Pondera County, Montana Genealogy

United States Montana  Pondera County

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

Historical Facts

 * Parent County: created 17 February 1919 from Chouteau and Teton
 * County seat: Conrad 
 * Neighboring Counties: Chouteau | Flathead | Glacier | Liberty | Teton | Toole

Boundary Changes
The Montana legislature created Pondera County in 1919 from Chouteau and Teton Counties with Conrad as the county seat. Local lore suggests that Pondera is either the phonetic spelling of the French word “Pend d’Oreille” meaning hanging earring or “pain d’or” meaning golden bread for the color of the native grasses in the area. Wheat production remains the main industry for the county.

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

Resources
At FamilySearch Pondera County Records, 1910-2012

Cemeteries
Pondera County Cemeteries

Land and Property
On line at FamilySearch: Grantee and Granto index 1919-1950, Deeds Vol 1-12 (1910-1932), and Patents Vol 1-5 (1910-1974)

Maps
See an interactive map of Pondera County cemeteries and modern-day townships. (Histopolis)

Cemetery Maps

 * Dupuyer Cemetery
 * Golden West Cemetery
 * Hillside Cemetery
 * Lakeview Cemetery
 * Robare Cemetery
 * Sacred Heart Cemetery
 * Saint Anne Cemetery

Military
There are many online sources out there for Military records because they provide invaluable detailed records for those that have served. accessgenealogy provides a jumping off place for information.

Naturalization and Citizenship
On Line at FamilySearch Petition for naturalization 1914-1945, Naturalization cards 1913-1945, and Petition evidence 1913-1945

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1831 – 1952 Montana Wills and Probate Records 1831-1952 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Probate Case files 1919-1930 and Probate Court Minutes 1919--1930 on Line at FamilySearch

Courthouse
County Clerk has birth, death and land records from 1919; Clerk Court has marriage, divorce, probate and court records

Family History Centers

 * Conrad Montana Family History Center

Birth

 * 1840–2004 -  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1910-1982 - On line at Family Search: Birth 1910-1982, Marriages 1919-1955, and Deaths 1914-2012

Marriage

 * 1919-1993 -Marriage Records, 1919-1955; Index 1919-1993
 * 1919-1955 - On line at Family Search: Birth 1910-1982, Marriages 1919-1955, and Deaths 1914-2012

Death

 * 1840–2004 -  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1914-2012 - On line at Family Search: Birth 1910-1982, Marriages 1919-1955, and Deaths 1914-2012

Websites

 * Pondera MT GenWeb
 * Montana Historical Society
 * Pondera County
 * Pondera County

Places
Glacier (North) | Toole (North) | Liberty (East) | Chouteau (East) | Teton(South) | Flathead (West)

Indian Reservation
A small portion of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation is located in Pondera County. The larger part of the Reservation is in Glacier County.