Created February 12, 1820 (organized as an independent county in 1834) from Shelby, Logan, Wood, and Williams counties territory — named for Patrick Henry · county seat Napoleon. Repository addresses, online record links, and a free printable record checklist below.
Short episodes that walk through Henry County's records, one record type at a time.
Formation · Settlers & Migration · Probate · Land · Tax · Churches · Newspapers · Where to Look
Watch on YouTube660 N. Perry St., Suite 203, 2nd Floor, Napoleon, OH 43545 · (419) 592-7771
henrycountyohio.gov/261/Probate-Division
Estates, wills, guardianships, adoptions, and historically marriage licenses. Also holds birth and death records from 1867–December 19, 1908.
660 N. Perry St., Suite 202, 2nd Floor, Napoleon, OH 43545 · (419) 592-1766
henrycountyohio.gov/329/Henry-County-Recorder
Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and military discharge records.
660 N. Perry Street, Suite 301, Napoleon, OH 43545 · (419) 592-5926
henrycountyohio.gov/254/Clerk-of-Courts
Divorces, civil suits (including partition suits that divide land among heirs), and Common Pleas journals. Before 1852, this court also handled wills and estates.
660 N. Perry Street, Napoleon, OH 43545 · (419) 592-1956
Current tax lists and property transfer records. Early tax duplicates are on FamilySearch and at the Ohio History Connection.
310 W. Clinton St., Napoleon, OH 43545 · (419) 592-2531
napoleon.lib.oh.us — History & Genealogy
In-library-use genealogy collection including all publications formerly issued by the county genealogical society. Materials do not circulate.
The society's own site states it disbanded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2020, after operating since 1986. Its records and databases — cemetery inscriptions, obituary index, historic photos, veterans' burial records — remain free online, and physical holdings have moved to the Edwin Wood Memorial Library in Deshler.
OGS's chapter directory still lists this chapter without a "closed" notation — treat the society's own site as the more current source.
229 W. Clinton St., Napoleon, OH 43545 (Dr. John Bloomfield Home & Carriage House Museum) · (419) 592-8006
A different, separate organization from the genealogical society above. Volunteer-run, with open-house dates rather than standing weekly hours — call ahead before visiting. Also operates a historic complex at the county fairgrounds.
1843 Oakwood Ave., Napoleon, OH 43545 · (419) 599-5545
henrycohd.org/vital-statistics
Births from December 20, 1908 forward and deaths from 1909 forward. Records from 1867–1908 are at the Probate Court above.
Find A Grave — Henry County, Interment.net, and OhioGravestones.org, plus the genealogical society's own Cemetery Inscriptions database.
Not sure which office has what? See Which County Office Holds What.
Many Henry County record books are filmed and free to view at FamilySearch (free account required).
In Full-Text Search, add Henry County, Ohio as the place to find names inside handwritten deeds, wills, and court books. How to use it.
Henry County was formed in 1820 from Shelby County. For records made before then, search the parent county:
Most of Henry County's land was federal Congress Lands, surveyed in townships and sections and first sold through U.S. land offices. The first buyer of each tract received a federal patent.
Titles that covered Henry County, historic and current, with where to search each one. Not every historic title has been digitized — several survive only on microfilm.
| Title | Years | Where to Search |
|---|---|---|
| North-West | 1852-1869 | Microfilm only — Henry County District Library, Napoleon |
| Democratic Northwest | 1869-1894 | Chronicling America (Library of Congress) |
| Democratic Northwest and Henry County News | 1894-1905 | Chronicling America; OldNews.com |
| Henry County Signal | 1865-1960 | Chronicling America (Library of Congress) |
| Northwest News | 1959-1960 | Microfilm only — Henry County District Library |
| Northwest-Signal | 1960-present | Chronicling America (1960-); current issues via publisher site |
Fill in what you're looking for, print it, and take it with you to the courthouse or library.
Brick Walls & Buckeyes
brickwallsbuckeyes.com · Henry County, Ohio
Addresses and links last checked October 2026.
County guides, record walkthroughs, and brick wall breakthroughs. Subscribe on YouTube and tap the bell so new episodes find you.
Subscribe on YouTube