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Van Wert County, Ohio

County Court, Probate, Land & Tax Records  •  County Census Records
County Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
County Cemeteries & Graveyards  •  County Church & Bible Records
Van Wert County Ohio Map
Van Wert Co., Ohio Township Map

Van Wert County was created on February 12, 1820 (Organized in 1837) and was formed from Darke, Shelby and Mercer Counties. The County was named for Isaac Van Wart, one of the captors of spy John André in the American Revolutionary War--the spelling was changed for the county name. The County Seat is Van Wert.

Van Wert County borders the state of Indiana about 70 miles southwest of Toledo. Issac Van Wert was a Revolutionary War hero. The first white to settle the area was Captain James Riley who established the village of Willshire in 1820. The city of Van Wert is also the county seat. It is known as Ohio's Peony capital because of the abundance of Peony flowers. It is also the home of the first public library in the United States. Clerk of Courts has divorce & civil court records; Probate Judge has birth & death records 1867 to 1908, marriage records from 1840, probate records from 1837; Board of Health has birth & death records from 1908; County Recorder has land records from 1823. Some early records, 1820-1837 may be found in Mercer County.

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Records at the Van Wert County Courthouse

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

All Departments below are in the Van Wert County Courthouse Main Street, Van Wert, OH 45891; Phone: +1-419-238-2558, unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.vanwertcounty.org/. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Van Wert County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1840, Birth / Death Records from 1867-1908 and Probate Records from 1840 and is located at 121 E Main Street, Rm 104, Van Wert, OH 45891; 419-238-0027

Van Wert County Recorder has Land Records from 1824 and is located at 121 E Main Street, Rm 206, Courthouse, Van Wert, OH 45891; Phone: 419-238-2558, Fax: 419-238-5410; Email: recorder@vanwertcounty.org

Van Wert County Clerk of Court of Common Pleas has Court Records from 1837 and is located at 121 East Main St., 2nd Floor, Van Wert 45891-0000, (419) 238-6159

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.

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

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Van Wert County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Research In Vital Records or Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Ohio

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

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.
    • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index
  • 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.

Order On-Line - You can also order Order Electronically Online and get the certificates within 2-5 days with a credit or debit card. Order Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records or Death Records.

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 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.

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

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Van Wert County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Links for Ohio

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Van Wert County, Ohio are 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Van Wert 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 Van Wert County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Van Wert County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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Van Wert County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Ohio

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

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Van Wert County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Ohio Genealogical Addresses

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

  • Submit a website for Van Wert Co. Genealogical Addresses
  • Van Wert County Chapter, OGS, PO Box 485, Van Wert, OH 45891-0485; Van Wert County Chapter, OGS meets at the Council on Aging Building, 717 E. Crawford St., Van Wert, OH on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm, except January, July, and December., E-mail: daberkmh@bright.net
  • Van Wert County Historical Society, 602 N Washington St, P. O. Box 621, Van Wert, OH 45891-0621
  • Van Wert County Health Dept, 140 Fox Rd, Van Wert, OH 45891; 419-238-0808
  • 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
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
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Van Wert County Cemeteries & Graveyards

See Also Research In Cemetery Records or Statewide Cemetery Links for Ohio

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

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

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County Church & Bible Records

See Also Research In Church Records or Statewide Church & Bible Links for Ohio

 

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

Below is a list of online resources for Van Wert County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Van Wert County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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