With the establishment of the United States of America at the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, this fledgling, imprudent nation began the greatest experiment of mankind. To guarantee the success of its new nationhood, immigrants were needed for population growth as borders expanded west into the Northwest Territories, including Ohio and Shelby County.   The Louisiana Purchase (1803) created a nation considerably larger than its motherland, and with the boundless courage of the explorers, Lewis and Clark, the gates were now open...


WELCOME!

EARLY SETTLER SURNAMES

SURNAME PATTERNS

LOCAL HISTORY
In the Beginning
1669-1769/Pickawillany
1769-1782/Peter Loramie
1783-1802/Ohio Land Grants/Greene Ville Treaty
1803/Ohio Becomes a State
The Establishment of Shelby County
Land for Settlement, Schools & Religion
1837-1850/Canal Era
1846/Randolph Slaves
1848/Gold Rush
1851-1870/Railroad Era
1870-1893/Industrial Era

IMMIGRATION PROCESS
Why People Immigrated
The Price of Immigration
Port of Entry
The Journey
From Port to Shelby County
1820-1900; 35% of Immigrants were German
1820-1960
Immigrants Became Ohioans
Assimilation
Becoming a Citizen
Shelby County, Ohio Today
Liberty For All
Not Everyone Wants to Stay
Early Settler Surnames
Readings on Indenture/Naturalization
FIRST IMMIGRANTS IN THIS AREA
Revolutionary War Soldiers
1805 - Thatcher
1806 - Cannon, Earl, Mellinger
1807 - John Wilson
1808 - Jackson, Marshall
1809 - Berry, Phillips, Valentine
1810 - Carey, McClure
1811 - Lenox
1820s - Fergus, Roberts
1820 - Sidney Founder was Irish Immigrant

Sidney Named after Englishman
1820 - Sidney's First Home Owned by John Blake
Early Settler Surnames
Irish Immigrant Skilled Craftsman
German-American Bank is Formed
Foreign Language Newspapers

READINGS
Indenture
Indenture as Servant
Indenture as Apprentice
Wants Naturalization Papers

BIBLIOGRAPHY

LINKS


[Up]   [New Search]    'Immigration' segment written in November, 1997 by David Lodge