Newton County, Indiana Genealogy

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

Historical Facts

 * Parent Counties: Formed from unorganized territory (St. Joseph/Warren/White) in 1835, then abolished in 1839 and reformed from Jasper in 1859.
 * County Seat: Kentland

Description
The county was named for Sgt. John Newton. The County Seat is Kentland and was founded 1859. It is located in the North West area of the state.

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
Lake •  Jasper  •  Benton  •  Iroquois  •  Kankakee

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Indiana County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Indiana County Boundary Maps" (1790-1873) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

"The original Newton County was formed by statute on February 7, 1835, and was a roughly square area some 30 miles on a side, encompassing what is now the northern half of the county, the northern half of Jasper County, and a large section to the north. The northern border was cut back to the Kankakee River on February 1, 1836, with all land north of the Kankakee River going to Lake and Porter counties. The county was abolished and combined with Jasper County in 1839. On December 8, 1859, the county was re-created and the borders were redrawn to essentially their current state."

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Census Records

 * Index to Mortality Schedule (1860, 1870), Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
 * Index to Defective, Dependent &amp; Delinquent Census (1880), Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
 * Early Settlers of Newton County (1831-1859), Indiana Genealogical Society ($)

Court Records
Newton County Courthouse 201 N. 3rd Street PO Box 49 Kentland, IN 47951 Phone: 219-474-6081 Fax: 219-474-5749 Hours: 8AM-4PM

Assessor, Clerk, Recorder, Treasurer and Circuit Superior Court: Criminal Court Records, Civil, Small Claims, Probate

Directories

 * Directory of Businesses in Newton County, Indiana (1884), Indiana Genealogical Society ($)

Local Histories

 * Every Name Index to Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. Every Name Index compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, 2008; original text by F. A. Battey Co., 1883; reproduction of Unigraphic, Inc., 1973], EveryNameIndex.com


 * F.A. Battey Co. Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana: Historical and Biographical. (Chicago: F.A. Battey &amp; Co, 2008.) also (Digital images of original published: Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1994. viii, 810 p.: ill., ports.28 cm. The original is a reprint. It was originally published: Chicago: F.A. Battey, 1883.), Digital versions at , Other Libraries, Internet Archive


 * Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, (Indiana. 2003. La Crosse WI: Brookhaven Press.) FHL US/CAN Film 1731988, Other Libraries, Vol.1 Google Books, vol.2 Google Books

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases Maps of Indiana

Civil War
Civil War service men from Newton 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 Newton County.


 * 9th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company G
 * 12th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company K
 * 51st Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company B
 * 99th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company E
 * 128th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company A

Civil War Books


 * "Newton County in the War" in F.A. Battey Co. Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana: Historical and Biographical. (Chicago: F.A. Battey Co, 2008.) also (Digital images of original published: Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1994. viii, 810 p.ill., ports.28 cm. The original is a reprint. It was originally published: Chicago: F.A. Battey, 1883.)page 685-955,, Digital versions at Other Libraries, Internet Archive

World War I

 * 1919 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Occupations

 * Civilian Support Officials In World War II (1941-1945), Indiana Genealogical Society ($)

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1798 – 1999 Indiana Wills and Probate Records 1798-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images ($)

School Records

 * Directory of Teachers (1936), Indiana Genealogical Society ($)

County Courthouse
Newton County Courthouse Courthouse Square; PO Box 49 Kentland, IN 47951 Phone: 219-474-6081 County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1860. County Health Department has birth and death records from 1882. County Recorder has land records from 1860.

Family History Centers

 * West Lafayette Indiana Family History Center

For additional nearby Family History Centers, search online in the family history center directory.

Societies
Newton County Historical Society 508 N Third Street Kentland, IN 47951

Newton County Historical Society PO Box 303 310 Seymour Street Kentland, IN 47951 Telephone Number: 219-474-6944 E-mail: [mailto:newtonhs@ffni.com newtonhs@ffni.com] Website


 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Vital Records

 * Indiana State Digital Archives

Marriage Records

 * 1800s-2007 - Indiana, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $


 * 1780-1992 - FamilySearch


 * 1802-1892 Indiana Marriages, 1802-1892 - Ancestry.com ($)


 * 1811-2007 at FamilySearch — index and images

Death Records

 * 1882-1920 at FamilySearch Historical Records - Index only
 * 1899-2011 Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 at Ancestry - ($), index and images
 * Indiana State Digital Archives

Websites

 * Newton County, IN History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * INGenWeb, Newton County
 * USGenWEb, Newton County
 * , Newton County
 * Newton County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History(Linkpendium)
 * EveryNameIndex.com, Free online genealogy indexes for those big old county histories.
 * Indiana Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Indiana Genealogy Network Group on Facebook

Places
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