MONTGOMERY COUNTY, IN HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

History of Montgomery County, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley by Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903; Kennedy, P. S; Davidson, Thomas Fleming, 1839-1892 (1881) – 958 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.08.29.2045.CD.AR

History of Montgomery County, Indiana Volume 2 by Indianapolis, A.S. Bowen, (1911) – 656 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.10.08.1348.AR

Montgomery County, Indiana: A Genealogical Overview

Located in west-central Indiana, Montgomery County is a landscape of rolling farmland, wooded stream valleys, and classic Midwestern towns. Known as the “Athens of Indiana” for its rich literary heritage and as the home of Wabash College, the county is centered around its historic seat, Crawfordsville. Its history is a compelling story of Native American displacement, pioneer settlement by families from the Upland South and Ohio Valley, agricultural prosperity, and contributions to education and culture.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Montgomery County’s formation from the “Wabash New Purchase” and its role as a parent to other counties is essential for tracing ancestors in this part of Indiana.

  • 1822: County Formed: Montgomery County was established by an act of the Indiana General Assembly on December 21, 1822, with its government becoming effective on March 1, 1823.
  • Parent County: It was created from territory of the Wabash New Purchase, which was ceded by Native American tribes in the 1818 Treaty of St. Mary’s. The organized counties from which its land was taken were Parke and Putnam counties. Records prior to 1823 for this area would be located in the records of these parent counties or in earlier territorial records.
  • Subsequent County Formations: Montgomery County was later partitioned to form new counties. In 1830, parts of its northern and eastern territory were used to help create Clinton and Boone counties. Researchers with early ancestors in these border areas must be aware of this boundary change.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of General Richard Montgomery, a distinguished hero of the American Revolutionary War who was killed during the 1775 Battle of Quebec.
  • County Seat History: Crawfordsville was designated as the county seat in 1823 and has remained the sole seat of county government ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was historically the territory of the Miami and Potawatomi peoples. Several important trails traversed the area, and Sugar Creek was a vital waterway. Settlement by non-native people did not begin in earnest until after the land was ceded in 1818.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first permanent American settlers arrived in the early 1820s, many migrating from Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, and North Carolina. They were drawn by the fertile soil of the Wabash River watershed. The economy was built almost exclusively on agriculture, with corn, wheat, cattle, and hogs being the primary products. The arrival of the Monon Railroad in the mid-19th century solidified Crawfordsville’s position as a vital commercial and shipping hub for the surrounding agricultural community.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

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

  • Courthouse: The Montgomery County Courthouse is located at 225 E Main St, Crawfordsville, IN 47933. The Montgomery County Clerk’s Office holds marriage records from 1823, as well as probate (wills and estates) and civil court records. The Montgomery County Recorder’s Office, at the same location, holds all land records (deeds and mortgages) from the county’s formation.
  • 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 Montgomery County Health Department. Statewide registration began in October 1907, and those records are available from the Indiana Department of Health.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records are an excellent resource in this county. They are held by the Montgomery County Clerk and are available from 1823 to the present.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Crawfordsville District Public Library: Located at 205 S Washington St, Crawfordsville, IN 47933. The library’s Local History & Genealogy Department is the premier resource for family research in the county, holding extensive collections of newspapers on microfilm, family histories, county records, and cemetery indexes.
    • Montgomery County Historical Society: This organization operates the Lane Place Antebellum Mansion and the Montgomery County Old Jail Museum, offering rich historical context and potential research resources.
    • Wabash College Archives: Located in the Lilly Library on the college campus in Crawfordsville, the archives contain valuable information on the history of the college, its influential faculty, and prominent local families associated with it.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Tippecanoe County
    • Clinton County
    • Boone County
    • Hendricks County
    • Putnam County
    • Parke County
    • Fountain County

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