Arenac County, Michigan Genealogy
Guide to Arenac County, Michigan ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
Arenac County, Michigan | |
Map | |
![]() Location of Michigan in the U.S. | |
Facts | |
Founded | April 21, 1883 |
---|---|
County Seat | Hettinger |
Courthouse | |
Address | Arenac County Courthouse 120 N Grove Street PO Box 747 Standish, MI 48658 Phone: 989-846-4626 Arenac County Website |
Contents
- 1 County Information
- 2 County Courthouse
- 3 History
- 4 Places/Localities
- 5 Resources
- 6 Societies and Libraries
- 7 Websites
- 8 References
County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for “A sandy place for a good footing." The County has Standish as its seat and the County was created 1883. The County is located in the east area of the state.[1]
Arenac County, Michigan Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1883 | 1883 | 1883 | 1883 | 1882 | 1883 | 1820 |
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
County Clerk has birth, marriage, death, divorce and court records from 1883 and burial records from 1952. [3]
History[edit | edit source]
- Arenac County,Michigan (Wikipedia)
- Arenac County (epodunk)
- A History of Northern Michigan and Its People. 3 Volumes. By Perry Francis Powers, Harry Gardner Cutler. 1912. Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co. Online at: Hathitrust; Vol. 2 - Google Books
Parent County[edit | edit source]
1883--Arenac County was created 21 April 1883 from Bay County. County seat: Standish [4]
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
See COUNTY EVOLUTION IN MICHIGAN, 1790-1897 by Richard W. Welch for the development of the counties in the state. This will help you to determine place of residence of your ancestors and under whose civil jurisdiction they resided. It is also useful for when you start to read the census records.
For animated maps illustrating Michigan county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Michigan County Boundary Maps" (1790-1897) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.
Places/Localities[edit | edit source]
Populated Places[edit | edit source]
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[5]
cities:
Villages:
Townships:
- Adams Township
- Arenac Township
- AuGres Township
- Clayton Township
- Deep River Township
- Lincoln Township
- Mason Township
- Moffat Township
- Sims Township
- Standish Township
- Turner Township
- Whitney Township
Communities:
Neighboring Counties[edit | edit source]
Bay • Gladwin • Iosco • Ogemaw
Resources[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Tombstone Transcriptions Online | Tombstone Transcriptions in Print | List of Cemeteries in the county |
Findagrave.com | Family History Library | Findagrave.com |
USGenWeb | WorldCat | Billion Graves |
MIGenWeb Archives | ||
Tombstone Project | ||
EPodunk | ||
Billion Graves | ||
See Michigan Cemeteries for more information. |
Census[edit | edit source]
1870 - Arenac County did not exist in 1870, but was part of Bay Co.
State Census
- 1894 - Michigan State Census, 1894 at FamilySearch — index
Church[edit | edit source]
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Michigan denominations, view the Michigan Church Records wiki page.
- 1819-1991 - Michigan, Church Records, 1819-1991 at FamilySearch — index
Court[edit | edit source]
Families
[edit | edit source]
- BOURASSA - (includes Arenac branches, see attachment)
- LALON(D)E - (see attachment)
- STANDISH Family Ancestors - (see attachment)
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- 1929 - 1966 Michigan, Crew Lists for various ports, 1929-1966 at FamilySearch — index and images
Land[edit | edit source]
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Michigan Land and Property for additional information about early Michigan land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the {{{1}}} County courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Arenac County, Michigan Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Michigan Local Histories.
- Books available at the Library of Michigan (Lansing) regarding Arenac Co.
Maps[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)
- Standard atlas of Arenac County, Michigan
- PDF of the Standard Atlas of Arenac County, Michigan in the US Archive
Military[edit | edit source]
Civil War[edit | edit source]
Civil War service men from Arenac County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Arenac County.
Online Records
- Michigan, Civil War Centennial Observance Commission, Committee on Civil War Grave Registration, Burial Records at FamilySearch — index
World War I[edit | edit source]
- 1917-1919 - Michigan, Census of World War I Veterans with Card Index, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch — index
- Draft Cards
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
Finding More Michigan Newspapers[edit source]
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Arenac County, Michigan Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- The Saginaw News
- Do a Arenac County, Michigan Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- 1820-2006 - Michigan Obituaries, 1820-2006 at FamilySearch — index and images
Probate[edit | edit source]
In most counties in Michigan, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate packets, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.
Online Probate Records
- 1784 – 1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
- 1797 – 1973 Michigan Probate Records 1797-1973 at FamilySearch — images
Queries: Message Boards and Mailing Lists[edit | edit source]
Taxation[edit | edit source]
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
State vital records started in 1867, however marriage records started at the county level earlier. Check both.
- Birth Records and Death Records from 1867 can be obtained from the Michigan Department of Community Health or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
- Marriage Records from 1867 and Divorce Records from 1897 can be obtained from the County Clerk.
See also How to order Michigan Vital Records
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1867-1917 - Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1867-1902 - Michigan Births, 1867-1902-- Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. Records include such information as name of child, birthdate and place, if still-born, illegitimate or twin, gender, race and record number.
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1585-1945 - Michigan, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
- 1820-1937 - Michigan, County Marriages Index, 1820-1937 at FamilySearch — index
- 1820-1940 - Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1868-1925 - Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925 -- Free name indexes at FamilySearch. Records include such information as names of bride and groom, date of license, ages, race, residences, birthplaces, occupations and names of the fathers of the bride and groom.
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1850-1880 - Michigan Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — index and images
- 1867-1897 - Michigan Deaths, 1867-1897 -- Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. Records include such information as name of deceased, date and place of death, gender, color, marital status, age in years, months and days, disease or apparent cause of death, birthplace, names and occupations of parents, and the date the record was made.
- Pre-1897 (not complete) - Michigan State Department of Community Health Genealogical Death Indexing System
- State death records - Seeking Michigan
Societies and Libraries[edit | edit source]
- Arenac County Historical Society
PO Box 272
304 E. Michigan Ave.
Au Gres, MI 48703
Telephone: 517-876-6399
Website
Facebook
State wide or ethnic groups[edit | edit source]
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society
c/o Burton Historical Collection, DPL
5201 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202-4007
Publication is Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society News published twice a year
Located in Wayne County
MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
Lansing Area African American Genealogical Society
Post Office Box 22203
Lansing, MI 48909-2203
Publication is Newsletter published quarterly
Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
CORNISH
Keweenaw Houghton Cornish Society of the Copper Country
Cornish Connection Of Lower Michigan
8494 Wesley Drive
Flushing, MI 48433
DUTCH
Joint Archives of Holland, Hope College
FINNISH
Finnish American Heritage Center
FLEMISH
Genealogical Society of Flemish Americans
Facebook Page
FRENCH-CANADIAN (includes Acadian, Cajun and Metis)
French-Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan
PO Box 1900
Royal Oak, MI 48068-1900
Publication is Michigan's Habitat Heritage published quarterly
Located in Oakland County
MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
Facebook Page
IRISH
Irish Genealogical Society of Michigan
c/o Gaelic League/Irish American Club
2068 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48216-1303
Publication is Irish Tree published nine times a year
Located in Wayne County
MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
Facebook Page
Wayne County Irish Society
31975 Cowan
Westland, MI 48185
ITALIAN
Americans Of Italian Origin Society
18336 Lister E.
Detroit, MI 48021
JEWISH
Jewish Genealogical Society of Michigan
PO Box 251693
West Bloomfield, MI 48325-1693
Publication is Generations published quarterly
Located in Oakland County
MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
Facebook Page
POLISH
Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan
c/o Burton Collection
5201 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202-4007
Publication is The Polish Eaglet published three times a year
Located in Wayne County
MGC Member of Michigan Genealogical Council
Facebook Page
Polish Heritage Society
P.O. Box 1844
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
SCOTTISH
The St. Andrew's Society of Detroit
2360 Rochester Ct
Troy, Mi 48083
Phone: 248-526-1849
Fax: 248-528-1477
Contact: kilgour@detroitscots.com
Family History Centers
[edit | edit source]
Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Websites
[edit | edit source]
- Michigan Genealogy Network Community on Google+
- Michigan Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- FamilySearch Catalog
- The Arenac County MIGenWeb Project, an member of The MIGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
- Family History and Genealogy Linkpendium
- Cyndi's List
- Michigan Family History Network
- Arenac County MI Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Arenac County, Michigan" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arenac_County,_Michigan."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Arenac County, Michigan . Page 343-351 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 346-349.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Arenac County, Michigan page 343, At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, Arenac County, Michigan" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arenac_County,_Michigan, accessed 16 September 2019.