Doniphan County, Kansas Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Troy
Organized: February 20, 1855
Parent County(s): Original county [1]
Neighboring Counties
Andrew (MO)AtchisonBrownBuchanan (MO)Holt (MO)Richardson (NE)
See County Maps
Courthouse
KansasDoniphanCourthouse.jpg
Location Map
200px-Map of Kansas highlighting Doniphan County svg.bmp

County Information

Description

Named for Col. Alexander W. Doniphan, of Missouri. He commanded a regiment of cavalry during the Mexican War, marching across the plains, and taking a very prominent part in the conquest of New Mexico. He was a zealous partisan in the effort made to extend slavery into Kansas.[2] The county is located in the northeastern area of the state.[3]

County Courthouse

Doniphan County Courthouse
Main Street
Troy, Kansas 66087
Phone: 785.985.3513
Doniphan County Website

Clerk District Court has birth and death reords1898-1910, marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1856.
Register of Deeds has land records from 1858.
A yearly county census is taken. [1]

County Clerk
Mailing Address – P.O. Box 278 - Troy, Kansas 66087
Physical Address – 120 East Chestnut - South Side 1st Floor - County Courthouse - Troy, Kansas
Telephone: (785) 985- 3513
Fax: (785) 985-3723
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

District Court
Mailing Address - P.O. Box 295 - Troy, Kansas 66087
Physical Address - 120 East Chestnut - 2nd Floor County Courthouse -Troy, Kansas
Telephone: (785) 985-3582 & (785) 985-3583
Fax: (785) 985-2402

Register of Deeds
Mailing Address - P.O. Box 73 - Troy, Kansas 66087
Physical Address - 120 E Chestnut Troy, Kansas 66087
Telephone: (785) 985-3932

Doniphan County, Kansas 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[4]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1898 1886 1898 1856 1858 1856 1855
*Statewide registration for births and deaths started in 1911. General compliance by 1917.[5]

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this 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:[6]

Cities
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
Townships
  • Burr Oak
  • Center
  • Independence
  • Iowa
  • Marion
  • Union
  • Washington
  • Wayne
  • Wolf River


Note: The wandering Missouri River forms Dohiphan's northern and eastern borders separating it from the Missouri counties of Holt, Andrew, and Buchanan. The main population center for the area is St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri which, because of the meander of the river, almost surrounds the Doniphan town of Elwood. Doniphan's larger towns; Elwood, Wathena, and Troy; all lay in the vicinity of St Joseph, Missouri. It is important to look for records of residence of Doniphan in these surrounding Nebraska and Missouri counties especially Buchanan, Missouri.

History Timeline

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

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

Census Records

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1860 8,083
1870 13,969 72.8%
1880 14,257 2.1%
1890 13,535 −5.1%
1900 15,079 11.4%
1910 14,422 −4.4%
1920 13,438 −6.8%
1930 14,063 4.7%
1940 12,936 −8.0%
1950 10,499 −18.8%
1960 9,574 −8.8%
1970 9,107 −4.9%
1980 9,268 1.8%
1990 8,134 −12.2%
2000 8,249 1.4%
2010 7,945 −3.7%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Kansas became a territory in 1854 and the first territory census taken was in 1855. It was also enumerated as Kansas Territory in the 1860 Federal Census, although there were 15 counties that were marked with "no population" in them. The state continued to take state censuses after it was admitted to the Union in 1861.[7] See links listed below.

State and Territorial Census Records

Federal Census Records

The 1870 Census was the first Federal Census taken for Kansas after it became a state in 1861.[8] For links to Federal Census indexes, see Kansas Census.

Church Records

Most church records are held by individual churches. For contact information, check a phone directory, such as SearchBug or Dex Knows. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository. For more information about these major repositories, see Kansas Church Records.

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

  • Wathena


List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records

  • Kansas State Historical Society holds these titles on microfilm. They may be available through interlibrary loan:
    • Civil appearance dockets, 1858-1923 [AR 6751-6755]
    • District court journals, 1858-1918 [AR 6755-6762]
    • Judgement docket and record book, 1858-1926 [AR 6762-6763]
    • Marriage records, 1856-1921 [AR 6746-6749]
    • Naturalization index, 1881-1942 [AR 6750]
    • Naturalization certificate stubs, 1925-1928 [AR 6750]
    • Naturalization declaration of intention, petitions, and record, 1906-1934 [AR 6750]
    • Naturalization final record, 1859-1910 [AR 6763-6766]
    • Naturalization miscellaneous citizenship papers, 1905-1934 [AR 6750]
    • Probate court index and abstracts, 1855-1938 [AR 6767, AR 6778]
    • Probate court journals, 1858-1923 [AR 6778-6783]
    • Probate case files, 1857-1917 [AR 6796-6797, AR 6784-6793, AR 6798, AR 7066-7067, AR 11934]
    • Will records, 1882-1915 [AR 6767-6769]
    • Other probate records, 1858-1935 [AR 6766-6778, AR 6784-6798, AR 7066-7067]

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Guardianship

Land and Property Records

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.

See Kansas Land and Property for additional information about early Kansas land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse, where records are currently housed.


Register of Deeds:
Phone: (785) 985-3932
Mailing Address - P.O. Box 73 - Troy, Kansas 66087
Physical Address - 120 E Chestnut Troy, Kansas 66087

Kansas State Historical Society holds these titles on microfilm. They may be available through interlibrary loan:

  • Indexes, 1856-1908 [AR 6651-6652, AR 6681-6683]
  • Deed and mortgage records, 1856-1919 [AR 6649, AR 6652-6683, AR 6698]
  • Troy City Cemetery record, Mt. Olive Cemetery, 1871-1913 [AR 6783]

Online Land Indexes and Records


For more information see Kansas Land and Property

Local Histories

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


  • Bendena, Kansas, Centennial, 1887-1987. 1988. By Bendena Centennial Committee. N.p.: n.p. (K978.1/-D71/B432).
  • Doniphan County Clippings, 1858-1988. (4 vols.). Kansas State Historical Society. Topeka, KS: KSHS, n.d. (K978.1/-D71/Clipp.).
  • Doniphan Village Twice Site of Once-Thriving Community. 1949. Atchison Daily Globe (2nd). Dec. 11, 1949. [1 p.]. (Reel: A1859).
  • History of Leona, 1885. Kercher, Delno. N.p.: n.d. (K978.1/-D71/Mss/no. 1).
  • History of Wathena, Kansas. By Ralph Brazelton. 1978. N.p.: n.p. (K978.1/-D71/ Pam.v.1/no. 4).
  • Index to Gray's Doniphan County History. Topeka, KS: KSHS, 1974. (Reel: MF 295, no. 8).
  • Makers of Kansas History: A Series of Sketches of Characters & Events. Lynn, C.P. Ness County News & Ness City Times. May 26-June 30, 1906. [6 pp.]. (Reel: N497).
  • Records of the Squatter Association of Whitehead District, Doniphan County. Kansas Historical Quarterly 13 (Feb. 1944): 16-35. Edited by Martha B. Caldwell. (SP 906/K13q). Available online.
  • A Sketch of Doniphan County, Kansas. 1878. By C. G. Bridges. Troy, KS: Bulletin Office, 1878. (K978.1/-D71/ Pam.v.1/no. 2).

Maps and Gazetteers

Richardson CountyHolt CountyAndrew CountyBuchanan CountyJefferson CountyLeavenworth CountyAtchison CountyBrown CountyDoniphan, Kansas.JPG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

Green check.png
The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.


Early migration routes to and from Doniphan County, Kansas Genealogy for European and African American settlers included:

Military Records

Civil War

Men from this County enlisted in 1st Infantry Regiment, Company A.

Online Collections

These collections are unique to Kansas. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and Kansas Military Records.

Collections Covering Multiple Wars

Civil War

Spanish-American War (1898)

World War I

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

For further information see Kansas Military Records.

Naturalization and Citizenship

Newspapers

For more information, see Kansas Newspapers.

Kansas Newspapers Online


Kansas Newspaper Catalogs

Obituaries

Other Records

Voting Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

In most counties in Kansas, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, inventories, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.

The FamilySearch Catalog lists films of probate records. To find the records for this county, use the Place Search for Kansas, Doniphan and click Probate records.


Online Probate Indexes and Records

School Records

Kansas State Historical Society holds these titles on microfilm. They may be available through interlibrary loan:

  • Scholastic census, 1892-1916 [AR 6683-6685, AR 6699-6701]

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Kansas tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. Tax lists were usually made every year, however, there may be gaps of several years. For more information, see the wiki page Kansas 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 Kansas Office of Vital Statistics or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. See also Kansas Vital Records. For information about restrictions and costs for certificates, see the CDC Where to Write for Vital Records site.


Kansas State Historical Society holds these titles on microfilm. They may be available through interlibrary loan:

  • Marriage records, 1856-1921 [AR 6746-6749]
  • Vital statistics, 1898-1916 [AR 6749]

Birth

Marriage

Death

Divorce

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Doniphan County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Kansas 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

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

Doniphan County Library District
Central Library
105 N Main
PO Box 458
Troy, KS 66087
Phone: 785-985-2597
Email: betherton@librarydistrict1.org
Website
Facebook

Highland Community College Library
606 West Main St
Highland, KS 66035
Phone: 785-442-6000
Website

Museums

Societies

Listed below are societies in Doniphan County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Kansas Societies.

Doniphan County Historical Society
PO Box 357
Troy, KS 66087
Phone: 785-988-0796
Email: amjm@indra.com
Website
Facebook

Ma Hush Kah Historical Society
103 South Fifth Street
White Cloud, KS 66094
Phone: 785-595-3339
Facebook

Websites

  • Doniphan County at KSGenWeb
  • Doniphan County at USGenWeb Archives
  • 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

Research Guides

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Doniphan County, Kansas. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  2. Genealogy Trails History Group, “Doniphan, Kansas Genealogy and History”, "http://genealogytrails.com/kan/doniphan/ 8/10/2017."
  3. Wikipedia contributors, "Doniphan County, Kansas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doniphan_County,_Kansas", accessed 8/10/2017.
  4. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Doniphan County, Kansas. Page 249 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. “Kansas Research Outline”, (Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Department, 2000), 40.
  6. Wikipedia contributors, "Doniphan County, Kansas," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doniphan_County,_Kansas#Communities, accessed 14 September 2017.
  7. William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses (Bountiful, UT: American Genealogical Lending Library, 1985), page 118-119.
  8. William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses (Bountiful, UT: American Genealogical Lending Library, 1985), page 119.
  9. National Park Service, "(Auto Tour Route) Maps" in Oregon National Historic Trail at http://www.nps.gov/oreg/planyourvisit/maps.htm (accessed 18 July 2011).
  10. National Park Service, "(Auto Tour Route) Maps" in California National Historic Trail at http://www.nps.gov/cali/planyourvisit/maps.htm (accessed 18 July 2011).
  11. National Park Service, "Auto Tour Route Maps" in Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail at http://www.nps.gov/mopi/planyourvisit/maps.htm (accessed 18 July 2011).