Step-by-Step Indiana Research, 1850-1900
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Step 1. Find out everything possible from living relatives and their family records.
Every good genealogy project starts with finding all the clues that can be gathered from living relatives — both from their memories and from documents or memorabilia in their homes.
What are the best questions to ask?
In order to extend research, ask for names, dates, and places. Everything about who a relative was and when and where they lived is a clue to a new record search. For ideas, see :
- 50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History at ThoughtCo.com
- Creating Oral Histories at FamilySearch Wiki
What documents should be collected or copied?
Because these records cover names, dates, places, and relationships, they are a valuable source of clues. Look for them in your home, your parents' home, and ask living grandparents to check for them.
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Step 2: Find ancestors in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
- A census is a count and description of the population for a given date. A census took a "snapshot" of a family on a certain day.
- For each person living in a household (depending on the year), their name, age, birthplace, relationship to head of household, place of birth for father and mother, citizenship status, year of immigration, mother of how many children and number of children living, native language, and whether they were a veteran of the military can be listed.
- Searching for a family in census records every ten years can identify all the children in a family.
- Searching in earlier census records to find someone as a child can identify parents.
Example of a census record.
Look for ancestors in as many censuses as possible. Use the clues from each census for hints where to find families in both earlier and later census records.
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For more information, see Indiana Census and United States Census.
Step 3: Try to find additional details in death certificates, Social Security, obituary and cemetery records online.
When a person dies, several records will be created: death certificates, Social Security records, obituaries, and cemetery records.
- Death certificates can give birth information for people born before actual birth registration began. Death certificates frequently give the birth date and place, parents' names, and birth places of parents.
- The Social Security Death Index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits. The index entries give the person's full birth date, last known residence, and residence at the time they first enrolled.
- The Social Security Applications and Claims Index provides information filed in the application or claims process, including valuable details such as birth date, birth place, and parents’ names.
- Cemetery records can be as simple as the information on the headstone or, in some FindAGrave records, they can report more thorough information about birth, parents, spouses, children, and siblings.
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Example of a death index entry. |
Example of full original death certificate. |
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Example of an obituary.
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Death Indexes
- 1812-2015 Web: Grant County, Indiana, U.S., Marion Public Library Death Index, 1812-2015 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1882-1920 Indiana Death Index, 1882-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1882-1920 Indiana, U.S., WPA Death Index, 1882-1920 at Ancestry — index ($)
- Online Indiana Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
Obituaries
- 1750-1993 Indiana Deaths and Burials, 1750-1993 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1804-1992 Indiana Newspaper Archives 1804-1992 at GenealogyBank — index & images ($)
- 1980-2014 United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Hoosier State Chronicles at Indiana State Library — index & images
- Indiana Online Historical Newspapers at Google Sites
- MennObits - the Indexes at Mennonite Church USA Archives — index
- Online Indiana Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com — index
Cemeteries
- 1949-1969 United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- BillionGraves — index & images
- BillionGraves Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Findmypast ($)
- FindaGrave — index & images
- Find a Grave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index; Also at: Ancestry ($)
- Indiana Cemeteries at USGenWeb Tombstones — index
- Indiana Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy — index
- Indiana Death Records and Indiana Cemetery Records at Interment.net — index
- Online Indiana Death Records and Indexes at DeathIndexes.com
- RecordAGrave Index at FamilySearch — How to Use This Collection; index
- VINE - Cemetery Records at Indiana State Library — index
U.S. Social Security Death Index and Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The U.S. Social Security program began in 1935 but most deaths recorded in the index happened after 1962.
- The Social Security Death index includes those who had a Social Security number and/or applied for benefits.
- You can search these records online at
- 1935-2014 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index ($); Picks up where the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) leaves off by providing information filed in the application or claims process
- 1962-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- If you find an ancestor in the SSDI index, you can order a copy of their original Social Security application (SS-5). If you can prove the individual has died (by sending an obituary or copy of their cemetery headstone), the application will also give the deceased's parents' names, if listed.
For more information, see Indiana Obituaries and Indiana Cemeteries.
Step 4: Search for county birth and marriage records online.
Vital records registration of births and marriages at the state level started in 1905. Prior to that the individual counties kept some records. The starting dates of those records vary from county to county, depending on when the county was formed.
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Example of a birth index entry. |
Example of a marriage index entry. |
The examples shown above are index entries. That means for each of them an actual, original, full certificate exists. It is highly advisable to order the original certificate. It will contain many details not given in the index. Instructions are given below on obtaining the original certificate.
Online databases
Records at the County Courthouse.
These records were originally created by county clerks, and then copies were sent to the state. County clerks can be willing to help find all the birth records for one family or perform other searches that the state would not do. To contact county clerks by e-mail or telephone, go to the Wiki article for each county. Links to the county Wiki articles are found at the end of this page or by clicking here: Indiana Counties.
For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Indiana, see How to Find Indiana Birth Records, How to Find Indiana Marriage Records, and How to Find Indiana Death Records.
Step 5: Search military records: World War I and II draft cards.
There are many different types of military records: draft records, enlistment records, service records, pension records, etc. Information in military records can vary from a simple lists of name, age, and residence, to more detailed records including name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, physical description, number of dependents, pensions received, disabled veterans, needy veterans, widows or orphans of veterans, and other information.
Although these records were created during the two World Wars, the men in them were often born before 1900, and their birth date and place can be found in them.
Example of a World War I draft card.
Example of a World War II draft card.
Search military records for details about men in the family.
Draft Cards
- 1917-1918 United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1942 United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
For more information and additional collections, see Indiana Military Records.
Step 6: Write to a county for wills and probate indexes.
- County probate records include probate proceedings, petitions, affidavits, orders for sales, reports of sales, administrators' and executors' bonds, guardianship papers, wills, and letters of administration.
- In a will book, usually just a transcription of the will is recorded. But all of these other records are kept in a probate packet.
- Administrations are probate proceedings that handled an estate if no known will existed.
Search these indexes and images for probate records.
- 1798-1999 Indiana, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Probate Information in County Wiki Articles
Each Indiana county Research Wiki page lists additional probate sources, including where to write for records: Indiana Counties
Step 7: Look for land records online.
These records will give the name of the owner, the date they obtained the land, the county, and the exact location of the land. They can contain clues to family members who shared ownership of the land, sold or gave land to a child, or witnessed the sale. Sometimes they show the previous or new residence of the parties to the deed. They can be useful in tracking an ancestor who lived in more than one county in Indiana. Then the probate and vital records of each county could be searched.
- 1800-1955 United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1800-c. 1955 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Federal Land Patents Search at Bureau of Land Management — index
- Hoosier Homestead Award Database Search at Indiana Archives and Records Administration — index
- Indiana Donation Database at Indiana Archives and Records Administration — index
- Land Records at Indiana Archives and Records Administration — index
A search of the Bureau of Land Management records gives results like this:
Step 8: Look for church records online.
Church records function as vital records.
- An infant christening or baptism record documents a birth.
- Many, if not most, people are married in a church, and then a record is created by the minister.
- Likewise, ministers presided over funerals, then creating a burial record, which documents a death.
Church records are particularly helpful prior to the advent of civil registration.
Search for church records that can provide additional birth, marriage, and death information.
- 1743-1966 Indiana, Church Records, 1743-1966 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1773-1933 Indiana Births and Christenings, 1773-1933 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index; Also at: American Ancestors ($), Findmypast ($), MyHeritage ($)
- 1780-1992 Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- Church Records Found in State of Indiana(*) Daughters of the American Revolution (Indiana) at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Dutch Reformed
- 1639-1989 U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1701-1995 U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1856-1970 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Vital Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Lutheran
- 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800-1947 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Methodist
- 1837-1970 Indiana, U.S., United Methodist Church Records, 1837-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Presbyterian
- 1701-1970 U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Quaker
- 1681-1935 U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1836-1921 Indiana, U.S., Selected Quaker Meeting Directories, 1836-1921 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Abstracts of the Records of the Society of Friends in Indiana, by Heiss, Willard C., William Wade Hinshaw and Society of Friends (Indiana). Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Historical Society, 1962-1977. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Vol. 7, Parts 1-6, Index
- For help with church records kept in Indiana, see Indiana Church Records.
- To search records by denomination, if you know your ancestors religion, go to Searching for Church Records by Denomination.
Step 9: If any ancestor was an immigrant, search immigration and naturalization records online.
The census records may show that an ancestor was born in another country. It will be necessary to try to find the town or city they were born in to continue research in the country of origin. Searches of immigration records (usually passenger lists) and naturalization (citizenship) records would be the next step.
Look for immigrant ancestors in shipping lists and citizenship sources.
Indiana Immigration Records
- 1895-1956 United States, Border Crossings from Canada, 1895-1956 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1945-1956 Indiana, Gary and East Chicago Crew Lists, 1945-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Indiana Naturalization and Citizenship Online Records
- 1791-1992 U.S., Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives Project) at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1848-1993 Indiana Naturalization Records and Indexes, 1848-1993 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1892-1992 Indiana, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1892-1992 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Pre-1907 Naturalization Records at IndianaHistory.org — index
- 1944-2003 U.S., Index to Alien Case Files,1944-2003 at Ancestry — index ($)
- Indiana Archives Digital Index Records at Indiana Archives and Records Administration — index
For more information, see Indiana Emigration and Immigration and Indiana Naturalization and Citizenship.
Step 10: Search for printed local histories or biography collections online.
Local Histories
- Published histories of towns, counties, and states sometimes contain biographies and accounts of early or prominent families.
- Here are several websites that feature online copies of printed county histories: Indiana; that will bring up too many hits. Just use the name of the county and "county": for example, "Hyde County"
- Google Books. Use keywords "Indiana" and the county name. Hits will list online readable books, lists of libraries that carry the book, and purchasing opportunities.
- Family History Books
- County and Town Histories
- Internet Archive. Use keywords "Indiana" and the county name.
- Ancestry.com ($). In the Card Catalog search box, use Indiana and the name of the county.
FamilySearch Collected Local Histories
- Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies.
- If you have access to the FamilySearch Library or a FamilySearch center, you can find local histories by:
- Go to the FamilySearch Catalog.
- In the "Place" field, type the name of your county and click "Search".
- A list of subheadings for the county will appear. Local histories containing genealogies and biographies will be found under Biography, Genealogy, History, or History - Indexes.
Biography Collections
These collections of Indiana biographies can be searched online. Most have a table of contents and an index. Or you can use the "Find" function on your computer.
- An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana, by De Witt C. Goodrich and Charles R. Tuttle. Indianapolis: Richard S. Peale and Company, 1875. Online at: HathiTrust
- Biographical and Historical Sketches of Early Indiana, by William Wesley Woollen. Indianapolis: Hammond and Company, 1883. Online at: HathiTrust
- County and Town Histories, Indiana at LearnWebSkills — index
- Encyclopedia of Biography of Indiana, Volume II by George Irving Reed. Chicago: Century Publishing and Engraving Company, 1899. Online at: HathiTrust
- Indiana Biographies at Deb Murray — index
- Indiana Biography Index at Indiana State Library — index
- Indiana Today, by C. Walter McCarty. Indianapolis: Indiana Editors' Association, 1942. Online at: HathiTrust
- Memorial Record of Northeastern Indiana, Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1896. Online at: HathiTrust
- Men of Indiana in Nineteen Hundred and One, Indianapolis, Indiana and Cleveland, Ohio: Benesch Publishing Company, 1901. Online at: HathiTrust
- Men of Progress, Indiana, by Will Cumback and J. B. Maynard. Indianapolis: Indianapolis Sentinel Company, 1899. Online at: HathiTrust
- Who's Hoosier, V. 1-2, by Wilbur D. Nesbit. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1911. Online at: HathiTrust
Step 11: Contact a local historical or genealogical society.
- County historical societies have collections that are frequently little known and often overlooked.
- Many have a surname file, where they have collected genealogies, newspaper clippings, old photographs, etc.
- Many have a sort of "pioneer ancestor" program, where people can submit pedigrees to prove they are the descendants of an early resident of the county.
- Most keep track of queries about families that once lived in the area from other distant relatives who may actually have more family memorabilia than you.
- If you can find the society on the internet, they may list their holdings. Or call them on the phone, find out what they have, and find out what arrangements can be made to search their collection. Frequently, you can hire one of their members to search the collection for you.
This online directory by GenealogyInc. lists historical and genealogical societies by county. Click on the map to select a county, then scroll down to the historical or genealogical society listings. Note: some Indiana counties are so sparsely populated that they do not have the population to support a society.
Here is an example of an internet website for a local genealogical society. Notice that it gives details on how to pay for searching services.
Step 12: If your family was African American, also search these specialized collections.
If your family was African American, they are generally recorded in all the above records. However, there are a few specialized records pertaining directly to African Americans.
- 1817-1920 Indiana's African American Settlements at Genealogy Center — index
- 1817-1930 Individuals Associated with Indiana’s African-American Settlements (1817-1930) at Indiana Genealogical Society — index
Step 13: Use other FamilySearch tools.
Historical Images
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
- Indiana, United States Historical Images, New Version
- Indiana, United States Historical Images, Old Version
Indiana Online Genealogy Records
Search any other online records listed in Indiana Online Genealogy Records. The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Indiana Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
Step 14: Study the Research Wiki pages for any county in Indiana.
This article focused more on Indiana state or state-wide records. There is a separate Wiki article for each county in Indiana. These articles give information, office addresses, and links to county records.