Wheeler County, Oregon Genealogy

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

Oregon Online Genealogy Records

Description
The County was named for Henry H. Wheeler. The County is located in the north central area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has probate records from 1899 and land records. Clerk Circuit Court has divoce and court records.

Wheeler County Government

County Records Inventory listing the records held at the Wheeler County Court House as of June 2008.

Wheeler County Court is structured differently. Check the County Records Inventory link for addresses for location of records (left column).

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

Parent Counties
17 February 1899: Wheeler County was created from Crook, Gilliam and Grant Counties.

Named for Henry H. Wheeler, a early settler who owned a farm near Mitchell.

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Oregon County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Oregon County Boundary Maps" (1843-1975) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

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:

Neighboring Counties
Crook | Gilliam | Grant | Jefferson | Morrow | Wasco

Cemeteries

 * Oregon Metro
 * Oregon Genealogy Cemeteries

Church History and Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Maps

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1919-1920 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1921-1938 at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1833 – 1963 Oregon Wills and Probate Records 1833-1963 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Vital Records
See also How to order Oregon Vital Records, order electronically online or download an application for Oregon Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Application to mail.

Birth Records

 * 1842-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images (*); Also at: Ancestry
 * 1860-1952 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1876-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Delayed Birth Certificates

Marriage Records

 * 1826-1975 Oregon, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1842-1917 Oregon, U.S., State Births, 1842-1917 at Ancestry - index and images ($); Also at: 
 * 1849-1884; 1991-2006 at FamilySearch — index and images; collection is incomplete.
 * 1906-1968 Oregon, U.S., State Marriages, 1906-1968 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
 * Extractions of early marriages are listed on the Western States Marriage Index
 * Marriage Index 1885-1896 Actually is a book of affiants reporting the marriages. Historical Records Collection

Societies, Libraries and Museums
Wheeler County Cultural & Heritage Coaliation 541-256-0551 Facebook Page

Fossil Public Library 401 Main St Fossil OR 97830 541-763-2046 Facebook Page

Family History Centers

 * Bend Oregon Family History Center
 * John Day Oregon Family History Center
 * Prineville Oregon Family History Center
 * Redmond Oregon Family History Center


 * The Genealogical Forum of Oregon - an affiliate library
 * Oregon Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Websites

 * Wheeler County, OR History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Oregon Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Wheeler GenWeb Project, part of The ORGenWeb Project, a state project affiliated with The USGenWeb Project.
 * Linkpendium
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * USGenWeb Archives (backup site)