Woodson County, Kansas Genealogy

Guide to Woodson County, Kansas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The County was named for Daniel Woodson, who served as secretary of Kansas Territory. The County has Yates Center as its seat and the County was created August 25, 1855. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Woodson County Courthouse 105 W. Rutledge Street Yates Center, Kansas 66783-1237 Phone: 316.625.8605 Woodson County Website County Clerk has birth records 1885-1911, marriage records from 1860, divorce and probate records from 1863, court records from 1934 and land records from 1861.

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:

State and Territorial Census Records

 * 1855-1925 - Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925 at Ancestry — ($), Index and images; covers census years 1855-1859, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925
 * 1860 - at FamilySearch — Index and images
 * 1860 - 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Kansas Territory at Ancestry — ($), Index and images
 * 1865 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1875 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1885 - at FamilySearch — images
 * 1895 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1915 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1919-1961 - Kansas, City and County Census Records, 1919-1961 at Ancestry — Partial index (4 counties) and images

Federal Census Records
The 1870 Census was the first Federal Census taken for Kansas after it became a state in 1861. For links to Federal Census indexes, see Kansas Census.

Local Histories
Online County Histories
 * History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas. 1901. Edited and compiled by L. Wallace Duncan, Chas. F. Scott. Iola, Kansas : Iola Register. Online at:, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($);.
 * History of the State of Kansas. (Woodson County section). 1883.  By William G. Cutler. Chicago, Illinois : A. T. Andreas.  Online at: Kansas Collection Books.


 * Drought Reports, Kansas Territory, 1860 - Includes a report from E. Condit of Woodson County
 * Lands in the New York Indian Reserve, Kansas Territory, 1860 - No names but good historical background.
 * The Story of a Kansas Pioneer, by Melissa Genett Anderson - Life story of a woman who moved to Neosho Falls, Woodson County, in 1860. Filled with details of what life was like.
 * The Illinois Picnic Association of Woodson County - was formed "for the benefit of the Ill. settlers." Includes names. 1881.
 * American Legion Auxiliary, Woodson County, 1921
 * History of Woodson County - by Mrs. S. E. Chase, 1877

Maps and Gazetteers
Standard Atlas of Woodson County, Kansas, 1904

Online Collections
These collections are unique to Kansas. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and Kansas Military Records. Collections Covering Multiple Wars Civil War Spanish-American War (1898) World War I World War II Korean War Vietnam War For further information see Kansas Military Records.
 * Kansas Military Index at Kansas Historical Society - Index only, includes Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq and Afghanistan Conflicts
 * Records of the Deaths and Burials at the Kansas State Soldiers Home - Index only, the home is located in Fort Dodge, Ford County, Kansas.
 * During the Civil War in 1861 men from Wilson, Woodson and Greenwood counties organized the 14th Regiment, Kansas Cavalry.
 * Kansas Civil War Soldiers at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index only
 * 1862, 1863, 1868: Kansas, Civil War Enlistment Papers, 1862, 1863, 1868 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * 1866-1931: Kansas, Grand Army of the Republic Bound Post Records, 1866-1931 at the *Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * 1880-1940: Kansas, Grand Army of the Republic Post Reports, 1880-1940 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * Woodson County, KS 1883 List of Pensioners on the Roll
 * 1889: Kansas, Enrollment of Civil War Veterans, 1889 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * Kansas Civil War Soldiers at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * 1945-1970: Kansas, United Spanish War Veterans Reports of Deaths, 1945-1970 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * History and Roster of the Kansas State Guard (WWI) at KSGenWeb - Taken from the book by the Adjutant General's Office
 * 1917-1919: Kansas, World War I Veteran Collection, 1917-1919 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * 1930: Kansas, Enrollment of WWI Veterans, 1930 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * 1940-1946: Web: Kansas, WWII Selective Service Index, 1940-1946 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing, State of Kansas, War Dept-June 1946 at KSGenWeb - Index only
 * U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Korean War for Kansas - Index only
 * U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War for Kansas - Index only

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1864 - 1972 - Kansas, Naturalization Abstracts, 1864-1972 at Ancestry — ($), Index
 * 1865 - 1874 - Kansas Indian Naturalizations, ca. 1865-1874 at the National Archives — Index, District of Kansas, Record Group 21.
 * 1865 - 1984 - Kansas, Federal Naturalization Records, 1865-1984 at Ancestry — ($), Index and images
 * 1917 - 1918 - Kansas, Registration Affidavits of Alien Enemies, 1917-1918 at Ancestry — ($), Index and images, includes German and other aliens living in Kansas

Newspapers
Kansas Newspapers Online Kansas Newspaper Catalogs
 * Kansas Newspapers at Newspapers.com - ($), free to Kansas residents through Kansas Historical Society
 * GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of Kansas newspapers
 * Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of Kansas newspapers
 * Chronicling America - contains images of some Kansas newspapers; searching tips
 * Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites
 * Kansas Online Historical Newspapers - contains a list of known Kansas newspapers online and the websites they are found on
 * U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper

Other Records
Voter Records
 * 1854 - Kansas Election List, 1854 at Ancestry — ($), Index
 * 1854 - 1856 - Kansas Voter Registration Lists, 1854-1856 at Ancestry — ($), Index

Probate Records
'''Online Records


 * 1803 – 1987 Kansas Wills and Probate Records 1803-1987 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Vital Records

 * GenWeb Transcribed Births and Deaths

Birth

 * 1818 - 1936 at FamilySearch.org — index


 * 1885 - 1911 Kansas, Births and Christenings Index, 1885-1911 at Ancestry.com — index $

Marriage

 * 1800 - 1946 - United States Marriages – Kansas, 1800-1946 at findmypast — ($), Index and images
 * 1811 - 1911 - at FamilySearch — Index
 * 1811 - 1911 - Kansas, County Marriages, 1811-1911 at Ancestry — ($), Index
 * 1840 - 1935 - at FamilySearch.org — Index
 * 1854 - 1861 - KHS Kansas Marriage Index, 1854-1861 at Kansas Historical Society — Index

Death

 * 1885 - 1930 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1885 - 1930 Kansas, Deaths and Burials, Index, 1885-1930 at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies
Woodson County Kansas Genealogy Society 608 North Prairie Yates Center 66783

Woodson County Historical Society 208 W. Mary Yates Center, KS 66783 Telephone Number: 620-625-2626 Website Kansas Historical Society Online primary sources for Woodson County. Free; no registration required.

Websites

 * GenWeb for Woodson County
 * Woodson County Home Page
 * State Library of Kansas
 * 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
 * Woodson County, Kansas Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)