Lewis County, Idaho Genealogy

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



Quick start:


 * Census
 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death

Description
The county was named for Meriwether Lewis. The County Seat is Nezperce and was founded March 3, 1911. It is located in the north area of the state.

County Courthouse
Lewis County Courthouse 510 Oak Street Nezperce, ID 83543-0039 Phone: (208) 937-2661 Fax: (208) 937-9234 County Clerk has marriage, divorce, court and land records from 1911.

Parent County
1911--Lewis County was created 3 March 1911 from Nez Perce County. County seat: Nezperce

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

Places/Localities
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:

The above list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have web sites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

This list of places in Lewis County, Idaho was compiled from the Lists of Places in Idaho in Wikipedia and from the map of Lewis County in Virtual Earth.

Resources
The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to entries with names, images, or information.

Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Lewis County have been microfilmed and are available at the in Salt Lake City and through their family history centers. They are also available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Details of the county records in these respective institutions can be obtained from their online catalogs or listings. Original records which have been microfilmed and more recent records are in the county courthouse in Nezperce.

Cemeteries
There are many cemeteries in Lewis County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Lewis County, Idaho Cemetery Records.

For the cemeteries in or immediately adjacent to the cities, please see the city pages for the cities listed above.

Census
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.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
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 Library in Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.
 * 1911--Lewis County was created 3 March 1911 from Nez Perce County. County seat: Nezperce.

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.

Court Records
Some of the early court records of Lewis County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed include civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's Family History Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the Lewis County courthouse in Nez perce, and can be accessed by making a visit there.

Some of the records of the courts of Lewis County that have been microfilmed include:


 * Court records, 1911-1932
 * Power of attorney, 1883-1964; index, 1890-1986

Judgment Books

 * Judgment record, 1895-1946; index, 1895-1986

Directories
The Idaho State Archives has a collection of city, county, state and regional directories.

Land and Property
Land and Property records are generally recorded in the county courthouse of the county in which the transaction took place. For original records of Lewis County, Idaho, one may visit the courthouse in Nez Perce, Idaho.

The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed many county records of Lewis County and these can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

Some records of Lewis County have been microfilmed by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and can be read in the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers.

Maps

 * A digital Lewis County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Lewis County, Idaho is available online.

Military
World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Lewis County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the Family History Library (their ) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.

Online Records

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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 Family History 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 can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its Family History Centers.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records
 * 1892-1990 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Current

 * Clearwater Progress, published in Kamiah.
 * Lewis County Herald

Historical
The Idaho State Archives has a collection of Idaho newspapers

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 - at FamilySearch — index and 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

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1857 – 1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com $

Probate records are generally housed at the county courthouse in the county where the transaction took place, so existing Probate records of Lewis County should be available in Nez Perce by visiting there.

Some older of Lewis County have been microfilmed by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers.

The Idaho State Archives has also microfilmed records from Lewis County which can be accessed at the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

Taxation
Any existing tax assessment rolls for Lewis County should be in the courthouse in Nezperce and would need to be accessed by visiting there.

Birth
Online Records
 * 1861-1911 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1883-1929 - at FamilySearch.

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. See the Vital Records section under the subject Idaho for more details.

Marriage
Online Records


 * 1800-1987 - Idaho, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1864-1976 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1864-1950 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1878-1898; 1903-1942 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1947-1963 - at FamilySearch — index

Over 650 marriages, 1911-1930, are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.

There are 108 Lewis County marriages in the online Idaho Marriages.

Divorce
Online Records
 * 1947-1963 - at FamilySearch — index

Deaths
Online Records
 * 1883-1929 - at FamilySearch.
 * 1938-1961 - at FamilySearch — index

Deaths occurring in Lewis County after 1911 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 section under Idaho for details.

Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be used at the Idaho State Archives, the Family History Library, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations.

A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956 is available online. Efforts to expand this index to 1960 are underway. Another version is the US Genweb Idaho Death Index 1911-1956.

Idaho Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records gives details about this collection that covers 1907-1965.

Deaths from other sources.

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.

Societies and 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. The following libraries may have some resources of value, but use of some or all of them may require a visit to the library.

Ilo-Vollmer Historical Society Box 61 Craigmont, ID 83523 Ph. 208-924-5474

Contact -- Shelley Kuther, President or Byron D. Bovey HCR 1 Box 41 Craigmont, ID 83523 Ph. 208-924-7336 A researcher with the Historical Society

Craigmont City Library 112 W. Main St. Craigmont, ID 83523 Ph. 208-924-5510

Nezperce City Library 502 Oak St. Nezperce, ID 83543 Ph. 208-937-2458

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * The Lewis County ID GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project
 * Lewis County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Lewis County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)