Ferry County, Washington Genealogy

Guide to Ferry County Washington ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1899, when the county was formed.

Parent County(s)
Ferry County, Washington was created 18 February 1899 from Stevens.

County Seat: Republic. See also Towns and Communities in. For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.

Boundary Changes

 * Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library


 * For animated maps illustrating Washington County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Washington County Boundary Maps" (1843-1915) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Neighboring Counties
is surrounded by: Lincoln | Okanogan | Stevens | British Columbia (to the north)

Courthouse
Ferry County Courthouse 350 East Delaware; PO Box 302 Republic, WA 99166 Phone: 509.775.5232 County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1899.

See also Archives, libraries, etc. in.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Cemeteries

 * "Kewa Cemetery" online
 * " Covington Cemetery" online
 * "Garden Valley Cemetery" online

Census

 * Census indexes at Washington State Digital Archives: (Free)
 * Federal: 1910
 * These were indexed by local societies and individuals.

Church Records

 * Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for are listed in the . (Press space bar to select town.)

American Indian
The Colville Indian Reservation is located in southern Ferry and southern Okanogan counties.
 * 1911 - 1919 - at FamilySearch — images

Japanese

 * World War II Files, 1942-1946. Public Welfare/Social Security Department, (Japanese Internment) Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 from the Washington State Archives – Digital Archives.

Genealogy
Genealogy Research Aids


 * Basic Guide for Genealogy Research in Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille Counties by Nancy Wright, Susan DeChant, and Shirley Dodson of NeWGS.

History

 * Illustrated History of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan Counties, State of Washington by Richard f. Steele [(Spokane, Wash.): Western Historical Pub. Co., 1904] Commonly known by title History of North Washington. Online at Washington Secretary of State site (Free).
 * This book has numerous errors and its facts should viewed with circumspection.

History Timeline
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Laura Arksey. Ferry County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7787.


 * The original inhabitants of what is now Ferry County were several semi-nomadic Indian tribes, with the predominating.
 * 1811 - The fur trader and cartographer, David Thompson (1770-1857), reached Kettle Falls.
 * 1825 - The (HBC)establish a fur post.
 * 1872-April,The was established.
 * 1892-July 2, The United States government purchased the northern half of the Colville Reservation.
 * 1896-February 21, The northern half was opened to prospectors after minerals, especially gold, were discovered.
 * 1898 - June 30, The southern half was opened to prospectors.
 * 1899-February, Ferry County was formed and Republic, its only sizeable town, was declared county seat.
 * 1900 - Approximately 12,500 mining claims had been staked in Ferry County.
 * 1900 - The northern half of the reservation was opened to timber claims and homesteading.
 * 1916-July 1, The southern half of the reservation was opened to homesteading.

Land and Property

 * County Recorder's Office: check deeds, file mining claims, get assistance in finding ownership of a particular property, and obtain copies of county plat maps. This office has county plat records dating back to 1878, prior records having been destroyed in a fire.

Military

 * at FamilySearch — index
 * World War II (1941–1945) army enlistments at the county GenWeb site has about 400 entries, mostly from Okanogan and other counties. Key (at end of the list) explains codes and columns. Gives year and state of birth. Free.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Naturalization Records, 1906-1927 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Newspapers

 * Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)


 * The Miner

Obituaries
Also check:


 * Newspapers of
 * Local Funeral Homes, Libraries, or family records.
 * Obituaries of neighboring counties

Public Records

 * Ferry Postmaster Indexes. Part of Washington, Postmaster Indexes, Prior to 1965, FamilySearch Historical Collections for Washington. (Free, browse images)


 * Ferry County Board of Commissioners, Minutes, 1899-1952, 1983-2006 available online at Washington Digital Archives


 * Corrections Department, Penitentiary, Convict Record, 1877-1888 at Washington Digital Archives

Taxation

 * The SCHS has the county assessor's personal property tax assessment ledgers for 1898. Images of the ledger are viewable on the Crossroads on the Columbia project.

Marriage

 * 1801-1962 - Washington, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1855–2008 - at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1900-1999 - Marriage Records, 1900-1999 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)


 * 1969-2014 - at FamilySearch — index

Divorce
Online Records
 * 1969 - 2014 - at FamilySearch — index

Death

 * Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information] may be in these records.


 * Register of Deaths 1899-1911 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Archives, Libraries, etc.
Resources for are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.


 * Check websites and catalogs, such as items in (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for.

Family History Centers

 * Republic Washington Family History Center 10 W 15th St., Republic, WA 99166 United States Location Map

Libraries

 * Kettle River East Library, 5th And C Street, Orient 99160 Phone: (509) 738-3033


 * Online Resources: (None found Oct. 2013)


 * Unique Collections:


 * Republic Community Library, 794 S Clark Ave, Republic 99166 Phone: (509) 775-3328


 * Online Resources: Heritage Quest


 * Unique Collections:

Societies
Northeast Washington Genealogical Society c/o Colville Public Library 195 S Oak Colville, WA 99114 Website assists those researching in Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens County. Classes and meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month.

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

Indian Reservation

The Colville Indian Reservation is located in southern Ferry and southern Okanogan counties.