Custer County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Custer 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 for the General Custer gold mine. The County Seat is Challis and was founded January 8, 1881. It is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
 Custer County Courthouse 801 East Main Ave Challis, ID 83226 Phone: 208-879-2360 County Website

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, court and land records from 1872. Probate Court has probate 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
For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho 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.

Church Records
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
 * List of Custer County stakes and wards to about 1948.

 Historical
 * The following are local congregations (wards) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which existed in Custer County, Idaho prior to 1950. Many of the original records of these church units are in the Church History Library in Salt Lake City. Many of the membership records covering these units from the date of their creation to about 1948 have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City or in its Family History Centers.
 * Challis
 * Chilly
 * Leslie
 * McKay

 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
 * 1911-1924 at FamilySearch. Judgment records, 1911-1924; index, 1911-1924, Includes divorces, probate documents, civil and criminal actions, and many other court actions.
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog - Deeds, 1872-1913; index, 1873-1908; Homesteads, 1883-1968; index 1888-1968; Judgments, 1881-1968; index, 1881-1968; Separate property of married women, 1881-1896; index, 1881-1896

Local Histories
The History of Custer County, Idaho by Jesse R Black was published in 1900. It is available online and at various US libraries. Land of the Yankee Fork by Esther Yarber recounts the history of the gold mining towns of Custer and Bonanza City. Additional works are:
 * Settlement of Idaho by Utah pioneers: Lemhi, Butte, Custer, and Madison Counties by Mary N Porter Harris
 * People of the Yankee Fork by Patricia L Packard
 * A History of Gold Mining on the Yankee Fork River, Custer County, Idaho by George C Stephens
 * The Lure of Gold and Silver: The Story of Central Idaho's Pioneers and Mining by Roberta H Green

Maps and Gazetteers

 * An 1895 map of Ada and surrounding counties is available online.
 * A digital Custer County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Custer County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
 Online Records

World War I
 * 1917-1918 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1917-1918 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

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Newspapers

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

 Current Challis Messenger, published in Challis, Idaho.

Historical The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed the following Custer County newspapers: Challis Messenger: 1912:3:19- 9999 Houston Press, 1901: 1901:08:31 Idaho Messenger: 1886:10:05 Idaho Messenger: 1888:7:10-1889:7:16 Mackay Miner: 1906:2:16-1975:12:18 Mackay Telegraph: 1901:10-1905:7 Mackay Telegraph: 1903:7:7-1903:7:11 Prospector: 1904:1:3, 1904:2:20 Silver Messenger: 1894:7:31 -1912:3:12 Yankee Fork Herald: 1879: 7: 24-1882: 4: Yankee Fork Herald: 1881:04:23

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.

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 Custer County. The originals are held in the Custer County courthouse in Challis, 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.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1879-1944 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1889-1958 (*) 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

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; Index
 * Western States Marriage Index

Death

 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1907-1965 Idaho Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records gives details about the collection that covers the years of 1907-1965.
 * 1911-1956 State-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; 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

Family History Centers

 * Boise Idaho Family History Center
 * Carey Idaho Ward Family History Center
 * Challis Idaho Family History Center
 * Hailey Idaho Family History Center
 * Moore Idaho Family History Center
 * Salmon Idaho Family History Center
 * Terreton Idaho Family History Center

Libraries

 * Challis Public Library 6th And Main St Challis, ID 83226 Phone: (208) 879-4267 Website
 * Mackay District Library 320 Capitol Ave Mackay, ID 83251 Phone: (208) 588-3333 Website
 * Stanley District Library 33 Ace Of Diamonds St Stanley, ID 83278 Phone: (208) 774-2470 Website

Museums

 * Stanley Museum (Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Assn.) PO Box 75, Stanley Idaho Phone: (208) 774-3517 Website

Societies

 * South Custer County Historical Society 3821 N US Highway 93 Moore, ID 83521 Website
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website
 * Idaho Historical Society Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site

Websites

 * IDGenWeb Custer, an affiliate of Idaho GenWeb Project


 * – 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.