Indiana Local History <-> Genealogy 
[Contact: Ann McRoden Mensch]

STARKE COUNTY, Indiana
History <-> Genealogy

*First created in 1835.
Named for: General John Stark, a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War.  (visit the following off-site links to read more about General Stark & General John Stark)
*County seat: Knox.
Located in northern Indiana, with the Kankakee River as it's northwestern diagonal boundary.
When pioneers first located in this area, there were several Native American villages within the boundaries of Starke County, one being on the east bank of the Kankakee River.
*Cities, Towns & Communities include: Aldine, Bass, Bass Lake, Brems, English Lake, Garden City, Grovertown, Hamlet, Knox, Koontz Lake, Lena Park, Lomax, North Judson, Ober, Ora, San Pierre, Toto and Winona.
Select this LINK to see GENERAL Starke County information and links.
Select from the TOWN list above to learn which township the community is located in, and view information and links specific to that area.
Select from the TOWNSHIPs Table below to view information and links specific to the township.
Please note:  Though the information on this web page is believed to be correct, the possibility of error remains.  Please notify the webmaster should an error be found.

Townships in Starke County
(North = Top)

 The Kanakee River

 

Davis Township

Oregon Township

 

Jackson Township

Center Township

Washington Township

Railroad Township

Wayne Township

California Township

North Bend Township

Surrounding Counties:
                                      N = LaPorte County, IN  NE = St. Joseph County, IN
W = Jasper County, IN    STARKE COUNTY     E = Marshall County, IN
                                        S = Pulaski County, IN

   401 South Main Street - Knox, IN 46534   Phone: (574) 772-5393.
   "...Starke County Historical Society Museum is quartered in the home of banker, publisher, and businessman, twice-elected Governor of Indiana, Henry F. Schricker..."

   c/o Henry F. Schricker Library - 152 W. Culver Road - Knox, IN 46534

·         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)

·         1820 Indiana Census Index, by Lori!

   P.O. Box 75 - North Judson, IN 46366.

   Keller Avenue in North Judson, IN.


Contacts to obtain many documents and certified copies:
Starke County Government

  


Starke County Cemeteries:
     Note:  This list may not be complete.  If you are aware of a Starke County cemetery which is not listed, please contact Ann Mensch, so it may be added.

All Saints Cemetery:   Latitude: 411231N;  Longitude: 0865326W
     Located in Railroad Township, east of North Judson, slightly north of San Pierre, IN, near the intersection of HWY 421 and CR 650 S.

Bass Lake Cemetery (aka Cedar Lake):  Located in North Bend Township, by Bass Lake, on CR 400.

Cedar Lake Cemetery (aka Bass Lake):  Located in North Bend Township, by Bass Lake, on CR 400.

Crown Hill Cemetery:  Latitude:  411747N;  Longitude: 0863625W
     Located, in Center Township, in the southeast 1/4 of the northeast 1/4 of section 23, in the northeastern area of the city of Knox, IN.  It is not known when this cemetery was first established, however, by 15 February 1890, an addition was laid out on the west side of the old cemetery, with walks between the rows of lots.  The addition contained 72 lots.

Eagle Creek Cemetery (aka Lerch or Lark Cemetery):  Located in Washington Township.

Fletcher Cemetery:  Latitude: 412146N;  Longitude: 0863349W
     Located, in Oregon Township, in the northeast corner of the southeast 1/4 of section 30, Township 34 North, Range 1 West, southeast of the town of Hamlet, IN, near the intersection of CR 400 N and CR 700 E.  This land was once owned by Jesse Fletcher and his wife.  The original cemetery plat contained 64 lots, and was laid out in August 1878.  An addition of 128 lots was made on 18 October 1907.

Grovertown Cemetery:  Located on State Route 23, about 1/2 mile north of US 30, at Grovertown, Indiana, in Oregon Township.  *Thank you to Bonnie Harper for sending the information about the Grovertown Cemetery!

Hepner Cemetery:  Latitude:  411518N;  Longitude:  0864249W
    Located near Toto, IN which is at the corner intersection of the Starke County townships of Center, Jackson, California and Wayne, at CR 300 S and South Range Road.

Highland Cemetery:   Latitude: 411247N;  Longitude: 0864527W
    Located, in Wayne Township, just east of North Judson, IN.

Holy Cross Cemetery:    Latitude:  412006N; Longitude: 0863455W
    Located at the Center and Washington townships line, on CR 600 E, between CR 200 N and CR 250 N, due south of the town of Hamlet, IN.

North Bend Cemetery:   Latitude: 411243N ; Longitude: 0863212W
     Located in central North Bend Township, east of Bass Lake, on CR 700 S, west of CR 850 E, and east of CR 750 E.

North Union Cemetery:   Latitude: 411438N;  Longitude: 0862853W
      Located in the northeastern portion of North Bend Township, on CR 400 S, west of the intersection of CR 1150 E.

Oak Grove Cemetery:  Latitude:  411929N;  Longitude: 0863606W
      Located in northeastern Center Township, northeast of the city of Knox, near the intersection of CR 150 N and CR 500 E.

Oak Park Cemetery:   Latitude:  411648N;  Longitude: 0863733W
      Located, in the south part of the city of Knox, IN, in Center Township, west of Hwy 35.

Ora Cemetery:    Latitude: 411049N ;  Longitude: 0863311W
      Located, in North Bend Township, in the town of Ora, IN, near the intersection of CR 750 E and CR 850 S.  Note:  Ora is situated in southern North Bend Township, at the Starke and Pulaski County line.

Round Lake Church Cemetery:    Latitude: 411505N;  Longitude: 0864007W
      Located in California Township, on CR 350 S, west of the CR 200 E intersection, southwest from Knox, IN.

Saint Jacob Cemetery (Saint Thomas Cemetery):    Latitude: 411215N;  Longitude: 0864750W
       Located in southwestern Wayne Township, southwest of North Judson, on CR 500 W, midway between CR 700 S and CR 800 S.

San Pierre Cemetery:   Located in section 28, Township 32 North, Range 4 West, in San Pierre, behind the fire station.  This cemetery was reportedly conveyed to the Cemetery Board of San Pierre, originally, by James and Ann Brazzill, on 19 January 1876.  An additional lot, east of the corner of Webster and Elizabeth streets, in San Pierre, was conveyed by Abigail M. Adair the following year.

Swartzell Cemetery:    Latitude: 411833N;  Longitude: 0863418W
     Located in western Washington Township, north of Eagle Creek, north from CR 25 N, on CR 650 E (the road 1/2 way between CR 600 E and CR 700 E).

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Starke County Communities

California Township communities include:  Aldine, Bass and Bass Lake.    Toto is situated at the corner intersection of Jackson, Center, California and Wayne townships.

    Located near Toto, IN which is at the corner intersection of the Starke County townships of Center, Jackson, California and Wayne, at CR 300 S and South Range Road.

 

Center Township communities include:  Brems and Knox (the county seat).  Toto is situated at the corner intersection of Jackson, Center, California and Wayne townships.

   401 South Main Street - Knox, IN 46534   Phone: (574) 772-5393.
   "...Starke County Historical Society Museum is quartered in the home of banker, publisher, and businessman, twice-elected Governor of Indiana, Henry F. Schricker..."

  

    

     

   Courthouse: 53 E. Mound Street - Knox, IN 46534-1148  Phone: (574) 772-9138.

    P.O. Box 395 - Knox, IN  46534  Phone: (574) 772-9128.

   53 E. Mound Street  - Knox, IN 46534 Phone: (574) 772-9109.
 

   

Cemeteries in Center Township include:

     Located, in Center Township, in the northeastern area of the city of Knox, IN.
Below is transcribed the information about Crown Hill Cemetery which is found in
Source:  A Standard History of Starke County, Indiana.  Joseph N. McCormick.  (Author).  Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company, 1915.
     "The Crown Hill Cemetery lies in the southeast 1/4 of the northeast 1/4 of section 23, township 33 north, range 2 west, and is in the corporate limits of Knox.  There seems to be no regular surveyed plat of the original part of this cemetery, but William WINDISH and wife on February 15, 1890, had an addition laid out on the west side of the old cemetery.  This was regularly laid out with walks between the rows of lots and contains seventy-two lots.  It appears the old part of this cemetery was taken out of the farm then owned by Job SHORT, and those wishing to bury their dead chose any location that suited their fancy the best.
     This cemetery is enclosed with a good iron fence on the north and west sides and a common fence on the south and east sides.  Many have put cement curb around their respective lots, thus giving them a neat look.  Flowers are planted upon the graves which shows the respect the living have for the dead.
     Several years ago it was found to be necessary to extend the size of this cemetery by adding another addition to it or procure ground elsewhere.  A decision of the health officer of the town stated that it would be a violation of our laws to lay out any more cemetery in or so near to the town.  Then a company was organized and land boug for a new cemetery.  This company consisting of the following named persons, to-wit:  Mark R. WRIGHT, president; John G. KRATLI, vice president; John C. JONES, secretary; Wilber A. PIERSON, treasurer; George W. BEEMAN, and Fred A. CHAPEL, as trustees, with William E. PINNEY, Jacob BOZARTH, Adam F. SEIDER and James C. FLETCHER, with Joseph N. McCORMICK, engineer, did lay out the following land into a cemetery known as Oak Park Cemetery, the north half of the northwest quarter of southwest quarter of section 27, township 33 north, range 2 west, making 703 lots with walks and driveways through it.  This cemetery was laid out on the 26th of January, 1900.
     This cemetery lies south of town about one and a half miles from the courthouse.  It has a good gravel road on the west line and is also accessible by a tac leading into it on the east side from the gravel road running north and south.  It is a great consolation to the friends to have a neat and well kept cemetery where they can bury their precious ones."
 

    Located near Toto, IN which is at the corner intersection of the Starke County townships of Center, Jackson, California and Wayne, at CR 300 S and South Range Road.

    Located at the Center and Washington townships line, on CR 600 E, between CR 200 N and CR 250 N, due south of the town of Hamlet, IN.

      Located in northeastern Center Township, northeast of the city of Knox, near the intersection of CR 150 N and CR 500 E.

      Located, in the south part of the city of Knox, IN, in Center Township, west of Hwy 35.  For history see Crown Hill Cemetery.

Davis Township communities include Hamlett.  Hamlett is located at the Davis and Oregon Townships line, with a portion in each township.

   

Jackson Township communities include:    Toto is situated at the corner intersection of Jackson, Center, California and Wayne townships.
Cemeteries in Jackson Township include:

    Located near Toto, IN which is at the corner intersection of the Starke County townships of Center, Jackson, California and Wayne, at CR 300 S and South Range Road.

North Bend Township communities include:  Ora and Winona.


Cemeteries in North Bend Township include:

     Located in central North Bend Township, east of Bass Lake, on CR 700 S, west of CR 850 E, and east of CR 750 E.

      Located in the northeastern portion of North Bend Township, on CR 400 S, west of the intersection of CR 1150 E.

      Located, in North Bend Township, in the town of Ora, IN, near the intersection of CR 750 E and CR 850 S.  Note:  Ora is situated in southern North Bend Township, at the Starke and Pulaski County line.

Oregon Township communities include:  Grovertown, Hamlet and Koontz Lake.    Hamlett is located at the Davis and Oregon Townships line, with a portion in each township.
 

   

     Located, in Oregon Township, in the northeast corner of the southeast 1/4 of section 30, Township 34 North, Range 1 West, southeast of the town of Hamlet, IN, near the intersection of CR 400 N and CR 700 E.
Below is transcribed the information about the Fletcher Cemetery which is found in
Source:  A Standard History of Starke County, Indiana.  Joseph N. McCormick.  (Author).  Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company, 1915.
     "The Fletcher Cemetery is located in the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 30, township 34 north, range 1 west, upon lands owned at that time by Jesse FLETCHER and wife.  The original plat contained sixty-four lots.  This was laid August 12, 1878.  Then on the 18th of October, 1907, with Marvin SCHROCK, as engineer, an addition was laid out, containing 128 lots, making in all 192 lots in this cemetery, which lies on an elevated tract of land, a very desirable location for a cemetery, with a good gravel road on the east side make it accessible to the whole neighborhood."

Railroad Township communities include:  English Lake, Lomax and San Pierre.
 


        P. O. Box 218 - San Pierre, IN 46374     Phone: (219) 828-4352.
 

      201 W. Eliza - P.O. Box 56 - San Pierre, IN 46374   Phone: (219) 828-4281
          See: Rt. Rev. Alerding's 1907 History of All Saints' Catholic Church.

     Located in Railroad Township, east of North Judson, slightly north of San Pierre, IN, near the intersection of HWY 421 and CR 650 S.
 


Below is transcribed the information about San Pierre Cemetery which is found in
Source:  A Standard History of Starke County, Indiana.  Joseph N. McCormick.  (Author).  Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company, 1915.

     "James BRAZZILL and Ann BRAZZILL of San Pierre, Starke County, convey to the Cemetery Board of San Pierre, as follows:  Commencing four chains and twenty-three links south of the northeast corner of the west half of the northwest quarter of section 28, township 32 north, range 4 west in Starke County, Indiana; thence south 26 2/3 rods; thence west along South Knox Road 18 rods; thence north 26 2/3 rods; thence east 18 rods to the place of beginning.  Containing three acres and being a part of the northwest quarter of section 28, township and range aforesaid, and signed, James BRAZZILL and Ann BRAZZILL and acknowledged before B. GLAZEBROOK, a justice of the peace, on the 19th day of January, 1876, and recorded April 15, 1876, by Michael KELLEY, recorder Starke County, Indiana.
     Then Abigail M. ADAIR conveys to Ajace H. TRIPLETT, John R. SEABROOK, James H. EKINS, L. Dow GLAZEBROOK and Elvin E. MULVAIN, as a Cemetery Board and their successors for and in consideration of $100, the following real estate:  Beginning at a stake 8 chains and 32 links east of the corner of Webster and Elizabeth str in the Town of San Pierre, north 6 1/4 degrees west, one chain and 58 links to stake; thence north 83 3/4 degrees east, 3 chains and 16 links to stake; thence south 6 1/4 degrees east, one chain and 58 links to public road; thence south 83 3/4 degrees west 3 chains and 16 links to the place of beginning, being part of the northwest quarter of section 28, township 32 north, range 4 west in Starke County, Indiana, and signed, Abigail M. ADAIR, and acknowledged before J. C. FARIS, a justice of the peace, on the 26th day of January, 1877, and recorded February 21, 1877, by Michael KELLEY, recorder of Starke County, Indiana."

Washington Township communities include: Ober.


Cemeteries in Washington Township:
Eagle Creek Cemetery (aka Lerch or Lark Cemetery) - is reported to be within Washington Township, Starke County, Indiana by the Indiana State Library cemeteries database search online at http://199.8.200.229/db/cemetery_search.asp.  An 1875 map of Starke County shows a cemetery on the southern side of the stream of Eagle Creek, southeast from the Eagle Creek Church/Cemetery.  In trying to compare the location to a present-day map, it appears to be located just south of the intersection of Hwy 8 and CR 700 E.  It also shows a cemetery which appears to be near to the location of an Eagle Creek Church, near the intersection of CR 700 E and CR 25 N - east from Knox, Indiana, on the north side of a stream called Eagle Creek.  It is not certain which, if either, of these cemeteries may have the name Eagle Creek Cemetery. (If you know, please contact Ann, so it may be posted correctly.  Thank you.)

Holy Cross Cemetery:   Latitude:  412006N; Longitude: 0863455W
    Located at the Center and Washington townships line, on CR 600 E, between CR 200 N and CR 250 N, due south of the town of Hamlet, IN.
Swartzell Cemetery:    Latitude: 411833N;  Longitude: 0863418W
     Located in western Washington Township, north of Eagle Creek, north from CR 25 N, on CR 650 E (the road 1/2 way between CR 600 E and CR 700 E).

Wayne Township communities include: Lena Park and North Judson.    Toto is situated at the corner intersection of Jackson, Center, California and Wayne townships.

   Keller Avenue in North Judson, IN.

   P.O. Box 75 - North Judson, IN 46366.

   303 Keller Avenue - North Judson, IN 46366


Cemeteries in Wayne Township include:

    Located near Toto, IN which is at the corner intersection of the Starke County townships of Center, Jackson, California and Wayne, at CR 300 S and South Range Road.

    Located, in Wayne Township, just east of North Judson, IN.

       Located in southwestern Wayne Township, southwest of North Judson, on CR 500 W, midway between CR 700 S and CR 800 S.  Associated with SS. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church.

   303 Keller Avenue - North Judson, IN 46366
Rt. Rev. Alerding's 1907 History of the Catholic Church at North Judson.


Printed resources for this page include:

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PROFESSIONAL HISTORICAL GENEALOGY 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.  Search the Library's online catalogue to see some of the printed resources available for a location or topic.

Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003-2009, by Ann Mensch.  All Rights Reserved.