Oneida County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Oneida 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 Lake Oneida, New York. The County has Soda Springs as its seat and the County was created January 22, 1864. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Oneida County Courthouse 10 West Court Street Malad, ID 83252 Phone: 208-766-4116 Oneida County Website

County Clerk has birth and death records 1907-1911 marriage records from 1866, military records from 1919, naturalization records from 1869, divorce, probate, court and land records.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Home Town Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline

 * 5 January 1875 Bear Lake County created from part of Oneida County
 * 13 January 1885 Bingham County created from part of Oneida County
 * 30 January 1913 Franklin County created from part of Oneida County
 * 30 January 1913 Power County created from parts of Bingham, Blaine and Oneida Counties

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 Oneida County stakes and wards to about 1948.
 * 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.

 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
 * Court Records at Idaho State Archives - civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc.
 * Civil and criminal records, 1882-1923; register of actions, 1867-1908
 * Court calendar, 1874-1879 Idaho. District Court (Oneida County)
 * Court judgments, 1873-1937 Idaho. District Court (Oneida County)
 * Court records, 1882-1883 Idaho. District Court (Oneida County)
 * Register of prisoners, 1894-1915
 * Justice records, 1885-1900 (judgment books)
 * Justice records, 1885-1900 (judgment books)

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

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1865-1910; 1885-1968
 * 1865-1901; 1865-1908
 * 1867-1905

Local Histories

 * History of Oneida County
 * History of Samaria.
 * An Oneida County Chronology by Kenneth Larson online at FamilySearch Digital Library
 * History of Ridgedale: The area, more commonly referred to as Pocatello Valley, is located about fifteen miles southwest of Malad Idaho (Latitude: 42.03 North/Longitude 112.32 West). The area is a closed valley (approximately 15,000 acres) about 5000 feet above sea level located on the Utah/Idaho border but most of the region falls in Idaho. Homesteaded mostly by early Latter-day Saint settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s from both northern Utah and southern Idaho the valley once sported a steady population for most of the months of the year sufficient to support church, social and educational activities. As agricultural endeavors over the years have required ever larger operations and with improved transportation the valley currently is relatively lightly populated with rather large dry land farming operations underway. The area was electrified in the 1950s and telephone service became common in the 1970s. The area was struck by an intense earthquake in 1975 (Google: 1975 Idaho Earthquake) causing extensive damage on farming facilities in the area but due to the low population density no one was injured. Access to the area is largely dependent on the weather. Most of the early structures, with the exception of two early school buildings, have been destroyed. There are no known cemeteries in the local area.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1895 Map of Oneida and surrounding counties 1895.
 * Digital Oneida County Idaho map
 * Map of Oneida 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 registration cards 1917-1918 for Oneida County at FamilySearch
 * 1917-1918 World War I registration cards 1917-1918 for Oneida County available online at Ancestry ($)
 * The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.
 * 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 Records The original naturalization records of Oneida County that have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed in their Index to Naturalization.
 * 1891-1906 Declarations of Intentions, 1891-1906
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1906-1927 Declarations of Intentions, 1906-1927
 * 1891-1906 Naturalization Certificates, 1891-1906
 * 1907-1929 Naturalization Certificates, 1907-1929

Newspapers

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

Historical Copies of some of the early issues of newspapers printed in Malad are available on microfilm at the Idaho State Archives in Boise. That research facility has copies of:
 * The Idaho Enterprise for 1889:3:2-1890:1:15; 1909:1:27-1920:12:27; and 1930:5:6-1996:12:26
 * The Oneida County enterprise for 1924:1:3-1930:5:1
 * The Oneida County news for 1921:3:15-1923:4:19
 * The Southern Idaho magazine for 1982:3:1-1985:2:13

 Current
 * Idaho Enterprise

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.

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 Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Oneida County. The originals are held in the Oneida County courthouse in Malad, 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 Family History Centers.

Pension Records
Mothers' Pensions were provided by the State of Idaho for widows and/or orphans, under certain conditions. Petitions for those pensions were filed with the probate court in each county. The original papers for several counties have been transferred to the Idaho State Archives in Boise and have been indexed. Oneida County Mothers' Pensions are included in that index which is available online.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com $
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Probate Records 1871-1952
 * Inventories 1882-1943
 * Index to inventories 1882-1985
 * Wills 1879-1950

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 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 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 $
 * 1826 Records of 1826 marriages in Oneida County are available at Idaho Marriages.
 * 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
 * 1911-1956 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

 * Arimo Idaho Family History Center
 * Bancroft Idaho Family History Center
 * Grace Idaho Family History Center
 * Malad Idaho Family History Center
 * McCammon Idaho Family History Center
 * Preston Idaho South Family History Center
 * Soda Springs Idaho Family History Center

Libraries

 * Oneida County Library 31 N 100 W Malad, ID 83252 Phone: 208-766-2229 Website

Museums

 * Oneida County Pioneer Museum 27 Bannock Street Malad, ID 83252 Phone: 208-766-9247 Website

Societies

 * Genealogy Trails Oneida County 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 -- excellent cultural and historical site

Websites

 * Oneida County GenWeb, 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.