Posey County, Indiana Genealogy
Guide to Posey County, Indiana 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]
Posey County was named for General Thomas Posey. It is located in the southwestern tip of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Posey County Courthouse
PO Box 606
Mt. Vernon, IN 47620
Phone: 812-838-1306
County Website
Posey County Health Department
100 Vista Dr.
Mount Vernon, IN, 47620
Health Officer: Kyle Rapp, MD
Phone Number: 812-838-1328
Fax: 812-838-8561
Email: kristina.carter@poseycountygov.org / martha.breeze@poseycountygov.org
Health Department
County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1815.
County health department Dept has birth and divorce records from 1882.
County Recorder has land records from 1815 and some military discharge records. [3]
Health Department has birth records and death records.Copies may be obtained from the county health department or the Indiana State Division of Vital Records.
Posey County, Indiana 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 |
| 1882 | 1815 | 1882 | 1815 | 1815 | 1815 | 1807 |
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:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
| Historic communities | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Gibson and Posey Indiana Counties: Alcorn Family Bible at USGenWeb Archives
- History of Posey County Indiana Bible Records at RootsWeb
- Posey County, Indiana Family Bibles and Records at Genealogy Trails
- Saltzman Family at INGenWeb
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Family Biographies from The History of Posey County, Indiana (1913) published by Standard Publishing Company are available free on the My Genealogy Hound
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For tips on accessing Posey County census records online, see: Indiana Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 4,061 | — |
| 1830 | 6,549 | 61.3% |
| 1840 | 9,683 | 47.9% |
| 1850 | 12,549 | 29.6% |
| 1860 | 16,167 | 28.8% |
| 1870 | 19,185 | 18.7% |
| 1880 | 20,857 | 8.7% |
| 1890 | 21,529 | 3.2% |
| 1900 | 22,333 | 3.7% |
| 1910 | 21,670 | −3.0% |
| 1920 | 19,334 | −10.8% |
| 1930 | 17,853 | −7.7% |
| 1940 | 19,183 | 7.4% |
| 1950 | 19,818 | 3.3% |
| 1960 | 19,214 | −3.0% |
| 1970 | 21,740 | 13.1% |
| 1980 | 26,414 | 21.5% |
| 1990 | 25,968 | −1.7% |
| 2000 | 27,061 | 4.2% |
| 2010 | 25,910 | −4.3% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Census
- Index to Mortality Schedule for Posey County (1860, 1870) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Index to Defective, Dependent & Delinquent Census for Posey County (1880) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- African American Residents of Posey County (1882) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Register of Negroes in Posey County (1853-1855) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Most church records are held by individual churches. For contact information, check a phone directory, such as SearchBug or Dex Knows. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository.
For more information about these major repositories, see Indiana Church Records.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1818-1954 Indiana Court Cases at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1853-1907 Complete Partition Record, 1853-1907(*); Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Posey County, Indiana Marriages, Harris Newsletter - v.1, no.1 (April 1976). 1976. By Walker, Elaine. Post Falls, Idaho : Genealogical Reference Builders. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1870 The Farmers' Record of Gibson, Vanderburgh, Posey, and Warrick Counties : Containing an Alphabetically Arranged List of the Land Owners, with a Description of Their Lands, and Number of Acres Owned by Each, with Other Valuable Statistics, 1870(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1919 Evansville Press Farmers and Breeders Directory of Posey County, Indiana, 1919(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
- History and Directory of Posey County : Containing an Account of the Early Settlement and Organization of the County of Posey, Ind., with References to the Formation of the Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana...(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Mt. Vernon City Directory, and Posey County Gazetteer for the Years : Containing an Alphabetical List of Private Citizens and Business Firms, a Directory of the City and County Officers, Churches, Schools, Secret Benevolent Societies, and a Complete Classified Business Directory ...(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Mt. Vernon, Indiana, City Directory : Embracing Alphabetical General Name List, Real Estate Owners List, Owners and Tenants Arranged by Streets, Classified Occupation or Business List, Street Directory, City and County Maps, Municipal and County Officers, Schools, Churches, Lodges, Societies and Associations(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
- African Americans in Civilian Conservation Corps, Wadesville, Posey County, Indiana (1938) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- African American Residents of Posey County (1882) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Register of Negroes in Posey County (1853-1855) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- 1891-1906 New Harmony, Indiana, Funeral Home Records, 1891-1906(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Denning Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Mt. Vernon.
- Schneider Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon.
- Werry Funeral Homes, Inc. in Cynthiana, New Harmony and Poseyville.
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 Indiana Land and Property for additional information about early Indiana land grants and patents.
After land was transferred from the government to private ownership, subsequent transactions were recorded at the Posey County courthouse, 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 Posey County. County histories may include biographies; church, school and government histories; and military information. For more information about local histories, see Indiana Local Histories.
- History of Posey County, Indiana. 1913. By John C. Leffel. Chicago : Standard Pub. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- History and Directory of Posey County. 1882. By W.P. Leonard. Evansville, Indiana : A C. Isaacs, Book Printer & Binder. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
- History of Posey County, Indiana. 1886. Chicago : Goodspeed Pub. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive; At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Historic Indiana Maps at IUPUI University Library
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Military Record Series Index at Indiana Digital Archives
- African American Veterans of Posey County, Indiana (1890) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Civil War
Civil War service men from Posey County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Posey County.
- 1st Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Companies C, D, H, and Reorganized Company B
- 6th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company M
- 10th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Companies A, B, and K
- 16th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company B, C, and D
- 25th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies A, and F
- 38th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company H
- 58th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company A
- 65th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company A
- 80th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
- 91st Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company A, D, and G
- 136th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company G
- 144th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company B
- 28th US Colored Troops, Addition Recruits for Colored Troops
- Wilder Battery, Indiana Light Artillery
Civil War Books:
- Military History Chapter 6 in Goodspeed Publishing Co. 1974. History of Posey County, Indiana: from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc., together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana. (Evansville, Ind: Unigraphic). Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Internet Archive
World War I
- 1919 Indiana, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- Naturalization Record Series (for this county) at Indiana Digital Archives. Search by names.
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Indiana newspapers may contain genealogical value including obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings.
For more Indiana newspaper information see the wiki page Indiana Newspapers.
- 1800s-Current Indiana, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 1804-2010 Hoosier State Chronicles 1804-2011
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
- African Americans in Civilian Conservation Corps, Wadesville, Posey County, Indiana (1938) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
In most counties in Indiana, probate records have been kept by the county clerk of the circuit court. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. The records are available at the Posey County courthouse. For more information, see Indiana Probate Records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1798-1999 Indiana Wills and Probate Records 1798-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 1815-1839 Will Records and Probates, 1815-1839(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1815-1918 Probate Records, 1815-1918(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1816-1923 Record of Wills, 1816-1923(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1853-1907 Complete Partition Record, 1853-1907(*); Court of Common Pleas 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Indiana tax records complement land records and can be used in place of censuses or to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information see the wiki page Indiana Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Indiana law in 1882 required registration of births and deaths in counties. The Indiana Department of Health has birth records filed after October 1907 and death records filed after January 1900 for deaths. Copies may be obtained from the county health department or the Indiana State Division of Vital Records.
Birth[edit | edit source]
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1780-1992 Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1800-2007 Indiana, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
- 1802-1892 Indiana, Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892 at Ancestry
- 1811-1959 Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
- 1811-2007 Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Death[edit | edit source]
- Pre-1882 WEB: Indiana, Deaths, Pre-1882 at Ancestry - index, (Free collection)
- 1750-1993 Indiana Deaths and Burials, 1750-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1882-1920 Indiana, Death Index, 1882-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1899-2011 Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 at Ancestry
- 1873 Cholera Deaths in Mount Vernon, Posey County, Indiana (1873) at Indiana Genealogical Society
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Posey County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Indiana 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
- Eldorado Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Evansville Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Owensboro Kentucky FamilySearch Center
- Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Henderson County Kentucky Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Jasper Public Library - an affiliate library.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Posey County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Indiana Archives and Libraries.
Alexandrian Public Library
Indiana Room
115 W 5th St
Mt. Vernon, IN 47620
Phone: 812-838-3286
Email: alexpl@evansville.net
Website
Working Men's Institute
407 Tavern St
New Harmony, IN 47631
Phone: 812-682-4806
Email: librarian@workingmensinstitute.org
Facebook
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Working Men's Institute
407 Tavern St
New Harmony, IN 47631
Phone: 812-682-4806
Email: librarian@workingmensinstitute.org
Facebook
Website
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Posey County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Indiana Societies.
Posey County Historical Society
PO Box 171
Mt Vernon, IN 47620
Email: poseycountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Facebook
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Posey County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Indiana Digital Archives Search by name in all records or specific collections
- Indiana Historical Society Digital Collections Extensive - keyword searches suggested
- Indiana Memory Click the map or select a statewide collection
- List of indexes and databases at Indiana State Library
- Indiana Genealogical Society Databases Select a county
- Every Name Index.com Online indexes for county histories. Select a county
- Posey County INGenWeb
- USGenWeb, Posey County
- 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), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Posey County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posey_County,_Indiana 3/30/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Posey County, Indiana" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posey_County,_Indiana (accessed 10 May 2012).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Posey County, Indiana," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posey_County,_Indiana, accessed 01 January 2020.