Indiana (territory) -- Jefferson (county)


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County Quick Reference

County Seat: Madison

County Name: Named for Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States.


 
Boundary Changes
(click on the name of a change to see more information)
 
Date
Area
Change
01 FEB 18111279Jefferson created from Clark and Dearborn counties
01 JAN 18141005Jefferson lost land to Dearborn County and lost to the creation of Switzerland County.
01 JAN 1816928Jefferson lost to the creation of Jackson County.
   

 

 

Authority
(click on a title below to view laws involved in the formation or governance of the area)
Background
(general information on the area to put it in the context of history)

Jefferson County was formed on 01 February 1811 by An Act for the division of Dearborn and Clark counties, and for the formation of a new county out of the said two counties [click here for more information]. The county's boundaries would change two times before statehood.

The following map shows the original size of the county at its founding (in red with yellow border) superimposed on a modern map

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Jefferson County in 1811

 

Bibliography
(click on the title of the following works to learn more about life in the area; for those items not available online, check with your local library for availability)


  • Bible and Family Records of Jefferson County, Indiana Families. Florida: Florida DAR, 1993.
  • A History and Recollections of Paynesville Christian Church, 1907 Ad - 2007 Ad : Located in the Hamlet of Paynesville, Saluda Township, Jefferson County, Indiana. Paynesville, Ind.: Paynesville Christian Church, 2007.
  • Carter, Park W. A History of Some Park Families in Jefferson County, Indiana : And Allied Families of Anderson, Mann, Gilchrist and Others. 1 vols. Eureka, Kan.: P.W. Carter, 1995.
  • Chapman, A. S. Madison : A Jewel in Setting 'Neath the Hills, a Guide to the Visitor Who Loves Nature and Her Wonders with Maps and Photoengravings on the Most Famous Falls, Caves, Caverns, Cliffs, Vales and River Views Surrounding Her. Madison, Ind.: Democrat Print. Co., 1924.
  • Cottman, George S. Jefferson County, Indiana, in the World War ; Soldiers' Records and Pictures. [N.p.], 1920.
  • Current Events Club. Early History of Madison and Jefferson County. [1 vols.: The Club, 1909.
  • Danner, Mrs Effa M. The Calendonia Church and Cemetery [on Jefferson--Switzerland County Lines, Indiana], 1945.
  • Daughters of the American Revolution. John Paul Chapter (Madison Ind.). Items from Early Newspapers of Jefferson County, Indiana, 1817-1886. Madison, Ind.: D.A.R., 1945.
  • Daughters of the American Revolution. John Paul Chapter (Madison Ind.). Declarations of Revolutionary War Soldiers, Jefferson County. Madison, Ind., 1971.
  • Dryden, Clarence A. Jefferson County in World War II, 1941-1945. Madison, Ind., Jefferson County Historical Society, 1947.
  • Geraets, Gertrude. Index to a "History of Jefferson County, Indiana". 1 vols. S.l.: s.n., 1995.
  • Hill, Brian and Jefferson County Historical Society. Jefferson Co. Indiana : Sheriff's Journal 1814-1815. Madison, Ind.: Jefferson County Historical Society, 1998.
  • Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. African American Landmarks Committee. and Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County Inc. Historic African-American Sites & Structures : Jefferson County, Indiana. Indianapolis?: African-American Cultural Preservation Project of the African-American Landmarks Committee Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, 1996.
  • Ireland, Ferdie B. and Daughters of the American Revolution. John Paul Chapter (Madison Ind.). List of Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Jefferson County, Indiana. Madison, Ind.
  • Jackson, Hugh Parks. A History of Carmel Congregation of the United Presbyterian Church : Near Hanover, Jefferson County, Indiana, and Read on the Celebration of Its 70th Anniversary, August 23, 1882. Madison, Ind.: Printed by the Courier Co., 1882.
  • Jefferson County Historical, Society. Madison, Indiana, June 12, 1847. Book of Enlistment. Company F., 4th Regiment Indiana Volunteers Mustered 12th June, 1847.
  • Jefferson County Historical Society (Ind.). Voices from Monroe Township : Oral History Recollections of Monroe Township, Jefferson County, Indiana. Madison, Ind.: Jefferson County Historical Society, 1994.
  • Jefferson County Historical Society of Indiana (Jefferson County Ind.). "Jefferson County, Indiana Plat Maps, 1876." Madison, Ind.: Jefferson County Historical Society, 1999.
  • Jefferson County Indiana Historical Society (Jefferson County Ind.) and Daughters of the American Revolution. John Paul Chapter (Jefferson County Ind.). Historical Society Collection, Jefferson County, Indiana Historical Society. Jefferson County, Ind.: John Paul Chapter DAR, 1954.
  • John M. Gresham Company. 1889 Biographical and Historical Souvenir, for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington Indiana. Chicago: Chicago Printing Company, 1889.
  • Kremer, William J. Some Leading Facts of History of Canaan, Indiana and Shelby Township, Jefferson County, Indiana. S.l.: s.n., 1961.
  • Madison Courier. Rolling Along the Ohio : A Pictorial History of Jefferson County, Indiana. Madison, Indiana: s.n., 1996.
  • Middle Fork Church Jefferson County Ind. Record of the Organization & Proceedings of the Session of Middle Fork Church : [September 24, 1830-May 13, 1860]. S.l.: s.n.
  • Mihalko, Fauna Ritchey, Loretta Backus Stevens and Virginia Lee Weagle. Lee Family History, Jefferson County, Indiana. Madison, Ind.: F. R. Mihalko.
  • Moore, Michael S. and Jefferson County Historical Society of Indiana (Jefferson County Ind.). Before We Forget : Oral Histories from the Townships : Jefferson County, Indiana Bicentennial 1811-2011. Madison, Ind.: Jefferson County Historical Society, 2011.
  • Pisgah Methodist Church, Jefferson County Indiana. History of Pisgah Methodist Church. [Columbus District, Kent Charge, Graham Township, Jefferson County] Prepared for a Program on July 26, 1953, to Commemorate The ... 135th Anniversary of the Church: n.p., 1953.
  • Purvis, Michelle Dawn Gammon. "Antislavery at the Grassroots : The Varieties of Abolitionism in Jefferson County, Indiana." M.a., University of South Carolina, 2004.
  • Rogers, Lee. Shelby Township, Jefferson County, Indiana : School Trustee's Ledger, 1861 -- 1874. Canaan, Ind.: Kramer Museum, 2009.
  • Scott, Robert W. The History of Jefferson County. Raleigh, N.C.: Lulu Enterprises, 2012.
  • Shaw, Robert W. History of Caledonia United Presbyterian Church, 1816-1854, 1954.
  • United States. Work Projects Administration. Indiana. Jefferson County, Indiana Index of Names of Persons and of Firms. Indianapolis: s.n., 1942.
  • Webb, Thomas V. A directory of Jefferson County, Indiana. Madison Ind. Courier steam print, 1859.
  • Young, George M. The Role of Jefferson County, Indiana in the Civil War. [1 vols. S.l.,: s.n., 1961.
 
Related Content
(the links below contain information related to this area)

An Act for the division of Dearborn and Clark counties, and for the formation of a new county out of the said two counties, 1811

§ 1. BE it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That all that part of the counties of Clark and Dearborn, included within the following bounds, viz. "Beginning at the mouth of Log Lick creek, on the bank of the river Ohio, thence to the corner of sections five and eight, town four, range three, thence north to the Indian boundary line, thence with the same westwardly to a point opposite the north-east corner of Clark's grant, thence on a direct line to the said corner of the said grant, thence a direct line to the Ohio river at the lower line of town two, north, range ten, east, thence up the Ohio river with the meanders thereof to the beginning," shall compose one new county, called and known by the name of Jefferson.

An Act for the formation of a new county out of the counties of Dearborn and Jefferson, and for other purposes, 1814

§ 1. BE it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the passage hereof, all that part of the counties of Dearborn and Jefferson, which is included in the following boundaries, shall form and constitute a new county: that is to say; begining at a point between fractional sections number twenty two and twenty seven, on the Ohio river, in town three range one, west, thence due west with said sectional line to the old Indian boundary, thence nearly north running with said boundary to the north east corner of section thirteen, town six, range twelve in the new purchase, thence due north with said section line to the north east corner of town six, range twelve, thence west with the line dividing town six, range twelve, and town seven, and range twelve to the sectional line, dividing sections five and four, in town six, range twelve, in the new purchase, thence south with said sectional line, to the Ohio river, at a point between fractional sections number twenty and twenty one, about one mile below the old Indian boundary, in town three range twelve in the new purchase, thence with the meanders of the Ohio river and up the same to the place of begining.

An Act for the formation of a new County out of the counties of Washington and Jefferson, 1815

SEC. I. BE it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the first day of January next, all that part of the counties of Washington and Jefferson, which is included in the following bounds, shall form and constitute a new county, that is to say. Beginning at a point on the east fork of White River where the line dividing sections four and five, in range two east, town three north crosses the same; thence due north to the Indian boundary line; thence with said boundary line eastward to the point where said line intersects the northern boundary line of the Grouseland purchase ; thence with the last mentioned line eastwardly to the point where the line dividing ranges seven and eight east, crosses the same; thence with the last mentioned line south, to the point where the line dividing townships three and four north, crosses the same; thence with the last mentioned line west, to the east fork of Muscacketuck river; thence down the said river, with the meanders thereof, to the junction of Drift fork of White river; thence down the same with the meanders to the place of beginning.

An Act for fixing the time at which the courts of Common Pleas are to be held in certain counties, and for other purposes, 1810

BE it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the first day of February, one thousand eight hundred and eleven, all that part of Dearborn and Clark counties which is included in the following boundaries, shall form and constitute two new counties, that is to say — "Beginning at the corner of townships number 7 and 8, on the line of the state of Ohio, thence north, until the same arrives at fort Recovery, thence, from fort Recovery southwardly, with the line of the western boundary of the purchase made at fort Wayne, in the year one thousand eight hundred and nine, until the same intersects the line of the northern boundary of the purchase made at Grouseland, thence northwardly, with the line of the last mentioned purchase until the same arrives at a point from which a due east and west line will strike the corner of town seven and eight on the aforesaid state of Ohio line"

 

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