Genealogy
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.
- Wayne County Birth or Death Certificates - at the Wayne County Health Department.
- Wayne County Marriage License Database - This new database will allow searches by name and date range. So far, the records from 1811 through 1903 have been entered. If they haven't gotten to the era you're interested in yet, just check back in a few months.
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.
Centerville / Center Township Public Library
Clay Township Historical Museum
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.
- 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).
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.
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
Death in a Sunny Street: The Civil Defense Story of the Richmond, Indiana Disaster, April 6, 1968
Directory and Soldiers Registry of Wayne County, Indiana (1865)
History of Wayne County, Indiana from its first settlement to the present time
Historical Text and Documents - Available via Google Library
History of Wayne County, Indiana (Andrew Young, 1872)
History of Wayne County Indiana (Inter-state Publishing Co., 1884)
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Memoirs of Wayne County and the City of Richmond, Indiana (Hon. Henry Clay Fox, Editor)
Cemeteries
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)
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
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
Quaker Information Center - Genealogical Research
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
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
The Society of Indiana Pioneers
Other Resources
Mailing Lists
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
RootsWeb - lots of free, searchable resources.
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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| Email: | info@waynet.org |
| Phone: | 765.939.0857 |
| Mail: | 50 North 5th St. Richmond, IN 47374 |
| Director: | Board of Directors |
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