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Randolph County History and Information
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Randolph County Facts

Randolph County was created on August 10, 1818 and was formed from Wayne County. An old Randolph County, in the Northwest Territory, was created in 1790, and in 1800 it became a county of the Indiana Territory. The County was named for either Thomas Randolph, said to be a soldier killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe, or for Randolph County, North Carolina. Some sources suggest that the county was named for President Thomas Jefferson's first cousin, Thomas Randolph, who was Attorney General for Governor William Henry Harrison and was killed in the Battle of Tippecanoe. Historian Charles Roll indicates that Randolph County was named after Thomas Randolph, but Gregory Hinshaw makes a very strong case in the March 2002 issue of the Indiana Magazine of History that the county was so named because so many of the early settlers came from Randolph County, North Carolina.

The County Seat is Winchester. First settled in 1819, by 1849 it contained 151 houses, of which 11 were brick, with a population of about 750. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Randolph County are Jay County (north), Darke County, Ohio (east), Wayne County (south), Henry County (southwest), Delaware County (west).

Randolph County is divided into 11 Civil Townships as follows: Franklin, Green, Greensfork, Jackson, Monroe, Stoney Creek, Union, Ward, Washington, Wayne, and White River; Nettle Creek and West River Townships were combined to form Union Township.

Cities, Towns and Communities include Carlos, Crete, Deerfield, Farmland, Harrisville, Lynn, Modoc, Parker, Ridgeville, Saratoga, Stone and Winchester.

 

There are free downloadable and printable forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms, U.K. Census Extraction Forms, Research Calendar, Ancestral Chart, Research Extract, Correspondence Record , Family Group Sheet , Source Summary Form.

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Records at the Randolph County Courthouse

See Also Indiana Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

PLEASE READ!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

NOTE: The date listed for each category of record is the earliest record known to exist in that county. It does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and certainly does not indicate that all such events that year were actually registered. See also the Randolph County Courthouse History

   Randolph County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1819 , Probate Records from 1819 and Court Records from 1819 and is located at 100 S. Main Street, Winchester IN, 47394; 765-584-0465
   The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a ministerial officer who is the custodian of the Clerk's record and seal, issues process, accepts filings of commencement of actions in litigation, enters judgments and orders of the court, receives money in his official capacity, makes certified copies of record, issues many miscellaneous licenses, and keeps a record of all wills and matters of trust in probate proceedings.

   Randolph County Recorder has Land Records from 1820 and is located at 100 S. Main Street, Winchester IN, 47394; 765-584-7300.
   The county recorder's function is to maintain permanent public records involving a wide variety of instruments. These documents detail transactions involving real estate, mining, personal property, mortgages, liens, leases, subdivision plats, military discharges, personal bonds, etc. Generally, all of these instruments are recorded either for giving legal public notice of their existence or for safekeeping and future reference. The recorder maintains and preserves all legal documents affecting title to real property.

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records! - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

   Randolph County Health Department has Birth / Death Records from 1882 and is located at 211 South Main Street, Winchester, IN 47394; (765) 584-1155 Ext 10

Below is a list of online resources for Randolph County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Randolph County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Indianapolis Newspaper Index, 1848-1991: Select articles from 1848-1888 Indianapolis daily newspapers; heavily focused on deaths and marriages. Select articles from 1898-1991 about people, places, events, and topics in Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. Extremely limited for deaths; no coverage of marriages.  Card file also available in the Microforms Area, second floor.
  • Reference & Government Services CD Collection: Database to allow searching of the hundreds of CDs from the federal government and other sources, part of the collections of the Reference & Government Services Division.
  • Randolph County, Indiana Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Indiana Immigration & Emigration Records - Immigration records help the family historian to understand the movements of their ancestry as they relocated to different parts of the world.

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Randolph County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Indiana

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Some documents are just too important to wait 6 weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Often in as few as three business days!

  • Birth Certificates: The Division of Vital Records and Statistics maintains birth records that occur in Indiana since Oct 1907 to the present. Prior to October 1907, records of birth are filed only with the local health department in the county where the birth actually occurred.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $10.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "Indiana State Department of Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • In Person: The ISDH Vital Records office is located at 6 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The office is open for walk-in requests from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., E.S.T., Monday through Friday (excluding official State Holidays). The cost for the first certificate is $10.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Average wait time is less than an hour.
    • Processing Time: 5 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
  • Death Certificates: The Division of Vital Records and Statistics maintains death records that occur in Indiana since 1900 to the present. Prior to 1900, records of death are filed only with the local health department in the county where the death actually occurred. For deaths occurring from 1900 to 1917, the city and/or county of death is required in order to locate the record.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $8.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "Indiana State Department of Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • In Person: The ISDH Vital Records office is located at 6 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The office is open for walk-in requests from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., E.S.T., Monday through Friday (excluding official State Holidays). The cost for the first certificate is $8.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Average wait Time is less than an hour.
    • Processing Time: 5 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
      • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
  • Marriage Certificates: Certified copies of marriage certificates are not available from the State Health Department. They are available from the Clerks of the Circuit Court in the county where the marriage was granted. Fees vary.
  • Divorce Certificates: Certified copies of divorce certificates are not available from the State Health Department. They are available from the County Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees vary.

Below is a list of online resources for Randolph County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Randolph County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Randolph County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Voter Lists & Census Records! - Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable.

  Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Randolph County, Indiana are 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Randolph County, Indiana are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

  See Also Statewide Records that exist for Indiana

Below is a list of online resources for Randolph County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Randolph County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Indiana Census, 1790-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 (Northwest Territory) Federal Census Index; 1807 State Census Index; 1810 Wayne County Census Index; 1812 Census Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index; 1890 Veterans Schedule.
  • Randolph County, Indiana Census Books at Amazon.com

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Randolph County Maps & Atlases

   Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Ohio and other states.

  You can view rotating animated maps for Indiana showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps
   You can view rotating animated maps for Indiana showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at County Maps

Below is a list of online resources for Randolph County Maps. Email us with websites containing Randolph County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Randolph County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Indiana

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Military Records! - Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

   The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Randolph County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Randolph County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Randolph County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

   Records of county taxes were kept as early at 1842, although most were discarded. Remaining ones would be at the county courthouse. National Archives-Great Lakes Region has records of the Internal Revenue Service for Indiana for 1867 to 1873. These are tax assessment records, arranged by district and then chronologically.

Below is a list of online resources for Randolph County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Randolph County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Randolph County, Indiana Tax Books at Amazon.com

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Randolph County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Indiana Genealogical Addresses

   The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Randolph County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Randolph County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

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Randolph County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Indiana

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

   There are many churches and cemeteries in Randolph County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Randolph County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Baptist records are found at Franklin College (in Franklin); Methodist at DePauw University (in Greencastle); Mennonite at Goshen College (in Goshen); Presbyterian at Hanover College (in Hanover); Disciples of Christ at their historical society in Nashville, Tennessee; and French Catholic at Vincennes University in the Byron R. Lewis Collection. There are also Catholic church histories and records at the Catholic Archives, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. Quaker records are at Earlham College (at Richmond).

   The commissioner's office of each Indiana county may have burial records for soldiers, sailors, and marines. If available, the records should include name, age, date of enlistment, discharge date, and death date. Records begin about 1862.

The Indiana State Library holds records of inscriptions from some Indiana cemeteries. The "Indiana Cemetery Locator File," compiled by the Genealogy Division, is an alphabetical listing of cemeteries, indicating the location in the state and the designation in the Genealogy Division of the Indiana State Library where inscriptions may be found.

Below is a list of online resources for Randolph County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Randolph County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Search Online Click Here to Search Indiana Family Tree Records! - The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

   When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Randolph County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Randolph County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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County History

1849 Adams County Retrospect - Based on "Indiana Gazetteer," published by E. Chamberlain

Randolph County was organized in 1818, is said to have been named at the request of the settlers, after the county in North Carolina from which they had emigrated, though it is said also that the name was given in honor of Thomas Randolph, Esq., Attorney General of the Territory, who was killed in the Battle of Tippecanoe. It is bounded north by Jay, east by the State of Ohio, south by Wayne, and west by Henry and Delaware. It contains about 450 square miles. The civil townships are White River, Jackson, Ward, Green, Monroe, Stoney Creek, Nettle Creek, West River, Washington, Green's Fork and Wayne. The population in 1830 was 3,912, in 1840, 10,392, and at this time [1849] about 14,000. The surface of the country is nearly level, and portions of it are, at times, wet and marshy, so that it would seem to be low, though in reality it must be about the highest land in the State, for in or near Randolph County, the head waters of the Big Miami, White Water, Blue River, White River, the Mississinewa, the Salamonie, Wabash and St. Mary's, all running in different directions, take their rise.

There are no barrens and but few prairies, all which are wet, in the county. The timber is of an average quality, the soil well adapted to be farmed in grass and small grain, and parts of the county are suitable for corn.

There are in the county 14 gristmills, 20 sawmills, propelled by water and three by steam, five carding machines, one printing office, the usual proportion of mechanics and professional men, and two Baptist and eight Methodist churches.

The taxable land amounts to 280,000 acres. There is to be seen on the land of W. M. Way, near Winchester, a regular built earth wall, enclosing about 20 acres of land, with a high mound in the center, and the appearance of a gate at the southwest corner.

1938 Adams County Retrospect - Based on "Indiana Review," published by the State Legislature

Randolph County is on a high, level plateau, unmarked by hills of any consequence. Within its boundaries is the highest point in the state, about 1,300 feet above sea level. In past years Randolph County had plentiful gas and oil, most of which has been exhausted. The limestone here now forms its principal natural resource. In or near this county are the headwaters of the Big Miami, White Water, Blue, White, Mississinewa, Salamonie, Wabash, and St. Mary's Rivers.

There is some doubt as to the origin of this county's name. It is said to have been named in honor of the county in Virginia from which the early settlers emigrated. Some sources, however, state it was called in honor of Thomas Randolph, Attorney General of the Territory, who was killed in the Battle of Tippecanoe.

Randolph County is one of the Ohio border counties, situated about mid-state. It has an area of 447 square miles, divided into twelve townships. The incorporated cities are Winchester, 4,487, and Union City, 3,084; towns: Lynn, 936; Ridgeville, 909; Farmland, 853; Parker City, 794; Saratoga, 303; Bronson, 252, and Modoc, 236. Total county population, 1890, 28,085; 1900, 28,653; 1910, 29,013; 1920, 26,484; 1930, 24,859.

Winchester is located twenty-four miles northwest of Richmond and is served by two railroads. It is chiefly important as center of the farming district. The industries include handle, glass, wagon, furniture, and novelty factories.

Winchester was the birthplace of Ex-Senator James E. Watson, and is the home of Ex-Governor James P. Goodrich. At the Courthouse are a number of historical markers. On the grounds is a monument to the soldiers and sailors of the Civil War and a World War Memorial dedicated to the Gold Star men. In the building's corridor is a bronze tablet inscribed with the words of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Northwest of the city, at the Randolph County Fair Grounds, is an old circular fort said to have been built by the Mound Builders.

Union City is thirty-one miles east of Muncie and is served by three railroads. The city is partly in Indiana, the rest in Ohio, divided by one street. Population of the Ohio side, which is in addition to the Indiana City, was 1,303 in 1930. Union City is a manufacturing city, its industries including sawmills, canneries, and factories for auto bodies, carriages, wheels, gloves, and electric machinery.

This city was home of one of Indiana's former governors, Isaac P. Gray. Among others of importance who were residents: Joaquin Miller, known as Poet of the Sierras; John R. Commons, Dean Emeritus of the University of Wisconsin; Jeremiah Smith, and Oliver H. Smith.

Randolph County had twenty-eight manufacturing establishments, according to 1935 federal census. There were 1,510 wage earners employed in these industries on payrolls totaling $1,566,721. The value of these was $15,305,865. A total of 93,798 head of livestock was reported. The total county tax valuation as of 1936 was $33,102,800.

Courthouse History

The current Randolph County courthouse was built between 1875-77 in the Second Empire style, with a Mansard roof and clock tower that were removed in the early 1950s. J.C. Johnson, a Fremont, Ohio, carpenter who taught himself architecture, designed not only the Randolph county courthouse, but the courthouse in neighboring Adams County as well. Johnson's building is the third courthouse commissioned by Randolph county taxpayers. The first courthouse, built in 1828, was abandoned by the county for a newer building on the north side of the square in the 1850s. The courthouse square was built in the Shelbyville plan.

Earlier this year, the Randolph County Commission voted to wreak havoc on the Winchester Courthouse Square Historic District by voting to tear down the 128-year-old county courthouse. If the Randolph County Courthouse falls, it will be the first loss in Indiana since the Cass County Courthouse was leveled nearly 30 years ago. Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, as well as preservationist around the state, including Chief Justice Randall Shepard, have been outspoken in their opposition to the commission's decision.

Among those working to save the courthouse, none can trump the Winchester Bridge Club ladies for audacity. To call attention to the cause, the club members have posed—showing all their cards, so to speak, but holding strategically placed models of the courthouse—for a fundraising calendar . Even before the calendar has been published, the ladies have more than accomplished their mission of drawing local and even national attention to the courthouse.

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