Williams County Genealogical Society Banquet - 2015

The Williams County Genealogical Society of Bryan, Ohio will hold its 32nd Annual Banquet on June 8, 2015 at 6:30 PM.  It will be held at the Moose Lodge on the east side of Montpelier, Ohio.  

Our speaker and performer will be Steve Ball.  He is a Civil War musician and historian from Columbus, Ohio.  He became interested in the Civil War at a young age due to a picture of his great great grandfather.  Steve learned to play the guitar and has been involved in many different types of music.  As his knowledge of the Civil War grew, so did his knowledge of the music of that time.

Steve's musical presentation will be performed on a pre-Civil War Martin guitar.  He will play several period tunes and tell the story of each one, it's place in the war and the progress the war had taken at that time.

The dinner will include baked chicken, swiss steak, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, rolls, salad bar, pie, coffee, tea, pop and lemonade.  The ticket cost is $13.00.  Call Jane at the library 419-636-6734 for reservations by Wednesday, May 27.

The purpose of the WCGS is preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library.  The public is invited to attend all meetings.  For further information concerning the WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write the WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, Ohio 43506.  

WCGS April 2015 Meeting and Special May Workshop

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Here's a report on WCGS April meeting and the special workshop in May from VP Mary Alice Roth:


     The Williams County Genealogical Society held their meeting on Monday, April 13, 2015.  The speaker was First Families Chairman Kim Smith.  She gave a powerpoint presentation on all the steps needed to become a member of the First Families of Williams County.  The applicant must be a member in good standing of the Williams Co. Genealogical Society,  there must be original documents, if available, of birth certificates, marriage records, divorce records (if Applicable) of yourself, your parents, grandparents and ancestors, of the same name, who were settled in Williams County, Ohio on or before December 31, 1860. Some of these records may be found in an adjoining county to where you think it should be.

     Many genealogical organization sites on the Internet are acceptable but must be fully cited as well as the URL citation along with a copy of the original document, if available.

     There are many requirements to be submitted but it's well worth it for you and your ancestors to be honored at the Annual Banquet in June.  So, start now by coming to our meetings to find out more about collecting documentation for next year.  Maybe a summer trip could include going to places where you may find information.

     Don't forget our Spring Workshop on Saturday, May 9, 2015 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library in Bryan, Ohio.  Amanda Wells Blackman from Indiana will be returning to present a program on how to date photos by type of photo, clothing and jewelry worn, hair style, medals worn and props used by the photographer.  Bring a photo of an ancestor at be identified after the formal presentation.  You must register with Jane at the library 419-636-6734 by Wednesday, May 6, 2015.  There will be a $5.00 registration fee.  Pizza and coffee will be provided for lunch or you may bring your own lunch and beverage.

     The purpose of the WCGS is preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library.  The public is invited to attend all meetings.  For further information concerning the WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write the WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, Ohio 43506.

A May 2015 Workshop on Dating Photographs

The Williams County Genealogical Society will hold its Spring Workshop on Saturday, May 9, 2015 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library, Bryan, Ohio.

Amanda Wells Blackman, from Indiana, will be returning to present a more in-depth program on how to date photos by type of photo, clothing and jewelry worn, hair style, medals and props used by the photographer.  This will also give her more time to help you with the photo of your ancestor to determine the approximate date or time period the photo was taken.  Bring your old family photo to be identified after the formal presentation.

You must register with Jane at the library 419-636-6734, due to limited space, by Wednesday, May 6, 2015.  There will be a $5.00 registration fee.

Pizza and coffee will be provided for lunch or you may bring your own lunch and beverage.

The purpose of the WCGS is preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30 pm, in the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library.  The public is invited to attend all meetings.  For further information concerning the WCGS, visit the website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write the WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, Ohio 43506.

WCGS March Meeting and Info for April Gathering 2015

By Pamela Pattison Lash

VP Mary Alice Roth has a report from the March WCGS Meeting.  Here is what she has to share:


The Williams County Genealogical Society held the last meeting on Monday, March 9, 2015.  Our speaker was Kent Juillard who lives in the rural Stryker area.  He started by telling part of his journey in life as an artist and teacher in Defiance and Tennessee colleges.

     Later, Kent returned to the family homestead, with his wife, where farming became a big part of his life.  He was very fortunate to have four sets of grandparents until he was 29 years old.  He kept a little journal on each of the four grandparent's families (Juillard-Werder-Bernath-Cramer).

     The Thurston family started in the United States with John.  He was the first Thurston to arrive from Suffolk, England on May 10, 1637 aboard the Mary Ann.  He settled in Medford, Massachusetts with his wife and fathered several children.

     Kent's grandpa Mathias Thurston served in the Civil War.  He fought at the Lookout Mountain Battle where he got shot in the neck.  He was at the Battle of Chickamauga in Georgia where he was a forager.

     Grandma Gertrude Cramer Bernath had all of grandpa Mathias' letters he wrote home while he was in the Civil War.  These letters were written to his girlfriend, Sarah, who later became his wife. The letters were hard to read because there were lines written between the lines due to lack of more paper.  These letters and the diary Mathias wrote during the war are in Kent's personal collection.

     The speaker at the April 13, 2015 meeting will be Kim Smith, Williams Co. First Families Chairman.  She will give information on the date of family settling in the county and proof needed for each family name, if more than one is eligible for induction into the Williams Co. First Families.  This will be valuable information if you have families who settled in the county prior to or as of 1860.  Any person who submits eligible information, before the April deadline, will be recognized at our Annual Banquet in June.

     The purpose of the WCGS is preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library.  The public is invited to attend all meetings.

     For further information concerning the WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to the WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, Ohio 43506.  
 

WCGS February 2015 Meeting and Info on March Gathering

By Pamela Pattison Lash

VP Mary Alice Roth of the Williams County Genealogical Society has a report on the last WCGS meeting and what's coming up in March.  Here's what Mary Alice has to say:


The Williams County Genealogical Society held the last meeting on Monday, February 9, 2015.  President Pat Goebel gave a presentation on Citing Your Sources.....Where Did I Find This?  This was designed to show the many ways necessary to cite your family information.  Citing is a way to record where the information was found to prove it's valid.  It also will provide yourself or others the way to get back to the same information for further research.

     Pat discussed acknowledging other people's works and opinions through the proper way to cite what was found in books, newspapers, publications, articles in magazines and journals.  Photographs need the photographer (if known), name of person, date (if known), if it's a photocopy or original and if you hold the original photograph in your private collection.  Always use pencil to write on anything so ink doesn't bleed through or onto other photographs.

     Any information like maps, correspondence, bible records, deeds, birth and death certificates, census or online findings should be recorded in the same way.

     Our next meeting will be on Monday, March 9, 2015 at 6:30pm.  Kent Juillard, from the Stryker area, will be speaking about his grandfather, Mathias Thurston, a Civil War veteran.  He will share the many interesting details that are in his possession.

     The purpose of the WCGS is preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library.  The public is invited to attend all meetings.

     For further information concerning the WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to the WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, Ohio 43506.

WCGS Jan 2015 Meeting and Info on February Meeting

 By Pamela Pattison Lash

News from WCGS VP Mary Alice Roth:

The Williams County Genealogical Society held their meeting on Monday, January 12, 2015.  One new member joined the society.  Many ways of organizing family material was discussed.  Using folders with family names on the front is very useful to separate several families.  This information can be broken down into many different categories within the folder.  A digital book of military history of relatives is very useful.  Also, a digital book of your own life will provide critical information for future generations.

     Our next meeting will be held on Monday, February 9, 2015.  Our speaker will be President Pat Goebel.  She will present her findings on Where Did I Find This?.....     Citing Your Sources.  Pat has resourced this subject and come up with her program to assist you with reasons, ways and methods to cite the material you find for your family information.  You're not sure what citing is.....Citing is recording where you found each piece of family information to verify it.

     The purpose of the WCGS is preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library.  The public is invited to attend all meetings.

     For further information concerning the WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to the WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, Ohio 43506.

WCGS December 2014 and January 2015 Info

By Pamela Pattison Lash

VP Mary Alice Roth of the Williams County Genealogical Society recently reviewed our last meeting and has info on our next meeting.  Here's what she has to tell:


     The Williams County Genealogical Society gathered for their annual Christmas party on December 8, 2014.  A delicious buffet of festive food was enjoyed by all, while a lot of talking and laughter was going on.

     Our next meeting will be held on Monday, January 12, 2015, at 6:30pm, at the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library.  Bring any idea you have come up with on how to organize your family records.  The simplest idea may be of help to someone.

     A special invitation is being given to all who attended the November 15, 2014 Search for Your Roots Lock-in.  This meeting may help bring all your family records into order and you may realize you have a piece of your family puzzle you didn't know you had.

     The purpose of the WCGS is preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library.  The public is invited to attend all meetings.

     For further information concerning the WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to the WCGS, P.O. Box 293. Bryan, Ohio 43506.

WCGS October Meeting and Lock-In at the WCPL Local History and Genealogy Center

By Pamela Pattison Lash

VP Mary Alice Roth has this to report on WCGS events:


The Williams County Genealogical Society held their monthly meeting on October 13, 2014 at 6:30 pm, at the Bryan Public Library in the West Annex.

     The guest speaker, Joanne Allison, spoke on her trip to Germany and ways she found her ancestors.  She traveled with her daughter, who spoke German, to the church where her great grandmother was baptized.  She visited with people who knew where different family members had lived.  She gave a slide presentation of cousins she met, beautiful buildiungs and many cities she traveled to.  She showed how the very poor heuerling families lived in very small buildings, usually with only one window.  They lived and cooked in the same building with the animals.  She showed slides of the lush green grass with grazing cattle on the sides of dikes, thatched roofs, floating moors, mud flaps and wind turbines.  She found out that Leiner is the sister city to St. Marys, Ohio. Joanne hasjust published a book on German ancestors.

     The next meeting will be a lock-in held on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the Bryan Public Library in the West Annex.    The library is not open so you must register by Thursday, November13 by contacting Jane at 419-636-6734 or coming to the library.  This is a free workshop.  Methods to find your ancestors will be taught and handouts provided.  If you haven't done family researrch before or need some new inspiration to get started again, come join us and learn of the valuable resources the library has.

     The purpose of the WCGS is preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. The public is invited to attend all meetings.

     For further information concerning the WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to the WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, Ohio 43506.

WCGS Banquet - June 2014

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Our WCGS End-of-the-Year Banquet celebrated our passion for genealogy.  Here is a synopsis of the event, reported by Pat Goebel, Co-VP:

The 31st Annual Banquet for the Williams County Genealogical Society was held June 16, 2014 at the Moose Lodge in Bryan, OH. The guest speaker was Eric Rotsinger, a living historian, portraying the Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. Eric started in 1997 portraying Mark Twain. He has worked on getting into Mark Twain’s head, only to find Mark Twain was a character created and marketed image to sell books and show tickets. Behind the mask lies Samuel Clemens, a man as bright and dark, as ridiculous and somber, as calculating and naïve. Eric brought this man in all of his complicated simplicity to life.

Kim Smith, the First Families of Williams County Chairperson, introduced three new members to the First Families; bring the total number of members to 210. They are Jeffrey W. Thompson, surname: Thompson; Dan Clark, surnames: Armstrong, Clark, Mills, Stubbs, Wilbur; and Kim Brown, surname: Yates.

Pam Lash, outgoing President, presented Alice Shaffer, one of the founding members of the society, who is retiring from the board, with a gift in appreciation for her many years of service, advice and leadership. She then presented the new board: Ronda Garbin, Newsletter Editor; Carolyn Pfiester, Historian/ Board Assistant; Marty Richie, Webmaster; Kim Smith, First Families/Williams Co.; Nancy Chamberlain, Membership Assistant; Fred Strobel, Membership; Pam Lash Publications; Melody Turner, Bookkeeper; Jane Huffman, Treasurer/Librarian; Alice Meuleman, Secretary; Mary Alice Roth, Vice-President; and Patricia Goebel, President.

Patricia then presented Pam Lash, who also was one of the founders of the society, with a gift of appreciations for her many years of expertise, wisdom and leadership. The society has grown and flourished with both Alice and Pam’s leadership.

The next meeting will be in September. Have a great summer and Keep Researching!

The purpose of WCGS is the preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. The public is invited for all the meetings.

For further information concerning WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, Ohio 43506.

WCGS April Meeting and Upcoming Events

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Co-VP Pat Goebel has a message of interest for those who wish to attend the May and June meetings of the Williams County Genealogical Society. Here's what Pat has to report:

The Williams County Genealogical Society held their April meeting in the Harmon Room of the West Annex to the Bryan Public Library. The guest speaker was Amanda Wells-Blackman. Amanda gave an outstanding presentation about how to identify the era in which a picture was taken. She gave a very informative handout to follow while she shared photos and deciphered how to identify the era. Her method is first identify the type of photograph, then date the photographer’s years of operation, if name is noted, and then identify and date the fashions in the photographs. Members had an opportunity to try and date several photos using the method above.

The May meeting will be held the THIRD Monday of the month, May 19, 2014, 6:30pm in the Harmon Room. The guest speakers are Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wells. They will be talking and sharing photos of cemeteries their society has repaired and uprighted. They will share before and after photos of cemeteries that have improved.

BANQUET:  The 31st Annual Banquet will be held on the June 16, 2014 the Bryan Moose Lodge, Bryan, Ohio at 6:30 pm. Reservations must be made by Wednesday, June 11, 2014 with Jane Huffman, 419-636-6734, Local History and Genealogy Annex extension. The cost is $18 per person. The menu is Baked Swiss Steak, Lasagna, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Peas, Tossed Salad, Spice Cake, Brownies, and Beverage.

The guest speaker is Eric Rotsinger. He has been portraying Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) as a first person living historian for over 10 years. He is an actual relative of Twain’s. Eric truly brings this historic author and personality to life!

The purpose of WCGS is the preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. The public is invited for all the meetings.

For further information concerning WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan Ohio 43506.

WCGS March 2014 Meeting and the Upcoming April Meeting

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Our Co-VP, Pat Goebel, has a report to share on the March 2014 meeting and what's coming in April.  Here's what Pat has to report:

The Williams County Genealogical Society met in March to finish the DVD on Samuel Clemens. Mark Twain’s most famous books were  The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He wrote 28 books and numerous short stories, letters and sketches. In 1870, Clemens married Olivia Langdon, and they had four children, one of whom died in infancy and two who died in their twenties. Their surviving child, Clara, lived to be 88, and had one daughter. Clara's daughter died without having any children, so there are no direct descendants of Samuel Clemens living. Our guest speaker at the June banquet is a descendant of Mr. Clemens. Come and find out how he is related.

 Next month, April 14, 2014, the society will meet in the Harmon Room of the West Annex to the Bryan Public Library at 6:30 pm. The guest speaker will be Amanda Wells Blackman from DeKalb County, Indiana. She will be talking about how to identify old photographs by looking at the different types of photos and the time period in which they were popular. Amanda will present how to identify and date photos by their use of clothes, hairstyles, jewelry, military medals, and props used the by photographer. Bring a photo or two that is 1920 or older for Amanda to identify.

The purpose of WCGS is the preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30 pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. The public is invited for all the meetings.

For further information concerning WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, OH 43506.

WCGS Meeting - February 2014 and Info on March Gathering

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Our Co-VP Pat Goebel has information on the February 2014 meeting of the Williams County Genealogical Society and a sneak-peek of what's happening in March.  Here's Pat's report:

The February meeting of the Williams County Genealogical Society was held in the Harmon Room of the West Annex to the Bryan Public Library. Members weathered the cold to join in watching a DVD about Samuel Clemens. Samuel was born on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri. 4 years later his family moved to Hannibal‚ Missouri‚ on the banks of the Mississippi River. When Sam was 11‚ his father died.

Shortly thereafter he left school‚ having completed the fifth grade‚ to work as a printer’s apprentice for a local newspaper. His job was to arrange the type for each of the newspaper’s stories‚ allowing Sam to read the news of the world while completing his work. At 18‚ Sam headed east to New York City and Philadelphia‚ where he worked on several different newspapers and found some success at writing articles. By 1857‚ he had returned home to embark on a new career as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River.

With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861‚ however‚ all traffic along the river came to a halt‚ as did Sam’s pilot career. Sam joined a volunteer Confederate unit called the Marion Rangers‚ but he quit after just two weeks.

In search of a new career‚ Sam headed west in July of 1861‚ at the invitation of his brother‚ Orion‚ who had just been appointed Secretary of the Nevada Territory.

Next month, the continuing story of Samuel Clemens, his career, family will be shown. Come and join the members on March 10, 2014 at 6:30 pm in the Harmon Room, West Annex to the Bryan Public Library, Bryan, OH.

WCGS January 2014 Meeting and February 2014 Info

By Pamela Pattison Lash

WCGS Co-VP Pat Goebel has a message about our last meeting and the plans for February.  Here's what Pat has to tell you:

The New Year not only brought cold weather but memories from the four ladies of the Williams County Genealogical Society (Alice Meuleman, Pat Goebel, Pam Lash and Marty Richie) about their trip to Washington DC. They shared at the January Meeting their exciting, frustrating but fruitful researching trip to Washington DC during the shutdown the first of October. They joined with a group from the Toledo Area Genealogical Society to take the bus trip to DC with the purpose of researching at the National Archives, Library of Congress, and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).  Oct. 1 brought the government shutdown for some sightseeing, the National Archives and the Library of Congress.

Since the DAR is mostly privately funded, it was open, to the delight of the ladies. Besides researching in their wonderful library, a tour of the facilities was given with looks into the period rooms of most of the states in America. Pam Lash told about the tour showing slides of the Ohio, Tennessee, DC, Maryland, Louisiana, Georgia, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Missouri rooms. Special interest was given to the Ohio room showing the 1920’s décor.

Even though the shutdown closed many of the buildings for sightseeing, some of the open-air sites were available, for example, Arlington Cemetery. Pat Goebel told about their experience seeing the burial site for John F. Kennedy and Audie Murphy, with slides and a video of the Changing of the Guards, which they were lucky enough to see.

Alice Meuleman told about touring the Capitol Building led by a retired secretary from the Capitol Building with help from a current secretary. They were able to view both the Senate and House in session. Alice showed several rooms in the Capitol, and the scene painted in the Capitol stairway of the Battle of Erie.

Marty Richie told stories about her experience with a WWII vet while searching for his buddy’s name on the Memorial Wall.  She showed pictures of the 911 Park near the Pentagon and what everything meant. Marty also shared more pictures showing places around DC, Alexandra and Georgetown.

Even though the places they originally wanted to research were closed, the DAR held many “treasures” about their ancestors.

The next meeting will be February 10, 2014, 6:30pm in the Harmon Room, West Annex, Bryan Public Library, Bryan, OH. The theme is “Monday Night at the Movies”. A DVD of Samuel Clemens will be shown. Bring a snack and or drink, relax and watch the DVD with them.

The purpose of WCGS is the preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. The public is invited for all the meetings.

For further information concerning WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan Ohio 43506.

WCGS December 2013 and January 2014 Plans

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Pat Goebel, Co-VP of the Williams County Genealogical Society, has a report on our December meeting and info on what's coming up in January 2014.  Here's what she has to share:

The December meeting of the Williams County Genealogical Society met with a celebration of the season with food and sharing of ideas. One lady shared how Ft. Wayne Library, National Archives, and Family Search websites have added more articles to their online collections.   You can hire someone who lives in those areas to do the research for you when you can’t make it to their facilities. Another member handed out flyers on searching old newspapers online and told how she has found several articles on her ancestors. A gentleman shared how he found maps on the internet of Indian trails in Pennsylvania which many ancestors followed across the country. Another lady shared the family tree her daughter created for her about her own family.

January 13, 2014 will be the next meeting which will be held 6:30pm in the Harmon Room of the West Annex to the Bryan Public Library. Come hear what the four ladies tell about their researching trip to Washington DC during the shutdown. Pictures and video will be included.

The purpose of WCGS is the preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. The public is invited for all the meetings.

For further information concerning WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, Ohio 43506.

WCGS Meeting News for October 2013 and Upcoming November Event

By Pamela Pattison Lash

It's time soon to set your clocks back this weekend and it's time to find out what's happening with the Williams County Genealogical Society.  Pat Goebel, Co-VP, has some info for anyone interested in the last meeting and the "field trip" scheduled for November.  Here's what Pat has to report:

The Williams County Genealogical Society met in October for a question answer session with Rex Bentley, former employee of a monument establishment. Members brought many questions about cleaning monuments, types of stones, how to restore letters on monument, etc. It was a very informative meeting for those present.

The next meeting will be November 11, 2013.  Since it’s Veterans Day, the meeting will be at the Veterans Memorial at the Williams County Fairgrounds at 6:30 pm. Mr. Robert Walkup, President, will give a guided tour of the museum. Outdoor lighting is LED lights so you’ll be able to see the displays.

The purpose of WCGS is the preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30 pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. The public is invited for all the meetings.

For further information concerning WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, OH 43506.

WCGS Meeting - October 2013

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Ever wonder how to properly clean and maintain a tombstone?  Pat Goebel, Co-VP for WCGS, has info to share about our next meeting.  Here's what she shared:

The Williams County Genealogical Society will meet Monday, October 14, 2013 at 6:30 pm in the Harmon Room, West Annex, Bryan Public Library, Bryan, OH. Mr. Rex Bentley will be the guest for a question and answer session on monument care. Rex formerly worked for a monument company for many years. He was involved in every aspect of the company and in the cemetery. Bring a question from one of these ideas or bring your own on the care and upkeep of monuments:

Type of stones used in monuments; care of different kind of stones used; what kind of weather cleaning should or should not be done; how to clean different fungus or stains off monuments; Lettering-what to use to read difficult lettering on monuments.

You may bring one picture of a monument to ask for advice on cleaning or restoring that monument.

Bring a friend and learn more about keeping our families’ memory for the future.

The purpose of WCGS is the preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. The public is invited for all the meetings.

For further information concerning WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, OH 43506.

WCGS Meeting - October 11, 2010

The Williams County Genealogical Society hosted its general meeting on Monday, October 11 in the Harman Room of the Williams County Public Library’s Local History and Genealogy Annex.  A member panel of attendees of the April 2010 OGS Conference presented a round-robin discussion of highlighted sessions and entertained questions from the audience.

Presenters included Pat Goebel, Donna Myers, Alice Meuleman, Roena Bayes, and Alice Shaffer.  Each member discussed her favorite sessions and conference events such as the importance of writing a narrative of one’s ancestors, software updates, tidbits on Pennsylvania and Maryland research, important internet search tools such as Google, and Civil War research to name a few.

The next meeting on November 8 at 6:30 PM, which is open to the public, will deal with the Underground Railroad.  Presenters will be Savannah Eicher and Genevieve Eicher.