Tippecanoe County, Indiana Genealogy
Guide to Tippecanoe 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]
Tippecanoe County was named for the Anglicization of "Kethtippecanoogi", a Miami people term meaning "place of the succor fish people." The county is located in the west-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Tippecanoe County Courthouse
301 Main Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: 765-423-9326
County Website
Tippecanoe County Health Department
629 N 6th St
Lafayette, IN 47901
Health Officer: Dr. Jeremy Adler
Phone: 765-423-9221
Fax: 765-423-9797
Email: crich@tippecanoe.in.gov
Health Department
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage records from 1830, divorce records from 1850, probate and court records from 1832 and naturalization records on microfilm.
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.
Tippecanoe 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 | 1826 | 1882 | 1832 | 1826 | 1832 | 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:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
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History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
- Bible Records at INGenWeb
- Family Bibles and Records at Genealogy Trails
- Tippecanoe County Indiana Emmart Family Bible at USGenWeb Archives
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Biographical history of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski counties, (Indiana. 2003. La Crosse WI: Brookhaven Press.) Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library; Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Past and Present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana. 2 volumes. 1909. Edited by R.P. DeHart. Indianapolis, Indiana : B.F. Bowen & Company. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Hathitrust, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat). Vol. 1 contains historical material; vol. 2 contains biographies.
- Indiana Biography Index at Indiana State Library
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
| Area Plan Map of Cemeteries | PDF Map of Cemeteries in Tippecanoe County Indiana |
- Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project with current information at Facebook
- Tippecanoe cemetery information at Purdue University Tippecanoe County
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For tips on accessing Tippecanoe County census records online, see: Indiana Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 7,187 | — |
| 1840 | 13,724 | 91.0% |
| 1850 | 19,377 | 41.2% |
| 1860 | 25,726 | 32.8% |
| 1870 | 33,515 | 30.3% |
| 1880 | 35,966 | 7.3% |
| 1890 | 35,078 | −2.5% |
| 1900 | 38,659 | 10.2% |
| 1910 | 40,063 | 3.6% |
| 1920 | 42,813 | 6.9% |
| 1930 | 47,535 | 11.0% |
| 1940 | 51,020 | 7.3% |
| 1950 | 74,473 | 46.0% |
| 1960 | 89,122 | 19.7% |
| 1970 | 109,378 | 22.7% |
| 1980 | 121,702 | 11.3% |
| 1990 | 130,598 | 7.3% |
| 2000 | 148,955 | 14.1% |
| 2010 | 172,780 | 16.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- Index to Defective, Dependent & Delinquent Census for Tippecanoe County, Indiana (1880) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Index to Census for Clarks Hill (1886) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Most church records are held by individual churches. For contact information, check a phone directory, such as SearchBug or Dex Knows. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository.
For more information about these major repositories, see Indiana Church Records.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- West Lafayette
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- 1818-1954 Indiana Court Cases at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1826-1853 Final Records, 1830-1852, Index, 1826-1853(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1827-1838 Order Books, 1827-1838(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1831-1867 Final Record, 1831-1867(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1841-1852 Court Order Book, 1841-1852(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1848-1865 Court Order Book, 1848-1865(*); Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1848-1865 Final Record, 1848-1865(*); Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1853-1865 Final Records, Decedents Estates, 1853-1865(*); Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1891 Polk Lafayette, Indiana, City Directory, 1891 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1909 Lafayette, Indiana, City Directory, 1909 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1920 Polk Lafayette, Indiana, City Directory, 1920 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1920 Lafayette, Indiana, City Directory, 1920 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 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]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Fisher Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services in Lafayette.
- Hahn-Groeber Funeral and Cremation Services Inc. in Lafayette.
- Hippensteel Funeral Service and Crematory in Lafayette.
- Simplicity Funeral Care in Lafayette.
- Soller-Baker Funeral Homes and Crematory in Lafayette and West Lafayette.
- Tippecanoe Memory Gardens, Funeral and Cremation Services in West Lafayette.
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 Tippecanoe 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 Tippecanoe County. County histories may include biographies; church, school and government histories; and military information. For more information about local histories, see Indiana Local Histories.
- A History of Tippecanoe County and the Wabash Valley. 1918. By Logan Esarey. Dayton, Ohio : National Historical Association. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library (note: indexed title does not match the actual book title). 3 volumes; Vol. 3 is Tippecanoe County history.
- Past and Present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana. 2 volumes. 1909. Edited by R.P. DeHart. Indianapolis, Indiana : B.F. Bowen & Company. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Hathitrust, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat). Vol. 1 contains historical material; vol. 2 contains biographies.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Indiana
- Historic Indiana Maps at IUPUI University Library
- Alameda McCollough Research Library
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Military Record Series Index at Indiana Digital Archives
Revolutionary War
- Revolutionary War Soldiers Buried in Tippecanoe County, Indiana at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Civil War
Civil War service men from Tippecanoe 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 Tippecanoe County.
- 4th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company I
- 5th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry (90th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers), Company L
- 7th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company H
- 9th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Companies D, and G
- 10th Battery, Indiana Light Artillery
- 10th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies A, D, E, and Reorganized Companies E, H, K
- 11th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Companies A, H, and I
- 11th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F and Reorganized Company F
- 12th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company A
- 15th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company K
- 20th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Companies C, F, and K
- 23rd Battery, Indiana Light Artillery
- 26th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company G
- 35th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies E, and H
- 40th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies A, C, D, G, H, I, and K
- 63rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company A
- 72nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies C, and G
- 86th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies I, and K
- 91st Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company I
- 99th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
- 100th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company G
- 108th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies A, D, E, and H
- 116th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (6 months, 1863-4), Companies A, E, and I
- 130th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company H
- 135th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies A, C, D, and G
- 142nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company H
- 150th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, and I
- 154th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies E, H, and I
World War I
- 1919 Indiana, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Roll of Honor at Tippecanoe County Area Genealogical Society
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- As of 16 Nov 2022, Tippecanoe County has not delivered any naturalization records to the Indiana State Archives.
- The Tippecanoe County Historical Association's website states that its library, the Alameda McCollough Research Library, has amassed a number of county records and books including naturalization records. The Naturalization Index of Tippecanoe County, Indiana 1826-1957 is linked on this site. Researchers who cannot visit the library in person may request research assistance and photocopies (for a fee).
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 1804-2010
- Newspapers on Microfilm at the Tippecanoe Co., Indiana Public Library
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
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 Tippecanoe 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 ($)
- 1826-1853 Final Records, 1830-1852, Index, 1826-1853(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1828-1892 Will Record, 1828-1892(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1830-1905 Guardians Docket, 1830-1905(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1831-1867 Final Record, 1831-1867(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1836-1969 Probate Indexes, 1836-1969(*); Clerk of the Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1841-1852 Court Order Book, 1841-1852(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1848-1865 Final Record, 1848-1865(*); Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1853-1865 Final Records, Decedents Estates, 1853-1865(*); Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records[edit | edit source]
- Directory of Teachers for Tippecanoe County (1936) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Students and Teachers of West Lafayette High School (1923, 1926) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Selected Alumni, Students, and Teachers of Jefferson High School, Lafayette (1928) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Indiana tax records complement land records and can be used in place of censuses or to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information see the wiki page Indiana Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Indiana law in 1882 required registration of births and deaths in counties. The Indiana Department of Health has birth records filed after October 1907 and death records filed after January 1900 for deaths. Copies may be obtained from the county health department or the Indiana State Division of Vital Records.
Birth[edit | edit source]
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1780-1992 Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1800s-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 ($)
- 1811-2007 Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Death[edit | edit source]
- Pre-1882 WEB: Indiana, Deaths, Pre-1882 at Ancestry - index, (Free collection)
- 1750-1993 Indiana Deaths and Burials, 1750-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1882-1920 Indiana, Death Index, 1882-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1899-2011 Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 at Ancestry ($)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Tippecanoe 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
- Crawfordsville Indiana FamilySearch Center
- West Lafayette Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Monticello-Union Township Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Otterbein Public Library - an affiliate library.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Tippecanoe County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Indiana Archives and Libraries.
Tippecanoe County Public Library
Downtown Branch
627 S St
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: 765-429-0100
Email: tcpl.lib.in.us
Facebook
Website
Alameda McCollough Research Library
Tippecanoe County Historical Association
1001 South St.
Lafayette, IN 47901
Email: library@tippecanoehistory.org
Facebook
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Tippecanoe County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Indiana Societies.
Shelby Township Historical Association
906 Hillcrest Road
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Phone: 765-583-2165
Tippecanoe County Area Genealogical Society
PO Box 2464
West Lafayette, IN 47996
Email: tipcoasoc@gmail.com
Website
Tippecanoe County Historical Association
1001 South St
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone: 765-467-8411
Email: library@tippecanoehistory.org
Facebook
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- 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
- USGenWeb, Tippecanoe County
- InGenWeb, Tippecanoe 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, "Tippecanoe County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tippecanoe_County,_Indiana accessed 04/04/2017.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Adams County, Indiana" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Indiana (accessed 10 May 2012).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Tippecanoe County, Indiana," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tippecanoe_County%2C_Indiana, accessed 11 January 2020.