Ferry County, Washington Genealogy

United States Washington  Ferry County

Guide to Ferry County Washington genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.


 * Quick start:
 * Census
 * Birth
 * Marriage
 * Death

County Overview

 * Parent County: created 18 February 1899 from Stevens
 * County Seat: Republic
 * Neighboring Counties: Lincoln | Okanogan | Stevens | British Columbia (to the north)

Boundary Changes

 * Prior to 1848, both Great Britain and the United States had joint ownership of the area.
 * On July 4, 1843 a provisional government for the Oregon Territory was formed. Of the four districts created, current Ferry County was in the Clackamas District.
 * On August 18, 1845, the Vancouver District was created.
 * On December 22, 1845, districts were changed to counties.
 * On August 5, 1846, the Treaty of Ghent established 49 degrees north as the northern border of the United States and the Oregon Territory was formed.
 * On September 3, 1849, Vancouver County was changed to Clark County.
 * On 2 March 1853, the Washington Territory was created by President Millard Fillmore. The Washington Territory included current Idaho, parts of Montana and Wyoming. Washington became a state 11 November 1889 under President Benjamin Harrison. Clark County contained current Ferry County.
 * On 25 April 1854, Walla Walla County was created 25 April 1954 from Clark County and Skamania County.
 * On January 20, 1863, Stevens County was created. It covered current Okanogan and Ferry Counties.
 * In 4 March 1863, Idaho Territory was created.
 * On 19 January 1864, Spokane County was disorganized and placed under Stevens County. County went from summit of Cascade Mountains to the Wenachee River, to the Columbia River, along the Snake River, to the Idaho Territory, then up to the 49th parallel. On 21 February 1899, Ferry County was created from Stevens County.

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.

Census

 * The 1900 Population Census is available at Family Search and Ancestry.com$ and at Heritage Quest.
 * The 1910 Population Census is available at Washington State Digital Archives, FamilySearch, and Ancestry.com$ and at Heritage Quest.
 * The 1920 Population Census is available at Family Search and Ancestry.com$ and at Heritage Quest.
 * The 1930 Population Census is available at Family Search and Ancestry.com$.
 * The 1940 Population Census is available at Family Search and Ancestry.com$.

Court Records
Many of your ancestors may be found in court records as defendants, plaintiffs, witnesses, or jurors. Court records can establish family relationships and places of residence, occupations, and other family history information. See Washington Court Records for the various courts through the years.

For specialized court records, see Divorce · Guardianship · Land · Naturalization · Probate

Indian Reservation
The Colville Indian Reservation is located in southern Ferry and southern Okanogan counties.

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

Guardianship
Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the Federal District courts. See Washington Court Records.

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 Wilma, David. Okanogan County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7608.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Declarations of Intent before 1906 often include the nation of origin, his* foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. See Washington Naturalization and Citizenship for more information. (*Women were not naturalized until 1922 in the United States.)

Washington State Digital Archives has digitized various types of naturalization-related records, including declarations of intentions, delayed birth files, naturalization affidavits, notifications of application for admission to US citizenship, orders fixing naturalization terms, petitions and records, petitions, receipts for certificates of citizenship, record of final decrees of citizenship and record of petitions dockets. Depending on the county, records range from 1854-1988.

Newspapers

 * The Miner

Public Records
Ferry County Board of Commissioners, Minutes, 1899-1952, 1983-2006 available online at www.digitalarchives.wa.gov.

Courthouse
Ferry County Courthouse 350 East Delaware; PO Box 302 Republic, WA 99166 Phone: 509.775.5232 County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1899.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Republic_Washington_Family_History_Center

Taxation
The SCHS has the county assessor's personal property tax assessment ledgers for 1898. Images of the ledger are viewable on the Crossroads on the Columbia project.

Divorce
Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Washington Vital Records for excellent information.

Death

 * Washington Death Certificates 1907-1960 A free internet index to the 1907-1960 death certificates can be found at FamilySearch Record Search, no images are available. A transcribed death certificate may contain such information as name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, gender, birth date and birth place, mother’s maiden name and name of spouse, place of residence, occupation and certificate numbers.

Websites

 * Ferry County, Washington Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Northeast Washington Genealogical Society
 * Stevens County Historical Society
 * Stevens County Historical Society

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.

Towns and Communities
See a list of towns and communities in Ferry County per Wikipedia.

Indian Reservation

The Colville Indian Reservation is located in southern Ferry and southern Okanogan counties.