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Adams County, Washington Genealogy

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Guide to Adams County, Washington ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Facts
County seat: Ritzville
Organized: November 28, 1883
Parent County(s): Whitman
Neighboring Counties
Franklin • Grant • Lincoln • Whitman
See County Maps
Courthouse
Washington,Adams County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Wa-adams.png

Drum Heller Channels in Columbia Valley, Adams County, Washington

County Information

Description

Adams County was named for the second President of the United States, John Adams. The county is located in the southeastern area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse

Adams County Courthouse
210 W. Broadway
Ritzville, WA 99169
Phone: 509-659-3271
Adams County Courthouse

County Auditor has birth and death records to 1907 and marriage records.
County Clerk has divorce and probate records.
County assessor has land records.[2]

Adams County, Washington Record Dates

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1891 1891 1891 1890 1884 1885 1850
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1907. General compliance by 1917.

Record Loss

  • About 1878 County plat records previous to 1878 were destroyed in a fire.

For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:

Boundary Changes

Populated Places

For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[5]

Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
Ghost towns


History Timeline

Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Paula Becker. Adams County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7835.

  • 1803 Before this time, the land that would later make up Adams County was part of the territory of the Palouse tribe.
  • 1853 March 2, U.S. President Millard Fillmore establishes Washington Territory.
  • 1863 January 20, Washington Territorial Legislature creates Stevens County.
  • 1869 George Lucas, an Irish emigrant, was Adams County's first permanent white settler. He established a way-station at Cow Creek along the road to Fort Colville
  • 1871 November 29, Washington Territorial Legislature creates Whitman County (out of Stevens).
  • 1880 James G. Bennett harvested a small wheat crop near Ritzville.
  • 1881 May, The Northern Pacific Railway began laying track through Adams County.
  • 1883 November 28, Washington Territorial Legislature creates Adams and Franklin counties (out of Whitman).
  • 1884 Brothers Ben and Sam Hutchinson built a cabin on lower Crab Creek.
  • 1889 November 11, Washington becomes a state.
  • 1897 Adams County bumper wheat crop spurs shift from cattle ranching.
  • 1901 The first homesteaders arrived.
  • 1928-1931 During a severe drought that resulted in dustbowl conditions, many people left the area.
  • 1942 Grand Coulee Dam was completed in 1942.
  • 1950 Construction on the Columbia Basin Project reached the Othello area, bringing the water of the Columbia River to irrigate Adams County's dry land.

Resources

Bible Records

See also Washington Bible Records.

Biographies

Biographical information is often found in Local Histories and in Genealogies (please see those headings). See also Washington Biography.

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Adams County, Washington online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Washington Cemeteries for more information.

Census Records

See Washington Census for online censuses, including territorial. For more information, see United States Census.

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1890 2,098 —
1900 4,840 130.7%
1910 10,920 125.6%
1920 9,623 −11.9%
1930 7,719 −19.8%
1940 6,209 −19.6%
1950 6,584 6.0%
1960 9,929 50.8%
1970 12,014 21.0%
1980 13,267 10.4%
1990 13,603 2.5%
2000 16,428 20.8%
2010 18,728 14.0%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".
Territorial: 1885,1887, and 1889

Church Records

The information church records provide depends upon the church practices and the record keepers. Records may include names, ages, and dates of events such as baptism, marriage, or burial. See Washington Church Records.

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

Your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Highly variable in personal information, court records can mention relatives, occupations, or pinpoint residences and dates. See Washington Court Records for the various courts used through the years.

Online Court Indexes and Records

  • 1885-1889 Adams Frontier Justice Part of "Frontier Justice": Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1888 at Washington State Archives - index and transcription
The court procedures of Frontier Justice touch nearly all pioneers of the Washington Territory. The index has many abstracts that provide names and what is happening in disputes, settlements in civil and criminal cases as well as probate, equity and admiralty cases. (Only 14 records for Adams County)

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

American Indian

Japanese

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Many local libraries and societies have collections of family genealogies. Local histories or biographies often include brief genealogies of the featured persons. See also Washington Compiled Genealogies.

  • Adams County History Book, 2 v. by Adams County Historical Society, online index to vol 1. "The book contains over 300 family histories"

Guardianship

Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by Probate or District courts. See Washington Court Records and Washington Probate Records.

Land and Property Records

Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

Local histories for Adams County may include biographies, history of churches, schools, local government with names of officials, military information, and more. See Washington Local Histories.

Online Land Indexes and Records


Maps and Gazetteers

LincolnWhitmanFranklinGrantWA ADAMS.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Most residents came to Washington from other states or crossed the border from Canada. (See Seattle Passenger Lists for those who came from other countries.) Although few other migration records exist, try:
• Censuses: (use birthdates and places of children as clues)
• Land Records: (1st deed may reveal previous residence)
• Death-related records of children may give town or county of birth
• Records of relatives and neighbors

Military Records

Indian Wars

World War I

World War II

Japanese

Naturalization and Citizenship

Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. Note: Until 1922 in the United States, women's citizenship was based on that of their husbands.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers

Small town newspapers provide historical content and contain obituaries, birth or death notices, legal notices, and community news, such as visits to or from out-of-town relatives. See Washington Newspapers for tips, resources, and details.

Obituaries

Obituaries may mention birth, marriage, spouse, parents, living family members, education, occupation, and more. See Washington Obituaries for state level collections and United States Obituaries for tips and insights.

Other Records

Public Records

Voting Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

Probate records identify heirs of the decedents, give the (approximate) death dates, and provide specifics about property holdings. The records were kept by the county judge.

These include wills, inheritance records, dockets, and other documents regarding property and estates of individuals who have died. See also Court Records for civil actions involving estates. Also see Washington Probate Records.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

School Records

Online School Indexes and Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Washington tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Washington Taxation.

Vital Records

In 1891, coroners, physicians, and midwives were to "return" births and deaths to the county auditor. Many went unrecorded. On July 1, 1907, the State Center for Health Statistics assumed this responsibility.[6]

Birth

Marriage

Death

Divorce

The county clerk has the divorce records. To order certificates, see Washington State Department of Health.

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Adams County. For state-wide facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.

FamilySearch Centers

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

  • FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
  • FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Libraries

Local public libraries—even smaller ones—often have Unique Genealogical Collections that are not online for the area they serve. Many libraries in Washington have an area dedicated to local history and genealogy. Listed below are libraries in Adams County. For state-wide library facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.

Resources for Adams County are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.

Libraries
Mid-Columbia Libraries, Othello Branch
101 E. Main Street
Othello, WA 99344
Phone: 509-488-9683
Website

Online Resources: Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest, and others.

Ritzville Public Library
302 W Main
Ritzville, WA 99169
Phone: 509-659-1222
Website

Museums

Societies

Listed below are societies in Adams County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Washington Societies.

Adams County Historical Society
Box 526
Lind, WA 99341-0526
509-677-3642
Facebook
Website

Websites

Check back often with websites. Local societies and libraries may know of other websites.

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Adams County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Washington. accessed 15/07/2019
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Adams County, Washington page 732, At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Adams County, Washington . Page 732-735 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 733-734.
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Adams County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Washington, accessed 4 March 2019.
  6. ↑ Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Birth Records, About this Collection & Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Death Records About Death Records
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