Todd County, Minnesota Genealogy

United States

Minnesota

Todd County

Guide to Todd 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: Long Prairie Organized: Feb 21 1873 Parent County(s): Cass Neighboring Counties Cass • Douglas • Morrison • Otter Tail • Pope • Stearns • Wadena See County Maps Courthouse Location Map

County Information

Description

The county was named for John Blair Smith Todd, who was a delegate from Dakota Territory to the United States House of Representatives, and general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The county is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Todd County Courthouse
215 1st Ave S
Long Prairie, MN 56347
Phone: 320-357-5005
Todd County Website

Clerk District Court has divorce records from 1880, court records from 1874 and probate records.
County Records has birth and death records from 1870, marriage records from 1867, land records, school census from 1914.

Todd 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	1867	1870	1874	1914	1876	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

1855--Todd County was created 20 February 1855 from Cass County. County seat: Long Prairie 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
Bertha Browerville Burtrum Clarissa	Eagle Bend Grey Eagle Hewitt Long Prairie	Osakis Staples West Union
Unincorporated communities
Philbrook	Pillsbury	Ward Springs
Townships
Bartlett Bertha Birchdale Bruce Burleene Burnhamville Eagle Valley Fawn Lake Germania Gordon	Grey Eagle Hartford Iona Kandota Leslie Little Elk Little Sauk Long Prairie Moran Reynolds	Round Prairie Staples Stowe Prairie Turtle Creek Villard Ward West Union Wykeham

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Todd County, Minnesota online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	BillionGraves Find a Grave Minnesota Gravestones MNGenWeb MN Tombstone Transcription Project USGenWeb Archives
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	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	430	—
1870	2,036	373.5%
1880	6,133	201.2%
1890	12,930	110.8%
1900	22,214	71.8%
1910	23,407	5.4%
1920	26,059	11.3%
1930	26,170	0.4%
1940	27,438	4.8%
1950	25,420	−7.4%
1960	23,119	−9.1%
1970	22,114	−4.3%
1980	24,991	13.0%
1990	23,363	−6.5%
2000	24,426	4.5%
2010	24,895	1.9%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State Census

• 1835-1890 Minnesota, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 at Ancestry ($)
• 1849-1905 Minnesota, U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 at Ancestry ($)
• 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
  

Court Records

• Plat Book, Todd County, Minnesota. By Lystad, Edwin and A. H. Hendrickson. Long Prairie, Minnesota : Edwin Lystad and A.H. Hendrickson, 1940. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library

Directories

• 1913-1914 Benton, Meeker, and Todd Counties, Minnesota Farm Directory, 1913-14 at Ancestry ($)
• 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

• Brenny Family Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services in Staples.
• Domian-Anderson Chapel in Bertha.
• Halvorson-Taylor Funeral and Cremation Care in Staples.
• Iten Funeral Home in Browerville.
• Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis.
• Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Homes in Long Prairie.

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

• Pre-1908 Minnesota, U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)
• Lystad, Edwin. Hendrickson, A H.  Plat book, Todd County, Minnesota Long Prairie, MN, 1940. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
• Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search

Local Histories

Local histories are available for Todd 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.

• Hendrickson, A.H., O.B. DeLaurier, and John H. Sheets. Todd County, Minnesota, Histories: Containing Reproductions of the Original Histories of Todd County Written by John H. Sheets, A. H. Hendrickson, O. B. DeLaurier. Other Articles of Interest. Long Prairie, Minn.: Todd County Bicentennial Committee, 1976. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
  
• DeLaurier, O. B. History of Todd County 1934. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

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

Military Records

Multiple Wars

• 1861-1917 United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Free index, images ($)
• 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry ($)

Civil War

• 1861-1865 U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 at Ancestry; Free index
• 1861-1865 Minnesota, U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry; Free index
• 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry; Free index
• 1861-1934 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at Ancestry; Free index

Spanish-American War

• 1898 U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898  at Ancestry; Free index
• 1898-1899 Minnesota, 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; Free index, images ($)
• 1918-1941 Minnesota, World War I Records, 1918-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection

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; Free index, images ($)
• 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry; Free index

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 Minnesota, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at Ancestry ($)
• 1918 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)

Newspapers

• Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub at Minnesota Historical Society; narrow to county or city, 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 collection)

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
• 1872-1975 Minnesota, Todd County, Will Records, 1872-1975(*); 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 Todd 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

• Alexandria Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Brainerd Minnesota FamilySearch Center
• Great River Regional Library - multiple locations - an affiliate library.
• Stevens County Historical Society & Museum - an affiliate library.
• Willmar Public Library - an affiliate library.

Libraries

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

Great River Regional Library
Main Library System
Phone: 833-438-4775
Email: reference@grrl.lib.mn.us
Website
Facebook

Multiple locations.

Museums

Bertha Historical Society Museum
63671 County Hwy 40
Bertha, MN 56437
Phone: 218-924-4490
Website
Facebook

Clarissa Community Museum
402 Main St W
Clarissa, MN 56440
Phone: 320-594-2960
Email: clarissamuseum@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Hewitt Museum
514 Wisconsin St
Hewitt, MN 56453
Phone: 701-230-9047
Email: hewittmuseum@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Todd County Historical Society Museum
333 Central Ave
Long Prairie, MN 56347
Phone: 320-732-4426
Email: toddcountymuseum@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Societies

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

Bertha Historical Society
63671 County Hwy 40
Bertha, MN 56437
Phone: 218-924-4490
Facebook

Clarissa Historical Society
402 Main St W
Clarissa, MN 56440
Phone: 320-594-2960
Email: clarissamuseum@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Eagle Bend Historical Society
737 3rd Avenue NW
Eagle Bend, MN 56446-8116
Phone: 218-738-3852
Website

Hewitt Historical Society
PO Box 73
Hewitt, MN 56453
Phone: 701-230-9047
Email: hewittmuseum@gmail.com
Website

Staples Historical Society
Fourth St NE
Staples, MN 56479
Phone: 320-894-2906
Website
Facebook

Todd County Historical Society
333 Central Ave
PO Box 146
Long Prairie, MN 56347
Phone: 320-732-4426
Email: toddcountymuseum@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Websites

• Research at Minnesota Historical Society — links to Records and Indexes; See also MHS Wiki Page
• 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.
• Todd County, a member of MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of USGenWeb Project.
• Todd County, a member of MN USGenWeb Archives, an affiliate of 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.