Grant County, Wisconsin Genealogy
Guide to Grant County, Wisconsin ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
The county was named for an Indian trader; his first name. The county is located in the southwest area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Grant County Courthouse
111 S Jefferson
Lancaster, WI 53813
Phone: 608-723-2675
Grant County Website
Register of Deeds has birth and death records from 1876, marriage records from 1840 and land records from 1837.
Register in Probate has probate records from 1840.
Clerk of Court has divorce and court records.
Veterans Service Officer has military records.[3]
Grant County, Wisconsin 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.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1876 | 1840 | 1876 | 1836 | 1837 | 1840 | 1820 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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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 | ||
| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
- Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families. Chicago, Illinois : J.H. Beers & Co., 1901. FS Catalog book 977.5 D3b, and film 897436 or film 1000820, item 2 - images.
- History of Grant County, Wisconsin. Chicago, Illinois : Western Historical Company, 1881. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Biographies of Grant County, Wisconsin on Genealogy trails
- Biography Index to "History of Grant County, Wisconsin, 1881"
- Grant County Biographies Index, 1901
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 3,926 | — |
| 1850 | 16,169 | 311.8% |
| 1860 | 31,189 | 92.9% |
| 1870 | 37,979 | 21.8% |
| 1880 | 37,852 | −0.3% |
| 1890 | 36,651 | −3.2% |
| 1900 | 38,881 | 6.1% |
| 1910 | 39,007 | 0.3% |
| 1920 | 39,044 | 0.1% |
| 1930 | 38,469 | −1.5% |
| 1940 | 40,639 | 5.6% |
| 1950 | 41,460 | 2.0% |
| 1960 | 44,419 | 7.1% |
| 1970 | 48,398 | 9.0% |
| 1980 | 51,736 | 6.9% |
| 1990 | 49,264 | −4.8% |
| 2000 | 49,597 | 0.7% |
| 2010 | 51,208 | 3.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Grant census records online, see: Wisconsin Census.
State Census
- 1855 Wisconsin State Census, 1855 This census includes name of head of family; other individuals in the household are identified by sex and race, number of deaf and dumb, blind, insane and foreign born. - How to Use this Collection
- 1865 Wisconsin State Census, 1865 Name index & images of the 1865 State Census which names the head of household. Most records have been destroyed but schedules exist for the following counties: Dunn, Green, Jackson, Kewaunee, Ozaukee, and Sheboygan. - How to Use this Collection
- 1875 Wisconsin State Census, 1875 Identifies head of household by name. - How to Use this Collection
- 1885 Wisconsin State Census, 1885 — index & images. Search indexed census.Identifies by name of head of household. Other information is statistical and identifies the rest of the household by race, gender and country of birth. - How to Use this Collection
- 1895 Wisconsin State Census, 1895 — index & images. Identifies head of household by name. Other information is statistical. - How to Use this Collection
- 1905 Wisconsin State Census, 1905 — Name index & images of population. Enumerates by name all inhabitants. - How to Use this Collection
Federal Census
- 1850 1850 Mortality Schedule USGenWeb Archives
- 1860 1860 Mortality Schedule USGenWeb Archives
- 1870 1870 Mortality Schedule USGenWeb Archives
- 1880 1880 Mortality Schedule USGenWeb Archives
Church Records
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Wisconsin denominations, view the Wisconsin Church Records wiki page.
- Lancaster Church records.
Lutheran
Fennimore and Castle Rock
- Records of the American Lutheran Church, Fennimore and Castle Rock, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com.
Plattville
- Records of the American Lutheran Church, Plattville, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com.
St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Fennimore
- Records of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Fennimore, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
Directories
- City School Instructors, School Directory Platteville, Wisconsin 1936 USGenWeb Archives
- State College Faculty, School Directory Platteville, Wisconsin 1936 USGenWeb Archives
- State Teacher College Students, School Directory Platteville, Wisconsin 1936 USGenWeb Archives
- State Teachers College in Platteville, Grant County, WI. List of people who took classes during the summer session of 1934 - All of the information came from the school's "Annual Catalog 1935-1936." USGenWeb Archives
- State Teachers College in Platteville, Grant County, WI. Roster of Students for 1935-1936. - All of the information came from the school's "Annual Catalog 1935-1936." USGenWeb Archives
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Website about the town of Livingston, how the town became to be, its people, biographies, and genealogical information. Livingston-Watson Family website!
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 Wisconsin Land and Property for additional information about early Wisconsin land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Bureau of Land Management, Wisconsin Land Patents Database (USGenWeb Archives)
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
- History of Grant County, Wisconsin. Chicago, Illinois : Western Historical Company, 1881. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Wisconsin
Migration
Military Records
Civil War
Regiments. Service men in Grant served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Grant:
- - 2nd Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry, Companies C and L
- - 3rd Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry, Companies G, H and M
- - 6th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company C
- - 7th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Companies C, F and H.
- - 10th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company F
- - 11th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company C, many men from the town of Waterloo, which is part of Jefferson County and Grant County
- - 12th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company K
- Grant Co., WI Pensioners On The Roll, January 1, 1883 USGenWeb Archives
World War I
- Grant County, World War I Casualties USGenWeb Archives
- Grant County, Wisconsin, List of Mothers and Widows of American World War I Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Entitled to Make a Pilgrimage to theWar Cemeteries in Europe, 1930 USGenWeb Archives
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Wisconsin, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Wisconsin Newspapers Online
- Grant County Newspapers, 1886 USGenWeb Archives
- Lancaster Newspapers
- Wisconsin Digital Newspaper at Wisconsin State Historical Society
Obituaries
- Some Grant County Obituaries Scroll down to individual obituaries. USGenWeb Archives
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records are held by the Grant Clerk of Circuit Court and are housed at the Grant Courthouse. See the wiki page Wisconsin Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.
Content: Probate records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Record types: Wills, estates, guardianships, and adoptions.
Online Records
- 1800–1987 Wisconsin Wills and Probate Records 1800-1987 at Ancestry — images and index $
- 1848–1948 Wisconsin Probate Estate Files 1848-1948 at FamilySearch — images - How to Use this Collection
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Wisconsin tax records complement land records and can be used to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned property or other items that could be taxed were listed, some residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records. For more information see the Wiki page, Wisconsin Taxation.
Vital Records
Birth
- 1820-1907 Wisconsin, Birth Index, 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1820-1920: Wisconsin, Birth Index, 1808-1920 at MyHeritage - index ($)
- 1826-1908 Wisconsin, Births and Christenings Index, 1826-1908 at Ancestry — index $
- 1826-1926 Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)
- Grant County, Wisconsin Birth Records - Earliest to 1891 - USGenWeb Archives
Marriage
- 1835-1900 Wisconsin, U.S., Compiled Marriages for Select Counties, 1835-1900 at Ancestry — index ($), Grant, Jackson, and Monroe Counties
- 1836-1911 Wisconsin, County Marriages, 1836-1911 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1836-1930 Wisconsin, Marriages, 1836-1930 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)
- 1973-1997 Wisconsin, Marriage Index, 1973-1997 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1973-1997 Wisconsin Marriages, 1973-1997 at Ancestry — index & images $
- Wisconsin Marriages at MyHeritage — index ($)
Death
- 1820-1907 Wisconsin, Death Index, 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1835-1968 Wisconsin, Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1867-1907 Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)
- 1959-1997 Wisconsin, Death Index, 1959-1997 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
- Wisconsin Deaths at MyHeritage — index ($)
Divorce
- 1907-2015 Wisconsin, U.S., Divorce Records, 1907-2015 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1965-1984 Wisconsin, Divorce Index, 1965-1984 at FamilySearch.org — index - How to Use this Collection
- 1985-Onward Wisconsin Divorces at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Grant County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Wisconsin Archives and Libraries.
- Area Research Center - University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Southwest Wisconsin Room-Karrmann Library
One University Plaza
Platteville, WI 53818-3099
Phone: 608-342-1719
Email: swwis@uwplatt.edu
[Research Facilities Website]
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 Grant County. For state-wide library facilities, see Wisconsin Archives and Libraries.
- Southwest Wisconsin Room-Karrmann Library
Area Research Center - University of Wisconsin-Platteville
One University Plaza
Platteville, WI 53818-3099
Phone: 608-342-1719
Email: swwis@uwplatt.edu
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Grant County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Wisconsin Societies.
- Grant County Genealogical Society
Platteville, WI
Email:contact@grantcowigenealogicalsoc.org
Facebook
Website - Grant County Historical Society
129 E Maple St
Lancaster, WI 53813
Phone: 608-723-4925
Email:historicalsociety@tds.net
Facebook
Website
Websites
- Grant County, WI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
- Wisconsin Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- Grant County, WIGenWeb Project
- Grant County, 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
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Wisconsin.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Grant County, Wisconsin " in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_County,_Wisconsin."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Wisconsin.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Grant County, Wisconsin. Page 755-760, 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), 757-759.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Wisconsin.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Grant County, Wisconsin," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_County,_Wisconsin, accessed 10 September 2018.
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