Graham County, Kansas Genealogy

Guide to Graham 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 Captain John L. Graham, Kansas 8th Regiment, killed in action in the Civil War. The County has Hill City as its seat and the County was created March 11, 1868. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Graham County Courthouse 410 N. Pomeroy Street Hill City, Kansas 67642-1645 Phone: 785.674.5433 Graham County Website Probate Judge has marriage and probate record. Clerk District Court has divorce and court records. Register of Deeds has land records.

Populated Places
The following are locations in Graham County, Kansas:

Cemeteries
Graham County Cemeteries site lists the name of the cemeteries and a transcription of those cemeteries giving the name, date of birth, date of death, and remarks if any.

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
 * 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.

African Americans

 * Nicodemus Historical Society - Nicodemus was established in 1877 and became the largest community established by freed salave following the Civil war. The site includes an ongoing project to identify descendants of the townspeople. Freed Slaves had been encouraged to settle in the Free State Kansas.
 * Nicodemus National Park Service
 * Images of Nicodemus, Graham County, Kansas

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records
 * Land records at Kansas Historical Society
 * 1906 Land Plat book for Graham County - image of plat book

For more information see Kansas Land and Property
 * Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
 * 1796-1907 - U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1861-1936 - U.S. Homestead Records 1861-1936 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images

Local Histories
Online County Histories
 * Writer and Engraver's Picture of Graham County's Progress Since its Organization. 1906. By Miss Chance. Topeka, Kan. : F. M. Steves. Online at:, Internet Archive;.

Military Records

 * Graham County was not organized until after the Civil War.

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

Probate Records
'''Online Records


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

Birth

 * 1818 - 1936 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1885 - 1911 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1885 - 1911 Kansas, Births and Christenings Index, 1885-1911 at Ancestry.com — index $

Marriage

 * 1811 - 1911 at | FamilySearch — index
 * 1840 - 1935 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1855 - 1911 at | FamilySearch — images
 * 1855 - 1911 Kansas, County Marriages, 1855-1911 at Ancestry.com — images $

Death

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

Societies
Graham County Historical Society 414 North West Hill City 67642

Graham County Historical Society 103 East Cherry Hill City, Kansas 67642 Telephone Number: 785-421-2543 or 785-421-5421 E-mail:[mailto:queenb@ruraltel.net queenb@ruraltel.net] Website Archives open by appointment and there is a fee for research.There is a fee of $20.00 for first hour then $10.00 each additional hour

Websites

 * Graham County, KSGenWeb - free genealogy resources; part of the USGenWeb Project
 * 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
 * Graham County, Kansas Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Solomon Valley Chronicles - a website for genealogy and local history of Graham, Norton and Sheridan Counties.