Sullivan County History and Information

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Sullivan County was created on January 15, 1817 and was formed from Knox County. The County was named for Daniel Sullivan, a soldier killed by Indians while carrying a dispatch between Fort Vincennes and Louisville during the Revolutionary War.

The County Seat is Sullivan. Sullivan wasn't always the County Seat. The first County Seat was Carlisle. In 1819, the County Seat was moved to Merom where it remained for twenty-nine years. On February 15, 1841, the Legislature passed an act that provided for a board of commissioners to select a new seat of justice, to be located as near the center of the county as possible. Sullivan, then an unbroken wilderness, was selected and the present town was platted. The formal transfer of records took place in 1843. By 1849 it contained the Courthouse, Jail, County Seminary, Churches for the Methodists and Reformers, and 400 inhabitants. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Sullivan County are Vigo County (north), Clay County (northeast), Greene County (east), Knox County (south), Crawford County, Illinois (west), Clark County, Illinois (northwest).

Sullivan County is divided into 9 Civil Townships as follows: Cass, Curry, Fairbanks, Gill, Haddon, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson and Turman. Cities, Towns and Communities include Carlisle, Cass, Dugger, Fairbanks, Farmersburg, Hawton, Hymera, Jackson Hill, Merom, New Lebanon, Paxton, Pleasantville, Riverton, Shelburn and Sullivan.

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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. Courthouse destroyed by Fire in Feb. 1850, All records destroyed except wills from 1841. See also the Sullivan County Courthouse History

Sullivan County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1850 , Probate Records from 1844 and Court Records from 1850 and is located at 100 Courthouse Square, Sullivan, IN 47882; Pho: (812) 268-4657, Fax: (812) 268-4870

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.

Sullivan County Recorder has Land Records from 1850 and is located at 100 Courthouse Square, Sullivan, IN 47882; Pho: (812) 268-4844.

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.

Sullivan County Health Department has Birth / Death Records from 1882 and is located at 901 North Section Street, Sullivan, IN 47882; (812) 268-0224

Below is a list of online resources for Sullivan County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Sullivan 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.
  • Sullivan 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 Sullivan County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Sullivan 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.
  • Sullivan 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 Sullivan 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 Sullivan 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 Sullivan County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Sullivan 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.
  • Sullivan 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 Sullivan County Maps. Email us with websites containing Sullivan 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 Sullivan County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Sullivan 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 Sullivan County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Sullivan County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

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

  • Sullivan County Historical Society, 10 South Court St., Sullivan, IN 47882
  • Sullivan County Public Library - Genealogy/Local History Dept.,100 S. Crowder St.,Sullivan, Indiana 7882
  • 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 Sullivan County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Sullivan 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 Sullivan County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Sullivan 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 Sullivan County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Sullivan 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

Sullivan County, organized in 1817, was named in honor of Daniel Sullivan, who was killed by the Indians on the road from Vincennes to Louisville, while carrying an express, in the public service, between those places. It is bounded north by Vigo, east by Clay and Greene, south by Knox and west by the Wabash, and it contains 430 square miles. The civil townships are Gill, Turman and Fairbanks, on the Wabash; Curry, in the north; Hamilton, in the center; Jackson, in the northeast; and Haddon in the southeast. The population in 1830 was 4,696, in 1840, 8,315, and at this time [1849] about 10,500. The surface of the country is mostly level. About one-twentieth of the county is river bottom, one sixth is prairie and barrens, and the balance is uplands, timbered principally with oak, walnut, poplar, ash, pecan, beech and sugar. The soil on the barrens is mostly poor; on the prairie and timbered land it is rich and well adapted to corn, wheat and grass. The surplus products shipped down the Wabash and Bussero Creek are corn 150,000 bushels, wheat 20,000, oats 10,000, hay 100 tons, and 10,000 hogs, 1,500 cattle and 600 horses and mules, estimated at $150,000 annually.

There are in the county 11 gristmills, nine sawmills, four carding machines, 16 stores, four lawyers, 17 physicians, 20 preachers, 20 blacksmiths, 30 carpenters, 10 coopers, five saddlers, 17 shoemakers, 11 Methodist, three Presbyterian, two Baptist and three Reformers' churches.

The taxable land amounts to 168,129 acres, and about 70,000 acres still belong to the Untied States, of which at least half is of a very poor quality.

Captain Wm. Price made the first settlement in the county near Carlisle, in 1803, and next year came the Ledgerwoods, Holders, Purcells, Haddons, Barrier, etc. Coal is found in abundance and Sullivan ought to be among the richest counties in the State.

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

Sullivan County is best known as one of the state's largest coal producers, with a large number of mines in the eastern section. The western half of the county is devoted almost wholly to agriculture. It is noted for its luscious melons and many acres are cultivated in this industry. The mines are located in the eastern half of the county and are of every character, some with the most improved machinery, while others are simple "strip mines."

Sullivan County is one of the lower central western group, the Wabash River separating it on the west from Illinois. Bordering it on the north is Vigo, and on the south Knox, of which it was formerly part. The county has an area of 460 square miles, divided into nine townships. The incorporated cities and towns are Sullivan, 5,306; Shelburn, 1,548; Dugger, 1,383; Hymera, 1,152; Farmersburg, 993; Carlisle, 852, and Merom, 491. Total county population in 1890 was 21,877; 1900, 26,005; 1910, 32,437; 1920, 31,630; 1930, 28,133.

Sullivan is located twenty-three miles south of Terre Haute and is served by two railroads. It is chiefly important for the coal mines, oil and gas wells, and as center for farm produce. The city manufactures cement blocks, silos, machinery, and structural iron.

Sullivan County had eleven manufacturing establishments, according to the figures of the 1935 federal census. A total of 105 wage earners were employed on payrolls totaling $9,152,369. A total of 58,642 head of livestock was reported.

Union Christian College of Merom is located in this county and is situated on the bluff of the Wabash, visible for miles in every direction. Total county tax valuation as of 1936 was $18,476,725.

Courthouse History

It’s no accident that the Sullivan and Vermillion County courthouses bear a striking resemblance. Architect John Bayard of Vincennes is credited with both designs. Interesting, however, is that Bayard’s courthouses also resemble those in Carroll and Spencer counties, both designed by Elmer Dunlap. Bayard’s 1926 Sullivan County Courthouse displays a more elaborate design, utilizing details that classify the building’s style as Beaux Arts rather than Vermillion County’s Neoclassical. Sullivan County’s budget--nearly $150,000 more than Vermillion County’s—may account for the difference in lavish detail.

While the Allen County Courthouse in Fort Wayne is the most high-style example of Beaux Arts architecture in Indiana, the building in Sullivan offers a smaller and simpler rendition of the style. Monumental columns, limestone swags and garlands, and radiating window headers illuminate the style. Where the grandest of Beaux Arts buildings have sculpture decorating the roofline, the restrained Sullivan County Courthouse displays a more practical clock.

The Sullivan County Courthouse is located in a Shelbyville Square plan, surrounded by nineteenth and twentieth century commercial buildings.

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