Oneida County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Oneida 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 Lake Oneida, New York. The County has Soda Springs as its seat and the County was created January 22, 1864. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Oneida County Courthouse 10 Court Street Malad, ID 83252-0191 Phone: 208-766-4116, ext. 10 Fax: 208-766-2448 Oneida County Website County Clerk has birth and death records 1907-1911 marriage records from 1866, military records from 1919, naturalization records from 1869, divorce, probate, court and land records.

Parent County
1864--Oneida County was created as an original county. County seat: Malad

Boundary Changes
5 January 1875 -- Bear Lake County created from part of Oneida County

13 Jan 1885 -- Bingham County created from part of Oneida County

30 January 1913 -- Franklin County created from part of Oneida County

30 January 1913 -- Power County created from parts of Bingham, Blaine and Oneida Counties

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 Oneida County, Idaho was compiled from the Lists of Places in Idaho in Wikipedia and from the map of Oneida 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 Oneida 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 Malad.

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

 * List of Oneida County stakes and wards to about 1948.


 * 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.

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 Oneida 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 Oneida County courthouse in Malad, and can be accessed by making a visit there.

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


 * Civil and criminal records, 1882-1923; register of actions, 1867-1908
 * Court calendar, 1874-1879 Idaho. District Court (Oneida County)
 * Court judgments, 1873-1937 Idaho. District Court (Oneida County)
 * Court records, 1882-1883 Idaho. District Court (Oneida County)
 * Register of prisoners, 1894-1915
 * Justice records, 1885-1900 (judgment books)

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

History

 * History of Oneida County
 * History of Samaria.
 * An Oneida County Chronology by Kenneth Larson (a digitized version)


 * History of Ridgedale: The area, more commonly referred to as Pocatello Valley, is located about fifteen miles southwest of Malad Idaho (Latitude: 42.03 North/Longitude 112.32 West). The area is a closed valley (approximately 15,000 acres) about 5000 feet above sea level located on the Utah/Idaho border but most of the region falls in Idaho. Homesteaded mostly by early Latter-day Saint settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s from both northern Utah and southern Idaho the valley once sported a steady population for most of the months of the year sufficient to support church, social and educational activities. As agricultural endeavors over the years have required ever larger operations and with improved transportation the valley currently is relatively lightly populated with rather large dry land farming operations underway. The area was electrified in the 1950s and telephone service became common in the 1970s. The area was struck by an intense earthquake in 1975 (Google: 1975 Idaho Earthquake) causing extensive damage on farming facilities in the area but due to the low population density no one was injured. Access to the area is largely dependent on the weather. Most of the early structures, with the exception of two early school buildings, have been destroyed. There are no known cemeteries in the local area.

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 Oneida County, Idaho, one may visit the courthouse in Malad, Idaho.

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

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has microfilmed originals of the following records found in the Oneida County Courthouse in Malad, Idaho which can be accessed at the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers:



Maps

 * An 1895 map of Oneida and surrounding counties is available online.
 * A digital Oneida County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Oneida County, Idaho is available online.

Military
World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Oneida 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 Oneida County. The originals are held in the Oneida County courthouse in Malad, 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
Records of the naturalization of people born outside of the United States were often kept in the county courthouses of the respective counties of Idaho. For Oneida County, the following records have been abstracted and are available online.


 * Declarations of Intentions, 1891-1906
 * Declarations of Intentions, 1906-1927
 * Naturalization Certificates, 1891-1906
 * Naturalization Certificates, 1907-1929

The original naturalization records of Oneida County that have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed in their Index to Naturalization.

Historical
Copies of some of the early issues of newspapers printed in Malad are available on microfilm at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. That research facility has copies of:


 * The Idaho Enterprise for 1889:3:2-1890:1:15; 1909:1:27-1920:12:27; and 1930:5:6-1996:12:26
 * The Oneida County enterprise for 1924:1:3-1930:5:1
 * The Oneida County news for 1921:3:15-1923:4:19
 * The Southern Idaho magazine for 1982:3:1-1985:2:13

Current

 * Idaho Enterprise

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Pension Records
Mothers' Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho for widows and/or orphans, under certain conditions. Petitions for those pensions were filed with the probate court in each county. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed. Oneida County Mothers' Pensions are included in that index which is available online.

Probate Records
Online Probate Records


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

Some of the earlier probate records of Oneida County have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho for viewing at their facility. The following records have been microfilmed by the in Salt Lake City, Utah, are are available for viewing at the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers:


 * Probate Records 1871-1952
 * Inventories 1882-1943
 * Index to inventories 1882-1985
 * Wills 1879-1950

Other existing probate records as well as later and current records should be available at the Oneida County courthouse in Malad, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there.

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

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

The Birth Registers for Oneida County, 1907-1911 have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Oneida 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.

Idaho Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records gives details about this collection that covers 1856-1965.

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

2,749 marriages from 11 May 1865 to 12 Nov 1941 are listed in Western States Marriage Index.

Records of 1826 marriages in Oneida County are available online at Idaho Marriages.

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

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

The Death Registers for Oneida County, 1907-1911, have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the  in Salt Lake City. After 1911, deaths occurring in Oneida County 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 mandated 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 in Boise, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, 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 Idaho Death Index 1911-1956

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

Deaths from other sources
A significant source of death and related information for eastern Idaho families can be found at the following website Eastern Idaho Death 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.


 * Oneida County Library 31 N 100 W Malad, ID 83252 Phone: 208-766-2229 Website
 * Oneida County Pioneer Museum 27 Bannock Street Malad, ID Phone: 208-766-4847 Website

Family History Centers

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

Websites

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