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Knox County History and Information |
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County History |
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Knox County was created on June 20, 1790, when Michigan and Illinois were withdrawn from the Northwest Territory making it the oldest Indiana county. It was formed from the Indiana Territory. The County was named for , First Secretary of War General Henry Knox. The County Seat is Vincennes. Vincennes was the capital of the Indiana Territory from 1800-1812 until it was removed to Corydon, Harrison County. See also County History for more historical details. Counties adjacent to Knox County are Sullivan County (north), Greene County (northeast), Daviess County (east), Pike County (southeast), Gibson County (south), Wabash County, Illinois (southwest), Lawrence County, Illinois (west), Crawford County, Illinois (northwest). Knox County is divided into 10 Civil Townships as follows: Busseron, Decker, Harrison, Johnson, Palmyra, Steen, Vigo, Vincennes, Washington and Widner. Cities, Towns and Communities include Bandmill, Beal, Bicknell, Bruceville, Busseron, Cantalaoupe, Decker, Duncan, Edwardsport, Emison, Freelandville, Fritchton, Iona, Monroe City, Oaktown, Orrville, Purcell, Ragsdale, Ridgeville, Saint Thomas, Sandborn, Sisson, Smith, Storks Ferry, Verne, Vincennes, Vollmer, Westphalia, Wheatland, and Willis.
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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 Knox County Courthouse History Knox County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1806 , Probate Records from 1790 and Court Records from 1801 and is located at 111 North Seventh Street, Vincennes, IN 47591; Pho: (812) 885-2521, Fax: (812) 895-4929 Knox County Recorder has Land Records from 1783 and is located at 111 North Seventh Street, Vincennes, IN 47591; Pho: (812)885-2508 .
Knox County Health Department has Birth / Death Records from 1882 and is located at 624 Broadway Street, Vincennes, IN 47591-5338; (812) 882-8080 Below is a list of online resources for Knox County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Knox County Court Records by clicking the link below:
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Below is a list of online resources for Knox County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Knox County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
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Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Knox County, Indiana are 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Knox 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. See Also Statewide Records that exist for Indiana Below is a list of online resources for Knox County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Knox County Census Records by clicking the link below:
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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 Below is a list of online resources for Knox County Maps. Email us with websites containing Knox County Maps by clicking the link below: |
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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 Knox County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Knox County Military Records by clicking the link below:
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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 Knox County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Knox County Tax Records by clicking the link below: |
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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 Knox County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Knox County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
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There are many churches and cemeteries in Knox County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Knox 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 Knox County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Knox County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
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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 Knox County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Knox County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
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1849 Adams County Retrospect - Based on "Indiana Gazetteer," published by E. Chamberlain Knox County, named in honor of General Henry Knox, of the Revolution, and the first Secretary of War, was organized in 1802. It is bounded north by Sullivan and Greene, east by the West Fork of White River, which separates it form Daviess, south by White River, which separates it from Pike and Gibson, and west by the Wabash, which separates it from Illinois. Its average length from north to south is twenty-seven miles, and its average breadth is nineteen miles, making the contents about 513 square miles. Knox County is divided into ten civil townships, viz: Bussero, Decker, Harrison, Hunot, Johnson, Palmyra, Vigo, Vincennes, Washington and Widener. The population in 1830 was 6,557, in 1840, 10,657, and at this time [1849] about 12,000. Most of the county is either level or gently rolling, though there are some ridges of low hills. There are several prairies, mostly near the Wabash, which are very rich and productive; the timbered lands, too, which cover the largest part of the county, are generally rich, but intermixed with them are sandy barrens, and swamps, of little value, except that some of the latter are well timbered. The bottoms are extensive and very fertile, but they suffer occasionally from being overflowed. Of the surplus products of Old Knox, the corn and pork equal in amount, probably, those of any other county in the State, and they both may and will be largely increased. Here was the first settlement in the State, and in many places there are appearances of wealth and improvement much beyond those parts more recently settled. The taxable land in the county amounts to 233,964 acres. There is more historical interest about this place than in relation to any other in the State, and in fact, its history comprises that of the Indiana Territory mainly, until the removal of the Seat of Government to Corydon in 1813. It was first known as a Piankeshaw village by the name Chippe Coke, or Brushwood. It was then called Post St. Vincent, or Au Post, or Vinsenne, and finally Vincennes. This name was given as early as 1749, in honor of F. M. De Vinsenne, a brave and gallant French officer, who fell in a battle with the Chickasaws in the year 1736. In 1798, the population was all French extraction except twelve families, and though now they are much in the minority, their numbers are still considerable, and many of them are respectable and prosperous. The situation of Vincennes is very fine, and a large portion of the country around it is very fertile. The Roman Catholics are numerous in the vicinity, the Cathedral is spacious and well finished, and the Bishop who has charge of the State as a Dioceses, takes his title from Vincennes. The Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, Christians and Africans have also flourishing churches. One of the branches of the State Bank is located at Vincennes. The City Hall is a commodious building. There are in the town about 400 houses and 2,000 inhabitants, and the prospects are now more favorable for its steady growth and permanent prosperity than at any time fro many years past. Two of the citizens, D. S. Bonner and H. D. Wheeler have now for about 20 years been extensively engaged in manufactures, sometimes with much success, and occasionally encountering difficulties, but never discouraged. The unpretending but energetic devotion to business and encouragement of industry by such persons in worthy of all praise. There are two printing offices in Vincennes, which publish Weekly Newspapers. E. Stout conducted one of them, the Western Sun, for about 40 years, and until the last five years. 1938 Adams County Retrospect - Based on "Indiana Review," published by the State Legislature Knox County, often called the "Mother of Indiana Counties," was formally organized before the territorial government, and included all of Indiana, Michigan, and part of Illinois. The history of this county, and Vincennes, can not be covered in a record of early Indiana alone, for it was the hub around which centered the development of the Old Northwest Territory, and the origin and growth of six states -- Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Here was the first seat of government in Indiana, the first courts, the first Land Office, the first permanent church, the first university west of the Alleghenies, and the first newspaper. The list might extend to include firsts in a hundred lines of endeavor likely to take place in the first city of the state. It is not known exactly how early Indiana was explored, but the year is thought to have been about 1664. There followed a number of expeditions, some of which undoubtedly came through the Wabash River Territory. As early as 1663, a sort of route was established by pioneer explorers, from the Great Lakes on down to the Gulf of Mexico. The Wabash River was a definite part of the waterways. Later, missionaries joined the expeditions, so that gradually the skeleton of an organized civilization was built. In 1701, a trading post was established at Detroit. The second one was established in 1702, at Vincennes, the first permanent habitation by white men in Indiana. This settlement was made by a band of eight under the leadership of the gallant French officer, Francis Morgan, who inherited the title "Sieur of Vincennes" some fifteen years later, in 1717. It was after Morgan's inheritance of the title that the Old Post became known as Post Vincennes. The historical fort lasted for a century. In 1720, Morgan mounted the first cannon. In 1736, in a battle with the Chickasaw Indians, he was captured, and burned at the stake. In 1763 a momentous change was effected. By the Treaty of Paris, the French ceded the Territory to England, and when the British took over, changed Vincennes' name to Fort Sackville. The French residents clung to their traditions, secretly hating England. Their hate was well founded, for the English had resorted to the strategy of bribing the Indians to make war on the white settlers in order to make conquest simple for themselves. These tactics were employed in the Revolutionary War, and the slaughtering of non-combatants became a grave problem. And then came George Rogers Clark, the backwoods Kentucky land surveyor. So fabulous and romantic is the story of Clark, it closely resembles fiction. Certainly it is the legend of a hero, and stands out magnificently as one of the great chapters in our country's history. Clark went to Governor Patrick Henry of Virginia with a plea that the British be driven out of Indiana and Illinois in order that a stop might be put to the Indian massacres. After fervent pleading, he was commissioned as a colonel, given five hundred pounds of powder, and fifty thousand dollars. It was his purpose to capture Vincennes. At Boonville, Kentucky, Clark was successful in enlisting 140 men, and they set out down the Ohio flatboats. Though he ad intended to proceed immediately to Vincennes, word reached him that Kaskaskia might be captured, so, on July 4, 1778, his army captured it, without the necessity of firing a shot. Father Gibault, another man tremendously important in history, made his arrival at this time. He succeeded in quelling the natives, explaining they now owed allegiance to the United States rather than Great Britain. Then the forces planned to move on Vincennes, and Father Gibault offered to go ahead and advise citizens to espouse the American cause. He and his followers were successful in the mission, owing to the fact that the British Commandment had gone to Detroit. The American flag was raised, the British lowered, and word was sent to Clark, who sent Captain Helm to take charge. A desperate turn of affairs followed, for Hamilton, at Detroit, learned what had happened, and started with forces for Vincennes. Helm, greatly outnumbered, surrendered. This was in December 1778. Clark realized that with the coming of Spring Hamilton would take Kaskaskia, so he decided upon immediate attack. He sent Colonel Vigo, a wealthy merchant for whom a county is named, as a spy. Vigo was immediately taken prisoner, but Father Gibault prevailed upon Hamilton to release him, and Vigo returned to make his report to Clark. As a result, a boat with forty-six men started for Vincennes February 4, 1770. One day later, Clark himself, with a land party of 160 men, began the march to the fort. It was one of the most memorable journeys in the history of wars. For 240 miles they endured untold hardships. There were not rations enough. The land was flooded so that much of the time they were forced to proceed in water to their knees, and deeper. They arrived nearly exhausted. The boat, under Captain John Rogers, had not arrived, but Clark attacked nevertheless. The invaders waited until after it was sundown and opened fire on the unsuspecting British. The battle lasted, almost without cessation, until late the next afternoon, when Hamilton surrendered. So ended the English occupation of the town, February 25, 1779. After this there was an influx of settlers, all wishing to stake out claims in the rich valley. To prevent the designs of speculators, a Land Office was established in 1790. An Act of Congress, May 7, 1800, establishing the Indiana Territory, brought to Vincennes its next great era as capital of the new territory as we know it, when development and growth took predominance over the thoughts of warfare and conquest. Knox County covers 510 square miles and is dvided into ten townships bordered on the north by Sullivan and Green counties, on the east by the west fork of the White River, which separates it form Daviess; south by White River, which separates it form Pike and Gibson, and on the west by the Wabash, which separates it from the State of Illinois. It contains some of the richest land in the State of Indiana and one of the products that have given Knox County fame throughout America is the famous "Decker" cantelope. Wheat is extensively grown on the upland and stock raising and fruit growing are engaged in on a large scale. Knox County is also a large producer of coal. According to the report of the State Mine Inspector for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1814, there were eight mines in operation in the county under his jurisdiction, which produced 1,576,576 tons of coal. When Knox County was established, there were only four counties in Indiana. Out of Knox County were formed in 1810, Jefferson and Franklin Counties; in 1813, Gibson and Warrick Counties; in 1817, Sullivan County; and in 1820, Greene County. The incorporated cities are Vincennes, 17,564, and Bicknell, 5,212; towns: Oaktown, 771; Sandborn, 641; Monroe City, 544; Wheatland, 806, and Decker, 468. The county population in 1890 was 28,044; 1900, 32,746; 1910, 39,183; 1920, 46,195; 1930, 43,813. Vincennes is located on the Wabash River, fifty-one miles north of Evansville. Four main railroads serve this city, known today as a manufacturing center. Among its products are window glass, paper products, shoes, flour, steel construction materials, furniture, and monuments. The Standard Coal Company is among the active industrial firms of the city. The 1935 federal census listed twenty-six manufacturing establishments, employing 532 wage earners on payrolls totaling $448,257. The value of the products was $4,978,805. Vincennes holds industrial leadership in the manufacture of window glass, having the largest factory in the United States. Vincennes University was organized by an act of the Territorial Legislature in 1806, and was authorized under its incorporation, "for the instruction of youth in the Latin, Greek, French and English languages, mathematics, natural philosophy, ancient and modern history, moral philosophy, logic, rhetoric, and the laws of nature and nations." When Vincennes University was incorporated, it was designated to receive a township of land of 23,040 acres, which had been granted by Congress for a seminary of learning. After Congress had confirmed titles of purchasers of land from Vincennes University of parts of this township in 1816, commissioners were appointed by the State of Indiana to rent lands and turn rents into the State Treasury. This was in January 1820, and in 1822, the General Assembly passed an act to provide for sale of Seminary Township in Gibson County. About 17,000 acres of lands, which had originally been given to Vincennes University, were sold under these acts and the proceeds, amounting to more than $30,000, were turned into the State Treasury. This precipitated a struggle that lasted for nearly a century. Among other privileges granted to the university was one to operate a lottery, which was also the cause of much litigation. About 1874, Congress gave the university all the unclaimed and vacant lands in Knox County. This gift proved of material benefit, but the institution has never received enough from the public to realize the high hopes of its founders. The outstanding point of interest in the city is the two-million-dollar Clark Memorial. Among other memorials is the Lincoln Memorial Bridge, commemorating the opening of the West, and the place of Lincoln's crossing from Indiana to Illinois. Territorial Hall, the site of the first capitol, stands as a significant historical point. Another interesting building is the Old Cathedral Library containing 5,000 volumes dating from 1476 to 1800. Other outstanding points of historical interest in old Vincennes: the route of Clark's advance on Vincennes; Vincennes University, opened in 1806; the Knox County Courthouse-Soldiers' Monument; Fort Knox; the Treaty Tree; the Old Post Museum of History; the Old Courthouse, now an American Legion Home; St. Rose Academy; and the largest Indian Mounds in the state, particularly Sugar Loaf Mound. Some of the old residences include: the William Henry Harrison Home, Colonel Francis Vigo Home, the home of Indiana's former Governor Williams, the home of Madame Godare, the Betsy Ross of the Northwest Territory, and the home of Alice of Old Vincennes. In the Old French Cemetery are found markers in memory of priests, patriots, and others so important to our early history. Vincennes is the home of: the first lodge in the Northwest Territory; the first bank, brick building, courthouse, post office, public Land Office, business, historical society, medical society, and public school in Indiana. As a county, Knox is the eighth largest and second richest agriculturally. It is the home of fine bituminous coal mines and natural gas fields; has an unlimited supply of sand and gravel; home of one of the largest electrical power plants in the state; first in number of master farmers; firsts in nursery interests, outstanding in regard to cherry nursery stock, in which it ranks the nation; first in the state in acreage of peach orchards, apple orchards, cantaloupes, watermelons, sweet potatoes, and wheat; first also in number of bee hives; first in egg case production; first in mules, and third in horses. The county had 2,436 farms averaging 121.6 acres each. These were valued at $14,782,408. A total of 69,474 head of livestock was reported. According to the federal census figures of 1935, Knox County had thirty-six manufacturing establishments employing 1,375 wage earners on pay rolls of $1,129,567. The value of the products was $7,941,804. The total county tax valuation for 1936 was $36,779,640. ? |
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