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

NEWTON COUNTY, Indiana
History <-> Genealogy

*First created in 1835, the old New ton County was abolished in 1839.  Newton County was recreated in 1859, from a portion of Jasper County - [See 1858 Johnson's Map of Indiana.]
*County seat: Kentland.
Located in northwestern Indiana.
*Cities, Towns & Communities include:  Ade, Beaver City, Brook, Conrad, Effner, Enos, Foresman, Goodland, Iroquois River, Kentland, Lake Village, Morocco, Mt. Ayr, Newton, Pembroke, Percy Junction, Perkins, Roselawn, and Thayer.
See MAP of Newton County.
Read Brief Glimpses of Newton County, Indiana History.
Select this LINK to see GENERAL Newton 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.


Thank you to Kyle D. Conrad, Clerk Newton Circuit Court, who graciously offered suggestions and assistance with information concerning Newton County, Indiana.


 

Brief Glimpses of Newton County, Indiana History

The following has been abstracted primarily from the source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana, Historical and Biographical.  Chicago : F. A. Battery & Co., Publishers, 1883.
Select a topic from the list below, or scroll down to read the entire historical sketch.

ORIGIN of NEWTON COUNTY'S NAME
EARLY SETTLEMENT of NEWTON COUNTY
EARLY ROADS and POST OFFICES
RAILROADS

ORIGIN of NEWTON COUNTY'S NAME

     The name of the county was a revival of the name which originated in 1835.  It seems that "The Story of Marion's Men" had just then bee published, or that the members of the Legislature especially influential in forming the new purchase into counties greatly admired the heroes of that American Revolutionary War narrative:  Sergeant Newton and Sergeant Jasper. 

     It appears that Sergeant Newton was a compatriot of Sergeant Jasper, and the two were often united in deeds of daring.  One of these occasions is related as follows: 

"Like many families of that time, Jasper's was divided on the great question.  His elder brother took the side of the English, and served in their army.  Out of affection to his brother, and a wish to examine into the strength and condition of the enemy, he resolved, with another patriot soldier, Sergeant Newton, to pay the British a visit.  His brother's position enabled him to receive his two friends without any suspicion of their being spies, and they were entertained for two or three days with great hospitality.

     "While they were thus engaged, a small party of Americans were brought in prisoners, and, as they had deserted from the British, and enlisted in the American ranks, their doom would have been death.  This the brother of Jasper assured him was to be their fate.  With them were the wife and child of one of the prisoners.  Her distress at her husband's approaching fate touched the heart of Jasper.  Confiding his purpose to his friend Newton, they bade adieu to Jasper's brother, and took their leave.  They had no sooner got out of sight of the camp than they made a detour, and stretched across the country, so as to elude all suspicion should they meet with any British soldiers.

     "It was the custom of the English then to send all the prisoners taken in that quarter to Savannah for trial.  At a little spring, two miles from Savannah, Jasper and Newton secreted themselves, awaiting the arrival of the British escort with their prisoners.  It had occurred to Jasper that, as they must pass this spot, it was very probable they might rest here for a short time to refresh themselves, and the woody nature of the spot would favor a rescue.

     "After some hours' anxious suspense, they saw the escort, with their prisoners, approach; the guard was ten in number, and armed.  The Corporal with four men conducted their captives to the water, and told them to rest themselves for an hour, at the same time giving them provisions.  The guard then stacked their arms, and seated themselves.  The prisoners threw themselves upon the earth in hopeless despair.  Near to the wretched man sat his wife and child.  Two of the guards alone kept their arms as sentries.  As the rest of the men were filling their canteens with water, Jasper and Newton came stealthily from their ambush, seized two of the muskets that were stacked, shot the two sentries, and rushing upon the others, stunned them with the butts of their weapons.  Deprived of their weapons, the others abandoned the conflict and fled."

     It was deeds such as this that made each man in Marion's band a hero.  Appropriately, the adjoining counties of Jasper and Newton, so similar in size and shape, and so closely related in their early history, were reportedly named for these two, apparently fictional, Revolutionary heroes, giving them a place in history.

EARLY SETTLEMENT of NEWTON COUNTY

     The early reputation of Newton County (or rather the western part of Jasper in yesteryear), in regard to its social as well as physical characteristics, was not one to invite great numbers of settlers.  There were no railroads, no newspapers, and very few people until about 1860.  As long as those characteristics remained prominent, the unsettled portions of other parts of the State secured the larger part of the westward emigration.  About 1853, however, the tide began to change, and the prospects for the county began to improve.  With the coming of the railroad, in 1860, however, the county's growth progressed at a decidely faster pace.

     The pioneers of Newton County came principally from Southeastern Indiana, but natives of Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Ohio also came to settle in the area.  Succeeding years also brought settlers from other locations, such as: New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Illinois.  Many of the early families had been pioneers in older settlements from which they came, or had grown up in frontier colonies which had been founded by their fathers.  These had been trained, in the stern school of experience, to meet and conquer the difficulties inherent in settling a new country.  Even so, there were certainly some unique experiences in this new place.

     When they arrived, the Iroquois River, with its fringe of timber, divided the vast open plain of grass and flowers into two divisions.  North of the river the meadow stretched out to the marshes of the Kankakee and Beaver Lake; while to the south, the broad expanse of the "Grand Prairie," marked here and there by a stray clump of stunted trees, stretched, unbounded.  The pioneers, with their little retinue of wagons, would have been lost in this luxurious wilderness much like canoes in mid-ocean.  The first sight of this great prairie, in the height of its native beauty, might well have been described as "awesome" and "unforgettable." 

     Each immigrant supplied his/her own means of travel to this new area.  The pioneer from Pennsylvania or the Southern States, likely betrayed their nativity by arriving in the schooner-shaped wagon box, with the stiff tongue, back wheels double the size of the front ones and closely coupled together, and the whole drawn by a team of four or six horses which were guided by a single line in the hands of a teamster riding the "nigh wheeler."  These would have harness of gigantic proportions, with massive leather breeching, heavy hames and collar, immense housing of bear-skin upon the hames, and heavy iron trace chains.  Such an outfit might be described as sturdy, dependable and ready-for-the-worst.  The Northeastern immigrant, from New York, may have indicated his origins with a long-coupled, low-boxed, two-orse wagon, provided with a seat from which, with double lines, the driver guided the lightly harnessed pair of horses.  The latter outfits have been described as showing evidences of "the close calculation of means to an end, and an air of utility which left no room to doubt the purpose of the maker in every part of it."

     In this new community, where "the richest were poor and the poor lived in abundance," there was little chance for growth of caste, and families for miles around were linked together as one neighborhood, by the social customs of the time, and, in the spirit of true democracy, valued character and virtue over material wealth.  The amusements of the early settlers included well-rewarded hunting and fishing, log cabin raisings, court opening with its jury duty, Saturday afternoon holidays with scrub horse races, wrestling matches, and so forth.  It was a common remark, however, that a new country furnished an easy berth for men and oxen, but a hard one for women and horses.  It was said that outside of visiting and camp meetings, the diversions in which women participated at that early date were very few.  Husking and spinning bees, and "large" weddings, where the larger part of the night was spent in dancing, did not have the frequent occurrence here which was characteristic of the Eastern States, and little here seemed to offer any substitute.

EARLY ROADS and POST OFFICES

     The fact that Newton and Jasper Counties were one during the early years of the former county's history, had an important bearing upon its development.  That portion of the consolidated area which is now included in the limits of Jasper County took the leading place in public matters.  It afforded the site of the county seat, it was more thickly settled, and had less marsh land and low, wet prairie than the territory of Newton County.  This made a settlement in the eastern part of the old county in many respects more desirable, and had the effect of advancing the interests of that section, while proportionately slowing this.  It is natural, therefore, to find all the early interests tending toward the common county seat at Rensselaer.  The associations of the Indians had also been in the same direction.  Their earlier trails led eastward along the river to Blue Grass, and then on to La Porte.  The first lines of travel followed by the settlers were along these trails, until they became sure enough of their surroundings to locate lines independent of them. 

     An early, if not the first, road through Newton County was from Buncombe, Illinois, to Rensselaer.  Another was from Morocco to Rensselaer; a third led to Momence, Illinois, and then on to Chicago, while another led direct to Lafayette.  Lafayette was the point at which early merchants got their goods, and these were brought on wagons over the thirty odd miles of tedious road that intervened.

     An early mail route ran between Logansport (Indiana), Rensselaer (Indiana) and Buncombe (Illinois), with an office at White Post, the residence of Zachariah SPITLER.  This was maintained between the two latter places until 1864.  In the fall of 1854, a post office was established at the town of Morocco, and a mail route allowed from there to Rensselaer on condition that it was to be sustained entirely by the citizens along the route.  At the same time, or shortly after, a post office was established at Pilot Grove.  The first Postmaster at Morocco was John ADE, who remained in office about three or four years.  The first Postmaster at Pilot Grove was Stephen ELLETT, who was shortly afterward superseded by Mr. BRENNER.  This state of things existed until about 1859, when the Government adopted the route and placed it under the same rules and provisions governing other mail routes.

     These lines of communication served the demands of the early community until the thicker settlements and the conflicting claims of various farm owners demanded a more complete system of roads.  Then, the numerous local trails, from one neighbor to another, were made to give way to regularly established highways. 

     The marshy character of the streams and the unfortunate character of the general conformation of the land made roads and bridges an important and difficult subject.  The streams had changed from a rather slow current and fairly constant stage of water, to a rapid rise and fall of water.  The current, combined with the unfavorable character of the banks, tended to make bridging an expensive endeavor.  By 1882, there were reportedly 3 iron bridges, which had been constructed at a cost of over $20,000, and 4 wooden bridges, for a total of 7 bridges spanning the water-ways of Newton County.  (The wooden bridges were swept away by the high water of the winter of 1882-83, but later replaced with more substantial structures.)

RAILROADS

     Hopes of securing railroad facilities were entertained as early as 1852, but it was not until two years later that any definite plan was urged.  About 1858, a line was projected from New London, Ohio, to Chicago.  This passed through the usual changes incident to railroad organizations until 1857, when the lack of funds apparently ended that project.  However, early in 1857, the people in Jasper and Newton counties were interested in the course the line should take from Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Kankakee and Rensselaer were competitors, and the projectors of the road shrewdly kept the two laces straining their resources to outbid each other in the amount of contributions.  In this contest, the people in the present area of Newton shared a common interest with those in Rensselaer, Rochester and Winamac, which made the struggle not altogether uneven.  It was held in the first named town, as a self-evident truth, that if the road diverged to Kankakee, "Rensselaer would be killed dead as a mackerel," and the conviction was just as strong that Newton county would share the same general fate that would follow. 

 

Surrounding Counties:
WNW = Kankakee County, IL  N =  Lake County, IN
WSW = Iroquois County, IL     NEWTON COUNTY     E = Jasper County, IN
                                                S = Benton County, IN

1875 Map of Newton and Jasper Counties, in Indiana,
scanned from a portion of the Indiana map cited below:
New Sectional Township Map of Indiana.  Chicago, Illinois : Higgins Belden & Co., 1875.

1875 Map of Newton County, Indiana

 

    224 N. Third Street - Kentland, IN  47951.
  The Newton County Historical Society has the following book available for purchase:
   Volume 1 of  Cemeteries of Newton County, Indiana, by Gerald M. Born, et. al., Indiana : Newton County Historical Society, Family History Division, 1996.
   Volume 1,  includes Lake, McClellan, Beaver and Washington townships.  This volume may be purchased from the Newton County Historical Society.

·         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)

·         1880 Census Index, by familysearch.org

·         1820 Indiana Census Index, by Lori!

  • Jasper-Newton Counties Genealogical Society
       Rt. 1, Box 307 - Wheatfield, IN 46392
  • 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.
  • The Political Graveyard, for Newton County, Indiana, created and maintained by Lawrence Kestenbaum, a web site about U.S. political history, politicians and cemeteries.
  • Jethro Ayers Hatch (1837-1912) - Biography - Representative from Indiana and Civil War Surgeon, he is interred in Fair Lawn Cemetery, at Kentland, Newton County, Indiana.
  • Journal and Courier Online - Greater Lafayette, Indiana news
  • Newton County Enterprise - news
       305 E. Graham - Kentland, IN 47951   Phone: (219) 474-5532
  • Brook-Iroquois Township Public Library

   100 West Main Street - Brook, IN 47922  Phone: (219) 275-2471.

  • Goodland-Grant Public Library

   111 South Newton Street - Goodland, IN 47944  Phone: (219) 297-4431.

      

    • 210 East Graham, Kentland, IN  Phone: (219) 474-5044.
  • Newton County Public Library

    P.O. Box 206 - Lake Village, IN  46349  Phone: (219) 992-3490.
   Morocco Branch: 120 E State Street - Morocco, IN  47963  Phone: (219) 285-2664.
   Roselawn Branch:  P.O. Box 57 - Roselawn, IN  46372  Phone: (219) 345-2010.

      Box 250 - Lake Village, IN 46349  Phone: (219) 992-9585.

  • Newton County Circuit Court Clerk (For Marriage, Divorce & Probate Records)

     Newton Circuit Court
     P.O. Box 49
     Kentland, IN  47951
     Phone: (219)-474-6081 or Phone: 1-888-663-9866  Ext.: 114; 
     Janice M. Wilson, Circuit Court Clerk, Email: ncclerk@ffni.com
     Fees:  Copies of records are 25 cents each, with an additional $1.00 being charged if the copy is to be certified.  A self-addressed stamped envelope is appreciated, but not required.

Note from Kyle D. Conrad, Clerk Newton Circuit Court, dated 23 Feb 2000:
"Newton County is probably one of the only counties in Indiana NOT to experience a fire!  Since we are Indiana's youngest county, formed in 1860, we have our entire set of marriage, probate, and civil records from 1860 to present.  Prior to 1860, we were a part of Jasper County and their courthouse did burn sometime in the late 1800's, so many of those records were destroyed."
                           -Kyle D. Conrad, former Clerk
                             Former Newton Circuit Court
 

  • Newton County Recorder

       201 N 3rd Street - Kentland, IN  47951  Phone: (219) 474-6081. 

Cemeteries in Newton County include the following:
See Map of Newton County for approximate locations of cemeteries.

Also 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.

Amish Cemetery:  Located in Jackson Township, on CR 325 South between 200 E. and 300 E.

Beaver City Cemetery:  Latitude:  405509N;  Longitude:  0872443W.
     Located in northeastern Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, southeast of Morocco, in Beaver City.

Buswell Cemetery (AKA Mount Zion Cemetery):  Latitude:  405016N;  Longitude:  0872908W.  Located in southern Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest from Kentland, on the north side of the Iroquois River, off CR 575 W, north of CR 1125 S and south of CR 1000 S.

Dorne Cemetery:  Latitude:  404910N;  Longitude:  0872930W
   Located in southern Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest from Kentland, on the north side of the Iroquois River, and south of CR 1200 S.

Fairlawn Cemetery: Latitude:  404508N;  Longitude:  0872637W
   Located in southern Jefferson Township, Newton County, Indiana, just south from Kentland, on CR 1700 S, between Hwy. 41/52 and CR 400 W.

Goodland Cemetery:   Latitude:  404633N;  Longitude:  0871715W
   Located in southeastern Grant Township, Newton County, Indiana, in northeastern Goodland.

Kennedy Cemetery:  Latitude:  405706N;  Longitude:  0872216W
   Located in central Jackson Township, Newton County, Indiana, between Morocco and Mt. Ayr, on CR 100 E between Hwy. 114 and CR 300 S.

Lake Village Cemetery:   Latitude:  410838N;  Longitude:  0872807W
   Located in central Lake Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest of Lake Village, and west of Hwy. 41.

Mount Calvary Cemetery:   Latitude:  404624N;  Longitude:  0871710W
   Located in southeastern Grant Township, Newton County, Indiana, in northeastern Goodland.

Buswell Cemetery (AKA Mount Zion Cemetery):  Latitude:  405016N;  Longitude:  0872908W.  Located in southern Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest from Kentland, on the north side of the Iroquois River, off CR 575 W, north of CR 1125 S and south of CR 1000 S.

Murphy Cemetery:   Latitude: 405633N ;  Longitude:  0872731W
   Located in central Beaver Township, Newton County, Indiana, in southwestern Morocco.

North Star Cemetery:   Latitude:  405903N;  Longitude:  0871944W
   Located in central Jackson Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest from Mt. Ayr, on CR 100 S, west of Hwy. 55.

Oakland Cemetery:   Latitude:  405741N;  Longitude:  0872706W
   Located in central Beaver Township, Newton County, Indiana, just north of Morocco.

Pleasant Grove Cemetery:   Latitude:  404916N;  Longitude:  0872611W
   Located in northern Beaver Township, Newton County, Indiana, north of Kentland, and south of the Iroquois River.

Porter Cemetery:   Latitude:  405244N;  Longitude:  0872947W.
   Located in central Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, west of Ada, and north of CR 900 S, and south of CR 800 S.

Prairie Vine Cemetery:   Latitude:  405342N;  Longitude:  0872803W.
  Located in central Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest of Ada, on CR 700 S, west of the intersection of CR 700 S and CR 400 W.

Riverside Cemetery:   .
  Located in Iroquois Township, Newton County, Indiana, just east of Brook, Indiana.

Roselawn Cemetery:  Latitude:  410842N;  Longitude:  0871808W.
  Located in Roselawn, in east central Lincoln Township, Newton County, Indiana.

Russell Chapel Cemetery:  Latitude:  405401N;  Longitude: 0872929W.
  Located in north central Washington_Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest of Ada.

Saint Josephs Cemetery:  Latitude:  404508N;  Longitude:  0872648W
   Located in southern Jefferson_Township, Newton County, Indiana, just south of Kentland.

Sell Cemetery:  Located in Washington Township, southwest of Brook, Indiana.

Shelter Cemetery:  "Cemeteries of Newton County, Indiana", (1994) reports that the 1916 Standard Atlas of Newton County identified a cemetery which was located about 1 1/2 miles west of Ade, on the south side of CR 900 S.  This cemetery has been abandoned (no gravestones appear to exist).


Newton County Communities

Beaver Township - Communities include: Morocco.
In "Newton County", John Ade reported the town of Morocco as the oldest town in Newton county, being laid out, by John Murphy, on 28 January 1851.

  • Morocco Branch Library

   P.O. Box 87 - Morocco, IN  47963   Phone:  (219) 285-2664.
Cemeteries include:

  • Murphy Cemetery:  Latitude: 405633N ;  Longitude:  0872731W

   Located in central Beaver Township, Newton County, Indiana, in southwestern Morocco.

  • Oakland Cemetery:   Latitude:  405741N;  Longitude:  0872706W

   Located in central Beaver Township, Newton County, Indiana, just north of Morocco.
Kyle D. Conrad, has graciously consented to be a contact to "look-up" information in "Cemeteries of Newton County, Indiana", Volume 1 (Townships of Lake, McClellan, Beaver and Washington) and for Riverside Cemetery, in Iroquois Township.  Volume 1 is available for purchase from the Newton County Historical Society.

See Map of Newton County for approximate locations of cemeteries.


Colfax Township - Communities include: 


Grant Township - Communities include: Goodland, Percy Junction and Perkins.
In "Newton County", John Ade reported the town of Goodland was laid out, by Timothy Foster, on 23 May 1866.

   111 South Newton Street - Goodland, IN 47944  Phone: (219) 297-4431.
Cemeteries include:

  • Goodland Cemetery:  Latitude:  404633N;  Longitude:  0871715W.

   Located in southeastern Grant Township, Newton County, Indiana, in northeastern Goodland, west of Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

  • Mount Calvary Cemetery:   Latitude:  404624N;  Longitude:  0871710W.

   Located in southeastern Grant Township, Newton County, Indiana, in northeastern Goodland, east of Goodland Cemetery.

See Map of Newton County for approximate locations of cemeteries.


Iroquois Township - Communities include: Brook, Foresman and Iroquois River.
In "Newton County", John Ade reported the town of Brook was laid out, by Samuel H. Benjamin, on 26 June 1866, and Foresman, on 1 December 1882, by John B. Foresman.

   100 West Main Street - Brook, IN 47922  Phone: (219) 275-2471.
Cemeteries include:

  • Riverside Cemetery:   Located in Iroquois Township, Newton County, Indiana, just east of Brook, Indiana.
    Kyle D. Conrad, has graciously consented to be a contact to "look-up" information in "Cemeteries of Newton County, Indiana", Volume 1 (Townships of Lake, McClellan, Beaver and Washington) and for Riverside Cemetery, in Iroquois Township.

See Map of Newton County for approximate locations of cemeteries.


Jackson Township - Communities include: Mt. Ayr.
In "Newton County", John Ade reported that Mt. Ayr was laid out, by Lewis Marion, on 18 October 1882.
Cemeteries include:

  • Amish Cemetery:  Located in Jackson Township, on CR 325 South between 200 E. and 300 E.


   Kyle Conrad reports:  "The Mt. Ayr area was an Amish settlement in the mid to late 1800's and this is the cemetery that was used for burying their dead.  It is still maintained privately, but no longer used."

  • Kennedy Cemetery:  Latitude:  405706N;  Longitude:  0872216W.

   Located in central Jackson Township, Newton County, Indiana, between Morocco and Mt. Ayr, on CR 100 E between Hwy. 114 and CR 300 S.

  • North Star Cemetery:   Latitude:  405903N;  Longitude:  0871944W.  Located in central Jackson Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest from Mt. Ayr, on CR 100 S, west of Hwy. 55.

See Map of Newton County for approximate locations of cemeteries.


Jefferson Township - Communities include: Effner, Kentland and Newton.  Effner is situated, in Newton County, at the Illinois state line.
In "Newton County", John Ade reported the town of Kentland was laid out, by Alexander J. Kent, on 23 April 1860.

      210 East Graham, Kentland, IN  Phone: (219) 474-5044.
Cemeteries include:

  • Fairlawn Cemetery:  Latitude:  404508N;  Longitude:  0872637W.

   Located in southern Jefferson Township, Newton County, Indiana, just south from Kentland, on CR 1700 S, between Hwy. 41/52 and CR 400 W.

  • Pleasant Grove Cemetery:  Latitude:  404916N;  Longitude:  0872611W.  Located in northern Jefferson Township, Newton County, Indiana, north of Kentland, and south of the Iroquois River.
  • Saint Josephs Cemetery:  Latitude:  404508N;  Longitude:  0872648W.  Located in southern Jefferson Township, Newton County, Indiana, just south of Kentland.

See Map of Newton County for approximate locations of cemeteries.


Lake Township - Communities include: Conrad and Lake Village.
In "Newton County", John Ade reported the town of Lake Village was laid out, by Richard Malone, on 1 January 1876, and Conrad, by Jennie M. Conrad, on 28 December 1908.

  • Newton County Public Library

   P.O. Box 206 - Lake Village, IN  46349   Phone:  (219) 992-3490.
Cemeteries include:

  • Lake Village Cemetery:   Latitude:  410838N;  Longitude:  0872807W.

   Located in central Lake Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest of Lake Village, and west of Hwy. 41.
Kyle D. Conrad, has graciously consented to be a contact to "look-up" information in "Cemeteries of Newton County, Indiana", Volume 1 (Townships of Lake, McClellan, Beaver and Washington) and for Riverside Cemetery, in Iroquois Township.  Volume 1 is available for purchase from the Newton County Historical Society.

See Map of Newton County for approximate locations of cemeteries.


Lincoln Township - Communities include: Pembroke, Roselawn and Thayer.
In "Newton County", John Ade reported the town of Rose Lawn was laid out, by Craig & Rose, on 19 January 1882, and Thayer, by Atherton & Stratton, on 21 September 1882.

  • Roselawn Branch Library

   P.O. Box 57 - Roselawn, IN  46372   Phone: (219) 345-2010.
Cemeteries include:

  • Roselawn Cemetery:  Latitude:  410842N;  Longitude:  0871808W.

  Located in Roselawn, in east central Lincoln Township, Newton County, Indiana.

See Map of Newton County for approximate locations of cemeteries.


McClellan Township - Communities include: Enos.
In "Newton County", John Ade reported Enos was laid out, by R. & L. Bartlet, on 22 June 1907.
Cemeteries include:

  • Betz Cemetery:  Located on the east side of CR 600 W, 1 mile north of CR 100 N, diagonally across the road from Morgan Cemetery.
  • Skinner Cemetery:  Located west of Enos, in Willow Slough, off the diagonal road which extends southeast off CR 100 W.
  • Morgan Cemetery (also known as Tracy Cemetery):  Located west of Enos, on the west side of CR 600 W, north of CR 100 W.


Kyle D. Conrad, has graciously consented to be a contact to "look-up" information in "Cemeteries of Newton County, Indiana", Volume 1 (Townships of Lake, McClellan, Beaver and Washington) and for Riverside Cemetery, in Iroquois Township.  Volume 1 is available for purchase from the Newton County Historical Society.

See Map of Newton County for approximate locations of cemeteries.


Washington Township - Communities include: Ade and Beaver City.
In "Newton County", John Ade reported the town of Ade was laid out, by Warren T. McCray, on 21 May 1906.

  • Beaver City Cemetery:  Latitude:  405509N;  Longitude:  0872443W.  Located in northeastern Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, southeast of Morocco, in Beaver City.
  • Dorne Cemetery:   Latitude:  404910N;  Longitude:  0872930W.

   Located in southern Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest from Kentland, on the north side of the Iroquois River, and south of CR 1200 S.

  • Buswell Cemetery (AKA Mount Zion Cemetery): Latitude:  405016N;  Longitude:  0872908W.  Located in southern Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest from Kentland, on the north side of the Iroquois River, off CR 575 W, north of CR 1125 S and south of CR 1000 S.
  • Porter Cemetery:  Latitude:  405244N;  Longitude:  0872947W.  Located in central Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, west of Ada, and north of CR 900 S, and south of CR 800 S.
  • Prairie Vine Cemetery:   Latitude:  405342N;  Longitude:  0872803W.  Located in central Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest of Ada, on CR 700 S, west of the intersection of CR 700 S and CR 400 W.
  • Russell Chapel Cemetery:   Latitude:  405401N;  Longitude: 0872929W.  Located in north central Washington Township, Newton County, Indiana, northwest of Ada.
  • Sell Cemetery:  Located in Washington Township, southwest of Brook, Indiana.
  • Shelter Cemetery:  "Cemeteries of Newton County, Indiana", (1994) reports that the 1916 Standard Atlas of Newton County identified a cemetery which was located about 1 1/2 miles west of Ade, on the south side of CR 900 S.  This cemetery has been abandoned (no gravestones appear to exist).

See Map of Newton County for approximate locations of cemeteries.

A Partial List of Printed Resources for Newton County, Indiana Research


Newton County ... a collection of historical facts and personal recollections concerning Newton
County, Indiana, from 1853 to 1911.  John Ade, b. 1828.  (Author).  Indianapolis, Bobbs-Merrill, ca.1911.  (Gc 977.201 N48A).

Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana, Historical and Biographical.  Chicago, Illinois :  F. A. Battey & Co., 1883.  Reprint through the sponsorship of Warren County Historical Society, P. O. Box 176, Williamsport, Indiana 47993, 1994.

This is Newton County, Indiana : an Up-to-Date Historical Narrative with County and Township
Maps and Many Unique Aerial Photographs of Cities, Towns, Villages and Farmsteads.  John
Drury.  (Author).  Chicago : Lorre Co., 1955.   (Gc 977.201 N48D).

One Hundred Years of Newton County, Indiana History, 1860-1960.  John M. Connell.  (Author).  [Brook, Ind., Brook Reporter], 1960.   (Gc 977.201 N48C).

History of Newton County, Indiana, 1985.  Jasper-Newton Counties Genealogical Society.  (Author).  [Rensselaer? Ind.] : Jasper-Newton Counties Genealogical Society, 1985.  (Gc 977.201 N48H).

Newton County, Indiana Index of Names of Persons and Firms.  Staff of the Genealogy Dept., Fort Wayne Public Library.  (Compiler).  Fort Wayne, Indiana. Public Library. Reynolds Historical Genealogy Dept.  Fort Wayne, Indiana : Fort Wayne Public Library, 1979.

Farm Plat Book, Newton County, Indiana. Rockford, Illinois : Rockford Map Publishers, 1958.  (Gc 977.201 N48R).

Index to Birth Records, Newton County, Indiana, 1882-1937, Inclusive, compiled from records in
County Health Office, Kentland ...   Indiana Works Progress Administration.  (Compiler).  Indiana Works Progress Administration.  (Compiler).  Kentland, Indiana :  Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938.

Index to Marriage Records, Newton County, Indiana, 1860-1920, Inclusive, compiled from original
record in County Clerk's Office, Kentland ...   Indiana Works Progress Administration.  (Compiler).  Kentland, Indiana :  Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1939.

Index to Death Records : Newton County, Indiana, 1882-1937 Inclusive, volume I, letters A-Z inclusive.  Indiana Works Progress Administration.  (Compiler).  [Indianapolis?], Indiana : The Administration, 1938.

Cemeteries of Newton County, Indiana.  Gerald M. Born, et. al.  (Compilers).  [Indiana] : Newton County Historical Society, Family History Division, 1996.   (Gc 977.201 N48CE).
"Cemeteries of Newton County, Indiana",
   Volume 1,  includes Lake, McClellan, Beaver and Washington townships.  This volume may be purchased from the Newton County Historical Society.
  Volume 2, includes Jefferson and Grant townships, will be available in the future.
  Volume 3, which includes Iroquois township and others, will be available in the future.

·  Newton County Historical Society
    224 N. Third Street - Kentland, IN  47951.
Kyle D. Conrad, has graciously consented to be a contact to "look-up" information in "Cemeteries of Newton County, Indiana", Volume 1 (Townships of Lake, McClellan, Beaver and Washington) and for Riverside Cemetery, in Iroquois Township.

[ Additional Research Resources for All Indiana Counties ]
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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 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.

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