Montana, Granite County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States Montana Granite County

What's In The Collection?
This collection contains images and an index of probate, land and property, naturalization, divorce and vital records from the County Clerk's Office in Philipsburg, Montana. Granite County was founded in 1893 from sections of Deer Lodge and Missoula Counties. Early records are housed in Butte, Silver Bow County (1865-1867) or in Anaconda, Deer Lodge County(1868-1896). Today the Granite County seat is in Philipsburg. This collection is being published as images become available.

The probate courts (1864-1889) had jurisdiction over adoptions, marriages, probates, civil suits and criminal matters. After 1889 jurisdiction was transferred to the district courts. These records can be located in the office of the county clerk.

Birth and death registers were required to be kept and filed in the county beginning in 1895 though there are some earlier records. By 1905 these records were required to be registered on a state level but this law wasn't fully complied with until about 1915. Certified copies of birth and death records can be obtained from The Department of Health and Environmental Science in Helena and also the County Clerk/Recorder. Marriage and divorce records are available from the clerk of district court in Granite county. They were registered on a state level beginning in July 1943.

Land and naturalization records are kept in the county and district courts with no name index available before 1908. The earliest land records are at the National Archives in Denver, Colorado.

Sample Record Content
Key genealogical facts found in this collection may include:


 * Name of the primary individual
 * Age
 * Event date
 * Event place
 * Parents' names including mother's maiden name
 * Parents' age, birth place and residence
 * Occupations
 * Names of heirs, such as spouse, children, other relatives, or friends
 * Name of the executor, administrator, or guardian
 * Names of witnesses
 * Dates the documents were written and recorded (used to approximate event dates since a will was usually written near the time of death)
 * Description and value of personal property or land owned by the deceased
 * Address or residence

Sample of Images
Click on the images for a larger view

How Do I Search The Collection?
Look at each image and record comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination. When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct. The information in the records is usually reliable, but depends upon the reliability of the informant. Earlier records may not contain as much information as more recent records.

To search collection by name: Fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches.

To search collection by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page: ⇒Select the "Record Category" ⇒Select the "Record Type, Volume, and Year Range" which takes you to the images.

What Do I Do Next?
Once you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These records are often brief so it can be easy to confuse individuals. Compare what information is given with what you already know about your ancestor to make sure it is the correct person.Next,record any new information about your ancestor found in the record, such as dates, places, event, occupation, immigration year, other relatives. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been born, married or died nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify. Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by researching vital records in the county.
 * Use the age to calculate the birth date and order a copy of the certificate from the county clerk.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of birth of each partner to find a couple's birth records and parents' names.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of birth to find the family in census records.
 * Use the residence and names to locate church and land records.
 * Use the parents' birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family.
 * Occupations listed can lead you to other types of records such as employment or military records.
 * The name of the officiator may be a clue to their religion or area of residence in the county. Search Montana Church Records to find births, marriages and deaths.
 * The name of the undertaker, mortuary, or cemetery could lead you to funeral records which often include the names and residences of other family members.
 * Compiling the entries for every person who has the same surname is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. It can also help you to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives. You may want to repeat this process for each new generation or surname that you identify.

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking For, Now What?

 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames.
 * Check for an index. There are often indexes created by local genealogical and historical societies.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties.

Known Issues with This Collection
For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Citing this Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection Citation: Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image Citation: