Jay County, Indiana Genealogy

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

Description
Jay County was named for John Jay, co-author of the Federalist Papers, Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Articles of Confederation, and first Chief Justice of the United States. It is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Jay County Courthouse Main and Walnut Portland, IN 47371 Phone 219-726-4951 County Website

Jay County Health Center 504 West Arch Street Portland, IN, 47371 Health Officer: Jerry Whetzel, MD Phone Number: 260-726-8080 Fax: 260-726-2220 Health Department

County Health Department has birth and death records from 1882; County Clerk has marriage records from 1843, divorce records from 1882, probate records from 1836 and court records from 1837; County Auditor has land records from 1836. Health Department has birth records and death records. Copies may be obtained from the county health department or the Indiana State Division of Vital 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:

Bible Records

 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

Biographies

 * Indiana Biography Index at Indiana State Library

Cemeteries

 * Readings of all of the cemeteries in Jay County can be found on the ACPL Genealogy Center's website.

Census Records

 * Early Settlers of Jay County at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
 * Index to Defective, Dependent &amp; Delinquent Census for Jay County (1880) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
 * Indexes to Mortality Schedules for Jay County (1860 and 1870) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
 * Pioneer Settlers of Jay County at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1837-1925 (*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

Directories

 * 1897 Portland, Indiana, U.S., Directory, 1897 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * Directory of Businesses in Jay County, Indiana (1868) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)

Funeral Homes

 * Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland.
 * MJS Mortuaries in Dunkirk and Redkey.
 * Williamson Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home in Pennville and Portland.

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana. 1887. Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive; . May be a reprint of the Jay County section only from the original combined 1887 Jay and Blackford Counties.
 * History of Jay County, Indiana. 1864. By M. W. Montgomery.  Chicago, Illinois Church, Goodman & Cushing.  Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($);.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Historic Indiana Maps at IUPUI University Library
 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Indiana
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * Military Record Series Index at Indiana Digital Archives
 * List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883 online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; INTERNET ARCHIVE

Civil War Civil War service men from Jay County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Jay County.


 * 7th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Companies E, and K
 * 8th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company C
 * 11th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company B
 * 20th Battery, Indiana Light Artillery
 * 34th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company B
 * 75th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
 * 89th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company E
 * 91st Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company I
 * 100th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company H
 * 139th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies E, and I
 * 140th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
 * 153rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company E
 * 154th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company H
 * 28th US Colored Troops, Company F, and Addition Recruits for Colored Troops
 * 40th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Company F; (page 281, in "Jay County And The War")
 * Civil War Records, INGenWeb, Indiana Soldiers in the Civil War; Discharges, Pensions, Reunions and Soldiers in the News; Medal of Honor Recipient

Civil War Books:


 * "Jay County And The War" Chapter 17 in Montgomery, M.W., History of Jay County, Indiana,(Chicago, Illinois Church, Goodman &amp; Cushing, 1864), (page 220-288, Regiment, Companies, Name's), online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; INTERNET ARCHIVE
 * "Civil War" Part 2, Chapter 7 in Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana: containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of the state of Indiana ; portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state ; engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages. (1978. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co.), (page 227-234, Regiment, some Companies), available online at:FamilySearch Digital Library.

World War I
 * 1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * Gold Star Honor Roll, Genealogy Trails
 * 1917-1918 World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry ($)
 * World War I INGenWeb, Draft Registrations; National Guard; Nurses; Book of Merit and Gold Stars

World War II
 * World War II Casualties, Army and Army Air Corps, Access Genealogy
 * World War II MIA list, INGenWeb

Korean Conflict
 * Casualties, INGenWeb

Vietnam
 * Casualties, INGenWeb

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Naturalization Record Series (for this county) at Indiana Digital Archives. Search by names.

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * Jay County newspapers - INGenWeb
 * Jay County newspaper clippings -
 * Hoosier State Chronicles

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1798-1999 Indiana Wills and Probate Records 1798-1999 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1837-1900 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1838-1968 (*); Circuit and Probate Court, and Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1846-1920 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1850-1872 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images

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.

Marriage

 * 1780-1992  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
 * 1800s-2007 Indiana, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
 * 1802-1892 Indiana Marriages, 1802-1892 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1811-1959 Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
 * 1811-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Death

 * Pre-1882 WEB: Indiana, Deaths, Pre-1882 at Ancestry - index, (Free collection)
 * 1750-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1882-1920 at FamilySearch  - How to Use this Collection
 * 1899-2011 Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 at Ancestry ($)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Decatur Indiana FamilySearch Center
 * Marion Indiana FamilySearch Center
 * Muncie Indiana FamilySearch Center
 * Allen County Public Library - an affiliate library.
 * Marion Public Library - an affiliate library.

Libraries
 Jay County Public Library 315 N Ship St Portland, IN 47371 Phone: 260-726-7890 Email: [mailto:jaylibrary315@gmail.com jaylibrary315@gmail.com] Facebook Website
 * Many print resources are available, including local histories, directories and family history documents.

Societies
Jay County Historical Society 903 E Main St Portland, IN 47371 Phone: 260-726-7168 Email: [mailto:research@jaycountyhistory.org research@jaycountyhistory.org] Website

Websites

 * Indiana Digital Archives Search by name in all records or specific collections
 * Indiana Historical Society Digital Collections Extensive - keyword searches suggested
 * Indiana Memory Click the map or select a statewide collection
 * List of indexes and databases at Indiana State Library
 * EveryNameIndex.com for Indiana Free online genealogy indexes for county histories. Select a county.
 * Indiana Genealogical Society Databases Free and Members-only. Scroll the list.
 * – 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.