Lawrence County, Indiana Genealogy
Guide to Lawrence County, Indiana 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]
Lawrence County was named for Captain James Lawrence, who uttered the famous words "Don't give up the ship" after being mortally wounded during the War of 1812.[2] It is located in the south-central area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Lawrence County Courthouse
916 15th Street
Bedford, IN 47421
Phone: 812-275-7543
County Website
Lawrence County Health Department
2419 Mitchell Road
Bedford, IN, 47421
Health Officer: Alan Smith, MD
Phone Number: 812-275-3234
Fax: 812-275-1094
Email: pedwards@lawrencecounty.in.gov
Health Department
County Clerk has marriage, probate, divorce and court records from 1818.
County Health Department has birth and death records.
County Recorder has land records from 1818 and military records.[4]
Health Department has birth records and death records.
Copies may be obtained from the county health department or the Indiana State Division of Vital Records.
Lawrence County, Indiana 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 |
1882 | 1818 | 1882 | 1818 | 1818 | 1818 | 1807 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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:[8]
Cities | ||
Towns | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Census-designated places | ||
Townships | ||
Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
The original county seat of Lawrence County was Palestine, located on the White River. Lawrence County's first circuit court was held 4 Jun 1818 in the home of James Gregory at Leatherwood, east of the present-day location of Bedford.
The first courthouse was built in the spring of 1818 at Palestine. A new courthouse was constructed in Palestine in 1822.
The county seat was moved and renamed Bedford as the result of an 1825 legislative act. A temporary log courthouse was erected in Bedford in early 1825. The first court term in Bedford opened 6 Feb 1826. A new courthouse was completed in May of 1834. An 1869 move for a new courthouse resulted in construction of a new building in 1872.
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Indiana Biography Index at Indiana State Library
- Indiana Genealogy Express. History of Lawrence County, Indiana Biographical Index
- Anglefire Indiana Biographies - Lawrence County
- InGenWeb Lawrence County Biographies
- USGenWeb Archives Lawrence County Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
- Guthrie Creek Cemetery: Jarvis, Carolyn, et al. Guthrie Creek Cemetery, Pleasant Run Township, Lawrence County, Indiana. Bedford, IN: Lawrence Historical & Genealogical Society, 2007. WorldCat
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For tips on accessing Lawrence County census records online, see: Indiana Census.
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1820 | 4,116 | — |
1830 | 9,234 | 124.3% |
1840 | 11,782 | 27.6% |
1850 | 12,097 | 2.7% |
1860 | 13,692 | 13.2% |
1870 | 14,628 | 6.8% |
1880 | 18,543 | 26.8% |
1890 | 19,792 | 6.7% |
1900 | 25,729 | 30.0% |
1910 | 30,625 | 19.0% |
1920 | 28,228 | −7.8% |
1930 | 35,583 | 26.1% |
1940 | 35,045 | −1.5% |
1950 | 34,346 | −2.0% |
1960 | 36,564 | 6.5% |
1970 | 38,038 | 4.0% |
1980 | 42,472 | 11.7% |
1990 | 42,836 | 0.9% |
2000 | 45,922 | 7.2% |
2010 | 46,134 | 0.5% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
- Census Records, Lawrence County, Indiana (Genealogy Trails)
- Lawrence County Census (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
- Index to Defective, Dependent & Delinquent Census (1880) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Most church records are held by individual churches. For contact information, check a phone directory, such as SearchBug or Dex Knows. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository.
For more information about these major repositories, see Indiana Church Records.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Pentecostal
- Lawless, Elaine J. God's Peculiar People: Women's Voices & Folk Tradition in a Pentecostal Church. Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky Press, 1988, 2005. (Discusses "Oneness" Pentecostals of Lawrence and Monroe Cos., IN.) Google Books (limited preview)
Presbyterian
- 1846-1861 Presbyterian Church, Lawrenceport, Baptism Index 1846-1861 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch C538751 .
Court Records[edit | edit source]
- Index to Insanity Applications (1870-1613) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Index to Old Age Pension Applications (1933-1934) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1890 City Directory (for several Lawrence Co. towns) (Genealogy Trails)
- Directory of Businesses (1868, 1930) at Indiana Genealogical Society
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
- Lawrence County Diaries, Letters, and Journals (USGenWeb Archives)
- Lawrence County: The People (Genealogy Trails)
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 Indiana Land and Property for additional information about early Indiana land grants and patents.
After land was transferred from the government to private ownership, subsequent transactions were recorded at the Lawrence County courthouse, where records are currently housed.
- Lawrence County Deeds and Land Records (USGenWeb Archives)
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Lawrence County. County histories may include biographies; church, school and government histories; and military information. For more information about local histories, see Indiana Local Histories.
Local Histories
- History of Lawrence County, Indiana. 1965. Paoli, Indiana : Stout's Print Ship. Title also known as: History of Lawrence, Orange and Washington Counties, Chicago : Goodspeed Bros. & Co., 1884. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat).
- History of Lawrence and Monroe Counties, Indiana: Their People, Industries and Institutions. 1974. Tucson, Arizona : W.C. Cox & Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat). Microreproduction of original published: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen, 1914.
- History of Washington County Indiana: A Re-Production of the Original "History of Lawrence, Orange and Washington Counties" 1884. Salem, IN: Washington County Historical Society, 1999. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- Kruse, Maxine. Images of American, Lawrence County Indiana. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2001. Google Books
- History of Lawrence County, Indiana (Genealogy Trails)
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Indiana
- Lawrence County Maps (INGenWeb)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
- Military Record Series Index at Indiana Digital Archives
- Lawrence County Military (USGenWeb Archives)
- Lawrence County Military (INGenWeb)
Civil War
Civil War service men from Lawrence County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Lawrence County:
- 4th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company G
- 10th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company L
- 13th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company H
- 16th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company D
- 17th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company K
- 18th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company B
- 24th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company A
- 27th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company D
- 43rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
- 49th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company C
- 50th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies D, G, and I
- 52nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company E, and Reorganized Company B
- 67th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies A, and H
- 82nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company C
- 93rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
- 97th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company G
- 112th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies B, D, F, and G
- 117th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (6 months, 1863-4), Company D
- 120th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies H, I, and K
- 136th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company H
- 140th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company A
- 144th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies C, and H
- 145th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies B, C, and G
Civil War Books:
- "Military History," Chapter 7 in History of Washington County Indiana: A Re-Production of the Original "History of Lawrence, Orange and Washington Counties" 1884. Salem, IN: Washington County Historical Society, 1999. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Internet Archive
World War I
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
- Naturalization Record Series (for this county) at Indiana Digital Archives. Search by names.
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Indiana newspapers may contain genealogical value including obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings.
For more Indiana newspaper information see the wiki page Indiana Newspapers.
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Lawrence County, Indiana News (newspaper extracts) (Genealogy Trails)
- Lawrence County Newspapers (USGenWeb Archives)
- Old Lawrence County Newspaper Articlesed (INGenWeb)
- Times-Mail (current newspaper, Bedford)
- Hoosier State Chronicles
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- Lawrence County Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)
- Lawrence County Obituary Database Surname Index (INGenWeb)
- Monroe County Public Library Obituary Index Search (includes many Lawrence County obituaries)
- Lawrence County, Indiana Obits (Genealogy Trails)
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Public Records
- Lawrence County, Indiana Miscellaneous Information (Genealogy Trails)
- Roster of Civilian Conservation Corps, Mitchell, Lawrence County, Indiana (1938) at Indiana Genealogical Society
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
In most counties in Indiana, probate records have been kept by the county clerk of the circuit court. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. The records are available at the Lawrence County courthouse. For more information, see Indiana Probate Records.
- 1798-1999 Indiana Wills and Probate Records 1798-1999 at Ancestry $
- Lawrence County Wills (USGenWeb Archives)
School Records[edit | edit source]
- Students/Seniors/Teachers of Lawrence County Schools (1926, 1931-1933, 1943, 1950) at Indiana Genealogical Society
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Indiana tax records complement land records and can be used in place of censuses or to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information see the wiki page Indiana Taxation.
- Lee, Barbara. 1907 Lawrence County, Indiana Poll Tax Rolls. Bedford, IN: Lawrence County Historical & Genealogical Society, (2007). WorldCat
- A list of Lawrence County Poll Tax Payers for 1822 - Internet Archive
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Indiana law in 1882 required registration of births and deaths in counties. The Indiana Department of Health has birth records filed after October 1907 and death records filed after January 1900 for deaths. Copies may be obtained from the county health department or the Indiana State Division of Vital Records.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- Lawrence County Births (USGenWeb Archives)
- Lawrence County, Indiana Birth Records of University Graduates (Genealogy Trails)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1780-1992 Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1800s-2007 Indiana, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
- 1802-1892 Indiana Marriages, 1802-1892 at Ancestry $
- 1811-1959 Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959 at MyHeritage - index and images, ($)
- 1811-2007 Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Lawrence County Marriages (USGenWeb Archives)
- Marriages of Lawrence County, Indiana (Genealogy Trails)
Death[edit | edit source]
- Pre-1882 WEB: Indiana, Deaths, Pre-1882 at Ancestry.com - index, (Free collection)
- 1750-1993 - Indiana Deaths and Burials, 1750-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1882-1920 Indiana, Death Index, 1882-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1899-2011 Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 at Ancestry $; and images
- Deaths, Lawrence County, Indiana (Genealogy Trails)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Lawrence County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Indiana 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
- Bedford Indiana Family History Center
- Bloomington Indiana Family History Center
- Jackson County Indiana Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Monroe County History Center - an affiliate library.
- Monroe County Public Library - Downtown Bloomington - an affiliate library.
- Monroe County Public Library - Elletsville - an affiliate library.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Lawrence County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Indiana Archives and Libraries.
Bedford Public Library
1323 K Street
Bedford, IN 47421
Phone: 812-275-4471
Website
Mitchell Community Public Library
804 Main Street
Mitchell, IN 47446
Phone: 812-849-2412
Email: info@mitchell.lib.in.us
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Lawrence County Museum of History &
Edward L. Hutton Research Library
929 15th Street
Bedford, IN 47421
Phone: 812-278-8575
Email: lchgs@lcmuseum.org
Website
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Lawrence County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Indiana Societies.
Lawrence County Historical and Genealogical Society
Lawrence County Museum of History &
Edward L. Hutton Research Library
929 15th Street
Bedford, IN 47421
Phone: 812-278-8575
Email: lchgs@lcmuseum.org
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Indiana Digital Archives Search by name in all records or specific collections
- Indiana Historical Society Digital Collections Extensive - keyword searches suggested
- Indiana Memory Click the map or select a statewide collection
- List of indexes and databases at Indiana State Library
- Indiana Genealogical Society Databases Free and Members-only. Scroll the list.
- Jackson/Lawrence County, Indiana Genealogy (blog)
- Lawrence County (Indiana State Library, Genealogy Division)
- Lawrence County (USGenWeb Archives)
- Lawrence County, Indiana (Genealogy Trails)
- Lawrence County, Indiana (INGenWeb)
- Lawrence County, Indiana (Wikipedia)
- Lawrence County, Indiana Genealogy Forum (GenForum)
- Lawrence County, Indiana History & Genealogy (Indiana Genealogy Express)
- EveryNameIndex.com for Indiana Free online genealogy indexes for county histories. Select a county.
- Lawrence County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- 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]
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Lawrence County, Indiana Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ind/lake/ 3/29/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lawrence County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_County,_Indiana 3/29/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lawrence County, Indiana" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_County,_Indiana (accessed 10 May 2012).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lawrence County, Indiana," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_County%2C_Indiana, accessed 20 December 2019.