St. Joseph County, Michigan Genealogy

Guide to St. Joseph County, Michigan ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. 

Description
The County was named for St. Joseph. The County is located in the east area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1867, marriage records from 1832, divorce and court records from 1900 and naturalization records. Probate Court has probate records. Register of Deeds has land records.

Parent County
1829--St. Joseph County was created 29 October 1829 from unorganized territory. County seat: Centreville

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Michigan county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Michigan County Boundary Maps" (1790-1897) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Neighboring Counties
Branch •  Calhoun  •  Cass  •  Elkhart County, Indiana  •  Kalamazoo  •  Lagrange County, Indiana  •  Van Buren

Biographies

 * St. Joseph County Biographies. MiGenWeb Project

Cemeteries
Mottville Township:


 * Mennonite Cemetery
 * Mottville Township Cemetery

Park Township:


 * Center Park Cemetery
 * Moorepark Road North Park or Mint Cemetery
 * Moorepark Cemetery
 * Parkville Cemetery
 * South Park Cemetery

Census
Federal Census
 * 1830 Census - 1830 Census of Michigan: St. Joseph County. MiGenWeb Project
 * 1845 Census - 1845 St. Joseph County Census/ MiGenWeb Project
 * 1850 Census - 1850 Census St. Joseph County. MiGenWeb Project
 * 1850 Census - 1850 Burr Oak Township Census. MiGenWeb Project

State Census
 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1894 - 1894 State Census Index, St. Joseph County. MiGenWeb Project

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index
 * St. Joseph County Churches. MiGenWeb Project

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Local Histories

 * The Portrait and biographical album of St. Joseph County, Michigan is a 606 page history of St. Joseph County that was published by Chapman brothers in 1889. The book was digitized February 11, 2008 and made available on Google Books.

Maps

 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

Military

 * Veteran Index WWII to 2001. MiGenWeb Project Read explanation at top.

Civil War
Civil War service men from St. Joseph County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from St. Joseph County.


 * - 17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Company C

Online Records
 * at FamilySearch — index
 * Civil War Vets. MiGenWeb Project
 * Civil War Veterans' Biographies. MiGenWeb Project
 * 1876-1945 - at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1837-1993 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * St Joseph County Newspapers. MiGenWeb Project

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1784 – 1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1797 – 1973 at FamilySearch — images

Vital Records

 * How to order Michigan Vital Records

Birth

 * 1867-1917 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1902 - Michigan Birth Registrations, 1867-1902 at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriage

 * 1585-1945 - Michigan, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1820-1937 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1820-1940 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1868-1925 - Michigan Marriage Registrations, 1868-1925 at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1897 - Michigan Death Registrations, 1867-1897 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Michigan Death Record Search for periods 1867-2008, and 1993-current. A free index to deaths that occurred in St. Joseph county, Michigan is available at the County Clerk's death records web site.
 * St. Joseph County Death Indexes. MiGenWeb Project

Societies and Libraries
Colon Historical Society Blackstone Ave. Colon 49040 Website

Governor Barry Historical Society 340 Florence Constantine 49042

Tri-state Genealogical Society c/o Sturgis Public 130 N. Nottawa St. Sturgis MI 49091 Telephone Number: 616-651-3597

St. Joseph County Genealogical Society PO Box 486 White Pigeon, MI 49099-9734 Website Committee will provide one hour of local research for $10.00. Please include a pedigree chart, a stamped self-addressed envelope, along with your check or money order made out to SJCGS

St. Joseph County Historical Society PO Box 492 Centreville, MI 49093 Telephone Number:616-496-5695


 * List of Michigan Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Libraries:

Family History Centers:

 * Introduction to Family History Centers


 * Sturgis Michigan Family History Center 1111 Galyn St, Sturgis, MI 49091 United States

Societies


 * St. Joseph County Genealogical Society
 * Tri-State Genealogical Society

Websites

 * Michigan Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * St Joseph County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * St Joseph County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)