Dodge County, Minnesota Genealogy

United States

Minnesota

Dodge County

Guide to Dodge 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: Mantorville Organized: August 4, 1855 Parent County(s): Rice, Non- county Area 3 Neighboring Counties Freeborn • Goodhue • Mower • Olmsted • Rice • Steele See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

The county was named for Henry Dodge. The county is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse

Dodge County Courthouse
22 E 6th Street
Mantorville, MN 55955
Phone: 507-635-6239
Dodge County Website

Clerk District Court has birth, death, divorce and court records from 1870, marriage records from 1865, probate records from 1858 and school records from 1917.

Dodge 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
1870	1865	1870	1870	1856	1858	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 Rice County and non-county area 3, February 20, 1855 County seat: Mantorville 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

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
Blooming Prairie Claremont Dodge Center	Hayfield Kasson Mantorville	West Concord
Unincorporated communities
Berne Concord	Danesville Eden	Oslo Wasioja
Townships
Ashland Canisteo Claremont Concord	Ellington Hayfield Mantorville Milton	Ripley Vernon Wasioja Westfield
Ghost towns
Rice Lake

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Dodge County, Minnesota online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	West St. Olaf Lutheran Church Cemetery, Vernon Township, Dodge County, Minnesota, USA Selection of Norwegians; includes photo, dates, and descriptions. BillionGraves Find a Grave MN Tombstone Transcription Project MNGenWeb 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.	%±
1860	3,797	—
1870	8,598	126.4%
1880	11,344	31.9%
1890	10,864	−4.2%
1900	13,340	22.8%
1910	12,094	−9.3%
1920	12,552	3.8%
1930	12,127	−3.4%
1940	12,931	6.6%
1950	12,624	−2.4%
1960	13,259	5.0%
1970	13,037	−1.7%
1980	14,773	13.3%
1990	15,731	6.5%
2000	17,731	12.7%
2010	20,087	13.3%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State Census

• 1835-1890 , U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 at Ancestry ($)
• 1849-1905 , U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 at Ancestry ($)
• 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

Court Records

• 1856-1925 Marriage Records, 1856-1925(*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

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

• Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes and Crematory in Dodge Center, Hayfield and Kasson.
• Dibble Funeral Home in Kasson.
• Michaelson Funeral Home in West Concord.
• Worlein Funeral Home in Blooming Prairie.

Genealogies

• Norwegians of Dodge & Olmsted, Minnesota Genealogy of an Immigrant Community, circa 1854-1925 Here you will find genealogical information about many of the residents of the NORWEGIAN SETTLEMENT that occupied Southwest OLMSTED COUNTY and Southeast DODGE COUNTY in southern Minnesota. Principal townships include Salem, Rock Dell, Canisteo, Vernon, Hayfield, and Mantorville, but residents of some neighboring areas are also included.

Guardianship

• 1876-1929 Letters of guardianship, 1876-1929 at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes; then select the camera icon to view images.

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

• 1856-1903 General index of deeds, 1856-1887; deed record, 1856-1903 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 Dodge 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.

• History of Winona, Olmsted, and Dodge counties together with biographical matter, statistics, etc; (Chicago, Illinois: H.H. Hill, 1884); Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Google Books.
• Ole & Lena at Norwegians of Dodge and Olmsted, Minnesota, the genealogy and local history of a Norwegian settlement.
• Minnesota County History Name Index at Ancestry ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• Dodge County, Minnesota Map at David Rumsey Map Collections
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
• Minnesota Department of Transportation, Dodge 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 collections)
• 1861-1865 , U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free collection)
• 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry (free collections)
• 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)

Civil War service men from Dodge County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are many companies or regiments that were formed from men of Dodge County.

-1st Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry (Mounted Rangers), Company M.

-2nd Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company C.

-2nd Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry, Company K.

-3rd Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company E.

-5th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company A.

-10th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company B.

Spanish-American War

• 1898 U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 1898-1899 , 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 Civilian Draft Registrations, 1917-1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)
• 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: , 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 Index)

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
• 1856-1986 Probate Case Files ca. 1856-1930 ; Index 1856-1986(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1859-1930 Will Records, 1859-1930(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1859-1982 Minnesota, Dodge County, Will Records, 1859-1982(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
• 1860-1884 Probate Register Book, V. A, 1860-1884(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & 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.

• 1861-1910 Minnesota, Dodge County, tax records, 1861-1910 at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes; then select the camera icon to view images.

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 Dodge 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

• Austin Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Rochester Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Rochester Public Library - an affiliate library.
• Waseca County History Center - an affiliate library.

Libraries

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

Dodge Center Public Library
13 First Ave NW
Dodge Center, MN 55927
Phone: 507-374-2275
Email: dc_dir@selco.info
Website
Facebook

Kasson Public Library
607 First St NW
Kasson, MN 55944
Phone: 507-634-7615
Email: kassonlibrary@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

West Concord Public Library
180 Main St
West Concord, MN 55985
Phone: 507-527-2031
Email: spreble@selco.info
Website
Facebook

Museums

Dodge County Historical Society Museum
615 N Main St
PO Box 456
Mantorville, MN 55955
Phone: 507-635-5508
Email: dodgecountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Societies

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

Dodge County Historical Society
615 N Main St
Mantorville, MN 55955
Phone: 507-635-5508
Email: dodgecountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Facebook

Websites

• The Dodge County MNGenWeb Project, a member of The MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
• PeopleFINDER (Family History) at Minnesota Historical Society
• USGenWeb Archives for Dodge County.
• Dodge County at Cyndi's List
• Minnesota Genealogy Trails
• Minnesota Historical Society
• 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.
• Norwegians of Dodge & Olmsted, Minnesota Genealogy of an Immigrant Community, circa 1854-1925