Fremont County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Fremont 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 John C. Fremont. The County Seat is St. Anthony and was founded March 4, 1893. It is located in the north east area of the state.

County Courthouse
Fremont County Courthouse 151 West 1st North St. Anthony, Idaho 83445 Phone: 208-624-7401 Fremont County Courthouse

County Clerk has birth and death records 1907-1911, marriage, divorce, probate, land, court and naturalization from from 1893 and military records from 1919.

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:

History Timeline

 * 1896 FREMONT gained from LEMHI.
 * 1899 02 Feb 1899 The State of Idaho ceded to the United States jurisdiction over "all such lands within the State as may be included in the territory of the Yellowstone National Park. . . .," did not change the boundaries of FREMONT, the only Idaho county which includes a portion of Yellowstone National Park.
 * 1899 14 Feb 1899 FREMONT's gain from LEMHI on 3 November 1896 was reenacted
 * 1904 08 Nov 1904 FREMONT gained from BINGHAM.
 * 1913 18 February Jefferson County created from part of Fremont County
 * 1913 18 February Madison County created from part of Fremont County
 * 1915 26 January Teton County created from parts of Bingham, Fremont, and Madison Counties
 * 1919 1 February Clark County created from part of Fremont 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. A school census from 1904 to 1956 is located in the Clerk's Office at the county courthouse. It includes a list of children, ages and name of parents. Contact the County Clerk for details.

Church Records
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
 * List of Fremont County stakes and wards to about 1948.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Fremont County, Idaho prior to 1950.
 * For original or later records, check with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
 * Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the Family History Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.


 * Stakes: Yellowstone Stake, Fremont Idaho

 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
 * Commissioners' records, 1892-1902
 * Homestead records, 1893-1956; general index, ca. 1893-1956

 Judgment Books
 * Judgment books, 1885-1909; index, 1893-1985
 * Judgments, 1908-1934

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records  Deeds: The deeds from 1893 to 1934 have been microfilmed by the. Note: some of the first volumes contain transcripts from Bingham County deed books for land located in Fremont County (as it was in 1894).

 Mortgages: The volumes in this very large series are found in the Clerk's Office. The series has not been microfilmed by the Family History Library.

 Homestead: This series has been microfilmed and consists of three volumes. They date from 1888-1957. Note: some of the first volume contain transcripts from Bingham County record books for land located in Fremont County. Additional homestead documents including affidavits, abandonment, citizenship, etc. sometimes may be found in the Miscellaneous Series.

 Patents: This group of documents have been microfilmed from 1889-1948.

 Others: Water rights: The volumes for this series of records are found in the Clerk's Office. They cover 1894-1919. There are many references to water and water rights in the Miscellaneous Series. Mining claims: These volumes are also in the Clerk's Office and cover 1878-1923. Annual assessment statements and other mining documents may be found in the Miscellaneous Series. Canal records: One volume only, 1886-1900.

Local Histories
The Fremont County GenWeb site has a brief history of Fremont County online. Published historical works include: (See Worldcat.org for locations in libraries. Also see the FamilySearch catalog for books available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.)
 * Progressive men of Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Fremont and Oneida Counties, Idaho (Digital version available at archive.org.)
 * History of the uplands, Farnum, Drummond, Squirrel, Lamont, and communities faded into the past, 1896-1990 history of homesteading and pionering, histories of families by contribution, and special permission of articles from the "Snake River Echoes" by Tressa Murdock Garrett and Percy Blaine Hawkes
 * Settlement of Idaho by Utah pioneers Clark, Fremont, and Teton counties, by Mary N Porter Harris
 * 50th anniversary, Ashton, Idaho, by the Ashton Hearld
 * Teton Dam tragedy an account of the Teton Dam disaster in Fremont County, Idaho, as compliled from the pages of the Chronicle-News, by Fremont County Chronicle-News
 * Ashton, Fremont County, Idaho, by Seth Ernst Gordon
 * Centennial farm families, by Louis J Clements
 * Early upland communities between Fall &amp; Teton Rivers
 * Education in the Upper Snake River Valley the public schools (1880-1950) by Harold S Forbush
 * Historical edition, Fremont County Chronicle News.
 * History of Teton City, Idaho 1883-1900 with Teton centennial 100 years of progress, by James L Downing
 * History of the uplands, Farnum, Drummond, Squirrel, Lamont, and communities faded into the past, 1896-1990 history of homesteading and pionering, histories of families by contribution, and special permission of articles from the "Snake River Echoes" by Tressa Murdock Garrett and Percy Blaine Hawkes
 * Lawmen and outlaws in Fremont County
 * On the bench the story of Egin Bench, Fremont County, Idaho, by Fern Christensen Humphries

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1895 map of Fremont and surrounding counties.
 * Digital Fremont County Idaho map
 * Map of Fremont County, Idaho
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
World War I
 * 1917-1918 World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com ($)
 * 1918-1955 Copies of soldier's discharge papers from 1918-1955 are located in the Fremont County Courthouse and have been microfilmed by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. When using the originals at the courthouse, be aware:
 * Pre-1943 documents are found in the Miscellaneous Records series, vol. F-I. After 1943, they are in a separate series by themselves. There maybe use restrictions on the more recent volumes as social security information may be included in the individual soldier's papers.

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
 * Standard Journal

 Historical the Idaho State Archiveshas microfilmed the following Fremont County newspapers which can be accessed at their facility in Boise: BYU's Digital Collections has selective issues (1906ish) of The Rigby Star.
 * Ashton Herald: 1942:1:8: -1986:5:29
 * Fall River Review: 1989:6:15:-9999
 * Fremont County Chronicle-News: 1952:8:7-1986:5:29
 * Fremont County Herald-Chronicle: 1986:6:5-9999
 * Fremont County News: 1916:6:7-1952:8:7
 * Fremont Current: 1997:7:24-9999
 * Fremont Republican: 1898:3:12-1899:4:15
 * Teton Peak: 1899:4:22-1904:11:10
 * Teton Peak-Chronicle: 1904:11:17-1950:12:21

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.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1893-1907 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1911-1960 The original estate case files can be used by consulting with the County Clerk's Office. The probate registers [indexes] from 1911-1960, are in the clerk's office.
 * post-1960 The clerk of the District Court has the post-1960, probate register series. This office is on the 3rd floor of the courthouse. The Fremont County courthouse is located in St Anthony, Idaho.

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

Birth

 * 1856-1965 Idaho Births and Christenings - FamilySearch Historical Records gives details about this collection that covers 1856-1965.
 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

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 and 1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1878-1898, 1903-1942 Some Idaho Marriage Records (1878-1898, 1903-1942) are online and there are 111 Fremont County marriages among them.
 * 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
 * 1907-1965 Idaho Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records gives detail oabout this collection that covers 1907-1965.
 * 1911-1956 State-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * Eastern Idaho Death Index.

Divorce

 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Archives

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

Family History Centers

 * Ashton Idaho Family History Center
 * Island Park Idaho Family History Center
 * Lima Montana Family History Center
 * Rexburg Idaho Family History Center
 * St Anthony Idaho Family History Center
 * Terreton Idaho Family History Center
 * David O McKay Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Fremont County District Library 925 Main Ashton, ID 83420 Phone: (208) 652-7280 Website

Societies

 * Fremont County Historical Society 512 Main St Ashton, ID 83420 Phone: 208-652-3355 Website
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society

Websites

 * Fremont County Idaho GenWeb, a member of IDGenWeb
 * Genealogy Trails Fremont County


 * – 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.