Douglas County, Minnesota Genealogy: Difference between revisions
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Guide to Douglas County, Minnesota ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The county was named for Stephen Douglas, of Illinois. The county is located in the west-central area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Douglas County Courthouse
305 Eighth Ave W
Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: 320-762-3022
Douglas County Website
County Recorder has birth, marriage, and death records from 1890, land records from late 1800s and military records.
Clerk of Courts has divorce, probate and court records.[4]
Douglas County, Minnesota Record Dates[edit | edit source]
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 |
| 1890 | 1890 | 1890 | 1867 | 1862 | 1868 | 1836 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
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1862 Records from pre-1862 were lost, except the first census of 1860. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[8]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
- Larson, Constant. History of Douglas and Grant Counties, Minnesota: their people, industries, and institutions; (Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bowen & Company, Inc, 1916); Vol 2 (biographical) online at FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vol 1 and 2 online at Ancestry ($).
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
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Census Records[edit | edit source]
For links to Federal, State, and Territorial censuses, see Minnesota Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1870 | 4,239 | — |
| 1880 | 9,130 | 115.4% |
| 1890 | 14,606 | 60.0% |
| 1900 | 17,964 | 23.0% |
| 1910 | 17,669 | −1.6% |
| 1920 | 19,039 | 7.8% |
| 1930 | 18,813 | −1.2% |
| 1940 | 20,369 | 8.3% |
| 1950 | 21,304 | 4.6% |
| 1960 | 21,313 | 0.0% |
| 1970 | 22,892 | 7.4% |
| 1980 | 27,839 | 21.6% |
| 1990 | 28,839 | 3.6% |
| 2000 | 32,821 | 13.8% |
| 2010 | 36,009 | 9.7% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
State Census
- 1835-1890 , U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 at Ancestry ($)
- 1849-1905 , U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 at Ancestry ($)
- 1865 Minnesota State Census, 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
- 1875 Minnesota State Census, 1875 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
- 1885 Minnesota State Census, 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
- 1905 Minnesota State Census, 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Most church records are held by individual churches. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository. For more information, see Minnesota Church Records.
Lutheran
- 1800-1988 Evangelical Lutheran Church of America at Minnesota Historical Society ($)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($) has the following information:
- First English Lutheran Church, Alexandria
- East Moe Lutheran Church, Garfield
- Farwell Lutheran Church
- Our Savior's Lutheran Congregation, Evansville
- Trysil Lutheran Church, Farwell
- West Moe Lutheran Church, Garfield
Churches founded in Douglas County between 1860 - 1910
Danish Churches
- Osakis Township: Danish Lutheran Church (founded 1871)
Finnish Churches
- Urness Township: Finnish Apostolic Church (founded 1877)
- Moe Township: St. Paul's Lutheran Church (founded 1902)
German Churches
- Alexandria Township: St. Mary's Catholic Church (founded 1879); Zion Lutheran Church (founded 1880)
- Carlos Township: Immanuel Lutheran Church (founded 1874)
- Belle River Township: St. Nicholas Catholic Church (founded 1870)
- Ida Township: St. John's Lutheran Church (founded 1910)
- Brandon Township: St. Ann's Catholic Church (founded 1902)
- Leaf Valley Township: Ebenezer Lutheran Church (founded 1875)
- Miltona Township: St. Paul's Lutheran Church (founded 1890)
- Millerville Township: Trinity Lutheran Church (founded 1892); Church of Seven Dolors Catholic Church (founded 1867)
Norwegian Churches
- Alexandria Township: First Lutheran Church (founded 1872); Bethesda Lutheran Church (founded 1907)
- Brandon Township: Chippewa Lutheran Church (founded 1871); Grace Lutheran Church (founded 1881)
- Evansville Township: Our Savior's Lutheran Church (founded 1869)
- Moe Township: West Moe Lutheran Church (founded 1867); East Moe Lutheran Church (founded 1886)
- Urness Township: St. Petri Lutheran Church (founded 1887)
- Osakis Township: Our Savior's Lutheran Church (founded 1871)
- Holmes City Township: Trysil Lutheran Church (founded 1870)
- Solem Township: Solem Lutheran Church (founded 1876)
Swedish Churches
- Alexandria Township: First Baptist Church (founded 1881); Svea (Calvary) Lutheran Church (founded 1877)
- Osakis Township: Fahlun Lutheran Church (founded 1871)
- Holmes City Township: Trinity Lutheran Church (founded 1875); Oscar Lake Lutheran Church (founded 1866); Swedish Baptist Church (founded 1904)
- Urness Township: Fryksende Lutheran Church (founded 1877)
- Lund Township: Christian Lake Lutheran Church (founded 1871)
- Millerville Township (founded ca. 1880)
- Ida Township: St. Luke's Lutheran Church (founded 1869); Ida Mission Covenant Church (founded 1889)
- Solem Township: Wennersborg Lutheran Church (founded ca. 1879); Kensington Covenant Church (founded 1875)
- Evansville Township: Immanuel Lutheran Church (founded 1883); Zionsborg Lutheran Church (founded 1884); Calvary Mission Covenant Church (founded 1887)
- Spruce Hill Township: Free Mission Covenant Church (founded 1886); Rose City Swedish Baptist Church (founded ca. 1890); Spruce Hill Methodist Church (founded 1890s); Spruce Hill Lutheran Church (founded 1876)
Yankee and British Churches
- Alexandria Township: First Methodist Church (founded 1879); Emmanuel Episcopal Church (founded 1868); United Methodist Church (founded 1867); Congregational Church (founded 1867)
- Ida Township: First Presbyterian Church of Garfield (founded ca. 1900)
- Carlos Township: Carlos Presbyterian Church (founded ca. 1900)
- Hudson Township: Free Methodist Church (founded ca. 1891); Forada Presbyterian Church (founded ca.1898)
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
- 1800-1991 Minnesota, Douglas County, Churches by Township, 1800-1991(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- 1912-1956 Minnesota Passenger and Crew Lists, 1912-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
- Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory in Alexandria
- Lind Family Funeral and Cremation Services in Alexandria.
- Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis.
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
- Douglas County, Minnesota family files at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes, then select the camera icon to view images.
- Minnesota, Douglas County, family files, 1700-2007 at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes, then select the camera icon to view images.
- Pottle, Beverly Campbell and Pottle, Norman; Some ancestors and descendants of George J. and Anna Edna (Johnson) Olson: Iowa-Minnesota; Online at FamilySearch Digital Library.
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
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
- 1860-1876 Minnesota, Douglas County land transactions, 1860-1876 at FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes, then select the camera icon to view images.
- Pre-1908 , U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)
- Thomas O Nelson Co.; Plat book of Douglas County, Minnesota: containing plats of each township, a county road map, rural directory of farmers, and a summer resort directory; (Fergus Falls, Minnesota: Thomas O. Nelson Co., 1950); Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Douglas 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.
- Douglas County Album of the Ages; (Douglas County Historical Society: Taylor Publishing Co., 1982); Online at FamilySearch Digital Library
- Larson, Constant. History of Douglas and Grant Counties, Minnesota: their people, industries, and institutions; (Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bowen & Company, Inc, 1916); Vol 1 (historical) online at FamilySearch Digital Library; Vol 1 and 2 online at Ancestry ($).
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Douglas County, MN map at David Rumsey Map Collections
- Family Maps of Douglas County (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Minnesota Department of Transportation, Douglas County municipality and township maps
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Multiple Wars
- 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry (Free Index).
Civil War
- 1861-1934 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at Ancestry (Free collection)
- 1861-1865 U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (Free collection)
- 1861-1865 , U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (Free collection)
- 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry (Free collection)
- 1861-1917 United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Spanish-American War
- 1898 U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898 at Ancestry (Free collection)
- 1898-1899 , 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 ($)
- 1918-1941 Minnesota, World War I Records, 1918-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
World War II
- 1940-1947 Minnesota, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
- 1940-1947 U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 at Ancestry ($)
- 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry ($)
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1849-1985 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Naturalization Index, 1849-1985 at Ancestry (Free Collection)
- 1872-1962 Minnesota Naturalization Records and Indexes, 1872-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images.
- 1880-1920 , U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at Ancestry ($)
- 1918 Web: , U.S., Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub at Minnesota Historical Society — narrow to county (55 listed) or city (106 listed), search for surname, limit by date.
- 1800s-Current Minnesota, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- 1813-Onward Minnesota Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1860-1990 Minnesota, Douglas County, Obituaries, 1860-1990 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 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 Index)
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
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 ($)
- 1849-1985 Minnesota Will Records, 1849-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1867-1982 Minnesota, Douglas County, Will Records, 1867-1982(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 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 ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1850-2019 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019 at Ancestry (Free collection)
- 1850-Onward Minnesota, Marriages at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 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[edit | edit source]
- 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 ($)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1970-1995 Minnesota, U.S., Divorce Index, 1970-1995 at Ancestry ($)
- 1970-2003 Minnesota Divorce Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Douglas County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Minnesota Archives and Libraries.
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
- Alexandria Minnesota FamilySearch Center
- St Cloud Minnesota FamilySearch Center
- Great River Regional Library - multiple branches - an affiliate library.
- Stevens County Historical Society & Museum - an affiliate library.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Douglas County. For state-wide library facilities, see Minnesota Archives and Libraries.
Douglas County Library
720 Fillmore St
Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: 320-762-3014
Email: library@douglascountylibrary.org
Website
Facebook
Museums[edit | edit source]
Runestone Museum Foundation
206 Broadway St
Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: 320-763-3160
Email: director@runestonemuseum.org
Website
Facebook
Legacy of the Lakes Museum
205 3rd Ave W
PO Box 1216
Alexandria, MN 56308
Phone: 320-759-1114
Email: museum@legacyofthelakes.org
Website
Facebook
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Douglas County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Minnesota Societies.
Douglas County Genealogical Guild
1219 Nokomis St
Alexandria, MN 56308-3712
Phone: 320-762-0382
Website
Douglas County Historical Society
1219 Nokomis St
Alexandria, MN 56308-3712
Phone: 320-762-0382
Email: historic@dchsmn.org
Website
Facebook
Evansville Historical Foundation
304 S Gran St
PO Box 337
Evansville, MN 56326
Phone: 218-948-2010
Email: ehf@gctel.com
Website
Facebook
Osakis Area Heritage Center
11 E Main St
PO Box 8
Osakis, MN 56360
Phone: 320-859-3777
Email: osakis@midwestinfo.com
Website
West Central Minnesota Historical Research Center
University of Minnesota, Morris
600 E 4th St
Morris, MN 5626
Phone: 888-866-3382, 320-589-6172
Email: grosssj@morris.umn.edu
Website
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Minnesota Historical Society
- Douglas County USGW Archives, a member of MN USGenWeb Archives, an affiliate of USGenWebArchives.
- Douglas County GenWeb, a member of MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of USGenWeb Project.
- Range Research Center The IronRange 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
- Cyndi's List: Douglas 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[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library
- ↑ Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Douglas County, Minnesota" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_County,_Minnesota accessed 12 Nov 2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Minnesota.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Minnesota.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Minnesota.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Douglas County, Minnesota," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_County,_Minnesota, accessed 25 January 2020.