In 1817, Isaiah Reid Sr. led the Scottish Covenanter Christians in founding a community called Walnut Ridge in Washington County in the brand new state of Indiana. The name Covenanter, in 17th century Scottish history, applied to those who bound themselves by covenants to maintain Presbyterianism as the sole religion of Scotland. Scotland faced great struggles over religion and their persecution for the next 200 years. Many Covenanters migrated to Ireland and finally to the colonies of the United States. According to Mary Reid Lusk (Isaiah Reid Senior's daughter) “The Covenanters of South Carolina were very much dissatisfied with Negro slavery and ...

The Genealogical Library of the Stevens Memorial Museum contains an extensive collection of documents and materials regarded by many as one of the Midwest’s finest collections dating back to the 19th century, records include birth, death, marriage, divorce, newspapers and more. The genealogy library is free for members of the Washington County Historical Society. Research options include onsite research in the Genealogy Library, onsite research at the Washington County courthouse, and remote research via email. Fees applicable.