Shoshone County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Idaho Online Genealogy Records

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Description
The County was named for the Native American Shoshone Tribe. The County has Wallace as its seat and the County was created February 4, 1864. The County is located in the north area of the state.

County Clerk
Shoshone County Clerk 700 Bank Street Wallace, ID 83873 Phone: (208) 752-1264 or 3331 Fax: (208) 752-1896 County Clerk has birth and death records from 1907-1911, marriage records from 1875, divorce records from 1887, probate records from 1885, court records from 1884, and land records records from 1871.

Parent County
1864--Shoshone County was created 4 February 1864 as an original county. County seat: Wallace

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

Places/Localities
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:

The above list of places includes incorporated cities and towns, unincorporated towns and communities, and place names that may have been used in family histories. Some have well-organized records and even have websites. Some are simply social communities with no official records, but which may be referenced in small-town newspapers. The list is provided to help researchers identify localities within the county. As records or histories of these localities are identified, a page will be added for each of these place names.

This list of places in Shoshone County, Idaho was compiled from the Lists of Places in Idaho in Wikipedia and from the map of Shoshone County in Virtual Earth.

Resources
The types of records that follow are used for genealogy and family history. Most tell what you may learn and how to locate the records. Links to Internet sites usually go directly to entries with names, images, or information.

Many of the older court, land, naturalization, probate, pension, and vital records for Shoshone County have been microfilmed and are available at the in Salt Lake City and through their family history centers. They are also available at the Idaho State Archivesin Boise. Details of the county records in these respective institutions can be obtained from their online catalogs or listings. Original records which have been microfilmed and more recent records are in the county courthouse in Wallace.

Cemeteries
There are many cemeteries in Shoshone County. For a list of those that have been identified, and links to transcriptions and/or photographs of tombstones, go to Shoshone County, Idaho Cemetery Records.

For the cemeteries in or immediately adjacent to the cities, please see the city pages for the cities listed above.

Census
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.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
In 1930, Shoshone 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 Shoshone 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 Family History Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.
 * 1864--Shoshone County was created 4 February 1864 as an original county.

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Kellogg-Wallace
 * FamilySearch Places

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.

Court Records
Some of the early court records of Shoshone County, Idaho have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho. The records filmed include civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc. Copies of these microfilmed court records are also available at the in Salt Lake City, Utah or at any of the Library's Family History Centers. Additional court records and more recent records are housed at the Shoshone County courthouse in Wallace, and can be accessed by making a visit there.

Some of the records of the courts of Shoshone County that have been microfilmed include:


 * Court journal, 1868-1934 Idaho. District Court (Shoshone County)
 * Power of attorney, 1884-1929 Idaho. County Court (Shoshone County)

Judgment Books


 * Judgments, 1866-1931 Idaho. District Court (Shoshone County)
 * Judgments, 1893-1927 Idaho. Circuit Court (Shoshone County)

Directories
The Idaho State Archives has in its collections copies of many city, county, state and regional directories.

History
The digitized book An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho is available online at archive.org.

Land and Property
Land and Property records are generally recorded in the county courthouse of the county in which the transaction took place. For original records of Shoshone County, Idaho, one may visit the courthouse in Wallace, Idaho.

The Idaho State Archives has microfilmed many county records of Shoshone County and these can be accessed by visiting the Archives in Boise, Idaho.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has also microfilmed some of the Shoshone County land and property records, and the following can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its Family History Centers:



Maps

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

Military
World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918, for Shoshone County have been microfilmed. Copies of these records are available at the Family History Library (their ) and are also available online at Ancestry.com, for a subscription fee. The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.

Online Records

 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images

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 Shoshone County. The originals are held in the Shoshone County courthouse in Wallace, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archivesare 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.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

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

Current
Shoshone News - Press 401 Main Street Kellogg, ID 83837 Ph. 208-783-1107 email - ddrewry@hagadone.com Weekly

Historical
Copies of many Idaho Newspapers are in the collections of the Idaho State Archives.

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Some early probate records of Shoshone County have been microfilmed by the Idaho State Archives, and are available for viewed at their facility in Boise.

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has also microfilmed Shoshone County probate records which can be viewed at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of their Family History Centers. These records are:



For any existing or later probate records, these should be found at the Shoshone County courthouse in Wallace.

Taxation
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah has microfilmed the following tax records of Shoshone County which are available for viewing at the Library in Salt Lake City or in any of its Family History Centers:



Any other later or existing tax assessment rolls for Shoshone County should be in the courthouse in Wallace and would need to be accessed by visiting there.

Birth
Online Records
 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images

The birth registers for Shoshone County, 1907-1911 have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Birth records, 1911 to present, for individuals born in Shoshone 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.

There are 711 Shoshone County births and christenings in the online Idaho Births and Christenings.

Marriage
Online Records


 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1864-1950 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1878-1898; 1903-1942 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — index

Over 5300 marriages, 1868-1934, are listed on the Western States Marriage Index.

There are 4470 Shoshone County marriages listed online at Idaho Marriages.

Divorce
Online Records
 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — index

Deaths
Online Records
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — index

The Death Registers for Shoshone County, 1907-1911, have been microfilmed and are available at the Idaho State Archives in Boise and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. After 1911, deaths occurring in Shoshone County are included in the state-wide registration program. These records are restricted for a period of fifty years from the time of the individual's death but can be obtained by following the guidelines as mandated by the State of Idaho. See the Vital Records topic under Idaho for details.

Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be used at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations.

A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956 is available online. Efforts to expand this index to 1960 are underway. Another version is Idaho Death Index 1911-1956.

There are also 1493 Shoshone County deaths recorded on the online Idaho Deaths and Burials.

Societies and Libraries
Many public libraries provide internet access to sites of value to the family historian. Some have special collections of historical and cultural interest, as well. The following libraries may have some resources of value, but use of some or all of them may require a visit to the library.


 * Clarkia District Library 377 Poplar St Clarkia, ID 83812 Phone: (208) 245-2908
 * Mullan Public Library 117 Hunter Ave Mullan, ID 83846 Phone: (208) 744-1220
 * Osburn Public Library 921 Mullan Ave Osburn, ID 83849 Phone: (208) 752-9711 Website
 * Wallace Public Library 415 River St Wallace, ID 83873 Phone: (208) 752-4571 Website
 * Kellogg Public Library 16 W Market Ave Kellogg, ID 83837 Phone: (208) 786-7231 Website
 * Hughes House Historical Society‎ 538 Main Avenue Saint Maries, ID 83861-2061 (208) 245-1501
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website


 * Idaho Historical Society Facebook Page Website


 * Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar


 * Idaho State Archives


 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter


 * The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site

Family History Centers

 * Hayden Lake Idaho Family History Center
 * Kellogg Idaho Family History Center
 * Plains Montana Family History Center
 * Priest River Idaho Family History Center
 * Sandpoint Idaho Family History Center
 * St Maries Idaho Family History Center


 * Thompson Falls Public Library - an affiliate library

Websites

 * The Shoshone County ID GenWeb Project, a member of The IDGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project
 * Shoshone County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Shoshone County, Idaho Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)