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Genealogy

Quakers from North Carolina, craftsman from Germany, farmers, industrialists, financiers, inventors...Wayne County, Indiana's heritage is represented by a wide range of unique people who have left us a fascinating legacy. Explore your heritage by tracing your family tree!

Local Resources

Researchers and Societies

Wayne County Genealogical Society - a local club that promotes the preservation of genealogical information. They maintain a library of local resource material. Research is offered by mail for a fee.

Independent Genealogical Researchers - list maintained by Wayne County Government

Essay: What Information Does Your Professional Researcher Need To Receive From You? - by Arnold L. Dean

Starting Your Research

Wayne County Research Resources - valuable information on where to locate records, important dates and localities, by Arnold Dean.

Government Documents

Wayne County Government - Wills, property records, legal records. Some early marriage records are available on-line.

Local Genealogy Collections

Earlham Library - an excellent collection of Friends materials. Many of the original settlers to the Wayne County area were Quakers - thus many trails lead here.

Cambridge City Public Library

Centerville / Center Township Public Library

Clay Township Historical Museum

Dublin Public Library

Hagerstown / Jefferson Township Public Library

Hagerstown Museum and Arts Place - has a library with significant Nettle Creek Valley genealogy information

Morrisson-Reeves Library - Offers an excellent collection of local history and genealogical information.

  • Morrisson-Reeves Library Newspaper Index - This index is a collection of local interest articles and obituaries from Richmond newspapers, focusing on the Wayne County area. It contains information as far back as 1822. Local papers such as The Palladium, The Richmond Item, The Richmond Sun Telegram, The Daily Sun, The Richmond Telegram, The Richmond Independent, The Broad Axe of Freedom, and The Grubbing Hoe of Truth are included, as well as many others.

    • Note: you will not be able to access the actual article online. You will be able to search by words (such as a surname) and then sort by date or publication. By highlighting an article, you will be able to access details about the article, such as the publication, date, and location within the publication. You can then take that information to the library and request the microfilm with that publication and date.

  • Civil War Database - searchable database of the military service for individuals who enlisted in Wayne County, IN compiled from the Directory and Soldiers' Register of Wayne County, Indiana (published 1865).

Wayne County Genealogical Society - maintains a library of local resource material. Call for an appointment.

Bibliography

Biographical History of Fayette, Franklin, Union and Wayne Counties, Indiana - originally published in 1899. (membership sign-in required for some information)

Wayne County Bibliography - a list of books pertinent to Wayne County History and genealogy research compiled by Katie Bond.

Historical Text and Documents - Scanned by Morrisson-Reeves Library

Historical Text and Documents - Available via Google Library

Cemeteries

Local Cemetery Web Sites

Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project

Veterans

Civil War Database - searchable database of the military service for individuals who enlisted in Wayne County, IN compiled from the Directory and Soldiers' Register of Wayne County, Indiana (published 1865).

Richmond and Wayne County,  IN Veterans of World War II - a personal web site, not complete.

Wayne County Revolutionary War Patriots

Historical Photos

Historical Maps and Location Information

1895 Atlas Map of Wayne County

1865 Map of Wayne County (very large graphic! 1,821K)

1895 U.S. Atlas - Indiana

Richmond Street Names - In January 1881, the city passed an ordinance changing the streets and avenues of Richmond. Main Street became the base for naming the streets running west to east. Its name was not changed. The Whitewater River became the base for the streets running north to south.

Virtual Tour of North 10th Street, Starr District - gather information about some of Richmond's most prominent families during the late 1800's.

Other Wayne County Resources

Wayne County Resources at the Indiana State Library

Wayne County - Indiana County History Preservation Society

Quakers(Society of Friends) in Richmond and Wayne County - learn about the beliefs of the Quakers, local Quaker history, and photos of local Quaker points of interest, including local meetinghouses.

Wayne County Genealogy Links from Linkpendium

Wayne County, Indiana - by RootsWeb

Wayne County GenWeb Project

Society of Friends / Quaker Resources

Friends Library at Earlham College

Brochure: Quakers(Society of Friends) in Richmond and Wayne County - learn about the beliefs of the Quakers, local Quaker history, and photos of local Quaker points of interest, including local meetinghouses.

The Quaker Corner - the official repository for the QUAKER-ROOTS discussion group

Quakers in Britain

Quaker Information Center - Genealogical Research

Researching Quakers

Indiana and Ohio

Genealogical Collections

Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center - Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana this nationally renowned genealogy collection contains more than 220,000 printed volumes and 251,000 items of microfilm and microfiche.

Family History CentersTM in Indiana - by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Henry County Genealogical Services

Indiana State Library - Genealogy Section

Indiana Digital Archives - searchable database

Government Documents

Birth and Death Certificates - where to get copies in Indiana

Indiana Census Links

Indiana Land Records

Index of Indiana Marriages through 1850 - searchable database

Index of Indiana Marriages 1958 - 2018 - searchable database

Indiana State Library - Databases

Indiana State Archives - Digital Collections

Researchers & Societies

Darke County (Ohio) Genealogical Researchers

Indiana County History Preservation Society

Indiana Genealogical Society

The Society of Indiana Pioneers

Other Resources

Indiana GenWeb Project

Indiana Genealogy Index

Genealogy.com - Indiana Forum

Mailing Lists

Roots-L: Indiana

General Genealogy Resources

Ancestry.com - lots of online databases, some may be searched for free.

Association of Professional Genealogists

Cyndi's List - a comprehensive listing of genealogy links.

Family Search - by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Higginson Books - an online genealogy bookstore, offering local titles.

How to Date Old Family Photos by the Costume

National Archives

National Genealogical Society

RootsWeb - lots of free, searchable resources.

US GenWeb Project

USCIS Genealogy Program

U.S. Marriage Databases - links to state databases

WorldConnect Project - over 35 million searchable GedCom's.

If you are aware of any other links that would be helpful to others in their search within Wayne County, Indiana, please notify the Director at info@waynet.org.

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Did You Know?

Richmond was once known as "the lawnmower capital" because of the lawn mowers manufactured here from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. Manufacturers included Motomower, Dille-McGuire and F&N.