CLERMONT COUNTY CITIZENSHIP PAPERS

Clermont County Genealogical Society

CLERMONT COUNTY CITIZENSHIP PAPERS
1844 - 1901
by Alma Aicholtz Smith, C.G.R.S.

As I was taking inventoiy of the Clermont County courthouse basement records room, I caine across a box of citizenship papers for over sixty aliens. It appears that these papers have not been included in publications on Clermont County naturalization before.

An examination of the various documents in the box revealed they are of five kinds. A brief description of the five kinds of documents is given here.

1. Declaration of Intention, or "first papers." Alien presented himself to a court of record declaring his intention to become a United States citizen. Information on the declaration varied with time periods and localities but generally included name, age, country of origin, date and port of emigration, date and port of arrival, and date declaration was filed.

2. Anulication for Naturalization, or "final papers." The application (sometimes called petition) could be filed two years after his declaration, provided he fulfilled the mandatory residence requirement. With his application, he filed supporting affidavits, statements by witnesses in support of his residency claim.

3. Affidavit. A witness (a U.S. citizen) had to swear that the applicant had been in the United States for five years and had been a resident of Ohio for one year, and that the applicant was of good moral character and would uphold the Constitution of the United States.

4. Petitton foro Citizenshit, (with military service). An Act passed by Congress on 17 July 1862 gave aliens who had enlisted and been honorably discharged from the Army of the United States the right to become citizens. This eliminated having to file a declaration and an application.

5. Certificate of Citizenshin. The final step in the naturalization process occurred when the Court ordered the alien admitted to citizenship and issued a certificate of naturalization. As shown below, there was only one certificate in the box.

Following are the names of the aliens and pertinent information about them from the various documents. The date the alien filed his papers in the Clermont County Probate Court is shown in the left-hand column. The date on the affidavit is not given here unless it was different from the filing date. (CCo = Clermont Co).

09 Oct 1865

Arns, Henry. Native of Berne. Petition for citizenship, 9 Oct

1865. Arrived in US July 1858. Enlisted in 194 Regiment of

Ohio Vol, Company I on 29 Feb 1865; honorably discharged 21

June 1865. Affidavit: John Kellar.

09 Oct 1865

Arm, Lother. Berne. Application for naturalization, 9 Oct 1865. Arrived in US July 1858. Swore that he filed Declaration of Intention in New York but trunk with certificate in it was lost when moving from New York to Cincinnati. Renounced allegiance to King of Berne. Affidavit: John Keliar.

09 Oct 1865

Arns, Peter. Berne. Application, 9 Oct 1865. Arrived US 4 July

1858. Renounced allegiance to King of Berne. Affidavit: John Keliar.

n.g.

Baudendistal, Erwin. 37 yrs. Germany. Declaration of

Intention, CCo OH, 4 Oct 1887. Emigrated from Havre 30 Apr

1880; arrived New York 11 May 1880. Renounced allegiance to

Emperor of Germany.

18 Sep 1863

Beeton, James. 35 yrs. England. Declaration of Intention, Ham

Co OH, 6 Sep 1861. Emigrated from Cambridge 30 Apr 1854;

arrived NYC 10 June 1854. Renounced allegiance to Queen of

Great Britain. Affidavit: James Crosson.

23 Feb 1864

Beeton, Thomas. 61 yrs. England. Declaration of Intention,

CCo OH, 20 Feb 1862. Emigrated from London 27 May 1852;

arrived NY 10 Jul 1852. Renounced allegiance to Queen of

England. Affidavits: Wm Dial and Hiram Constable.

13 Oct 1863

Bontel, Frederick. Bavaria. Application, 3 Nov 1860. Arrived

US Oct 1857. Renounced allegiance to king of Bavaria.

Affidavits: S. Dial and Joseph Schilling.

09 May 1865

Bower, Philip. Bavaria, Germany. Application, 9 May 1865.

Arrived US Sept 1860. Renounced allegiance to King of Bavaria.

09 Oct 1865

Braller, Mike. 40 yrs. Bavaria. Declaration of Intention, CCo

OH, 8 Oct 1863. Emigrated from Bremen 28 Aug 1857; arrived

NY 4 Oct 1857. Renounced allegiance to King of Bavaria.

Application 8 Oct 1863. Affidavit: Adam Kline.

n.g.

Bremmer, Wilhelm. 24 yrs. Province of Hanover. Declaration of Intention, 6 April 1891. Emigrated from Bremen, Hanover 24 Aug 1888; arrived Baltimore Sep 1888. Renounced allegiance to Emperor of Germany.

02 Nov 1889

Buckley, Hampshire. Age and country - n.g. Declaration of Intention Duval Co., Florida, 22 Oct 1886. Renounced allegiance to Victoria, Queen of England. (This is a copy of the original D of I).

29 Sep 1863

Burchall, Solomon. 40 yrs. Ireland. Declaration of Intention,

Greene Co. OH, 01 Nov 1859. Renounced allegiance to

Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom. Affidavits: P.B. Swing

& A.B. Gatch, 29 Sep 1863.

08 Sep 1866

Christian, Richard. Prussia. Petition, 8 Sep 1866. Arrived in US

Dec 1852. Enlisted in 79 Regiment of Ohio, Company K on 15

Aug 1862; honorably discharged 9 June 1865. Affidavits: William

Bettis, Henry Stump, 29 Mar 1866.

07 Oct 1863

Clarc~ George. 57 yrs. France. Declaration of Intention, CCo

OH, 8 Oct 1860. Emigrated from Guadaloupe June 1849;

arrived New Orleans 15 July 1849. Renounced allegiance to

Emperor of France. Affidavit: Luke Higgins.

02 Oct 1863

Collins~ Mathew. 33 yrs. Ireland. Declaration of Intention, CCo

OH, 8 Oct 1860. Emigrated from Dublin 29 Dec 1851; arrived

New York 1 Jan 1852 (?) Renounced allegiance to Queen of

Great Britain. Affidavit: A. Ramsey.

02 Oct 1863

Coyle, Peter. 27 yrs. Ireland. Declaration of Intention, CCo

OH, 13 Feb 1860. Emigrated Dublin 20 Oct 1851 arrived NY

1 Jan 1852. Renounced allegiance to Queen of England.

Affidavit: A. Ramsey.

02 Oct 1863

Doyle, Morris. 27 yrs. Ireland. Declaration of Intention, Ham

Co OH, 01 Nov 1860. Emigrated Liverpool 13 Apr 1857; arrived

NY 8 June 1857. Renounced allegiance to Queen of England.

Affidavit: A. Ramsey.

26 Oct 1889

Dunldeman, Henry. 28 yrs. Germany. Declaration of Intention,

Warren Co., OH, 3 June 1887. Arrived US 26 Oct 1883.

Renounced allegiance to William, Emperor of Germany.

09 Oct 1865

Dunn, Alexander. Ireland. Petition, 9 Oct 1865. Arrived in US

Apr 1860. Enlisted in453 Regiment of Ohio, Company D on 2

May 1864; honorably discharged 9 Sep 1864. Affidavit: George

Simmons.

07 Oct 1865

Elmer, Charles. Hessen Castle, Germany. Petition, 7 Oct 1865.

Arrived in US on 14 Oct 1853. Enlisted in US Navy on Steamer

"Peosta" in Aug 1864; honorably discharged 4 June 1865.

Affidavit: Philip B. Swing.

n.g.

Emile, Stelzer. 38 yrs. France. Declaration of Intention, CCo

OH, 01 Nov 1887. Emigrated from France 10 Oct 1884; arrived

NY 24 Oct 1884. Renounced allegiance to Republic of France.

07 Oct 1863

Evely, John. 35 yrs. Ireland. Declaration of Intention, Ham Co.

OH 1 Nov 1860. Emigrated from Liverpool 20 June 1855;

arrived NY 26 Aug 1855. Renounced allegiance to Queen of

Great Britain and Ireland. Affidavit: John Hillin.

02 Oct 1863

Froehleck, Michael. Baden, Germany. Application, 2 Oct 1863.

Arrived in US Jan 1850. Renounced allegiance to King of

Baden.

31 Mar 1866

Galeann, Jerry. Affidavits: M. Jamieson and G. Griffith.

04 Nov 1889

Garbc, Hcinrich. 27 yrs. Germany. Declaration of Intention,

CCo OH 8 Dec 1885. Emigrated from Germany 30 Oct 1883;

arrived New York 19 Nov 1883. Renounced allegiance to

Emperor of Germany.

Clermont County, OH Genealogical Society

10 Oct 1864

Ghentner, John. 60 yrs. Wittenberg Germany. Declaration of

Intention, CCo OH, 8 Oct 1863. Emigrated from Havre 22 Sep

1840; arrived NY 30 Oct 1840. Renounced allegiance to King of

Wittenberg. Affidavit: Xavier Ernsberger.

18 Jun 1863

Gibbs, Hemy. 42 yrs. England. England. Declaration of

Intention CCo OH, 29 Oct 1860. Emigrated From Briston 29

Aug 1854; arrived NYC 10 Oct 1854. Renounced allegiance to

Queen of England. Affidavit: Joseph Gibbs.

02 Oct 1867

Ham, Abel. France. Application, 2 Oct 1867. Arrived in US 15

Dec 1852. Renounced allegiance to Emperor of France.

09 Oct 1865

Hammersmith, Martin. 22 yrs. Bavaria. Declaration of

Intention, Ham Co. OH, 5 May 1862. Emigrated from Havre

24 July 1860; arrived NY 5 Sep 1860. Renounced allegiance to

King of Bavaria. Affidavit: Charles Burkhardt.

n.g.

Heiny, Stephan. 47 yrs. Germany. Declaration of Intention, Ham Co. OH, 6 Nov 1888. Emigrated from Havre 3 June 1881; arrived NY 17 June 1881. Renounced allegiance to Emperor of Germany.

07 Sep 1863

Hildebrant, Johann. Germany. Application, 7 Sep 1863. Arrived in US June 1861. Renounced allegiance to King of Germany.

12 Aug 1865

letter, Michael. Wurttemberg. Application, 12 Aug 1865.

Arrived in US 1 Nov 1856. Renounced allegiance to King of

Wurttemberg.

10 Oct 1865

Kaufmann, Philip. Breem, Germany. Petition, 10 Oct 1865.

Arrived in US Feb 1857. Enlisted in 50 Regiment Ohio Infantry,

Company G on 11 Aug 1862; honorably discharged 18 July 1865.

Affidavit: A.B. Smith.

O7Nov 1864

Keifert, Peter. 40 yrs. Baden. Declaration of Intention, CCo

OH, 7 Nov 1864. Emigrated from Havre 2 Nov 1846; arrived

New Orleans 17 Dec 1846. Renounced allegiance to King of

Baden. Application states he was discharged from US Service in

Columbus 26 July 1864. Affidavit: Frank Schweitzer.

02 Jan 1866

Kelsey, John. Ireland. Application, 2 Jan 1866. Arrived US 1

Dec 1858. Renounced allegiance to Queen of England.

n.g.

Koenig, Charles. 36 yrs. Germany. Declaration of Intention, Ham Co HO, 4 May 1888. Emigrated from Havre 1 May 1880; arrived NY 12 May 1880. Renounced allegiance to emperor of Germany.

n.g.

Lang, Jakob. 26 yrs. Germany. Declaration of Intention CCo OH, 15 June 1886. Emigrated from Germany 16 June 1885; arrived NYC 26 June 1885. Renounced allegiance to Emperor of Germany.

14 Sep 1863

Lorenz, Hemy. 40 yrs. Bavaria. Declaration of Intention, Ham

Co OH, 3 Nov 1856. Emigrated London 3 Aug 1854; arrived NY

5 Dcc 1854. Renounced allegiance to King of Bavaria.

Affidavits: A. Kline and F. Lorenz.

30 Sep 1867

Luke, Charles. 41 yrs. Germany. Declaration of Intention, CCo

OH, 5 Mar 1844. Arrived US 1830. Renounced allegiance to

Grand Duke of Wymer. Affidavit: John Kellar.

n.g.

Mall, George. 38 yrs. Germany. Declaration of Intention, CCo OH, 15 June 1886. Emigrated from Germany 16 Sep 1883; arrived NY 28 Sep 1883. Renounced allegiance to Emperor of Germany.

29 Sep 1863

McTomey, Michael. Ireland. Application, 29 Sep 1863. Arrived

1 June 1838. Renounced allegiance to Queen of England.

Affidavit: John Hillin.

13 Oct 1863

Mulhaven, Patrick. Ireland. Application, 13 Oct 1863. Arrived

April 1846. Renounced allegiance to Queen of England.

Affidavit: T. Loyd.

07 Oct 1863

Murphy, James. 54 yrs. Ireland. Declaration of Intention, CCo

OH, 8 Oct 1860. Emigrated from Liverpool 1 Jan 1852; arrived

NY 22 Feb 1852. Renounced allegiance to Queen of Great

Britain. Affidavit: Luke Higgins, 7 Oct 1865.

07 Sep 1863

Patterson, Joseph. 48 yrs. Germany. Declaration of Intention,

CCo OH, 19 Dec 1861. Emigrated from Humbolt 15 June 1858;

arrived NY 10 Aug 1858. Renounced allegiance to King of

Mecklenburg. Affidavits: John Horn and Wilhelm Adrien.

09 Oct 1865

Penwait, Joachim. Mecklenberg. Application, 9 Oct 1865. Sworn statement says he arrived in US at NY on 4 July 1858 and filed his Declaration of Intention papers in Probate Court, Cincinnati, OH in Jan 1861, but that he lost said certificate while he was moving his family to Joseph Abrams' farm in Washington Twp on 1 Mar 1861. Affidavit: Wilhelm Adrien.

03 Apr 1866

Pferrman, Martin. Bavaria. Application, 3 Apr 1866. Arrived in US 18 Nov 1853. Renounced allegiance to King of Bavaria.

30 Jun 1866

Pfeifer, Nicholas. Wurttemberg. Application, 30 Jun 1866.

Arrived in US Mar 1859. Renounced allegiance to King of

Wurttemberg.

o 305ep1867

Reinhardt, Francis A. Age - n.g. Bavaria. Declaration of

Intention, Brown Co OH, 4 Apr 1862. Arrived US Jan 1862.

o Renounced allegiance to King of Bavaria. Affidavit: John Kellar.

04 Nov 1889

Rumpke, August. 33 yrs. Germany. Declaration of Intention,

CCo OH, 1 Nov 1887. Emigrated from Germany 15 Mar 1882;

arrived NY 9 Apr 1882. Renounced allegiance to Emperor of

Germany.

04 Aug 1863

Sebrantke, Gottlieb. Prussia. Application, 4 Aug 1863. Arrived

in US 20 May 1860. Renounced allegiance to King of Prussia.

07 Sep 1863

South, David. Baden. Application, 7 Sep 1863. Arrived in US 15

Jul 1855. Renounced allegiance to King of Baden.

29 Sep 1863

Sparr, Constantin. Germany. Application, 29 Sep 1863. Arrived

in US 1847. Renounced allegiance to Germany. Affidavits: F.

Weasel and Byron Moore.

29 Sep 1863

Sparr, Joseph. Germany. Application, 29 Sep 1863. Arrived in

US 1847. Renounced allegiance to government of Germany.

Affidavits: F. Weasel and Byron Moore.

05 Nov 1888

Specker, Henry. 52 yrs. Germany. Declaration of Intention,

Kenton Co KY, 29 Dcc 1885. Arrived in US 1 Nov 1867.

Renounced allegiance to William, Emperor of Germany.

19 Sep 1863

VanMany, C.L. Belgium. Application, 19 Sep 1863. Arrived in

US 15 Oct 1848. Renounced allegiance to King of Belgium.

08 Mar 1866

Wachter, Linnett. Wurttemberg. Application, 8 Mar 1866.

Arrived in US 25 Aug 1885. Renounced allegiance to King of

Wurttemberg. Affidavit: Jacob Roehm.

27 Jun 1866

Wiedemeyer, William. Hanover, Germany. Application, 27 Jun

1866. Arrived in US Oct 1865. Renounced allegiance to King

of Hanover.

10 Oct 1865

Willenbrick, Joseph Barney. 33 yrs. Oldenburgh. Declaration of

Intention, CCo OH, 7 May 1860. Emigrated from Bremen 18

Oct 1858; arrived Philadelphia 24 Dec 1858. Renounced

allegiance to Grand Duke of Oldenburgh. Affidavit: 1.1. Reinert.

n.g.

Wilz, Peter. 33 yrs. Germany. Declaration of Intention, CCo OH, 11 Oct 1880. Emigrated from Germany 31 Aug 1874; arrived NY 21 Sep 1874. Renounced allegiance to Emperor of Germany.

27 Mar 1866

Yeomans, Edwin. Affidavits: James B. Shaw and Robert Gibbs.

(No other papers were filed with affidavits).

27 Dec 1901

Bucher, Katterina and Bucher, Margarett. Their application for

naturalization consists of a letter renouncing their citizenship of

Switzerland.

To the high Judge of the Court of the Kanton (County) Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland.

Very esteemed Sir:

We the undersigned Katterina W. Bucher, born in Luzern, Dec 7th 1885 and Margaretta Bucher, born in Utopia, Ohio U.SA. the 20th August 1889 living at Utopia, Ohio U.SA., legally born children of the late Franz Joseph Bucher of Eschenbach, Kanton (County) Luzern Switzerland and of Sarah

Bucker (maiden name Cheyne) and the lawfully elected guardian

B.F. Zugg and all the named children hereby give up for all

times coming all the rights and privileges as citizens of said

Kanton and Switzerland.

In consideration that these children lost their citizenship and rights in Switzerland and as they have been naturalized as citizens of the USA. through their mother Sarah Bucher, we kindly ask you to release the above named children as citizens of the village of Eschenbach and the Kanton (county) Luzem, and also to further the release as citizens of Switzerland.

Done at Utopia, Ohio Dec 1901.

Kattenna W. Buchcr

Margarett Bucker

B.F. Zugg. Guardian

J.I. Beck, Interpretation

15 Oct 1900

Hess, George. Renounced American Citizenship.

Found along with a box of citizenship papers dated 1844 to 1901, was a sturdy blue envelope, postmarked Oct 12, 1900 from the U.S. State Department, are papers renouncing the U.S. citizenship George Hess of Olive Branch. Hess was granted U.S. citizenship in a minor's certificate, given to those under 21, Oct. 7, 1899. Several months later, he traveled to his native Germany, taking his citizenship papers.

While in Germany, he apparently changed his mind about U.S. citizenship, and visited the U.S. consulate in Stuttgart, where he vowed he wished to become a subject of the King of Wurttemberg. That request was sent, scribbled on the back of the U.S. certificate, from the consulate to the U.S. embassy in Berlin to the U.S. State Department. Secretary of State John Hay forwarded the request to Clermont County Probate Judge O.P. Griffith. The citizenship certificate, Hay's letter, and a certificate from the U.S. State Department all are in the envelope.

Petitions for Citizenship with Military Service

byAlmaAicholtz Smith, C.G.R.S.

The petitions, dated 1865 and 1866, indicate that six of these aliens fought for the United States during the Civil War.

An Act passed by Congress on 17 July 1862 gave aliens who had enlisted and been honorably discharged from the Army of the Umted States the right to become citizens by filing a petition for citizenship. This eliminated having to file a declaration of intention and an application for naturalization, as other aliens had to do.

The left-hand column below show the date when the honorably discharged alien Civil War soldier filed his petition in Clermont County Probate Court. The filing date is usually the same as the date on the affidavit of the witness (a US. citizen), who swore that the discharged soldier or sailor was of high moral character and would uphold the Constitution of the United States.

09 Oct 1865

Arns, Henry. Native of Berne. Arrived in U.S. July 1858.

Enlisted in 194 Regiment of Ohio Vol, Company I on 29 Feb

1865; honorably discharged 21 June 1865. Affidavit: John Kellar,

9 Oct 1865.

08 Sep 1866

Christian, Richard. Native of Prussia. Arrived in U.S. Dec 1852.

Enlisted in 79 Regiment of Ohio, Company K on 15 Aug 1862;

honorably discharged 9 June 1865. Affidavits: William Bettis~ Henry Stump, 29 Mar 1866.

09 Oct 1865

Dunn, AJ.atmnder. Native of Ireland. Arrived in US April 1860.

Enlisted in 153 Regiment of Ohio, Company D on 2 May 1864;

honorably discharged 9 Sep 1864. Affidavit: George Simmom,

9 Oct 1865.

07 Oct 1865

Eimer, Charles. Native of Hesaen Castle, Germany. Arrived in

U.S. 14 Oct 1853. Enlisted August 1864 in US Navy on Steamer

"Peosta;" honorably discharged 4 June 1865. Affidavit: Philip

Swing, 7 Oct 1865.

10 Oct 1865

Kaufmann, Philip. Native of Breen, Germany. Arrived in US.

Feb 1857. Enlisted in 50 Regiment Ohio Infantry, Company G

on 11 Aug 1862; honorably discharged 18 July 1865. Affidavit:

A.B. Smith, 10 Oct 1865.

Instead of filing a petition, Peter Keifert filed a declaration of

intention and an application for naturalization.

07 Nov 1864

Keifert, Peter. 40 yrs. Native of Baden. Declaration of

Intention, Clermont Co. OH, 7 Nov 1864. Emigrated from

Havre 2 Nov 1846; arrived New Orleans 17 Dec 1846.

Renounced allegiance to King of Baden. Application for

Naturalization states he was discharged from US. Service in

Columbus OH 26 July 1864. Affidavit: Frank Schweitzer, 7 Nov

1864.

 
 

BIRTHS
Birth Records
*
Early Clermont Co. Births 1856-1857
*
First Presbyterian Churches of Monroe
At Nicholsville & Bantam
*
Baptisms of Children
*
Anderson Township Births 1906-1907
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Old Bethel Church Baptisms
*
Old Bethel Church Baptisms 1894-1908
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Early Births 1856
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MARRIAGES
Early Marriages 1800 - 1808
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 Marriage Book 13 1874-1876
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Goshen M. E. Church
Marriage

*
DEATHS
Funerals Conducted by Rev. Hezekiah Hill 1862-1908
*
The Old Village Graveyard

Deaths of Residents Over 75 in 1875

Infirmary Discharges That Mention a Burial Place

Death Dates from I.O.O.F. Lodge #313

Early Clermont Deaths from The Ohio Sun
*
Obituaries From the Clermont Sun 1890-1891

Early Deaths from Clermont Sun 1855
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More Deaths 1857-1859
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Stirling & Moore Funeral Records 1888
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1880 Mortality Census
*
Census
Goshen 1875 Quadrennial Census
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Quadrennial Census, Batavia, 1847

Quadrennial Census, Batavia, 1855

History
Incidents in The Early History of Clermont County
*
Stonelick Historical Notes
*
Vacation of a Road in
Union Township

Brown and Clermont County Families Mentioned
in the 1880 Clinton County History
*
Day Book For Clarke & Frambes Mills 1838
*
Immigration
Early Naturalizations from Common Pleas Minutes
*
Citizenship Papers 1844-1900
*
Names of New Found Naturalization Applicants
*
Military
Veterans in Various Cemeterys
*
Revolutionary War Soldiers

Clermont Courier Ads November 18, 1863
*
Mexican War Veterans
*
Revolutionary War Veterans
*
Post Office
Post Marks of Clermont County
*
Clermont Postmasters 1800 - 1930
*
Early Unclaimed Letters

More Unclaimed Letters Unclaimed Letters 1855
*
Bible Records
Manning Bible
*
Banister Bible

Bible Records of James McKinnie 1830

Bible Records Index Volume Two

Bible Records Index Volume Three
*
Churches
Old Bethel Church and Cemetery

History of Old Bethel Church 1868

Calvary Church and Cemetery Washington Twp
*.
Edenton Church 1861

Places

Perin Mills in 1863
*
Goshen- Land Of Milk and Honey

First Settlers of Jackson Township

Legal Voters of Goshen Township 1855

Batavia in1847
*
Poll Book Goshen Township 1853
*
1840 Account Book, Laurel Ohio

Edenton School # 4 Pupils

Pensions

Pensions 1890

More Pensions 1890
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Other
Indentures 1825 - 1831

Index To General Store Account Book 1816-1819

Vital Statistics From An Old Record Book

Items from Clermont Courier 1836
*
Clermont Pensioners 1883

Ohio Pioneers That Moved to Texas

Persons on the Petit Jury 1880

Jails and Sheriffs
*
Items From Early Clermont Courier 1852
*
Meeting of Patriarchs 1882
*
Surrender Records From Childrens Home
*
Gazetteer 1882
*
Potpourri

Articles From The Clermont Sun 1889
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River Boatmen
*
Sale of Delinquent Lands
*