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. Indiana Online Genealogy 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

 * 1750-1993 - at FamilySearch — index, some images
 * 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 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)