Osceola County, Michigan Genealogy

Guide to Osceola 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 Osceola. The County has Reed City as its seat and the County was created April 1, 1840. The County is located in the centre area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth and marriage records from 1869, death and divorce records from 1870, court records from 1963 and burial records. Probate Judge has probate records. Register of Deeds has land records.

Parent County
1840--Osceola County was created 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County. Formerly Unwattin County, until name changed to Osceola 8 March 1843. It was attached to Ottawa, Mason, Newaygo, and Mecosta Counties prior to organization 17 March 1869. County seat: Reed City

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
Clare •  Isabella  •  Lake  •  Mecosta  •  Missaukee  •  Newaygo  •  Wexford

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 Osceola 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 Osceola County.

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

Birth

 * 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.

Marriage

 * 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.

Death

 * 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.

Societies and Libraries

 * Osceola County Genealogical Society 4918 Park Street PO Box 52 Reed City, MI 49677 E-mail: [mailto:osceolagen@gmail.com osceolagen@gmail.com] Website
 * Evart Area Historical Society PO Box 396 Evart, MI 49631 Facebook
 * LeRoy Area Historical Society 17640 200th Ave LeRoy, MI 49655
 * Marion Area Historical Society PO Box 276 Marion, MI 49665

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * Michigan Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * Osceola County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)
 * Osceola County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)