MORGAN COUNTY, IN HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

Historical and Biographical Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana by Charles Blanchard, (1884) – 810 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2024.09.18.2303.CD.AR

Morgan County, Indiana: A Genealogical Overview

Located in central Indiana, just southwest of the state capital, Morgan County is a blend of growing suburban communities and scenic rural landscapes. Part of the Indianapolis metropolitan area, its history is rooted in the pioneer settlement of the early 19th century. The county is characterized by its rolling hills, vast forests like the Morgan-Monroe State Forest, and the White River, which shaped its settlement and development. Its past is a story of agriculture, small-town life, and a unique period as a health resort destination.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Morgan County’s creation from the “New Purchase” lands is the starting point for tracing pioneer ancestors who arrived in central Indiana.

  • 1822: County Formed: Morgan County was officially organized by an act of the Indiana General Assembly, effective February 15, 1822.
  • Parent County: It was created from territory known as the “Delaware New Purchase,” land acquired from the Miami and Delaware (Lenape) peoples in the 1818 Treaty of St. Mary’s. Before its formation, this unorganized territory was briefly attached to other counties for administrative purposes. Researchers seeking records for the brief period between the treaty (1818) and the county’s formation (1822) may have difficulty, but some records might be found in the parent administrative counties, such as Owen County.
  • Subsequent County Formations: The boundaries of Morgan County have remained largely unchanged since its formation in 1822. It did not act as a parent county for any subsequent counties.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of General Daniel Morgan, a distinguished officer from Virginia who commanded the decisive American victory at the Battle of Cowpens during the Revolutionary War.
  • County Seat History: The county seat was established in Martinsville shortly after the county’s formation, and it has remained there ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: Prior to European-American settlement, the land that became Morgan County was the territory of the Miami and the Delaware (Lenape) tribes, who had been pushed west into the region.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: Following the Treaty of St. Mary’s in 1818, the area opened to settlement. The first pioneers, arriving primarily from the Upland South states of Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as from Ohio and Pennsylvania, were drawn by fertile farmland. The economy was almost entirely based on agriculture, with corn and hogs being primary products. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Martinsville gained fame as the “City of Mineral Water,” with numerous sanitariums built to capitalize on the artesian mineral wells, drawing visitors from across the country. The county also developed a significant brick-making industry due to its rich clay deposits.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

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

  • Courthouse: Morgan County Courthouse: Located at 10 E. Washington St., Martinsville, IN 46151. This central location is the primary repository for the county’s oldest and most important records. The Morgan County Clerk holds marriage, probate (wills and estates), and court records. Land records (deeds) are held by the Morgan County Recorder in the same building.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: The Morgan County Health Department holds birth and death records from approximately 1882 to the present. Statewide registration in Indiana began in 1907, and records from that date forward are also available from the Indiana Department of Health. For events prior to 1882, researchers must rely on non-governmental sources like church records, family Bibles, and cemetery records.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records are an excellent resource in Indiana. Records in Morgan County begin in 1822 and are held by the Morgan County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Morgan County Public Library: The main branch at 110 S. Jefferson St., Martinsville, IN 46151, has a dedicated Indiana Room with a strong collection of local history and genealogical resources, including family histories, newspapers on microfilm, and county histories.
    • Indiana State Library and Historical Society: Located in nearby Indianapolis, this is the premier institution for Indiana genealogy. It holds extensive collections for all 92 counties, including Morgan County microfilm records, state archives, and published family histories.
    • Morgan County History Center & Museum: Located at 127 S. Main St., Martinsville, IN 46151. This is a key resource for local history, photographs, and donated family papers.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Hendricks County, IN
    • Marion County, IN
    • Johnson County, IN
    • Brown County, IN
    • Monroe County, IN
    • Owen County, IN
    • Putnam County, IN

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