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Jasper County History and Information
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Jasper County Facts

Jasper County was created on March 15, 1838 and was formed from Wabash New Purchase and Unorganized Land. The Wabash New Purchase: Begun in 1820, this tract lasted until 1835 and then became all of White County and portions of the counties of Boone, Carroll, Fountain, Hendricks, Jasper, Montgomery, Morgan, Parke, Putnam, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, and Warsaw. Originally, the territory of Jasper included all of the present county of Newton and most of Benton. Before this time, it was attached to White County. The County was named for Sgt. William Jasper, a famous scout for the Continentals during the Revolutionary War.

The County Seat is Rensselaer. Rensselaer wasn't always the County Seat. The first County Seat was located at Parish Grove, thirty miles south of the present seat of justice and five miles southwest of Fowler. This was chosen because it was near the center of population and for the additional reason that it is one of the few high and dry spots in the county. At the first meeting of the commissioners it was decided to change the location to the cabin of George W. Spitler, in what is now Iroquois Township, Newton County, he having been elected County Clerk and refusing to serve unless this was done. This temporary arrangement was upset by the legislative act of January 29, 1839, which appointed commissioners to examine the counties of Jasper and Newton and see whether they should be consolidated. Rensselaer (originally called Newton) became the County Seat when the State Commissioners met in June 1839, and decided upon a consolidation. The original plat of the newly chosen County Seat was filed June 12, 1839; by 1849 it had three stores, two physicians, one lawyer and 15 dwelling houses. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Jasper County are Porter County (north), La Porte County (northeast), Starke County (east), Pulaski County (east), White County (southeast), Benton County (south), Newton County (west), Lake County (northwest).

Jasper County is divided into 13 Civil Townships as follows: Barkley, Carpenter, Gillam, Hanging Grove, Jordan, Kankakee, Keener, Marion, Milroy, Newton, Union, Walker and Wheatfield.

Cities, Towns and Communities include Aix, Asphaltum, Baileys Corner, Collegeville, Deer Park, Demotte, Dunns, Dunns Bridge, Egypt, Fair Oaks, Forest City, Fountain Park, Gifford, Hanging Grove, Kersey, Kniman, Laura, Lewiston, McCoysburg, Moffitt, Moody, Newland, North Marion, Parr, Remington, Rensselaer, Rosebud, South Marion, Stoutsburg, Surrey, Tefft, Virgie, Wheatfield and Zadoc.

 

There are free downloadable and printable forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms, U.K. Census Extraction Forms, Research Calendar, Ancestral Chart, Research Extract, Correspondence Record , Family Group Sheet , Source Summary Form.

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Records at the Jasper County Courthouse

See Also Indiana Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

PLEASE READ!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. Courthouse destroyed by Fire in 1864, Clerk's records were lost--deeds and deed indexes escaped damage

NOTE: The date listed for each category of record is the earliest record known to exist in that county. It does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and certainly does not indicate that all such events that year were actually registered. See also the Jasper County Courthouse History

   Jasper County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1850 , Probate Records from 1864 and Court Records from ? and is located at 115 West Washington Street, Suite 204, Rensselaer, Indiana 47978; 219-866-4926, 219-866-9450 (fax)
   The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a ministerial officer who is the custodian of the Clerk's record and seal, issues process, accepts filings of commencement of actions in litigation, enters judgments and orders of the court, receives money in his official capacity, makes certified copies of record, issues many miscellaneous licenses, and keeps a record of all wills and matters of trust in probate proceedings.

   Jasper County Recorder has Land Records from 1838 and is located at 115 W Washington St., Ste 203, Rensselaer, IN 47978; Phone: (219) 866-4923, Fax:(219) 866-4940, Email: recorder@co.jasper.in.us.
   The county recorder's function is to maintain permanent public records involving a wide variety of instruments. These documents detail transactions involving real estate, mining, personal property, mortgages, liens, leases, subdivision plats, military discharges, personal bonds, etc. Generally, all of these instruments are recorded either for giving legal public notice of their existence or for safekeeping and future reference. The recorder maintains and preserves all legal documents affecting title to real property.

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records! - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

   Jasper County Health Department has Birth / Death Records from 1882 and is located at 105 West Kellner Boulevard, Rensselaer, IN 47978-2888; (219) 866-4917

Below is a list of online resources for Jasper County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Jasper County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Indianapolis Newspaper Index, 1848-1991: Select articles from 1848-1888 Indianapolis daily newspapers; heavily focused on deaths and marriages. Select articles from 1898-1991 about people, places, events, and topics in Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. Extremely limited for deaths; no coverage of marriages.  Card file also available in the Microforms Area, second floor.
  • Reference & Government Services CD Collection: Database to allow searching of the hundreds of CDs from the federal government and other sources, part of the collections of the Reference & Government Services Division.
  • Jasper County, Indiana Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Indiana Immigration & Emigration Records - Immigration records help the family historian to understand the movements of their ancestry as they relocated to different parts of the world.

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Jasper County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Indiana

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Some documents are just too important to wait 6 weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Often in as few as three business days!

  • Birth Certificates: The Division of Vital Records and Statistics maintains birth records that occur in Indiana since Oct 1907 to the present. Prior to October 1907, records of birth are filed only with the local health department in the county where the birth actually occurred.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $10.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "Indiana State Department of Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • In Person: The ISDH Vital Records office is located at 6 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The office is open for walk-in requests from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., E.S.T., Monday through Friday (excluding official State Holidays). The cost for the first certificate is $10.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Average wait time is less than an hour.
    • Processing Time: 5 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
  • Death Certificates: The Division of Vital Records and Statistics maintains death records that occur in Indiana since 1900 to the present. Prior to 1900, records of death are filed only with the local health department in the county where the death actually occurred. For deaths occurring from 1900 to 1917, the city and/or county of death is required in order to locate the record.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $8.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "Indiana State Department of Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • In Person: The ISDH Vital Records office is located at 6 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The office is open for walk-in requests from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., E.S.T., Monday through Friday (excluding official State Holidays). The cost for the first certificate is $8.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Average wait Time is less than an hour.
    • Processing Time: 5 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
      • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
  • Marriage Certificates: Certified copies of marriage certificates are not available from the State Health Department. They are available from the Clerks of the Circuit Court in the county where the marriage was granted. Fees vary.
  • Divorce Certificates: Certified copies of divorce certificates are not available from the State Health Department. They are available from the County Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees vary.

Below is a list of online resources for Jasper County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Jasper County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Jasper County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Voter Lists & Census Records! - Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable.

  Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Jasper County, Indiana are 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Jasper County, Indiana are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

  See Also Statewide Records that exist for Indiana

Below is a list of online resources for Jasper County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Jasper County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Indiana Census, 1790-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 (Northwest Territory) Federal Census Index; 1807 State Census Index; 1810 Wayne County Census Index; 1812 Census Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index; 1890 Veterans Schedule.
  • Jasper County, Indiana Census Books at Amazon.com

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Jasper County Maps & Atlases

   Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Ohio and other states.

  You can view rotating animated maps for Indiana showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps
   You can view rotating animated maps for Indiana showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at County Maps

Below is a list of online resources for Jasper County Maps. Email us with websites containing Jasper County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Jasper County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Indiana

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Military Records! - Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

   The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Jasper County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Jasper County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Jasper County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

   Records of county taxes were kept as early at 1842, although most were discarded. Remaining ones would be at the county courthouse. National Archives-Great Lakes Region has records of the Internal Revenue Service for Indiana for 1867 to 1873. These are tax assessment records, arranged by district and then chronologically.

Below is a list of online resources for Jasper County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Jasper County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Jasper County, Indiana Tax Books at Amazon.com

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Jasper County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Indiana Genealogical Addresses

   The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Jasper County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Jasper County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

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Jasper County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Indiana

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

   There are many churches and cemeteries in Jasper County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Jasper County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Baptist records are found at Franklin College (in Franklin); Methodist at DePauw University (in Greencastle); Mennonite at Goshen College (in Goshen); Presbyterian at Hanover College (in Hanover); Disciples of Christ at their historical society in Nashville, Tennessee; and French Catholic at Vincennes University in the Byron R. Lewis Collection. There are also Catholic church histories and records at the Catholic Archives, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. Quaker records are at Earlham College (at Richmond).

   The commissioner's office of each Indiana county may have burial records for soldiers, sailors, and marines. If available, the records should include name, age, date of enlistment, discharge date, and death date. Records begin about 1862.

The Indiana State Library holds records of inscriptions from some Indiana cemeteries. The "Indiana Cemetery Locator File," compiled by the Genealogy Division, is an alphabetical listing of cemeteries, indicating the location in the state and the designation in the Genealogy Division of the Indiana State Library where inscriptions may be found.

Below is a list of online resources for Jasper County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Jasper County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Family Tree Records! - The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

   When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Jasper County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Jasper County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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County History

1849 Adams County Retrospect - Based on "Indiana Gazetteer," published by E. Chamberlain

Jasper County, named in honor of the humble but patriotic Sergeant Jasper, of Carolina, who died in defense of his country in the Revolutionary War, was organized in 1837. It is bounded on the north by the Kankakee River, which separates it form Lake and Porter, on the east by Stark, Pulaski and White, on the south by White and Benton counties, and on the west by the State of Illinois. Jasper is the largest county in the State [in 1849 it encompassed what is now the county of Newton] and contains about 975 square miles, but Beaver Lake, the Kankakee marshes and the Grand Prairie occupy so large a portion of it, that its settlement and improvement have hitherto proceeded slowly. It is divided into eight townships, viz: Iroquois, Newton, Marion, Barker, Jordan, Beaver and Jackson. The population in 1840 was 1,267 and it is now [1849] about 3,000.

The face of the country is generally level, and it is mostly dry and wet prairies, interspersed with small groves of timber, usually called barrens or oak openings. Much of the land is very fertile and well adapted to wheat, oats, corn, grass, etc. It is a very fine country for grazing, and the settlers are beginning to raise cattle, horses, mules and sheep in considerable numbers and Rensselaer is the County Seat.

The population of Jasper will most probably never be large, but it will no doubt be one of the best stock counties in the State.

The most of the land in the county still belongs to the United States, and only a small portion of that which has been purchased has yet become taxable.

1938 Adams County Retrospect - Based on "Indiana Review," published by the State Legislature

Jasper is the third largest county in the state in area, having 562 square miles. Owing to the destructive fires of 1843 and 1864, which destroyed practically all documents of the period, early history of Jasper County is rather vague. It is known, however, that the first white settler came in 1832. He was William Donahue, fur trapper and trader.

Jasper is one of the northwestern counties, separated on its north from Lake and Porter Counties by the Kankakee River. It is mostly agricultural land, notably adapted by the raising of stock because of the exceptionally fine grazing land.

The county has thirteen townships. The incorporated city and towns are Rensselaer, 2,798; Remington, 879; and Wheatfield, 401. Jasper County's population was 11,185 in 1890; 1900, 14,292; 1910, 13,044; 1920, 13,961; 1930, 13,388.

Rensselaer is located seventy miles southeast of Chicago and served by railroad. Among its industries are flour and lumber mills, a crushed stone plant, cement works, and grain elevators.

This city was founded by James Van Rensselaer, was migrated from New York in 1837. A monument at his grave is one of the city's points of interest. Another of the historical markers is the statue of General Milroy in Milroy Park. He was a Civil War hero and a member of the Indiana Constitutional Congress in 1850. In Memorial Park is a bronze tablet, mounted on a boulder, dedicated to the veterans of the World War. The boulder was taken from the Iroquois River upon which the city is situated.

Collegeville is the home of St. Joseph's College, which was established in 1892.

In Remington, on the grounds of the Public Library, is a memorial to the heroes of the World War.

Jasper County had eight industries according to federal census figures of 1935. These establishments employed twenty-three wage earners with total payrolls of $21,184. The value of the products was $209,545.

The county had 1,833 farms averaging 179 acres each, their total value being $14,297,334. A total of 56,447 head of livestock was reported.

The total tax valuation for the county as of 1936 was $19,727,750.

Courthouse History

Fire destroyed numerous early Indiana courthouses but few occurred under such mysterious circumstances as the one at the 1857 Jasper County Courthouse. It seems an unscrupulous lawyer named Cicero Tatman stole money from his partner, General Robert Milroy, while Milroy was serving in the Civil War. Following the January 18, 1865 courthouse fire, the General wrote in his diary, “Finding that [Tatman] was collecting money of clients and keeping—stealing and swindling I ordered him to turn over my papers, books, etc…He reluctantly and slowly did so but burned the courthouse and my papers to avoid detection of his villainy.”

Although the loss of county records was irreparable, contractors repaired the building and added new fireproof vaults. With additional updates and repairs, the courthouse continued to serve the county until 1895. At that time, County Commissioners hired Fort Wayne architect Alfred Grindle to assess the condition of the courthouse. Grindle found the brick building so deteriorated that he declared “the only way to repair this building is to rebuild it.”

The Commissioners hired Grindle and his partner Charles Weatherhogg to design a fireproof courthouse. Evidently Grindle and Weatherhogg thought it fitting that a town named Rensselaer have a French-inspired courthouse. The current building is a mélange of French chateau and Gothic cathedral influences. The rough-cut Bedford limestone, turrets, curving arches and gabled dormers give the building a castle-like massing, while the carved Medieval figurines and delicate rooftop finials recall a religious structure. The courthouse was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Like the majority of Indiana courthouses, the Jasper County Courthouse resides within a Shelbyville Square plan with streets intersecting at each corner of the square.

In celebration of the courthouse’s 100th birthday in 1996, decorative painters restored original interior stencils, gilding, and a 16-color paint scheme. Craftsman Steve Diedam restored stencils that his grandfather Herman, a German immigrant, probably painted originally

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