Adams County, Indiana Genealogy

Guide to Adams 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 Adams New Purchase (Allen/Delaware/Randolph) in 1835.
 * County Seat:  Decatur

Description
The county was named in honor of President John Quincy Adams. It's county seat is Decatur and was founded 1 March 1836. It is located in the Northeast 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
Allen •  Wells  •  Jay  •  Van Wert •  Mercer
 * Neighboring Counties: residents may also have records in Allen (north)·Jay (south)·Van Wert (northeast)·Mercer (southeast)·Wells (west)

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.

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

Cemeteries

 * The Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Center has numerous transcriptions of Adams County cemeteries on its website.
 * The Indiana Genealogical Society has many transcriptions of Adams County cemeteries available for free on its website.
 * Adams County, Indiana: Cemeteries - Linkpendium

Census Records

 * Index of 1840 Census for Adams County, Indiana (Free, Indiana Genealogical Society)
 * Index of 1850 Census for Adams County, Indiana (Free, Indiana Genealogical Society)
 * Index to Mortality Schedule for Adams County, Indiana (1860) (members only database, Indiana Genealogical Society)
 * Index to Defective, Dependent &amp; Delinquent Census for Adams County, Indiana (1880) (members only database, Indiana Genealogical Society)

Court Records

 * Old Courthouse Records - INGenWeb

Directories

 * Early Settlers of Adams County ($, Indiana Genealogical Society)

Local Histories

 * History for Adams County Linkpendium

Online County Histories


 * Biographical and Historical Record of Adams and Wells Counties, Indiana. 1887. Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co. Online at: Internet Archive;.
 * Reminiscences of Adams, Jay and Randolph Counties, Indiana. By Martha C. M. Lynch. [1896?] Fort Wayne, Indiana : Lipes, Nelson & Singmaster. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Internet Archive;.
 * A Short, Short Story of Adams County, Indiana. By French Quinn. 19--?. Berne, Indiana : Economy Printing Concern. Online at: Internet Archive;.
 * Snow's History of Adams County Indiana. By J. F. Snow. 1907. Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Internet Archive;.
 * Standard History of Adams and Wells Counties Indiana. 2 Vols. By John W. Tyndall & Orlo E. Lesh. 1918. Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library - Vol. 1, FamilySearch Digital Library - Vol. 2 Internet Archive - Vol. 1; Google Books - Vol. 2;.

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Indiana
 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Maps and Gazetteers  Linkpendium

Military Records

 * Indiana State Digital Archives

Civil War

 * Adams County, Indiana List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883 at Internet Archive

Civil War service men from Adams 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 Adams County.


 * 6th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company B
 * 8th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company C
 * 11th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company C
 * 13th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company G
 * 30th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company D
 * 47th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company C
 * 57th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company D
 * 89th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies H, I, and K
 * 139th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company I
 * 147th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
 * 153rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company E

World War I (The Great War), 1914-1918

 * World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Adams County - Ancestry.com ($) INGenWeb


 * Adams County WWI Ancestral Heroes


 * 1919 - at FamilySearch — index and images

World War II, 1941-1945

 * Adams County, Indiana World War II Casualties, Army and Army Air Corps -  AccessGenealogy

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

School Records

 * Graduates of Common Schools in Adams County, Indiana (1912) (Free, Indiana Genealogical Society)
 * School Enumeration of Union Township, Adams County, Indiana (1853) (Members only database, Indiana Genealogical Society)
 * Eighth Grade Commencement, 1938
 * School Records and Histories Linkpendium

Courthouse
County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records.

Societies

 * Adams County Historical Society PO Box 262 Decatur, IN 46733 Email: [mailto:achs262@hotmail.com achs262@hotmail.com]
 * Adams County Indiana Genealogical Society PO Box 33 Geneva, IN 46740-0033
 * Swiss Heritage Society PO Box 88 Berne, IN 46711-0088 Phone: 260-589-8007 Email: [mailto:anitamiller@swissheritage.org anitamiller@swissheritage.org] Website

Family History Centers

 * Decatur Indiana Family History Center

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

Birth Records

 * 1882-1920 Index to Birth Records Adams County (USGenWeb)

Marriage Records

 * 1800s-2007 Indiana, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1780-1992  at FamilySearch
 * 1802-1892 Indiana Marriages, 1802-1892 at Ancestry.com $
 * 1811-2007 at FamilySearch — index and images

Death Records

 * 1870-2000 Index to Death Record Adams County INGenWeb
 * 1882-1920 Indiana Death Index Transcription of WPA Death Index, 1882-1920
 * 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

 * Indiana Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Indiana Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Adams County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Adams County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)