Kemper County, Mississippi Genealogy
Guide to Kemper County, Mississippi ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
This county was named for Reuben Kemper. Kemper County is located in the east-central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Kemper County Courthouse
Bell St
P.O. Box 188
De Kalb, MS 39328
Phone: 601-743-2560
Kemper County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage records from 1912.
Clerk Chancery Court has divorce, probate, court and land records from 1912.[3]
Kemper County, Mississippi 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 |
| 1 Nov 1912 | 1912 | 1 Nov 1912 | 1881 | 1881 | 1881 | 1810 |
Record Loss
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1882 Some records were lost in a courthouse fire.
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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]
| Towns | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| American Indian Communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
- A list of cemeteries can be found Kemper County Mississippi GenWeb
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1840 | 7,663 | — |
| 1850 | 12,517 | 63.3% |
| 1860 | 11,682 | −6.7% |
| 1870 | 12,920 | 10.6% |
| 1880 | 15,719 | 21.7% |
| 1890 | 17,961 | 14.3% |
| 1900 | 20,492 | 14.1% |
| 1910 | 20,348 | −0.7% |
| 1920 | 19,619 | −3.6% |
| 1930 | 21,881 | 11.5% |
| 1940 | 21,867 | −0.1% |
| 1950 | 15,893 | −27.3% |
| 1960 | 12,277 | −22.8% |
| 1970 | 10,233 | −16.6% |
| 1980 | 10,148 | −0.8% |
| 1990 | 10,356 | 2.0% |
| 2000 | 10,453 | 0.9% |
| 2010 | 10,456 | 0.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing Kemper County census records online, see: Mississippi Census.
Federal Census
- 1660-1820 U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820 at Ancestry $
- 1850 United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and some images
- 1850 United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1860 United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
State Census
- 1792-1866 Mississippi, State and Territorial Census Collection, 1792-1866 at Ancestry $
- 1805-1890 Mississippi, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1805-1890 at Ancestry $
- 1837 State Census Returns 1837 - Kemper County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
- 1880 State Census Returns 1880 - Kemper County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
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 Mississippi denominations, view the Mississippi Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- 1910-1919 Mississippi, Church Records, 1910-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- FamilySearch Places
Court Records
- 1879-1907 Final Record of Court Cases, Vol. 1, 1879-1907(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1880-1955 Court Records, 1880-1955(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1881-1889 Minutes of Board of Supervisors, Vol. A, 1881-1889(*); Board of Supervisors at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Directories
- 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
African Americans
- 1863-1866 Mississippi, Freedmen's Department (Pre-Bureau Records), 1863-1866 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1865-1872 Mississippi, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1936-1942 Ex-slave Narratives 1936-1942 Kemper County Collection; at FamilySearch - images only
- The Freedmen's Bureau Marriage Records at Mississippi Department of Archives and History - index and transcription
Some African American records are found in slave schedules, the Freedman's Bureau, and the Freedman's Bank. Sometimes land and probate records of the slave owners will include slave names.
Funeral Homes
- Beck Funeral Homes and Cremation Services in De Kalb.
- E. E. McDonald Funeral Home, Inc. in De Kalb.
- New Haven Memorial Funeral Home, Inc. in De Kalb.
- Webb and Stephens Funeral Homes in De Kalb.
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 Mississippi Land and Property for additional information about early Mississippi land ownership. 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
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Kemper 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 Mississippi Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Maps of Mississippi (1785-1918)
- Family Maps of Kemper County, Mississippi Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
Migration
Military Records
Multiple Wars
- 1812-1941 Military grave registrations - Kemper County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
- 1838-1844 Register of Military Commissions - Kemper County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
Mexican-American War
- 1846-1848 United States Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846-1848 How to Use this Collection; at FamilySearch — index & images
Some military records are available on the Mississippi Department of Archives and History website, which has a searchable catalog. The types of records found here include "Confederate records, State Auditor’s Confederate pension files, Military Department/Adjutant General series, Veterans’ Affairs Board records, and U.S. military records. The archives has nearly 400 manuscript collections associated with the different wars in which Mississippians have served. The Mississippiana collection includes military history books as well as indices to service records and pension rolls. The archives also has many photographs with military subjects."
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Mississippi, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images at partner site
- 1861-1865 Mississippi, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images at partner site
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry free index
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry free index
- 1889-1942 Mississippi, Confederate Records, 1889-1942 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1900-1974 Mississippi, Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1900-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1936-1939 Civil war records a Memorial list of those that served in the Civil War - Kemper County Collection at FamilySearch - images only
Regiments. Men in Kemper County 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 Kemper County:
- - 1st Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry Reserves
- Company C - Lampley’s Company
- - 2nd Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry
- Company H - Kemper Dragoons
- - 5th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry
- Company I - Kemper Rebels, aka Kemper Guards
- - Perrin's Battalion, Mississippi State Cavalry
- Company A - Perrin’s Company
- - 11th Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry
- Company A - Perrin’s Company
- Company F - Steele’s Company
World War I
- 1917-1919 Mississippi, World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1917-1918 Mississippi, World War I Army Veterans, Master alphabetical index, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Mississippi, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
State Archives
- 1820-1951 Mississippi, State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images - incomplete - Topics covered: Ex Slave Narratives, list of military veterans, Military grave registrations, Naturalizations and some Land records.
VOTER List
- 1871-1967 Mississippi, Voter Registration, 1871-1967 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records are held by the Kemper County, Mississippi Genealogy Clerk of Court and are housed at the Kemper County, Mississippi Genealogy Courthouse. Microfilmed records can be found online at Mississippi Probate Records, 1781-1930. See the wiki page Mississippi 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, naturalizations, and adoptions.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1780-1982 Mississippi Wills and Probate Records 1780-1982 at Ancestry ($)
- 1781-1930 Mississippi Probate Records 1781-1930 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only
- 1880-1955 Court Records, 1880-1955(*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1881-1972 Mississippi, Kemper County, Probate Records, 1881-1972(*); Chancery Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1881-1972 Mississippi, Kemper County, Register of Claims by Creditors Against Estates of Deceased Persons, Vol. A, 1881-1972(*); Chancery Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- 1850-1892; 1908-1957 Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1890-1923 Enumeration of Educable Children of Kemper County, 1890-1923
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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
Mississippi tax records replace missing censuses and provide lists of residents during years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years. For more information, see Mississippi Taxation.
- 1834-1888 County Tax Rolls at FamilySearch; index & images
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. Mississippi law did not require keeping birth or death records until 1912. Births and deaths are kept by the Mississippi Bureau of Vital Statistics. Marriage records are kept by the county. See also How to order Mississippi Vital Records or order electronically online.
See Mississippi Vital Records for more information on getting Mississippi records.
Birth
The state of Mississippi was not required to keep birth or death certificates by law until 1 November 1912. Birth and death records since that time have been kept by the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
- 1913-1935 Kemper County birth records, 1913-1935
Marriage
- 1776-1935 Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 at Ancestry $
- 1800-1825 Mississippi Marriages to 1825 at Ancestry $
- 1800-1911 Mississippi, Marriages, 1800-1911 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1826-1850 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-50 at Ancestry $
- 1826-1900 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-1900 at Ancestry $
- 1858-1979 Mississippi, County Marriages, 1858-1979 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Death
- 1822-1921 Mississippi Deaths and Burials, 1822-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
- 1912-1935 Kemper County death records, 1912-1935
- 1912-1943 Mississippi, Death Certificate Index, 1912-1943 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1912-1943 Reclaim the Records: Mississippi Death Index at Archive - images of index
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Kemper County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Mississippi 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
- Meridian Mississippi FamilySearch Center
- Philadelphia Mississippi FamilySearch Center
- Raytown Mississippi FamilySearch Center
- Brandon Public Library - an affiliate library
- Forest Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Kemper County. For state-wide library facilities, see Mississippi Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Kemper County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Mississippi Societies.
Kemper County Historical Association
DeKalb, MS
Facebook
Kemper County, Mississippi Genealogy and Archaeology
PO Box 631
DeKalb, MS 39328
601-575-1778
Email: emailofsociety
Facebook
Websites
- Kemper County Mississippi Genealogy & History Network
- Mississippi Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- USGenWeb Kemper County, Mississippi project. Has maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
- 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), Mississippi.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Kemper, Mississippi," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kemper_County,_Mississippi."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Mississippi.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Kemper County, Mississippi . Page 378-384 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), 379-381.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Mississippi.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Kemper County, Mississippi," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kemper_County,_Mississippi, Last accessed 17 September 2019.