Lawrence County, South Dakota Genealogy

Guide to Lawrence County, South Dakota ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
It was named for "Colonel" John Lawrence who came to the county as first treasurer in 1877. It is located in the western area of the state.

County Courthouse
Lawrence County Courthouse 644 Main Street Deadwood, SD 57732 Phone: 605.578.2040 Register of Deeds has birth records from 1905 and death records from 1906; County Treasurer has marriage records from 1887; Clerk Court has divorce, probate, court, and land records from 1895; City Auditor has burial records

Record Loss
1879 The courthouse was destroyed in the great fire of 1879, along with all the records.

Boundary Changes

 * Parent County: Lawrence County was created 11 January 1875 from unorganized territory.
 * County seat: Deadwood
 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of North Dakota - shows boundary changes for South Dakota Counties
 * South Dakota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library

Populated Places
The following are locations in the county

Cemeteries

 * 1912-1966 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Territory and State Census Records

 * 1836 - 1836 Wisconsin Territory Census – index only; South Dakota was included in the 1836 Wisconsin Territory Census
 * 1840 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; South Dakota was included in the 1840 Iowa Territory Census
 * 1850 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; South Dakota was included in the 1850 Minnesota Territory Census
 * 1860 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; South Dakota was included in the 1860 Dakota Territory Census
 * 1870 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; South Dakota was included in the 1870 Dakota Territory Census
 * 1880 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; South Dakota was included in the 1880 Dakota Territory Census
 * 1885 - South Dakota, Territorial Census, 1885 at Ancestry — ($); index and images
 * 1895 - South Dakota, State Census, 1895 at Ancestry — ($); index and images
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images
 * 1915 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images
 * 1925 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images
 * 1935 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images
 * 1945 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images

Federal Census Records
Federal Censuses were taken for the state of South Dakota starting in 1890, although only one page survived. The 1900 Census is the next Federal Census available. For links to Federal census indexes, see South Dakota Census.

Church Records
Online Church Records Lutheran Church Presbyterian Church
 * 1875-1940 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Dates vary for each county
 * 1701-1970 - U.S., Presbyterian Records, 1701-1970 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Dates vary for each county

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records


 * Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
 * 1796 - 1907 - U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1863 - 1908 - U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images

Local Histories

 * Gentle Annie mine. n.d. n.p.: n.p. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Gold, gals, guns, guts : roarin' Deadwood, unique Lead, picturesque Spearfish. 1976. By Bob Lee. [South Dakota?] : Deadwood-Lead '76 Centennial, Inc. Online at: ;.
 * Lawrence County for the Dakota Territory Centennial. 1960. By Mildred Fielder. S.l. : s.n..
 * Some history of Lawrence County. 1981. By Lawrence County Historical Society. Deadwood, South Dakota : Lawrence County Historical Society . Online at: ;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of South Dakota - shows boundary changes for South Dakota Counties
 * Historical Maps and Atlases of South Dakota - maps and atlases of South Dakota

Online Collections
These collections are unique to South Dakota. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and South Dakota Military Records. Civil War World War I World War II For further information see South Dakota Military Records.
 * 1861 - 1941 South Dakota, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1861-1941 at FamilySearch
 * 1940 - 1941 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1861 - 1865 at FamilySearch.
 * 1885 Civil War Veteran's 1885 Census in South Dakota - Index only, Union and Confederate included
 * 1890 at FamilySearch.
 * South Dakota WWI Honor Roll by SDGenWeb - Alphabetical index; List by County
 * WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualties for South Dakota - Index only

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1904 - 1928 South Dakota, Federal Naturalization Records, 1904-1928 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1865 - 1972 at FamilySearch — images
 * South Dakota Naturalization Records Index:First Papers — index
 * South Dakota Naturalization Records Index:Second Papers — index
 * Name Index to Naturalization Records from Dakota Territory and South Dakota at National Archives, Kansas City — index

Newspapers
 South Dakota Newspapers Online South Dakota Newspaper Catalogs
 * GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of South Dakota newspapers
 * Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of South Dakota newspapers
 * Chronicling America - contains images of some South Dakota newspapers; searching tips
 * Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites
 * U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper.
 * Deadwood Public Library has indexed the Black Hills Daily Times, beginning June 8, 1876, here: http://dwdlib.sdln.net/newspaper_index.htm. The articles describe life throughout the county, not just in Deadwood.

Read the instructions on how to search. Once you find an entry that appears promising, contact the library to get a copy of the newspaper article. Expect to pay them for their time and effort. Realize that some entries are very brief. Someone may be staying at a local hotel or there may be a letter waiting for him at the post office. Other articles give considerable details.

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1800 – 1985 North Dakota and South Dakota Wills and Probate Records 1800-1985 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

School Records

 * 1879 - 1970 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1879 - 1970 South Dakota, School Records,1879-1970 at Ancestry — images

Birth

 * 1843 - 1914 at FamilySearch  — index
 * 1856 - 1950 South Dakota, Birth Index, 1856-1915 at Ancestry  — index ($)
 * Birth Record Search Site For South Dakota Birth Records With Birth Dates Over 100 Years — index

Marriage

 * 1950 - 2014  — index
 * 1905 - 2013 South Dakota, Marriages, 1905-2013 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

Death

 * 1879 - 1955 South Dakota, Death Index, 1879-1955 at Ancestry — index($)

Societies
Lawrence County Historical Society 150 Sherman St. Deadwood, SD 57732 Telephone: 605-342-2339 E-mail: [mailto:kraemer.norma@gmail.com kraemer.norma@gmail.com] Website

Websites

 * Lawrence County SDGenWeb
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.