Lewis County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Lewis 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 Meriwether Lewis. The County Seat is Nezperce and was founded March 3, 1911. It is located in the north area of the state.

County Courthouse
Lewis County Courthouse 510 Oak Street Nezperce, ID 83543-0039 Phone: 208-937-2251 County Website

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, court and land records from 1911.

Populated Places
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:

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) In 1930, Lewis County was part of Northwestern States Mission. There were no stake organized in the area at the time.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Lewis County, Idaho prior to 1950.
 * 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 Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.

 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
 * Court records, 1911-1932
 * Power of attorney, 1883-1964; index, 1890-1986

Judgment Books
 * Judgment record, 1895-1946; index, 1895-1986

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

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Maps and Gazetteers

 * A digital Lewis County Idaho map is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

World War I

 * 1917-1918 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 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
 * Clearwater Progress, published in Kamiah.
 * Lewis County Herald

 Historical The Idaho State Archives has a collection of Idaho newspapers

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * The Ilo-Vollmer Historical Society has 26 volumes of obituary records for Lewis County. This Society can be reached at: PO Box 61, Craigmont, ID 83523

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 FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Lewis County. The originals are held in the Lewis County courthouse in Nez Perce, 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
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com ($)
 * (*) 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
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1911 to present Birth records, for individuals born in Lewis 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.

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
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1911-1956 A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956

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

 * Grangeville Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Kamiah Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Lewiston Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Moscow Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Orofino Idaho FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * Prairie River Library 113 W. Main St. Craigmont, ID 83523 Ph. 208-924-5510 Website
 * Nezperce City Library 602 Oak St. Nezperce, ID 83543 Ph. 208-937-2458 Website

Societies

 * Ilo-Vollmer Historical Society Box 61 Craigmont, ID 83523 Phone: 208-924-5474
 * 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

Websites

 * Lewis County ID GenWeb, ID GenWeb


 * – 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.