Faribault County, Minnesota Genealogy

United States

Minnesota

Faribault County

Guide to Faribault 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: Blue Earth Organized: February 23, 1856 Parent County(s): Blue Earth Neighboring Counties Blue Earth • Freeborn • Kossuth (IA) • Martin • Waseca • Winnebago (IA) See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

Fairmont Park.JPG

County Information

Description

The county was named for Jean-Baptiste Faribault, a settler and French fur trader among the Sioux Indians. The county is located in the south-central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Faribault County Courthouse
415 N Main St
Blue Earth, MN 56013
Phone: 507-526-6225
Faribault County Website

Court Administrator has birth, marriage, divorce and probate from 1870, court records from 1950 and naturalization records.
Register of Deeds has land records.

Faribault 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	1870	1870	1950	1862	1870	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 Blue Earth County February 22, 1855 County seat: Blue Earth 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
Blue Earth Bricelyn Delavan Easton	Elmore Frost Kiester Minnesota Lake	Walters Wells Winnebago
Unincorporated communities
Baroda BrushCreek Dell	Guckeen Huntley Marna	Pilot Grove
Townships
Barber Blue Earth City Brush Creek Clark Delavan Dunbar Elmore	Emerald Foster Jo Daviess Kiester Lura Minnesota Lake Pilot Grove	Prescott Rome Seely Verona Walnut Lake Winnebago
Ghost towns
Clayton	Homedahl

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Faribault County, Minnesota online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	BillionGraves Find a Grave Interment.net 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	1,335	—
1870	9,940	644.6%
1880	13,016	30.9%
1890	16,708	28.4%
1900	22,055	32.0%
1910	19,949	−9.5%
1920	20,998	5.3%
1930	21,642	3.1%
1940	23,941	10.6%
1950	23,879	−0.3%
1960	23,685	−0.8%
1970	20,896	−11.8%
1980	19,714	−5.7%
1990	16,937	−14.1%
2000	16,181	−4.5%
2010	14,553	−10.1%
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
  

Lutheran

• 1800-1988 Evangelical Lutheran Church of America at Minnesota Historical Society ($)
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($) has the following information:
  • American Lutheran Church, Faribault County
  • Cedar Creek Lutheran Church, Hayfield
  • Silo (Shiloh) Lutheran Church, Elmore
  • South Blue Earth Lutheran Church, Bricelyn
  • American Lutheran Church, Wells

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

• Nasinec Funeral Home and Crematory in Wells.
• Patton Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Blue Earth.
• Spencer-Owen Funeral Home in Winnebago.

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

• 1854-1855 Field notes of the survey of the exterior and subdivision lines of Faribault County: comprising townships 101 to 104 north, ranges no. 24 to 28 west, of the 5th principal meridian, Minnesota at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes, then select the camera icon to view images.
• 1856-1990 Deed records, 1856-1990 ; indexes, 1856-1990 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 Faribault 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

• Minnesota Maps at David Rumsey Map Collections
• FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
• Minnesota Department of Transportation, Faribault County municipality and township maps

Military Records

Multiple Wars

• 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry ($)
• 1917-1990 Record of soldiers and sailors discharges, ca. 1919-1971 ; index 1917-1990 at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes, then select the camera icon to view images.
• 1917-1990 Minnesota, Military Discharge Records, ca.1917 - ca.1990 at FamilySearch - index only

Civil War
Civil War service men from Faribault 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 Faribault County.

- 1st Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry (Mounted Rangers), Companies B and K.

- 1st Regiment, Minnesota Heavy Artillery, Company F.

- 2nd Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry, Companies H and K.

- 5th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Companies C and F.

- 9th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Company D.

- Brackett's Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry, Company B.

• 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 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.
• 1917-1919 An honor roll containing a pictorial record of the gallant and courageous men from Faribault County, Minn., U.S.A., who served in the Great War, 1917-1918-1919; (Wells, Minnesota: The FORUM-ADVOCATE CO.); Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust

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
• 1857-1990 Probate Case Files No. 1-2730, ca. 1857-1916 ; Index, ca. 1857-1990(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
• 1858-1982 Minnesota, Faribault County, Will Records, 1858-1982(*); 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 Faribault 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
• Faribault Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Mankato Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Rochester Public Library - an affiliate library
• Waseca County History Center - an affiliate library

Libraries

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

Buckham Memorial Library
11 Division St E
Faribault, MN 55021
Phone: 507-334-2089
Email: library@ci.faribault.mn.us
Website
Facebook

Museums

Faribault County Historical Society Buildings
405 E Sixth St
Blue Earth, MN 56013
Phone: 507-526-5421
Email: fchistorical@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Kremer House Library and Museum
317 Main St
Minnesota Lake, MN 56068
Phone: 507-462-3420
Email: mlfamily@bevcomm.net
Website
Facebook

Wells Depot Museum
100 1st Ave NW
PO Box 43
Wells, MN 56097
Phone: 507-553-6303
Email: whs@bevcomm.net
Website
Facebook

Winnebago Area Museum
16 Main St S
Winnebago, MN 56098
Phone: 507-893-4660
Email: wmuseum@bevcomm.net
Website
Facebook

Societies

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

Bricelyn Area Historical Society
309 N Main St
Bricelyn, MN 56014
Phone: 507-653-4644

Elmore Area Historical Society
108 N Henry St
Elmore, MN 56027
Phone: 507-943-3855

Faribault County Historical Society
405 E Sixth St
PO Box 142
Blue Earth, MN 56013
Phone: 507-526-5421
Email: fchistorical@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Kiester Area Historical Society
501 W Center St
PO Box 222
Kiester, MN 56051
Phone: 507-338-0079

Minnesota Lake Area Historical Society
317 Main St
Minnesota Lake, MN 56097
Box 225
Minnesota Lake, MN 56068
Phone: 507-462-3420
Email: mlfamily@bevcomm.net

Wells Historical Society
100 1st Ave NW
PO Box 43
Wells, MN 56097
Phone: 507-553-6303
Email: whs@bevcomm.net
Website

Websites

• The Faribault County MNGenWeb Project, a member of The MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
  
• PeopleFINDER (Family History) at Minnesota Historical Society
• Faribault County at Cyndi's List
• Genealogy Trails
• 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.