Our Mission Statement
The Lawrence Register’s sole purpose is to assist genealogists and historians in locating available resources in Lawrence County, Ohio. Having the essential indexes online saves you a lot of time, so when visiting our libraries, courthouse, cemeteries, etc., you can accumulate more facts quickly and accurately.
However, we do not have access to records, so we cannot make copies or do research for your particular topic, family, or ancestor. We will continue to add new material as we can and encourage you to visit our website often.
What is The Lawrence Register?
We are a free genealogy and historical website for Lawrence County, Ohio. The Lawrence Register’s ‘roots’ began in 1996 while I worked in the Hamner Room at Briggs Library in Ironton, Ohio. The library was getting a lot of phone calls and letters from people living out of the area. These patrons were trying to do their family research, some of whom would never have the chance to visit our county.
In the meantime, I was watching this new technology called the “World Wide Web” with intense excitement and discussing it with our patrons. One day, Lisa Boyer overheard me talking about making my own website. She offered to help me with the technology if I could get material typed in a format we could put online.
We did this for about a year, but then I decided it was time to learn how to put items online without anyone’s help. So, I began learning how to code HTML and the process of putting material on the internet.’
After I received my promotion to the Hamner Room Manager in 1998, I received so many requests for volunteers to help type material that I could hardly keep up with the demand. One of these volunteers was Sharon Kouns, who started helping me with the HTML coding. I would work from home in the evenings and well past midnight. Then Sharon would log into our site and take over until mid-morning.
My old supervisor told me, “The victim of my own success,” with a grin! I never dreamed The Lawrence Register would become such a success. In November 1998, I was honored when the Ohio Library Council asked me to teach other libraries in the state of Ohio how to set up genealogy websites for their libraries. Our website has also been featured in best-selling books, and many authors have used our site as their own references.
I have kept The Lawrence Register online since 1996, with the exception of a couple of years. Now, I am proud to announce that my daughter, Sara Strohmeyer, has decided to help me ‘bring our website up to the 21st-century requirements.’ She has encouraged me to continue with my dream, which has always been to help others with their research in Lawrence County, Ohio.
–Martha J. Martin
How can I get a copy of material that is found on The Lawrence Register?
We can answer your questions and (sometimes) connect you to the right person or resource, but unfortunately, we cannot do genealogy research for you.
If you find any records, such as marriages, births, deaths, obituaries, etc., on this website and would like copies, we recommend Briggs Library, Hamner Room, in Ironton, Ohio, at 1-740-532-1124. Another option is to email Lori Shafer, the Reference Librarian at Briggs Library.
Briggs Lawrence County Public Library
Genealogy Research Policy
The Phyllis Hamner Local History and Genealogy Room staff will perform specific genealogy research requests for the records listed in this policy as long as they are submitted by mail and comply with the requirements below.
- No more than five requests may be submitted at one time.
- Only information on Lawrence County, Ohio, is available for research.
- The first request costs $1.00. Each additional request will be 50¢.
- Please provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The Library will not pay for postage.
- Please include your phone number or email address if we need to contact you about your request.
However, the staff does not conduct requests for general, open-ended family research received by phone, mail, or email and cannot search for records not listed within this policy. If you send a request that does not meet the listed requirements, your request will be returned with recommendations that enable us to respond to your request. We will also include a list of local genealogy researchers you may contact who will perform general family research.
How Do I Search for Material On Your Site?
To navigate The Lawrence Register, you have three options:
- A search icon (magnifying glass) is at the top of each page.
- Scroll down our homepage and find the subject, then continue to follow the links to various topics.
- Another way to find the material is to use our drop-down list. Just click the ‘Home’ link, which is also at the top of our website.
- While using a .pdf file, you can use the Ctrl+F shortcut key to search while that file is open.
Another requested feature we have added is our “What’s New” page. This will keep you up-to-date on our new material on The Lawrence Register.
What Do The Abbreviations Stand For?
Abbreviations:
IR = Ironton Register (Lawrence Co., Ohio)
IWR = Ironton Weekly Republican (Lawrence Co., Ohio)
IJ = Ironton Journal (Lawrence Co., Ohio)
SWI = Semi-Weekly Irontonian (Lawrence Co., Ohio)
IDR = Ironton Daily Register (Lawrence. Co., Ohio)
IT =Ironton Tribune (Lawrence Co., Ohio)
MI = Morning Irontonian (Lawrence Co., Ohio)
IET = Ironton Evening Tribune (Lawrence Co., Ohio)
SWR = Semi-Weekly Republican (Lawrence Co., Ohio)
OSSW = On Same Stone With (for cemetery readings)
Where are the Bible Records, Births, Census, Deaths, Deeds, Divorces, Marriages, Obituaries and Wills?
Those files are in the dropdown menu under ‘Vital Records.’ Most of these records have been digitized and can be found at FamilySearch.org. If you need help, please ask us in the box below.
Why did people move to Lawrence County, Ohio?
We suggest reading “Before the Beginning” and “Refugees of the Revolution.”
It is said that Lawrence County, Ohio, had early settlements as far back as 1796 when the Quakers established Quaker Bottom.
When Ohio became a state in 1804, the land was opened up for those willing to take up the invitation to explore what the ‘west’ was all about.
Floating down the Ohio River in skiff boats would begin at Pittsburgh and once those old-timers arrived, they found vast waterways and abundant land. This created many new businesses, especially riverboats, ferry boats, farmers, and rivermen, who became a vital part of our county’s existence.
Because of the proximity of the Ohio River which stretches across our entire southern border, and the fact that it was aligned with two slave states, this brought people from New England and other areas who were with the Temperance and Anti-Slavery Movements.
When iron furnaces began opening in the 1840s, this brought in additional families and businessmen. That exciting news traveled worldwide about our unique iron furnaces, which resulted in a flood of immigrants into our area. And with that, came challenges, some with drastic results.