Garfield County, Washington Genealogy

Guide to Garfield County Washington ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1881, when the county was formed.

Washington Online Genealogy Records

Description
The County was named for the late U.S. President James A. Garfield, who had been assassinated a few weeks prior. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Formation
Garfield County, Washington was created 29 November 1881 from Columbia County.

County Seat: Pomeroy For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.

Boundary Changes

 * Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library

Neighboring Counties
is surrounded by: Asotin | Columbia | Whitman | Wallowa County, Oregon

Courthouse
Garfield County Courthouse PO Box 915; Pomeroy, Washington 99347 Phone: 509.843.3731 County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907 marriage and land records from 1891 and burial records 1891-1918. County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1882.

See also Archives, libraries, etc. in.

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

Census

 * Census indexes at Washington State Digital Archives: (Free); and Ancestry ($)
 * Federal: 1910
 * Territorial: 1883 • 1885 •  1887 •  1889 •  1898
 * These were indexed by local societies and individuals.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for are listed in the . (Press space bar to select town.)
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * Civil Case Files 1882-1889. Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.


 * Garfield Frontier Justice.Part of "Frontier Justice’’: Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1889 at Washington State Digital Archives. (Free Index, no images)
 * The court procedures of Frontier Justice touch nearly all pioneers of the Washington Territory. The index has many abstracts that provide names and what is happening in disputes, settlements in civil and criminal cases as well as probate, equity and admiralty cases.

American Indian

 * 1911 - 1919 at FamilySearch — images

Japanese
World War II Files, 1942-1946

Public Welfare/Social Security Department, (Japanese Internment) Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 from the Washington State Archives – Digital Archives

Gazetteers

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

History

 * Historic sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and Garfield Counties, Washington Territory, and Umatilla County, Oregon (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)


 * Garfield County -- Thumbnail History by Phil Dougherty at History Link.org, Essay 7728


 * Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, by W.D. Lyman online at Hathi Trust Digital Library.


 * "Garfield County, Washington Facts" online at StateOfUS (mis-labeled as Garfield County, Alabama)


 * "Garfield County Heritage" online at Washington Rural Heritage

History Timeline
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Phil Dougherty. Garfield County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7728.


 * Native Americans followed the Nez Perce Trail through Garfield County for many years.
 * 1806 - Lewis and Clark's first arrival in what is now Garfield County.
 * 1834 - Captain B. L. E. Bonneville passed through Garfield County, surveying the region on behalf of the United States government.
 * 1860 - One of the earliest permanent white settlers in what would become Garfield County.
 * 1870s - Settlers coming into the area began to establish farms and raise grain.
 * 1881-November 29, Garfield County was formed from the eastern portion of Columbia County.

Maps

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

Military

 * 1921-1925 at FamilySearch — index

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Naturalization and Citizenship 1882-1945 Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.
 * Includes Declarations and petitions 1892-1945; Declarations of intention 1896-1906; Naturalization records 1886-1945; Petitions for Naturalization 1908-1928; Record of Petitions 1882-1945; Naturalization Journal 1905-1906.


 * Naturalization Records, 1892-1952 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Newspapers

 * Garfield County, Washington Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)
 * 1855-2009 Washington Newspapers, 1855-2009 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)


 * Washington Digital Newspaper at Washington State Library

Obituaries
Also check:


 * Newspapers of
 * Local Funeral Homes, Libraries, or family records.
 * Obituaries of neighboring counties

Probate Records

 * at FamilySearch Historical Collections. Click on Browse images to see county list. Then click on Garfield County to see records. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.
 * Includes Estate Case files 1860-1897 and Record of wills 1882-1962.

Public Records

 * Garfield Postmaster Index, Part of Washington, Postmaster Indexes, Prior to 1965 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.
 * Includes (no "A" surnames) • Index B (this is a few cards filmed out of sequence) • Index B-H • Index H-Y.

Birth

 * — index and images
 * Birth Records 1891-1907 Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)


 * Birth Records, 1891-1935 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Marriage

 * 1801-1962 Washington, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1855–2008 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1882-1889 - Marriages from 16 Feb 1882 to 12 May 1889 are available on the Western States Marriage Index website.


 * 1882-1979 Marriage Records, 1882-1979 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)


 * 1969-2014 at FamilySearch — index

Divorce
Online Records
 * 1969 - 2014 at FamilySearch — index

Death

 * 1881-1922 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index
 * 1881-1979 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1891-1906 Death Returns, 1891-1906 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
 * 1891-1907 Part of: Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * 1907-1960 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * 1907-1960 Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at MyHeritage — index, ($)
 * Death Records at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Voting Registers

 * 1876-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Archives, Libraries, etc.
Resources for are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.


 * Check websites and catalogs, such as items in (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for.

Family History Centers

 * Columbia Basin Washington Family History Center
 * Dayton Washington Family History Center
 * Pasco Washington Family History Center
 * Richland Washington Family History Center
 * Walla Walla Washington Family History Center


 * Northwest African American Museum - an affiliate library
 * The Seattle Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Denny Ashby Library 856 Arlington Street Pomeroy, WA 99347 Phone: 509-843-3710 Website

Museums

 * Garfield County Historical Association and Museum
 * Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum

Societies
Garfield County Historical Association and Museum The Pomeroy Historic Preservation Committee 66 South 7th Street Pomeroy WA 99347 509-843-3814 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: