Kosciusko County, Indiana Genealogy

United States &gt; Indiana &gt; Kosciusko County

Parent County
1835--Kosciusko County was created 7 February 1835 from Elkhart and Cass Counties. County seat: Warsaw

==== Boundary Changes

Kosciusko County, Indiana was named for General Kosciusko who was instrumental in winning the Revolutionary War. In 1781, General Green had laid siege to Ninety Six, in South Carolina. It was in this siege that the Polish General Kosciusko, who had joined the Army, particularly distinguished himself; his conduct on this and as on all other occasions contributed to win the highest esteem of General Washington.

Thaddeus Koscusko, so greatly distinguished in the American Revolution, was born in Lithuania in 1755, of an ancient and noble family, and educated at the military school in Warsaw. His studies were completed in France. By the recommendation of Ben Franklin, he came to America, where Washington appointed him as one of his aids. He was appointed an engineer, with the rank of Colonel in October, 1779. He fortified the camp of general Gates, in his campaign against Burgoyne, and was afterwards sent to West Point, to erect the works there. He stood high in the esteem of both the American and French Officers. He was admitted a member of the Cincinnati, and received the thanks of Congress for his service. At the close of the Revolutionary War, he returned to his native country and was made a Major General under Punistowski. He fought several battles with great bravery, but all his efforts were destroyed by the miserable conduct of the Polish diet.

He was made Generalissimo in 1794 at the outbreak of a new Revolution. He conducted the war with great bravery until he was overpowered and made prisoner by the Russians. The Russians carried him to St. Petersburg and Catharine kept him in close confinement. He was released at the death of Catherine. He was given honors and offered employment in the Russian Service which he declined. The Russian Emperor presented him his own sword but Kosciusko stated, “I no longer need a sword, since I have no longer a country.”

He visited the United States in 1797 and received a grant from Congress for his services. The latter part of his life was spent in Switzerland, where he died in 1817.

Record Loss
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Neighboring Counties

 * Elkhart
 * Fulton
 * Marshall
 * Noble
 * Wabash
 * Whitley

Societies and Libraries
Kosciusko County Historical Sociey

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Family History Library Catalog