Muskegon County Lookup Library

Welcome to the Muskegon County Lookup Library and Bibliography

If you have access to any materials on Muskegon County and you would like to become a lookup volunteer, Email me!

Please be sure to give specific information for your inquiry. Indicate in the subject line: Muskegon Research. Also,REMEMBER to post your queries on the Muskegon County GenWeb so that other researchers may contact you.

Muskegon County Cemeteries

I have the listings of Fruitland Township Cemetery (also known as East Cemetery) from the the Muskegon County Cemetery, LDS Fiche #6010962 Vol. 1 #4. They were graciously sent to me by Cindy Jackola to share with other researchers. If anyone has family that may be buried there, I would be happy to check for you.

Patti Norton
Volunteer

Muskegon County Vital Statistics, Births, Deaths and Marriages, Deeds, Tax Rolls and Census

LDS FAMILY HISTORY CENTER, Phoenix, AZ. (third largest FHC) has Muskegon Vital Records to about 1900 and all census records, on film, are on permanent loan at this FHC. I will gladly do lookups for anyone in need for these.

Robert DeVowe
Volunteer

Books on Muskegon County

*I brought 3 books when I was last in Muskegon. I would be happy to volunteer and do lookups from the books. They are -* *1. Muskegon 100 Years of Memories by Laurence Nelson, mostly old photos of Muskegon* *2. Muskegon Stories Published by The Muskegon Chronicle, a collection of newspaper articles* *3. 1894 Muskegon County, Michigan Census Index copyright by Muskegon County Genealogical Society March 1996, just what is says, an index.*	*Pam Davis* *Volunteer*
*1.The Saga of the White River* *Short booklet written by local historian Wendell L. Lipka briefly telling the history of the settlement of the Whitehall-Montague area.* *2.Bird's Eye View of Montague* Small booklet put together by the Dirt Dauber's Garden Club of Montague several years ago. It is a guide to a walking tour of historical homes in Montague with brief descriptions and histories of each. *3.The White Lake Area Historical District* A self-guiding tour published by the White Lake Area Historical Society around the time of the US Bicentennial celebration. Has brief sketches, descriptions, and pictures of early pioneers, settlers, and sites that built the towns of Montague and Whitehall.	*Jill Clark* *Volunteer*
*I can do lookups from "Ravenna Twp 150 Years 1849 - 1999".* *Compiled by: Shannan J. Place, Historian and Ravenna Area Historical Society* *Formatted by: Laura E. Moyer* *Published and Printed at Ravenna, Michigan Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 99-70191 It's indexed.*	*Linda Talbott* *Volunteer*
ROMANCE OF MUSKEGON by Alice Prescott Kyes, 162 pages plus extensive index. Series of articles written as a feature of the 1937 Muskegon centennial celebration, reprinted 1974. People, places, events, unique insights to Muskegon 1837-1937	*Marilyn Young* *Volunteer*
*I have copies of Said and Done yearbooks that belonged to my mother* *(Rose Elizabeth Siney.) The* *years I have are 1916, 1920. 1921, 1922.* *I will be glad to do lookups for anyone who thinks an ancestor might have* *been a member of these classes. I will also copy a page or two for anyone* *whose ancestor I can find in the yearbooks.*	*Elizabeth Reaney Hobbs* *Volunteer*
MUSKEGON HIGH SCHOOL year book "SAID AND DONE" for June, 1928, June 1929 and June 1931.	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
*MUSKEGON HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL year book "THE OAKS" for the years 1961, 1962 and 1963.*	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
*MUSKEGON HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL year book "THE OAKS" for the year 1948*	*Patti Norton* *Volunteer*
*MUSKEGON COUNTY MARRIAGE RECORDS Book 1 1859-1867*	*Barb Hill* *Volunteer*
*MUSKEGON COUNTY BIRTH RECORDS Book 1 : 1867-1875*	*Barb Hill* *Volunteer*
*LAKE HARBOR: the beginning of Norton Shores* edited by Frank Buck and James Canfield	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
The HISTORY OF LAKE HARBOR by M. Berry Wood, 1933. 12 pages, typed. R977.457 L148w.	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
THE CIVIC DEVELOPMENT OF MUSKEGON by L.G. Matthews, 1926; 9 pages, typed.	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
THE COTTAGE COLONY, Lake Harbor, Michigan. An early (undated) folder describing "Three Gables and Cottages".	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
LAKE HARBOR HOTEL & COTTAGES. A sixteen-page booklet featuring this locall-famous resort community. Undated, but refers to "automobilists". Early 1900's.	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
CHARLES HENRY HACKLEY, AN APPRECIATION. The dedication booklet for the Hackley Memorial designed by Lorado Taft located on the campus of Muskegon High School, 1929. Illustrated with local historical scenes by Victor Casenelli.	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
*Rand McNally New Ideal Atlas and Land Owner List, 1913* Local Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon County maps are relatively undetailed, but the real value here is the landowner directory for the townships - I have a copy of all of Muskegon County. I have copy of pages 37-53 of landowners.	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
CANOE, SCHOONER & BARGE by C.S. Daniels, Nov 17, 1924 R977.457 D228c 16 page typed report on details of many of the early sailing ships, many accounts of accidents, etc.	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
*CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Centennial 1856-1956* R977.457 C475mc Centennial program, historical list of ministers, pictures of the church buildings over the years, other photos, some members in the mid-1950's listed.	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
*THE INDUSTRIES OF THE CITY OF MUSKEGON* Historical, descriptive and Biographical Sketches Business and Businessmen in 1880. By H.S. Reed. R977.457 M974 Pages 301-321 of a statewide directory. Typical Chamber of Commerce "fluff" piece that extolls the virtues and successes of the community at the time. Many businesses (lumbering and retail) reported on - all text, no pictures.	*Bill Moore* *Volunteer*
SAND IN THEIR SHOES by the Bluffton School PTA Historical Committee, 1970.	*Chuck Neal* *Volunteer*
Shifting Sands: A Story of the Bluffton Area By the Bluffton Historical Committee, 1976 604142 MI 977.4 Pictorial history of the area with plenty of references to families and businesses around the turn of the century. Annexed to Muskegon in 1881, the area is located at the west end of Muskegon Lake and over to what used to be Pigeon Hill. Bluffton was once home to an actor's colony (Buster Keaton), a post office, school, and Lake Michigan Park, which is now Pere Marquette.	Volunteer Needed
Proud Peninsula: A North Muskegon Story By the North Muskegon Historical Committee, 1983 Edited by Wilm Kyvig 802873 MI 977.457 Fifteen chapters covering early pioneers to mid-20th century. Plenty of surnames, pictures, and interesting info. Of particular interest is the copy of a program from the Pioneer Picnic of Muskegon County at Interlaken Park on August 30, 1887. The celebration of the semi-centennial of the organization of Muskegon Township which took in the whole county at the time (1837).	Volunteer Needed
In God's Own Time St. Francis de Sales Parish, Muskegon, MI A Christian Community in Worship and Service: 1948-1998 By Mona L. Schwind, OP ISBN 0-9659914-0-7 Library of Congress 97-069485 Parish history beginning with the early mission work by Roman Catholics to Native Americans in the whole of West Michigan. Includes some of the first priests, and first baptisms in what is now Muskegon County. Most of the book is dedicated to the birth and formation of the parish, whose building is known for its modern architecture, in the mid-20th century. Pictures, good bibliography, notes, list of original parishioners, pastors to the time of publication, parish organizations are all highlights of this book.	Volunteer Needed
Branded Hand: The Struggles of an Abolitionist By Elmer R. Koppelmann, 1984 Branded Hand Press, WI A biography of Capt. Jonathon Walker who spent the latter years of his life in Muskegon and died here. Contains names of some of his relatives and acquaintances. Interesting history.	Volunteer Needed
Michigan History Magazine May/June 2000 The Shootout Behind City Hall (pg. 22) by Marc Okkonen This true story took place in Muskegon on October 31, 1925 and brought the town to national spotlight. If you had any gangster-type relatives in the area at the time (or policemen in the family) this will especially interest you. Cast of characters includes: Detective Charles DeWitt Hammond who died while trying to apprehend Dutch Anderson; Police officer William Feeney; George "Dutch" Anderson, criminal killed by Hammond; Gerald Chapman, an ex-con and robber; Charles Loeber, also a robber; Police officer George Thompson; and Chief of Police, Peter Hansen. This same story, complete with pictures, is part of the volume published by the Muskegon Chronicle entitled "Muskegon Stories," which is "a collection of memorable tales from the Port City's past . . . drawn from past editions of the Muskegon Chronicle and other sources.	Volunteer Needed
The Lost City of Fruitvale, Michigan by William P. HansenThis book covers a period of time from around the turn of the century until the 1940s. It centers around the early 20th century summer resort area in Blue Lake and Montague Townships, including the Rochdale Inn. The book has an index in the back.	Volunteer Needed
Street Names of Greater Muskegon Researched & Written by Marc Okkonen Published by the Muskegon Chronicle Over 300 street names found in Muskegon either past or present. Most of them were named after people in local history. There is at least a paragraph on each.	Volunteer Needed
CITIZENS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION (of Indianapolis) biographies of leading Muskegon citizens written in 1936 and 1941. Typical biographical, genealogical details - 255 pages, typed. Only copy is in Hackley Library, recently re-copied and newly-bound.	Volunteer Needed
MAP OF THE COUNTIES OF OTTAWA, MUSKEGON and PART OF ALLEGAN, 1864. Reprinted in 1986. Original was a wall map, reprint is township-by-township, 135 pages completely indexed. Includes transparency overlay maps, illustrations, village maps, details, land owners, business directories.	Volunteer Needed
A PICTORIAL RECORD OF THE MUSKEGON LUMBERING ERA, 1976, 169 pages. A set of the Brinen Lumber Co. post cards sent out by the company to customers 1936-1945. Each picture described by text. Lumbering scenes, people, trains, lumber camps, etc. from the late 1800's.	Volunteer Needed
BASEBALL IN MUSKEGON. 1993 by Marc Okkonen, 68 pages. Illustrated chronology of the National Pastime in Muskegon. Features several teams - Clippers, Lassies, etc. and many playing fields including Marsh Field.	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON BIG REDS, 100 YEARS OF FOOTBALL, 1895-1994, 90 pages. Includes an alphabetical list of varsity football players, score of games with highlights, photos.	Volunteer Needed
HEADLIGHT FLASHES ALONG THE GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY SYSTEM, MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN. November, 1897, reprinted 1984. One of a series of local chamber of commerce promotional magazines. History, facts, figures, transportation, schools, industries, biographical details, pictures. 44 pages.	Volunteer Needed
STREET RENUMBERING DIRECTORY, CITY OF MUSKEGON, 1925. 179 pages. Includes property listing giving the old address, the new address, property owner and resident for the city-wide street renumbering including some street name changes. Can be used in conjunction with the 1926 city directory street listing. The only resources to help locate locations, buildings when the pre-1925 address is known, but today's address is not known. Shelved with city directories at Hackley Public Library. Typed - only one copy.	Volunteer Needed
HISTORIC MICHIGAN, Land of the Great Lakes by George N. Fuller, Volume III, Muskegon County. R977.4 F958h Ca. 1925, part of a series. Includes History - early settlers, government, transportation, military, education, banks, attornies, the press, industries and personal records arranged alphabetically on pages 107-315. Neat biographical sketches about many people.	Volunteer Needed
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN by Charles Moore, 1915. Four volumes, over 2,000 pages. Volume I is historical accounts about events, places, things, etc. Volumes II, III and IV are biographical record of leading Michigan citizens. 52 of these are Muskegon residents. Typical genealogical accounts of the period - average about one page pers person, some photos.	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON STREET RAILWAY, 25 pages, 1970. Overviews of the history of horse-drawn and electric street cars serving greater Muskegon, 1869-1929. Includes map and pictures.	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI DIRECTORY, 1999 R977.457 Sch65ha. Published by Bernard Harris, White Plains, NY Includes biographical information, geographical index, e-mail addresses. Hackley library also has 1994 edition. Includes living alumni of Muskegon Hiigh School.	Volunteer Needed
ATLAS OF MUSKEGON COUNTY, 1877 - 88 pages, reprinted. Individual townships, city maps, land owners, extensive detail, completely indexed	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON COUNTY CENSUS, 1860 with index., 157 pages. Complete copy of original and completely indexed	Volunteer Needed
STATE CENSUS OF MICHIGAN, 1884, NORTON TOWNSHIP. Copied records from original census book, laser-print of all details for township (including part of Muskegon Heights) - indexed.	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON CENSUS 1894 Index, 103 pages. Index to all available 1894 state census records for Muskegon County (part of that record is lost for much of City of Muskegon). A super help in locating family in this unique reference - the 1894 census is on microfilm at Hackley Library.	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON COUNTY CIVIL WAR VETERANS CENSUS - 1890. 47 pages	Volunteer Needed
EVERGREEN CEMETERY by Evelyn Buckingham, 148 pages. More details than in the original Cemetery Records books for this historic Muskegon cemetery	Volunteer Needed
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY OF MUSKEGON DIRECTORY A bound set of annual directories of teachers and officials of the county schools, 1916 to present R977.457 Mc971	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON PUBLIC SCHOOLS DIRECTORY A bound sert of annual directories of teachers and officials of the Muskegon Public Schools, 1905 to present. R977.457 Sch65d	Volunteer Needed
Muskegon Heights Golden Jubilee Program 1903-1953 R977.452 G565. Many ads, description of the development and growth of the City of Muskegon Heights, some pictures.	Volunteer Needed
KNOW MUSKEGON by Charles H. Yates. 1936-1962. R977.457 Y27k A series of historical articles about Muskegon's history that appeared in the Muskegon Chronicle. Indexed.	Volunteer Needed
SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN FIRST HUNDRED YEARS 1891-1991 Gen 929.3774. A history of Sullivan Township	Volunteer Needed
CLOCK FUNERAL HOME RECORDS, 1894-1948. Gen 929.3774 MI Muskegon 26 volumes of funeral records. The earliest records are a single line per person, most are whole pages. Have age, birth, death dates and places, parents names and birth places, spouse, cause of death, details of funeral.	Volunteer Needed
Birth, Death and Marriages from the Muskegon Chronicle, 1869-1882. By Tressa LaFayette, 1990 R929.3774 MI Muskegon. 167 pages indexed.	Volunteer Needed
EAST OF MUSKEGON. R929.3774 MI Muskegon. By Ted S. Rozeboom, 1978. History of Wolf Lake and Egelston Township, 60 pages, no index	Volunteer Needed
THE ROMANCE OF MUSKEGON INDUSTRY. R977.457 C627. A 1959 project of the Rotary Club to detail the histories of several local industries - several pages for each company. Fascinating accounts of the people and events of local industry as of 1959.	Volunteer Needed
GREATER MUSKEGON, ITS IMPORT AS A MANUFACTURING CENTER. R977.457 L585g By Albert Walter Lewis, 1911. A chamber of commerce project to feature the local area, giving information, history, local people, ads, etc	Volunteer Needed
LAKESIDE WELCOMES YOU. R977-457 L149j By Mildred Lois Swanson Johnson. 355 pages published in 1997 by the Muskegon County Historical Society. An account of people, and events of our historic Lakeside neighborhoods. Includes pictures	Volunteer Needed
MICHIGAN CENTENNIAL FARM FAMILY HERITAGE, By the Michigan Centennial Family Association, 1986. Stories of families having Centennial Farms throughout the state of Michigan. Indexed by family name.	Volunteer Needed
A CENTURY OF FAITH, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1866-1966. R977.457 C475ec. Pages not numbered. Stories and history of this historic congregation in downtown Muskegon.	Volunteer Needed
A Long Look At Muskegon. By Fred Read Accounts of local events as told by Mr. Boyd from his perspective from his long life in the community.	Volunteer Needed
MY 96 YEARS IN MUSKEGON. By J FRED BOYD. R977-457 B692m. 140 pages, published in 1978. Local events, accounts - neat!	Volunteer Needed
A WORLD WAR CHRONICLE.. Muskegon Chronicle editorial series on World War II by David J. Kolb, 50 pages. Includes WW II war casualties from Muskegon County.	Volunteer Needed
GENEALOGY RECORDS OF FRUITLAND TOWNSHIP by Evelyn Tolley Buckingham, 1986. Birth, death, marriages, maps, histories, etc to about 1915.	Volunteer Needed
GENEALOGY RECORDS OF CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIP by Evelyn Tolley Buckingham, 1986. Birth, death, marriagees, maps, histories, etc. to aboyt 1915	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON COUNTY HARBOR OF PROMISE by Jonathan Eyker. Hard cover, 1986. 199 page history of Msukegon County, indexed and illustrated.	Volunteer Needed
ALL THE BEST FROM BUD JAEGER. 94 pages of articles that appeared in the Muskegon Chronicle over twenty years. Personal observations and memories about Muskegon.	Volunteer Needed
THE LIFE OF CHARLES HENRY HACKLEY. Hard cover, 150 pages by Louis P. Haight, 1949. Accounts of lumbering in the 1800's, Hackley accounts, including 17 generations of Hackley genealogy back to 1377	Volunteer Needed
THE HACKLEY HOUSE by Bertha Freye and Mildred Johnson, 1961. Muskegon County Historical Society Bulletin I. Description of this historic preserved landmark, the Hackley Family and other local accounts	Volunteer Needed
INDIAN AND TRADER DAYS AT MUSKEGON. R977.457 C76iz by Louie H. Conger, 1924. 21 pages typed	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON FIFTY YEARS AGO by Edward B. Dana, 1931. 9 pages, typed	Volunteer Needed
HISTORY OF MUSKEGON NEWSPAPERS by Archie E. McCrea, 1925. 27 pages typed	Volunteer Needed
THE HISTORY OF CHARITY IN MUSKEGON, typed	Volunteer Needed
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF MUSKEGON COUNTY NEWSPAPERS by Eugene Bergeron and Herman Hoffman, 1940 R977.457 N477bh. Typed	Volunteer Needed
THE CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT OF MUSKEGON. 12 pages, typed.	Volunteer Needed
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE MUSKEGON HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1891-1951 by Marian Bentley Rice. R977.4572 Sch65r. 22 pages, typed.	Volunteer Needed
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF MUSKEGON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1848-1916 by Miss Addie Littlefield. R977.457 Sch65l 31 pages typed.	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON: First Hand by Daniel J. Yakes and Hugh A. Hornstein. 17 sections, 303 pages of historical sketches of various types of Muskegon historical accounts	Volunteer Needed
STAGE COACH AND IRON HORSE IN MUSKEGON by Harold L. Wheeler, R977.457 W563s. 42 pages, typed.	Volunteer Needed
FRUITPORT AREA CENTENNIAL commemorative newspaper edition of "The Clipper" May 21, 1969. Six-section special newspaper giving 100 years of Fruitport history, family accounts, historical pictures, etc.	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON CHRONICLE CENTENNIAL special edition, 1937. Huge newspaper including history, pictures, personal accounts. Centennial of first settlement of Muskegon	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON CHRONICLE CENTENNIAL special edition, 1957. Centennial of the Muskegon Chronicle newspaper. Monumental newspaper - hundreds of historical accounts, details, pictures, accounts to celebrate the newspaper's role in Muskegon over 100 years.	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON ENTERPRISE, February 1897. Reprint 1980. Special edition published in the interest of Muskegon Business College. Accounts of local businesses, people, chamber of commerce type promotion. Includes pictures of individual people.	Volunteer Needed
SOME EARLY SKETCHES OF MUSKEGON LIFE. By Wesley Wood, 1906. 9 pages typed	Volunteer Needed
MUKEGON AT WAR by Frank C. Whitney, 1925. Civil War, Spanish-American War, WW I. 16 pages typed.	Volunteer Needed
MUSKEGON IN THE CIVIL WAR by James Donald Skinner, 1957. 28 pages typed.	Volunteer Needed
PIONEER DAYS IN MUSKEGON TO 1850 by Louis H. Conger typed	Volunteer Needed
GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES AT HACKLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 1984. 65 page directory of what's available (as of 1984) including family histories, newspapers, microfilm, maps, local history - 65 pages! Whew!!	Volunteer Needed
Reeths-Puffer High School annual "The Rocket", 1959-1964, 1968 and 1970. R977.457 R329r	Volunteer Needed
Muskegon Catholic Central High School "Crusader" annual year book, 1954-1966 plus 1968. R977.457 C286c	Volunteer Needed
PEOPLES SCRAPBOOK - 2 volumes. Original newspaper clippings of local residents and obituaries, etc., 1914-1930.	Volunteer Needed
THE MORNING NEWS Industrial Edition December 1, 1904 reprinted 1986. 12 pages featuring Charles Hackley, "Muskegon's foremost man" plus chamber of commerce promo features of local industries, civic and professional leaders, includes pictures.	Volunteer Needed

If interested in doing volunteer lookups please email me.
Patti Norton

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