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Morgan County History and Information
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Morgan County Facts

Morgan County was created on February 15, 1822 and was formed from Delaware New Purchase and Wabash New Purchase. The Delaware New Purchase: Set up in 1820, portions were set apart as the entire counties of Allen, Bartholomew, Hamilton, Henry, Johnson, Marion, Rush, and Shelby. Parts of the counties of Delaware, Hendricks, Madison, and Morgan also were located in the Delaware Purchase. In 1827, the name of the tract was changed to the Adams New Purchase. 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. The County was named for Gen. Daniel Morgan, who defeated the British at the Battle of Cowpens in the Revolutionary War.

The County Seat is Martinsville. First settled in 1822 by Joshua Taylor, Judge Gray, Jacob Cutler, G. W. Preston, Dr. Sims, and other, by 1849 it contained a population of about 600. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Morgan County are Hendricks County (north), Marion County (northeast), Johnson County (east), Brown County (southeast), Monroe County (south), Owen County (southwest), Putnam County (northwest).

Morgan County is divided into 14 Civil Townships as follows: Adams, Ashland, Baker, Brown, Clay, Green, Gregg, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Ray and Washington.

Cities, Towns and Communities include Adams, Allman, Bethany, Briarwood, Brooklyn, Bunker Hill, Campbells, Centerton, Cope, Eminence, Exchange, Fields, Fox Hill, Hall, Hyndsdale, Mahalasville, Martinsville, Monrovia, Mooresville, Morgantown, Paragon, Ridgewood, Taggart, Whitaker, Wilbur, Wiser, and Wolff.

 

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 Morgan 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 Mar. 1876, Some records destroyed. Saved: marriage and deed records from 1822, probate order books 1822-1836

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 Morgan County Courthouse History

   Morgan County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1822 , Probate Records from 1822 and Court Records from ? and is located at County Courthouse-First Floor, Courthouse Square, 10 East Washington Street, Martinsville, Indiana 46151; Telephone: (765) 342-1025
   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.

   Morgan County Recorder has Land Records from 1822 and is located at Morgan County Administration Building, 180 South Main Street, Suite 125, Martinsville, Indiana 46151; Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1653 Martinsville, IN 46151; (765) 342-1077
   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.

   Morgan County Health Department has Birth / Death Records from 1882 and is located at Vital Records, 3838 N. Rural St., Indianapolis, IN 46205; (317) 541-2400, Email: jbishop@hhcorp.org

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

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Morgan 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 Morgan County, Indiana are 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Morgan 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 Morgan County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Morgan 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.
  • Morgan County, Indiana Census Books at Amazon.com

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Morgan 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 Morgan County Maps. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Morgan 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 Morgan County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Morgan 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 Morgan County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Morgan County, Indiana Tax Books at Amazon.com

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Morgan 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 Morgan County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

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Morgan 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 Morgan County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Morgan 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 Morgan County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Morgan 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 Morgan County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Morgan 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

Morgan County, named in honor of General Daniel Morgan, was organized in 1822. It contains 453 square miles, and is bounded north by Hendricks and Marion, east by Johnson, south by Brown and Monroe, and west by Owen and Putnam. It contains the following townships, viz: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Harrison, Brown, Clay, Ray, Baker, Green and Gregg. The population in 1830 was 5,579, in 1840, 10,741, and at this time about 14,000. About one-third of the county is river and creek bottoms, the soil a sandy loam and of the richest quality. There is generally a ridge of hills where these bottoms terminate. Back of these the land becomes undulating, and in some places level, and in some places too wet for any crop but grass. In the south part of the county, adjoining Monroe, is a very hilly and broken region, yet the timber is good and the soil excellent, where it can be cultivated. No part of the State is more favorable for agriculture, and some of the best farms in it are now found here. The principal crop is corn, though wheat, oats, grass, and fruit are successfully cultivated, and the spirit of progress is now apparent among the farmers, in the erection of substantial buildings, in planting good orchards and vineyards, and in increasing the variety and quality of their crops. Though White River is not favorable for navigation but a short time each year, yet from twenty-five to thirty boats, carrying from fifty to seventy tons, are annually sent off freighted with surplus products. Other articles are taken to the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, and cattle, horses and mules are driven usually to distant markets. In most years, 40,000 bushels of corn, and mules, and many other articles of considerable value have been exported from this county, and were there a railroad completed to Martinsville or Mooresville, as has been proposed, or even the Plank Road completed from Franklin to the Bluffs, the amount would be largely increased.

There are in the county eighteen gristmills, twenty-eight sawmills, three carding machines, one fulling mill, one printing office, thirty stores and groceries, seven lawyers, twenty physicians, thirty preachers, about 300 mechanics, a flourishing County Seminary, and about eighty common schools, which are kept up a portion of the year. The religious denominations that have erected churches are as follows: Cumberland Presbyterians one, Lutherans one, Baptists five, Reformers or Christians ten, Friends three, Methodists fourteen. The taxable land in the county is 217,047 acres.

In the western part of the county is a cavern, from the mouth of which leaps a foaming stream that only at a few feet distance turns a flourishing mill. This cavern has been explored about half a mile, but the darkness and the myriads of bats that make its gloomy halls their abode, render its full exploration a matter of difficulty. About two and a-half miles southeast of Martinsville, at a ford of the creek, where an Indian trail passed it, is a spot called by the Indians "Murder Ground." The origin of the name, by their tradition, was that one of their parties having captured several prisoners from Kentucky, in early times, had escaped with them to this place without being pursued, as they thought. Here they left their prisoners bound, and went out to hunt. In their absence, a party of Kentuckians came up and stationed themselves in ambush, near the prisoners, and shot the Indians almost to a man as they returned at different times from hunting.

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

Located in the valley of the west fork of White River, Morgan County is famous for its medicated water wells, its fine hardwood timber, numerous sugar camps, and the largest goldfish hatchery in the world. Morgan County's soil is very fertile and sandstone is the chief natural resource. Also found in the county is shale, which is well suited for the manufacture of paving brick.

The county embraces 406 square miles, divided into fourteen townships. It is located southwest of Indianapolis, its northeastern boundary touching Marion County. The incorporated city is Martinsville, 4,962; towns: Mooresville, 1,910; Morgantown, 748; Brooklyn, 545, and Paragon, 366. The county population in 1890 was 18,643; 1900, 20,457; 1910, 21,182; 1920, 20,010; 1930, 19,424.

Martinsville is commonly known as the "Artesian City" of medicated waters because of mineral wells, one 700 feet deep, which produce flowing waters. Many spas and sanatoriums, built after discovery of the precious waters with their curative powers, have attracted thousands of afflicted people who come to partake of the waters and get relief for their ailments.

Martinsville is thirty miles southwest of Indianapolis and is served by two railroads. It is not notably industrial, though it has some industries, including flour, saw, and planing mills, woodenware factory, hickory chair factory, and brick plant. There are also several points of interest in the city such as the first paved mile of the Dixie Highway. A marker, one-half mile from the courthouse, commemorates the completion of this mile. Selling bricks at twenty-five cents each raised the funds for that pavement and the names of the buyers were burned into the bricks.

Two other places are of note. One is a residence, notable because it was formerly a tavern on the "Old Trail," the other, a bakery, which has not been altered for more than a century. Northeast of the city is the Grassyfork Fisheries, which was the pioneer home of the pioneer home of the Shireman Family.

This county had twenty-four manufacturing establishments according to figures of the 1935 federal census. A total of 406 wage earners were employed on payrolls totaling $258,620. The value of the products was $1,546,298.

Morgan County had 2,343 farms averaging 98.4 acres each. Their value was $9,666,768. A total of 58,171 head of livestock was reported. The total county tax valuation for 1936 was $14,698,908.

Courthouse History

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