Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin Genealogy

Guide to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
The County was named for Fond du Lac which is French for "bottom of the lake". The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Fond du Lac County Courthouse 160 S. Macy Street Fond du Lac, WI 54935-4241 Phone: 920-929-3000 Fond du Lac County Website Register of Deeds has birth records from 1847, marriage records from 1844, death records from 1868 and land records. Clerk of Courts has divorce and court records. Probate Office has probate records. Veterans Office has military 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:

Bible Records

 * Fond du Lac Bible Records WIGenWeb Project

Biographies

 * Fond du Lac County Biographies USGenWeb Archives

Census Records
State Census
 * 1855 This census includes name of head of family; other individuals in the household are identified by sex and race, number of deaf and dumb, blind, insane and foreign born. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1865 Name index and images of the 1865 State Census which names the head of household. Most records have been destroyed but schedules exist for the following counties: Dunn, Green, Jackson, Kewaunee, Ozaukee, and Sheboygan. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1875 Identifies head of household by name. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1885 — index and images. Search indexed census.Identifies by name of head of household.  Other information is statistical and identifies the rest of the household by race, gender and country of birth. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1895 — index and images. Identifies head of household by name. Other information is statistical. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1905 — Name index and images of population. Enumerates by name all inhabitants. - How to Use this Collection

Federal Census
 * 1830 1830 Federal Census, Wisconsin Territory, Fond du Lac WIGenWeb Project
 * 1850 1850 Federal Census, Fond du Lac County by town WIGenWeb Project
 * 1860 1860 Federal Census, Fond du Lac County, by Town WIGenWeb Project
 * 1920 1920 Federal Census, Byron, partial WIGenWeb Project
 * Fond du Lac Wards WIGenWeb Project

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Church Histories, Fond du Lac County WIGenWeb Project
 * FamilySearch Places

Directories

 * Fond du Lac, Wisconsin City Directories
 * Centennial Directory, Fond du Lac County WIGenWeb Project
 * Early Settlers of Mt. Calvary, Fond du Lac County WIGenWeb Project
 * "Souvenir Album," Old Settlers and Home Comers of Fond du Lac County by Franklin Swett, 1912 WIGenWeb Project

Land and Property Records

 * Wisconsin Land Patents Database, Fond du Lac County USGenWeb Archives

Local Histories

 * History of Fond du Lac County WIGenWeb Archives

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Wisconsin
 * Family Maps of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Fond du Lac Townships Map. Mouse over 1855 to see the latest.
 * 1867 Perspective Map of the City of Fond du Lac
 * 1878 Map of the City of Fond du Lac
 * Current Parcel maps for the City of Fond du Lac

Civil War

 * - 1st Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry, Companies, B, C, D, E, F and I
 * - 2nd Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry, Company A
 * - 3rd Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry, Company C
 * - 5th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company I
 * - 5th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry Reorganized, Companies B and H
 * - 6th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company E
 * - 10th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company K
 * - 14th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company H with men from the town of Forest, which is found in Fond du Lac County, Richland County, St. Croix County or Vernon County


 * 21st Wisconsin, Deaths in Rebel Prisons, Fond du Lac Weekly USGenWeb Archives
 * The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database National Park Service

World War I

 * Fond du Lac County Army Casualties USGenWeb Archives

World War II
US Army Enlistees from Fond du Lac County (USGenWeb Archives)

Newspapers
 Wisconsin Newspapers Online
 * Wisconsin Digital Newspaper at Wisconsin State Historical Society
 * Brandon Times newspaper 1867-1926 and 1935-1960, at Winnefox Library System
 * Ripon Newspaper Collection (12412 items) a variety of Ripon titles with near-continuous coverage from 1853 to present day, including the Ripon Commonwealth 1864-1968, Press 1875-1957, and Commonweath-Press 1965-2004, at Winnefox Library System

Obituaries

 * Fond du Lac County Obituaries USGenWeb Archives

Probate Records
A wiki article describing an online collection is found at Wisconsin Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1800–1987 Wisconsin Wills and Probate Records 1800-1987 at Ancestry — images and index $
 * 1848–1948 at FamilySearch — images - How to Use this Collection

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 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1820-1920: Wisconsin, Birth Index, 1808-1920 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1826-1908 Wisconsin, Births and Christenings Index, 1826-1908 at Ancestry — index $
 * 1826-1926 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)
 * Early Birth Index (through 1854) WIGenWeb Project

Marriage

 * 1836-1911 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1836-1930 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1899-1930 Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S., Public Library Records, Marriage Applications at Ancestry.com — index & images ($)
 * Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)
 * 1973-1997 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1973-1997 Wisconsin Marriages, 1973-1997 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
 * Early Marriage Index (through 1850, Fond du Lac County WIGenWeb Project

Death

 * 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1835-1968 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1867-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)
 * 1959-1997 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Divorce

 * 1965-1984 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1848-1950Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S., Public Library Records, Divorce Index at Ancestry.com — index ($)

Archives

 * Area Research Center Polk Library, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh 800 Algoma Blvd. Oshkosh, WI 54901 Phone: 920-424-1234 Website Contact info

FamilySearch Centers

 * Fond du Lac Wisconsin FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * Polk Library, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh Area Research Center 800 Algoma Blvd. Oshkosh, WI 54901 Phone: 920-424-1234 Website Contact info

Societies

 * Fond du Lac County Genealogical Society E-mail:[mailto:tgfamilytree@gmail.com tgfamilytree@gmail.com] Facebook
 * Fond du Lac County Historical Society 336 Pioneer Rd. Fond du Lac, WI 54935 Phone: 920-922-1166 E-mail:[mailto:infofdlhistory.com infofdlhistory.com] Facebook Website

Websites

 * Fond du Lac County, WI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Wisconsin Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Wisconsin State Genealogical Society- Fond du Lac County Page
 * USGenWeb -- Fond du Lac County Page
 * Fond du Lac Genealogical Society--Offers cemetery listings and publications for sale
 * Fond du Lac County USGenWeb Archives
 * - 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