Montgomery County, Kansas Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War General. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Montgomery County Courthouse 217 E. Myrtle P.O. Box 446 Independence, Kansas 67301-0446 Phone: 316.330.1200 Montgomery County Website County Clerk has birth and death records 1886-1911. Probate Court has marriage and probate records from 1870. Clerk District Court has divorce and court records from 1870. Register of deeds has land records from 1870.

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:

Bible Records

 * Brost Family Bible at KSGENWEB
 * Rogers - Yorke - Minter Family Bible Records at North Carolina Digital Records

Cemeteries

 * at FamilySearch How to Use this Collection — index

State and Territorial Census Records

 * 1855-1925 Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925 at Ancestry — ($), Index and images; covers census years 1855-1859, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925
 * 1860 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection - Index and images
 * 1860 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Kansas Territory at Ancestry - ($), Index and images
 * 1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection— index and images
 * 1875 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection — index and images
 * 1885 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection — images
 * 1895 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection — index and images
 * 1905 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection — index
 * 1915 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection — index and images
 * 1919-1961 Kansas, City and County Census Records, 1919-1961 at Ancestry - Partial index (4 counties) and images
 * 1925 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection — index

Federal Census Records
The 1870 Census was the first Federal Census taken for Kansas after it became a state in 1861. For links to Federal Census indexes, see Kansas Census.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1811-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1861-1918 at FamilySearch  - How to Use this Collection —index
 * FamilySearch Places

Funeral Homes

 * David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville
 * Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel in Coffeyville
 * Potts Funeral Chapel in Caney, Cherryvale, and Independence
 * Webb and Rodrick Chapel and Crematory in Independence
 * Wickham Family Funeral Home in Cherryvale

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records


 * Land records at Kansas Historical Society


 * 1881 Land Plat book for Montgomery County - image of plat book
 * 1916 Land Plat book for Montgomery County - image of plat book


 * Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
 * 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1863-1908 U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry - ($), index and images

For more information see Kansas Land and Property

Local Histories

 * History of Montgomery County, Kansas. 1903. By Lew Wallace Duncan. Iola, Kansas : L. Wallace Duncan. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($);.

Maps and Gazetteers

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

Military Records

 * For information about Civil War records see Wilson County.

Online Collections
These collections are unique to Kansas. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and Kansas Military Records. Collections Covering Multiple Wars


 * Kansas Military Index at Kansas Historical Society - Index only, includes Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq and Afghanistan Conflicts
 * Records of the Deaths and Burials at the Kansas State Soldiers Home - Index only, the home is located in Fort Dodge, Ford County, Kansas.

Civil War


 * Kansas Civil War Soldiers at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index only
 * 1862, 1863, 1868: Kansas, Civil War Enlistment Papers, 1862, 1863, 1868 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * 1866-1931: Kansas, Grand Army of the Republic Bound Post Records, 1866-1931 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * 1880-1940: Kansas, Grand Army of the Republic Post Reports, 1880-1940 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * 1889: Kansas, Enrollment of Civil War Veterans, 1889 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * Kansas Civil War Soldiers at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images

Spanish-American War (1898)


 * 1945-1970: Kansas, United Spanish War Veterans Reports of Deaths, 1945-1970 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images

World War I


 * History and Roster of the Kansas State Guard (WWI) at KSGenWeb - Taken from the book by the Adjutant General's Office
 * 1917-1919: Kansas, World War I Veteran Collection, 1917-1919 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * 1930: Kansas, Enrollment of WWI Veterans, 1930 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images

World War II


 * 1940-1946: Web: Kansas, WWII Selective Service Index, 1940-1946 at the Ancestry.com - ($), Index and images
 * World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing, State of Kansas, War Dept-June 1946 at KSGenWeb - Index only

Korean War


 * U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Korean War for Kansas - Index only

Vietnam War


 * U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War for Kansas - Index only

For further information see Kansas Military Records.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1864 - 1972 Kansas, Naturalization Abstracts, 1864-1972 at Ancestry — ($), Index
 * 1865 - 1874 Kansas Indian Naturalizations, ca. 1865-1874 at the National Archives — Index, District of Kansas, Record Group 21.
 * 1865 - 1984 Kansas, Federal Naturalization Records, 1865-1984 at Ancestry — ($), Index and images
 * 1917 - 1918 Kansas, Registration Affidavits of Alien Enemies, 1917-1918 at Ancestry — ($), Index and images, includes German and other aliens living in Kansas

Newspapers
Kansas Newspapers Online
 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
 * Kansas Newspapers at Newspapers.com - ($), free to Kansas residents through Kansas Historical Society
 * GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of Kansas newspapers
 * Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of Kansas newspapers
 * Chronicling America - contains images of some Kansas newspapers; searching tips
 * Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites

Kansas Newspaper Catalogs


 * Kansas Online Historical Newspapers - contains a list of known Kansas newspapers online and the websites they are found on
 * U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper

Other Records
Voter Records


 * 1854 Kansas Election List, 1854 at Ancestry — ($), Index
 * 1854 - 1856 Kansas Voter Registration Lists, 1854-1856 at Ancestry — ($), Index

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1803–1987 Kansas Wills and Probate Records 1803-1987 at Ancestry.com — index & images, ($)
 * 1870-1917 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1870-1929 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

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 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

Birth

 * 1811-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1818 - 1936 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection  — index


 * 1885 - 1911 Kansas, Births and Christenings Index, 1885-1911 at Ancestry.com — index $

Marriage

 * 1800 - 1946 United States Marriages – Kansas, 1800-1946 at findmypast — ($), Index and images
 * 1811 - 1911 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection — Index
 * 1811 - 1911 Kansas, County Marriages, 1811-1911 at Ancestry — ($), Index
 * 1840 - 1935 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection — Index
 * 1861 - 1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection — index

Death

 * 1885 - 1930 at FamilySearch.org - How to Use this Collection — index
 * 1885 - 1930 Kansas, Deaths and Burials, Index, 1885-1930 at Ancestry.com — index $

FamilySearch Centers

 * Derby Kansas FamilySearch Center
 * Independence Kansas FamilySearch Center


 * Andover Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Derby Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Coffeyville Public Library 311 W 10th Street Coffeyville, KS 67337 Phone: 620-251-1370 Email: [mailto:cvillepublib@gmail.com cvillepublib@gmail.com] Website Facebook
 * The Coffeyville Public Library is proud to house the genealogical materials for the Montgomery County Genealogical Society. The Library has an extensive collection of genealogical and historical materials of Coffeyville and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County.

Museums
Caney Valley Historical Society 310 W 4th Ave Caney, KS 67333 Phone: 620-879-2233 Email:[mailto:caneyhistoricalmuseum@gmail.com caneyhistoricalmuseum@gmail.com] Website Facebook Independence Historical Museum and Art Center 123 North 8th Street Independence, KS 67301 Phone: 620-331-3515 Email:[mailto:ihmacmuseum@gmail.com ihmacmuseum@gmail.com] Website Facebook
 * In January 2000, the Independence Museum acquired the Montgomery County Historical Society collection and then integrated the two collections.

Societies
Montgomery County Genealogy Society PO Box 444 Coffeyville, KS 67337
 * The Coffeyville Public Library houses the genealogical materials for the Montgomery County Genealogical Society. The Library has an extensive collection of genealogical and historical materials of Coffeyville and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County.

Websites

 * Montgomery County Genealogy Research.   Contains information for researching genealogy in Montgomery county KS,  Census, bios, obituary, birth, death, marriage, maps, and other records
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Montgomery County, Kansas Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Montgomery County, Kansas (Kansas Genealogy Trails)
 * Montgomery County Kansas Genealogy Research (JenkinsGenealogyResearch)
 * 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