Clare County, Michigan Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for County Clare, Ireland. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Clare County Courthouse 225 West Main PO Box 438 Harrison, MI 48625 Phone: 989-539-4934 Phone: 517-539-7131 Clare County Website County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, burial, divorce, court and land records.

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:

Cemeteries

 * 1799-1999 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Census Records
 State Census
 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article
 * 1894 Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article
 * Clare County is part of Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw
 * FamilySearch Places

Directories

 * 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images – includes business directories for towns across the state

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929-1966 at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)
 * 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images – includes business directories for towns across the state
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War Civil War service men from Clare 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 Clare County.


 * 1861-1865 Record of Service of the Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865 at Michiganology — images, multiple volumes organized alphabetically by surname
 * 1876-1945 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article
 * 1894 Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article

World War I
 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1837-1993 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article

Newspapers

 * Digital Michigan Newspapers at Central Michigan University

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1784-1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry $
 * 1797-1973 at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Birth

 * 1867-1917 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article
 * 1867-1902 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article

Marriage

 * 1585-1945 - Michigan, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
 * 1820-1937 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article
 * 1820-1940 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article
 * 1868-1925 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article

Death

 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article
 * 1867-1897 - at FamilySearch - How to Use This Article
 * 1867-1952 Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952 at Ancestry.com ($) — index and images
 * 1897-1952 - Michigan Death Records at Michiganology - index and images, organized by county and then last name.

Divorce

 * 1897-1952 Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952 at Ancestry.com ($) — index and images

Family History Centers

 * Cadillac Michigan Family History Center
 * Houghton Lake Michigan Family History Center


 * Gladwin County District Library - an affiliate library
 * Roscommon County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Museums
Farwell Museum 221 West Main Street Farwell, MI 48622 Phone: 989-588-0580 Website

Societies

 * Clare County Historical Society 3062 E. Colonville Rd. Clare, MI 48617-9448 (734) 755-2638 Email: [mailto:museum@clarecountyhistory.org museum@clarecountyhistory.org] Website Facebook


 * Harrison Area Genealogy Society PO Box 796 102 N. Second Street and Main Street Harrison, MI 48625 Facebook

Websites

 * The Clare County MIGenWeb Project, an member of The MIGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Clare County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.