Madison County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for President James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. The County has Rexburg as its seat and the County was created February 18,1913. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Madison County Courthouse 134 E. Main Rexburg, ID 83440-0389 Phone: 208-589-9872 County Website

County Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1914.

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
The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal census. For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records.

Church Records
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Judgment Books
 * Judgments, 1912-1937; index, 1914-1964

Directories
The Idaho State Archives has a collection of city, county, state and regional directories.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories
One local history written by a Ricks College history professor can be found at this citation. Crowder, David L., Rexburg, Idaho: The first one Hundred years 1883 – 1983 (Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers ltd, 1983) The Book may be hard to find.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * A digital Madison County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Madison County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * 1917-1918
 * 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com ($)

World War I
 * 1917-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

 Current
 * Rexburg Standard Journal
 * Post Register

 Historical Copies of issues of many Idaho newspapers are in the collections of the Idaho State Archives.

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

County Commissioners' Records
The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.

Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.


 * at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Miscellaneous Series
Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.

Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Madison County. The originals are held in the Madison County courthouse in Rexburg, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archives are available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its FamilySearch Centers.

Pension Records

 * 1914-1934 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com $
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Loss of Records Estate case files from 1914 to 1976 were destroyed in the Teton Flood. Fortunately, the Probate Register: Estates and claims (Index) did survive and can be searched at the district court office in the main courthouse building (second floor). The five volume set lists the name of the descendant, date of petition for probate and other key items involved in probation.

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — [[Idaho, County Birth and Death

Marriage

 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Privacy law can't publish
 * 1864-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1878-1898;1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * Western States Marriage Index

Death

 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956
 * Eastern Idaho Death Index.

Archives

 * Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar
 * Idaho State Archives

FamilySearch Centers

 * Driggs Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Idaho Falls East FamilySearch Center
 * Idaho Falls Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Rexburg Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Rigby Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * St Anthony Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Terreton Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * David O McKay Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Madison District Library 73 N Center St Rexburg, ID 83440 Phone: (208) 356-3461 Website
 * Sugar Salem School/Community Library 1 Digger Dr Sugar City, ID 83448 Phone: (208) 356-0271 Website
 * McKay Library Brigham Young University - Idaho 525 South Center St. Rexburg, Idaho 84440-0405 Website: BYU-Idaho Library

Societies
Website
 * Upper Snake River Valley Historical Society 51 North Center Street, Rexburg, ID 83440-1539 Phone: (208) 356-9101
 * Idaho State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website
 * Madison County Genealogical Society Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society

Websites

 * Madison County ID GenWeb, a member of ID GenWeb


 * – 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.