Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

Fort Wayne was Founded October 22, 1794 and Incorporated on February 22, 1840 from Fort Wayne Facts at City of Fort Wayne. See The early history of Fort Wayne in the Summit City History Notes in theCityscapes from the Archives of The News-Sentinel newspaper.

Early History of Fort Wayne, Indiana starting in 1655 on a seven page Handwritten early history of Fort Wayne, Indiana, from 1655-1797 by unknown author. Author included bibliographical references to books cited in his notes. at History Center Digital Collection on the mDON mastodon Digital Object Network.

The City of Fort Wayne has a Fort Wayne Government Access - City TV video page for recording public meetings with around 1,000 videos back to 2012, uses several social media pages on Facebook, YouTube and more. Current Fortwayne lists This Week's Current Events in Fort Wayne by Visit Fort Wayne with social media and a Visit Fort Wayne YouTube channel. Mayor Tom Henry Social Media, Fort Wayne Parks Department Podcasts, FWPD Podcast.

There are blogs, Facebook pages and social media that discuss current events and history of Fort Wayne and Allen County.

The Future of Fort Wayne Mossman William S-06 Jan 1956-0001 15-page paper  in the Quest Club Papers at the Allen County Public Library.

Original Plat Of Fort Wayne And The County Addition, Davis, Anthony L., August 16, 1833, Original Plat of Fort Wayne, Indiana, recorded August 16, 1833 at the History Center Digital Collection on the mDON mastodon Digital Object Network.

Thumb of the St. Marys River in downtown Fort Wayne is on the cover photo of the Bert J. Griswold Collection of Fort Wayne History in the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library. Bert. J. Griswold 1873-1927.

The Thumb is now Headwaters Park.

Similar modern Aerial View from Google Maps.

Map of Fort Wayne and Vicinity on page 90 in History of Allen County, Indiana, Publication date 1880; Topics Atlas; Publisher Kingman Brothers; Collection allen_county; americana on Archive.org. History of Allen County, Indiana, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of it's prominent men and pioneers. Also contains maps of its several townships and villages, listing farms and their owners.
Plat Maps, 1880, Allen County, Indiana at the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana has indexes to landowners and more.

Discover Downtown: Historical Photos October 10, 2014 DTFW on YouTube.
Your Downtown Improvement District is pleased to announce the return of its award winning good news series Discover Downtown! Find out more about the new and historical photos of Dan A. Baker!

October 5, 2023 post by City of Fort Wayne Government on Facebook.

The sunshine and fall foliage have created some amazing scenes this week! 📷: Photo by John McGauley Looking for more fall colors around Fort Wayne? ➡️ https://bit.ly/fwfoliage

Posted by Visit Fort Wayne on Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 post by Visit Fort Wayne on Facebook:

The sunshine and fall foliage have created some amazing scenes this week!

: Photo by John McGauley

Looking for more fall colors around Fort Wayne? Your Guide to Fall Foliage in Fort Wayne, Indiana

A sign of the times - How wayfinding reflects the city’s past, present and future Input Fort Wayne.

City charter, city of Fort Wayne by Indiana. General Assembly on Archive.org

There are many links to City of Fort Wayne Documents online at The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

1. Community Development Library
2. Community Development Photos
3. Flood Control
4. Fort Wayne Police Department
5. Fort Wayne Publications
6. Mayoral Documents
7. Parking
8. Park Commissioners
9. Parks and Recreation Dept.
10. Public Health
11. Utilities

John McGauley photograph Hello, Beautiful! posted August 13, 2015 on flickr
Downtown Fort Wayne in the evening light. From the Chroma camera quadcopter. Showing the MLK, Martin Luther King, bridge facing south over the St. Marys River with ash trees lining both sides of Clinton Street going downtown.

Simply stunning shot of #FortWayne at night by @DustinWegner. 🌃#FanPhotoFriday (We're fans!) 🙌🏼✨

Posted by DasFort Web Design on Friday, September 23, 2016

Friday, September 23, 2016 post by DasFort Web Design on Facebook:

Simply stunning shot of #FortWayne at night by @DustinWegner. #FanPhotoFriday (We're fans!)

John McGauley photograph Downtown Fort Wayne posted June 3, 2013 on flickr
A 2013 view of downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, featuring the completed Harrison Square complex. Overlooking Parkview Field.

Google map

Episode 182: Downtown Fort Wayne posted Oct 7, 2022 by Granite Ridge Builders on YouTube
It may have started with baseball, but Downtown Fort Wayne is continuing to boom! From restaurants and the arts, to parks and amazing public spaces; the BTS crew is exploring this vibrant part of our city. Mentions Parkview Field, Kekiongas Baseball Team, Chief Little Turtle, League Park, General Electric, Fort Wayne Daisies, Fort Wayne Wizards, Fort Wayne TinCaps, Johnny Appleseed, Genealogy Center, Promenade Park, Three Rivers, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, Fort Wayne City of Churches, Babe Ruth, Thomas Edison, and more.

ARCH Fun & Free Lecture: Gems of Downtown Fort Wayne June 4, 2024 College TV Fort Wayne on YouTube
Presented by Karen Richards Her love of research is sure to bring great stories about the people who built and inhabited these buildings to her presentation in addition to fascinating historical images to enjoy. We have gems in our downtown. Let’s celebrate them!

ARCH Fun & Free Lecture: Mid-Century Modern in Fort Wayne June 6, 2024 College TV Fort Wayne on YouTube
Presented by Dodd Kattman This style is trending everywhere that trends thrive, but what is it, really, and where can you find it here in Fort Wayne?
Discusses Jacob Knee House - White Mansion there is a Ball State University paper by Creager Smith, City of Fort Wayne Historian, on this house.

Historical sources of Fort Wayne, Indiana : an annotated bibliography for doing historical research on the summit city in the Allen County Public Library, by Beatty, John D., 1960-, Publication date 2000 on Archive.org.

Pages 18-19 of The Griswold-Phelps handbook and guide to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for 1913-1914 by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927, Publication date 1913 on Archive.org.

FORT WAYNE'S PROGRESS

The steady advancement of Ft. Wayne among the cities of the central states is indicated in facts and figures throughout this book. In addition to the official statements concerning the growth of postal business, and of the great increase in the volume of banking business, the following figures help to show many interesting evidences of a healthy growth of the city:

Ft. Wayne'a Population (1825-1913) — The growth of Ft. Wayne is well illustrated in the following figures from the United States census reports, except where estimates liave been noted:

1825 (estimated) 200 1870 17,718

1830 (estimated) 300 1880 26,880

1840 2,080 1890 35,393

1850 4,882 1900 45,115

1860 10,388 1910 63,933

1913 estimated) 78,000

Following are interesting figures, giving, in detail some of the facts concerning the 1910 population census of Ft. Wayne:

Population by wards: First, 6,846. Second, 4,095. Third, 4,097. Fourth, 5,214. Fifth, 5,642. Sixth, 8,600. Seventh, 6,215. Eighth, 7,292. Ninth, 8,019. Tenth, 7,813.

Of the entire population, 63,933, there were 31,433 males and 32,500 females.

Native whites of native parentage, 36,772. Native whites of foreign or mixed parentage, 19,414. Foreign-born whites, 7,204. Negroes, 572. Indians and Chinese, 21.

Of the foreign born whites 95 are natives of Austria, 295 of Canada, 337 of England, 173 of France, 4,051 of Germany. 39 of Holland, 385 of Ireland, 83 of Italy. 391 of Russia, 74 of Scotland, 54 of Sweden, 207 of Switzerland, 62 of Turkey In Asia, 331 of Turkey in Europe, and 177 of other foreign countries

Males of voting- age, 19,678. By wards: First, 1,951. Second, 1,554. Third, 1,644. Fourth, 1,711. Fifth, 1,788. Sixth, 2.458. Seventh, 1.831. Eighth, 2.075. Ninth, 2,368. Tenth. 2,298. Of the total, 9,702 were native whites of native parentage; 5.964 were native whites of foreign or mixed parentage; 3,785 were foreign born whites; 2,459 wore naturalized, and 215 were negroes, (see "Voters of Ft. Wayne").

Water

A fun look at drinking water, the Three Rivers, the new Promenade Park, and some of the history of Fort Wayne in the 2019 video below:

Episode 125: Drinking Water posted Oct 15, 2019 by Granite Ridge Builders on YouTube
Learn more about the process of getting drinking water from the river, filtration plant, and to the home. We will explore this topic at one of Fort Wayne's newest and popular destinations, Promenade Park!

A map of Kekionga shows locations of the earlier forts at the three rivers, Little Turtle's grave, the Old Apple Tree, Harmer's Defeat and more.

Books About Fort Wayne

The French and British at Three Rivers by the Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County, Publication date 1952, on Archive.org.

History of Fort Wayne, from the earliest known accounts of this point, to the present period. Embracing an extended view of the aboriginal tribes of the Northwest, including, more especially, the Miamies ... with a sketch of the life of General Anthony Wyane; including also a lengthy biography of ... pioneer settlers of Fort Wayne. Also an account of the manufacturing, mercantile, and railroad interests of Fort Wayne and vicinity by Brice, Wallace A, Publication date 1868, on Archive.org.

Index to History of Fort Wayne, from the earliest known accounts of this point, to the present period : embracing an extended view of the aboriginal tribes of the Northwest, including, more especially, the Miamies ... with a sketch of the life of General Anthony Wayne ; including also a lengthy biography of the late Hon. Samuel Hanna together with short sketches of several of the early pioneer settlers of Fort Wayne ; also an account of the manufacturing, mercantile, and railroad interests of Fort Wayne and vicinity by Brice, Wallace A, Publication date 1868, on Archive.org.

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A sketch of early Fort Wayne by Robertson, Robert Stoddart, 1839-1936; Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County, 1959, on Archive.org. The Foreword states: This sketch of Fort Wayne's history was penned by its prominent adopted son, Colonel Robert S. Robertson. It originally appeared on the pages of the Fort Wayne Daily Gazette in August, 1879.

History of Allen County, Indiana : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers to which is appended maps of its several townships and villages, 1880, T. B. Helms, on Archive.org.

Reminiscences of old Fort Wayne by Woodworth, Lura Case; Daughters of the American Revolution. Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter (Fort Wayne, Ind.); Fairbank, Carolyn Randall; Hanna, Martha Brandriff, 1906, on Archive.org. There is a 56 page version print date 1906, shown above is the 46 page version with a hand printed 1906 date.

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Pioneer history of Indiana : including stories, incidents, and customs of the early settlers, by Cockrum, William Monroe, 1837-1924, 1837-1924, Publication date 1907 on Archive.org. Eighteen Ft. Wayne and three Fort Wayne search results

Narrative of life on the old frontier; Henry Hay's journal from Detroit to the Miami River by Hay, Henry; Quaife, Milo Milton, 1880-1959, Publication date 1915 on Archive.org

Fort Wayne in 1838 by Dawson, John W, Publication date 1953, on Archive.org

Early travelers to Fort Wayne by Riley, James; Teas, Thomas Scattergood; Fort Wayne and Allen County Public Library, 1953, on Archive.org.

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Daily life in early Fort Wayne by Detzer, Laura G., Publication date 1954, on Archive.org

"As I remember ..." by Randall, Winifred J; Allen County Historical Society (Ohio) Publication date 1959 on Archive.org Addeddate: 2012-04-19 19:19:55
As I remember … by Randall, Winifred J. Publication date 1960 Addeddate: 2016-10-27 19:56:21

Charcoal sketches of old times in Fort Wayne by Dawson, John W., 1820-1877 Publication date 1959 on Archive.org

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The burgeoning interest in local history in Fort Wayne 1887-1894 by Potterf, Rex M; Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County; Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, 1968, on Archive.org.

Fort Wayne, the summit city by Williams J. L. (Jesse Lynch), 1807-1886, Publication date 1959, on Archive.org.

Fort Wayne gamblers, 1865-1900 by Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County, 1954, on Archive.org.

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Annual message of ... , mayor of Fort Wayne, Ind. with annual reports of heads of departments of the city government for the fiscal year ending .. by Fort Wayne (Ind.) for various years on Archive.org with at least 17 Annual message of ... , mayor of Fort Wayne, Ind. online so far have old photos on various pages inside the 500 or more pages of each issue as shown by the No. 1 Engine House During Fort Wayne Centennial on page 236 below for 1901. Flipping thru the pages found photos for the fire stations and views of local parks. More is sure to be found if someone has time to look!

Many photos of city life in Improvement of Fort Wayne Indiana; report for Fort Wayne Civic Improvement Association by Robinson, Charles Mulford, 1859-1917. 1n Publication date 1909 on Archive.org

Discover Downtown: Biking on Fort Wayne Trails posted June 17, 2012 by DowntownFtWayne on YouTube
An overview of biking through Fort Wayne on Fort Wayne trails.

Discover Downtown: Summer Eventsposted June 17, 2012 by DowntownFtWayne on YouTube
Downtown Fort Wayne showcases Taste of the Arts, BuskerFest, Rock the Plaza, 3 Rivers Festival, Chalk Walk

A 10-minute look at modern downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana posted June 13, 2021 by Hoosier Tim's Travel Videos on YouTube

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Information

1. Over 10,000 Fort Wayne items are found in a search of the Catalog at The National Archives.
2. Almost 700 items are in a Fort Wayne search in the 95,000 items in Digital images collection of the Indiana Historical Society.
3. Our ebook page has a growing list of Archive.org ebooks online about Fort Wayne many from their catagory: Fort Wayne (Ind.) -- History.
4. Several Fort Wayne named places have more information on our F Named Places page.
5. Fort Wayne Indiana History blog has a few interesting articles.
6. Almost 300 articles mention Fort Wayne in the Indiana Magazine of History. Unfortunately no images are in the online article, but are usually in the lined pdf file.
7. 1809 - Governor Harrison and the Treaty of Fort Wayne, 1809, by Ellmore Barce, 1915, in Indiana Magazine of History, Volume 11, Issue 4, pp 352-367
8. 1816 - Fort Wayne in 1816 Nothing but potential by Connie Haas Zuber published June 6th, 2016 in Fort Wayne Magazine.
9. 1915 - The Pioneer Merchants of Fort Wayne by Bert. T. Griswold Fall of 1915, 13 pages, at Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library.

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