In the year 1994, a group of people within the county formed the Grant County Genealogical Society. All of these people had a common interest of researching their family history. The society is still very active today with Grant County and the U.S. with people having Grant County connections.

Many goals and projects have been achieved by this group. The cemeteries within the county have been walked and cemetery books published. These books are being updated. Marriage records have been researched and marriage books published. Fundraisers were held and a microfilm reader/printer purchased. This reader/printer has been housed at the county library in John Day. Members took part in the Civil War enactment at Camp Logan as well as the dedication and laying of a headstone in the Prairie City Cemetery for a Civil War veteran buried within the cemetery.

A group travels to Salt Lake City to do family research at the Family History Library. They have also taken classes or attended webinars to learn more to further their research. This past year, a speaker was brought into the county to hold a DNA workshop.

The group has a research library open to the public three days a week, which is housed in the old parsonage next to the historic church in John Day. The library contains book shelves full of books and materials to help people locate information to help them further their research. Members are available when the library is open to answer questions and help people visiting the library as best they can. Fundraisers are held throughout the year to pay the expenses for the library.

As this is the society’s 20th year, a historic cookbook has been published by the society which is for sale. This cookbook not only has recipes from many of the families in Grant County but the memories of the people who submitted the recipes. There are historic tidbits as well as old pictures from throughout the county. The society will also be celebrating their 20 years at their annual meeting to be held from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at the United Methodist Church in John Day. The public is welcome.

Jeannette Harrison is co-president and librarian of the Grant County Genealogical Society.