Ohio River Valley Families
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Before sending email to me, please review these FAQs

• Question: I tried my rootsweb.com and ancestry.com Username and Password and they don't work here. Help!
• Answer: The orvf.com database is separate from any others. Please click here.

• Question: A box appears that asks for my Username and Password.  How do I get access to your database?
• Answer: You can find the information you need to start exploring the database here.

• Question: Why have you switched over to Subscriptions when it used to be free?
• Answer: The cost of maintaining the database has increased significantly over the past 5 years.  I out-source the data entry and am required to lease a more sophisticated server that can handle cgi-bin (programming) routines and over 155 megabytes of webspace.  Basically, my costs are rising, but I have tried to keep the subscription rates as low as possible.  I personally subscribe to other on-line genealogy services as well as newsletters and magazines.... I help them with a little money and they help me with my research.

• Question: I couldn't find my family in your database and need to track down my long lost relative. Now what?
• Answer: I might be able to help you. Click here.

• Question: What area does the your database cover?
• Answer: Even though the website is titled Ohio River Valley Families, the database has information from individuals throughout the world. Individuals are only added to the database if they are related by blood lines or marriages to those already in the existing ORVF database.

• Question: Do you have any information on the ?????? family who lived in the Ohio River Valley area?
• Answer: All of the information I have is on the website. However, I might be able to help you. Click here.

• Question: My ?????? family lived in the Ohio Valley area, why don't you list them?
• Answer: The ORVF project grew out of a book titled Ohio River Valley Families which I published in 1995. It documented my family as well as my wife's and was initially printed for my children and immediate family. Since then, the database has grown but only includes related families, either by blood lines or marriage. To keep the project manageable, server space at a minimum and the data as accurate as possible, I do not accept additions without the submitter having a common individual in their database compared to the ORVF database. If your family is not listed on this site, I urge you to publish your own website and help others in their research.
  
  
• Question: Can I get a copy of your original Ohio River Valley Families book?
• Answer: Yes, order direct from my publisher Higginson Books: OHIO RIVER VALLEY FAMILIES [Distler, Morris, MacDonald, Hobbs, Koehler, Vogl, Goessl, Garreis, Allison, Douglas, Stephenson, Rennard, Keith, Jones, Rand, Pate, Hopkins]  By Allen David Distler.  358p., softcover.  1995.  2001. $55.00  ALSO AVAILABLE IN HARDCOVER: $67.00