Stevens County, Washington Genealogy: Difference between revisions

From FamilySearch Wiki
VisualWikitext
m (→‎Marriage: Added Marriage database)
m (→‎Marriage: Added Marriage database)
(No difference)

Revision as of 18:30, 15 May 2025


Guide to Stevens County, Washington ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Facts
County seat: Colville
Organized: January 20, 1863
Parent County(s): Walla Walla
Neighboring Counties
British Columbia (Canada) • Ferry • Lincoln • Pend Oreille • Spokane
See County Maps
Courthouse
Washington, Stevens County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Wa-stevens.png

Long Lake Dam, Stevens County, Washington State

County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

Stevens County was named for Isaac Stevens, the first governor of Washington Territory. The county is located in the northeastern area of the state.[1]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Stevens County Courthouse
215 S. Oak St
Colville, WA 99114
Phone: 509-684-7527
Stevens County Website

County auditor has birth and death records, 1891-1907, marriage records from 1861 and land records from 1883.
County clerk has probate, divorce and court records from 1889.[2]

Stevens County, Washington Record Dates[edit | edit source]

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[3]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1891 1859 1891 1882 1883 1887 1850
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1907. General compliance by 1917.

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

Populated Places[edit | edit source]

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
Unincorporated communities
  • Arden
  • Bluecreek
  • Cedonia
  • Daisy
  • Echo
  • Evans
  • Ford
  • Fruitland
  • Gifford
  • Grays
  • Hunters
  • Marble
  • Maud
  • Nine Mile Falls
  • Onion Creek
  • Orin
  • Rice
  • Suncrest
  • Tumtum
  • Velvet
  • Ward
  • Wellpinit
Census-designated places
  • Loon Lake
Ghost towns
  • Godfrey
  • Pinkney City
  • Ryan


History Timeline[edit | edit source]

Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wilma, David. Stevens County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7995.

  • 1811 David Thompson, Northwest Company visited the area bringing in seed to the Marcus area.[7]
  • 1814 Ross Cox visits the area and local tribes
  • 1818 With the signing of the Treaty of 1818, British and American jointly claimed the area which includes Stevens County.
  • 1825 Hudson's Bay Company began construction of Fort Colvile.[8]
  • 1828 Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Colville existed from 1828 to 1856. A map of the Hudson Bay Company land claims for Fort Colvile and their trappers is available at the Stevens County Historical Society.
  • 1838 Missionaries Walker and Eells established Tshimakain Mission near present day Ford.[9]
  • 1845 Catholic missionaries established a mission near Chewelah.[10]
  • 1846 Aug 5 Oregon Treaty ended border dispute between US and Great Britain[11] creating a border between the two countries along the 49th parallel.
  • 1848 Aug 14 The U.S. portion was organized as the Oregon Territory
  • 1853 Feb 8 The Washington Territory was formed February 8, 1853.
  • 1854 Apr 25 Walla Walla County was created 25 April 1854 from Clark County and Skamania County. The area included current Stevens County.[12]
  • 1856 Prior to 1856, the Hudson's Bay Company controlled most of the land in what is now Stevens County. Their records are available through The Manitoba Archives and The National Archives (UK). Map showing HBC Fort Colvile holdings at Crossroads on the Columbia.
  • 1858 Jan 29 Spokane County (including current area of Stevens County) was created from Walla Walla County. [13]
  • 1858 A gold strike in British Columbia brought miners through the area, which triggered unrest with the local Indians and started the Indian War of 1858.
  • 1859 Harney's Depot, US Army Fort Colville established along with Pinkney City and the first post office; Fort Walla Walla Fort Colville Military (Wagon) Road built by Brevet Major Pinkney Lugenbeel and U.S. Army soldiers.[14]
  • 1859 U. S. Northwest Boundary Commission moved to Pinkney City and the British Boundary Commission moved to Marcus for their respective portions of the boundary survey from Port Roberts to the summit of the Rocky Mountains. [15]
  • 1860 Spokane County seat was located near Pinkney City.[16]
  • 1863 Jan 20 Stevens County was created. It covered current Okanogan and Ferry Counties and the portion of current Stevens County between the Kettle River and Columbia River.[17]
  • 1864 Jan 19 Spokane County was disorganized and placed under Stevens County. County went from summit of Cascade Mountains to the Wenachee River, to the Columbia River, along the Snake River, to the Idaho Territory, then up to the 49th parallel. [18]
  • 1871 Hudson's Bay Company Fort Colvile ended its occupation[19]
  • 1879 Spokane County broken off from Stevens County
  • 1881 1st Lt Thomas Symons examinated the Columbia River and reported on its navigability.
  • 1882 US Fort Colville disbanded.[20]
  • 1889 Nov 11 Washington State was formed November 11, 1889.
  • 1892-1893 The railroad was completed in 1892-93.[21]
  • 1899 Feb 21 Ferry County was created from Stevens County.[22]
  • 1909-1910 Colville River dredged opening up agriculture in the area
  • 1911 Mar 1 Pend Oreille County was created bringing us to what is Stevens County today.[23]

Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

Biographies[edit | edit source]

Biographical information is often found in Local Histories and in Genealogies (please see those headings). See also Washington Biography.

Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Stevens County, Washington online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Washington Cemeteries for more information.

 

Census Records[edit | edit source]

See Washington Census for online censuses, including territorial. For more information, see United States Census.

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1860 996 —
1870 734 −26.3%
1880 1,245 69.6%
1890 4,341 248.7%
1900 10,543 142.9%
1910 25,297 139.9%
1920 21,605 −14.6%
1930 18,550 −14.1%
1940 19,275 3.9%
1950 18,580 −3.6%
1960 17,884 −3.7%
1970 17,405 −2.7%
1980 28,979 66.5%
1990 30,948 6.8%
2000 40,066 29.5%
2010 43,531 8.6%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".
Federal: 1870, 1910
Territorial: 1878, 1885, 1887, 1889
State-funded: 1892
Special: 1966

Church Records[edit | edit source]

The information church records provide depends upon the church practices and the record keepers. Records may include names, ages, and dates of events such as baptism, marriage, or burial. See Washington Church Records.

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

  • Colville 260 E. Juniper, Colville, WA 99114.

List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records[edit | edit source]

Your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Highly variable in personal information, court records can mention relatives, occupations, or pinpoint residences and dates. See Washington Court Records for the various courts used through the years.

Online Court Indexes and Records

County Commissioner's Minutes

Inventories of Court Records


Holds records for divorce, naturalization, and court cases from 1889. NeWGS volunteers may access the probate microfilms and make copies of these records upon request.


Holds records including military discharges (restricted to family only). The Office can provide copies of marriage licenses, although the actual records were transferred to the State Archives at Cheney.

Directories[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

American Indians
Many Indian tribes came to the area to fish at Kettle Falls[24]. Colville Indians oversaw the salmon catch at Kettle Falls. The Spokane Indians and Spokane Indian Reservation is located in southwestern Stevens County. A small group of the Kalispel Indians lived at Indian Ridge south of Chewelah[25].

Japanese

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

Many local libraries and societies have collections of family genealogies. Local histories or biographies often include brief genealogies of the featured persons. See also Washington Compiled Genealogies.

Genealogy Research Aids

  • Basic Guide for Genealogy Research in Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille Counties by Nancy Wright, Susan DeChant, and Shirley Dodson of NeWGS.

Guardianship[edit | edit source]

Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by Probate or District courts. See Washington Court Records and Washington Probate Records.

Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]

For additional resources, see Wiki article Washington Land and Property.

Online Land Indexes and Records



Land Records
Stevens County Assessor's Office
215 S Oak St, Room 101
Colville, WA 99114
Phone: 509-684-6161

Property assessment records. The Stevens County Historical Society has digital copies of the old assessor worksheets covering the 1960s, 1970s, and some 1980s, including some of the maps held in these records. Assessment worksheets show who owned the building, but there is no tracking of ownership over time. The maps show some property ownership for select townships/ranges in the northernmost portions of the county.

Stevens County Auditor's Office
215 S Oak St, Room 106
Colville, WA 99114
Phone: 866-513-2741

Homesteads, land records from 1862 to present. Earliest land records were recorded under the Preemption Act of 1841. Land deed records have been digitized, but are not available online. Auditor's office can provide digital images upon request. SCHS has digital copies of deeds up to 1985. The Stevens County Auditor also holds deeds and recordings for Stevens County's "daughter" counties; for example, 50 years of the history of current neighbor Pend Oreille County are in Stevens County records. All Pend Oreille County cities were incorporated while part of Stevens County. Those records were digitized by the county, and Stevens County Historical Society (SCHS) has digital copies of those deeds.
Missing Land Records
  • Volume D of the deed books is missing; check the grantor or grantee index to obtain the abbreviated land description, and grantor and grantee names.


Homestead and Patents

  • BLM Spokane Office (Fancher Road) - Have NARA microfilms of the railroad land transactions for their assigned area that includes Stevens County
  • Earthpoint - Convert latitude and longitude of the desired location to township/range
  • Stevens County includes: the northwest corner of the county is in township 40N Range 36E; the northeast corner is township 40N range 42E; the southwest corner is township 28N range 35E; and the southeast corner is in township 27N range 42E.

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Local histories for Stevens County may include biographies, history of churches, schools, local government with names of officials, military information, and more. See Washington Local Histories.

  • Illustrated History of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan Counties, State of Washington. [Spokane, Washington?] : Western Historical Publishing Company, 1904. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
  • History Of The City of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington. 3 volumes. By Nelson Wayne Durham. Tucson, Arizona : W.C. Cox & Co., 1974. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library. First 13 chapters include the Stevens County area.
  • WorldCat.org - list of Stevens County history books and availability in libraries.

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

Ferry CountyPend Oreille CountySpokane CountyLincoln CountyBritish ColumbiaWA STEVENS.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources
-Two early County Engineer's maps
-Undated early partly platted lower British Columbia, Columbia River
-1810-1871 coast-to-coast territory covered by artist Paul Kane for Hudson Bay
-1863 state map showing which areas have been surveyed
-1863 county map showing place names
-1870 Colville and north end
-1870-1883 Colville area, shows cemeteries, etc.
-1887 survey of military Fort Colville
-1890 two sections of Meyers Falls
-1903 Colville area, shows cemeteries, etc
-1910 railroad map, Stevens and Bonner County, Idaho
-1911 section map
-1912 Original Triplicate Copy of the Northwestern Mutual Fire Association, Seattle Washington (Sanborn Maps) for Colville with viewable corrections.
-1929 Original Triplicate Copy of the Northwestern Mutual Fire Association, Seattle Washington (Sanborn Maps) Northport with viewable corrections.
-1952 county topography map
-1963 Metsker's book of maps
-Original Stevens County plat maps (complete collection)
-Colville region topography
-Old Colville City map
-City of Colville
-Map of Kettle Falls
-Sanborn Insurance Maps (shows buildings)
-State Highway Map

Migration[edit | edit source]

Most residents came to Washington from other states or crossed the border from Canada. (See Seattle Passenger Lists for those who came from other countries.) Although few other migration records exist, try:
• Censuses: (use birthdates and places of children as clues)
• Land Records: (1st deed may reveal previous residence)
• Death-related records of children may give town or county of birth
• Records of relatives and neighbors

Military Records[edit | edit source]

Indian Wars

Civil War
Fort Colville, located three miles northeast of the current City of Colville, was established June 20, 1859. Initial troops were from the Company A and Company E of the Ninth Infantry under the command of Capt. Pinkney Lugenbeel. U.S. Fort Colville was ordered closed September 20, 1882.

World War I

World War II

Japanese


Published Books:

  • Civil War Veterans Buried in Stevens County By Roger W. May; Colville, WA: Northeast Washington Genealogical Society, 2007. Information on almost 300 veterans who are buried in or have lived in Stevens County At various libraries (WorldCat)
  • Colville Collection Book Two: Military Fort Colville by Patrick J. Graham. Colville, WA: P.J. Graham, 1989-2009. At various libraries (WorldCat); A history of Military Fort Colville (1859-1882) includes officers, and historical manuscripts of events of that period in Colville and northeastern Washington.
  • Northwest Boundary Commission: Message from the President of the United States Concerning the Northwest Boundary Commission by Archibald Campbell. Washington, D.C.,: Government Printing Office, 1869; At various libraries (WorldCat); Online at: University of British Columbia

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. Note: Until 1922 in the United States, women's citizenship was based on that of their husbands.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

Small town newspapers provide historical content and contain obituaries, birth or death notices, legal notices, and community news, such as visits to or from out-of-town relatives. See Washington Newspapers for tips, resources, and details.

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Obituaries may mention birth, marriage, spouse, parents, living family members, education, occupation, and more. See Washington Obituaries for state level collections and United States Obituaries for tips and insights.

Other Records[edit | edit source]

City Council Meeting Records

Public Records

Voting Records

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

The Northeast Washington Genealogical Society (NeWGS) publication, Pioneer Branches is available at the Colville Public Library (part of the Libraries of Stevens County) and through the society. Indexes are available on Persi from 1986 to 2007.

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Probate records identify heirs of the decedents, give the (approximate) death dates, and provide specifics about property holdings. The records were kept by the county judge.

These include wills, inheritance records, dockets, and other documents regarding property and estates of individuals who have died. See also Court Records for civil actions involving estates. Also see Washington Probate Records. Probate records are available at the Stevens County Courthouse.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

School Records[edit | edit source]

All schools in Stevens County are under the Northeast Washington Educational Service District 101 located at Regal Center 4202 S. Regal Street, Spokane, WA 99223-7738, phone number (p.) 509-789-3800

Online School Indexes and Records

  • 1803-2010 Washington, County Records, 1803-2010 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images only
  • 1891-1901 SCHS has the August 1891 to 1901 School District No. 32, Pleasant Valley Pupil Attendence Binder.
  • October 1897-June 1904 The Stevens County Historical Society (SCHS) has the October 1897 to June 1904 bound ledger record of teachers' contracts.
  • 1903-1920 SCHS has the School District No. 2 Colville Schools Board of Director Minutes, May 15, 1903 – April 8, 1920
  • 1915 The Internet Archives has an article about Washington State Teacher's Cottages in 1915 by Josephine Corliss Preston
  • 1915-1947 ESD 101 records at the Washington State Archives at Cheney include item EA801-36-14 Pioneer Interviews (Stevens County) for 1933-47; item EA801-36-1 School Census (Stevens County) school census records for 1915-32, and other early school records. The Digital Archives also has a 1927 Spokane County School District map.
  • The Last Bell by Alpha Naff (reprinted 2005 by NeWGS) A history of the rural schools in Stevens County ….152 pages, indexed. Available at at NeWGS and the Libraries of Stevens County.
  • The Crossroads on the Columbia project has school records for Chewelah, Hunters, and Loon Lake.

Online Catalogs

Digital Collections

Social Security Records[edit | edit source]

Tax Records[edit | edit source]

Washington tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information, see the wiki page Washington Taxation.

Online Tax Indexes and Records
The SCHS has the county assessor's personal property tax ledgers for 1898 to 1906, 1912 to 1935, and 1931 to 1935. Images of the 1898 to 1906 ledgers are viewable on the Crossroads on the Columbia project.

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

In 1891, coroners, physicians, and midwives were to "return" births and deaths to the county auditor. Many went unrecorded. On July 1, 1907, the State Center for Health Statistics assumed this responsibility.[26] The Auditor's Office can provide copies of marriage licenses although the actual records were transferred to the State Archives at Cheney.

Birth[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Death[edit | edit source]

In the early days, travel was difficult and there were almost no roads. During the winter it was impossible to go very far, so people often did their "marrying" and "burying" in Lincoln County if they lived along the River at the south end of the county. They also went to Spokane County for supplies or to get married.

Divorce[edit | edit source]

The county clerk has the divorce records. To order certificates, see Washington State Department of Health.

Research Facilities[edit | edit source]

Archives[edit | edit source]

Listed below are archives in Stevens County. For state-wide facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries.

Washington State Archives-Eastern Washington Region
960 Washington Street
Cheney, WA 99004
Email: EABranchArchives@sos.wa.gov
Telephone: (509)235-7508
FAX: (509)235-7505

Check the inventory collection for the Eastern Washington Region of the State Regional Archives at Cheney for many of the older records births and deaths from 1886 on, marriage records, mining patents, mortgage recordings, as these have been moved to the archives for safekeeping.

FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Local public libraries—even smaller ones—often have Unique Genealogical Collections that are not online for the area they serve. Many libraries in Washington have an area dedicated to local history and genealogy. Listed below are libraries in Stevens County. For state-wide library facilities, see Washington Archives and Libraries. Resources for Stevens County are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.

Wellpinit Library Station
Stevens County Rural Library District
Spokane Tribal Library
Wellpinit, WA 99040
Phone: 877-231-5500

Libraries of Stevens County

Chewelah Public Library
Digital copies of recent Chewelah Independent newspapers.
Colville Public Library
Home for the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society books, many local history books, microfilms of Colville Examiner newspapers, U. S. Fort Colville military records, and Washington State Death Index.
Kettle Falls Public Library
Microfilms of local newspapers and large collection of local history books.
Washington Rural Heritage
has maps, photographs, and early history.

Museums[edit | edit source]

Societies[edit | edit source]

Listed below are societies in Stevens County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Washington Societies.
Stevens County Historical Society
700 North Wynne St
Colville, WA 99114
Phone: 509-684-5968
Email: schswa1903@gmail.com
Website

Northeast Washington Genealogical Society
c/o Colville Public Library
195 S Oak
Colville, WA 99114
Website
Facebook

Clayton/Deer Park Historical Society
Box 293
Clayton, WA 99110
Website

Loon Lake Historical Society
4000 Colville Road
Loon Lake, WA 99148
Website

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society
PO Box 1826
Spokane, WA 99210-1826
Website
Facebook

Websites[edit | edit source]

Check back often with websites. Local societies and libraries may know of other websites.

Research Guides[edit | edit source]

  • Basic Guide for Genealogy Research in Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille Counties by Nancy Wright, Susan DeChant, and Shirley Dodson of NeWGS.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Stevens County, Washington," in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevens_County,_Washington. accessed 18/07/2019
  2. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Spokane County, Washington page 734, At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Stevens County, Washington . Page 732-735 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), 733-734.
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. ↑ The Evolution of Washington Counties by Newton Carl Abbott, Fred E. Carver, 1979. Published by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society and Klickitat County Genealogical Society.
  6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Stevens County, Washington," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevens_County,_Washington, accessed 26 March 2019.
  7. ↑ HistoryLink.org Essay 8677
  8. ↑ HistoryLink.org Essay 7993
  9. ↑ HistoryLink.org Essay 7204
  10. ↑ HistoryLink.org Essay 9534
  11. ↑ HistoryLink.org Essay 5247
  12. ↑ Washington State Archives p. 716-717.
  13. ↑ Washington State Achives, P.621.
  14. ↑ HistoryLink.org Essay 7992
  15. ↑ Joseph S. Harris and the U. S. Northwest Boundary Commission 1857-61, Streeter, Anne P., Trafford On Demand Publication, 2012.
  16. ↑ HistoryLink.org Essay 7995
  17. ↑ Washington State Archives. p. 6.
  18. ↑ Washington State Archives. p. 70.
  19. ↑ HistoryLink.org Essay 7993
  20. ↑ HistoryLink.org Essay 7992
  21. ↑ Basic Guide for Genealogy Research in Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille Counties by Nancy Wright, Susan DeChant, and Shirley Dodson of NeWGS.
  22. ↑ Washington State Archives, p. 26-29.
  23. ↑ Washington State Archives. p. 98-106.
  24. ↑ HistoryLink.org Essay 7577
  25. ↑ HistoryLink.org Essay 9534
  26. ↑ Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Birth Records, About this Collection & Washington State Archives - Digital Archives, Death Records About Death Records
v • d• e
Links to Washington-related articles
Topics
Counties
Extinct Co.
Major
 Repositories
Early Paths

This table contains the dates the local or state government began recording in the county or county equivalent. Use substitute records for earlier dates. If you believe there is an error, email us at wikisupport@familysearch.org.

County boundary maps are currently unavailable. Download information instead.

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.

Users should verify which locations and dates are included in this collection.

“Current” indicates records are available as recently as privacy laws allow. This date can change from year to year. To determine the exact dates available, contact the respective organization/repository.

FamilySearch affiliate libraries may have access to center-only databases, but do not always have all services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.

Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Stevens_County,_Washington_Genealogy&oldid=6303883"