Converse County, Wyoming Genealogy

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

Description
Founded in 1888. The County Seat is Douglas. Converse County is located in the center east area of the state. Converse County was named for A.R. Converse, a banker and rancher from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

County Courthouse
Converse County Courthouse 107 N 5th Street PO Box 990 Douglas, WY 82633 Phone: 307.358.2244 Converse County Website

County Clerk has marriage, land, military discharge and tax records from 1888 and poll records from 1930; Clerk Court has divorce, probate and court records from 1888

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

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:

Cemeteries
The following web site has additional information on Converse county cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Wyoming cemetery records by county.

Territory and State Census Records

 * 1850 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; North Dakota was included in the 1850 Utah Territory Census.
 * 1860 - 1910 - Wyoming Compiled Census at Ancestry.com — ($), index and images
 * 1860 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; Wyoming was included in the 1860 Nebraska Territory Census
 * 1870 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; Wyoming Territory Census
 * 1880 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; Wyoming Territory Census

Federal Census Records
Federal Censuses were taken for the state of Wyoming starting in 1890, although no records survived. The 1900 Census is the next Federal Census available. For links to Federal Census indexes, see Wyoming Census.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records
 * 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
 * 1861 - 1908 - U.S. Homestead Records 1861-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Wyoming - shows boundary changes for Wyoming Counties
 * Historical Maps and Atlases of Wyoming - maps and atlases of Wyoming

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Converse County, Wyoming Genealogy for European and African American settlers included:


 * Platte River
 * Oregon Trail 1830s to 1890s from western Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon
 * California Trail 1846 to 1869 from western Missouri to northern California
 * Mormon Trail 1846 to 1869 from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah
 * Bozeman Trail 1863 from Fort Fetterman near Douglas, Wyoming to Virginia City, Montana

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

Civil War No known military units were raised specifically from Wyoming as it did not become a state until 1890. However men from the territories that became Wyoming fought in other units during the Civil War. World War I World War II For further information see Wyoming Military Records.
 * 1861 -1865 at FamilySearch.— index
 * 1883 List of Civil War Pensioners, Wyoming, 1883 - Index only
 * 1890 at FamilySearch.— index
 * 1917 - 1918 at FamilySearch — Index and images
 * WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualties for Wyoming - Index only

Newspapers
 Wyoming Newspapers Online Wyoming Newspaper Catalogs
 * Wyoming Newspapers.
 * GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of Wyoming newspapers
 * Newspaper Archive 1887-1977 - ($), contains images of Wyoming newspapers
 * Chronicling America - contains images of some Wyoming newspapers; searching tips
 * Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites
 * 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

Marriage

 * 1839-1957 - Wyoming, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * Western States Marriage Index - Index, incomplete, list of counties included
 * 1867 - 1941 Wyoming Marriages 1867-1941 at findmypast ($), index.
 * 1877 - 1920 at FamilySearch— Index
 * 1877 - 1920 Wyoming, Marriages, 1877-1920 at MyHeritage ($) — index.

Death

 * Wyoming Death Index at Wyoming State Archives — index (currently contains only A-E, it is a work in progress)

Family History Centers

 * Douglas Wyoming Family History Center
 * Glenrock Wyoming Family History Center

Libraries
Converse County Library 300 E Walnut St Douglas, WY 82633 Phone: 307-358-3644 Fax: 307-358-6743 e-mail: [mailto:director@conversecountylibrary.org director@conversecountylibrary.org] Website

Glenrock Branch Library 506 S 4th St PO Box 1000 Glenrock, WY 82637 Phone: 307-436-2573 Fax: 307-436-8525 Email:[mailto:director@conversecountylibrary.org director@conversecountylibrary.org] Website

Societies
County, Township and City Societies

 County Historical Society 160 Spring Canyon Rd Douglas, WY 82633 Converse Website

 Converse County Genealogical Society 119 North Ninth Street, 2418 Douglas, WY 82633 Website

Websites

 * Converse County, WY History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Wyoming Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Wyoming Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * GenWeb
 * Wikipedia
 * - 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.