DECATUR COUNTY, IN HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

History of Decatur County Indiana Volume 1 by Lewis A Harding, (1915) – 676 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2024.08.19.1028.CD.AR

History of Decatur County Indiana Volume 2 by Lewis A Harding, (1915) – 694 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2023.12.16.0049.CD.AR

History of Decatur County, Indiana by Harding, Lewis Albert (1915) – 1358 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.02.0426.CD.AR

History of Decatur County, Indiana : Its People, Industries and Institutions
Volume 1 by Harding, Lewis A. (Lewis Albert), (1915) – 676 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.11.05.1312.AR

A Genealogical and Biographical Record of Decatur County, Indiana; Compendium of National Biography by Chicago, Lewis Publishing Company, (1900) – 436 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.11.05.1400.AR

Decatur County, Indiana: A Genealogical Overview

Located in southeastern Indiana, Decatur County is a quintessential Midwestern region, characterized by its rich agricultural land and close-knit communities. It is perhaps most famous for its county seat, Greensburg, and the series of trees that have grown from the roof of its courthouse tower for over a century. The county’s history is a classic story of American westward expansion, with its settlement driven by the opening of new lands to pioneers in the early 19th century.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Decatur County’s formation from Native American lands and its early administrative records is the first step in tracing pioneer ancestors who settled the area.

  • 1821: County Formed: Decatur County was established by an act of the Indiana General Assembly on December 31, 1821, with government functions beginning in March 1822.
  • Parent County: It was created from a portion of the unorganized territory known as the “Delaware New Purchase,” which was land ceded by Native American tribes in the 1818 Treaty of St. Mary’s. Prior to its formation, the area was attached to Jennings and Jefferson counties for judicial purposes. Records for the very earliest land transactions may be found in federal land office records or the records of these parent jurisdictions.
  • Subsequent County Formations: The boundaries of Decatur County have remained largely unchanged since its creation in 1821.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr., a celebrated American naval hero of the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, who had been killed in a duel the previous year.
  • County Seat History: Greensburg was chosen as the county seat in 1822 and has remained the center of county government ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: Before European-American settlement, the land that became Decatur County was the territory of the Miami and Delaware (Lenape) peoples, who were ultimately removed from the region following the Treaty of St. Mary’s.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first significant wave of settlement began in the 1820s, as pioneers, primarily from Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, arrived to claim the newly available and fertile land. The county was quickly organized into townships, with an economy based almost entirely on agriculture—corn, wheat, hogs, and cattle. Small towns like Greensburg and St. Paul developed as service centers for the surrounding farming population.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Decatur County.

  • Courthouse: Decatur County Courthouse: Located at 150 Courthouse Square, Greensburg, IN 47240. The Decatur County Clerk holds marriage, probate (wills and estates), and court records dating from the county’s formation. The Decatur County Recorder at the same location holds all land records (deeds and mortgages).
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Official county-level registration of births and deaths began in Indiana in 1882. Statewide registration began in October 1907. For records between 1882 and the present, contact the Decatur County Health Department. For records after 1907, you can also contact the Indiana State Department of Health.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records are a major strength for Indiana research. Records from 1822 to the present are held by the Decatur County Clerk.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Greensburg-Decatur County Public Library: Located at 1110 E Main St, Greensburg, IN 47240. The library maintains a local history and genealogy room with valuable resources such as census records, family histories, and local newspapers on microfilm.
    • Decatur County Historical Society Museum: Located at 222 N Franklin St, Greensburg, IN 47240. This is a crucial resource for local history, photographs, and family files contributed by other researchers.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Rush County, IN
    • Shelby County, IN
    • Franklin County, IN
    • Ripley County, IN
    • Jennings County, IN
    • Bartholomew County, IN

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks