Deaf Smith County, Texas Genealogy

Guide to Deaf Smith County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county was named for Erastus "Deaf" Smith[4] (1787–1837), a partially deaf scout and soldier who served in the Texas Revolution and was the first to reach the Alamo after its fall. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Deaf Smith County Courthouse 235 E. 3rd St., Room 203 Hereford, TX 79045-5515 Phone 806-363-7077 - 806-364-1746 County Clerk has birth and death records from 1903, marriage, probate and court records from 1891, land records from 1882 and military discharge records from 1919; District Clerk has divorce records and doctor records from 1903

The County Clerk's Office is the record keeper of the county. The county records include birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, military discharges, land records, real estate records, property records, probate, and civil filings.

The Deaf Smith County Clerk has court records, land records, probate records, and marriage records  from 1890, as well as birth and death records from 1903. County Clerk

235 E. 3rd Rm. 203 Hereford 79045 Phone: 806-363-7077 Fax: 806-363-7023 District Clerk

235 E. 3rd Rm. 304 Hereford 79045 Phone: 806-364-3901 Fax: 806-363-7007

History
Deaf Smith County was named for Erastus "Deaf" Smith, a famous scout of the Texas Revolution.

Parent County
Deaf Smith County was created 21 August 1876 from Bexar District, but was not organized until 1 December 1890.
 * County seats:
 * 1) 1890-1898- LaPlata
 * 2) 1898-present- Hereford

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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:

‡This populated place also extends into New Mexico

Neighboring Counties
Castro •  Curry County, New Mexico  •  Oldham  •  Parmer  •  Quay County, New Mexico  •  Randall

Biographies

 * Ira Aten Deaf Smith Co, TXGenWeb
 * Jim Cook Deaf Smith Co, TXGenWeb
 * Deaf Smith Deaf Smith Co, TXGenWeb

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, marriage, death, relationship, military, and religious information.

Additional Cemetery Sources


 * African American Cemeteries Online ~ Partial index/transcriptions of African American cemeteries
 * Cemetery Junction ~  Links to cemetery transcriptions

Census

 * USGenWeb Census Project - Deaf Smith County, TX

Churches

 * Texas Christian Church Directory~ ChurchAngel
 * Catholic Parishes in Texas

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1906-1989 — index and images

Local Histories

 * Deaf Smith County History - TXGenWeb
 * The land and its people, 1876-1981: Deaf Smith County, Texas, 1982 by the Deaf Smith County Historical Society, a history book featuring local history, photographs, illustrations, and biographies. Digital book online from The Portal to Texas History.
 * A History of Deaf Smith County, 1964, by Bessie Patterson. Digital book on line from the Portal to Texas History.
 * Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Hustlin' Heritage 75, 1973 by the Hereford Jubilee Book Committee, a brief history of the town of Hereford with pages devoted to individuals, organizations, and businesses. Digital book online from the Portal to Texas History.
 * Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Texas, 1970 by the Hereford Chamber of Commerce, a brief sketch of the city of Hereford, Texas with photographs. Digital book online from the Portal to Texas History.
 * Hereford Tornado, 1971, by Mike Waltrip, a brief description of the damages caused by the tornado that hit Hereford, Texas on April 19, 1971, followed by photographs of the damage that occurred throughout the town. Digital book online from the Portal to Texas History.
 * Deaf Smith County History from the Handbook of Texas Online
 * Texas Museums ~  List of all museums in Texas  ~  Hidden Ancestors

Maps

 * Historical Maps ~  From the Republic to the Turn of the Century  ~  Hidden Ancestors
 * Texas Counties Map. TXGenweb site

Military

 * 1838 - 1900 - Texas Muster Roll Index Cards at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * Military Resources ~ Links to research Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * Fallen Heroes ~ Partial Index of casualties from Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * Honoring Our Veterans ~ Partial index of veterans from Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom ~ Hidden Ancestors

Mexican-American War

 * 1845 - 1848 - US American Volunteer Soldiers Mexican War at Ancestry.com — index $

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861 - 1865 - at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1917 - 1920 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers

 * Home Town News -  Texas Newspaper Index with links
 * Newslink -  Texas Newspaper List (sorted by publication frequency)
 * The Olden Times  -   Historic Texas News Online

Obituaries

 * Obituary Resources ~ Links to research and locate obituaries ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * USGenWeb Archives Obituary Project ~  Texas
 * Afrigeneas ~ African American death notices, obituaries and funeral programs compiled by users from current newspapers and historical sources
 * Obituary Depot ~ Texas Newspaper Citations
 * Obituary Project ~ Hidden Ancestors
 * Obituary Daily Times ~ Citations to over 15,000,000 obituaries including (Ancestry)

Photographs

 * Photographs relating to Deaf Smith Co, TXGenWeb

Probate
Online Probate Records

The Deaf Smith County Clerk probate records. They are located at 235 E. 3rd St., Room 203, Hereford, TX 79045-5515; Telephone: 806-363-7077.
 * 1800–1990 at FamilySearch — images
 * 1800–2000 Texas Wills and Probate Records at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Birth
Online Birth Indexes and Records


 * 1840-1981 Texas, Births and Christenings - FamilySearch
 * 1903-1935 Texas, Birth Certificates (images and index) - FamilySearch
 * 1903-1997 Texas Birth Index (index) - FamilySearch

Marriage
Online Marriage Indexes and Records


 * 1802-2010 Texas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1814-1909 and 1966-2011 Texas Marriage Collection at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1837-1965 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1837-1973 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1837-1977 at FamilySearch — index
 * 1837-1977 Texas Select County Marriage Index at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1966-2005 Texas Marriage Records&nbsp - Hidden Ancestors
 * 1966-2010 Texas, Marriages - FamilySearch record collection

Death
Online Death Indexes and Records


 * 1890-1976 Texas Death Records [with images] Name index and images of statewide death certificates, 1890 to 1976. The name index has been created by FamilySearch and is tied to images of the Texas death certificates. Few certificates are available prior to 1903


 * 1903-1973 Texas Deaths and Burials (index) - FamilySearch
 * 1903-1982 Texas Death Certificates at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1964-1998 Texas Death Index [no images] Name index to Texas Statewide Death Certificates for four million people who have died since 1964.
 * 1977-1986 at FamilySearch.org — index

Divorce

 * 1968-2005 Texas Divorce Records Hidden Ancestors
 * 1968-2010 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1968-2011 Texas Divorces at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies and Libraries
Deaf Smith County Genealogical Society 211 East 4th St. Hereford 79045

Deaf Smith County Historical Museum 400 Sampson Street PO Box 1007 Hereford, TX 79045 Telephone Number:806-363-7070 Website

Deaf Smith County Library 211 E 4th St Hereford, TX 79045 Telephone Number: 806-364-1206 Website


 * Society Hill ~  Links and addresses to Texas genealogical and historical societies

Websites

 * TXGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the county.
 * Hidden Ancestors Information on Texas genealogy research as well as genealogy research in general.
 * The catalog is genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) This catalog is different than the indexed Historical Records.