Randolph County, Indiana Genealogy

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History of Randolph County, Indiana
Randolph County was created on 10 January 1818 from a portion of Wayne County, Indiana. Frontier settlement had begun to reach the area by 1814. The county was named for old Randolph County, North Carolina, many settlers having moved westward from the Carolinas. Winchester was established as the county seat the same year the county was founded.

The first settlement was made in 1814 by a Quaker family, which was joined by five other families. By late 1816 the influx of new settlement and land entries grew rapidly. The years of most rapid growth were 1817-18 and 1836-37, much of the land purchased by speculators. The first school in Randolph County was built by Quakers in 1815. The first election was held in August 1818. The first road opened was the Quaker Trace in 1817, running from Richmond to Ft. Wayne. The first Court House was built in 1818. The first railroad through the county was the Indianapolis and Bellefontaine, completed in 1852-53.

Frame and brick structures, mills, orchards, factories, stores, hotels and banks followed.

Winchester was the first town established in Randolph County. Lots were laid out in 1818 and the sales began in February the following year. The area was heavily timbered with unbroken forest. Buildings of hewed logs predominated. The town grew slowly.

Townships of Randolph County were organized as follows: Greensfork, 1818; White River, 1818;  Ward, 1820;  Stoney Creek, 1826;  Wayne (North), 1820;  Liberty, 1825;  Washington, 1831;  West River, 1831;  Jackson, 1833;  Green, 1834;  Nettle Creek, 1835;  Wayne, 1838; Monroe, before 1851; Franklin, 1859;  Union, 1838; Salamonie, 1834; Madison, 1835.

Anti-slavery sentiments were common in Randolph County, as many early settlers had left the Carolinas to be free of the practice. Active supporters of the emancipation movement were found around 1816. The Underground Railroad functioned, and runaways were sheltered and assisted in their escape.

Early newspapers were The Journal at Winchester, and The Times at Union City. Early banks were Citizens Bank and Commercial Bank of Union City, and Farmers and Merchants Bank and Randolph County Bank of Winchester.

Parent County
1818--Randolph County was created 10 January 1818 from Wayne County. County seat: Winchester

Neighboring Counties

 * Darke County, Ohio
 * Delaware
 * Henry
 * Jay
 * Wayne

Cemeteries
A number of cemeteries are listed on www.findagrave.com. Postings of Headstones are there as well. Some of the cemeteries are: Quaker Lynn Cemetery, White River Cemetery, Buenva Vista Cemetery and Jericho Cemetery.

Military
Civil War

Civil War service men from Randolph 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 Randolph County.


 * 8th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company G
 * 9th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company C
 * 9th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company L
 * 19th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company C
 * 20th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company A, and E
 * 57th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company D
 * 84th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies A, E, and H
 * 99th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company H
 * 105th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company I
 * 106th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies A, and B
 * 109th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company K
 * 124th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies G, and H
 * 134th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company F
 * 139th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company I
 * 140th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies F, and K
 * 144th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company K
 * 147th Regiment, Indiana Infantry

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Randolph County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Randolph County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)