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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 ===

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

|-

|-

|+Summary Chart of Blacks and Mulattos in Wayne County, OH 1820-1940

|+Summary Chart of Blacks and Mulattos in Wayne County, OH 1820-1950

|-

|-

! U.S. Census Year||Number of Colored/Black||Number of Mulatto||Total Number

! U.S. Census Year||Number of Colored/Black||Number of Mulatto||Total Number

||[[Blacks in 1940|1940]]||373||Not specified||373

||[[Blacks in 1940|1940]]||373||Not specified||373

|-

|-

|}

|}

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]]

*** Amish-Mennonite Marriage Register for Stark Co, OH 1808-1920

*** Amish-Mennonite Marriage Register for Stark Co, OH 1808-1920

*** “Berks County, Pennsylvania, Amish Yoder Heritage Tour: National Yoder Reunion” published on July 20, 2001

*** “Berks County, Pennsylvania, Amish Yoder Heritage Tour: National Yoder Reunion” published on July 20, 2001

*** Index to newspaper articles on the Amish (3 sections: The Amish, Education, Shunning); index includes the newspaper, date of newspaper, and article name

*** Index to newspaper articles on the Amish (3 sections: The Amish, Educational Services, Shunning); index includes the newspaper, date of newspaper, and article name

=== Native American ===

=== Native American ===

Intermarriages of Native Americans and white settlers were quite common at times.  This was most common when the frontier had few white families and there were reasonably peaceful relations between indigenous peoples and colonizers.  Other times the indigenous society may have welcomed the white person, often when the individual was a government agent, trader, minister, schoolteacher, or a craftsman employed to teach blacksmithing or weaving.  Often times, it would take 2-3 successive generations of cross-cultural marriages before someone of indigenous background could live a regular life among the whites.  Marriages between blacks and Native Americans were common as well and were acceptable, especially in Northwestern Ohio where there was an established Presbyterian Mission for the conversion of the Native Americans to Christianity.  Many records do exist on those affiliated with and converted by this Presbyterian Mission.  Other records may include narratives written by missionaries, trappers, fur traders, and government agents. These records are not easily indexed and can be very time consuming to read through.   

Intermarriages of Native Americans and white settlers were quite common at times.  This was most common when the frontier had few white families and there were reasonably peaceful relations between indigenous peoples and colonizers.  Other times the indigenous society may have welcomed the white person, often when the individual was a government agent, trader, minister, schoolteacher, or a craftsman employed to teach blacksmithing or weaving.  Often times, it would take 2-3 successive generations of cross-cultural marriages before someone of indigenous background could live a regular life among the whites.  Marriages between blacks and Native Americans were common as well and were acceptable, especially in Northwestern Ohio where there was an established Presbyterian Mission for the conversion of the Native Americans to Christianity.  Many records do exist on those affiliated with and converted by this Presbyterian Mission.  Other records may include narratives written by missionaries, trappers, fur traders, and government agents. These records are not easily indexed and can be very time consuming to read through.   

====Additional Resources & Native American External Links====

====Additional Resources & Native American External Links====

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 ====

Present day Jewish research is of greater importance.  There are many Jewish Societies in existence, all under the umbrella group, “the Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.” These societies publish newsletters, hold annual conferences, and offer workshops on tracing Jewish-American ancestry.

Present day Jewish research is of greater importance.  There are many Jewish Societies in existence, all under the umbrella group, “the Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.” These societies publish newsletters, hold annual conferences, and offer workshops on tracing Jewish-American ancestry.

[[Category:Topics in genealogy]]

 

** Landis J. Toyoda, Jap, 1, born in California, son of Donald H. Toyoda

[[Category:Ethnicity]]

[[Category:Ethnicity]]

[[Category:Immigration and ethnicity]]

[[Category:Immigration and ethnicity]]

[[Category:Topics in genealogy]]

[[Category:Topics in genealogy]]