Oregon, Polk County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in the Collection?
This collection includes digital images of records from the Polk County Courthouse in Dallas, Oregon. More records will be added to this collection as images become available.


 * Land (1857-1945)
 * Probate - Wills (1925-1945)
 * Other records (1934-1936)

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The records may contain any of the following:


 * Name of deceased
 * Date and place of event
 * Residence
 * Age and gender
 * Names of parents
 * Occupation
 * Biographical information about parents such as date and place of birth
 * Names of heirs, such as spouse, children, other relatives, or friends
 * Names of the executor, administrator, or guardian
 * Names of witnesses
 * Dates the documents were written and recorded (used to approximate event dates since a will was usually written near the time of death)
 * Description and value of property or land

How Do I Search the Collection?
You can search the index or view the images or both. Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * The location or date of the event

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the 
 * 1) Select the Record category
 * 2) Select the Record Type, Year Range and Volume which takes you to the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images.

What Do I Do Next?
Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * In case you need to find this record again later, copy the citation below in the Citing This Collection section. You can keep track of your research on this sample Research Log.
 * Use a Probate record to identify adoptions, guardians, heirs and relatives.
 * Use a will or probate record to approximate a death date, then find Oregon Deaths and Burials (FamilySearch Historical Records).
 * For earlier years, use the probate record or will to substitute for civil birth and death records.
 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find other county or Oregon Vital Records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in the United States Census, 1870 (FamilySearch Historical Records) or the United States Census, 1900 (FamilySearch Historical Records) or the United States Census, 1920 (FamilySearch Historical Records)  or the United States Census, 1940 (FamilySearch Historical Records).  Search the state censuses as well.
 * Land records may offer clues to maiden names if a father deeded property to his daughter upon marriage.
 * Use the information found in the record to find United States, Internal Revenue Assessment Lists (FamilySearch Historical Records).
 * Use the information found in the record to find Oregon Land or Probate Records.
 * Search for death or burial information in BillionGraves Index or at Find A Grave.
 * If applicable, search for immigration and naturalization records as well.
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching a nearby locality.
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Check the infobox above for additional FamilySearch websites and related websites that may assist you in finding similar records.

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.


 * Collection Citation: