Ashland County Chapter Officers for 2025
Charlotte Elson – President
I was born and raised in California, and in 1973, moved to Nova, and graduated from
Mapleton in 1974. I had been given by my Great Aunt, Lydia Mae Garber, a three-page
letter with family history on it….And I have been hooked ever since.
I have learned through the years that Family History plays an important part of who we
are and where we came from. As the New President of this Chapter that is what I’d like to
expand on.
The Ashland Chapter is a very strong Chapter and we all love to find our families; and in
doing so, we find out that we are related to some of the Chapter members’ family.
I’d like to see more communication and thoughts between members so we can grow as a
Chapter and as individuals. I’d like to try and have a meeting with nothing in mind except
to get together and share what we have with one another. Some ideas that you have will
be better that what I have, and vice versa. Each of us might share websites and other
information including where it was found and how to access it. I have made a couple of my
own templates to write information on. Maybe you have the same idea in something you
have done.
**The picture is of myself, my mother (Jane Askey), and my great-grandson. Family is
everything.**
I’m looking forward to help discover your findings as well as mine.
Vacant, Vice President
Rebecca Plank, Recording Secretary
I have been serving with the ACCOGS for many years helping on various projects including publication inventory. I help at the Ohio Genealogical Society’s Annual Conference and serve as Secretary of the OGS Board.
My genealogy journey began with my paternal grandmother, Olga Mae FRANKS STUMP (1895-1972) who shared stories and pictures and took me to cemeteries. One of the first family reveals was learning that my great grandparents were first cousins.
Once I retired, one of my first tasks was completing my Lineage Applications thru the Ohio Genealogical Society. This is an interesting way to learn more about your family history. ACCOGS has Lineage Societies, also.
Some of the surnames I research are: FRANKS, ACHEMIRE, STUMP, and CASLOW.
Barb Hart, Corresponding Secretary
I served as the Ashland County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society Vice-President in 2010 and 2011 and President in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
I was born and raised in Ashland County, Ohio and am a 1955 graduate of Ashland High School where I was always more interested in history than other subjects.
I have been a proud factory worker for over 43 years. After an early retirement in 1996, I became interested in genealogy and was “addicted” quickly.
Now I faithfully record and write abstracts of the Ashland Times-Gazette newspaper obituaries daily and share them with the RB Hayes Library and Museum. Surnames I research are: HART, ROBERTS, SMITH, McCREADY, YEATER, and COFFMAN, for starters.
If you submit a research query to acogssec@gmail.com, I will be the one helping you.
Linda Fulk, Treasurer
I am a native and current resident of Ashland County. I graduated from Mapleton High School and, after attending business school for two years, worked in accounting for local industries for 46 years until retirement
This is my sixth year as Treasurer and I have volunteered over six years in the Genealogical Library of the Ashland County Public Library. I am a member of the Ohio Genealogical Society and enjoy visiting their facility in Bellville, Ohio, to do research.
I have been doing genealogical research for over eleven years. Ashland County ancestors I am researching are: WARNES, ETZWILER, HORN, BOLEY, FULK, and FERGUSON.
My maternal grandmother died when I was 12 years old. I did not know much about that side of her family so it has been exciting uncovering several of those relatives.
My husband, Charles Fulk, is from Savannah, Ohio. We have been married for 46 years. Charlie and I enjoy sleuthing at cemeteries to find relatives.
Ginny Feiber, Librarian
I am an Ashland County native and resident. I began doing genealogy in 2012 when I saw an advertisement in the Ashland Times-Gazette about a genealogy meeting for beginners at the Ashland Public Library. Some Ashland County surnames I am researching are WARNES, FEIBER, and McCONNELL. I enjoy researching, “It’s like putting together a puzzle.”
I served as a trustee for Ashland Chapter OGS from 2016-2018. In 2017 I volunteered to help in the genealogy library and am now a librarian.
I graduated from Mapleton High School and Wooster Business School. I worked for 49 years in accounting for two Ashland area businesses.
Terry Haun, Newsletter
My journey into Genealogy started when I was 19. It was mainly a solo journey until a few years ago, when my daughter and I began doing genealogy Mother-Daughter trips.
After retirement, I joined the Ashland Chapter of OGS. These days, genealogy is foremost on my mind. I love the “thrill of the hunt”, finding the “clues” and making sense of them.
Becoming the Newsletter Editor of our Chapter was a surprise. I started out offering to help type and became Editor in 2011. It has been quite an education in an area that I never thought I could accomplish.
My early Ohio ancestors were in Franklin, Fairfield, Perry, Holmes, Wayne and Coshocton Counties. My husband’s lines were Ashland, Holmes, and Wayne Counties. I was able to have my husband inducted in the Ashland Century Families Lineage Society for three of his ancestors and was able to induct five of my own ancestors into Allen County, Indiana Pioneers.
I am researching surnames: ALSPACH, BROWN, BUTLER, CRIDER, CRIST, DeVORE, EMRICK, FEIGHNER, FOGWELL, GARLITZ, GOOD, KYSER, NETTLETON, NICODEMUS, and REAM for my line. For my husband’s line, I am researching ADAMS, BROWN, DITCH, DOYLE, FINLEY, HAUN, KNEE, MARTIN, MUNDORF, McCORMICK, McCULLOCH, MYERS, PEIGHT, and SCOTT.
Barbara Renneker, Senior Trustee
I was born in Massillon, Stark County, Ohio. After graduating from Ashland College, I was hired to teach at Taft Elementary School in Ashland and retired after teaching 35 years in that building. During that time I met and married my husband Carl.
My dive into genealogy occurred in January 2017 after my mother received a phone call advising her that she might have mineral rights to a property in Belmont County, Ohio. While she knew that she had ancestors living there, she knew little else.
While my family has not become oil barons, I am still adding to the genealogical work my mother began in the 1980’s. On this journey, I have met many wonderful people who have shared a multitude of fascinating stories.
I have served as a Trustee of the Ashland County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society for the past 4 years.
Tom Neel, Intermediate Trustee
A New London, Huron County, Ohio native and resident, I began my genealogy venture in 1969 working on a Cub Scout project.
I enjoy the research part of genealogy and drafting any findings into a well-written story or timeline.
Ashland County surnames I am researching are: HUBLER, REED, RICHEY, TANNER, GROVE, PATTERSON, and NEEL.
I am the retired Director of the Ohio Genealogical Society (1984-2021) and have served in the Ashland Chapter OGS as: President (1985-1986, 1998-1999, 2015-2016), Vice President (1983-1984, 1994-1995), Recording Secretary (1989-1990), Corresponding Secretary (1987), Trustee (2013-2014, 2022-2023), and Pastfinder Editor (2003-2010).
Junior Trustee – Vacant
Ishu Sakthivel, Webmaster
I am currently a student at Ashland High School. I joined this society in 2022 when I learned about the Ashland Genealogical Society’s story and what it’s about. I decided to join this society and help them while learning about history.
I served as a member of this team and helped with tech issues etc…
In 2024, I became the Webmaster of the Ashland Genealogical Society.