Alcona County, Michigan Genealogy
Guide to Alcona County, Michigan ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for a Chippewa chief, also known as "Little Wing". He was honored as having been an American ally against the British in the War of 1812. It is located in the northeast-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Alcona County Courthouse
166 5th St.
Harrisville, MI 48740
Phone: 989-724-9470
Fax: 989-724-9419
Alcona County Website
County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, divorce court and naturalization records from 1869 and military records from 1900.
Probate Court has probate records.
Register of Deeds has land records.[3]
Alcona County, Michigan Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1869 | 1869 | 1869 | 1869 | 1869 | 1869 | 1820 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- 1799-1999 Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), Cemetery Index, 1799-1999 at FamilySearch — index and images
- Mount Joy Cemetery Alcona County Genealogical Society
Census Records[edit | edit source]
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 185 | — |
| 1870 | 696 | 276.2% |
| 1880 | 3,107 | 346.4% |
| 1890 | 5,409 | 74.1% |
| 1900 | 5,691 | 5.2% |
| 1910 | 5,703 | 0.2% |
| 1920 | 5,912 | 3.7% |
| 1930 | 4,989 | −15.6% |
| 1940 | 5,463 | 9.5% |
| 1950 | 5,856 | 7.2% |
| 1960 | 6,352 | 8.5% |
| 1970 | 7,113 | 12.0% |
| 1980 | 9,740 | 36.9% |
| 1990 | 10,145 | 4.2% |
| 2000 | 11,719 | 15.5% |
| 2010 | 10,942 | −6.6% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
State Census
- 1894 Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
- 1850-1880 Michigan Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Michigan denominations, view the Michigan Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- 1929-1966 Michigan, Crew Lists for various ports, 1929-1966 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Michigan Land and Property for additional information about early Michigan land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the Alcona County courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Alcona County. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Michigan Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)
- 1863-1922 Michigan State Gazetteers and Business Directories at Hathi Trust, images – includes business directories for towns across the state
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Record of Service of the Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865 at Michiganology — images, multiple volumes organized alphabetically by surname
- 1876-1945 Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1876-1945 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1894 Michigan Department of State. Census of the State of Michigan, 1894. Vol 3. Lansing, MI: R. Smith & co., state printers, 1896. (Civil War veterans only) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
- Michigan, Civil War Centennial Observance Commission, Committee on Civil War Grave Registration, Burial Records at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
World War I
- 1917-1919 Michigan, Census of World War I Veterans with Card Index, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- 1837-1993 Michigan, Eastern and Western Districts, Naturalization Records, 1837-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- County newspaper articles Alcona County Genealogical SocietyFree membership with registration.
- Digital Michigan Newspapers at Central Michigan University
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
In most counties in Michigan, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate packets, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1784-1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1797-1973 Michigan Probate Records 1797-1973 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Michigan tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information see the Wiki page, Michigan Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
- Birth Records and Death Records from 1867 can be obtained from the Michigan Department of Community Health or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
- Marriage Records from 1867 and Divorce Records from 1897 can be obtained from the County Clerk.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1867-1917 Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1867-1902 Michigan Births, 1867-1902 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1875-2020 Birth Index at Alcona County Genealogical Society - Gives only surnames, incomplete
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1585-1945 Michigan, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
- 1820-1937 Michigan, County Marriages Index, 1820-1937 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1820-1940 Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1867-1952 Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952 at Ancestry.com ($) — index and images
- 1868-1925 Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1875-2020 Marriage Index at Alcona County Genealogical Society - Gives only surnames, incomplete
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1850-1880 Michigan Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1867-1897 Michigan Deaths, 1867-1897 --Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1867-1952 Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952 at Ancestry.com ($) — index and images
- 1875-2020 Death Index at Alcona County Genealogical Society - Gives only surnames, incomplete
- 1897-1952 Michigan Death Records at Michiganology - index and images, organized by county and then last name.
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1897-1952 Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952 at Ancestry.com ($) — index and images
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Alcona County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Michigan Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Alpena Michigan Family History Center
- Gaylord Michigan Family History Center
- Gladwin Co District Library - an affiliate library
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Alcona County. For state-wide library facilities, see Michigan Archives and Libraries.
Museums[edit | edit source]
Alcona Historical Society
P.O. Box 174
Harrisville, MI 48740
Phone: 989-724-6384
EMAIL: ahs@alconahistoricalsociety.com
website
- The Society has a Lighthouse, a Depot, a School House and many driving tours.
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Alcona County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Michigan Societies.
- Alcona County Genealogical Society
Website
- Alcona Historical Society
P.O. Box 174
Harrisville, MI 48740
Phone: (989) 916-5285
Email: ahs@alconahistoricalsociety.com
Website Facebook
- Huron Shores Genealogical Society
6010 N. Skeel Avenue
Oscoda, MI 48750-1577
Phone: 989-739-9581
E-mail:huronshoresgs@yahoo.com
Facebook Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
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- The Alcona County MIGenWeb Project, an member of The MIGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
- Alcona County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Alcona, County," in wikipedia
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Michigan.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Alcona County, Michigan," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia accessed 15 September 2019.