Howard County History and Information

Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |

Howard County was created on May 1, 1844 as Richardville County and was formed from Unorganized Land. As this county nearly all within the old Miami Reserve, it was named after the Miami Chief and successor of Little Turtle, however, the sentiment did not prevail for any length of time and on December 28, 1846, the Legislature passed its first and only act changing the name of a county. The County was named for Gen. Tilghman Howard, a U.S. Representative from Indiana.

The County Seat is Kokomo. It is located on the site of the Indian village of the same name and was first settled in the autumn of 1844 by N. R. Lindsey, J. Bohan, C. Richmond, J. L. Barritt, J. T. McClintock, B. Newhouse, and others. By 1849 it contained five stores, one grocery, fifty dwelling houses, and 250 inhabitants. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Howard County are Miami County (North), Grant County (East), Tipton County (South), Clinton County (Southwest), Carroll County (West), Cass County (Northwest).

Howard County is divided into 11 Civil Townships as follows: Center, Clay, Ervin, Harrison, Honey Creek, Howard, Jackson, Liberty, Monroe, Taylor and Union.

Cities, Towns and Communities include Alto, Cassville, Center, Darrough Chapel, Fairfield, Greentown, Guy, Hemlock, Indian Heights, Jerome, Judson, Kappa, Kokomo, New London, Oakford, Phlox, Plevna, Poplar Grove, Ridgeway, Russiaville, Shanghai, Sycamore, Tampico, Terre Hall, Vermont, West Liberty, and West Middleton.

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County Courthouse

See Also Indiana Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Search Indiana Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

NOTE: The date listed for each category of record is the earliest record known to exist in that county. It does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and certainly does not indicate that all such events that year were actually registered. See also the Howard County Courthouse History

Howard County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1844 , Probate Records from 1844 and Court Records from 1844 and is located at P.O. Box 9004, Kokomo, IN 46904; (765) 456-2204, (765) 456-2000 (Fax)(765) 456-2267

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a ministerial officer who is the custodian of the Clerk's record and seal, issues process, accepts filings of commencement of actions in litigation, enters judgments and orders of the court, receives money in his official capacity, makes certified copies of record, issues many miscellaneous licenses, and keeps a record of all wills and matters of trust in probate proceedings.

Howard County Recorder has Land Records from 1846 and is located at Room #330, 220 N Main Street, Kokomo, IN  46901; 765-456-2210.

The county recorder's function is to maintain permanent public records involving a wide variety of instruments. These documents detail transactions involving real estate, mining, personal property, mortgages, liens, leases, subdivision plats, military discharges, personal bonds, etc. Generally, all of these instruments are recorded either for giving legal public notice of their existence or for safekeeping and future reference. The recorder maintains and preserves all legal documents affecting title to real property.

Howard County Health Department has Birth / Death Records from 1882 and is located at 120 Fast Mulberry, Room 206, Kokomo, IN 46901; (765) 456-2400 or (765) 456-2927

Below is a list of online resources for Howard County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Howard County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Indianapolis Newspaper Index, 1848-1991: Select articles from 1848-1888 Indianapolis daily newspapers; heavily focused on deaths and marriages. Select articles from 1898-1991 about people, places, events, and topics in Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. Extremely limited for deaths; no coverage of marriages.  Card file also available in the Microforms Area, second floor.
  • Reference & Government Services CD Collection: Database to allow searching of the hundreds of CDs from the federal government and other sources, part of the collections of the Reference & Government Services Division.
  • Howard County, Indiana Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
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County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Indiana

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Indiana State Department of Health Vital Records office is located at 6 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The office is open for walk-in requests from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., E.S.T., Monday through Friday (excluding official State Holidays). They have the following records:

  • Birth Certificates: The Division of Vital Records and Statistics maintains birth records that occur in Indiana since Oct 1907 to the present. Prior to October 1907, records of birth are filed only with the local health department in the county where the birth actually occurred.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $10.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "Indiana State Department of Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 5 weeks when ordered by MAIL. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE.
  • Death Certificates: The Division of Vital Records and Statistics maintains death records that occur in Indiana since 1900 to the present. Prior to 1900, records of death are filed only with the local health department in the county where the death actually occurred. For deaths occurring from 1900 to 1917, the city and/or county of death is required in order to locate the record.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $8.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "Indiana State Department of Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 5 weeks when ordered by MAIL. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE.
  • Marriage Certificates: Certified copies of marriage certificates are not available from the State Health Department. They are available from the Clerks of the Circuit Court in the county where the marriage was granted. Fees vary.
  • Divorce Certificates: Certified copies of divorce certificates are not available from the State Health Department. They are available from the County Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees vary.
  • Ordering Vital Records Online- You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.

Below is a list of online resources for Howard County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Howard County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Indiana newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Indiana Marriages Database: Database for Indiana marriages through 1850
  • Indiana Marriages Database: Database for Indiana marriages 1993 through 2002
  • Indiana Births, 1880-1920: This database indexes births for thirty-one of the counties indexed by the WPA.
  • Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920: This data set contains the WPA's indexes to the death records of most of the counties that they completed.
  • Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941: This database is a collection of Indiana marriage indexes covering various years and counties.
  • Indiana Marriages to 1850: This database of Indiana marriages to 1850 contains nearly 200,000 names.
  • Indiana Marriages, 1802-1892: This database is an index to individuals who were married in Indiana between 1802 and 1892.
  • Howard County, Indiana Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
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County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Indiana

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Howard County, Indiana are 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Howard County, Indiana are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Howard County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Howard County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Indiana Census, 1790-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 (Northwest Territory) Federal Census Index; 1807 State Census Index; 1810 Wayne County Census Index; 1812 Census Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index; 1890 Veterans Schedule.
  • Howard County, Indiana Census Books at Amazon.com
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.
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County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Ohio and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Indiana showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Indiana showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at County Maps

Below is a list of online resources for Howard County Maps. Email us with websites containing Howard County Maps by clicking the link below:

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County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Indiana

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Howard County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Howard County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Records of county taxes were kept as early at 1842, although most were discarded. Remaining ones would be at the county courthouse. National Archives-Great Lakes Region has records of the Internal Revenue Service for Indiana for 1867 to 1873. These are tax assessment records, arranged by district and then chronologically.

Below is a list of online resources for Howard County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Howard County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Howard County, Indiana Tax Books at Amazon.com
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County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Indiana Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Howard County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Howard County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Howard County Historical Society, 1200 W. Sycamore St., Kokomo, IN 46901; Phone (765) 452-4314
  • Howard County Genealogical Society, c/o Kokomo-Howard County Public Library
    220 N. Union St., Kokomo, IN 46901
  • Indiana Libraries: Database to allow searching for Indiana's public libraries.
  • National Archives - Great Lakes Region (Chicago), 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 60629-5898; 773-948-9001; E-mail: chicago.archives@nara.gov (Maintains retired records from Federal agencies and courts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.) General Information Leaflet
  • Indiana State Archives, 6440 E. 30th St., Indianapolis, IN 46219; (317) 591-5222, [EMAIL]
  • Indiana State Library, Attn: (Division or Staff Name), 140 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2296; Loan Desk and General Inquiries: 317-232-3675, ind@statelib.lib.in.us; Genealogy Division: 317-232-3689, genealogy@statelib.lib.in.us
  • Indiana Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 10507, Fort Wayne IN 46852
  • Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St, Indianapolis,IN 46202; 1-800-447-1830 or 317-232-1882
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • Indiana Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Indiana

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Howard County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Howard County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Baptist records are found at Franklin College (in Franklin); Methodist at DePauw University (in Greencastle); Mennonite at Goshen College (in Goshen); Presbyterian at Hanover College (in Hanover); Disciples of Christ at their historical society in Nashville, Tennessee; and French Catholic at Vincennes University in the Byron R. Lewis Collection. There are also Catholic church histories and records at the Catholic Archives, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. Quaker records are at Earlham College (at Richmond).

The commissioner's office of each Indiana county may have burial records for soldiers, sailors, and marines. If available, the records should include name, age, date of enlistment, discharge date, and death date. Records begin about 1862.

The Indiana State Library holds records of inscriptions from some Indiana cemeteries. The "Indiana Cemetery Locator File," compiled by the Genealogy Division, is an alphabetical listing of cemeteries, indicating the location in the state and the designation in the Genealogy Division of the Indiana State Library where inscriptions may be found.

Below is a list of online resources for Howard County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Howard County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Howard County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Howard County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

1849 Adams County Retrospect - Based on "Indiana Gazetteer," published by E. Chamberlain

Howard County, organized in 1844, was first named Richardville, after the Chief of the Miamies of that name, but on the death of General T. A. Howard, a distinguished citizen of this State, and at the time Minister to Texas, the name was changed. Howard County is bounded north by Cass and Miami, east by Grant, south by Tipton and Clinton, and west by Clinton and Carroll. The contents are 279 square miles, divided into nine townships, viz: Center, Monroe, Irvin, Clay, Harrison, Taylor, Howard, Jackson and Greene. The population is at this time [1849] about 5,000. The surface of the country is either nearly level or slightly undulating; the soil is uniformly rich, though in places it will require draining. There are a few prairies, inclined to be wet and not of much note, but generally the land is covered with heavy and mostly valuable timber. When cleared it is well adapted to the cultivation of corn, wheat, grass, etc. This county, lying entirely in the Miami Reserve, has only been settled about six years, but it will soon be among the first rate farming counties. It has now twelve stores, six gristmills, five sawmills, three lawyers, eight physicians, ten ministers of the Gospel, three Methodist, on e Presbyterian, one Baptist, one New Light and one Quaker Meeting House, and about thirty mechanics whose trades are most in demand.

Only a small portion of the county has been purchased of the United States five years, so as to be subject to taxation. 34,000 acres are canal lands.

1938 Adams County Retrospect - Based on "Indiana Review," published by the State Legislature

Howard, one of the central counties located north of Indianapolis, has an area of 297 square miles and is divided into eleven townships. The only incorporated city is Kokomo, 32,843; town; Greentown, 1,021. Howard County population if 1890, 26,186; 1900, 28,575; 1910, 33,177; 1920, 43,682; 1930, 46,696.

Kokomo, located fifty-four miles north of Indianapolis at the location of the intersection of U. S. Highways 31 and 35, is serviced by two railroads. Kokomo is noted as an industrial center, listing 43 manufacturing establishments, according to 1935 federal census figures. A total of 4,411 wage earners were paid $4,780,912. The value of the products was $22,932,396. Its wide variety of products include steel wire, automotive accessories, stamped metals, iron, toilet articles, plate glass, stoves, ranges, radios, machine tools, pottery, and automobile tires.

Kokomo is chiefly famous from a historical standpoint as the home of the first American automobile, which was operated on the streets of Kokomo July 4th, 1894, by a native of the city, Elwood Haynes. Haynes, in addition to being the inventor of the first car, was also the inventor of Stellite "Master Metal," a stainless steel.

In 1937 Howard County dedicated a fine new Courthouse.

The Kern Family stands out notably in the county's history. There was first Dr. Jacob H. Kern and his son, Senator John W. Kern, at one time nominee for Vice-President of the United States, father of Indianapolis' former mayor. Other notables include Dr. J. F. Hendrickson, T. L. Faulkner, George C. Tate, and J. R. McReynolds.

There are several points of interest in Howard County, including the cabin of the first settler erected in 1837 by David Landrum in Monroe Township; a monument at the point of first run of Haynes's automobile, and Kokomo's five parks, covering about 175 acres.

The county had total of 48 industries according to 1935 federal census figures. A total of 4,672 wage earners were employed on pay rolls of $5,019,815. The value of the manufactured products was $23,576,383.

Howard County had 2,025 farms averaging 85.7 acres each. The value of these was $13,162,152. A total of 76,080 head of livestock was reported.

A total county tax valuation as of 1936 was $47,072,030.

Courthouse History

The Jazz Age of the 1920s ushered in a new era of energetic dancing, bobbed hair, short skirts, and fast cars. New architectural designs likewise expressed the changing times. Through the bold use of metalwork, stylized sculpture, and angular patterns, Art Deco architecture embodied the climate of a bold new world. The style took its name from the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris, France. The trend went well beyond architecture to influence many aspects of fashion through the early 1940s, including furniture, art, and clothing. With its emphasis on modernity and industry, Art Deco must have seemed like the perfect style when architect Oscar F. Cook designed the Howard County Courthouse.

In the 1930s Howard County welcomed an era of prosperity as new advances in automotive technology brought the Delco Radio Division of General Motors, and the Chrysler Corporation to Kokomo. County Commissioners acknowledged the need for their government to keep up with the county’s growth by constructing a new courthouse. Since the demolition of the old 1868 courthouse in 1927, county offices had been scattered throughout downtown Kokomo.

In 1935 County Commissioners requested a grant from the PWA for courthouse construction. Due to delays caused by federal bureaucracy, the commissioners decided to move ahead without federal assistance. Since the county had been without a courthouse for nearly ten years, the public rallied behind a local bond issue for $353,000. The PWA eventually provided $29,000 for basement construction.

Orators from throughout Indiana gathered on October 20, 1937 to dedicate the new building. The modern building features a stylized limestone entry flanked by two bronze lamps. Inside curving stainless steel handrails and polished marble flooring and paneling continue the Art Deco motif. The handrails were manufactured in Kokomo by the Haynes Company. Company founder Elwood Haynes was the inventor of stainless steel.

Like so many Indiana towns, Kokomo’s courthouse square is designed in a Shelbyville Plan. Walnut, Main, Sycamore and Buckeye streets border the square.

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