Onondaga County Histories and Directories

This collection contains histories and directories of Onondaga County, New York. These volumes provide crucial historical context that can help researchers uncover more records and develop a deeper understanding of their Onondaga County ancestors. 

The volumes in this collection also contain genealogical and biographical information—apart from the names listed in the directories, many of the histories include biographical sketches, lists of county officers, and other details of the people that lived in the county.  

Searches entered from this page will query all volumes in the collection. Read below for detailed information on the contents of each volume and waypoint links.

Collection Category: County Histories|Collection Type: OCR|Location: Onondaga County

From a Forest to a City: Personal Reminiscences of Syracuse, N.Y. 

This volume contains a history of the City of Syracuse from its foundation through the 1800s, as well as personal sketches of early settlers and descriptions of people’s homes.

Reading how Syracuse became an integral part of New York’s economy gives researchers a perspective on how their ancestors witnessed their ever-changing city and world. The author of this book, M.C. Hands, was one of the people who witnessed the many changes that Syracuse underwent during his lifetime. Through his eyes, readers can see what their ancestors saw.

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This book was written by M.C. Hands and published by Maters & Stone Printers in 1889. 

Revolutionary Soldiers Resident or Dying in Onondaga County, N.Y.; With Supplementary List of Possible Veterans 

This volume contains the names of veterans of the Revolutionary War from Onondaga County. Researchers will find this useful because names are organized by town and it includes information about where veterans were buried, what their role was during the war, and information about their families. 

Use the waypoint links below to jump to a specific section:

Click here to go to index.

This book was compiled by W.M. Beauchamp and published by the Onondaga Historical Association in 1913. 

Gazetteer and Business Directory of Onondaga County, N.Y., for 1868–9 

This volume is a gazetteer and business directory for 1868–1869. The full volume covers Onondaga County. 

Researchers will find business listings, information related to local history, advertisements, and other short articles.

Information on businesses and their owners can provide direct material related to ancestors, and the local history and general business information can help researchers locate additional records and form a deeper understanding of the world of ancestors who lived in Onondaga County during this time period. 

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This book was compiled and published by Hamilton Child in 1868. 

History of Onondaga County, New York with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers 

This volume can help researchers and historians interested in Onondaga County. Like many of the counties of New York, Onondaga County has a complicated history that involves interactions between European settlers and Native American tribes, which is covered here. Also included are crucial details about the establishment of the many towns and villages throughout the county.   

Use the waypoint links below to jump to a specific section, or to get an overview of what can be found: 

This volume was edited by W.W. Clayton and published by D. Mason & Co. Publishers in 1878. 

Pioneer Irish of Onondaga (about 1776–1847) 

This volume contains information about the early Irish settlers of Onondaga County. This is an important piece because it mostly covers the Irish that migrated to the United States well before the potato famine in Ireland in the mid 1800s. This volume contains biographical sketches for some Irish people of Onondaga County. It is organized by town. 

Information includes: 

  • First and Surnames 
  • Occupation 
  • Person’s family history 
  • Person’s contribution to society 
  • Meaning and significance of names 
  • Bibliography and citations for each entry 

Use the waypoint links below to jump to a specific section:

Click here to go to the index.

This volume was written by Theresa Bannan and published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in 1911. 

Mortuary Records with Genealogical Notes of the Town of Spafford, Onondaga County, New York 

This volume contains information about deceased residents that were buried in cemeteries that were in poor condition in the 1910s. This covers cemeteries in places in the town of Spafford in Onondaga County.

Some of the cemeteries in this area were abandoned in 1917, making this volume valuable for researchers finding information on ancestors from Spafford. This volume is organized by surname. There is an index at the end of the book. 

Use the waypoint links below to jump to a specific section: 

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y

Click here to go to the index.

This volume was written by George Knapp Collins and published by Onondaga Historical Association in 1917. 

 
Suggested citations for this collection: 

New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, “Onondaga County Histories and Directories” digital images, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, (www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org), 2021.