Rusk County, Texas Genealogy

Guide to Rusk County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The County was named for Thomas Jefferson Rusk, a secretary of war of the Republic of Texas. The County is located in the east-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Rusk County Courthouse PO Box 758; Henderson, TX 75653; Phone. 903.657.0330 County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, marriage, land and probate records from 1843, court records from 1844 and military discharge records from 1917; District Court has divorce Court has divorce records from 1844

County Clerk

P.O. Box 758 Henderson 75653-0758 Phone: 903-657-0330 Fax: 903-657-0062

District Clerk

115 N. Main Ste. 301 Henderson 75652 Phone: 903-657-0353

Parent County
1843-- Rusk County was created 16 January 1843 from Nacogdoches County.
 * County seat: Henderson

Record Loss
1878--Courthouse and many county records were destroyed by fire in March 1878.

Places / Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog



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:

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Neighboring Counties
Cherokee •  Gregg  •  Harrison  •  Nacogdoches  •  Panola  •  Shelby  •  Smith

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Maps

 * Texas Land Survey Maps for (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Texas Counties Map. Click on the county to go to the Texas Genweb site
 * 1914 Map of Angelina, Gregg, Harrison, Cherokee, Houston, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith &amp; Trinity at www.rootsweb.com

Military

 * 1838 - 1900 - Texas Muster Roll Index Cards 1838-1900 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Mexican-American War

 * 1845 - 1848 - US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War 1845-1848 at Ancestry.com — index $

Civil War

 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1917 - 1920 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1800 – 1990 at FamilySearch — images
 * 1800 – 2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records 1800-2000 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * 1840-1981 Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981 - FamilySearch
 * 1903-1935 Texas, Birth Certificates, 1903-1935 (images and index) - FamilySearch
 * 1903-1997 Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 (index)- FamilySearch

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1802-2010 Texas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1814-1909 and 1966 - 2011 Texas Marriage Collection 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1837-1965 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1837-1973 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1837-1977 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1837-1977 Texas Select County Marriage Index 1837-1977 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1966-2010 Texas, Marriages, 1966-2010  -  FamilySearch record collection

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * 1890-1976 Texas Death Records 1890 – 1976 [with images] Name index and images of statewide death certificates, 1890-1976. The name index has been created by Family Search and is tied to images of the Texas death certificates. Few certificates are available prior to 1903.
 * 1903-1973 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1903-1982 Texas Death Certificates 1903-1982 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1964-1998 Texas Death Index 1964 to 1998 [no images] Name index to Texas Statewide Death Certificates or four million people who have died since 1964.
 * 1977-1986 at FamilySearch.org — index

Divorce

 * 1968-2005 Texas Divorce Records 1968 - 2005  (index)  -  Hidden Ancestors
 * 1968-2010 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1968-2011 Texas Divorces 1968-2011 at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
Rusk County Genealogical Society (non-active) PO Box 1314 Henderson TX 75653

East Texas Genealogical Society PO Box 6967 Tyler TX 75711-6967

German-Texan Heritage Society PO Box 684171 Austin, TX 78768 Eva Barnett Executive Director Telephone Number: 512-482-0927 Fax: 866-482-4847

East Texas Research Center  Stephen F. Austin State University East Texas Research Center Box 13055, SFA Station Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3055 Telephone Number: 936-468-4100 E-mail:[mailto:AskETRC@sfalib.sfasu.edu AskETRC@sfalib.sfasu.edu]

Rusk County Library 106 East Main Street Henderson, TX 75652 Telephone Number: 903-657-8557

The East Texas Research Center is located on the second floor of R. W. Steen Library on the Stephen F. Austin State University Campus. Regular Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. Sunday CLOSED Special hours for intercessions and university holidays are listed on the Library Hours page. Before making a trip from out of town, it is best to check to be sure the East Texas Research Center will be open.

Henderson Area Chamber of Commerce 201 North Main Street Henderson, Tx 75652 Telephone Number: 903-657-5528 fax: 903-657-9454 E-mail:[mailto:info@hendersontx.com info@hendersontx.com]

National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Texas Chapters Some District IV Chapters: Nacogdoches Chapter, Nacogdoches, Texas Major Thaddeus Beall Chapter, Jacksonville, Texas Mary Tyler Chapter, Tyler, Texas

Daughters of the Republic of Texas Some District IV Chapters: John Tilley Edwards Chapter, Longview, Texas Stone Fort Chapter, Nacogdoches, Texas Charles G. Davenport Chapter, Tyler, Texas Fort Houston Chapter, Palestine, Texas

Texas State Library and Archives Commission PO Box 12927 Austin, TX 78711 +Capitol Complex 1201 Brazos St Austin, Texas +The Sam Houston Center FM 1011 off Hwy 146 Liberty, TX Monday through Friday 8am-5pm and Saturday 9am-4pm

Family History Centers
Note: These are physical locations, Family History Centers do not respond to mail queries.

* Tyler Texas 1617 Shiloh Road Tyler, TX 75703-2437 Tyler, Smith County, Texas, United States Phone: 903-509-8322 Hours: T 10am-2pm, 6:30-8pm; W 6pm-8pm; Th 6:30pm-8pm; Sat 10am-2pm.

* Longview, Texas 1700 Blueridge Parkway Longview, TX 75605 Longview, Gregg/Harrison County, Texas, United States Phone: 903-297-1349 Hours: M, Sat 9am-5pm; T-Th 6:30pm-8:30pm; Sat 9am-5pm

* Gilmer Texas 1122 West Pine Street Gilmer, TX 75644-3238 Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas, United States Phone: 903-843-5805 Hours: M,T,Th,F 9am-1pm, W 6pm-8pm; Sun 10am-4pm according to staff availability.

Websites

 * Rusk County TXGenWeb
 * TXGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the county.
 * — The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.