Cass County, Minnesota Genealogy

United States

Minnesota

Cass County

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

Minnesota Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Walker Organized: April 6, 1898 Parent County(s): Dakota, Pembina, Mahkahta, Wahnata Neighboring Counties Aitkin • Beltrami • Crow Wing • Hubbard • Itasca • Morrison • Todd • Wadena See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

The county was named for Lewis Cass. The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Cass County Courthouse
303 Minnesota Ave West
PO Box 3000
Walker, MN 56484
Phone: 218-547-7200
Cass County Website

County Treasurer has birth and death records from 1896 and marriage records from 1897.
Clerk District Court has divorce records from 1899, court records from 1898, probate and naturalization records.
City or Town Clerks have burial records.

Cass County, Minnesota Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1896	1897	1896	1898	1864	1888	1836
*Statewide registration started for births in 1900 and deaths in 1908. General compliance by 1915.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes

Parent Counties: Created from Dakota, Pembina (now Kittson), and Mahkahta, and Wahnata (extinct) Counties 31 March 1851 County seat: Walker Minnesota Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county Minnesota Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating Minnesota county boundary changes

Populated Places

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:

Cities
Backus Bena Boy River Cass Lake Chickamaw Beach	East Gull Lake Federal Dam Hackensack Lake Shore Longville	Motley Pillager Pine River Remer Walker
Unincorporated communities
Ah-gwah-ching Brevik Bridgeman Casino Ellis Esterdy Graff Inguadona	Leader Leech Lake Mae Mildred Onigum Oshawa Outing Pontoria	Raboin Ryan Village Schley Snowball Sylvan Tobique Wabedo Wilkinson
Census-designated places
Whipholt
Townships
Ansel Barclay Becker Beulah Birch Lake Blind Lake Boy Lake Boy River Bull Moose Bungo Byron Crooked Lake Deerfield Fairview Gould Hiram Home Brook	Inguadona Kego Leech Lake Lima Loon Lake Maple May McKinley Meadow Brook Moose Lake Otter Tail Peninsula Pike Bay Pine Lake Pine River Ponto Lake Poplar Powers	Remer Rogers Salem Shingobee Slater Smoky Hollow Sylvan Thunder Lake Torrey Trelipe Turtle Lake Wabedo Walden Wilkinson Wilson Woodrow
Unorganized territories
Wahnena North Cass	North Central Cass	East Cass

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Cass County, Minnesota online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	BillionGraves Find a Grave MNGenWeb MN Tombstone Transcription Project USGenWeb Archives
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	FamilySearch Library WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	FamilySearch Places Find a Grave
See Minnesota Cemeteries for more information.

Census Records

For links to Federal, State, and Territorial censuses, see Minnesota Census.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1840	2,981	—
1850	7,253	143.3%
1860	11,325	56.1%
1870	11,580	2.3%
1880	14,493	25.2%
1890	15,963	10.1%
1900	17,222	7.9%
1910	17,372	0.9%
1920	17,896	3.0%
1930	16,537	−7.6%
1940	16,425	−0.7%
1950	15,097	−8.1%
1960	14,539	−3.7%
1970	14,219	−2.2%
1980	15,084	6.1%
1990	13,437	−10.9%
2000	13,695	1.9%
2010	13,642	−0.4%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State Census

• 1835-1890 Minnesota, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 at Ancestry ($)
• 1849-1905 Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 at Ancestry ($)
• 1865 Minnesota State Census, 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
• 1875 Minnesota State Census, 1875 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
• 1885 Minnesota State Census, 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
• 1905 Minnesota State Census, 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.

Church Records

Most church records are held by individual churches. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository. For more information, see Minnesota Church Records.

• FamilySearch Places
  

Directories

• 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary

Emigration and Immigration

• 1912-1956 Minnesota Passenger and Crew Lists, 1912-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.

Funeral Homes

• Kline Funeral Home in Pine River.
• Northern Peace Funeral Home in Walker.
• Whispering Pines Funeral and Cremation Service in Hackensack and Walker.

Land and Property Records

The county register of deeds keeps land records once the land was transferred to private ownership. Abstracts and indexes for these records are generally available at the county courthouse.

Online Land Indexes and Records

• 1865-1909 Minnesota, Cass County reception books, deed and miscellaneous records, 1865-1909 at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes, then select the camera icon to view images.
• Pre-1908 , U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)
• Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Cass County. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Minnesota Local Histories.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
• Minnesota Department of Transportation, Cass County municipality and township maps.

Military Records

Multiple Wars

• 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry ($)

Civil War

• 1861-1865 U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1861-1865 , U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free collection)
• 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1861-1917 United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
• 1861-1934 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Spanish-American War

• 1898-1899 Minnesota, U.S., Spanish American War Muster Rolls and Casualty Lists, 1898-1899 at Ancestry (Free index)

World War I

• 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry ($)
• 1918-1941 Minnesota, World War I Records, 1918-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.

World War II

• 1940-1947 Minnesota, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
• 1940-1947 U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 at Ancestry ($)
• 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry ($)

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

• 1849-1985 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Naturalization Index, 1849-1985 at Ancestry (Free Collection)
• 1872-1962 Minnesota Naturalization Records and Indexes, 1872-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
• 1880-1920 , U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at Ancestry ($)
• 1918 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry (Free Collection)

Newspapers

• Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub at Minnesota Historical Society — narrow to county (55 listed) or city (106 listed), search for surname, limit by date.
• 1800s-Current Minnesota, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)

Obituaries

• 1813-Onward Minnesota Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
• 1865-2006 Minnesota Obituaries 1865-2006 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
• 1891-2003 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Obituary Index, 1891-2003 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Probate Records

Probate records may include wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. They may include the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, etc. See Minnesota Probate Records for additional information.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

• 1801-1925 Minnesota, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1801-1925 at Ancestry ($)
• 1849-1985 Minnesota Will Records, 1849-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• 1900-1971 Minnesota, Cass County, Wills, 1900-1971(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
• 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

Since Minnesota tax records include only persons who owned taxable property, many residents were not included. Still they complement land records and can be used in place of missing censuses or the years between censuses. There may also be gaps. For more information, see the wiki page Minnesota Taxation.

Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents.

A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. See also Minnesota Vital Records.

Birth

• 1840-1980 Minnesota, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980 at Ancestry ($)
• 1900-1934 Minnesota People Records Search - Births at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)
• 1900-1934 Minnesota, Birth Index, 1900-1934 at MyHeritage; index ($)
• 1935-2000 Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1935-2000 at Ancestry ($)
• Minnesota, Births at MyHeritage — index ($)

Marriage

• 1850-2019 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1850-Onward Minnesota, Marriages at MyHeritage — index ($)
• 1860-1949 Minnesota, County Marriages, 1860-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1885-present Minnesota Official Marriage System at MOMS.mn.gov; search by county, name or date, and request copy.
• 1970-2003 Minnesota Marriage Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)
• 1976-2003 Minnesota, Marriages, 1976-2003 at MyHeritage; index ($)

Death

• 1850-2001 Minnesota, County Deaths, 1850-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1887-2001 Minnesota Deaths, 1887-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1904-2001 Minnesota People Records Search - Deaths at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)
• 1904-2001 Minnesota, Death Index, 1904-2001 at MyHeritage; index ($)
• 1908-2017 Minnesota, U.S., Death Index, 1908-2017 at Ancestry ($)

Divorce

• 1970-1995 Minnesota, U.S., Divorce Index, 1970-1995 at Ancestry ($)
• 1970-2003 Minnesota Divorce Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Cass County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Minnesota 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

• Bemidji Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Brainerd Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Great River Regional Library - multiple branches - an affiliate library.
• Jessie F. Hallett Memorial Library - an affiliate library.
• Park Rapids Minnesota Library - an affiliate library.

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Cass County. For state-wide library facilities, see Minnesota Archives and Libraries.

Bemidji State University Archives and Special Collections
A. C. Clark Library
1500 Birchmont Dr NE #28
Bemidji, MN 56601-2699
Phone: 218-755-3342
Website

Kitchigami Regional Library System
310 2nd St North
PO Box 84
Pine River, MN 56474
Phone: 218-587-2171
Website

Museums

Cass County Historical Society Museum
205 Minnesota Ave W
PO Box 505
Walker, MN 56484
Phone: 218-547-7251
Email: casscountymuseum@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Societies

Listed below are societies in Cass County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Minnesota Societies.

Cass County Historical Society
205 Minnesota Ave W
PO Box 505
Walker, MN 56484
Phone: 218-547-7251
Email: casscountymuseum@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Websites

• The Cass County MNGenWeb Project, a member of The MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
• Minnesota Historical Society
• USGenWeb Archives for Cass County.
• Cyndi's List: Cass County
• Iron Range Research Center The Iron Range Research Center contains one of the largest collections of genealogical and local history research materials in the Upper Midwest and includes census, naturalization records, passenger arrival records, mining company newsletters, and a survey of Women in Industry taken in 1919, among many others.
• FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.