Genealogy Information

Over ten years ago, librarian Janet Metzger began an intensive indexing project for the obituary files of the Louisville Herald, the weekly newspaper for Louisville, Ohio, which began publication in March 1887 and continues to this day. She and librarian Katherine Courtney completed the initial data entry in 2000. Through the volunteer efforts of computer engineer Scott Courtney, the files have been placed in an online database. Their work has been a labor of love and has resulted in nearly 25,000 names included in this database. Since 1998, Mrs. Metzger has also included the names of recently deceased Louisville residents or people with a Louisville connection printed in the Canton Repository and not printed in the Louisville Herald.

The database includes the following information:

• Last Name
• First Name
• Date of Birth
• Date of Death
• Parent(s) Names
• Spouse(s) Names
• Place of Burial
• Date and Page Number of the Obituary in the Herald

Each record is also identified by an unique "record number" that is meaningful only within this database but which can be used when ordering printed obituary copies.

Due to space constraints, the database does not include names of children, siblings, work information and other data commonly found in obituaries. Many records are incomplete and contain only a name and an obituary date. Some listings were printed as local news, rather than a full obituary and will not contain complete information.

The obituary database is cross-linked for additional surnames such as maiden names and parents' names. Many of these cross-referenced names do not have an obituary on file.

Photocopies of obituaries may be ordered for a fee of $2.00 for the first name per request and $1.00 for each additional name per request. Please limit names to five per request. Photocopies will be made from the microfilm copy of the Louisville Herald or from a photocopy of the Canton Repository. Some names listed in the database were reported as part of local news columns and do not include a full obituary. This is the case of the obituary page number is followed by a phrase such as "Local News" or "Robertsville News." Microfilm from the Louisville Herald is not available for Interlibrary Loan.

To order copies of full obituaries, please send your name, address, phone number and email along with a check for the correct amount to:

Be sure to include the record number and the first and last name(s) of the person or persons whose obituary(ies) you are requesting. A printout of the information from the database would also be helpful. You are also encouraged to send documented corrections or additions for inclusion in the database to the Genealogy/Local History Department genealogy@louisvillelibrary.org or to the address above.