Alcona County, Michigan Genealogy

Guide to Alcona County, Michigan ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records

Description
The County has 	Harrisville as its seat and the County was created 1840. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, divorce court and naturalization records from 1869 and military records from 1900. Probate Court has probate records. Register of Deeds has land records.

Parent County
1840--Alcona County was created 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County and unorganized territory. It was formerly Neewago County, until the name was changed to Alcona County 8 March 1843. It was attached to Mackinac, Cheybogan, Iosco, and Alpena Counties prior to organization 12 March 1869. County seat:  Harrisville

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.

Places/Localities
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
Alpena •  Iosco  •  Montmorency  •  Ogemaw  •  Oscoda

Cemeteries

 * Mount Joy Cemetery Alcona County Genealogical Society Free membership with registration.

Census
 State Census
 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Alcona 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 Alcona County.

Online Records
 * at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

Newspapers

 * County newspaper articles Alcona County Genealogical SocietyFree membership with registration.

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
See also How to order Michigan Vital Records

Birth

 * Birth Records Table Alcona County Genealogical Society Free membership with registration.
 * 1867-1917 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 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 $
 * Marriage Records Table Alcona County Genealogical Society Free membership with registration.
 * 1820-1937 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1820-1940 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 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

 * Death Records Table Alcona County Genealogical Society Free membership with registration.
 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 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

 * Alcona County Historical Society 4028 Black River Rd. Black River, MI 48721 Website
 * Huron Shores Genealogical Society 6010 N. Skeel Avenue Oscoda, MI 48750-1577 Telephone: 989-739-9581 E-mail:[mailto:huronshoresgs@yahoo.com huronshoresgs@yahoo.com] Website
 * Alcona County Genealogical Society Website Free membership with registration. 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 transcribed individualized census returns. Transcribed birth, death, &amp; marriage Records Tables, Transcribed county newspaper articles, transcribed records from Mount Joy Cemetery. Discussion forum. Lists of members searching specific surnames.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * The Alcona County MIGenWeb Project, an member of The MIGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Alcona County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Alcona County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)