BRANCH COUNTY, MI HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

A 20th Century History and Biographical Record of Branch County, Michigan by Henry Park Collin, (1906) – 1178 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2023.11.14.2341.CD.AR

History of Branch County, Michigan by Crisfield Johnson, (1879) – 496 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2023.11.14.2357.CD.AR

Portrait and Biographical Album of Branch County, Michigan by Chicago: Chapman Brothers (1888) – 666 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.02.1900.AR

Branch County Directory and Historical Record by Ann Arbor : Courier Steam Printing House, (1871) – 328 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.11.07.1536.AR

Branch County, Michigan: A Genealogical Overview

Located in south-central Michigan on the Indiana border, Branch County is a primarily agricultural region known for its rolling terrain and abundance of lakes. As one of Michigan’s “southern tier” of counties, it was among the first to be settled, lying directly on the great westward migration route of the Sauk Trail, later known as the Chicago Road. Its history reflects the classic Midwestern pattern of Native American displacement, settlement by New England and New York pioneers, the growth of small towns, and an economy rooted in farming.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Branch County’s formation from a larger parent county is essential for locating the earliest records of its pioneer inhabitants.

  • 1829: County Laid Out: The county was first delineated by an act of the Michigan Territorial Legislature on October 29, 1829. However, it remained an unorganized territory attached to St. Joseph County for administrative and judicial purposes.
  • Parent County: It was created from the southern portion of St. Joseph County. Records for settlers in the area between 1829 and 1833 would be located in St. Joseph County records. The area was previously part of the even larger Lenawee County.
  • 1833: County Organized: Branch County was officially organized and its own government began to function on February 1, 1833.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for John Branch, who was serving as the Secretary of the Navy under President Andrew Jackson at the time of its creation.
  • County Seat History: The first designated county seat was Masonville in 1830, but the village never developed. The seat was moved to the village of Branch in 1831. In 1842, it was permanently moved to Coldwater, where it has remained ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was the ancestral homeland of the Potawatomi people, specifically the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi. The 1821 Treaty of Chicago ceded this land to the United States government, paving the way for American settlement. Many local names, such as Coldwater (from the Potawatomi “Chuck-sey-ya-bish,” meaning “cold running water”), reflect this heritage.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first significant wave of non-native settlement began around 1830, with pioneers migrating primarily from New York and New England. They traveled via the Erie Canal to Detroit and then overland along the Chicago Road (now U.S. Route 12), which bisects the county. The early economy was entirely agricultural, focused on clearing forests to plant wheat and corn, raising livestock, and building gristmills and sawmills on the area’s rivers.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

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

  • Courthouse: The Branch County Clerk/Register of Deeds is the primary repository for most county records. It is located at 31 Division St., Coldwater, MI 49036. This office holds land records (deeds), vital records, and circuit court records. The Branch County Probate Court, at the same location, holds wills, estate files, and guardianship records.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Michigan began in 1867. Records from that date are available from the Branch County Clerk’s office. For records prior to 1867, researchers must rely on sources like church records, newspapers, and cemetery inscriptions.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records have been kept at the county level since its organization in 1833 and are considered the most complete of the early vital records. They are held by the Branch County Clerk.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Branch District Library: The main branch, located at 10 E. Chicago St., Coldwater, MI 49036, has a local history room with genealogical materials, including newspapers on microfilm, local histories, and family files.
    • Branch County Genealogical Society: This is a vital resource for researchers. They have published numerous indexes and transcriptions of local records and can provide expert guidance for the area.
    • Library of Michigan and Archives of Michigan: Located in Lansing, this is the premier repository for statewide genealogical research. It holds copies of many county records on microfilm, state census records, military records, and an extensive collection of Michigan books and newspapers.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Calhoun County, MI
    • Hillsdale County, MI
    • St. Joseph County, MI
    • LaGrange County, IN
    • Steuben County, IN

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