Lucas County was named after Robert Lucas, born Shepherdstown, Jefferson Co., W.VA., Apr.1, 1781, a Veteran of the U.S. Army War of 1812, Governor of Ohio from 1832-36 when Lucas County was  formed on June 20th, 1835. Lucas County was one of the last areas to be developed in the state.  Robert Lucas was later Governor Iowa Territory, 1838-41
and died Feb.7, 1853, and is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City, Iowa.

Source: Ohio Bicentennial

Lucas County was originally part of Wood County, OH and Lenawee County, MI.
Today Lucas County's borders are   Wood Co., OH, (the Maumee River separates Wood Co. from Lucas Co.)   Ottawa Co., OH,   Fulton Co., OH,   Henry Co., OH,   Lenawee Co., MI  and   Monroe Co., MI.

In 1835 Michigan Territory appropriated funds supporting volunteers in fighting for the land we know today as Toledo, OH.   The "Toledo War", as the skurmish was better known, was intended to keep Toledo from becoming absorbed into the new state of Ohio.  Ultimately US Congress made the final decision on the state boundaries in June of 1936.  To smooth the ruffled feathers of the Michigan political arena and their citizens Congress compensated Michigan with the addition of the Upper Peninsula.  Toledo was the first county seat from 1835 to 1840 when it was changed to Maumee, OH., formerly known as South Toledo.  This was not a well-accepted move either and the Ohio General Assembly composed a referendum which put the decision of a county seat up to the people of Lucas County.  That vote returned the county seat to Toledo where it remains to this date.

Read the history of Toledo.  If you click on PDF on the left side of the screen at this history link, you can download the book to your computer or tablet.

The story of the "Ugly Duckling" that turns into a beautiful swan is well known to most. Lucas County's history is a wonderful comparison to this old story. Once an area of swamps and diseases, it evolved into an area that was so valuable that it caused an actual war to break out. The Toledo War was a dispute over whether Michigan or Ohio had rights to the narrow strip of land. Both had in their possession a map which showed that their state was the rightful owner. Ohio won and quickly organized Lucas County to tighten its claim of the area and secure jurisdiction. The newly appointed court felt a strong need to hold its first session and it did so in the middle of the night. That "night court" made Lucas County the only Ohio county that began its business at 2:00 A.M.

Of course, it was our ancestors that made this history and we search endlessly to find information about them or just plain find them! By viewing the links on this page, I hope that you know a little more about your Lucas County ancestors than you did prior to stopping by.

If you have any records, photos, biographies, obituaries of your ancestor, a link your personal genealogy website, or transcriptions that you would like to contribute to the various categories of this page, please email the Coordinator! A link to your preferred email address will display with your records, photos etc. Thank you in advance for sharing.

Contributions of data and look-ups are done voluntarily by fellow genealogists with big hearts. Please make it a habit to return the favor to someone else in in need of information from your area when an item that you have requested is found.
(Courtesy of Bill Oliver)

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