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Indiana (territory) -- Knox (county)


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County Quick Reference

County Seat: Vincennes

County Name: Named for Henry Knox, Secretary of War.

 
Boundary Changes
(click on the name of a change to see more information)
 
Date
Area
Change
04 JUL 180056,177Knox becomes a county in the Indiana Territory
03 FEB 180140,094Knox gained from non-county area and lost land to Randolph and Clark counties and the creation of Clark County
01 MAR 180331,926Knox lost land to Ohio and to the creation of Wayne County
01 DEC 180831,422Knox lost land to the creation of Harrison County
01 MAR 180928,209Knox lost land to the creation of Illinois Territory
01 JAN 181128,151Knox lost to creation of Wayne County
01 APR 181424,842Knox lost to creation of Gibson and Warrick
01 SEP 181424,281Knox lost to Washington
01 FEB 181623,618Knox lost to creation of Orange
   
See Also:
Knox County, Territory Northwest of the River Ohio (1790-1800)
   

 

 

Authority
(click on a title below to view laws involved in the formation or governance of the area)
  
1800An act to divide the territory of the United States north-west of the Ohio, into two separate governments
  
1801Proclamation Altering Boundary Lines of Knox, Randolph, and St. Clair Counties
  
1803An Act to enable the people of the Eastern division of the territory northwest of the river Ohio to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the Union, on an equal footing with the original States...
  
1808An Act to form a new County out of the Counties of Knox and Clark
  
1809An Act for dividing the Indiana Territory into two separate governments
  
1811An Act for the formation of two new counties out of the counties of Dearborn and Clark
  
1813An Act for the formation of two new counties out of the county of Knox
  
1814An Act extending the bounds of the county of Washington
  
1815An Act for the formation of a new County out of the Counties of Washington, Gibson and Knox
  


Background
(general information on the area to put it in the context of history)

Knox County was formed on 20 June 1790 by proclamation of the Governor of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio [click here for more information]. It became a county with Indiana Territory on 01 JUL 1800 by An act to divide the territory of the United States north-west of the Ohio, into two separate governments [click here for more information] . The county's boundaries would change eight 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

.

Knox County in 1800

 

Census
(click on a year below to view information on the population of the area)


DatePopulationChange
18107,945---


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)


  • [Genealogical Information Concerning Several Early Families of Upper Indiana Presbyterian Church], 1970.
  • History of the Monroe City High School : Monroe City, Knox County, Indiana 1905-1967. S.l.: s.n., 1970.
  • Pea Family. 1 vols. Vincennes, Ind.?: s.n., 1978.
  • Adams, Elsie, Teresa Schultz, Mary Ward, Goodspeed Brothers. and Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society Vincennes Indiana. History of Knox and Daviess County, Indiana : From the Earliest Time to the Present, with Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. Chicago,: Goodspeed Pub. Co. Unigraphic Inc., 1886.
  • Barekman, June Beverly. The Barrackman-Barkman-Barekman Family of Knox County, Indiana Researched from December 1959 through May 1961. microform Microfiche. Chicago, Ill.: s.n., 1961.
  • Barekman, June Beverly. Knox County, Indiana, Early Land Records and Court Indexes, 1783-1815. 3 vols. Chicago: Genealogical Services and Publications, 1973.
  • Barekman, June Beverly and Robertalee Lent. Knox County, Indiana. 4 vols. N.p., 1966.
  • Batman, Maxine and Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society. Knox County History. 1st ed. Vincennes, Ind.: Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society in cooperation with Turner Pub. Co. Paducah Ky., 1988.
  • Black, Glenn A. and William Henry Harrison Trail Commission. The Location of Fort Knox, Knox County, Indiana : A Report Prepared for Mr. John Biel, Chairman, Harrison Trail Commission. Bloomington, Ind.?: s.n., 1959.
  • Brevport, Eliza Haddon McClure. Mcclelland-Harper, Settlers in the Wabash Valley, 1774-1954. Lawrenceville, Ill.: Bey Print. Office, 1955.
  • Butler, Jennie. The History of Trinity Church and Its Forerunners, Thorn Chapel, Thorn School and Barekman's Chapel. Vincennes, Ind.: J.O. Butler, 1969.
  • Coan, M. Jeanne and Mary R. Hribal. Abstracts of Wills Books a & B and Administrators Index of Knox County, Indiana, 1790-1879. Bruceville, Ind.: M.J. Coan, 1970.
  • Cook, Pam and Dwight Cook. Reitman History Continued. 1 vols. S.l.: P. & D. Cook?, 2006.
  • Daughters of the American Revolution. Francis Vigo Chapter (Vincennes Ind.). Family History of Families from Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, Kentucky, Descendants in and near Vincennes (Knox County) Indiana, 1949.
  • Decker, Joy Thomas. Early Churches in Knox County, Indiana. S.l.: s.n., 1971.
  • Dennis, Elizabeth A. and Vincennes Sun-Commercial. Life Along the Wabash : A Pictorial History of Knox & Lawrence Counties, Volume Ii : Our Town. Evansville, Ind. (P.O. Box 6802, Evansville 47719-6802): M.T. Publishing Co., 2007.
  • Dresslar, Jim, Jeff Jaeger and Richard Day. John Small of Vincennes : Gunsmith on the Western Frontier. Perrysburg, Ohio: R.E. Davis Co., 2009.
  • Fritchton High School Alumni Association. A History of the Fritchton Schools of Palmyra Township, Knox County, Indiana. Ind.: Fritchton High School Alumni Association, 1972.
  • Greene, George E. History of Old Vincennes and Knox County, Indiana. Volume I. Chicago,: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1911.
  • Greene, George E. History of Old Vincennes and Knox County, Indiana. Volume II. Chicago,: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1911.
  • Griffing, B. N. and D.J. Lake & Company. An Iilustrated Historical Atlas of Knox County, Indiana : From Actual Surveys under the Direction of B.N. Griffing. Philadelphia: D.J. Lake, 1880.
  • Griffing, B. N. and F. C. Hardacre. Combined Atlases of Knox County, Ind.-1880-1903. Evansville, Ind.: Unigraphic, 1977.
  • Hardacre, F. C. "Historical Atlas of Knox County, Ind. : Including Map of the United States, State of Indiana, Knox County, and the Townships Therein, Brief History of the State of Indiana, the County of Knox, and the City of Vincennes, Biographical Sketches of Patrons, and an Illustrated, Industrial Writeup of the City of Vincennes and Knox County." Vincennes, Ind.: F.C. Hardacre, 1903.
  • Hardacre, F. C., Northwest Territory Genealogical Society (Knox County Ind.), Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society. and D.J. Lake & Company. Knox County, Indiana Atlases, 1880 & 1903. Vincennes, Ind.: Ewing Printing, 2003.
  • Helderman, Anna. A Genealogy of the Helderman Family. 1 vols. Eureka, California?: A. Helderman, 1977.
  • Hulen, Carol. Index and Corrections to History of Knox County, Indiana, First Edition, 1988, Sponsored by Historical and Antiquarian Society, Vincennes, Indiana. Bicknell, Ind.: C. Hulen, 1989.
  • Indiana Church, Knox County Indiana. Minutes of the Session of the Indiana Church (Knox County, Indiana) Aug. 13, 1812 to March 6, 1842; Minutes of the Session of the Upper Indiana Church (Knox County, Indiana) March 6, 1842 to Sept. 7, 1873: n.p., 1965.
  • Indiana. Court of Common Pleas (Knox County), Indiana Historical Bureau. and Indiana Historical Records Survey. Common Pleas Court Minutes, Knox County, Indiana. 7 vols. Indianapolis, Ind.: Indiana Historical Records Survey, 1940.
  • MacLean, John Patterson. Shakers of Eagle and Straight Creeks. Columbus, O.: F. J. Heer Printing Co., 1907.
  • McCoy, Isaac and Walter N. Wyeth. The Autobiography of Isaac Mccoy : Recounting His Early Life, Conversion, Marriage, and Ministry in Indiana 1784-1816. 1st ed. Missionary Series. Springfield, Mo.: Particular Baptist Press, 2011.
  • Minniear, Harry R. The Sanneman Family. Mt. Carmel, Ill.: H.R. Minniear, 2002.
  • Pielemeier, Dorothea. History of the Pielemeier Family. Wellesley, MA: MBM Publishers, 1978.
  • Powell, William D. and Wheatland High School Alumni Association. A History of the Wheatland Schools of Steen Township, Knox County, Indiana. Indiana?: Wheatland High School Alumni Association?, 1973.
  • Rinderle, Walter, Richard Day and Christian Educational Foundation (Vincennes Ind.). Two Hundred Years of Permanent Pastors and Catholic Education in Knox County, Indiana : 1792-1993. Vincennes, Indiana (210 Barnett Street, Vincennes 47501): Commissioned by the Christian Educational Foundation, 1993.
  • Shake, Curtis G. Maria Creek Baptist Church : Knox County, Indiana : Founded 1809, Abandoned 1947. Vincennes, Ind.?: s.n., 1958.
  • St. John's Lutheran Church (Vincennes Ind.), Werner Wadewitz and Lisette Madison. St. John's Lutheran Church Records. 3 vols. Vincennes, Ind.?: St. John's Lutheran Church?, 1984.
  • United States. Works Progress Administration. Indiana. and Indiana State Library. Knox County, Indiana, Index of Names of Persons and of Firms. Fort Wayne, IN: Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County, 1975.
  • Vincennes/Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Indiana's First City, Vincennes, Knox County : Your Window-- to the Past!. Vincennes, Ind.: Vincennes/Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2007.
 
Related Content
(the links below contain information related to this area)

Proclamation Altering Boundary Lines of Knox, Randolph, and St. Clair Counties, 1801

published by Matthew L. Helm on Mon, 05/20/2013 - 22:25
The Governor Issued a proclamation altering the boundary lines of the Counties of Knox & Randolph and St. Clair as follows, to wit, the boundary of the County of Randolph shall begin on the Ohio River at a Place called the Great Cave, below the Saline Lick, thence by a direct north line until it intersects an East and West line running from the Mississippy through the Sink hole spring, thence along the said line to the Mississippy thence down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Ohio and up the Ohio to the place of beginning.

An Act for the formation of a new County out of the Counties of Washington, Gibson and Knox, 1815

published by Matthew L. Helm on Sun, 05/19/2013 - 14:59
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 February next, all that part of the counties of Washington, Gibson and Knox, which is included within the following boundaries, shall form and constitute a new county, which shall be known and designated, by the name and style of the County of Orange; that is to say. Beginning on the Indian boundary line, where the range line dividing ranges two and three west of the second principal meridian intersects said boundary line; thence south with said range line until it intersects the line dividing the counties of Perry and Gibson; thence east with said line until it intersects the western boundary line of Harrison county; thence north with said line to the south-west corner of Washington county, and north-west comer of Harrison county; thence east with the line dividing Harrison and Washington counties, until it intersects the line dividing sections sixteen and seventeen in range two east, town one south ; thence north with said line dividing sections sixteen and seventeen to the Indian boundary line ; thence westwardly with the said Indian boundary line to the place of beginning.

An Act for the formation of two new counties out of the county of Knox, 1813

published by Matthew L. Helm on Fri, 05/17/2013 - 22:16
BE it enacted by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from any after the passage hereof all that part of Knox county which is included in the following boundaries shall form and constitute two new counties, that is to say : beginning at the mouth of the Wabash, thence up the same with the meanders thereof to the mouth of White river, thence up White river with the meanders thereof to the forks of White river, thence up the East fork of White river to where the line between sections number twenty and twenty nine, in township number one, north, of range number four, west, strikes the same, thence with said line to the line of Harrison county, thence with the said line dividing the counties of Knox and Harrison to the Ohio river, thence down to the Ohio river to the beginning.

An Act to form a new County out of the Counties of Knox and Clark, 1808

published by Matthew L. Helm on Sun, 05/12/2013 - 19:59
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 December next, all that part of the counties of Knox and Clark, which is included in the following boundaries, shall form and constitute a new county, that is to say; beginning at the point on the river Ohio, where the meredian line from which the ranges take number, strikes the same, thence due north to the present Indian boundary line, thence with the said boundary line, to the intersection of the same by the line which divides the fourth and fifth ranges east, thence with the latter to the above mentioned boundary line, between the Jeffersonville, and Vincennes districts, and with the same to the intersection of the line dividing the fifth and sixth ranges, thence with the said range line until it strikes the Ohio River, and thence down the same, with the meanders thereof, to the place of beginning.

Creation of Clark County, 1801

published by Matthew L. Helm on Sat, 05/11/2013 - 22:28
The Governor Issued a proclamation deviding the County of Knox and Erecting a seperate County to be stiled the County of Clark the boundarys of which are as follows, beginning at the Ohio river at the mouth of Blew River, thence up the said River to the Crossing of the same by the Road leading from Saint Vincennes to Clarksville, thence by a direct line to the nearest part of White River thence up the said River and that branch thereof

 

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