Gem County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Idaho Online Genealogy Records

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Description
The county was named for the state nickname, "Gem State,". The County Seat is Emmett and was founded March 15, 1915. It is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Gem County Courthouse 415 E. Main Emmett, ID 83617 Ph. 208-365-4561 FAX 208-365-7795 County Clerk has marriage, divorce, court, land and military records from 1915 County magistrate has probate records.

Parent County
1915--Gem County, Idaho was created 15 March 1915 from Boise and Canyon Counties. County seat: Emmett

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 HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

The preceding 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 Gem County, Idaho was compiled from the Lists of Places in Idaho in Wikipedia and from the map of Gem 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 Gem 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 Emmett.

Cemeteries
There are many cemeteries in Gem County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Gem 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, Gem County was part of Boise Stake.


 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Gem 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.


 * Emmett
 * Emmett 1
 * Emmett 2

Some Current Churches in Gem County
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (208)365-6142

Community Bible Church (208)365-3712

Emmett Christian Church (208)365-4416

First Baptist Church (208)365-4457

First Presbyterian Church (208)365-2360

First Southern Baptist Church (208)365-6568

Grace Baptist Church (208)365-5116

The Harvest Church (208)398-7584

Jehovah’s Witnesses (208)365-6446

Lutheran Church – Our Redeemer (208)365-5231

Nazarene Church (208)365-2215

New Life Christian Center (208)365-2918

Orchard View Church of God (208)365-7213

Sacred Heart Catholic Church (208)365-4320

Seventh-Day Adventist Church (208)365-6733

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (208)365-2309

United Methodist Church (208)365-3242

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

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 Gem 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 Gem County courthouse in Emmett, Idaho, and can be accessed by making a visit there.

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


 * Power of attorney, 1865-1956

Judgment Books

 * Judgment records, 1915-1935

Be sure to check the Gem County Miscellaneous Series.

History
A brief history of Gem County is available on the official website of the county. Also available at the Emmett FHC at 980 W Central Rd


 * Histories by Edith Scott (Copies of handwritten and typewritten genealogies, histories, biographies, and diaries, available at the BYU Library.)
 * Obituaries: Gem County plus some others: Emmett, Gem County, Idaho, obituaries from local papers up to June 1, 1991 by Edith Scott; Dorothy Kern (available at the BYU Library.)
 * The Idaho State Archives holds many oral interviews pertaining to Gem County, as well as manuscripts, and personal/family records.

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 Gem County, Idaho, one may visit the courthouse in Emmett, Idaho.

The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed many county records of Gem County and among these records are Records of Declaration of Homesteads (1870-1971) which can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also has microfilm of the same which can be accessed at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its Family History Centers:

Maps

 * A digital Gem County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Gem County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military
World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Gem 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 Gem County. The originals are held in the Gem County courthouse in Emmett, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the Family History Library 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

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Current

 * Messenger- Index

Historical
The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed the following Gem County newspapers which can be accessed at their facility in Boise:

Boise County Sentinel: 1909:4:15-1916:2:17 Boise County Sentinel: 1909:5:6, 9:2 Boise County Sentinel: 1909:04:29 Boise County Sentinel: 1912:7:11, 1916:3:16, 11:30 Boise County Sentinel: 1917:04:26 Emmett Examiner: 1910:4:7-1925:11:5 Emmett Index: 1893:11:4-1957:6:27 Emmett Index: 1901:02:22 Emmett Messenger: 1934:10:11-1957:6:27 Messenger-Index: 1957:7:4-9999

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Indexes and Records


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

Any existing original probate records for Gem County should be located at the Gem County courthouse in Emmett, Idaho, and can be viewed by visiting there.

The Idaho State Archives has made microfilm copies of some of the early probate records in Gem County, and these can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has also made copies of earlier Probate records, 1896-1948; index, 1896-1948, and these can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers.

Taxation
Any existing tax assessment rolls for Gem County should be in the courthouse in Emmett 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 the Gem County area 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 1300 marriages, 1915-1941, are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.

190 Gem County marriages are online at Idaho Vital Records.

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

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.


 * Emmett Public Library 275 S Hayes Ave Emmett, ID 83617 Phone: (208) 365-6057 Website
 * Ola District Library 11475 Ola School Rd Ola, ID 83657 Phone: (208) 584-3589
 * Gem County Historical Museum Complex 501 E. 1st Street Emmett, Idaho 83617 Phone: (208) 365-9530 or 365-4340 Email: [mailto:gemcohs@bigskytel.com gemcohs@bigskytel.com] Website
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website


 * Idaho Historical Society Facebook Page Website


 * Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar


 * Idaho State Archives


 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter


 * The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers
 * Emmett Idaho Family History Center

Websites

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