My trip to Ohio in 2007 was a combination trip. I wanted to visit the Allen County Public Library because I had heard so much about it. They had just completed the new building and it was open for business. The Federation of Genealogical Societies and APG were having their conferences in Fort Wayne and it was no contest. I was ready!
I then realized that Ohio was two hours away. Michigan was about the same. I could drive up to Michigan and visit several cemeteries on one of the days. Then I would attend the conferences and after drive to Ohio and return to Fort Wayne. I could visit Kenton in Hardin County and then onto Mount Vernon in Knox County and be able to pay my respects to my Spracklin ancestors. Morrow County was just a few miles away and I could visit my Keller ancestors. Okay, I was now really ready to go!
The trip was amazing and I have fond memories of Ohio. I remember the pouring rain when my cousin and I visited the Green Valley Cemetery the first time. Having to ask the locals where the Hedding M.E. Cemetery was located in Morrow County. Driving along a road we thought would be a short cut and coming upon flooding and water over the road. This meant we had to turn back and figure out another route. Listening intently to the TV for information about the weather and more flooding. Going around and around the roundabout in the middle of Mount Vernon. I am joking about some of these challenges, of course. It was a very good trip.
The following repositories were visited at that time:
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Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, excellent genealogical library.
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The Mount Vernon Public Library http://www.knox.net/genealogy.html
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The Knox County Historical Society http://www.knoxhistory.org/about.htm
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The Knox County Genealogical Society http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohknox/gensoc.htm
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Morrow County Genealogical Society, in Mt. Gilead: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohmorrow/libhldgs.html
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Hardin County Genealogical Society in Kenton http://www.hardincountyconnections.com/
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The Ohio Genealogical Society now in Bellville http://www.ogs.org/research/library.php
Cemeteries visited:
- Lee Cemetery in Dudley Twp., Hardin County, Ohio
- Green Valley Cemetery in Knox County, Ohio
- Hedding M.E. Cemetery in Morrow County, Ohio
- Goss Cemetery, Morenci, Lenawee County, Ohio
- Rice Cemetery, Milan, Monroe County, Michigan
We visited the courthouse and annex in Knox County and the staff was very helpful.
In August 2011 I will be returning to these repositories, societies, cemeteries and doing a whole lot more. I will travel to Portage County and to Washington County, Ohio as well. I will start my trip in Columbus so I can visit the Ohio Historical Society and other archives. Of course, I will return to the Ohio Genealogical Society. I am getting excited!
