In a message dated 00-05-24 09:13:49 EDT, you write:
<< about my up coming trip to Jackson County. There
are quite a few of my relatives that I don't have exact dates, or even any
idea of them. Do I need to find these before I go to the health department
to get the records? I've seen talk of book numbers, and page numbers, are
these books at the library or the genealogical society? >>
It has been several years since I was in Jackson county last but this may
help...I don't know how much you know about doing this kind of research, so
forgive me if I overexplain....
Birth, death, & marriage records are at the health department---I have gone
there before and told them that I needed to see records for a large span of
years---and they have brought me out the books and let me look through them
myself.
Court documents, coroner reports, school financial records, city and county
business records, wills, estate settlements are at the court house in one
department (county clerk), and land transactions are in the county
recorder's office. The folks in the clerks office were very helpful. Most of
the books in there are out where you can examine them yourself (without
having to ask someone to get them for you), and there is a copy machine
available (it was a dollar a copy though, fairly standard in courthouses I
have been to). They gave me hints on places to look for odd loose papers, and
gave me keys to storage closets to look for some old court reports...The
county recorder's office was a little touchier---one woman kept asking me why
I needed to see so many books, and what I hoped to find, and why I needed so
many records copied, etc---At first I thought she really just didn't know
what treasures old land records can be to genealogists---after she trailed me
through the stacks for about an hour I decided that she was just very
propietary about those old records. Don't get me wrong, she wasn't
unfreindly, she just didn't seem to trust me with the records ! (But she did
let me copy all I wanted to copy, so no harm done)....
The library has lots of good resurces as well---including some indexes to
obituaries that were recorded by WPA workers and others...and lots of area
newspapers on microfilm is you do know some dates. And a very very very warm
and helpful staff. Plus folders on various families etc....
Courthouse is closed one day of the week, but for the life of me, I don't
remember which day that is....
Hope that helps,
Sherri