Tuscola County, Michigan Genealogy

Guide to Tuscola 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 a Neologism created by Henry Schoolcraft by combining the native words "dusinagon" and "cola", meaning "level lands". The Ojibwe word "tessinagan" can also be translated as "plate". Shell in their language was "ess". The Ojibwe often used a shell or bark from a tree for a dish or plate. The Ojibwe word "tessi-" is used to make the words for shelf, platform, bench, and plate. The County is located in the Thumb area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1867, marriage records from 1851, divorce and court records from 1878.

Parent County
1840--Tuscola County was created 1 April 1840 from Sanilac County. It was attached to Saginaw county prior to organization 2 March 1850. County seat: Caro

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
Bay •  Genesee  •  Huron  •  Lapeer  •  Saginaw  •  Sanilac

Biographies

 * Tuscola County Biographies. MiGenWeb Project

Census
State Census
 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index

Directories

 * 1902 Patrons Directory. MiGenWeb Project

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Tuscola 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 Tuscola 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

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
Mayville Historical Society PO Box 242 Mayville MI 48744 Website

Tuscola Genealogical Society 1405 Hunt Rd. Mayville MI 48744


 * List of Michigan Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies
 * Tuscola County Genealogical Society

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers


 * Caro Michigan Family History Center 1695 W Gilford Rd, Caro, MI United States

Websites

 * Tuscola County, MI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * 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.
 * Tuscola County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Tuscola County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)