from portions of Sandusky, Erie and Lucas Counties.

Just passing through?

Visit our "quick tips" guide for finding Ottawa County information on the internet.

Indexed listings and images of Michigan Death Certificates from 1900-1920 are now available via the Library of Michigan website. 

Images of Toledo Diocese Catholic Church Records are now available via the LDS website. 

The Harris-Elmore Public Library has begun digitizing some of their Local History Collection.   Please see the library's website for further information and links to the available materials.

Indexed listings and images of Ohio Death Certificates from 1908-1953 are now available via the LDS website. 

New on this site:

2/14/09 - Allyn family Photos - Contributed by Jim Casadevall
2/1/09 - Obituaries - Contributed by Kim Willie
8/23/08 - Riverview and Lakeview Cemetery entrance photos - Contributed by Spencer Throne
7/21/08 - Carsten / Carstensen / Smith / Phillips family Photos - Contributed by Judy Seeley Price
7/21/08 - Finken family Photo - Contributed by Spencer Throne
7/21/08 - Sealing family Photos - Contributed by Karina
7/18/08 - Rusha and LaCarpe Cemetery entrance photos - Contributed by Spencer Throne
6/15/08 - Selected Baptisms & Marriages from St. Joseph Catholic Church (Toussaint) - Contributed by Lynne Dietrich Wilson
6/8/08 - Roose Cemetery entrance photo - Contributed by Lynne Dietrich Wilson
5/4/08 - Carsten and Carstensen family Photos - Contributed by Judy Seeley Price
3/17/08 - Sondergeld family Photo - Contributed with the permission of Don Songergeld
3/9/08 - Tack Barn-Raising Photo - Contributed by Ralph Tack

A sincere "Thank you!" to all who have contributed content to this site.

Many thanks to Bonnie Walsh and to Dan Krupp, previous Ottawa County Coordinators, who paved the way.

Wanted

If you have pre-1920 photos of places or people in Ottawa County and are willing to share them, please send your scanned images.  I'll add them to the photo albums on this site.

If you have photos of the entrances of any Ottawa County cemeteries and are willing to share them, please send your digital images.  I'll add them to this site.

Read about the mission of the USGenWeb and OHGenWeb projects.

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Please contact county coordinator Greg Knopp at

Please respect applicable copyright law.  Please do not submit items for inclusion on this site that are the intellectual property of others.  The County Coordinator reserves the right to reject any submitted items that appear to be subject to active copyright.

(c) 2005-2009 by Greg Knopp
Predecessor sites (c) 2005 by Bonnie Walsh, (c) 1996-2004 by Dan Krupp

Greg Knopp is also the County Coordinator for Arenac County, Michigan.

Cover graphic photos contributed by Greg Knopp.
Photos include the old Graytown School (abt 1930), a wedding at Trinity Church in Elliston (abt 1915), and an old Benton Township Farm (abt 1900).  
Map courtesy of the Library of Congress.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The information found on this website is protected by the US Copyright Law, Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. Individual genealogists may copy and use the information found on this website for personal use "ONLY". It is not to be copied or altered in any way for commercial use nor for use on another webpage without the written permission of the webmaster. You may link freely to this website using the following: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohottawa/index.htm

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