Perry County, Indiana Genealogy

Guide to Perry County, Indiana ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records. 

Historical Facts

 * Parent Counties: Formed 7 September 1814 from Warrick and Gibson Counties.
 * County Seat:  Tell City

Description
The county was named in honor of the gallant Commodore Oliver H. Perry. The County Seat is Tell City and was founded 1814. It is located in the South Central area of the state.

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
Crawford •  Dubois  •  Spencer  •  Hancock  •  Breckinridge  •  Meade

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Indiana County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Indiana County Boundary Maps" (1790-1873) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

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

Biographies

 * All of the family biographies from the 1885 History of Perry County, Indiana by Goodspeed are available free online on My Genealogy Hound

Census Records

 * Index to Defective, Dependent &amp; Delinquent Census for Perry County, Indiana (1880) (members only database, Indiana Genealogical Society)

Directories

 * Directory of Businesses in Perry County, Indiana (1868) (members only database, Indiana Genealogical Society)

Local Histories

 * History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana, from the earliest time to the present; together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. (1973. Evansville, Ind: Unigraphic.) FHL US/CAN Film 934922 Item 4,, Other Libraries, Internet Archive

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Indiana

Military Records

 * African American Veterans in Perry County, Indiana (1890) (members only database, Indiana Genealogical Society)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Perry County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Perry County.


 * 1st Regiment, Indiana Heavy Artillery, Company A
 * 9th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company B
 * 13th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company L
 * 26th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
 * 35th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company D
 * 38th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company K
 * 49th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company E
 * 81st Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies G, and K
 * 93rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company G
 * 144th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company I
 * 28th US Colored Troops, Addition Recruits for Colored Troops

Civil War Books

 * "Military History" Chapter 7 in History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana, from the earliest time to the present; together with interesting biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. (1973. Evansville, Ind: Unigraphic.)(page 685-710),FHL US/CAN Film 934922 Item 4,, Other Libraries, Internet Archive

World War I

 * 1919 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
Tell City, Perry County Public Library Newspaper Obituaries - online searchable form

Occupations

 * Roster of Civilian Conservation Corps, Tell City (1938) ($, Indiana Genealogical Society)

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1798 – 1999 Indiana Wills and Probate Records 1798-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

School Records

 * Directory of Teachers for Perry County (1936) ($, Indiana Genealogical Society)

County Courthouse
Perry County Courthouse 2219 Payne Street Tell City, IN 47586 Phone: 812.547.3741

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1813. County Recorder has land records from 1813. County Health Department has birth and death records from 1890.

Family History Centers

 * Owensboro Kentucky Family History Center

For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the family history center directory.

Libraries
Tell City-Perry County Public Library 2328 Tell Street Tell City, IN Has large collection, including online obituaries from December 1999

Cannelton Public Library: Has some items related to Cannelton, including High School yearbooks.

Societies
Southern Indiana Genealogical Society PO Box 665 New Albany, IN 47151 Website

Perry County Historical Society PO Box 728 Tell City, IN 47586 E-mail: [mailto:mlress@att.net mlress@att.net]

Perry County Historical Society 538 11th St Tell City, IN 47586

Marriage Records

 * 1800s-2007 - Indiana, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $


 * 1780-1992 - FamilySearch


 * 1802-1892 Indiana Marriages, 1802-1892 - Ancestry.com $


 * 1811-2007 at FamilySearch — index and images

Death Records

 * 1882-1920 at FamilySearch Historical Records - Index only
 * 1899-2011 Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 at Ancestry - ($), index and images
 * Indiana State Digital Archives

Websites

 * Perry County INGenWeb
 * Perry County, Indiana Genealogy, History and Facts
 * Indiana Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Indiana Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb, Perry County
 * , Perry County
 * Perry County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)