Step-by-Step Indiana Research, 1850-1900

Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.

What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
 * Fifty Questions for Family History Interviews What to Ask the Relatives
 * Genealogy: 150 questions to ask family members about their lives
 * Creating Oral Histories

What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.

Step 2: Search the 1900, 1880, 1870, 1860, and 1850 census records online.
A census is a count and description of the population of a country, state, county, or city for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day. For each person living in a household you might find (depending on the year) their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military.

Using the clues to lead to census record searches.
1900 census of Perry, Martin, Indiana

'''Studying the dates in this census gives clues to guide the next search. '''The 1890 census was destroyed. The next available census to search would be 1880. They would be about 22 years old and probably living in their parents' homes.'''
 * The nine children in the family were born between 1884 and 1899.
 * Patrick and Bridget Grannan had been married for 17 years, putting their marriage in about 1883.
 * Patrick and Bridget were both born in 1858.

1880 census of Reeve, Daviess, Indiana. '''This census shows Patrick in the home of his parents, Patrick and Phoebe Grannan. Now that the parents are identified, searches in the 1870, 1860, and 1850 censuses going back in time, and in the 1910, 1920, 1930, etc., later censuses to make sure all the children have been identified.''' -

Step 3: Try to find additional details about ancestors in obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records online.
There are additional record collections available, based upon a person's death: obituaries, cemetery records, and Social Security records. These are a great source for more details about a person. Here are some examples; notice the level of details.

Obituaries

 * Indiana Online Historical Newspapers
 * Indiana Newspaper Archives (1804–1992) at Genealogy Bank, index.
 * Hoosier State Chronicles, Indiana State Library
 * Indiana Obituary Archive. Index and Images.
 * Mennonite Church USA Archives: MennObits
 * Online Indiana Death Indexes and Obituaries
 * , index.

Cemeteries

 * Find-A-Grave.com
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current at Ancestry
 * Billion Graves
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * BillionGraves Index at Findmypast ($)
 * at FamilySearch How to Use This Collection
 * Cemetery Records at Indiana State Library Legacy
 * Indiana Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy
 * Indiana Cemeteries at The Cemetery Site
 * Indiana Cemetery Records at Interment
 * Indiana Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Transcription Project
 * Online Indiana Obituary and Cemetery Indexes at DeathIndexes
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection

U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

 * The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
 * The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
 * You can search these records online at
 * Also at Ancestry.com, ($), index.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.
 * The Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off, by providing information filed in the application or claims process.


 * If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.

For more information, see Indiana Obituaries and Indiana Cemeteries.

Step 4: Find birth, marriage, and death certificates for your ancestors and their children.
States, counties, or (even towns in some states) recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
 * In addition to the child's name, birth date, and place of birth, a birth certificate may give the birthplaces of the parents, their ages, and occupations.
 * A marriage certificate might list the parents of the bride and groom.
 * A death certificate may give the person's birth date and place, parents' names and birthplaces, and spouse's name.

Using the census clues to lead to a birth certificate.
Census information gives approximate birth years and probable birth places, and that information leads to finding important birth records. In addition to basic birth date and place, a birth certificate can give age, birthplace, occupation, etc. about the parents.

Example of a birth index entry.

Using census clues to lead to a marriage certificate.
Finding marriage records can:
 * establish the full identity of the wife, with her maiden name and possible birth details.
 * find the names of the parents of the bride and groom.

Example of a marriage index entry.

Using census clues to lead to a death certificate.
Moving forward in time, older generations stop showing up in the census. That is a clue that they probably died in the last 10 years. The death certificate is important because of all the possible secondary data beyond just the date and place of death: '''Example of a death index entry and the original record it links to. "Granban" is an indexing error. The original record shows Grannan.''' 'The examples shown above are index entries''. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists'''. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate.
 * birth date and place of the deceased
 * maiden name of the wife
 * names of the deceased's parents
 * birth places of the deceased's parents.

Online databases

 * This chart gives links to some Indiana online databases for these records. These are indexes of records.  Frequently, the actual record will give greater detail.

Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Indiana Counties.

Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information. Although these records were created during the two World Wars, the men in them were often born before 1900, and their birth date and place can be found in them. - Example of a World War I draft card. - Example of a World War II draft card.



Draft Cards

 * , index and images.
 * , index and images.

For more information and additional collections, see Indiana Military Records.

Step 6: Write to a county for wills and probate indexes.

 * County probate records include '''probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
 * In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
 * Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.



Search these indexes and images for probate records.

 * United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search: Indiana
 * 1798 – 1999 Indiana Wills and Probate Records 1798-1999 at Ancestry — index and images $

Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each Indiana county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Indiana Counties

Step 7: Look for land records online.

 * These records will give the name of the owner, the date they obtained the land, the county, and the exact location of the land. They can contain clues to family members who shared ownership of the land, sold or gave land to a child, or witnessed the sale. Sometimes they show the previous or new residence of the parties to the deed. They can be useful in tracking an ancestor who lived in more than one county in Indiana. Then the probate and vital records of each county could be searched.
 * Images only.
 * Search the Indiana Donation Database
 * Bureau of Land Management and General Land Office Land Patent Search, 1788to 1960's.
 * Hoosier Homestead Award recognizes farms that have been owned by the same family for one hundred years or more.
 * General Land Office Index, database created by the Archaeological Resources Management Service, Department of Anthropology, Ball State University.


 * A search of the Bureau of Land Management records gives results like this:



Step 8: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records. Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
 * An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
 * Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
 * Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.



Search for church records that can provide additional birth, marriage, and death information.

 * Church records found in State of Indiana, Daughters of the American Revolution
 * 1743-1966 Indiana, Church Records, 1743-1966, index, and some images. Incomplete.
 * 1773-1933 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: American Ancestors ($), Findmypast ($), MyHeritage ($) *1780-1992, indes. - How to Use this Collection

Dutch Reformed

 * U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970, index & images ($). Incomplete.
 * U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970, index & images ($). Incomplete.

Lutheran

 * 1781-1969 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969, index and images, incomplete.($)

Methodist

 * 1837-1970 Indiana, United Methodist Church Records, 1837-1970, index & images ($) Card index to memoirs of Methodist ministers

Presbyterian

 * U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970, index & images ($). Incomplete.

Quaker

 * Abstracts of the records of the Society of Friends in Indiana
 * 1681-1935 U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, index & images ($). Incomplete.
 * 1836-1921 Indiana, Selected Quaker Meeting Directories, 1836-1921 ($), index/images.


 * For help with church records kept in Indiana, see Indiana Church Records.
 * To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.

Step 9: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.



Indiana Immigration Records

 * United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records
 * 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at MyHeritage; index & images ($); includes those with Destination of Indiana
 * 1945-1956 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Indiana Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records

 * United States Naturalization and Citizenship Online Genealogy Records
 * Indexes only.
 * Indiana, Federal Naturalization Records, 1892-1992, index & images ($).
 * Indiana Archives Digital Index Records
 * Naturalization Records at the Indiana State Archives
 * Naturalization Records at Indiana History.org
 * U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes for Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, 1791-1992 Index ($)
 * Indiana Digital Archives Naturalizations Search Engine Index and some images.
 * 1944-2003 U.S., Index to Alien Case Files, 1944-2003 at Ancestry — index ($)

For more information, see Indiana Emigration and Immigration and Indiana Naturalization and Citizenship.

Local Histories

 * Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
 * Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Indiana; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
 * Google Books. Use keywords "Indiana" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
 * Family History Books
 * Internet Archive.Use keywords "Indiana" and the county name.
 * Ancestry.com, ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Indiana and the name of the county.

FamilySearch Collected Local Histories

 * Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
 * If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
 * Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
 * In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
 * A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.

Biography Collections
These collections of Indiana biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or you can use the "Find" function on your computer.
 * County and Town Histories
 * Indiana Biography Index Pre-1990.
 * Indiana Biographies
 * Men of Indiana in nineteen hundred and one, e-book
 * Encyclopedia of biography of Indiana,1899. e-book
 * Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, 1896, e-book
 * Who's Hoosier, vol. 1-2, 1911, e-book
 * Indiana today. 1942, e-book
 * An illustrated history of the state of Indiana ... together with biographical sketches, 1875, e-book
 * Men of progress, Indiana : a selected list of biographical sketches.....1899, e-book
 * Biographical and historical sketches of early Indiana Biographical and historical sketches of early Indiana, 1883, e-book

Step 11: Contact a county historical or genealogical society.

 * County historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
 * Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
 * Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the county.
 * Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.


 * If you can find the society on the internet, they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, you can hire one of their members to search the collection for you.

This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county. Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Note: some Indiana counties are so sparsely populated that they do not have the population to support a society.

Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society. Notice that it gives details on how to pay for searching services.



'''Step 12: If your family was African American, also search these specialized collections.
If your family was African American, they are generally recorded in all the above records. However, there are a few specialized records pertaining directly to African Americans.
 * Indiana's African American Settlements, 1817-1930.
 * Individuals Associated with Indiana’s African-American Settlements (1817-1930)

Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Indiana, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Indiana, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Indiana Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in Indiana Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Indiana Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * Indiana Online Genealogy Records

Step 14: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Indiana.
This article focused more on Indiana state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Indiana. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.