Changes

The United States, from the start of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteen_Colonies American Colonies], has been and continues to be a melting pot.  People with diverse backgrounds flocked to the American Colonies and later the Unites States to seek sanctuary, freedom from religious and political persecution, those who chose to come to the colonies rather than spend time in jail, economic opportunities, or just simply opportunities for a new start.  People who call the United States home have a variety of backgrounds, especially those who have been here for many years.  You have the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_American European-Americans], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_American Asian-Americans], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American African-Americans], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_American Hispanic/Mexican-American], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_American Australian-Americans], etc.  Any one of these ethnic groups could be discussed in a separate book.

From the start of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteen_Colonies American Colonies], the United States has been and continues to be a melting pot.  People with diverse backgrounds flocked to the American Colonies and later the Unites States to seek sanctuary from religious and political persecution. Many came as an alternative to serving jail time in their home country. Others came seeking economic opportunities. Many simply traveled to the young country looking for opportunities for a fresh start.   

This page will briefly discuss the main ethnic groups often requested in our department: African-Americans, Native Americans, Europeans, and the growing Hispanic population. Much of the discussion is based on the following text:

Many of the early settlers of [[Wayne County, Ohio]] were of German, English, Scottish, and Irish descent. There were some small French settlements scattered in parts of the county. Later, Italians migrated to [[Wooster, Ohio]], particularly settling in what became known as "Little Italy". 

Szucs, Loretto Dennis and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking.  The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy.  Salt Lake City, UT: Ancestry, 1997.

Much of the general information included has been extracted from Szucs, Loretto Dennis and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking.  ''The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy''.  Salt Lake City, UT: Ancestry, 1997.

 

* “Tracking African American Family History.” Pages 575-586

“Tracking African American Family History.” Pages 575-586

* “Tracking Hispanic Family History.”  Pages 589-613

“Tracking Hispanic Family History.”  Pages 589-613

* “Tracking Native American Family History.” Pages 521-572

“Tracking Native American Family History.” Pages 521-572

* “Tracking Jewish-American Family History.”  Pages 615-626

“Tracking Jewish-American Family History.”  Pages 615-626

=== African-American ===

=== African-American ===

There is a story told among many of the African-Americans.  Wayne County, OH has been a rather elite community, not being very open to many outsiders, especially those of a different race.  The few blacks who did settle in the communities in [[Wayne County, Ohio]] had great respect among many of the whites and had a desire to stay on good terms with their white counterparts.  As a result, the few blacks in the area did encourage “riff-raff of their own kind” to continue moving through [[Wooster, Ohio|Wooster]] and the vicinity without stopping.  Another story told is that at one time there was a "black" only cemetery off of Portage Rd.  The now defunct (2020) Wayne County Cemetery Preservation Society had researched the story and was unable to verify it.

There is a story told among many of the African-Americans.  Wayne County, OH has been a rather elite community, not being very open to many outsiders, especially those of a different race.  The few blacks who did settle in the communities in [[Wayne County, Ohio]] had great respect among many of the whites and had a desire to stay on good terms with their white counterparts.  As a result, the few blacks in the area did encourage “riff-raff of their own kind” to continue moving through [[Wooster, Ohio|Wooster]] and the vicinity without stopping.  Another story told is that at one time there was a "black" only cemetery off of Portage Rd.  The now defunct (2020) Wayne County Cemetery Preservation Society had researched the story and was unable to verify it.

====Resources====

====Library Dept. Resources====

* Ohio-Wayne-African Americans

* Ohio-Wayne-African Americans

** One notebook not indexed

** One notebook not indexed

** Divided into 4 different sections: church, people, Underground railroad, and miscellaneous

** Divided into 4 different sections: church, people, Underground railroad, and miscellaneous

* [[Oral History Interview of Laura Jackson]]

* [[Oral History Interview of Laura Jackson]]

European research encompasses many faucets of research.  It is beyond the scope of this manual to discuss in great detail the many European settlers that have migrated to Wayne County, OH.  Some discussion is devoted in the chapter on migration that gives more detail to the various ethnic groups in Wayne County, OH.  Germans and Swiss were the most common ethnic groups.  Many of the Swiss families settled in the Kidron, Sugar Creek Township as well as Milton and Green Townships.  A number of these Swiss families were Amish “Anabaptist” Mennonites.  Many were from Bern Canton, Switzerland; Sonnenberg, Switzerland; and Alsace, France.  A more detailed account of these immigrants may be found in the book, Crosswinds: From Switzerland to Crown Hill by James O. Lehman.

European research encompasses many faucets of research.  It is beyond the scope of this manual to discuss in great detail the many European settlers that have migrated to Wayne County, OH.  Some discussion is devoted in the chapter on migration that gives more detail to the various ethnic groups in Wayne County, OH.  Germans and Swiss were the most common ethnic groups.  Many of the Swiss families settled in the Kidron, Sugar Creek Township as well as Milton and Green Townships.  A number of these Swiss families were Amish “Anabaptist” Mennonites.  Many were from Bern Canton, Switzerland; Sonnenberg, Switzerland; and Alsace, France.  A more detailed account of these immigrants may be found in the book, Crosswinds: From Switzerland to Crown Hill by James O. Lehman.

==== French ====

==== French ====