Researching ancestors who lived in DeKalb County, Indiana? Here are some resources for you to investigate:
DeKalb County was formed in 1835 from the unorganized territory of Allen and LaGrange. The county seat is located in Auburn. The county is divided into 15 townships (Butler, Concord, Fairfield, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, Keyser, Newville, Richland, Smithfield, Spencer, Stafford, Troy, Union, Wilmington).
There are 3 cities (Auburn, Butler, Garrett), 6 towns (Altona, Ashley, Corunna, Hamilton, St. Joe, Waterloo), and 17 unincorporated areas (Artic, Auburn Junction, Butler Center, Cedar, Concord, Fairfield Center, Hopewell, Moore, New Era, Newville, Orangeville, Saint Johns, Sedan, Spencerville, Stafford Center, Summit, Taylor Corner).
The county was named for Revolutionary General Johann de Kalb who was killed in the Battle of Camden, South Carolina.
NOTE: MOST BOOKS ARE NON CIRCULATING
ATLAS/MAPS:
Contact the Willennar Genealogy Center, Eckhart Public Library, 700 S. Jackson Street, Auburn, 260-925-2414.
Sanborn maps for DeKalb County, including Auburn Junction available 1886, 1891, 1896, 1901, 1907, 1914, and 1923 online at https://libraries.indiana.edu/union-list-sanborn-maps
Township map (original) available in DeKalb County Courthouse, 2nd Floor. Also in the Courthouse is an 1863 map of farm owners made by E. B. Gerbe & C.A.O. McClellan. Also found online at randymajors.org
Map of Indiana County formation available at https://www.mapofus.org/indiana/
Editor. Triennial Atlas & Plat Book, DeKalb County, Indiana. Rockford, IL: Rockford Map Publishers, 1969. Contact Newberry Library Special Collections 4th Floor, Chicago, IL Baskes folio G4093.D25G46 1969 .R58
Library of Congress, Composer. De Kalb County, Indiana Land Ownership Map, Washington: LOC, 1863. Film 6079378. Contact FamilySearch Library.
Mary Ellen Gowman, Editor. Atlas of DeKalb Co., Indiana: to which are added various general maps, history, statistics, Knightstown, IN: Bookmark, 1969. Contact Western Michigan University or FamilySearch Library for Film 812502 Item 6 Image Group 7728956 for the 1880 Chg: J. H. Beers Map.
Mary Ellen Gowman, Editor. Atlas of DeKalb Co., Indiana: to which are added various general maps, history, statistics, Knightstown, IN: Bookmark, 1975. Contact FamilySearch Library for a look-up OCLC 865856510
John Martin Smith. Map of De Kalb Co., Indiana: from government & recent surveys, compiled, drawn, and published by E. B. Gerber & C.A.O. McClellan. Auburn, IN: DeKalb Co. Historical Society, 1986. Reprints from 1863. Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36MA
BIOGRAPHIES/MUGBOOKS and HISTORY:
Index for Juanita Crowl, Composer. 1914 History of DeKalb County. Online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/316753?availability=Family%20History%20Library
Charles Evert Benjamin. Some Pioneer Settlers of Coburntown, Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36BENA V.1
Karl Blust, Transcriber. So Grows a City (Garrett). 1975. Online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/sgac.txt
Dr. Willis W. Carey. History of Spencerville. 1952. Allen County Public Library 977.202 SP344C. Transcription is available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/spencerville.html
Editor. The Butler Story, 1841-1966, Available at Willennar Genealogy Center.
Editor. A Century in Review: Butler, Indiana, 1941, Available at Willennar Genealogy Center.
Editor. DeKalb County 1937-1987. DeKalb County Sesquicentennial, Inc., 1990.
Editor. DeKalb County, Indiana Index of Names of Persons and of Firms. IN: WPA, 1938. Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36AA
Editor. Double Diamond Jubilee, Celebrate the City, Butler, Indiana, 1991, Available at Willennar Genealogy Center.
Editor. History of De Kalb County, Indiana: Together with sketches of its cities, villages, and towns, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens; with a new index. Chicago: Inter-state Publishing Co., 1885. Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36HIT or online at FamilySearch.org-https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/316749?availability=Family%20History%20Library
Editor. History of DeKalb County, Indiana: with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families. Indianapolis: Bowen, 1914. Online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/3219101
Editor. Memorial Record of Northeastern Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing, 1896. Allen County Public Library 977.2 M51 or online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/dcibp/index.html
Editor. Old Settler’s Meetings, DeKalb County, IN, 1878-1913, Available at Willennar Genealogy Center.
Editor. Patrons of Indiana State Atlas. Chicago: Baskin, Forster & Co., 1876. Transcription online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/patron1876.htm
Editor. Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen. Chicago: H.H. Hardesty, 1894. Allen County Public Library 977.2 H21PA or online http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/dcibp/index.html
Editor. Waterloo Remembers 1856-1983, Available at Willennar Genealogy Center.
Ira Ford. History of Northeast Indiana – LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb County. Chicago: Lewis Publishing, 1920, 2 volumes. Allen County Public Library 977.2H623AV.1 and V.2 or online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/dcibp/index.html
A. A. Godwin, Composer & J. W. Goodwin, Editor. Old Settlers of De Kalb County. Cashton, WI: J. W. Goodwin, 1993. Contact FamilySearch Library for a lookup OCLC 866642359 Some transcriptions available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/oldsettlers.html
Chad Grammling. Legendary Locals of Auburn. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2014. Contains names and addresses though not in chronological order.
William L. Lock. Ghost Towns of DeKalb County. DeKalb County, IN: Self Published, 2015. Eckhart Public Library. (Altona, Artic/Troy, Auburn Junction, Buck Hill, Butler/Jarvis/Jervis/Muddville/Norristown, New Era, Cedar, Centerville, Cheesetown/Israel, Clairsville/Clearsville, Coburn’s Corner, Cole’s Corners, Collingwood, Concord, Custer/New Buffalo, Fairfield Centre, Fike’s Station, Gypsy Hill, Hopewell, Houghtonville, Iba/Lawrence/Showers Corner/Brumback’s Corner/Green’s Corner/Laurence, Inverness, Jackson Center, Little Egypt, Moore’s Station, Mount Hope, New Era Station, Newville/Vienna, Oak Hill, Ohioanna, Orangeville, Richland Centre, Rose)
Rachel Sherwood Roberts. Auburn is a Dancing Lady: A Guidebook. Auburn, IN: Hawthorne Publications, 1999.
Lee Phillipp Sauer. The Many Lives of Glenn T. Rieke: A Biography. Auburn, IN: Envision Graphics, 2000.
John Martin Smith. Auburn The Classic City. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2002. Excellent for location history.
John Martin Smith. DeKalb County in Vintage Postcards. Chicago: Arcadia, 2001. Eckhart Library. People, Events (Fair), and Places ( Ashley, Auburn, Butler, Cedar Chapel, Coburntown, Corunna, Garrett, Moore, Newville, Sedan, Spencerville, St. Joe) 1893-1955.
John Martin Smith & Troas May Wise, Editor. History of DeKalb County, Indiana 1837-1987. Auburn, IN: Natmus, 1992. 3 Volumes. V. 1 Topical History, V. 2 Topical History, V. 3 Families. Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36DC 1992, V.1 977.201 D36DC 1992, V.2, 977.201 D36DC 1992, V.3
Roselyn I. Wells. DeKalb County Family History. Waterloo, IN: DeKalb Co. Historical Society, 2005. Allen County Public Library 77.201 D36DCB
Roselyn I. Wells. DeKalb County, Indiana Pioneers. Auburn, IN: DeKalb Co. IN Genealogy Society, 2001. Available at Monroe County Public Library ND GR 977.2 IN D17 Family Dek
Roselyn I. Wells. Presidents soldiers statesmen: reprint of pages 565-717 including biographical sketches of local soldiers & families counties of DeKalb, Noble & LaGrange. DeKalb C. IN Genealogy Society, 2003. Available online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1922466
Roselyn I. Wells. DeKalb Diggings – A Newsletter from the DeKalb County Genealogy Society. Allen County Public Library
977.201 D36GS Nr: 1995-1998, 977.201 D36GS Nr: 1999-2002, 977.201 D36GS Nr: 2003-2006, 977.201 D36GS Nr: 2006-2010, 977.201 D36GS Nr: 2010-2012, 977.201 D36GS Nr: 2012-2015. Also, contact DeKalb County Genealogy Society (see organizations) for more recent editions.
S. W. Widney. Pioneer Sketches Containing Facts and Incidents of the Early History of DeKalb County. 977.201 D36W
See also:
Cyndi’s List https://www.cyndislist.com/us/in/counties/dekalb/
DeKalb County, Indiana Genealogy Trails http://genealogytrails.com/ind/dekalb/bios1885.html Indiana Genealogical Society Once a Hoosier Project https://oahblog.indgensoc.org/
Indiana State Library Indiana Biography Index https://digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/search.aspx?index=1
INGenWeb http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/dcibp/index.html
Random Acts of Genealogy Kindness https://raogk.org/indiana/dekalb-county/
Society of Indiana Pioneers Ancestor Lookup https://indianapioneers.org/ancestors/
CEMETERIES:
BillionGraves.com – online – over 123,000 memorials mentioning De Kalb County for 36 cemeteries.
FindAGrave.com – online – nearly 50,000 cemetery records for De Kalb County for 56 cemeteries. Local volunteers are Auburn-Barry Smith bas.auburn@gmail.com; Butler- Chuck Johnson. Cjohnson1903@frontier.com; Garrett-David Cole dave_cole1963@yahoo.com.
Fayne Ellen Harter. Southeastern DeKalb County, Indiana Tombstone Records, 1971. Available online at https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/208245?availability=Family%20History
%20Library
Malinda E. Evard Newhard. Cemetery Inscriptions, De Kalb County, Indiana, 1972. 3 Volumes. Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36N V.1, 977.201 D36N V.2, 977.201 D36N V.3
Kathleen Smith Vose, Composer. Cemetery Inscriptions, De Kalb County, Indiana, 1987. Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36VC V.1
Troas May Wise, Composer & Arlene Goodwin, Editor. Obituaries of DeKalb County, Indiana: Residents Buried Out of the County. Waterloo, IN: T. M. Wise & A. Goodwin, 1988. Contact FamilySearch Library to look up.
Willennar Genealogy Library, Auburn, is in the process of creating an online GPS tool to use for locating all known cemeteries in the county. The library also houses many of the older burial records but they are often incomplete. For example, the mausoleum records for Calvary Cemetery in Garrett are missing from the burial book. The current cemetery owner, Diocese of Fort Wayne, does not have the records or access to the mausoleum that is locked.
For small cemeteries (10 burials or less), contact the Daughters of the American Revolution, John Houlton Chapter, Auburn, Indiana for their compiled materials.
Cemetery name, township, and location are also available and Zion Lutheran Church Interment Records online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/cemetery/cem.html
A list of cemeteries and their latitude/longitude is online at http://genealogytrails.com/ind/dekalb/cemetery_index.html
Some Funeral Home records for Butler have been transcribed online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/cemetery/johnson.txt
Records of six funeral homes in DeKalb County are available on FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/DeKalb_County,_Indiana_Genealogy
Johnson Funeral Home and Furniture Store Records 1901-1991 index and images available at Willennar Genealogy Library.
CENSUS:
Federal beginning in 1840, online through Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, MyHeritage.com
Indiana had state censuses (incomplete) for statistical purposes only in 1807, 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919, 1931
1840 and 1883 Indiana Pensioners-on-the-roll are incomplete. For 1840, contact NARA https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1841/dec/1840d.html.
For 1883 Indiana, see List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883, at https://archive.org/details/listpensionerso04buregoog or http://genealogytrails.com/ind/dekalb/military-index.html
1850, 1860 & 1870 DeKalb County Mortality Schedules available at http://www.newhorizonsgenealogicalservices.com/in-mortality-schedule.htm and at Indiana State Library.
1850 Mortality Schedule is also available at http://genealogytrails.com/ind/dekalb/census.html
1850 7th Agriculture Census available on microfilm Indiana State Library Roll 1.
1860 8th Agriculture Census available on microfilm Indiana State Library Roll 2.
1870 9th Agriculture Census available on microfilm Indiana State Library Roll 3.
1880 10th Agriculture Census available on microfilm Indiana State Library Roll 8
1850 7th Manufacturing Census available on microfilm Indiana State Library Roll 1.
1860 8th Manufacturing Census available on microfilm Indiana State Library Roll 1.
1870 9th Manufacturing Census available on microfilm Indiana State Library Roll 1.
1880 10th Manufacturing Census available on microfilm Indiana State Library Roll 1.
Some census info has been transcribed at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/
CHURCH RECORDS:
Contact the local church first.
Church of the Brethren in Christ, Butler, Opened in 1842. Available at Butler Library.
Newville United Methodist Church, Opened in 1842.
Pleasant Chapel Church of the Brethren & Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church. Roselyn I. Wells, Compiler. Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36WE
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Garrett. Available online through an LDS Affiliate. Films 1503356 Item 3 (Baptisms 1939-1957, marriages 1938-1947, funerals 1938-1951, extreme unction 1953-1954 at Sacred Heart Hospital, 1503356 Item 4 Baptisms 1870-1911, confirmations 1880, deaths 1880-1919, marriages 1868-1918, 1503356 Item 5 first communion 1923, baptisms 1910-1945 of Image Group 8336147.
Wabash District Church Records, Methodist, St. Joseph Circuit 1840-1880. Available online through an LDS Affiliate Film 1455342 Item 14 of Image Group 7857946.
Wittenburg Evangelical Lutheran Church 1843-1938 Aneita Allen, Compiler. Available at Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36AL
Church Membership Transcription online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/Church/earlychurchmember.htm
Church Ministers’ transcriptions from History of DeKalb County 1885 & 1914 (see Biographies/
Mugbooks for call number) online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/earlyministers.htm
CITY DIRECTORIES (By Publication Date):
C.D. Cady. Indiana Annual Register & Pocket Manual, 1846, Available at Allen County Public Library.
H.C. Chandler & Company’s Business Directory and Shipper’s Guide for the State of Indiana, 1868. Indexed on Ancestry.com and available on Google Books at https://books.google.com/books/about/H_C_Chandler_Co_s_Business_Directory_and.html?id=Rz1FAQAAMAAJ and at FamilySearch.org
Transcribed online at http://genealogytrails.com/ind/dekalb/1868_businessdirectory.html
Atlas of DeKalb County, Indiana. Chicago: J.H. Beers, 1880. Business Directory transcription online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/dcibp/index.html
Polk’s Indiana State Gazetteer & Business Directory 1882-1883, Vol. II, 1884-1885, Vol. III, available at Allen County Public Library.
Kramer’s General Business Directory of Northern Indiana, 1884, Published in Lafayette is the earliest directory for the area. Allen County Public Library 977.202 F77KRAM
Directory of Indiana Manufacturers and Buyer’s Guide 1889 Allen County Public Library 977.2 D622M
Transcribed online at http://genealogytrails.com/ind/dekalb/directory1889.html
DeKalb County and Its Towns Business Directory 1895 online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/busdir1895.html
Young & Co’s Directory of Northeastern Indiana and Northwestern Ohio. Milwaukee: Young, 1903. 977.2Y84
The Butler Telephone Company Directory, 15 January 1906. Contact John Scoville.
Moore’s Standard Directory of Auburn, Garrett, Butler, and Waterloo. NYC: S. H. Moore Co., 1908-9. 1st DeKalb Directory. Eckart Library 910.25 AUB Butler and Waterloo transcribed online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Indiana Gazetteer & Business Directory, 1916-1917. Contact John Scoville.
List of Residents of DeKalb County, Indiana, “How To Do Things,” Philadelphia: Wilmer Atkinson Co, 1919, Available at Willennar Genealogy Center.
DeKalb County, Indiana, Index of Names of Persons and Firms, 1930. Available online at https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/524060
Butler City & Rural Directory, 1933, Available at the Butler Library.
Robinson’s DeKalb County, Indiana Rural Directory, 1974. Allen County Public Library 1959, 1962. 1965. 1969, 1972, 1976, 1979. 977.201 D36RB
COURT RECORDS:
These include adoptions, court records, deeds, divorce records, guardianship, mortgages, naturalization/citizenship, probate, tract books, and wills.
The 2nd courthouse had a fire with circuit court record damage in 1913 resulting in a loss of Clerk’s records, including naturalization, some marriages, probate, and most civil records. Since 1913, records have been microfilmed. Prior to 1900, check Miscellaneous Records held by the Recorder’s Office or transcriptions for Writes of Execution online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/writs.htm
The City of Auburn minutes held by the Clerk Treasurer’s Office is difficult to search without a date as there is no index.
DeKalb County Courthouse, 100 S. Main St., P. O. Box 810, Auburn 46706 Phone: 219-925-2112
FamilySearch.org has microfilm of court records, deeds, divorce records, guardianship, mortgages, naturalization/citizenship, probate, tract books, and wills. Some are online at FamilySearch.org. All are available at LDS affiliate sites.
Adoptions:
See Order Books in Courthouse.
Before 1940, posted on DeKalb County INGenWeb http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/adoption.htm
Apprenticeships:
See Deed Books at Courthouse.
Some transcribed online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/courtrecords/indenturesofapprenticeship.html
Business Licenses:
See Auditor’s Office, Commissioners Book, Courthouse.
Register of License Issued in DeKalb County, Indiana 1848-1851. Transcription online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/businesslicense.html
Deeds:
The Courthouse Recorder’s Office holds all land records. Contact Leta Hullinger, Recorder, 100 S. Main St., Auburn 46706 Phone: 260-925-2112
A transcription of landowners from the 1880 Atlas is online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/realestate/1880.html
A transcription of real estate transfers for townships available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/
Divorce:
See County Clerk, Courthouse for original records.
1856-1910 transcribed online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/
Naturalizations:
See Courthouse for original records.
Transcription from 1844-1868 available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/naturalizations.txt
Indiana Archives and Records Administration also has 944 records online at https://www.in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/indiana-archives-digital-index-records/
Poor Asylum, County Infirmary and Sunny Meadows Residential Home:
Editor. DeKalb County Home: DeKalb County, Indiana 1856 to 2000: Original Records Copied From Late 1880s through early 1950s. Auburn, IN: DeKalb Co. IN Genealogy Society, 2002. Available at Allen County Public Library. 977.277 P3d. Some transcriptions available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/assylum.txt and http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/assylumgoods.html
Probate:
Probate records began in 1855. They are held by the County Clerk (Holy A. Albright),
100 S. Main St., P. O. Box 230, Auburn 46706. Phone 260-925-0912
Wills:
Index of Wills 1848-July 2004: Located at the Dekalb County Indiana Courthouse (Auburn, IN): Various Wills Records from the Circuit & Superior Courts, and the Recorder’s Office. Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36IW
Wills 1852-1922 and Will Records (1889-1923) Only Available at an LDS Affiliate
Will Index Book 1 1852-1912 transcribed by Arlene Goodwin available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/wills/willindexbook1.htm
GENEALOGY ARCHIVES & ORGANIZATIONS HOLDING DEKALB COUNTY RECORDS:
Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center, 900 Webster Street, Ft. Wayne, IN 46802 219-421-1225
Daughters of the American Revolution, John Houlton Chapter, Auburn, Indiana – Complete form-filler at https://www.dar.org/national-society/become-member/membership-interest-form?ID=4100IN
Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, contact Vickie Day, President at duvcwlady@gmail.com
DeKalb County Genealogy Society (for DeKalb Diggings Newsletters 2016+) dekalbgenealogysociety.com, email: dkgenealogyweb@gmail.com, or Facebook.
DeKalb County Historical Society, 201 East Main Street, Butler, IN 46721 260-868-0979 or FaceBook
DeKalb County, Indiana Genealogy Trails – http://genealogytrails.com/ind/dekalb/
DeKalb County INGenWebProject – http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/
Garrett Genealogy Club, 107 West Houston Street, Garrett, IN 46738 260-357-5485
Garrett Historical Society, P. O. Box 225, Garrett, IN 46738 260-908-0754
Indiana Archives Digital Index Records https://www.in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/indiana-archives-digital-index-records/
Indiana Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 10507, Ft. Wayne, IN 46852-0507 http://www.indgensoc.org/ for form-filler
Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, 317-232-1882, https://indianahistory.org/
Indiana Memory https://digital.library.in.gov/Web/CollectionsAcrossIndiana
Indiana State Archives, 6440 East 30th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219 317-591-5222 (Census, death, institutional, military, naturalization, and federal land records)
Indiana State Library, 315 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202 866-683-0008
Society of Indiana Pioneers – https://indianapioneers.itsalifestory.com/01-sip-research-learn/
Waterloo Depot Foundation, 1145 S Center St, Waterloo 46793, 260-837-5501
LOCAL LIBRARIES:
Butler Public Library, 340 S. Broadway St., Butler, IN 46721 260-868-2351
Eckhart Public Library, 603 Jackson Street and Willennar Genealogy Center, 705 Jackson Street, Auburn, IN 260-925-2414
Garrett Public Library, 107 West Houston Street, Garrett, IN 46738 260-357-5485
Waterloo Grant Township Public Library, 300 S. Wayne Street, Waterloo, IN 46793 260-837-4491
MILITARY:
The Veterans Department in the DeKalb County Courthouse does not release lists of veterans due to privacy laws.
Veteran search available for 665 DeKalb vets of Early Commissions, Indiana Militia 1877-1896, Indiana National Guard 1898-1940, Lafayette Veteran’s Home, Spanish War, and WWI Gold Star at Indiana Archives and Records Administration https://www.in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/indiana-archives-digital-index-records/
Margaret Hobson. The Iron Men of Indiana’s 44th Regiment, Book 1: Biographies and Statistics.
Part 1 & 2 Spencerville, IN: Self Published, 2012. Willennar Genealogy Center Sec A Shelf 17.
Reba Knapp Sliger, Composer & Betty Penland Ruhl, Editor. Index to Veteran’s Records as Recorded DeKalb County, Indiana. Auburn, IN: DeKalb Co. IN Genealogy Society, 2002. Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36UVC V.3 & 977.201 D36UVC V.4
Revolutionary War -Since Indiana did not achieve statehood until after the war, no county records are available.
War of 1812 – DeKalb was formed in 1837, but no county records are available.
Mexican War – Reba Knapp Sliger, Composer. Veterans’ Cards for Veterans of DeKalb County Who Served in the Civil, Spanish-American, and Mexican Wars. Auburn, IN: DAR John Houlton Chapter, 2000.
Civil War – Lists available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/soldiers/soldiers2.html
Spanish American War Volunteers – Lists available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/soldiers/soldiers2.html
WW1 – Lists available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/soldiers/soldiers2.html
WW2 – See Reba Knapp Sliger, Composer & Betty Penland Ruhl, Editor. Veterans’ record cards of Spanish-American, World War 1, and World War II Veterans DeKalb County, Indiana available at Allen County Public Library.
Korea – Lists available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/soldiers/soldiers2.html
Vietnam – Have not been compiled
Desert Shield/Desert Storm – Have not been compiled
Afghanistan – Have not been compiled
Ancestry.com/Fold3.com and FamilySearch.org have World War 1& 2 enrollment cards.
MUSEUMS:
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, 1600 Wayne Street, Auburn, IN 260-925-1444
DeKalb County History Museum, 201 E. Main Street, Butler 260-573-6162. Closed for renovation.
Garrett Historical Museum, 300 N. Randolph Street, Garrett, IN 46738 260-908-0754 Open weekends only Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.
Garrett Museum of Art, 100 S. Randolph Street, Garrett, IN 46738 260-704-5400
Hoosier Air Museum, 2822 Co. Rd. 62, Auburn, IN 260-927-0443
International Monster Truck Museum and Hall of Fame, 541 W. Main St., Butler, IN 260-837-2435
Kruse Museum, 5634 Opportunity Blvd, Auburn, IN 260-927-9144. Collection of military and automotive vehicles.
National Auto & Truck Museum, 1000 Gordon M. Buehrig Pl, Auburn, IN 260-925-9100
Waterloo Train Depot Museum, 485 West Van Vleek St, Waterloo, IN 46706 260-927-1499
Although the list of 29 DeKalb County buildings on the National Register of Historic Places is not all open to the public, additional information is available about them at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_DeKalb_County,_Indiana
NEWSPAPERS:
Microfilmed at Indiana State Library and available thru loan. Eckhart Library has a complete set and continues microfilming DeKalb Co newspapers.
Special edition newspapers-DeKalb Co. Herald 9/6/1907 and Evening Star Cruising Through the Century series Nov & Dec 1999.
A brief overview of DeKalb County newspapers is available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/dekalbnewspapers.htm
Historical DeKalb County Newspapers in Chronological Order by Location:
Ashley:
The Ashley Times (1892-1909), Publisher Strayer & Stauffer, Library of Congress
The Ashley News (1909-192?), Publisher Arthur C. Wolfe, Library of Congress.
Steuben DeKalb News (192?-192?), Publisher A.C. Wolfe, Library of Congress
Ashley-Hudson Times (1929-1959), Library of Congress
Auburn:
Democratic Messenger (1853-1855), Publisher M.F. Pierce, Library of Congress
The New Era (1859-1865), Publisher Jos. C. Loveland, Library of Congress
The DeKalb Democrat (1864-1866), Publisher DeKalb Co. Newspaper Co., Library of Congress
The Auburn Times (1869-1869), Publisher E. Highley, Library of Congress
The Auburn Courier (1871-1902), Publisher Thomas C. Mays, Library of Congress
DeKalb County Republican (1874-1883), Publisher R. H. Weamer, Library of Congress
The DeKalb Republican (1883-1885), Publisher C. P. Houser, Library of Congress
The Auburn Dispatch (1885-1969) Publisher G. W. Gordon, Library of Congress
Auburn Courier, (10/2/1890-1/25/1894), Publisher William H. McIntosh some transcriptions online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/auburn.html.
The Daily Courier (1894-1903), Publisher James A. Barns & later, The Courier Company, Library of Congress
The Auburn Gazette (1897-189?), Publisher R.H. Weamer, Library of Congress
The Evening Dispatch (1898-1913), Publisher Geo. W. Gordon, Library of Congress
Auburn Evening Courier (1903-190?), Publisher Courier Co., Library of Congress
The Auburn Weekly Courier (1903-1909), Publisher Courier Co., Library of Congress
Auburn Daily Courier (19??-1913), Library of Congress
The Evening Star (1913-current), Publisher Auburn Print Co., Library of Congress
The Auburn Courier (1909-1969), Library of Congress
The Auburn Bee, (1911-1912), Publisher John C. Lochner, Library of Congress
The Auburn Weekly Bee (1912-1916), Publisher John C. Lochner, Library of Congress
The DeKalb News (1917-192?), Publisher DeKalb Print Co., Library of Congress
Butler:
Butler Newspapers 3/1894-present are housed at Butler Library.
The Butler News (1874-1874), Publisher, R. H. Weamer, Library of Congress
Butler Review (1876-197?), Publisher D.B. Sherwood, Library of Congress
The Butler Record (1877-1899), Publisher M.E. Smith, Library of Congress
The Butler Herald (1894-1901), Publisher O.H. Downey, Library of Congress
The Butler Weekly Record (1899-1928), Publisher Smith & Higley, Library of Congress
DeKalb County Herald (1901-1928), Publisher O.H. Downey, Library of Congress
The Record-Herald (1928-1975), Publisher A.S. Powers, Library of Congress
DeKalb Record-Herald (1875-1976), Publisher Lee Ellen Ford, Library of Congress
The Record-Herald (1976-1977), Publisher Record-Herald of Butler, IN, Library of Congress
The Butler Bulletin (1976-present), Publisher Max Gray, Library of Congress
Corunna:
The Corunna Headlight (1878-1891), Library of Congress
The Corunna Star (1912-191?), Publisher Rex B. Wood, Library of Congress
County:
DeKalb County Advertiser, Publisher George O. Witwer in Garrett, Vol. 15 No. 14 April 5, 1973, Library of Congress
Garrett:
The Garrett Public Library contains copies of many Garrett Newspapers with an obituary look up online at http://obit.gpl.lib.in.us/
Newspapers.com has the Garrett Clipper (1885-1964) and some of The Garrett News (1876-1901) online.
The Garrett News (Oct 1875-Nov. 1877), Published by A.S. Parker & Co., No known copies.
The Garrett Clipper (1885-1885), Published by Little Bros., Vol. 1 No. 1 October 22, 1885, Library of Congress
The Garrett Weekly Clipper (1885-1919), Published by Little Bros. Vol. 1 No. 2 Oct 29, 1885-V. 36 No. 7 Dec. 11, 1919, Library of Congress
Garrett Clipper (December 18, 1919-current), Published by C. B. Hamilton, Vol. 36 No. 8 December 18, 1919, Library of Congress
The Garrett Clipper Newspaper (1975-Jan. 2012), Obits are available at Garrett Public Library.
Hamilton:
Hamilton (1/1901-12/1997)
Spencerville:
The Spencerville Items (1886-1886), Vol. 1 Jan. 1886, Library of Congress
The Spencerville News (1886) Vol. 1 No. 2 February 13, 1886, Library of Congress
The [Spencerville] Owl, (1887) Vol. 1. N. 9 July 1, 1887, Library of Congress
St. Joe:
The News (1877-1880), Publisher Samuel N. Olds, Library of Congress
St. Joe News (1880-?), Publisher Case & Olds, Library of Congress
Waterloo:
Waterloo Public Library contains newspapers from 1867 to present. The Waterloo Press 1868-1969 is available online at Newspapers.com.
The Waterloo Press (1859-1973), Publisher J.F. Radcliffe, Library of Congress
The Waterloo Airline (1869-1869), Publisher Radcliffe & Co., Library of Congress
The Air Line (1869-1870), Publisher J.A. Barns & Co., Library of Congress
Waterloo Times (1977-?), Publisher Max Gray, Library of Congress
GenealogyBank.com and Newspapers.com have Ft. Wayne papers that often included articles about DeKalb County. Newspapers.com also has Angola papers.
PHOTOS/POSTCARDS:
Tri Kappa Collection at Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum has auto photos.
Eckhart Library also has a photo and postcard collection.
John Martin Smith. DeKalb County in Vintage Postcards. Chicago: Arcadia, 2001. Eckhart Library. People, Events (Fair), and Places ( Ashley, Auburn, Butler, Cedar Chapel, Coburntown, Corunna, Garrett, Moore, Newville, Sedan, Spencerville, St. Joe) 1893-1955.
SCHOOLS:
The County Clerk holds school records from 1903-1932.
Clerk (Holy A. Albright), 100 S. Main St., P. O. Box 230, Auburn 46706. Phone 260-925-0912
Record of township graduates, DeKalb County, Indiana, 1885-1915. Online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/4121960
Additional school information is available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/schools/school.html
1936 Teacher Directory available at http://www.indgensoc.org/membersonly/county/index.php#dekalb
The county is currently divided into the following school districts:
DeKalb County Central United School District, 3326 CR 427, Waterloo, IN 46793 260-920-1011 consists of 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school.
DeKalb Eastern School District, 300 E. Washington St., Butler, IN 46721 260-868-2125 consists of 1 preschool, 2 elementary, and 1 junior-senior high school.
Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community School District, 801 E. Houston St., Garrett, IN 46738 260-357-4565 consists of 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school.
Hamilton Community School District, 903 S. Wayne St., Hamilton, IN 46742 260-488-2512 consists of 1 elementary and 1 junior-senior high school.
There are two private schools in DeKalb County, Lakewood Park Christian School, 5555 CR 29 S, Auburn, IN 46606 260-925-1393, and St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic School, 301 W Houston St, Garrett, IN 46738 260-357-5137.
TAXES:
Transcriptions for 1861, 1862, 1869, 1870, 1888, 1889, 1890, and 1891 online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/ Originals housed at Eckhart Public Library, Auburn.
NOTE: Only persons who owned taxable property were included on tax lists.
VITAL RECORDS:
The DeKalb County Health Department holds birth and death records.
220 E. 7th St. Suite 110, Auburn 46706 Phone 260-925-2220 Email: bsukala@co.dekalb.in.us
Marriage records beginning in 1837 and divorce records are held by the County Clerk (Holy A. Albright),
100 S. Main St., P. O. Box 230, Auburn 46706. Phone 260-925-0912
Indexes:
IN WPA, Editor. Index to Birth Records, De Kalb County, 1882-1920. Indianapolis: IN State Library, 1983. Compiled in 1939 from DeKalb County, Auburn City Health Office & Garrett City Health Office. Online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/4459876
IN WPA, Editor. Index to Marriage Records, De Kalb County, 1882-1920. Indianapolis: IN State Library, 1983. Compiled in 1939 from DeKalb County, Clerk’s Office, Auburn. Online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/3581867
IN WPA, Editor. Index to Death Records, De Kalb County, 1882-1920. Indianapolis: IN State Library, 1983.
Compiled in 1939 from DeKalb County, Auburn City Health Office & Garrett City Health Office.
Online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/3581864
Birth Records:
Transcription – Fayne E. Harter, Compiler. Birth Records of DeKalb County, IN, 1921-1944. 2 Volumes. Available at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/201970?availability=Family%20History%20Library
Some transcriptions of Early Births from Pension Records of the Auditor Office available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/earlybirths.html
Birth Records, Delayed, 1941-1973. Indiana Circuit Court of DeKalb County. Available at LDS Affiliate:
1941-1943 Film 1863523 Item 3 Image 7791886 & 1943-1973 Film 1863524 Item 1 Image 8070196
Marriage Records:
Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019. DeKalb Marriages are available from 1837-1957. Available online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1410397
Transcription – Arlene Goodwin. Pioneer Weddings 1841-1893 online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/marriages.txt
Transcription – Fayne Ellen Harter. Early Marriage Records of DeKalb County, Indiana, 1837-1882. Available online at FamilySearch.org Film 873503 Item 1 Image 8131959.
Transcription – Arlene Goodwin. DeKalb County, Indiana Marriages Performed by Justice of the Peace Robert Hodge 1961-1975. Available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/hodgemarriage.html
Transcription – Grace Shaw Harvey. Marriage Records of De Kalb County, Indiana, Vol. 2 March 1881-December 18892. DAR Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter, 1956. Available online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/3012305
Transcription – Ruth Camarata. Pastor Billy Meese Marriage Reunion List published in the Auburn Courier 13 Aug 1896 Available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/other/meesemarriage.html
Death Records:
Additional Death Records of DeKalb County, Indiana 1899-1920. Available online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/208298?availability=Family%20History%20Library
1860 Mortality Schedule transcription by Arlene Goodwin available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/census/mortality/1860.htm
1870 Mortality Schedule transcription by Arlene Goodwin available online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/census/mortality/1870.htm
VOTING RECORDS:
Index to Supplemental Record, Registered Voters, 1920 De Kalb County. Available online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/603635?availability=Family%20History%20Library
For elected officials, 1838-1884 see Editor. History of DeKalb County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co, 1885. Allen County Public Library 977.201 D36HIS or transcribed online at http://ingenweb.org/indekalb/elections/earlyelections.htm
Contact Lori Samuelson at 260-572-9933 for questions or updates.