Minnesota, Clay and Steele County Obituaries - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of an index and images to the newspaper obituary files filmed by FamilySearch at the Clay County Historical Society and the Steele County Historical Society in Minnesota. The collection covers the years 1865 to 2006.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date of death
 * The place of death
 * The names of family members and their relationships

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. These records are often brief so it can be easy to confuse individuals. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
Look at the pieces of information given in the obituary for new information. Add any new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Search for the death certificate and a cemetery record
 * Use the the information found in the obituary to search for the family in census records
 * Use the information found in the obituary to search for the family in church records
 * Use the locality and relative’s names to search additional state and county records
 * The name of the undertaker or mortuary could lead you to funeral and cemetery records, which often include the names and residences of other family members
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby cemeteries

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Minnesota.
 * Minnesota Guided Research
 * Minnesota Record Finder
 * Minnesota Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Minnesota Research, 1880-Present

Family History Library Holdings

 * Clay County, obituaries, 1950-1990
 * Clay County, biography files, 1950's-1980's
 * Steele County, obituary file, 1865-2006
 * Steele County, cemeteries by township, 1865-2006

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Minnesota, Clay County Land and Property Records, 1872-1947
 * Minnesota, Clay County, School Census Records, 1909-1962
 * Minnesota Will Records, 1849-1985

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * John Turner and C.K. Semling, joint ed., History of Clay and Norman counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families. Indianapolis, Indiana : B.F. Bowen & Company, 1918
 * History of Steele and Waseca Counties, Minnesota : an album of history and biography, history of Minnesota. Chicago, Illinois : Union Pub. Co., 1887

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.