Research Trip to Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence, Missouri

This weekend will be my first visit to this library. I have always wanted to do some research there but never had the opportunity.  I asked for some advice from a distant cousin who has made many research trips to this library.  Her advice for first timers was to use the book collection.  For my initiation into the world of library research I am going to focus on Ohio.  Specifically, Washington county and vicinity.  This is the location for my brickwall on the Louthan surname.  To prepare for this trip, I found some forms on their website, one of which I will utilize, the Research Log.  I will enter information into this document of what I already have so I will be able to determine in which direction my research needs to lead me.  I will search their catalog and compile a list of books I want to research.  I have several extended lines from Washington County, OH.  It will be difficult to stay focused on just Louthan.
 
Here is what I know:

• Hiram Louthan was enumerated in the 1840 census in Columbiana county.
• His wife, Harriet Louthan, married William Ormiston in 1846 in Washington county.

That narrows down my search time frame.   I need to do a narrow search so I can maximize my results and not feel like I wasted a trip.  I know that no matter what, there would be a probate record following his death.  I have conducted an extensive amount of research on him in the last 30 years via letters in the beginning and then later online.  It seems to me the records I was able to access back then are the same ones I can find online today.  I really hope to find more in this library's collection.  

In the 1840 census, Hiram was a blacksmith.  He owned a town lot and paid taxes on it in Columbiana county, OH prior to the 1840 census.  I haven't been able to locate him in any tax lists after 1840.  

I am excited to go on this research trip!  As always, love the hunt!