Clay County, Indiana Genealogy

United States &gt; Indiana &gt; Clay County

County Courthouse
The earliest civil records that were housed in the first county courthouse were lost when the courthouse burned down in 1851.

History


The county is named after U.S. Speaker of the House Henry Clay (1777-1852).

Parent County
1825--Clay County was created 12 February 1825 from Owen, Putnam, Vigo and Sullivan Counties. County seat: Brazil 

Record Loss
November 1851 -- Courthouse burned and many records were damaged.

For further information on researching in burned counties, see the following:


 * Burned Counties Research in FamilySearch Wiki
 * Michael John Neill, Burned Counties in Family History Circle

Neighboring Counties

 * Greene
 * Owen
 * Parke
 * Putnam
 * Vigo

Local Histories

 * Travis, William. A History of Clay County Indiana: Closing of the First Century's History of the County and Showing the Growth of Its People Institutions Industries and Wealth Vols 1 and 2. (New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1981.) 977.244 H2t FHL US/CAN Book Vol. .1 Family History Archives  Vol.2Family History Archives   other library

Military
Civil War

Civil War service men from Clay 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 Clay County.


 * 1st Regiment, Indiana Heavy Artillery, Companies A, I, and K
 * 2nd Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company G
 * 6th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Companies D, and F
 * 10th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
 * 11th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company H
 * 17th Battery, Indiana Light Artillery
 * 20th Battery, Indiana Light Artillery
 * 43rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company A
 * 48th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company G
 * 59th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company G
 * 78th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (60 days, 1862), Company G
 * 85th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies I, and K
 * 88th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company I
 * 97th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies B, and D
 * 115th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (6 months, 1863-4), Company D
 * 124th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company E
 * 133rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies B, I, and K
 * 144th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company K
 * 149th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies A, B, F, and H
 * 152nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company E

Civil War Book


 * "Military" Chapter 28 in Travis, William. A History of Clay County Indiana: Closing of the First Century's History of the County and Showing the Growth of Its People Institutions Industries and Wealth Vols 1 and 2. (New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1981.) page 350-380 (regiment, company, name, also "Burial Places Of Soldiers" page 376) 977.244 H2t FHL US/CAN Book  Vol. .1 Family History Archives  Vol.2Family History Archives   other library

Newspapers
The Brazil Daily Times has obituaries and other archives back to 2003.

http://www.thebraziltimes.com/

Societies and Libraries
Clay County Genealogical Society, Inc.

POB 56

Centerpoint, IN 47840-0056

812-535-5005

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Clay County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Clay County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)