Adams County, Indiana History and Genealogy Research Guide and Links

ADAMS COUNTY
History <-> Genealogy
Map

*First created in 1835, from Adams New Purchase, which included portions of Allen, Delaware and Randolph Counties.
*County seat: Decatur.
*Cities, Towns & Communities include: Berne, Coppess Corner, Decatur, Elm Tree Crossroads, Geneva, Honduras, Linn Grove, Magley, Monmouth, Monroe, Perryville, Peterson, Pleasant Mills, Preble, Rivare, and Salem.

Click HERE for General ADAMS County information and links, OR
Select a TOWN from above to go to the township location, with links and information specific to that area, OR, select a TOWNSHIP from the following table:

Please note: Though the information on this web page is believed to be correct, the possibility of error remains. Please notify the Ann Mensch should an error be found.

Townships in Adams County
(North = Top)

Preble Township	Root Township	Union Township
Kirkland Township	Washington Township	St. Mary's Township
French Township	Monroe Township	Blue Creek Township
Hartford Township	Wabash Township	Jefferson Township

Surrounding Counties:
                                      N = Allen County, IN        ENE = Van Wert County, OH
W = Wells County, IN      ADAMS COUNTY      ESE = Mercer County, OH
                                          S = Jay County, IN

Visit: American Local History Network for Ohio - hosted by Allen Richmond.

· INGenWeb for ADAMS County, Indiana Genealogy, by Tim Singleton

o WPA Birth Index, 1882-1920.

o WPA Marriage Index, 1845-1920.

o WPA Death Index, 1882-1920.

o Adams County 1850 Census Index - transcribed by Lana Magiera from Microfilm # M432-135.

· Adams County Historical Society - Museum located at 420 W. Monroe Street P.O. Box 262 - Decatur, IN 46733-0262
Phone: (260) 724-3493.

o Previous Printed Histories.

o Miamis Returned: 18th Century History.

o Brief History of Adams County and 1909 Map.

· Adams County History and Pioneer Families, online by Ronald Branson of countyhistory.com!

· Adams County Biographies, by Deb Murray

· Gene Stratton-Porter's Limberlost Swamp, Home & Life or alternate web address

o Limberlost Marsh Wetland Preserve

o A Map for the Loblolly Marsh - Geneva, Indiana.

o Rainbow Bottom Walking Tour

o Auto Tour of the Gene Stratton-Porter Limberlost Area

o Geneva (Gene) Grace Stratton

· Gene Stratton Porter (1863-1924) was born on August 17, 1863, near Wabash, in Wabash County, Indiana. In 1886, she married Charles Porter, and lived for a short time in Decatur, then Geneva, near the Limberlost Swamp, in Adams County, Indiana. In 1913, the family relocated to Sylvan Lake near Rome City, in Noble County, Indiana.

· Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites - Historic Sites List

Limberlost : "...Stretching for 13 thousand acres across Indiana's southern Adams County and northern Jay County, the vast forest and swampland was a legend for its quicksand and unsavory characters...To the famed Indiana author, Gene Stratton-Porter, the swamp was her playground, laboratory and inspiration..."

· Limberlost State Historic Site Box 356 - 200 East 6th Street - Geneva, Indiana 46740 Phone: (260) 368-7428.

· Adams County Economic Development

· Adams County Historical Museum 420 West Monroe Street - Decatur, IN 46733 Phone: (260) 724-2341.

· Swiss Heritage Village 1200 Swiss Way - P.O. Box 88 - Berne, IN 46711 Phone: (260) 589-8007.

· The Story of Berne, Indiana

· DNR: Indiana Canoeing Guide : The Wabash River.

· Decatur Daily Democrat Online News.

· Decatur, Indiana Chamber of Commerce includes:

o A Brief History of Decatur and Adams County, Indiana!

o Churches of Decatur

· Decatur Public Library 128 S. Third Street - Decatur, IN 46733 Phone: (260) 724-2605.

o Genealogical Aids in the Decatur Public Library

Early newspaper microfilms include:
Decatur Eagle (1857-1874); Decatur Democratic Press (1892-1894); and Decatur Daily Democrat (from July 1880-to present).

o Adams County Timeline

o Decatur and Adams County, Indiana Facts

· See also a Tiger Interactive map of Adams County, Indiana.

· Indiana State Library. 140 North Senate Avenue - Indianapolis, IN 46204-2296

o Online Databases

o Indiana Cemetery Locator Database

o Indiana Biography Index

o Index of Indiana Marriages Through 1850.

o Index of Indiana Marriages, 1993 through 2000

o Newspaper Holdings: Holdings by county

o Images of Indiana: 92 Counties // from Adams to Whitley

o Indiana Public Libraries

o Map of Indiana Libraries.

o WWII Servicemen Database

o Indiana Plat Books

· USGS: Map locations of Adams County features including cemeteries, churches, populated places, and more. Please note that the map town listed with a feature may be used as a map reference for the site, and may not be the town where the feature is actually located...Select a map to see the location of the actual feature. This database may not be complete, and, as with any database, there may be errors.

· The Political Graveyard, for Adams County, Indiana, created and maintained by Lawrence Kestenbaum, a web site about U.S. political history, politicians and cemeteries.

· Adams County, Indiana Government

·         Adams County Health Department: (For birth and death certificates from 1882)      Adams County Service Complex
     Room 314 - 313 W. Jefferson Street
     Decatur, IN 46733-2352
     Phone: (260) 724-5326
     Fees: Hard Copies: $5; Search: $1; Certified: $10.
     It is recommended that the current fees be verified by contacting the health department before mailing your request. Please include specific name and date details and self-addressed stamped envelope with request.

· Obtaining Indiana Birth and Death Certificates

·         Adams Circuit Court Clerk: (For marriage records from 1836, divorce & naturalization)      Courthouse:
     112 N 2nd Street - Box 189
     Decatur, IN 46733
     Phone: (260) 724-5300.

[ Additional Research Resources for All Indiana Counties ]
[ Return to Indiana Local History ]

Professional Research
Ann McRoden Mensch, Professional Historical Genealogist

Researching onsight, and with the vast resources of The Allen County Public Library, holding one of the largest genealogical collections in North America. Search the Library's online catalogue to see some of the printed resources available for a location or topic.

Adams County Communities

Blue Creek Township, Adams County
Communities include: Salem.

French Township, Adams County
Communities include: This is a rural township.

Hartford Township, Adams County
Communities include: Linn Grove (Buena Vista) and Perryville.

· BC's Linn Grove Pages, by Brian Culy.

o The History of Linn Grove!

o Robert and Rebecca (nee DAVIS) SIMISON - "Robert was the owner of the town site Buena Vista (now known as Linn Grove)..." Their 1836 marriage is believed to have been the first in Wells County.

o Can you contribute Linn Grove stories, photos, or information to Brian?

Jefferson Township, Adams County
Communities include: This is a rural township.

Kirkland Township, Adams County
Communities include: Honduras and Peterson. Magley and Preble are situated on the Kirkland-Preble Township line.

Monroe Township, Adams County
Communities include: Monroe and the northern portion of Berne, which is located on the Monroe-Wabash township line, with its southern portion in Wabash Township.

Berne, IN

· Berne, Indiana - A bit of Old Switzerland - Chamber of Commerce site includes:

o The Story of Berne

· Berne Public Library 166 Sprunger Street # 1 - Berne, IN 46711 Phone: (260) 589-2809.

Preble Township, Adams County
Communities include: Magley and Preble are situated on the Kirkland-Preble Township line.

Root Township, Adams County
Communities include: Monmouth and a northern portion of the city of Decatur, the remaining portion of Decatur is within Washington Township.

St. Mary's Township, Adams County
Communities include: Pleasant Mills and Rivare.

Union Township, Adams County
Communities include: This is a rural township.

Wabash Township, Adams County
Communities include: Geneva and the southern portion of Berne, which is located on the Monroe-Wabash township line, with its northern portion in Monroe Township.

· Berne, IN

o Berne, Indiana - A bit of Old Switzerland - Chamber of Commerce site includes:

o The Story of Berne

o Swiss Heritage Village

§ 1200 Swiss Way - P.O. Box 88 - Berne, IN 46711 Phone: (260) 589-8007.

o Berne Public Library

§ 166 Sprunger Street # 1 - Berne, IN 46711 Phone: (260) 589-2809.

· Geneva, IN

o Limberlost State Historic Site

§ P.O. Box 356 - 200 East 6th Street - Geneva, IN 46740 Phone: (260) 368-7428.

o The Bird Woman - an introduction to Gene Stratton-Porter's Limberlost Swamp & Home in Geneva, Indiana.

o The Loblolly Marsh Wetlands Preserve.

o The Amazing Story of Our Teays River.

o Limberlost State Historic Site

§ 200 East 6th Street - P.O. Box 356 - Geneva, IN 46740 Phone: (260) 368-7425.

o Geneva Public Library

§ 305 East Line Street - Geneva, IN 46740 Phone: (260) 368-7270.

Washington Township, Adams County
Communities include: Coppess Corner, Elm Tree Crossroads, and most of the city of Decatur is located within Washington Township, a northern portion of Decatur is in Root Township.

· 1907 History of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Decatur.

· St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church

o 414Madison Street - Decatur, IN 46733 Phone: (260) 724-9159

· Zion-Friedheim Lutheran Church - Decatur, Indiana

o Church History (from 1836)

o (Zion Genealogy records coming soon to this site!)

· Decatur Daily Democrat Online News.

· Decatur, Indiana Chamber of Commerce includes:

o A Brief History of Decatur and Adams County, Indiana!

o Churches of Decatur

· Decatur Public Library 128 S. Third Street - Decatur, IN 46733 Phone: (260) 724-2605.

Adams County Health Department: (For birth and death certificates from 1882)      Adams County Service Complex
     Room 314 - 313 W. Jefferson Street
     Decatur, IN 46733-2352
     Phone: (260) 724-5326.
     Fees (Please contact Health Department to verify current fees and instructions):

Birth Certificate: $2; Death Certificate: $3;
include specific name and date details and self-addressed stamped envelope with request.

·         Adams Circuit Court Clerk: (For marriage records from 1836, divorce & naturalization)      Courthouse:
     112 N 2nd Street - Box 189
     Decatur, IN 46733
     Phone: (260) 724-5300.

Printed resources for this page include:

· Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer. First Edition, Second Printing. Yarmouth, Maine: Delorme. 1998.

· School and Library Atlas of the World. Fred W. Foster, Ph.D. (Editor). Sycamore, Illinois: School and Library Publishing Company. 1982.

· Tri-annual Atlas & Plat Book, Adams County, Indiana. Rockford, Illinois : Rockford Map Publishers, 1966. (Gc 977.201 AD1RO).

· 1979 History of Adams County, Indiana. Dick D. Heller, Jr. and Lawrence Beckmeyer. (Authors). Decatur, Indiana : Adams County Historical Society, c1980-1989. (Gc 977.201 AD1ADH).

· Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana. J. F. Snow [John Fletcher Snow, 1854-1933]. (Author). Indianapolis, Indiana : B.F. Bowen, 1907. (Gc 977.201 AD1S).

· The History of the Catholic Church in Decatur and Adams County, Indiana, 1836-1980. Lawrence Beckmeyer. (Research and Author). James J. Divita. (Editor). Decatur, Indiana : L. Beckmeyer, 1980. (Gc 977.201 AD1BEC).

· A Holthouse Family History : the German Catholic Settlers of Adams County, Indiana. Angela M. Quinn and Lori A. Brubaker. (Authors). Fort Wayne, Indiana : A.M. Quinn ; Houston, Texas : L.A. Brubaker, 1994. (Gc 929.2 H7437Q).

· St. John's (Bingen) Lutheran Church Records, 1846-1863. Rev. Richard Scheimann. (Translator). Elisabeth (Doehrman) Jones. (Indexer). Decatur, Indiana? : Ardena Burke, 1992. (Gc 977.201 AD1SA).

· St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church (Bingen) : 11555 N. US27, Decatur, Indiana, congregational records, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, 1845-1996. Decatur, Indiana : Ladies Guild, 1997. (Gc 977.202 D35SCA).

[ Additional Research Resources for All Indiana Counties ]
[ Return to Indiana Local History ]

Professional Research
Ann McRoden Mensch, Professional Historical Genealogist

Researching on-site, and with the vast resources of The Allen County Public Library, holding one of the largest genealogical collections in North America.