Ogemaw County, Michigan Genealogy

Guide to Ogemaw 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 an Anglicization of the Anishinaabemowin word ogimaa, meaning "chief". The County has West Branch as its seat and the County was created 1875. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth records from 1879, marriage records from 1887, death records from 1876, divorce and court records from 1902, naturalization records from 1876 and military records from 1919. Probate Court has probate records from 1873. Register of Deeds has land records from 1860.

Parent County
1840--Ogemaw County was created 1 April 1840 from unorganized territory. It was attached to Mackinac, Cheyboygan, and Iosco Counties prior to organization. Elminated 7 March 1867 to Iosco, and recreated 28 March 1873 from Iosco and organized 27 April 1875. County seat: West Branch

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
Alcona •  Arenac  •  Crawford  •  Gladwin  •  Iosco  •  Oscoda  •  Roscommon

Census
 State Census
 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Ogemaw 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 Ogemaw County.

Online Records
 * at FamilySearch — index
 * 1876-1945 - at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

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-- Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. Records include such information as name of child, birthdate and place, if still-born, illegitimate or twin, gender, race and record number.

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 -- Free name indexes at FamilySearch. Records include such information as names of bride and groom, date of license, ages, race, residences, birthplaces, occupations and names of the fathers of the bride and groom.

Death

 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1897 - Michigan Death Registrations, 1867-1897 -- Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch.   Records include such information as name of deceased, date and place of death, gender, color, marital status, age in years, months and days, disease or apparent cause of death, birthplace, names and occupations of parents, and the date the record was made.

Societies and Libraries

 * Rose City Area Historical Society PO Box 427 Rose City, MI 48654
 * Ogemaw County Genealogical and Historical Society/Museum 135 S. 2nd Street PO Box 734 West Branch, MI 48661 Phone: 989-701-2525 Website Facebook

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers


 * West Branch Michigan Family History Center 315 N Fairview Rd, West Branch, MI 48661 United States

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.
 * Ogemaw County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)
 * Ogemaw County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)