This
is a map of
the area dated 1864. Source: History of Jasper County,
1985.
Site
updated September 3 2024
Newton County was formed from Jasper County in 1860. There were five
original Townships at that time, Lake (Twp. 31N, R9 & R10);
Beaver
Township, (Twp. 29N, R9 & R10); Washington Township, (Twp. 28N,
R9
& 10); Jackson Township, (Twp. 29N, R8); Iroquois Township,
(Twp.
28N, R8). Other Townships formed: 1860, Jefferson (Twp. 27N.
R9
& 10); 1862: McClellan, (Twp. 30N, R9 & R10); 1865:
Grant,
(Twp. 27N, R8); 1871: Colfax, (Twp. 30N, R8); 1872: Lincoln,
(Twp. 31N & Twp. 32N, R8).
Earliest Settlement: 1831-33, the Brook Settlement. Towns platted:
1851, Morocco by John Murphey; 1860, Kentland by A. J. Kent; 1861,
Goodland by William Foster; 1866, Brook by S. H. Benjamin; 1876, Lake
Village by Richard Malone; 1882, Roselawn by Craig and Rose; 1882,
Julian, by J. B. Julian; 1882, Foresman, by J. B. Foresman; 1905,
Conrad by Jennie Conrad; 1906, Ade, by W. T. McCray; 1907, Enos by R.
& L Bartlett; Sumava Resorts, 1927, Dvorack and others.
In March and
April, 1996, a group
of
genealogists
organized
the Indiana Comprehensive Genealogy Database. The idea was to provide a
single entry point for all counties in Indiana, where collected
databases would be stored. In addition, the databases would be indexed
and cross-linked, so that even if an individual were found in more than
one county, they could be located in the index. At the same time,
volunteers were found who were willing to coordinate the collection of
databases and generally oversee the contents of the web page. This site
was first created by Bob Williamson in 1996, with the help of the
INGENWEB® group. This site is dedicated to his devotion to the
preservation of our heritage for future generations. Newton County
Historical Society member Beth
Bassett
is the Newton County Coordinator, assuming the position in 2000 to
present day, 2016. Please contact her if you would like
to contribute to this database. If you would like to host a county or
have questions or concerns regarding the Newton County site,
contact the Indiana State
Coordinator, Lena Harper or Assistant
State Coordinator, Jim Cox Assistant State
Coordinator Karen Zach.
- Many of the subjects on the page have their own SURNAME search.
Please utilize those as well.
Site
Index - Several
Items that appeared on this page are now within the Newton County
Historical Society Site - simply click link in index below for access.
Family
History
Surname Helper
Perhaps someone else is looking for the same Surname that you are!
Check out those who are willing to share their information.
Landholders
1904 and more, taken from plat maps from the time.
Neighbors in Profile
1979 and 1980 Morocco Courier Feature Columns by then Editor Donna
LaCosse, featuring the business owners and operators in the town of
Morocco.
Where
can I get a copy of Newton
County Birth, Death, Marriage and other records?
Please contact the following county
offices for
documentation, and information. When writing for information, please
include a money order for up to $5.00 for postage and copies, depending
upon how many copies are needed and weight of mailing.
Birth and
Death Records -
Held at the
Newton County Health Department
4117
S 240 W
Suite 500 Morocco Indiana 47963 Phone
(219) 285-2052 E-mail newtoncofd-vr@localhealth.in.gov
Records include some 1882 - present. Even though the State of Indiana
states that all birth records should be available beginning in 1907 and
death records in 1902, this may not necessarily be accurate. Please
contact this office for more information. They may be able to fax
information to you. Please submit appropriate form with inquiries.
Click here Death
Certificate form. Click here for Birth Certificate
form.
Marriage
Records - Held
at the Newton
County Clerk's Office
P.O.
Box 49,
Kentland, Indiana 47951, Phone 219-474-6081; Records
include 1860 to present; Probate (wills, estates, guardianships) - 1860
to present; Civil Cases (divorces, lawsuits) - 1860 to present;
Election Records - 1904 or 06 to present.
Land Transfers
and Deeds - Held at the Newton County Recorder's Office
201
N. 3rd
Street, Kentland, Indiana 47951, Phone
219-474-6081; Records include: 1860 to
present; Some
Cemetery Deeds and Surveys.
Road
Petitions and Records - Held at the Newton County Recorder's Office 201
N.
3rd Street, Kentland,
Indiana 47951, Phone 219-474-6081; Records
include: requests
to improve roads in early days; Commissioner's Minutes - 1860 to
present.
Click here to
view phone
numbers and more information on all Newton County Government Offices.
The Township Trustees are in charge of the cemeteries in their
township, their information is included on page two of the pdf.
If
you are willing to share your Newton County family surname research
with
others, please send your family SURNAMES and your email address to the Newton County
Coordinator.
Newton
County Family Histories
If
you would like to contribute to this list, please send your family
history in PDF or in
a text document to the Newton
County Coordinator.
Please include your contact information for future researchers within
your document. If you have several for one family, we will break them
into a seperate
list with a heading on this site.
Permission
for use of material contained within those sites/blogs must be obtained
from the webmaster/owner of that particular site.
Web
Sites/Blogs
Dr. R.
S. and Gladys Yegerlehner, Kentland Physician 1940-1960: World War II
letters posted by grandaughter Deborah Sweeney at www.genealogylady.net
Family
Histories on File at the
Newton County Historical Society
These family
histories are in hard copy form only, and are multiple pages. It may be
difficult to obtain copies, but every effort will be made to help with
your research. Please contact the Newton County Coordinator.
The family histories that are
accessible here are
highlighted in blue. Boyd, Christenson, Graefnitz
Merchant, Sorenson families submitted by Dennis Boyd.
A
F
K
Kenoyer - several different generations
Kessler
Kessler-Goddard
Kindig
The
History of Lake Village Submitted by
Dennis
Boyd. The history originally appeared in the March 10, 1949 Brook
Reporter. Dennis has supplemented the article with several old pictures
from his family files and the Facebook Old Picture Page.
Local History Books in Library at the Resource Center in Kentland,
Indiana.
All County History: 1883 History of Benton, Warren, Newton and Jasper
Counties,
Index
1916 Jasper and Newton County History, also Index
1860-1911 Newton County by John Ade, also Index
Newton County, 1985, General History by Township
1916 Atlas of Newton County, Indiana
History of the Schools of Newton County
The First 100 Years of Newton County
History of Newton County, J. Fletcher
Newton County, Indiana by Drury 1955 Aerial photos
Township/Town Histories
2006 – Roselawn, Shelby and Thayer Resources (Lincoln
Towhship
and Shelby-Lake County, Indiana)
Roselawn, Shelby and Thayer, The First 100 Years: 1882-1992 (
Towns of Roselawn and Thayer, Lincoln Township and Shelby-Lake County,
Indiana)
Brook, Iroquois and Washington Townships, 1856-2006 (Town of Brook,
Iroquois and Washington Township)
Morocco Centennial, 1851-1951 (Town of Morocco located in Beaver
Township)
The Morocco Sesquicentennial Collection, 2002 (Town of Morocco and
Beaver Township)
And They Named Her Brook, John Connell (Town of Brook located
Iroquois Township)
History of the Jasper-Newton County, Indiana Amish Settlement and the
Miller/Amish Cemetery, by Sharon Julia Leichty (Mt. Ayr, Pilot Grove,
Jackson Township; Jasper County, Indiana)
The Amish in America, 1840-1960 (Mt. Ayr Settlement, Jackson Township)
Kentland Centennial, 1960, (Town of Kentland in Jefferson Township)
Kentland Sesquicentennial, 2006 (Town of Kentland, Jefferson Township)
100 Years of Good Life in Goodland, Centennial Edition (Town of
Goodland located in Grant Township)
Other Items in the Library The Kankakee, River of History, Isaacs
Kentland’s WWII Scrapbook, Carlson – Index
Available
Quasqui Collections, - An Anthology by John Yost
A Second Helping – Quasqui Collection – by John
Yost
Miscellaneous County Articles (copies of newspaper articles)
Kentland and Family Notes from the 1886 Gazette
Early Photos of Lake Village, Lawbaugh Family Collection
The Settling of the Grand Marsh on the Kankakee River
Vertical files include Family Information, County Information,
Township/Town Information; Veteren Service Records (Pension Requests);
Service Discharge Records (Not Complete)
Scroll down for Microfilm and Newspaper Collections.
We also have a good collection of other Indiana County Histories
Bound
Copies of Local
NewspapersAvailable
at the Newton County Historical Society Resource Center in Kentland,
Indiana.
The Morocco Courier – 1915-1988
Newton County Chronotype, 1861-1864
Newton County Union/Gazette 1862-1867
Newton County Democrat 1868-1873; Kentland Gazette
1867-1892
Newton County Enterprise 1892-1990
2003-present; Newton County Farm News
Newsletter of the Newton County Farm Bureau-Loose
copies – 1959 to January 1965
The Student Prints – Mt. Ayr High School
Newspaper –
various editions
Newspaper on
Microfilm
Available at the Newton County Historical Society Resource Center in
Kentland, Indiana.
The Morocco Courier – 1914-1928; 1929-2007
The Goodland Herald on microfilm only 1904-1954
The Lake Village Villager on microfilm only 1965-1975
The Newton County Enterprise 1860-1992
The Rensselaer Union on microfilm only 1868-1877
The Rensselaer Republican on microfilm only 1886-1892
The Old Gold and Black – Morocco High School
Newsletter;
few loose issues
The Newton Gazette – John J. Yost Editor
1978-1979
Newton
County Landowners, 1904
- Transcribed by Janet Miller from a map of Newton County, 1904,
landowners are listed
in each Township, also view individual Township maps with sections.
This record originally appeared as a feature in the Newton County
Historical Society's newsletter, "The Newcomer," beginning in 2002
through 2005. The records were transcribed by society member Janet
Miller. These are in PDF format, and may be searched through your
reader software.
1895 Map of
Newton County - Click
here: http://www.livgenmi.com/1895/IN/County/newton.htm
to view the Atlas of 1895, Newton County. Check the site out for other
Indiana and US Atlas Maps. Thanks to Pam Reitsch for downloading and
providing this link for us.
Newton
County Vital Records: Death Index
1800-1941
- These records were extracted from the World Projects Administration
(WPA) in 1941. Information includes: Surname, Given Name, Sex, Color,
Age, Death Month, Death Day, Death Year, County, Book, Page, Fiche. These are in PDF format, and may
be searched through your reader software.
Executions in the United
States, 1608-2002
The following link is to a website that has indexes for Executions in
the States that did them: There are three
indexes - sorted by Name,
Year & State. All are searchable pdf's and can be
downloaded.
Interesting information and a good time
frame: 1608 -
2002. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions-us-1608-2002-espy-file
The
majority of these records utilize a surname search found on the main
page. The following cemetery files are in PDF format, and may be
searched by utilizing the search tool in your pdf reader. Washington
Township:
Doran; Jefferson
Township: Pleasant Grove; McClellan:
Betz/Skinner/McClellan and Morgan/Tracy. There re no cemeteries in
Colfax Township.
We
would like to thank Gary Clifton for his contribution of these
databases, Enlistment records for Company B, 51st Indiana Infantry, the
largest group of soldiers from Newton County, and the cemetery records
for the Strong or Powell Cemetery which is just inside Jasper County
but includes mostly people from Newton County.
His
Newton County Roots still run deep, and over the years, many people
have contacted him personally about their kin when they became aware
that he had these lists. Please contact him at clifton@gbis.com
regarding any questions. These
are in PDF format, and may
be searched through your reader software.
Members
of the Iroquois Washington Township
Preservation Committee (IWPC) are seeking obituaries for the burials at
Riverside Cemetery for publication in the near future. They are seeking
obituaries of those on this list. Please contact kidclerk@aol.com
with your information or any questions.These now appear as a web
page.
Newton County Cemetery Stone
Restoration
Projects
Click
on this site under
Projects,/Completed to see the cemetery listings: Stonehugger Cemetery Restoration,
Inc. Indiana
based, full-service cemetery restoration company specializing in repair
and renovation of pioneer cemeteries; owner Helen Wildermuth. Helen and
her partner Mark Davis spent many hours restoring Newton County
cemeteries.
If you
would like to submit your obituary for this listing contact
the Newton County
Coordinator
and send a text or doc file or pasted within your email
message.
Photos are also welcome with links to email address for
genealogy
purposes. Please attach the photos as a separate file to the
email.
Miscellaneous Newton County
Obituaries - More
Current
We can thank Susie
Hall for transcribing and submitting these obituaries for our web site.
These cover a variety of years, and are listed in alphabetical order.
These scrapbooks carry many
obituaries,
births and marriage announcements in the more current times. An index
is provided at the site.
Contributed
Family Obituaries
Newton County Obituaries
pertaining
to the following families:
Brown, Brownfield, Cox, David, Ellsworth, Gibbons, Mott, Newell, Page,
Sallee, Snow, Vayette
Members
of the Iroquois Washington Township
Preservation Committee (IWPC) are seeking obituaries for the burials at
Riverside Cemetery for publication in the near future. They are seeking
obituaries of those on this list. Please contact kidclerk@aol.com
with your information or any questions.These now appear as a web
page.
Mike Holder recently completed an index of
obituaries from the Goodland
Herald from 1904-1935. It contains a data base of almost 2,800 death
notices and obituaries. Mike has worked on this project for the past
ten years, and wanted to make his research availble to the public. We
thank Mike for all of his efforts in this project. One index is a
complete listing of all obituaries, another is an index of
"No
Name"
death notices, where only the local survivor's name was
mentioned.Copies of these obitiuaries can be obtained by contacting the
Newton County
Coordinator.
The Newton County Historical Society's Resource Center, located at 310
E. Seymour Street, Kentland, Indiana, have all of the microfilms of the
Goodland Herald. A microfilm reader/printer is available for public
use. When requesting a copy via email/regular mail (send c/o Newton
County Historical Society, PO Box 303, Kentland, IN 47951) , please be
sure to include the date listed in the index.
The Goodland Herald was a weekly newspaper located
in the town of Goodland, Grant Township. It was published from
1904-1935. Click here to
read a note
from Mike regarding the project.
Newton
County Newspaper Obituary
Files
- Contact the Newton
County Coordinator
for
copies of indexed obituaries. In the early years of the county we found
very few mentions of deaths in the area. When "news from the area"
began appearing in the publications a mention could have been placed in
the local news column, seldom did you find a full obituary. Some of the
indexed names were found in such columns without any further obituary
appearing. We have included these in the indexes to provide researchers
with at least of date of approximate death of their ancestor. The
majority of these indexes were compiled by NCHS volunteer Bruce
Herriman.
The
Brook Reporter is available
online at Newspapers.com. If burial was made at Riverside Cemetery,
check the Cemetery index, there may be digital copies of the obit
available.
Newton
County was formed from Jasper County in 1860. All census
records prior to that time would be listed under Jasper County. Special
thanks to Lori Strole-Myer who has transcribed the 1840 Jasper County
Census records for our site.
1930 Newton
County Census Records
Please contact Newton
County Historical Society for look ups. These records are on
CD of
actual records, please include
the Township of Residence, or nearest town or village located to your
surname search. Thank you.
Please provide as much information as
possible - it will help her search the following records:
Newton Co, IN Census Records 1860-1930
Newton Co, IN Birth Records 1882-1920
Newton Co, IN death records 1882-1920
Please note that these are look up only - hard copies are not
available. Thank You Return to Site Index
On-Going
Project! Newton
County Civil War Vet
Project - Newton
County Historical Society Member Kyle Conrad is attempting to place a
G.A.R. marker on the graves of all Newton County Civil War Vets buried
in Newton County. He has identified many unknown veteran burials
through this project, but still needs your help with many more. Click
here to read the article that appeared in the Winter 2008
Newcomer, newsletter of the Newton County Historical Society.
Searching for a
Civil War Vet? - Search the Sons
of Union Veteran's graves registration
database here: http://www.suvcwdb.org/home/
Spanish
American War - Roster
for the State of Indiana - This link also contains other
state rosters. Thanks to Pam Reitsch for providing this link.
War of 1812
- Link to the Digital
Collections of IUPUI
University Library - War of 1812 Collection
Newton
County School Photo Gallery - Check
each school
section for Gallery Photos.
Do you have photo or
information to share with this site? Contact
us - we
welcome additions to the site! When
emailing, please attach
the picture seperately from
the document with your email. We cannot use images pasted into emails
and text documents. Thanks! Return to Site Index
Here is a link
to the
National Register page of the State Historic Preservation Office.
This is a good place to go for questions about the National and State
Registers. Wanting to research your home
for it's
history? Start by clicking here: Historic
Landmark Foundation of Indiana
