Washburn County, Wisconsin Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Governor Cadwallader C. Washburn. The County has Shell Lake as its seat and the County was created 1883. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Washburn County Courthouse 10 W 4th Avenue Shell Lake, WI 54871 Phone: 715-468-4600 Washburn County Website Register of Deeds has birth, marriage, death and land records from 1883. Clerk of Court has divorce, probate and court records from 1883.

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:

Census Records

 * 1855 - 1855 Wisconsin State Census This census includes name of head of family; other individuals in the household are identified by sex and race, number of deaf and dumb, blind, insane and foreign born.
 * 1865 - 1865 Wisconsin State Census Name index and images of the 1865 State Census which names the head of household. Most records have been destroyed but schedules exist for the following counties: Dunn, Green, Jackson, Kewaunee, Ozaukee, and Sheboygan.
 * 1875 - 1875 Wisconsin State Census Identifies head of household by name.
 * 1885 - at FamilySearch — index and images. Search indexed census.Identifies by name of head of household.  Other information is statistical and identifies the rest of the household by race, gender and country of birth.
 * 1895 - at FamilySearch — index and images. Identifies head of household by name. Other information is statistical.
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — Name index and images of population. Enumerates by name all inhabitants.

Land and Property Records

 * Land Patents Database: Washburn County - Surnames A-C USGenWeb Archives
 * Land Patents Database: Washburn County - Surnames D-G USGenWeb Archives
 * Land Patents Database: Washburn County - Surnames H-K USGenWeb Archives
 * Land Patents Database: Washburn County - Surnames L-O USGenWeb Archives
 * Land Patents Database: Washburn County - Surnames P-S USGenWeb Archives
 * Land Patents Database: Washburn County - Surnames T-Z USGenWeb Archives

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Wisconsin
 * Family Maps of Washburn County, Wisconsin (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

Civil War

 * Civil War Veterans List - 1885 & 1895 Census Enumeration WIGenWeb project

Spanish-American War

 * Shell Lake Volunteers in the Spanish-American War WIGenWeb project
 * Veterans List - 1905 Census Enumeration WIGenWeb project

World War I

 * Washburn County Gold Star List WIGenWeb project
 * Company E, 6th Wisconsin Infantry National Guard WIGenWeb project
 * Washburn County Military Registration List, 1917 WIGenWeb project
 * American Legion, List of Members Spooner - Engwald R. Moe Post. WIGenWeb project

World War II

 * Army Enlistees Names AARDAPPEL - LEWARK USGenWeb Archives
 * Army Enlistees Names LINDBERGER - ZELLMER USGenWeb Archives

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Petition for Naturalization Records for Washburn County WIGenWeb project

Obituaries

 * Obituaries from Washburn County Newspapers WIGenWeb project
 * Obituaries Scroll down to obituaries. USGenWeb Archives

Probate Records
Online Records


 * 1800–1987 Wisconsin Wills and Probate Records 1800-1987 at Ancestry — images and index $
 * 1848–1948 at FamilySearch — images

Birth

 * 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1826-1908 Wisconsin, Births and Christenings Index, 1826-1908 at Ancestry — index $
 * 1826-1926 at FamilySearch — index 1820 - 1907
 * Pre-1907 Washburn County Birth Indices WIGenWeb

Marriage

 * 1836-1930 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1973-1997 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1973-1997 Wisconsin Marriages, 1973-1997 at Ancestry — index/images $
 * Pre-1907 Washburn County Marriage Indices Sorted by bride and groom surnames. WIGenWeb project

Death

 * 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1835-1968 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1867-1907 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1883-1907 Washburn County Death Indices WIGenWeb project
 * 1959-1997 at FamilySearch — index

Divorce

 * 1965-1984 at FamilySearch — index

Archives

 * Area Research Center Jim Dan Hill Library, University of Wisconsin, Superior Belknap and Catlin P.O. Box 2000 907 N. 19th St. Superior, WI 54880 Telephone: 715-394-8359 [mailto:archives@uwsuper.edu archives@uwsuper.edu] Website Facebook

Libraries

 * Jim Dan Hill Library, University of Wisconsin, Superior Area Research Center Belknap and Catlin P.O. Box 2000 907 N. 19th St. Superior, WI 54880 Telephone: 715-394-8359 [mailto:archives@uwsuper.edu archives@uwsuper.edu] Website Facebook

Societies

 * Washburn County Genealogical Society PO Box 366 Shell Lake, WI 54871
 * Washburn County Historical Society PO Box 366 102 2nd Ave Shell Lake, WI 54871 Phone: 715-468-2982 Email: [mailto:WCHS54871@gmail.com WCHS54871@gmail.com] Website
 * Gordon-Wascott Historical Society 15785 S Newsome Rd Minong, WI 54859 Phone: 715-466-2268
 * Stone Lake Area Historical Society PO Box 95 Stone Lake, WI 54876 Phone: 715-865-4734 Website
 * Birchwood Area Historical Society PO Box 247 Birchwood, WI 54817 Phone: 715-354-7300

Websites

 * Washburn County, WI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Wisconsin Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Wisconsin Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Washburn County WIGenWeb project
 * Washburn County Archives USGenWeb Archives
 * - 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