Ferry County, Washington Genealogy

Guide to Ferry County Washington ancestry, family history, and genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1899, when the county was formed.

Washington Online Genealogy Records

Description
The County was named for Elisha P. Ferry, the state's first governor. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.

Parent County(s)
Ferry County, Washington was created 18 February 1899 from Stevens.

County Seat: Republic. See also Towns and Communities in. For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.

Boundary Changes

 * Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library


 * For animated maps illustrating Washington County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Washington County Boundary Maps" (1843-1915) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Neighboring Counties
is surrounded by: Lincoln | Okanogan | Stevens | British Columbia (to the north)

Courthouse
Ferry County Courthouse 350 East Delaware; PO Box 302 Republic, WA 99166 Phone: 509.775.5232 County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1899.

See also Archives, libraries, etc. in.

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

Cemeteries

 * "Kewa Cemetery" online
 * " Covington Cemetery" online
 * "Garden Valley Cemetery" online

Census

 * Census indexes at Washington State Digital Archives: (Free); and Ancestry ($)
 * Federal: 1910
 * These were indexed by local societies and individuals.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for are listed in the . (Press space bar to select town.)
 * FamilySearch Places

American Indian
The Colville Indian Reservation is located in southern Ferry and southern Okanogan counties.
 * 1911 - 1919 at FamilySearch — images

Japanese

 * World War II Files, 1942-1946. Public Welfare/Social Security Department, (Japanese Internment) Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 from the Washington State Archives – Digital Archives.

Gazetteers

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

Genealogy
Genealogy Research Aids


 * Basic Guide for Genealogy Research in Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille Counties by Nancy Wright, Susan DeChant, and Shirley Dodson of NeWGS.

History

 * Illustrated History of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan Counties, State of Washington by Richard f. Steele [(Spokane, Wash.): Western Historical Pub. Co., 1904] Commonly known by title History of North Washington. Online at Washington Secretary of State site (Free).
 * This book has numerous errors and its facts should viewed with circumspection.

History Timeline
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Laura Arksey. Ferry County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7787.


 * The original inhabitants of what is now Ferry County were several semi-nomadic Indian tribes, with the predominating.
 * 1811 - The fur trader and cartographer, David Thompson (1770-1857), reached Kettle Falls.
 * 1825 - The (HBC)establish a fur post.
 * 1872-April,The was established.
 * 1892-July 2, The United States government purchased the northern half of the Colville Reservation.
 * 1896-February 21, The northern half was opened to prospectors after minerals, especially gold, were discovered.
 * 1898 - June 30, The southern half was opened to prospectors.
 * 1899-February, Ferry County was formed and Republic, its only sizeable town, was declared county seat.
 * 1900 - Approximately 12,500 mining claims had been staked in Ferry County.
 * 1900 - The northern half of the reservation was opened to timber claims and homesteading.
 * 1916-July 1, The southern half of the reservation was opened to homesteading.

Land and Property

 * County Recorder's Office: check deeds, file mining claims, get assistance in finding ownership of a particular property, and obtain copies of county plat maps. This office has county plat records dating back to 1878, prior records having been destroyed in a fire.

Maps

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

Military

 * at FamilySearch — index
 * World War II enlistments. Select search codes for state and county. These are partial lists. The NARA website cautions: "This series does not contain records of all World War II Army enlistees."

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Naturalization Records, 1906-1927 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Newspapers

 * Ferry County, Washington Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)
 * 1855-2009 Washington Newspapers, 1855-2009 at MyHeritage — index & images, ($)


 * The Miner
 * Washington Digital Newspaper at Washington State Library

Obituaries
Also check:


 * Newspapers of
 * Local Funeral Homes, Libraries, or family records.
 * Obituaries of neighboring counties

Public Records

 * Ferry Postmaster Indexes. Part of Washington, Postmaster Indexes, Prior to 1965, FamilySearch Historical Collections for Washington. (Free, browse images)


 * Ferry County Board of Commissioners, Minutes, 1899-1952, 1983-2006 available online at Washington Digital Archives


 * Corrections Department, Penitentiary, Convict Record, 1877-1888 at Washington Digital Archives

Taxation

 * The SCHS has the county assessor's personal property tax assessment ledgers for 1898. Images of the ledger are viewable on the Crossroads on the Columbia project.

Birth

 * — index and images

Marriage

 * 1801-1962 Washington, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1855–2008 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1900-1999 Marriage Records, 1900-1999 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)


 * 1969-2014 at FamilySearch — index

Divorce
Online Records
 * 1969 - 2014 at FamilySearch — index

Death

 * 1881-1922 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection, index
 * 1881-1979 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
 * 1891-1906 Death Returns, 1891-1906 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
 * 1891-1907 Part of: Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * 1899-1911 Register of Deaths 1899-1911 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)
 * 1907-1960 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * 1907-1960 Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at MyHeritage — index, ($
 * Death Records at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Voting Registers

 * 1876-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index

Archives, Libraries, etc.
Resources for are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.


 * Check websites and catalogs, such as items in (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for.

Family History Centers

 * Brewster Washington Family History Center
 * Chelan Washington Family History Center
 * Colville Washington Family History Center
 * Coulee Dam Washington Family History Center
 * Davenport Washington Family History Center
 * Omak Washington Family History Center
 * Republic Washington Family History Center
 * Riverside Washington Family History Center
 * Spokane Washington East Family History Center
 * Spokane Washington Family History Center
 * Spokane Washington North Family History Center
 * Wenatchee Washington Family History Center

Libraries

 * Kettle River East Library 5th And C Street Orient, WA 99160 Phone: 509-738-3033
 * Republic Community Library 794 S. Clark Avenue Republic, WA 99166 Phone: 509-775-3328 Website

Societies
Ferry County Historical Society 15-2 N Kean St PO Box 287 Republic, WA 99166 509-775-2605 E-mail: [mailto:emailofsociety ferrycountyhs@gmail.com] Website

Northeast Washington Genealogical Society c/o Colville Public Library 195 S Oak Colville, WA 99114 Email: [mailto:info@newgs.org info@newgs.org] Website Research in Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens Counties.

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 has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Indian Reservation

The Colville Indian Reservation is located in southern Ferry and southern Okanogan counties.