Noble County, Indiana
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Noble County was created on March 1, 1836 and was formed from Unorganized Land. The County was named for James Noble, the first U.S. Senator from Indiana. Noble County was first included in Randolph County, next in Allen County, then in Lagrange County and finally, on March 1, 1836 was organized as it stands today except for a strip two miles wide that was joined to Whitley County.

The County Seat is Albion. Albion wasn't always the County Seat. The first County Seat was located in Sparta Township on the old Fort Wayne and Goshen trail. Augusta, near Albion was the second location of the County Seat. In 1844, the County Seat was located at Port Mitchell and some buildings were even constructed. In 1846, by a vote of the people, the County Seat was changed to "The Center," which was afterward called Albion, which was actually laid out in 1847. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Noble County are LaGrange County (north), Steuben County (northeast), DeKalb County (east), Allen County (southeast), Whitley County (south), Kosciusko County (southwest), Elkhart County (northwest).

Noble County is divided into 13 Civil Townships as follows: Albion, Allen, Elkhart, Green, Jefferson, Noble, Orange, Perry, Sparta, Swan, Washington, Wayne and York.

Cities, Towns and Communities include Albion, Avilla, Bakerstown, Brimfield, Burr Oak, Cosperville, Cromwell, Green Center, Indian Village, Kendalville, Kimmell, Laotto, Ligonier, Lisbon, Merriam, Port Mitchell, Ripley, Rome City, Wawaka, Wilmot, and Wolf Lake.

  • The Noble County Official Government Website
  • Search Historical Newspapers from Indiana (1817 - 1930) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
  • Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
  • Noble County Township Map
  • Indiana Newspaper Holdings for Noble County: The county newspaper holdings are under regular revision, as new microfilm holdings are added. These files are not up to date; there are continuous updates and corrections.
  • Official County Historians
  • Noble County, Indiana History Books at Amazon.com
  • Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.
  • 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....

County Court, Probate and Tax Records

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

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.

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history 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. Courthouse destroyed by Fire in 1843 and 1859, Most of clerk's records were lost. Saved: marriages from 1859, deeds and deed indexes from 1836. See also the Noble County Courthouse History

Noble County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1859 , Probate Records from 1854 and Court Records from ? and is located at 101 North Orange Street, Albion, IN 46701-1048; Phone: (260) 636-2736

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.

Noble County Recorder has Land Records from 1834 and is located at 101 North Orange Street, Albion, IN 46701-1048; Phone: (260) 636-2672 .

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.

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.

Noble County Health Department has Birth / Death Records from 1882 and is located at 2090 N. State Road 9, Suite C, Albion, IN 46701-1049; (260) 636-2191

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

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • 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.
  • Noble 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.
  • Search Land Patents at Gov-Records.com
  • Search Property Records at Gov-Records.com

County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death 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 Noble County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Noble County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • Vital Records from Archives.com: Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
  • 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.
  • Noble 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 Noble County, Indiana are 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Noble 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 Noble County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Noble County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Census Records at Archives.com
  • 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.
  • Noble 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.

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 Noble County Maps. Email us with websites containing Noble County Maps by clicking the link below:

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 Noble County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Noble County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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 Noble County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Noble County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

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 Noble County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Noble 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 Noble County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Noble County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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 Noble County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Noble County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

  • Search 60 Years Of Everton Data : For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
  • Sites on USGenweb: [ Noble County ] [ Indiana ] [ Main Page ]
  • Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
  • The Indiana Family Group Sheet Project
  • Noble County INGenWeb Archives
  • [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
  • Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
  • Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
  • Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
  • Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
  • Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
  • Noble County, Indiana Family Books at Amazon.com

Extended History

 

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

Noble County, named in honor of Noah Noble, Governor of the State from 1831 to 1837, was organized in 1836. It contains 432 square miles, and is bounded north by Lagrange, east by DeKalb, south by Allen and Whitley, and west by Kosciusko and Elkhart. The civil townships are Washington, Sparta, Perry, Elkhart, York, Noble, Green, Jefferson, Orange, Wayne, Allen and Swan. The population in 1840 was 2,702; at this time [1849] is about 8,000.

The face of the country is considerably diversified, portions of it being nearly level, and other parts somewhat rolling or hilly. About one-half is heavy timber, the balance, with the exception of one prairie of 4,000 acres, and several small ones, is barrens or oak openings. The soil is mostly a black loam, mixed with sand, and there is very little clay. In places, small, wet prairies are intermixed with small lakes and rolling gravelly barrens, and the soil is poor; but generally the soil is rich, and well adapted to wheat, oats and corn, and in the timbered land, to grass. The surplus articles sold are wheat, hogs, cattle, etc., the two former taken to Fort Wayne, and the latter sold to drovers, all heretofore to the amount of about $50,000 a year; but this amount will soon be largely increased.

There are in the county three gristmills, fourteen sawmills, fourteen stores, four groceries, three lawyers, eighteen physicians, twenty-one preachers, and about 150 mechanics of the trades most in demand. Iron ore is found in large quantities and of an excellent quality, and about three tons of good bar iron a day are manufactured at a forge at Rochester, in the northwest part of the county. Good schools are kept up in most of the common school districts into which the whole county is divided.The taxable land amounts to 236,000 acres, and about 30,000 still belongs to the United States.

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

Noble County was among the last counties to be vacated by the Indians and as late as 1848 there were villages of both the Miamis and Pottawatomies in Noble County. Many evidences of Mound Builders are found all over the county.

This county is located in the lake region in northeastern Indiana and its surface is dotted with twenty-three large and many small lakes. The largest is about 1,100 acres. There are no important resort centers, with the exception of Sylvan Lake at Rome City. Sylvan is an artificial lake and was the site at which Gene Stratton Porter built "Limberlost Cabin," in 1904.

In the early history of Indiana, there was a famous band of horse thieves and counterfeiters who had headquarters in this county. They were called "Blacklegs." this gang was notorious all over the United States, and every township was infested with them, but the safest place was in the northeastern part around Rome City at a spot called "The Tamarack." Here is where they made their bogus money. In 1852, the State Legislature enacted a law authorizing the formation of companies of "Regulators" to put a stop to their operation. Several companies were formed in Noble County who soon overthrew the "Blacklegs."

Noble County covers an area of 417 square miles divided into thirteen townships. Its incorporated cities are Kendallville, 5,439, and Ligonier, 2,064; towns: Albion, 1,108; Wolcottville, 646; Avilla, 559, and Cromwell, 371. Total population 1890, 23,359; 1900, 23,533; 1910, 24,009; 1920, 22,470; 1930, 22,404.

Albion is located forty-two miles northwest of Fort Wayne and is served by one railroad. Among its industries are an overall factory, saw, planing, and flourmills, and a creamery. It is also the center of an agricultural, dairying, and fruit-growing district.

Kendallville, the chief city, is located twenty-seven miles northwest of Fort Wayne and is served by two railroads. Among its manufactures are iron goods, motor trucks, windmills, refrigerators, stock tank heaters, pumps, clothes racks, gloves, store display cases, brushes, brooms, flour, feed, caskets, and hospital tables. The city is the home of the largest refrigerator manufacturing plant of its kind in the world.

The naming of this city was in recognition of Postmaster General Kendall's granting the citizens of the town a Post Office in 1840 when there were only forty residents. It was made possible through the efforts of William Mitchell, who was appointed first Postmaster. Mitchell proved a benefactor to Kendallville in other ways, for today the nine churches and school buildings are located on property donated by him. Points of interest in the city are the community building, city library, in which is a plaster cast of Lincoln, as well as notable collections, war relics, old newspapers, and autographed manuscripts; and some of the old historic residences.

Ligonier is located thirty-eight miles southeast of South Bend and is served by one railroad. Its industrial activities include lumber mills, cooper shops, flour mills, and factories for the manufacture of quilts, carriages, auto bodies, road machinery, and refrigerators.

There is an interesting tradition in the town of Merriam. It is claimed that Samuel Wilson, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804, was the original "Uncle Sam." There is a marker at Wilson's grave in the town's cemetery.

One mile north of Rome City, on the site of the abandoned town of Northport, is a Catholic sanatorium known nationally for its treatments and baths. The scenic resort, Sylvan Lake, was formed in 1837 as a reserve reservoir for the canal to connect Northport with the Wabash and Erie. One of the interesting points is the old dam site on the banks of this old canal, which was never completed. In the town of Avilla is a Convent, established in 1876.

Federal census figures for 1935 listed thirty-two manufacturing establishments in the county. A total of 846 wage earners were employed on payrolls of $644,375. The value of the products was $4,361,366.

The county had 2,545 farms averaging 95.7 acres and the value of these was $10,903,029. A total of 79,018 head of livestock was reported. The total county tax valuation for 1936 was $30,664,405.

Courthouse History

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