Welcome to Clermont County Genealogical Society
2026 Young Writers Competition: America 250
2026 Young Writers Competition: America 250 – Our Revolutionary Ancestors
Our Young Writers Competition is a creative writing contest for teens and children of Clermont County. By sponsoring this competition, we hope to encourage teens and children to think and learn about both history and genealogy. To participate, entrants will write an original, creative piece reflecting on the topic and submit it to CCGS via email.
Topic
The Revolutionary War was not just fought by soldiers on battlefields. It was a "civil war" fought in the hearts and homes of ordinary people. Between 1775 and 1783, the colonies were chaotic and dangerous, communities were deeply divided, and the future was uncertain.
Imagine that one of your ancestors was alive and lived in the colonies during this turbulent time. Create their biographical story about their life and experiences during this time. To share their story, consider:
- Who is your ancestor? Give them a name, a job, and a home.
- What side did they choose? Describe the difficult choice they had to make. Were they Patriots, Loyalists to the king, or did they try to remain neutral?
- What happened as a result of their choice? Were there struggles for money or safety? What did they do for the war effort? What effect did their choice have on them and their family?
Competition Structure and Eligibility
The contest is open to Clermont County residents. It is split into 3 age groups with the maximum lengths listed below. Participant age is at the start of the contest, May 1st , 2026.
- Older Teens: 15–18 years, 1,000 word maximum
- Pre- and Early Teens: 11–14 years, 750 word maximum
- Children: 10 years and under, 500 word maximum
Competition Rules
Submissions
Submissions will be accepted from May 1st , 2026, through May 31st , 2026. Entries must be original to the applicant. AI checkers will be used; entries found to be majority AI will be disqualified. One entry per person is allowed. Email submissions as a Word or PDF file to programs@ccgsoh.org. Make the subject line “CCGS Writing Competition”. Files should be double-spaced, in 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font. Make sure to include in the email the applicant’s name, age, address, and phone number, as well as a creative title for the writing.
Grading
Entries will be read by a volunteer panel of 3 to 5 people and graded using a standardized rubric. The highest-scoring entry in each group will win.
Prize and Publication
The winner from each group will receive $100. Winners will be contacted via the phone number provided on July 4th.
Winners must be able to meet at one of the Clermont County Public Library branches to receive their prize and have their photos taken. The winning entries may be featured in any of our publications, including our website, social media, and newsletter, as well as local newspapers.
Email questions to Brenda Barret at programs@ccgsoh.org.
Submitted by Brenda Barrett, Young Writers Competition Committee Chair
Disclaimer: Submission of an entry acknowledges the competition rules aforementioned and grants the Clermont County Genealogical Society, Inc. permission to use your likeness in a photograph or other digital media in any and all of its publications, including web-based publications, without pay or consideration beyond the prize money awarded. All submissions become the property of the Clermont County Genealogical Society, Inc. and will not be returned.
Remembering Clermont’s Patriots
Scores of Clermont County’s early pioneers and settlers also served in America’s Revolutionary War (1775-1783). An 1802 Northwest Territory census of Clermont County includes nearly fifty of those Patriots’ names. As our county grew, so did the number of Patriot settlers and their families. Many of them later told their stories in their pension affidavits given in our courts. We can also find their names on Revolutionary War era Continental muster rolls and local militia and tax lists in the colonies where they served. There are currently profiles for over 150 of those Patriots on our website in our virtual memorial, found here. Most of their graves can no longer be located and many of the inscriptions on those which can have weathered away over the past two centuries. To honor our Patriots and in celebration of America 250, CCGS will be installing a granite memorial this fall at Veterans Memorial Park. Many thanks to Union Township! Our memorial monument to Clermont’s Patriots will be unique in our county, and will be available for Clermont Countians to enjoy for generations to come. CCGS has received a grant for part of the cost of this project from the Duke Energy Foundation, and is raising funds to cover the rest. To support this project with a donation or pledge, donate/pledge online or send a check to:
Patriot Project
Clermont County Genealogical Society, Inc.
PO Box 394
Batavia, OH 45103
Submitted by Paige Craig, CCGS President
The CCGS Library
Clermont County Genealogical Society Library Collections are held in a designated area within the Doris Wood Branch of the Clermont County Public Library (CCPL) in Batavia. The Collections are available during CCPL regular hours and must be used within the library. The collections continue to grow through donated gifts and an occasional purchase by the Society. CCGS reference books and microfilms available to researchers can be found by searching the Clermont County Public Library’s online catalog.
CCGS has created an online catalog of donated family history notebooks and file items that are found on the shelves and in the file cabinets at the library. Entry of the notebooks is complete, but entry of the file folders is still in progress; volunteers have completed letters A through R. Search the catalog, Library-Physical Resource.
This brief list includes some topics from both CCGS and CCPL genealogical resources at the
Batavia Library:
- Books and specialized indexes with a Clermont County emphasis
- wills, estates, guardianships, marriages, births, deaths, deeds, court records, military, cemeteries, census, maps
- Ohio and related states genealogical and historical books
- Genealogical Reference Books on standards, resources, methodology
- Migration, Immigration, Emigration
- Family History surname Notebooks
- Family File surname Files
- Obituary Card Files
- Clermont County Newspapers (Microfilm from 1814 to present)
The library has available for use:
- Microfilm Reader-Printer
- Photocopier
- Computers
If time permits CCPL Librarians in Batavia may answer in person requests, while you wait.
To contact the CCGS Librarian, use our online request form on our contact information page.
Cemetery & Obituary Records
We have many cemetery & obituary records important to researchers.
Search our Cemeteries and Obituaries databases by going to Research Resources and clicking on Cemeteries or Obituaries.
We now have 45,440 burials from 201 Clermont cemeteries on our website. Thanks to the Cemetery Committee Volunteers, Pat Dudek, Alyssa Dugan, and Mark Peterson, Chair, for continuously adding to this collection.
As of 10 April, 2026 there are 30,114 obituaries.
Thanks to Kathy Payne Chair, Stacie Ishmael, and Pat Dudek. Their progress is amazing! Kathy estimates the project is over 90% complete.
Let us know if you find any broken links or data which you believe may be incorrect by emailing webmaster@ccgsoh.org. CCGS Store
Check out our Store
You will find some great resources like Clermont County, Ohio 1980, A Collection of Genealogical and Historical Writings Volume One, containing original family histories and photos contributed by past CCGS members
Kroger Community Rewards
Please show your support for CCGS by signing up for Kroger Community Rewards today. Sign up and designate Clermont County Genealogical Society as your charity and Kroger will make a Quarterly donation to CCGS based on what you spend when shopping at Kroger. It costs nothing to sign up and it does not take away any of your fuel points.
Visit https://www.kroger.com/communityrewards today!
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May 4
214 Years of Steamboats on the Ohio
Presenter: Cindy Johnson, Clermont County Genealogical Society board member & Clermont County Historical Society secretary A slideshow with many photos that help tell the history of steamboats with Clermont County connections. We will learn about some steamboat captains, some major disasters, showboats and the Delta Queen. Come ...
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June 6
CCGS Board Meeting
If you would like to attend, please contact us by the day before the meeting at info@ccgsoh.org or by calling (513) 723-3423, so we can email an invitation.
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June 6
Finding Hidden Treasures Using Full-Text Search on Family Search
Presenter: Dana Palmer, CG(R), CGL(R) Program: “Finding Hidden Treasures Using Full-Text Search on FamilySearch” Learn how to find hidden “treasures” using Full-Text Search on FamilySearch. It’s a game changer! This presentation focuses on how to effectively find records using Full-Text Search on FamilySearch. Discussion will include navigating the ...
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July 4
Happy 4th of July Weekend!
No meeting on July 4. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.
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July 11
Clermont Museum Day
Visit the Batavia Branch Library to discover more about local history or your own family history. Volunteers from CCGS will be available whether you want to see what books, maps, and photos in our collection showcase Clermont history or to learn how to get started on your genealogy.
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August 1
CCGS Board Meeting
If you would like to attend, please contact us by the day before the meeting at info@ccgsoh.org or by calling (513) 723-3423, so we can email an invitation.
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