Branch County, Michigan Genealogy

Guide to Branch 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 John Branch. The County is located in the south-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1867, marriage records from 1833, divorce records, court records from 1848 and naturalization records from 1847. Probate Court has probate record. Register of Deeds has land records. City &amp; Town Clerks have burial records.

History
Branch County is near the middle of the state near the border of Indiana and Illinois, and largely borders Indiana. The county includes the communities of Coldwater, Kinderhook, and numerous other small towns.

Parent County
1829--Branch County was created 29 October 1829 from Lenawee County and unorganized territory. It was attached to St. Joseph County prior to organization 1 March 1833. County seat: Coldwater

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
Calhoun •  Hillsdale  •  Kalamazoo  •  LaGrange County, Indiana  •  St. Joseph  •  Steuben County, Indiana

Census
 State Census
 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps

 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * How to order Michigan Vital Records

Civil War
Civil War service men from Branch 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 Branch County.


 * - 17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Companies C and H

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

Births

 * 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.

Marriages

 * 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.

Deaths

 * 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.
 * Branch County Government has added a death record search for deaths that occurred in Branch County. This is the reference: http://74.113.24.31/deathsearch3.taf.
 * Seeking Michigan gives indexes to Michigan Death Certificates here: http://seekingmichigan.org/discover.

Societies and Libraries
Branch County Genealogical Society PO Box 443 Coldwater 49036

Branch County Historical Society PO Box 107 Coldwater 49036

Branch County Genealogical Society 27 South Jefferson Coldwater, MI 49036 Telephone Number: 517-278-2871 Website

Union City Genealogical Society 510 St. Joseph St. Union City 49094

Union City Historical Society 407 Broadway Union City 49094


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

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * Branch County, MI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Branch County MIGenWeb Project, an member of The MIGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Branch County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Branch County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)