Portage County Chapter
of the Ohio Genealogical Society
Promoting and stimulating knowledge and interest in the study of genealogy
Meeting Dates
First Saturday of the Month
(no regular meetings January, June, July, August, October)
10:00 a.m. until 12 Noon (unless otherwise noted)
Held at the Portage County Historical Society
Note: No refreshments served; may bring own coffee or other drink
in non-spill container (no food please)
*Programs are free and open to anyone interested
in doing family research or Portage County history.
Mailing Address (as of April 23, 2014):
Portage County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society
6551 North Chestnut St., Ravenna, OH 44266
Portage County Historical Society
6549 N. Chestnut St., Ravenna, OH 44266
The Historical Society is located next to the Ravenna High School and just south and across the street from Maple Grove Cemetery.
Open Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.-Noon or by appointment
(call 330-296-3523 to verify hours)
2025 Calendar
January, 2025
No Meeting
February 1st, 2025
"Civil War Battle of Scary Creek"
Mark Perkins will present The Battle of Scary Creek, the story of this small battle with no shortage of courage, hard fighting, confusion and recriminations that brought the cost of war home to Portage County. In June and July, 1861, Union troops under General George McClellan fought several times against Confederate forces in the northwestern part of the state. To the south, General Jacob Cox assembled forces representing Ohio and Kentucky and led an expedition up the Kanawha River, destination Charleston. Before he got there he was met by Virginia troops at Scary Creek. This is the story of this small battle with no shortage of courage, hard fighting, confusion and recriminations that brought the cost of war home to Portage County.
Mark Perkins grew up in Stow, Ohio, where he developed a life-long interest in history. After earning degrees in psychology and library science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a degree in computer science from the University of Akron, he worked for 33 years as a programmer/analyst with Wolff Bros. Supply.
His long time interest in the Civil War included four years reenacting with the Fifth Texas Infantry, Company A out of Akron, Ohio, and co-editing, with George Skoch, the book Lone Star Confederate: A Gallant and Good Soldier of the Fifth Texas Infantry. Published by Texas A & M University Press., the book won the 2004 “Best Book on Texas in the Confederacy” presented by the Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans. Mark is a member of the Kent Civil War Society, for whom he is a frequent speaker. He lives in Copley, Ohio with his wife, Frances, and cat, Cassie.
WELCOME TO PCCOGS
We welcome you to the website of the Portage County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. You're invited to explore our pages and consider becoming a member of our society. PCCOGS is a non-profit organization formed in 1972. Everyone is welcome from beginner to expert genealogist.
Genealogy Society | Portage County | Ohio
United States | Portagecountyohioogs
First Settlers of Portage County
Our earliest pioneers came into a vast wilderness with wild animals, no shelter, and miles between settlers. They cleared the land, built roads and homes, and laid the foundations for the prosperous and beautiful county we have today.
Members of the Portage County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society may submit an application to be recognized as a First Settler of Portage County. You must be able to document and prove your relationship to the ancestor and that he or she resided in Portage County by December 31, 1840.
For First Settlers application, you need to have copies of written documents - such as marriage licenses, birth certificates, death certificates, will, estates - these are primary sources. Secondary sources are obituaries, census records, bible records, photos of tombstones, etc. Family trees from websites like ancestry.com are not accepted. If you have more questions, please email Barb Petroski, PCCOGS President, at pccogs.67@outlook.com.
Applications must be received by June 1 of the year in order to be eligible for membership for that year. There is a $15.00 fee required when the application is submitted. The chapter holds an annual luncheon honoring the approved applicants in October. Recipients receive a certificate and a free lunch. Applications may be downloaded by clicking the button below or by writing to First Settlers, P.O. Box 821, Ravenna, OH 44266.
Join the rolls of proud members who honor their Portage County forebearers. Click on the button below for a proven list of family names that have been approved as ancestors of the members of First Settlers of Portage County.
The bold names are Chapter members. The names under are their ancestors. The number by the members are the order that they were received. This is everyone that has been recognized as a first settler. If someone is interested in viewing any of the records for a certain name they need to request in writing (letter or email) and the chairman of First Settlers will contact them. Permission may be necessary to obtain from the First Settler member.
March 1st, 2025
"OGS Lineage Societies"
Cheryl Brown Abernathy will be talking about the numerous Lineage Societies that are available through the Ohio Genealogical Society and other societies as well. Membership into a lineage society is done by proving that you are a direct descendant of an individual of that time period.
Cheryl is a semi-retired professional genealogist who lives in Wayne County, Ohio. She is a life member of OGS, Holmes, Stark, Tuscarawas, and Wayne County Chapters of OGS. Cheryl became involved in genealogy because her grandmother told her she was related to Daniel Boone, which, via DNA, she has found not to be true. The land she and her husband live on was purchased by her grandfather back in the late 1930s for the coal mine on the property. It was shut down when her grandfather and father enlisted in the service during World War II, her grandfather in the Navy and father in the Army-Air Force. The Abernathys are a blended family with seven children and sixteen grandchildren.
April 5th, 2025
“Finding More on Passenger Lists”
Roslyn Torella will share ways to find more information on passenger lists beyond just a person's name. Discover detailes like their age, gender, occupation, place of origin, intended destination, port of arrival, ship name, travel date, and sometimes even the names of family members traveling with them.
Roslyn is an experienced genealogical researcher with over 25 years of experience, a lecturer, author, and an a member of the esteemed Association of Professional Genealogists.
May 3rd, 2025
"Epitaphs & Icons - What You Can Discover in the Graveyard"
Mary Jamba will present a look at cemetery records, carvings, and statues and how they provide clues to aid genealogical research.
If you have a photo of a tombstone that you would like her to explain what the symbols mean, bring the photo to the May program. You may also email her the photo (mjamba@yahoo.com) and she will show it on the screen with her presentation.
Mary has 26 years of genealogy research experience with a special interest in DNA. Currently, she serves as immediate past president of the Greater Cleveland Genealogical Society, program chair for the Western Reserve Historical Society Genealogical Committee, and DNA User Group Leader for the Computer Assisted Genealogy Group.
No Meetings Held in June, July or August
September 6th, 2025
"TBA"
October 4th, 2025
"TBA"
November 1st, 2025
"TBA"
December 6th, 2025
"TBA"
Portage County, Ohio
The name Portage comes from an Old Indian Path called Portage Trail, which ran between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers.
In June 1807, Portage County separated from it's parent county, Trumbull, and in June 1808 the first election was held. The last change to the county's boundaries occurred in 1840 when Summit County was erected from the western part of Portage.
The present townships are: Atwater, Aurora, Brimfield, Charlestown, Deerfield, Edinburg, Franklin, Freedom, Garrettsville, Hiram, Mantua, Nelson, Palmyra, Paris, Randolph, Ravenna, Rootstown, Shalersville, Streetsboro, Suffield, and Windham
(click on specific township's name to
go to their Historical Society's page or visit
Portage County Historical Society's page)
