OWEN County, Indiana
Historical and Genealogical Society

HTML Coding Provided by Julian Livingston

The Mailing Address
of the Society is
OWEN COUNTY
HISTORICAL &
GENEALOGICAL
SOCIETY
P.O. BOX 569
SPENCER, IN 47460
 		The Mailing Address
of the Archives is
ARCHIVES of OWEN COUNTY
OCHGS
P.O. BOX 654
SPENCER, IN 47460
(Click on Logo below
for full information.)
 		Genealogical Collection at Library is at
10 S. MONTGOMERY ST.
SPENCER, IN 47460

Owen Co. IN Archives Owen Co Hist & Gen Soc

Click on ARCHIVES logo for complete ACCESS information and to learn of the Archives' early days at the hands of Roger Peterson and the later saving of the Archives at home within the county. Click on OCHGS logo to learn the history of Owen County, Indiana. Genealogical and Society information is available below. For best results on the jump links (within the page), wait until page is fully loaded. Your browser's back button will return you to the departure point.

MAJOR AREAS OF NOTE:

On-line databases of pre-1850 people of Owen County. Includes Heads of Household 1870 Census.

"Glorecord" Land Entry information for Owen County is sometimes available.
Section map of Owen County for rough location of Glorecord results.

Single Largest Collection of Online Data for Owen County genealogical data is {_H_E_R_E_}, namely Debbie Jennings' masterful effort, Sweet Owen and Surrounding Areas. Our OCH&G site tries to emphasize pre-1850 records to overcome loss of a decent census, while the Debbie Jennings site covers all time periods.

    OWEN CO. SURNAME MIGRATION SURVEY--
    We're trying to answer the question, did the pioneers migrate to and from Owen County IN in GROUPS? So far, there has been a tremendous response.

  • OWEN CO. INBOUND SURVEY if you wish to see the results or add your data. Take a look at the results section.

  • OWEN CO. OUTBOUND SURVEY where we wish to answer a similar question, did the departing pioneers migrate in groups?

Upcoming Speaker Program (Current and Coming)

Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project.

Owen County InGenWeb sites below. Many free Owen County lookups are available through that site.

Genealogical Research in Owen County, Indiana - email service with a level of free lookups via email in addition to the paid service. There are some charges for extensive lookups or postage for mailed service.

Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project. Lois Mauk's HALL OF SHAME at one time included the Livingston Cemetery at Freeman, Clay Township and the Hopewell-Coffey Cemetery, also in Clay Township. Visit IPCRP and add your favorite to the HALL OF SHAME today!

Owen County Mail List:
For anyone with a genealogical interest in Owen County, Indiana.
Mailing address for postings is inowen-l@rootsweb.com. To subscribe send the word "subscribe" (without the quotes) as the ONLY text inowen-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or inowen-d-request@rootsweb.com(digest mode).
Be sure to leave the subscribing email SUBJECT entirely blank. Once you have received confirmation that you are on the list, send your surnames in an email to the list.

USEFUL DATA SEARCHABLE ON THIS SITE:

  • OWEN COUNTY BOUNDARY DATA (as described in Indiana Boundaries by Pence and Armstrong published Indiana Historica Bureau in 1933) according to date.
      December 21, 1818: On north, the Indian Boundary per Ft. Wayne 1809, a diagonal (10 o'clock line) from northwest corner of Monroe up to just above T13N and west side of R6W. i.e., where the line encounters Vigo County. Unorganized to the north. Vigo on the west, Sullivan and Davies on the south, and Monroe to the east. County seat at hamlet of Manchester 1/2 mile up river from present day Spencer.

      December 31, 1821: Some land (approx. two townships) added north of 10 o'clock line bordering on Wabash and Morgan Counties. Newly formed Putnam County took away about five townships from the northwest corner. One township bordered Vigo and one bordered Sullivan on the west while newly formed Greene County formed the southern border. Small amount of land returned by Monroe County just northeast of Gosport. County seat moved to present site of Spencer February 12, 1820.

      December 21, 1822: Approximately three townships returned from Putnam County in northwest corner of county. Other boundaries and county seat were essentially unchanged.

      February 12, 1825: Clay County formed on western border. Approximately four townships on western border given up to Clay. The area was one and two-thirds on the north half and two-thirds on the south half. These changes in the county land in the northwest portion may be difficult to follow in the early deed records.

      
1861 SECTION MAP of OWEN COUNTY, INDIANA
      
(from book of boundary changes available for purchase on 
publications page)      

      

      

      Internal and External Boundaries as of September 1861 through 1999,
per research of Roger Peterson in County Commissioner's Bk 6, pgs 399, 400. 
Clay Township in the lower
right corner of the map (T9N, R3W) is the perfect example for the numbering of 
the sections.  Starting in the upper right with section 1, proceeding horizontally to the left to
6, 7 is directly below 6 and proceeds to the right to 12. then 13 is below 12 and so on through
section 36 in the lower right.  The sections number from the edges of the "T y N" and "Range x W"
boundaries, and not the named townships; it is just a happy accident for this illustration that Clay Township exactly conforms to T9N, R3W.


       Unhappy to say this seems to be on-off-on-off line: Owen County Government Land Grants can sometimes be found at 

http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/,
which is sometimes refered to as the "Glorecords" Site.  Don't worry if you are
required to enter your postal zip code; they are just studying where the requests
come from.  They will charge if you want copies mailed, but who needs that
when you can download an image of the original grant.  If you can make use of this site it has a lot of useful genealogical information.  Good luck on it being available.
      


    


  • SEARCHABLE 
    1819 Lister's (Assessor's) Book  Early heads of Owen County 
families are often found here.
    


  • SEARCHABLE
     
1820 Lister's (Assessor's) Book Should be close to the heads of
household in the 1820 Owen County Census. 
    
                                
The complete transcription of Lister's books can be purchased from the Owen County Historical & 
Genealogical Society.  See the   Services and
Publications page for all of the Lister's books and Debbie Jennings
Census Books.  The Lister's books are a great place to
find the people who did not stay here until the next U.S. Census.
    


  • ON-LINE SEARCHABLE ALL INDIANA 1820 CENSUS INDEX
    
Finally found it - Thanks to Lori Hoffman for initially placing this on line.  
It was moved to 
[_H_E_R_E_].
    


  • CENSUS ONLINE - Links to Online Census Records
Nationwide
or Indiana, a great
resource thanks to Mark Reed.
    


  • SEARCHABLE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD INDEX FOR THE 1830
CENSUS OF OWEN CO.  These are listed in the order taken by the census taker so use the 
[ FIND ]button, if your browser supports FIND.
The two parts of the census are:

    


  • SEARCHABLE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD INDEX FOR THE 1870
CENSUS OF OWEN CO.  SELECT AN ALPHABETIC BRACKET CORRESPONDING TO THE NAME
OF INTEREST; SCROLL TO THAT NAME (or use the [ FIND ]
button if your browser supports FIND):
    


    


  • SEARCHABLE Database of Pre-1850 Marriages in Owen County
(now separated into two more easily loadable sections - note that the J's are repeated
in both sections): 
    

The name of the presiding official or minister is included.  You may wish to load
the [ Long Version A - Z ] 
if you have many lookups to perform.

    


  • SEARCHABLE 1819-1871 

Divorces in Owen County.  You may need to scroll right to see all the data.  Thanks to Roger Peterson for making this available.
    


  • SEARCHABLE Database of 
Pre-1850 Marriages in State of Indiana, courtesy of the Indiana
State Library.  
Please note that you may find more Owen County marriages as well as differing dates in the Owen County database linked above.  The Owen County database has been claimed to be more accurate.

    


  • The Probate Court Records of Owen County during the pre-1850 period have been extracted below to assist you in determining if your ancestor was here then. 

SELECT AN ALPHABETIC BRACKET CORRESPONDING TO THE NAME
OF INTEREST; SCROLL TO THAT NAME (or use the [ FIND ]
button if your browser supports FIND):
    


    

Not all people can be found in this list, but it does augment the meager census record.  Just select the alphabetic brackets
to determine if your ancestor was in some way mentioned in a probate
record. If you locate someone of interest, contact the Genealogy Department of the Owen County Public Library for assistance via email.
    


    
Or directly from the Probate Record Books:

    

    

    

Obit Index Vigo Co.
OWEN COUNTY OBITUARIES: Debbie Jennings found the lost Vigo County Databases (Debbie gives the official name as "Wabash Valley Obituary Index") that contained the Owen County Obituaries, and the other adjacent counties [_H_E_R_E_] on 03/24/07.  I give it about six months before they change the server name again; seems like an almost friendly way to cut down on the traffic.
    


    




    
OTHER POSSIBILITIES:  Many County's Death Indexes are available on line [_H_E_R_E_].
    

       


    SOCIETY INFORMATION:
    
Owen County Historical and Genealogical Society (OCHGS)

    
Elects New Board for 2007

    
At the OCHGS General Meeting in November, the Society membership elected the following to serve on the Board for 2007.  The returning and new Board members for 2007 are: Terresa Thompson, President; Donna Stogsdill, Vice President; Nancy Hanger, Secretary; Jack Zollinger, Treasurer; Vivian Zollinger, Editor and Publisher of Quarterly Publication; and  Julian Livingston, Webmaster.   Congratualtions to all! 

    

  • OFFICERS: (click name to send email)


  • COMMITTEES:  (click name to send email)


  • Quarterly Publication: OWEN COUNTY HISTORY &
GENEALOGY

  • Dues are changed: $15 payable yearly beginning 
01/01/2008 to OCHGS at:
     
Owen County Historical and
     
Genealogical Society
     
P.O. Box 569
     
Spencer, IN 47460
     

    


  • MEETINGS - TIME AND PLACE: Third Tuesday of each month, 7-9pm, Owen County Public Library; 10 S. Montgomery St. Spencer, IN.  unless otherwise stated.  Check below for special meeting location.  Everyone is always welcome at meetings of the Society.
    







Owen County Historical and Genealogical Society (OCHGS)

    
Local News Release
    
For Your Immediate Attention!

    
Meeting April 15, 2008

    
“Medical Practices of the Revolutionary War Era – Re-enactment By Chirurgeon Richard Hill”  

    
It wasn’t too long ago that “modern” medicine included such treatments as catnip, nutmeg, and olive oil…   many of the same items used in today’s kitchens to add flavor to our foods.  These items were an important part of a chirurgeon’s medical tool kit during the 1700-1800 period.

    
Richard Hill, from Mitchell, Indiana, has done extensive research on medical practices of the 1770s and early nineteenth century.  Some of his finds are fascinating and he will be sharing his knowledge at the April 15th OCH&GS meeting.  Hill’s business card reads: "Chirurgeon Compagnie Franche de la Marine du Detroit."  Hill is the chirurgeon of the Culpeper Minute Battalion.  Chirurgeon is an archaic term used for surgeon.  Hill has a collection of tools that surpasses those that most chirurgeons of that era had during their careers.  Many practicing “surgeons” of the Revolutionary War era were lucky to have had a knife, a few needles, perhaps a saw… and that was about the extent of it.  Hill will go into an explanation on the types of treatments that were available as well as going into some detail on the lives of some Revolutionary War soldiers and their ordeal during a three-day march.  Hill is a member of the North West Territory Alliance (a re-enacting group) and the Sons of the American Revolution – Daniel Guthrie Chapter.  He has been doing re-enacting of a chirurgeon for some 23 years. 

    
Everyone is invited to come to the Owen County Public Library’s meeting room on the upper level and listen to the re-enactment and chirurgeon presentation by Richard Hill.   Join us on April 15th at 7:00 pm, 10 S. Montgomery Street, Spencer, Indiana.

    

Donna Stogsdill, Vice-president

    
Donnastog@prodigy.net

    
812-824-6936

    
812-325-6649 

    

    
Best Regards,
    
Terresa Thompson
    
Owen County Historian/Archivist
    
President, Owen County Historical 
    
and Genealogical Society (OCHGS)
    
P. O. Box 654
    
Spencer, IN 47460
    

    
tethomps@insightbb.com

    
812-828-0064


    


  • Do come if you live nearby.  Plan your trip if you don't.

    
Owen County Historical & Genealogical Society
    
invites you to some outstanding programs
    

    
Look what we have planned, shown in a calendar list for 2008

    
    

    
January 15, 2008   Panel of citizens from the Whitehall, Indiana area.  Lloyd Smith will be gathering people to come and share stories about the history of this interesting part of Owen County.

    
 

February 19, 2008   Russ Ryles presenting his collection of old maps.  

    
 

March 18, 2008    Panel of citizens from the Patricksburg, Indiana area will gather to share their stories on the history of this interesting town.

    
 

April 22,   "Medical practices of the Revolutionary War era".   Richard Hill has done extensive research on medical practices of the 1770s and early nineteenth century. His card reads "Chirugien Compagnie Franche de la Marine du Detroit." He has so many fascinating stories.  He has a medical kit and explains everything from herbalism to bleeding to surgery of that time.  

    
 

May 20, 2008    Tom Douglas speaking on the history of railroads.   When did they come to Indiana and to Owen County.   What changes did they bring to the Owen County families?  

    
 

June 17, 2008     Panning for Gold in them thar Owen County Hills.  Deb Mansfield is the gold-panning instructor at the local Gene's Bait and Tackle store and she will be sharing some of the trinkets that have been recovered.   Come and see how you can begin your new hobby!

    
 

 July 22, 2008   The Byerly Farms is presented by Joyce Skinner.  Joyce has been doing research on the Byerly Farms and has written a book.  She will tell about her adventures in gathering the information for her project. 

    
 

August 19, 2008   Daniel Boone and the famous Owen County tree that he is reported to have carved as told by Gene Arthur.   Gene is the owner of Gene's Bait and Tackle store in Spencer.

    
 

September 16, 2008   Publish your book - World Arts Inc.  Speaker:  Randy Robertson.  Come and learn what is involved in publish your work.  What is involved?  What layout is required?  Come and ask the professional.

    
 

October 21, 2008 WW II - Come and visit with two of our World War II veteran heroes, Tom Hamilton and his friend Don Ellis.  Both have so many stories to share and Don will talk a little about his experience as a POW.

    
 

November 18, 2008    This is a tentative sechedule:    Photo editing techniques and other discussions on digital media projects.  Get an update on the Owen County Archives.

    
 

December - The Society does not meet in December.  See you in 2009.


    


    CONTACT INFORMATION:
    

  • Snail Mail Queries: Vivian Zollinger, RR2 - Box 49,
Gosport, IN 47433.  Queries will be published in the quarterly and the
Spencer Evening World column. Be sure to include SASE if you
request an answer.
    


  • Indiana GenWeb Lookups and Database Access: Can't wait
for snail mail?  The librarian and 
others will do lookups in loads of reference books.  Just click [_H_E_R_E_] for
ready-to-go, direct access to the INGenWeb Lookup Page.
    
Please link here for  Services and
Publications page. 




  • Mailing Address for ALL mail except Queries:
      
Owen County Historical and
      
Genealogical Society
      
P.O. Box 569
      
Spencer, IN 47460
      
SEARCHES SHOULD BE MARKED AS SUCH ON THE ENVELOPE.

    

  • 
 

Library now has new hours:

    M-Th            9-8 
Fri             9-5
Sat             9-3
Sun             Closed,


    


  • 
 Two databases are available to help refine searches for the submission to the Genealogy Librarian.  Please click on these links for  Surnames of  
Families and 
Photo Files.  

    Notes from the Owen Co.Public Library 10/17/05
    
E-mail queries can be sent to genealogy@owenlib.org or accessed through the above link. Written requests can be sent Attention Genealogy Department, Owen County Public Library, 10 S. Montgomery, Spencer, IN 47460. Telephone contact can be made at 812-829-3392. We process queries in the order that they are received and ask clients to expect to wait approximately 14 working days for their request to be processed. Pleasse contact the library directly for any charges on items mailed.



    


    SURF TO MORE GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
     

 Visit these neighborly historical and
genealogical sites.  Sites listed here are presented without any particular recommendation.  They may have just the people you are looking for or can give you some quick help through a GenWeb site:
    


    


  • OWEN COUNTY INGENWEB SITE has full scale lookup capability.  Get some real on-line help
with your Owen County genealogical problems here.
    


  • For an outstanding website relating to
Owen County History and Genealogy,
    
visit 
SWEET OWEN & SURROUNDING AREAS managed by Debbie Jennings.
    
As she clearly states:  "This site is NOT connected with, 
or replacing any of the Owen, Morgan or Putnam county 
Genweb sites. It is an independent effort of its creator."
    
However, I must add it is a very rich site with wonders indeed.
    


  • Recently received the following: "I have access to Allen Co. Public Library in Fort Wayne,IN. I'm willing to do census request lookups for 1840-1920. The cost of search will be around $1.50 to $2.00 
for postage, copies, gas and parking.  Email is Amy Ryan."

    

  • 
The Michael O. Anderson site is no longer available.




  • MONROE COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.  Vast amounts of genealogical data directly 
available on line.  Also, direct email to their genealogical library for
free simple lookups.  Paid research via email is also available here.
    




    • 
The 
Greene County INGenWeb Site is also a possible try; they have some really good maps.  The Greene County Genealogical Society as well as
the Historical Society have web sites. Access them via 
the Greene County INGenWeb site linked above.

    


  • 
MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY - INDIANA ROOM.  Monroe County
Genealogy and Local History.
    


  • MORGAN COUNTY LIBRARY - Genealogical Assistance. Census information and early 
settler information.
    


  • Try one county west of Owen, namely the CLAY COUNTY INGENWEB SITE or the 
CLAY COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY.
     


  • 49th Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, Company F Civil War Reenactment Unit.  Get
some access to this and other fine Civil War Resources on this page.
    

 
(C) 1999 All Rights Reserved, Debbie Jordan

    

  • Debbie Jordan presents 
"Styles from the avenuE," a staged
presentation of Styles and Trivia of the Forties, 
costumes from a treasure trove
of that era.  Contact her
HERE for details.
Take it from one who has seen it - research based from an
archeological site, it is fun, informative, and the price
is very attractive.
    


  • Try Genealogical Publishing Company 
and Clearfield Company for a commercial source of genealogical information
for this and other counties.  
    


  • Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution 
http://www.geocities.com/inssar-south.  Contact them - find out. 
Stephen D Franklin, South District Director/INSSAR. 
    


  • Society of Indiana Pioneers 
www.indianapioneers.com.  Regular membership is open to men and women 
18 years of age and older who prove one or more of his or her ancestors 
meets the qualifications of an Indiana Pioneer.  An Indiana Pioneer is one 
who lived within the present boundary of an Indiana county on or before 
December 31 of the qualifying year for a particular county.  The qualifying 
year for Owen County is 1830.  Leigh E Morris, lmorris@csinet.net, 
219-362-4998, 424 Lake Shore Drive, La Porte, IN 46350
Member, Board of Governors of the Society of Indiana Pioneers

     


  • Owen County Towns.
Get informed on history of your Owen County communities.
    


  • Genealogy Spot
is a very rich launch site for any genealogical research.  Give it a try.
    


  • The Michael O. Anderson site is no longer available.


  • Go to Indiana State Historical
Society?


  • Go to Indiana
State Library?


  • Go to Indiana Genealogical Society?


  • Go to Indiana GenWeb? 
Check out all Indiana County sites from here!!
    


  • WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT OLD TINTYPE _ DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!
    
There are many sites for dating
19th and early 20th century photographs.  For example: 
www.city-gallery.com.  DATING is, of course, the MOST ESSENTIAL STEP in identifying those long forgotten relatives whose unlabled pictures you have.  The NEXT STEP IS
PROVENANCE.  
Those two areas (no surprise - when-&-where) of information are your 
BEST hope of identifying those mysterious old pictures. 
Posting the picture is a poor second to that aggressive 
"when-&-where" action on your part.  Take special note of the 
OLD PHOTO GUIDE, and you might want to print and keep 
some of the information on the referenced site.  
Make sure your Acrobat reader is ready to go. 
Then there is: Ancestor Archive, but check
their top-page sidebar for the links to good technical info such as
Dave Rozzana'a Classy Image
Also, take a look at 
www.ancientfaces.com.  

    PHOTOGRAPHY AS A 
TOOL IN GENEALOGY, an article
      
by Ron and Maureen Willis, Willis Photo Lab,
    
Belmont, CA 94002
    
Phone:  650-620-9380
    
(updated 8-24-07)
             
This excellent reference discusses "technology" as a means of dating
the photo.  Two other superimposed techniques for dating are "presentation"
and "clothing."  "Presentation" refers to such items as the case and 
bronze frame of the DAGUERREOTYPE, AMBROTYPE, or TINTYPE.  

    

  • Ever wonder how many people have been here since August 30, 1996?
The amazing Web-Counter says .

    


    Not sure what to do -- where to go next?
    
Try these Owen Co family links if you are interested:
    
Glorianne Gfahs has put some Beaman family information on line at Beaman Gleanings
and at Beaman Marriages in Indiana.
    

For Owen Co. Baker family data try this.
    

For Owen Co. descendants of Owen Martin and Margaret Ross -
 try this
    
 A site for 
Philbert Family Sources
    

-AND-
    
Check out the Historical Investigations
Homepage. This site now offers a recently released book on the Jordan Village/Atkinsonville/Bowling Green
area of Owen and Clay County covering the Campbell, Waldorf, and Gallup families.  It also has a separate book with more detail about the Gallups of Spencer, and a book that covers the Owen and Monroe families of Livingston, Hazel, Hansford, Bowen, Cooper, Trisler, and Rhorer.
    




This is a Genealogy Site





    WebMaster: Julian Livingston
 - Bloomington, Indiana.
     Leave comments and non-working links (but NO queries) here: julian2@bluemarble.net.

    
Last update shown at top.