Wisconsin Descendancy Research

Step 1. Find descendants in every possible census record, 1850-1950, online.
Census records, widely indexed, are a fast way to identify members of families, their approximate year of birth, and the state where they were born. That information hints where to look for birth, marriage, and death records for more detailed information. One disadvantage is they are 10 years apart. Children born and dying within that 10-year span can be overlooked.

Federal Censuses

State Censuses

- For more information on census records, see Wisconsin Census and United States Census.

Step 2: Find birth, marriage, and death records online.
Government records, known as civil registration or vital records, were kept in Wisconsin statewide beginning in 1907, although counties may have kept earlier records. They provide full dates and places. They are sometimes indexed, and can be searched by child or parent names. They are especially useful because they name other family members, For example, marriage records name the parents of the bride and groom. Death records are especially helpful because they name parents, who lived years earlier, even before other records were kept. Coverage in the earlier years can be incomplete however. In some states, church records were gathered to provide earlier certificates.

Births
 * 1801-1928: Wisconsin Births and Christenings Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1808-1920: Wisconsin Birth Index at MyHeritage; index only ($)
 * 1820-1907: at FamilySearch; index only; Also at Ancestry ($)
 * 1826-1926: at FamilySearch; index only

Marriages
 * Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Marriage Index at Wisconsin History - Free
 * 17thc-20thc: US Marriages at Findmypast; index only ($)
 * 1808-1907: Wisconsin, Marriage Index, 1808-1907 at MyHeritage; index ($)
 * 1820-1907: Wisconsin Marriage Index at Ancestry; index only ($)
 * 1836-1930: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1899-1980: at FamilySearch; images only
 * 1973-1997: at FamilySearch; index only; Also at Ancestry ($)

Deaths 
 * 1808-1909: Wisconsin, Death Index, 1808-1909 at MyHeritage; index ($)
 * 1820-1907: at FamilySearch; index only; Also at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1835-1968: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1867-1907: at FamilySearch; index only
 * 1959-1997: at FamilySearch; index only; Also at Ancestry ($)

For more information on birth, marriage, and death records in Wisconsin, see How to Find Wisconsin Birth Records, How to Find Wisconsin Marriage Records, and How to Find Wisconsin Death Records.

Step 3: '''Try to find additional details about descendants in obituaries and cemetery records online.
These records can be especially useful for details about births and deaths that took place before 1907. Frequently, family members are buried near each other. FindAGrave, often lists details, not even listed on the tombstone, but added to the website by family members or researchers. - Obituaries Cemeteries
 * Wisconsin Genealogy Index includes obituaries in the 150,000-entry index.
 * Wisconsin Medical Journal Physician Obituary Database (1903-2008)
 * Online Wisconsin Death Records and Indexes
 * Northeast Wisconsin Obituary Page
 * ObitsArchive.com - Wisconsin ($)
 * ObituariesHelp.org - Wisconsin Newspaper Obituaries Listings
 * The Obituary Link Page - Wisconsin Obituary Links
 * USGenWeb Archives Obituary Project Wisconsin
 * Wisconsin Obituaries
 * Wisconsin, Local Literature Records at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1980-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Find-A-Grave
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current at Ancestry
 * Billion Graves
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * BillionGraves Index at Findmypast ($)
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use This Collection
 * Wisconsin Cemetery Records at AccessGenealogy
 * Wisconsin Cemetery Records at Interment
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * Wisconsin Gravestone Project at Wisconsin Gravestones
 * Wisconsin Tombstone Transcription Project at USGenWeb Transcription Project
 * Online Wisconsin Obituary and Cemetery Indexes at DeathIndexes

For more information, see Wisconsin Obituaries and Wisconsin Cemeteries.

Step 4: Explore Historical Images for additional online records about descendants.
Records collected and digitized by FamilySearch can all be found through their Historical Images feature.
 * Wisconsin, United States Historical Images, New Version
 * Wisconsin, United States Historical Images, Old Version

Step 5: Search any other online records listed in Wisconsin Online Genealogy Records.
The steps given here are intended to list record sources which can most efficiently identify descendants. Many other online records which might or might not mention descendants are listed in the Wisconsin Online Genealogy Records page, including immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers, and probate records, and others. These can be records that cover a smaller group within the population, such as men who served in the military, etc.
 * Wisconsin Online Genealogy Records