Midland County, Michigan
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Midland County was created on 2 Mar 1831 (Organized in 1850) and was formed from Saginaw County and Unorganized Land. The County was named because it is near the geographical center of the Lower Peninsula. The County Seat is Midland . See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Midland County are Gladwin County (north), Bay County (east), Isabella County (west), Saginaw County (southeast), Gratiot County (southwest), Clare County (northwest). Townships found in Midland County include Edenville, Geneva, Greendale, Homer, Hope, Ingersoll, Jasper, Jerome, Larkin Charter, Lee, Lincoln, Midland, Mills, Mount Haley, Porter, Warren Townships. Cities, Towns and Communities include Coleman, Edenville, Hope, Midland, Sanford.

• The Midland County Official Government Website
• Midland County, Michigan History Books at Amazon.com
• Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
• Search Historical Newspapers from Michigan (1837 - 1922) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
• Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.
• Search Michigan Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Courthouse Court Records

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

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! 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.

All departments below at located at the Midland County Courthouse, 220 West Ellsworth Street, Midland, MI 48640 , unless a different address is listed below. 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.

Midland County Clerk has the following Records for: Births: 1867 to present.(All Birth Records will be searched by staff. Liber books for 1867 to 1962, card index for 1962 to 1984, and computer for 1984 to present), Death: 1867 to present. (Liber books for 1867 to 1962, card index for 1962 to 1984, and computer for 1984 to present. Staff will search card index and computer), Marriages: 1867 to present (Liber books for 1867 to 1965, card index 1965 to 1984, and computer 1984 to present. Staff will search card index and computer), Divorces: 1916 to present (Liber book index for 1916 to 1986, and computer for 1986 to present. Staff will search computer), Naturalization/Declarations of Intent: 1855 to 1965(Staff will search for information) . The Office is located at the County Courthouse, see address above for contact information. Phone: 517-832-6739 .

The County Clerk is responsible for keeping records of births, deaths, assumed names, co-partnerships, issuing and filing marriage licenses, gun permits, notary bonds and processing passports.

Midland County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1855 and is located at the County Courthouse, see address above for contact information. Phone: (989) 832-6820 .

The Register is the County's official recording officer for all legal documents pertaining to the transfers and encumbrances of all real estate property within the County. The Register also provides permanent storage for approved original subdivision plats, condominiums, land surveys and section corners.

Midland County Clerk of the Probate Court has Probate Records from 1856 and is located at the County Courthouse, see address above for contact information. Phone: (989) 832-6880 .

The Court Adjudicates and disposes of cases involving property of persons who have died or become incompetent, interprets wills and trusts, commits the mentally ill when necessary and appoints guardians and conservators for minors, incapacitated individuals and individuals with developmental disability.

Midland County Clerk of the Circuit Court has Court Records from 1839 and is located at the County Courthouse, see address above for contact information. Phone: (989) 832-6735 .

The Clerk provides a variety of functions for the court such as, but not limited to: filing and maintaing the official record for all cases that come before the court; providing staff to assist in the operation of the court; working with the Jury Commission and notifying all potential jurors to appear for jury duty; and, processing felony criminal cases bound over from the District Court.

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

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• Michigan Land Records: Michigan Pre-1908 Homestead & Cash Entry Patent and Cadastral Survey Plat Index.
• Michigan Eastern District Naturalizations: Index to Naturalization papers of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Detroit, 1837-1903 and U.S. Circuit Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Detroit, 1837-1903
• Midland County, Michigan Court Books at Amazon.com
• Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
• Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.

County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Michigan

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

The State of Michigan Vital Records Office is located at 201 Townsend Street, Capitol View Bldg, 3rd Floor, Lansing MI 48913 (across the street from the state capitol - south side). The office hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Mon-Fri, except for State holidays. They are open thru the lunch hour. If applying in person, you must submit your request by 3:00 pm in order to obtain same-day service. It can take up to 1-3 months to get a vital record from Michigan.

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• Birth Certificates: The Vital Records Office maintains birth records that occur in Michigan since 1867 to the present. Birth records are restricted in Michigan and only a person or parent named on the record or a legal guardian of the person named on the record may request a copy. A legal representative is eligible to request a copy if he/she represents the person named on the record. Photo identification is required to request a Michigan birth record (unless the birth record is at least 100 years old).
  • Cost: Initial search (fee includes a 3-year search, Each additional year is $12.00 per year) and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $26.00 and $12.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "STATE OF MICHIGAN". 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. Mail to: Vital Records Requests, PO Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909
  • Processing Time: If the birth year is 1906 to the present, your request will be processed within 4 weeks. If the birth year is prior to 1906, the processing time will be 1-3 months. when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
• Death Certificates: The Vital Records Office maintains death records that occur in Michigan since 1867 to the present.
• • Cost: Initial search (fee includes a 3-year search, Each additional year is $12.00 per year) and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $26.00 and $12.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "STATE OF MICHIGAN". 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. Mail to: Vital Records Requests, PO Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909
  • Processing Time: If the death year is 1916 to the present, your request will be processed within 4 weeks of receipt in the vital records office. If the death year is prior to 1916, the processing time will be 1-3 months when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
• Marriage Certificates: The Vital Records Office maintains marriage records that occur in Michigan since 1867 to the present.
  • Cost: Initial search (fee includes a 3-year search, Each additional year is $12.00 per year) and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $26.00 and $12.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "STATE OF MICHIGAN". 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. Mail to: Vital Records Requests, PO Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909
  • Processing Time: If the marriage year is 1926 to the present, your request will be processed within 4 weeks of receipt in the vital records office. If the marriage year is prior to 1926, the processing time will be 1-3 months when ordered by MAIL
• Divorce Certificates: The Vital Records Office maintains divorce records that occur in Michigan since 1867 to the present.
  • Cost: Initial search (fee includes a 3-year search, Each additional year is $12.00 per year) and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $26.00 and $12.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "STATE OF MICHIGAN". 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. Mail to: Vital Records Requests, PO Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909
  • Processing Time: If the divorce year is 1925 to the present, your request will be processed within 4 weeks of receipt in the vital records office. If the divorce year is prior to 1925, the processing time will be 1-3 months when ordered by MAIL.
• Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
• Apply In Person: If you wish to apply in person to order a Michigan vital record, you may do so at the office located at 201 Townsend St, Capitol View Building, 3rd Floor, Lansing MI 48913 (across from the State Capitol). Lobby hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Directions are available by logging onto our website at: www.michigan.gov/mdch or by calling 517-335-8666. A check or money order is preferred, and orders in our lobby must be placed by 3:00 pm in order to request same-day service. An additional fee of $10.00 is required for same-day service orders. Please allow a 2-3 hour waiting period for same-day service.

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

• VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won?t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
• Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE- Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
• Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Arkansas newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
• Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
• Michigan Marriages to 1850: This database of Michigan marriages to 1850 contains 13,000 names.
• Michigan Marriages, 1851-75: This database contains records of marriages within the state for the years 1851 through 1875.
• Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996: With over 2.75 million records, the Michigan Death Index covers the years from 1971 to 1996, making this database of particular interest to those with relatives from Michigan.
• Midland County, Michigan Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com

County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Michigan

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 Midland County, Michigan are 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.

Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Midland County, Michigan 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.

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

• Michigan Census, 1827-70: This collection contains the following indexes: 1827 Territorial Census Index; 1837 Kalamazoo County Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1845 State Census Index; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index; Early Census Index.
• Michigan State Census, 1894: This database contains information from the 1894 Michigan State Census for the counties of Barry, Bay, Benzie, Dickinson, Emmet, Gratiot, Iosco, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Keweenaw, Lapeer, Menominee, Montcalm, and Washtenaw.
• Midland County, Michigan Census Books at Amazon.com
• Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.

County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Midland County Maps. Email us with websites containing Midland County Maps by clicking the link below:

• The USGenWeb Archives Digital Map Library
• Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection: Michigan Maps
• Historical Maps of Michigan - Geographical, Statistical, and Historical Map of Michigan Territory
• American Memory Map Collection: 1500-2004 - extensive selection from the Library of Congress Map Collections, focusing on Americana and cartographic treasures.
• Midland County, Michigan Map Books at Amazon.com
• Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Michigan

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 Midland County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Midland County Military Records by clicking the link below:

• Michigan Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
• National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution,
• Michigan Society of Sons of the American Revolution,
• National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
• Southern Claims Commission (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
• Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Michigan (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
• Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
• Civil War Principals and Substitutes Index
• Civil War Soldier Images Database
• Guest Register of World War I Michigan Clubroom (located in New York City)
• World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing: State of Michigan
• 1835 Michigan Territorial Pensioners
• 1840 Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services State of Michigan
• Michigan in the Civil War: This database contains a report compiled from reports of the Adjutant General and reports held by the War Department in Washington, of the services of Michigan regiments, batteries, and companies in the Civil War.
• Michigan Military Records, 1775-1836: This database, originally compiled in 1920, is a collection of burial and pension records for residents of the state prior to 1836.
• Midland County, Michigan Military Books at Amazon.com
• Military - The men and women called to serve their country in military duty are a source of pride to their families and to their nation. Now, with databases containing more than 16 million names and thousands of government records available to search, researching your veteran ancestors has become easier than ever before.

County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Property tax records at the county level usually date back to the first land records. Either the county treasurer or the register of deeds will be the custodian of these records.

Numerous early tax assessment and general tax rolls are available at the State Archives of Michigan. Organized by county, the records include the name of the owner or occupant of the property, legal description and number of acres, value of land and personal estate, and amount of tax levied. There are tax rolls for some counties for the late 1830s, but most are for the last half of the nineteenth century.

The National Archives/Great Lakes Region in Chicago holds numerous federal personal property and corporate tax assessment lists for the state of Michigan

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

• Midland County, Michigan Tax Books at Amazon.com

County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Michigan 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 Midland County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Midland County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• Midland Genealogical Society, c/o Membership Chairman, Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, 1710 W. St. Andrews Dr, Midland, MI 48640
• Midland County Historical Society, 1801 W. St. Andrews, Midland MI 48640; 1-517-835-7401
• National Archives - Great Lakes Region (Chicago), 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 60629-5898; 773-948-9001; E-mail: (Maintains retired records from Federal agencies and courts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.) General Information Leaflet
• State Archives of Michigan, 702 W Kalamazoo Str, P.O. Box 30738, Lansing, MI 48909-8238; (517) 373-1408; Original material generated by government offices at the state and/or local level, including census records, tax assessment rolls, military records and photographs are among the extensive holdings. They also have some naturalization files, correctional facility records, school records, and depression era agency files. The archives distribute information circulars on many topics. The circulars act as finding aids to their extensive collection.
• The Historical Society of Michigan, 1305 Abbott Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823; (517) 324-1828; Fax: (517) 324-4370, e-mail:
• Library of Michigan, : 702 W. Kalamazoo St, Lansing, MI 48909; Holdings here include an extensive genealogical and historical collection including books, microforms, manuscripts, newspapers, surname index, Centennial and Sesquicentennial Certificate applications, and diaries. Records are housed in a new building with card catalog. See: http://michigan.gov/hal/libraryofmichigan for more information/services. Limited reference service to mail request. They also offer online reference services at:
• Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
• Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
• Michigan Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Michigan

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 Midland County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Midland County Tombstone Transcription Project.

The earliest religious denomination in Michigan was the Roman Catholic church, established through a mission in 1668 at Sault Ste. Marie. Ste. Anne's, in Detroit, has parish records beginning in 1703.

Michigan Historical Collections in Ann Arbor holds large collections from the Presbyterian Church and the Protestant Episcopal Church, in addition to other denominations. Dutch Reformed church records are at Calvin College and Seminary Library in Grand Rapids; Finnish church records are deposited at the Finnish-American Historical Archives at Suomi College in Hancock. The Upjohn Library at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo has a large collection of Baptist archive material. Many early Detroit churches have their records deposited at the Burton Historical Collection-Detroit Public Library. The Michigan Historical Records Survey, WPA, completed an Inventory of the Church Archives of Michigan, and many of the church records from this inventory were published from 1936 through 1942.

The Library of Michigan in Lansing and the Burton Historical Collection have over 1,000 books of transcribed or published tombstone readings from Michigan cemeteries. To locate a cemetery in the state, consult the Michigan Cemetery Compendium. It lists most cemeteries in Michigan.

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

• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Michigan obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Michigan newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Michigan.
• Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Michigan
• Midland County, Michigan Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• Midland County, Michigan Church Books at Amazon.com

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

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 Midland County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Midland County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

• Search for Local Michigan Researchers or Earn Money by becoming a Local Michigan Researcher!
• Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
• Sites on USGenweb: [ Midland County ] [ Michigan ] [ Main Page ]
• Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
• The Michigan Family Group Sheet Project
• Midland County MIGenWeb Archives
• [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
• Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
• Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
• Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
• Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
• Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
• Midland County, Michigan Family Books at Amazon.com

Extended History

 

Chippewa Indians Among First Inhabitants of This Area

When the French discovered the Great Lakes in the 1600's, the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi Indians occupied both Michigan peninsulas. Chippewas have inhabited this immediate area for 120 years. The German Lutherans sent a missionary, E.G. Miessler, to these Indians in 1851, and today, there is an Indian cemetery in Bethany, which lies just outside Midland County near St. Louis.

Lumber, Fur Trading Thrive in Early Years

Recorded history relates the presence of great forests of ash, basswood, elm, hemlock, linden, maple, oak and pine as well as swamp in this 339,000 acres that became Midland County in 1851. Convenient waterways formed by the Chippewa, Pine, Salt, Sturgeon, Tittabawassee and Tobacco Rivers attracted many Indians to this area as here they found beaver and other small animals, fish, wild rice, berries and sap from the maple trees. In 1831, Midland's first permanent white settlers came, learned the ways of the Indian and found a market for his furs.

The First Trading Post was established at the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Chippewa Rivers, which the Indians called "Little Forks." Here the Grand Traverse Trail, Lake Michigan Trail, Grand River Trail and others join to form the Saginaw Trail which leads to the Indian gathering place on Saginaw Bay, called "Saw-kee-nauk," now Saginaw.

Midland, a small community of 65 persons in 1850, became a thriving lumber camp which reached its peak in 1880. History tells us that there was a lumber camp every four miles along the rivers which were the chief means of transporting the logs to the mills in the spring. In the winter, thousands of lumbermen were working in the woods.

Midland's founding fathers must have considered the American Fur Company's Trading Post site a wise place to locate their town--at the confluence of the Chippewa and Tittabawassee Rivers. Animal paths and Indian trails were not conducive to hauling all of one's possessions when moving into a new area, so rivers were the most desirable waay to travel. Much of this valley was so swampy that high spots were chosen for Midland's first important buildings, such as schools, the courthouse, jail, churches, etc.

County Formed in 1850

Midland County was organized in 1850 but no officers were elected until 1855 when the following were chosen: G. W. Whiting, Sheriff; E. P. Jennings, Clerk; H. C. Ashman, Prosecuting Attorney; J. A. Whitman, Treasurer; Solon Rumrill, Register of Deeds; Samuel Gasgill, Judge of Probate; and George Turner, Surveyor. The 1st Term of Circuit Court was held in the school house at the corner of Ashman and Ellsworth Streets. Until the Courthouse was built, the County Officers met in the home of John Larkin.

At the time of its organization, Midland County included all of Midland County plus portions of Bay, Isabella, Clare, Gladwin and Roscommon Counties. Bay separated in 1857; Isabella in 1860; Clare in 1871; Roscommon in 1874; and Gladwin in 1874.

In 1855 the County paid out $600in salaries for its officers; $250 for the poor and needy; and $1,721.00 for County expenses.

In 1856 Henry C. Ashman, Supervisor and Prosecuting Attorney empowered by the Legislature, located the site for the Midland County Courthouse. A colonial type structure was built by Timothy Jerome at the Cost of $6,000. This building was razed in April, 1926, after being sold at auction for $245.

In 1857 The Board of Supervisors appropriated $150 to construct a Ferry so folks could conveniently cross the Tittabawassee River. Charles Cronkright built the scow. Rates were fixed as follows: Man on Foot,, 3 cents; Single Team, 6 cents; Double Team, 10 cents; cattle, Sheep and Swine, 10 cents. The Ferry was made free after 1858, but remained a source of annoyance for the supervisors because it was next to impossible to hire competent help.

Jail Built Near Courthouse

In 1865 a Jail was built on property adjoining the Courthouse. It has been said this was the first brick building in Midland. Criminals must have been well behaved, as they were often seen helping the sheriff's wife around the building while the sheriff was off tending to his lumbering business.

Midland's two covered bridges were built in 1871. Destroyed by stormy weather, high water and ice jams in 1908, the bridgesy were both replaced by steel structures. Progress and traffic have demanded their replacement by two super cement structures - one built in 1968.

In 1919 Midland's Supervisors passed a Resolution to bond the County for $225,000 to build a new Courthouse. Submitted to the people the proposition carried and after much altercation with the law about the period of bonding, Bloodgood Tuttle, of Detroit and Cleveland, was the architect chosen to draw up the plans.

Herbert H. Dow Instrumental in Historic Courthouse Being Built

Herbert Henry Dow, founder of The Dow Chemical Company, was most interested that the Courthouse commemorate this area's early history and contributed generously of time and money toward the building's completion. A modified Tudor type, the building was decorated inside and out by Detroit artist Paul Honore. He used plastic magnesia cements - a product of the brine which underlies Midland County - to delineate our story: trapping, trading, lumbering, farming, and chemical manufacturing.

Voters Approve Courthouse Expansion Plan

From 1926 until 1958 all Midland County prisoners were housed at the Bay County Jail. In 1953 Midland County was advised that Bay County could no longer house Midland prisoners. On August 3, 1954, Midland County voters approved a 1-mill tax levy for three (3) years to build an addition to the Courthouse.

A 52-man jail plus the sheriff's living quarters, additional offices and auditorium at a cost of $764,180. was completed for occupancy in the fall of 1958.

The City of Midland and Midland County each constructed new facilities that were completed during 1989.

Midland a Mecca For High-Tech Industries and Other Businesses

Midland is proud of its industries, namely The Dow Chemical Company and The Dow Corning Corporation which employs thousands of persons in the Saginaw Valley, thereby contributing heavily the area's growth and economic well-being.

In more than 120 manufacturing locations throughout the world, brightly-painted towers and miles of varicolored pipes symbolize chemistry at work in plants of The Dow Chemical Company.

Today's global operations reflect tremendous growth over the 98 years of the company's existence. It all came from a humble beginning. An ancient sea and a new idea gave Dow its start.

The sea, rich in chemical brines, lies deep under the flatlands of Midland, Michigan. To a young chemist named Herbert Henry Dow the commonplace brine meant opportunity in chemistry, which, as the 19th century drew to a close, was gradually emerging as a significant industry.

As a student chemist, Dow had discovered a new electrolytic process for extracting chemicals from brine. At Midland, in 1890, he rented a barn, hooked up a homemade rope drive from the steam engine of a flour mill, reactivated an idle brine well nearby, and -- in short -- proved that his process worked.

Potassium bromide, used in drugs and photography, was the product of that successful experiment. Its main source up to that time had been imports from Germany.

The Dow Chemical Founded in 1887

The brine also held other chemicals to be recovered for man's use -- chlorine, sodium, calcium and magnesium. Young Dow organized The Dow Chemical Company in 1897 to make bleach from the chlorine. A profusion of products followed.

Organic chemistry became a new field for the fledgling company. In 1902 Dow achieved one of the first large-scale syntheses of an organic chemical with the manufacture of chloroform.

World War I saw the company enter the field of organic chemistry in earnest, and Dow know-how was responsible for the first American production of synthetic indigo dye and synthetic phenol, a so-called "workhorse" chemical that also became a plastic raw material.

In the same period, Dow produced the first magnesium metal electrolytically in the United States to provide the foundation for today's growing magnesium industry.

The Dow Chemical Pioneers New Products and Business Practices

In the early 1930's Dow was a pioneer in the rising petrochemical business and began extensive research in the development of plastics and other hydrocarbon products. Petroleum assumed great importance as a raw material with the formation of Dow's Western Division in California in 1938 and the Texas Division on the Gulf Coast in 1940.

When World War II came and natural rubber supplies were cut off, the company was ready with the only commercial production of styrene, one of the two major components of synthetic rubber. Dow built and operated two large styrene plants for the United States government and a third for the Canadian government.

It was at this time that the company first used the Dow developed process of extracting magnesium from sea water. It built and operated a big sea water magnesium plant for the government and jointly built and operated another such plant with the government. A third facility made use of underground brine for magnesium production.

From the common materials -- brine, petroleum, salt and air -- found in nature, then has come a growing line of products. The company lists more than 1,100. Chemical and metals account for 53 per cent of total sales; plastics and packaging products 34 per cent; byproducts and consumer products 13 per cent.

Early in his career Herbert Dow set the pattern for achievement. His business philosophy was one of practical action. He put it this way: "If you can't do a thing better than it's already being done, why do it?" This remains the driving philosophy of a company that reported record earnings in 2005.

County Emerges as Worldwide Leader in Silicone Chemistry

Dow Corning Corporation, the County's second largest employer, was founded in 1943 by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning Glass Works. Its organization signaled the mergence of Midland County as the world headquarters of silicone chemistry.

The silicones, known in the early part of this century as laboratory curiosities, saw their first industrial development in the laboratories of Dr. J. Franklin Hyde at Corning. His experiments produced a material with promise for the insulation of electric motors.

Corning, recognizing the importance of this new technology, but lacking any experience in the chemical business, turned to The Dow Chemical Company and together they formed Dow Corning.

Dr. Hyde's basis research was continued by Dr. Shailer L. Bass, who later became the chairman of the board. His grease-like compound was eventually used to protect aircraft ignition systems. This product found its first use during World War II as an insulation material for aircraft Following the War, Dow Corning moved into civilian areas, but the company's original product survives to be used on automobiles, boats and aircraft ignition systems.

Over the years, Dow Corning scientists became adept at "molecular tailoring" to make a wide variety of materials to meet special needs demanding applications.

Dow Corning Expands to Produce Medical Products

In 1959, the company entered the area of medical products. At first the company absorbed the cost of this new business as a social obligation, but it has grown into a fully independent business now.

Today a long line of "spare parts for human bodies" are produced. They range from finger joints and hydrocephalus shunts to artificial testicles.

More familiar are the company's line of consumer products including sightsavers and bathtub caulk.