Ottawa County, Michigan Genealogy

Guide to Ottawa 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 Ottawa Nation. The County has Grand Haven as its seat and the County was created 1837. The County is located in the southwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1867, marriage and court records from 1847 and divorce records from 1863.

Parent County
1831--Ottawa County was created 2 March 1831 from Mackinac County and unorganized territory. It was attached to Kent County prior to organization 29 December 1837. County seat: Grand Haven

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
Allegan •  Kent  •  Muskegon

Censuses
1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Federal Censuses for Ottawa, Michigan can be found at FamilySearch Record Search. Free searchable name indexes and images are available for most census years.

Census
 State Census
 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index
 * Ottawa County Michigan Church Directory: A listing of some of the different churches in Ottawa.

First Presbyterian Church

 * The seventy-fifth anniversary of the Organization of the First Presbyterian Church of Spring Lake, Michigan, Rev. A. Meengs, Minister / 1928 at babel.hathitrust.org. Free online

Court

 * Ottawa County Courthouses (Found on left side of home page.)

Directories

 * 1892-3 - Historical and business compendium of Ottawa County, Michigan, Vol I, Grand Haven, Mich. : Potts & Conger
 * 1892-3 - Historical and business compendium of Ottawa County, Michigan, Vol II, Grand Haven, Mich. : Potts & Conger

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Local Histories

 * History of Ottawa County, Michigan : with iIlustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Published: Chicago, H. R. Page, 1882
 * Portrait and biographical record of Muskegon and Ottawa Counties Michigan containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co. 1893

Maps

 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Illustrated Historical Atlas of the Counties of Ottawa & Kent, Michigan. Published: Chicago, H. Belden & Co., 1876. Includes county histories and patrons directories. archives.org
 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)
 * Standard Atlas of Ottawa County, Michigan : including a plat book of the villages, cities and townships of the county ..., Chicago : Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1897
 * Standard Atlas of Ottawa County, Michigan : including a plat book of the villages, cities and townships of the county...patrons directory, reference business directory and departments / compiled and published by Geo. A. Ogle & Co. 1912. Also archives.org

Civil War
Civil War service men from Ottawa 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 Ottawa County.

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

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1837-1993 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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

Birth Records

 * 1867-1917 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1902 - Index to Birth Records in Ottawa County 1867-1902 (MIGenWeb)
 * 1867-1902 - Michigan Birth Registrations, 1867-1902 at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriage Records

 * 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
 * Index to Marriage Records in Ottawa County (MIGenWeb)

Death Records

 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1897 - Michigan Death Registrations, 1867-1897 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Index to Death Records in Ottawa County (MIGenWeb)

Societies and Libraries

 * Coopersville Area Historical Society and Museum 363 Main Street Coopersville, MI 49404 Phone: 616-997-7240 Website
 * Grand Haven Genealogical Society c/o Loutit Library 407 Columbus Grand Haven, MI 49417
 * Zeeland Genealogy Study Group 14 Church Street Howard Miller Community Center Zeeland, MI 49464 Website
 * Holland Genealogical Society c/o Herrick Public Library 300 River Avenue Holland, MI 49423

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

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.
 * Ottawa County, wikipedia
 * Michigan Family History Network
 * Ottawa County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Ottawa County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)