Franklin County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named after Franklin D. Richards. The County Seat is Preston and was founded January 20, 1913. It is located in the south east area of the state.

County Courthouse
 Franklin County Courthouse 39 West Oneida Street Preston, ID 83263-1234 Phone: 208-852-0877 Franklin County Website

County Clerk has marriage records from 1913, court and land records.

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:

Census Records
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.

Church Records
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county. How to Use FS Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

 Judgment Books
 * 1876-1927 Judgment records, 1876-1927

Genealogies

 * Top history of Franklin County

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

 * Top history of Franklin County
 * Idaho Digital Resources website
 * History of Franklin County, Idaho, by W H Simmons
 * A brief history of Franklin: first settlement in the state of Idaho, by the Idaho Pioneer Association
 * Brief history of Oxford, Idaho by Annie C Hatch
 * A Cache legacy: a photo history of Cache Valley, by Herald Journal (Firm)
 * A collection of biographies for Bear Lake, Franklin and Oneida Counties, Idaho, from settlement to 1916 by Glenys J Rasmussen
 * The community of Banida: Centennial, 1910-2010, by Karla Geddes Cattani et al.
 * Franklin, Idaho, Ledger G: 1888-1889 (Business ledgers of different companies delivering goods to Franklin, Idaho.)
 * History of Weston, Idaho, 1865-1929, by Lars Fredrickson
 * Hometown album: a pictorial history of Franklin County, Idaho: horse and buggy days and early auto era, by Newell Hart
 * Idaho facts and statistics pertaining to its early settlement and colonization, with special reference to the Franklin colony; together with stories of the Indian troubles in the southeastern part of the state. Information collected and compiled for the Idaho semi-centennial celebration, held at Franklin, June 14 and 15, 1910. (Digital version available at archive.org.)
 * Know Cache Valley, then and now, by Henry R Cooper, Lavon Christensen, and Claire L Hammond
 * Looking back, by A.J. Simmonds (compilation of weekly history column in the Logan Herald Journal newspaper, 1982-1985.)
 * The passing of the redman, being a succinct account of the last battle that wrested Idaho from the bondage of the Indians (Digital version available at archive.org.)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * A digital Franklin County Idaho map
 * Map of Franklin County, Idaho
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
Civil War The following Civil War battle was fought in Franklin County.
 * 1863 January 29, 1863 Bear River, also known as Massacre at Boa Ogoi
 * Map showing Civil War battles in Idaho.

 World War I
 * World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com
 * World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com

 World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * Lest We Forget: the Story of the Men and Women from Franklin County, Idaho, who Served in the Second World War, 1939-1946], by Martin K Sorge.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1913-1928 Declaration of Intentions, 1913-1928

Newspapers

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

 Current
 * Preston Citizen

 Historical  The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed the following Franklin County newspapers which can be accessed at their facility in Boise: Cache Valley Clarion: 1940:1:4-1941:12:25 Franklin County Citizen: 1913:1:31:-1942:7:9 Idaho Enterprise: 1879:7:31-1882:9:7 Preston Booster: 1912:1:25-1913:1:15 Preston Citizen: 1942:7:16-9999 Preston Standard: 1901:8:16-1902:9:5 Southeastern Advocate: 1913:12:3-1914:12:30

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

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.

The FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has microfilmed the following:, Franklin County, Idaho, March 1, 1913 to June, 1950. The copy is available at the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of the Library's FamilySearch Centers.

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 FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Franklin County. The originals are held in the Franklin County courthouse in Preston, 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 FamilySearch Centers.

Probate Records
According to the Clerk of the District Court, the estate case files from 1913 -(??) have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise. Several of the early Judgment volumes and the Probate minute books are probably still in the vault area on the third floor of the courthouse. The early Miscellaneous Series are also likely still there, too. The Franklin County courthouse is located in Preston, Idaho.

Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 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

Vital Records
Idaho Vital Records

Birth

 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Marriage

 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Privacy law can't publish
 * 1864-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1878-1898; 1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
 * Western States Marriage Index

Death

 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection;
 * 1911-1956 State-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956
 * Eastern Idaho Death Index.

Divorce

 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Archives

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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Bear Lake Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Malad Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Preston Idaho South FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * Larsen-Sant/Franklin District Library 109 S 1st E Preston, ID 83263 Phone: (208) 852-0175 Website
 * Oneida Stake Academy Community & Historical Center 100 E Oneida St (intersection of East Oneida and First East Street) Preston, Idaho 83263 Website

Societies

 * Franklin County Historical Society 111 E Main St Franklin, ID 83237 Website
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society Excellent cultural and historical site

Websites

 * Franklin County Idaho GenWeb Project, a member of IDGenWeb


 * – 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.