Lewis County, Idaho Genealogy
Guide to Lewis County, Idaho ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Lewis County was named for Meriwether Lewis and is located in the northwestern area of the state.[1]
County Courthouse
Lewis County Courthouse
510 Oak Street
Nezperce, ID 83543-0039
Phone: 208-937-2251
County Website
County Clerk has marriage, divorce, court and land records from 1911. [2]
Lewis County, Idaho 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 |
| 1911 | 1911 | 1911 | 1911 | 1911 | 1911 | 1870 |
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 Home Town Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[5]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 5,851 | ||
| 1930 | 5,238 | −10.5% | |
| 1940 | 4,666 | −10.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,208 | −9.8% | |
| 1960 | 4,423 | 5.1% | |
| 1970 | 3,867 | −12.6% | |
| 1980 | 4,118 | 6.5% | |
| 1990 | 3,516 | −14.6% | |
| 2000 | 3,747 | 6.6% | |
| sources:[6][7] | |||
The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal census.
For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records.
Church Records
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
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In 1930, Lewis County was part of Northwestern States Mission. There were no stake organized in the area at the time.
- The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Lewis County, Idaho prior to 1950.
- For original or later records, check with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
- Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the FamilySearch Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Court Records
Many of your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence, occupations, and other family history information. See Idaho Court Records for the various courts through the years.
Online Court Indexes and Records
- Lewis County Court Records(*) at FamilySearch Catalog
- Court records, 1911-1932
- Power of attorney, 1883-1964; index, 1890-1986
Judgment Books
- Judgment record, 1895-1946; index, 1895-1986
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
The Idaho State Archives has a collection of city, county, state and regional directories.
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and Property records are generally recorded in the county courthouse. Many early records have been microfilmed. For more information, see Idaho Land and Property.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Lewis County Land and property(*) at FamilySearch Catalog
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- A digital Lewis County Idaho map is available online.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
World War I
- 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918(*) at FamilySearch Catalog
- World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com
World War II
- 1940-1945 Idaho, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Naturalization and Citizenship
Records of the citizenship or naturalization of people born outside of the United States were kept in the county courthouses. Many volumes are included at the Idaho State Archives in Boise.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1892-1990 Idaho Naturalization Records, 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Idaho, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Current
- Clearwater Progress, published in Kamiah.
- Lewis County Herald
Historical
The Idaho State Archives has a collection of Idaho newspapers
Obituaries
- 1943-2013 Idaho, Southern Counties Obituaries, 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- The Ilo-Vollmer Historical Society has 26 volumes of obituary records for Lewis County.
This Society can be reached at:
PO Box 61,
Craigmont, ID 83523
Other Records
County Commissioners' Records
- The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.
- Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.
Miscellaneous Series
- Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.
- Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Lewis County. The originals are held in the Lewis County courthouse in Nez Perce, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the FamilySearch Library can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its FamilySearch Centers.
Periodicals
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com ($)
- Lewis County Probate records(*) at FamilySearch Catalog
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Vital Records
Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Lewis County are included in and recorded at the state level. These records are restricted for a period of one hundred years from the time of the individual's birth but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. Deaths occurring in Lewis County after 1915 are included in the state-wide registration program. These records are restricted for a period of fifty years from the time of the individual's death but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records.
Birth
- 1861-1911 Idaho, Birth Index, 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1883-1929 Idaho, County Birth and Death Records, 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1911 to present Birth records, for individuals born in Lewis County are included in and recorded at the state level. These records are restricted for a period of one hundred years from the time of the individual's birth but can be obtained by following the guidelines as issued by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records section under the subject Idaho for more details.
Marriage
- 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1864-1976 Idaho Church Marriages, 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Privacy law can't publish
- 1864-1962 Idaho, County Marriages, 1864-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1878-1898;1903-1942 Idaho Marriages, 1878-1898; 1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1947-1961 Idaho Marriage Index, 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- Western States Marriage Index
Death
- 1883-1929 Idaho, County Birth and Death Records, 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1938-1961 Idaho Death Certificates, 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1911-1956 A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956
- Idaho, Deaths at MyHeritage — index ($)
Divorce
- 1947-1963 Idaho Divorce Index, 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
Voting Records
- 1920-Onward Idaho, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Lewis County. For state-wide facilities, see Idaho Archives and Libraries.
- Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar
- Idaho State Archives
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
- Grangeville Idaho FamilySearch Center
- Kamiah Idaho FamilySearch Center
- Lewiston Idaho FamilySearch Center
- Orofino Idaho FamilySearch Center
Libraries
Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. Listed below are libraries in Lewis County. For state-wide library facilities, see Idaho Archives and Libraries.
- Prairie River Library
113 W. Main St.
Craigmont, ID 83523
Phone: 208-924-5510
Website - Nezperce City Library
602 Oak St.
Nezperce, ID 83543
Phone: 208-937-2458
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Lewis County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Idaho Societies.
- Ilo-Vollmer Historical Society
Box 61
Craigmont, ID 83523
Phone: 208-924-5474 - Idaho State Historical Society
2205 Old Penitentiary Rd
Boise, ID
Phone: 208-334-2774
Website
Facebook - National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Idaho Chapter
Websites
- 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
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lewis County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_County,_Idaho
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Lewis, Idaho page 179, At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Lewis County, Idaho. Page 177-180 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), 180-181.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lewis County,Idaho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_County,_Idaho#Communities, accessed 11 June 2019.
- ↑ census.gov - Idaho population by county, 1900-90 accessed 2009-05-03
- ↑ quickfacts.census.gov - Canyon County accessed 2009-05-03