Ottawa County, Michigan Genealogy
Guide to Ottawa County, Michigan ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for an Ottawa Nation. The county is located in the southwest area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Ottawa County Courthouse
414 Washington Ave.
Grand Haven, MI 49417-1473
Phone: 616-846-8310
Ottawa County Website
County Clerk has birth and death records from 1867, marriage and court records from 1847 and divorce records from 1863.[3]
Ottawa County, Michigan Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1867 | 1847 | 1867 | 1947 | 1834 | 1844 | 1820 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- History of Ottawa County, Michigan: with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Published: Chicago, H. R. Page, 1882
- Portrait and biographical record of Muskegon and Ottawa Counties Michigan containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co. 1893
- Directory People Northwest Ottawa County by Dr. Wallace K. Ewing containing biographical sketches of citizens of northwestern Ottawa County. Published: Grand Haven, Tri-Cities Historical Museum 1999, ninth printing 2012
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 208 | — |
| 1850 | 5,587 | 2586.1% |
| 1860 | 13,215 | 136.5% |
| 1870 | 26,651 | 101.7% |
| 1880 | 33,126 | 24.3% |
| 1890 | 35,358 | 6.7% |
| 1900 | 39,667 | 12.2% |
| 1910 | 45,301 | 14.2% |
| 1920 | 47,660 | 5.2% |
| 1930 | 54,858 | 15.1% |
| 1940 | 59,660 | 8.8% |
| 1950 | 73,751 | 23.6% |
| 1960 | 98,719 | 33.9% |
| 1970 | 128,181 | 29.8% |
| 1980 | 157,174 | 22.6% |
| 1990 | 187,768 | 19.5% |
| 2000 | 238,314 | 26.9% |
| 2010 | 263,801 | 10.7% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Federal Censuses for Ottawa, Michigan can be found at FamilySearch Record Search. Free searchable name indexes and images are available for most census years.
State Census
- 1850-1880 Michigan Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch -How to Use this Collection
- 1894 - Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Michigan denominations, view the Michigan Church Records wiki page.
- 1819-1991 Michigan, Church Records, 1819-1991 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Ottawa County Michigan Church Directory: A listing of some of the different churches in Ottawa.
First Presbyterian Church
- The seventy-fifth anniversary of the Organization of the First Presbyterian Church of Spring Lake, Michigan, Rev. A. Meengs, Minister / 1928 at babel.hathitrust.org. Free online
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust Digital Library — images
- 1892-3 Historical and Business Compendium of Ottawa County, Michigan : 1892-3. By Potts and Conger. Grand Haven, Michigan : Potts and Conger, 1892. at FamilySearch
- 1892-1893 Historical and business compendium of Ottawa County, Michigan, Vol I at Internet Archive
- 1892-1893 Historical and business compendium of Ottawa County, Michigan, Vol II at Internet Archive
- 1918-1923 The Farm Journal Illustrated Rural Directory of Ottawa County, Michigan : 1918-1923. By Wilmer Atkinson Company. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Wilmer Atkinson Co., 1923. at FamilySearch
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- 1929-1966 Michigan, Crew Lists for various ports, 1929-1966 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Dykstra Funeral Home in Holland.
- Klaassen Family Funeral Home and Grand Haven.
- Lakeshore Memorial Services in Holland.
- Langeland-Sterenberg Yntema Funeral Homes in Holland and Zeeland.
- MKD Funeral Homes in Allendale and Hudsonville.
- Sytsema Funeral and Cremation Services in Grand Haven and Spring Lake.
- Throop Funeral Home, Inc. in Coopersville.
- VanderLaan Funeral Home in Hudsonville.
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Michigan Land and Property for additional information about early Michigan land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the Ottawa County courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Ottawa County. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Michigan Local Histories.
- History of Ottawa County, Michigan: with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Published: Chicago, H. R. Page, 1882
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Illustrated Historical Atlas of the Counties of Ottawa & Kent, Michigan. Published: Chicago, H. Belden & Co., 1876. Includes county histories and patrons directories. archives.org
- Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)
- 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images – includes business directories for towns across the state
- Standard Atlas of Ottawa County, Michigan : including a plat book of the villages, cities and townships of the county ..., Chicago : Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1897
- Standard Atlas of Ottawa County, Michigan : including a plat book of the villages, cities and townships of the county...patrons directory, reference business directory and departments / compiled and published by Geo. A. Ogle & Co. 1912. Also archives.org
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War
Civil War service men from Ottawa 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 Ottawa County.
- 1861-1865 Record of Service of the Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865 at Michiganology — images, multiple volumes organized alphabetically by surname
- 1876-1945 Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1876-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1894 - Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
- Michigan, Civil War Centennial Observance Commission, Committee on Civil War Grave Registration, Burial Records at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War I
- 1917-1919 Michigan, Census of World War I Veterans with Card Index, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1837-1993 Michigan, Eastern and Western Districts, Naturalization Records, 1837-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Digital Michigan Newspapers at Central Michigan University
- 1800s-Current Michigan, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- 1820-2006 Michigan Obituaries, 1820-2006 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1853-Onward Michigan, Ottawa County Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Voting Records[edit | edit source]
- 1850-Onward Michigan Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
In most counties in Michigan, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate packets, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1784-1980 Michigan, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1784-1980 at Ancestry.com ($) — index & images
- 1797-1973 Michigan Probate Records 1797-1973 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1844-1975 General Probate Index, 1844-1975(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Michigan tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information see the Wiki page, Michigan Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
- Birth Records and Death Records from 1867 can be obtained from the Michigan Department of Community Health or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
- Marriage Records from 1867 and Divorce Records from 1897 can be obtained from the County Clerk.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1867-1902 Index to Birth Records in Ottawa County 1867-1902 (MIGenWeb)
- 1867-1902 Michigan Births, 1867-1902 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1867-1917 Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1585-1945 Michigan, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
- 1820-1937 Michigan, County Marriages Index, 1820-1937 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1820-1940 Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1828-Onward Michigan Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1868-1925 Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Index to Marriage Records in Ottawa County (MIGenWeb)
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1850-1880 Michigan Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch -How to Use this Collection
- 1867-1897 Michigan Deaths, 1867-1897 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1867-1952 Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
- 1897-1952 Michigan Death Records at Michiganology - index & images, organized by county and then last name.
- Index to Death Records in Ottawa County (MIGenWeb)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1897-1952 Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Ottawa County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Michigan Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Hackley Public Library - an affiliate library
- Grand Rapids Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Ottawa County. For state-wide library facilities, see Michigan Archives and Libraries.
Loutit District Library
407 Columbus Avenue
Grand Haven, MI 49417
Phone: 616-850-6900
Email: loutit@loutitlibrary.org
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Coopersville Historical Museum
363 Main St
Coopersville, MI 49404
Phone: 616-997-7240
Email: budphoto@allcom.net
Website
Facebook
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Ottawa County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Michigan Societies.
Coopersville Area Historical Society
PO Box 50
Coopersville, MI 49404
Email: coopersvillehistory@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Grand Haven Genealogical Society
c/o Loutit District Library
407 Columbus Ave
Grand Haven, MI 49417
Phone: 616-850-6900
Email: loutit@loutitlibrary.org
Website
Historic Ottawa Beach Society
PO Box 8462
Holland, MI 49422-8462
Phone: 616-607-6854
Email: info@historicottawabeachsociety.org
Website
Facebook
Holland Genealogical Society
c/o Herrick District Library
300 River Ave
Holland, MI 49423
Facebook
Western Michigan Genealogical Society
c/o Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library St NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3268
Email: wmgs@wmgs.org
Website
Facebook
Zeeland Genealogy Study Group
14 Church St
Howard Miller Community Center
Zeeland, MI 49464
Phone: 616-399-6131
Email: genealogystudygroup@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
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- Ottawa County, MI-Roots Michigan Roots is a member of the PA-Roots family of websites.
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
- Ottawa County, wikipedia
- Michigan Family History Network
- Ottawa County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Ottawa County, Michigan" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Ottawa County, Michigan," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia accessed 10 November 2019.