Indiana Local History <-> Genealogy 


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NOBLE COUNTY, Indiana
History <-> Genealogy

*First created in 1836, Noble County was formed from a portion of LaGrange County which had itself been organized, in 1832, from Allen County.
*County seat: Albion.
Located in northeastern Indiana.
*Cities, Towns & Communities (past &/or present) include: Albion, Avilla, Bakertown, Brimfield, Burr Oak, Cosperville, Cromwell, Ege, Green Center, Grismore, Hawville, Indian Village, Kendallville, Kimmell, LaOtto, Ligonier, Lisbon, Merriam (Noblesville), Ormas, Potters Station, Port Mitchell, Rochester, Rome City, Springfield, Swan, Washington Center, Wawaka, Wilmot, and Wolf Lake.


     Originally, the area now known as Noble County was said to have been almost covered with a very heavy growth of timber, consisting princially of oak, beech, maple, ash, tulip, walnut, hickory, and many more varieties.  There were also small areas of prairie land, extensive marsh areas, and, reportedly, about 150 lakes of varying sizes.  Though marsh lands have been drained, giving way to much appreciated farmland, most of the picturesque lakes remain.
     Tradition has it that the first building erected in the county was the grand council house, built as early as 1820, for the Indian Chief "Flat Belly".  It was located on a six mile square "reservation" situated in present day Sparta and Washington Townships, of  Noble County, and Turkey Creek and Tippecanoe Townships of Kosciusko.  According to Indian accounts, this building, constructed of brick manufactured on the reservation, was destroyed by a great storm.
 
 

Surrounding Counties:
                                 N =  LaGrange County, IN
NW = Elkhart County, IN     NOBLE COUNTY     E = DeKalb County, IN
    SW = Kosciusko County, IN    S = Whitley County, IN  SE = Allen County, IN


     The poem, "Indiana", was written by Arthur Franklin Mapes of Kendallville, in Noble County, Indiana.  It was adopted by the 1963 General Assembly as the Indiana State Poem.  (Indiana Code 1-2-5-1)

  • U. S. Census Bureau Noble County Profile.
  • Interactive Present day Map of Noble County, Indiana.
  • Use the query form, at USGS, to map 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.
  • Noble County Convention and Visitors Bureau

·         Noble County Public Library    813 E. Main Street - Albion, IN 46701  Phone: (260) 636-7197.
   Holdings in the Genealogy room include: Cemetery records, obituary files, area high school yearbooks, and Albion newspapers from 1918.
   Library Hours:  Monday thru Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; Closed Sunday.

o     Genealogy

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

o    Online Databases

o    Indiana Cemetery Locator Database

o    Indiana Biography Index (published before 1990)

o    Indiana Biography Index (published since 1990)

o    Index of Indiana Marriages Through 1850.

o    Index of Indiana Marriages, 1993 through 2002

o    Newspaper Holdings: Holdings by county (in Indianapolis)

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

o    Indiana Public Libraries

o    WWII Servicemen Database

o    Indiana Plat Books

o    Vital Information Exchange (VINE)

Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site

o    Noble County Public Library    813 E. Main Street - Albion, IN 46701  Phone: (260) 636-7197.
   Holdings in the Genealogy room include: Cemetery records, obituary files, area high school yearbooks, and Albion newspapers from 1918.
   Library Hours:  Monday thru Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; Closed Sunday.

§   Genealogy

§  Noble County Records, from the Whan Collection
  

  • Noble County Health Department (For Birth & Death Certificates from ca. 1882)    2090 N. State Road 9, Suite C - Albion, IN 46701-9600  Phone: (260) 636-2191.
    Though the earliest available records may vary by county location, in general, birth and death records were not kept prior to ca. 1882 in Indiana.
    In Noble County, the Fees are:
       Birth Certificates are $5 each, and $2 each for additional copies of the same record.
       Death certificates are $6 each, and $3 each for additional copies of the same record.
       A death record genealogy sheet (not certified) is available for $1.
       No personal checks are accepted.  Cash, money order or cashier's checks are acceptable.
         Certificates, for Indiana Births which occurred after October 1907, and Deaths which occurred after 1900, may also be obtained from the Indiana State Department of Health.
    Vital Records Department
       Indiana     State Department of Health
       2 North Meridian Street
       Indianapolis, IN 46204
       Phone: (317) 233-2700
  • Noble County Clerk (For Marriage, Divorce and Probate records)    101 N. Orange Street  #240 - Albion, IN 46701 Phone: (260) 636-2736 or 636-2644.
  • Noble County Recorder
        101 N. Orange Street - Albion, IN 46701  Phone: (260) 636-2672.
  • Noble County Court Office
        107 Weber Road - Albion, IN  46701 Phone: (260) 636-2021.

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


PROFESSIONAL HISTORICAL GENEALOGY 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.

Noble County Communities

ALLEN Township - communities include:  Lisbon, Avilla, and a portion of Kendalville.  The remaining portion of Kendalville is within Wayne Township.    The settlement of St. Marys appears (in section 27) on a ca. 1876 map of Noble County (see citation #2).
 

  • Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Kendallville Public Library    126 W. Rush Street - Kendallville, IN 46755   Phone: (260) 347-2768
  • Avilla Branch Library - Information
        W. Albion Street - P.O. Box 699 - Avilla, IN 46710   Phone: (260) 897-3900.
        Hours:  Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00-5:00; Tuesday and Wednesday: 9:00-6:00; and Saturday: 10:00-1:00.


ALBION Township - encompasses the town of Albion.

  • Noble County Genealogical Society    813 E. Main St., Albion, IN 46701    E-mail: maayres@ligtel.com
       The Noble County Genealogical Society is associated with the     Noble County Public Library's wonderful Indiana/Genealogy room, so messages may be left for the society via the library's phone number:  Phone: (260) 636-7197
  • Noble County Historical Society and The Old Jail Museum
       P.O. Box 152 - Albion, IN  46701   Phone: (260) 636-2803.
  • Chain O' Lakes State Park    2355 E. 75 South - Albion, IN 46701   Phone: (260) 636-2654.
  • Albion Chamber of Commerce Indiana    P. O. Box 63 - Albion, IN 46701   Phone: (260) 636-3744  E-mail: albionin@noble.cioe.com
  • Noble County Public Library    813 E. Main Street - Albion, IN 46701  Phone: (260) 636-7197.
       Hours:  Monday thru Thursday: 8:30-8:30; Friday: 8:30-5:30 and Saturday: 8:30-3:30.
       Holdings in the Genealogy room include: Cemetary records, obituary files, area high school yearbooks, and Albion newspapers from 1918.


ELKHART Township - communities include: Cosperville and Wawaka.  The settlement of Springfield appears, in section 22, at the location now called Cosperville, on a ca. 1876 map of Noble County (see citation #2).


GREEN Township - communities include:  Green Center and the Chain O'Lakes State Park.


JEFFERSON Township - communities include:  Bakertown.


NOBLE Township - communities include:  Burr Oak, Merriam and Wolf Lake.  A settlement called Noblesville appears, in section 25, at the location now called Merriam, on a ca. 1876 map of Noble County (see citation #2).


ORANGE Township - communities include:  Brimfield, Rome City and a portion of Wolcottville which is located on the Lagrange-Noble counties line.

  • Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site (Sylvan Lake)    Limberlost North - 1205 Pleasant Point, Box 639 - Rome City, IN 46784
       Phone: (260) 854-3790.
  • Limberlost Public Library
       164 Kelly Street, P.O.B. 447 - Rome City, IN    Phone: (260) 854-2775


PERRY Township - communities include:  Grismore and Ligonier.  The settlements of Hawville (section 3) and Rochester (section 26) appear on a ca. 1876 map of Noble County (see citation #2).

     Perry Township was originally organized in the Spring of 1833, when the area was still a part of LaGrange County.

  • Noble County Convention & Visitors site:  Ligonier Information
  • Ligonier Historical Society and Museum
        503 S. Main Street, Corner of Sixth & Main Streets - Ligonier, Indiana..
        Hours: May 1 through October, on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday 1 - 4.
        Historical Society Phone: (260) 894-7580.
  • Indiana Historic Radio Museum
       SR 5, in the     Ligonier Vistor's Center, Ligonier, IN  Phone: (260) 894-9000 or 894-3779.
       The Radio Museum is a "must see"!!!
  • Ligonier Public Library    300 South Main Street - Ligonier, IN 4676  Phone: (260) 894-4511.
       Hours:  Monday thru Thursday: 10:00-8:00; Friday and Saturday: 10:00-3:00.


SPARTA Township - communities include:  Cromwell, Kimmell and Indian Village.

  • Cromwell Branch Library - Information    120 Jefferson Street - Cromwell, IN 46732   Phone & Fax: (260) 856-2119.
       Hours:  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday:  10:00-5:00; Wednesday: 12:00-7:00; and Saturday: 9:00-2:00.


SWAN Township - communities include:  Ege, LaOtto and Swan.   The settlement of Potters Station (sections 33 & 34, at the Allen County border) appears on a ca. 1876 map of Noble County (see citation #2).


WASHINGTON Township - communities include:  Washington Center and Wilmot.  Ormas is situated at the Noble and Whitley county line.


WAYNE Township - communities include:  Hoffman and a portion of the city of Kendallville.  The remaining portion of Kendalville is within ALLEN Township.


YORK Township - communities include:  Port Mitchell.

  •  

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


PROFESSIONAL HISTORICAL GENEALOGY RESEARCH
Ann McRoden Mensch, Professional Historical Genealogist

Researching onsite, 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.

Printed resources for Noble County include the following:

  1. 150 years of Noble County, Indiana, 1836-1986.  The Noble County History Book Committee. (Compiler and Publisher).  Noble County, Indiana : The Noble County History Book Committee.  1986.  (Call #Gc977.201 N66HI).
  2. Illustrated Historcal Atlas of the State of Indiana.  Chicago : Baskin Forester & Co., 1876.  Reprinted by the Indiana Historical Society in 1968.
  3. Popular History of Noble County Capitals and Greater Albion : growth, resources, surroundings, facilities and industrial opportunities, interesting sketches and reminiscences, with a business and professional guide.  Geo. W. Roof.  (Compiler and Editor).  Albion, Ind. : New Era Publishing House, 1908.  [Includes index]  (Call # Gc 977.201 N66RO)
  4. Alvord's History of Noble County, Indiana ... : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of local biography - memoirs of representative men and women of the county, whose works of merit have made their names imperishable ...  Samuel E. Alvord.  (Author).  Logansport, Ind. : B. F. Bowen, 1902. (Call # Gc 977.201 N66A)
  5. Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical.  Weston A. Goodspeed. (Historical Editor). Charles Blanchard. (Biographical Editor).  Chicago : F.A. Battey, 1882. (Call # Gc977.201 W59G)
  6. Albion Memories: (A History of Albion, Indiana from 1908 to 1976).  Linda Nash Shultz.  (Author).  1976.  (Call #Gc977202 Al14s)
  7. Alvord's History of Noble County, Indiana.  Samuel E. Alvord.  (Author).  Logansport, Indiana : B. F. Bowen.  1902.  (Call #Gc977.201 N66a).
  8. Counties of Lagrange and Noble County, Indiana.  Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co.  1882.  (Call #Gc977.201 L13c).
  9. History of Kendallville.  Mrs. Henry G. Misselhorn.  (Compiler).  1952.  (Call #Gc977.202 K33n).
  10. The History of Kendallville and Noble County, Indiana.  Chicago : Andres and Baskin.  1874.  (Call #Gc 977.201 N66K oversize).
  11. History of Orange Township.  M. F. Owen.  (Author).  (Call #Gc977201 N66o).
  12. An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Noble County, Indiana.  Chicago, Illinois : Andres and Baskin.  1874.  (Call #Gc977.201 N66an oversize).
  13. Complete Survey and Atlas of Noble County, Indiana: Containing Complete Maps of all Townships,
  14. Cities and Villages.  R.A. Coil and Samuel Cleland.  (Compilers).  Chicago : Standard Map Co.  ca. 1914.  (Call #Gc977.201 N66CO).
  15. Atlas and Directory of Noble County, Indiana.   Elmhurst, Illinois : Friendly map and publishing company. 1939.  (Call #Gc977.201 N66AT)
  16. List of Residents of Noble County, Indiana, 1919 : list of residents of Allen, Green, Jefferson,
    Orange, Swan, Wayne, elkhart, Noble, Perry, Sparta, Washington, and York townships, Noble county, Indiana. Albion, Ind. : Noble County Genealogical Society, Reprinted from the book How to do things, Wilmer Atkinson company, Washington Square, Philadelphia.  (Call #Gc 977.201 N66L)
  17. Kendallville Families and Their Homes.  Jean Stiver Cochard.  (Author).  1976.  (Call #Gc977.202 K33c).
  18. Ligonier Centennial (1835-1935).  (Call #Gc977.202 L62l).
  19. Popular History of Noble County Capitals and Greater Albion, Indiana.  Geo. W. Roof.  (Compiler and Editor).  Albion, Indiana : New Era Publishing House.  1908.  (Call #Gc977.201 N66ro).
  20. Noble County, Indiana Index of Names of Persons and of Firms.  Reynolds Historical Genealogy Department Staff.  (Compilers).  Fort Wayne, Indiana : Fort Wayne Public Library.  1978.
  21. Noble County, Indiana Marriages, 1859-1899.  Ruth M. Slevin. (Compiler).  (n.p.)  1971
  22. Noble County, Indiana, Filing Dates for Divorce, Annulment, Separation, Dismissed, 1859-1959.  Beverly Shank.  (Compiler and Publisher).  (n.d. - assume ca. 1959).
  23. The Cemeteries of Noble County, Indiana.  Beverly Uhl Shank and Clara Whan.  (Authors).  Avilla, Indiana : Shank & Whan, 1996.  (Gc 977.201 N66SSF)
  24. Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer.  First Edition, Second Printing.  Yarmouth, Maine:  Delorme.  1998.
  25. School and Library Atlas of the World.  Fred W. Foster, Ph.D. (Editor).  Sycamore, Illinois:  School and Library Publishing Company.  1982.

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Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002-2009, by Ann Mensch.  All Rights Reserved.