DEKALB COUNTY, IN HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

The History of Carroll County Illinois by H.F. Kett & Co., (1878) – 504 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2023.12.09.2200.CD.AR

A Century in Carroll County by Committee from Mount Carroll, (1923) – 44 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2024.09.16.125.CD.AR

History of Dekalb County, Indiana by B.F. Bowen & Co., Pub. (1914) – 1156 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.19.2039.AR

History of Dekalb County, Indiana: With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Old Families by B.F. Bowen & Co. (1902) – 728 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.19.2042.AR

History of Northeast Indiana: Lagrange, Steuben, Noble and Dekalb Counties by Ira Ford (1920) – 614 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.22.1925.AR

DeKalb County, Indiana: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the northeastern corner of Indiana, DeKalb County is a largely agricultural region with a unique and proud industrial heritage. Part of the tri-state area bordering Ohio and Michigan, it is known worldwide as the “Home of the Classics” for the Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg automobiles once manufactured there. Its history is a classic Midwestern story of dense forests cleared by determined pioneers, the growth of small towns along railroad lines, and a distinctive contribution to American manufacturing.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding DeKalb County’s formation from two parent counties is the first step in locating the earliest records for pioneer ancestors in the area.

  • 1837: County Formed: DeKalb County was officially created by an act of the Indiana legislature on February 2, 1835, but it was formally organized and its government began functioning in March 1837.
  • Parent Counties: It was created from the southern portion of LaGrange County and the northern portion of Allen County. Records for settlers in this area prior to 1837 would be located in the records of those two parent counties.
  • Subsequent County Formations: The boundaries of DeKalb County have remained stable since its formation in 1837. It did not act as a parent county to any other Indiana counties.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Baron Johann de Kalb, a German-born officer who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and was killed at the Battle of Camden.
  • County Seat History: The county seat was established in Auburn in 1837 and has remained there ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: Prior to European-American settlement, the land was the territory of the Miami and Potawatomi peoples. They were systematically removed from the region following treaties with the United States government, which opened the land to settlement in the 1830s.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first significant wave of non-native settlement began in the mid-1830s, composed primarily of pioneers from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and New England. The dense hardwood forest, known as the Black Swamp in some areas, was cleared for farming. The economy was based on agriculture, timber, and small local industries. The arrival of the railroad in the mid-19th century spurred growth, and in the early 20th century, the county became a center of the burgeoning automobile industry with the Auburn Automobile Company.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

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

  • DeKalb County Courthouse: Located at 100 S Main St, Auburn, IN 46706. This central complex is the primary repository for county records. The Clerk of the Circuit Court holds marriage, probate (wills and estates), and court records from 1837. The County Recorder 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. These records are held by the DeKalb County Health Department. For births or deaths prior to 1882, researchers must rely on non-governmental sources like church records, cemetery inscriptions, family Bibles, and newspapers. Statewide registration began in late 1907.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records are a strength of Indiana research. Records from 1837 to the present are held by the DeKalb County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Willennar Genealogy Center: Located at 100 E 12th St, Auburn, IN 46706 (part of the Eckhart Public Library). This is an outstanding and essential resource for research in DeKalb County and northeastern Indiana, with extensive collections of local records, family histories, and newspapers.
    • Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center: (Located in neighboring Fort Wayne) This is one of the largest and most important genealogical research centers in the United States. Its vast collection of published materials, microfilms, and databases is an indispensable resource for anyone researching ancestors in DeKalb County or the broader Midwest.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Steuben County, IN
    • Noble County, IN
    • Allen County, IN
    • Williams County, OH

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