Nez Perce County, Idaho Genealogy

Guide to Nez Perce 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 the Nez Perce Indians. The County has Lewiston as its seat and the County was created February 4, 1864. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Nez Perce County Courthouse 1230 Main Street Lewiston, ID 83501-0896 Phone: 208-799-3040 Nez County Website

County Clerk has birth and death records from 1900-1911, marriage, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1860.

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

 * 22 December 1864 Kootenai County created from part of Nez Perce County
 * 14 May 1888 Latah County created from part of Nez Perce County
 * 3 March 1911 Lewis County created from part of Nez Perce County

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) In 1930, Nez Perce County was part of Northwestern States Mission. There were no stake organized in the area at the time.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Nez Perce County, Idaho prior to 1950.
 * 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.
 * 1864--Nez Perce County was created 4 February 1864 as an original county. County seat: Lewiston.


 * Lewiston

 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
 * at FamilySearch Catalog
 * District court records, 1870-1927
 * Mary E. Goddard case, 1895
 * Powers of attorney, 1864-1944; index, 1864-1944
 * McGruder murder case

Judgment Books
 * Judgment records, 1864-1930

Directories
The Idaho State Archives has in its collections city, county, state and regional directories.

Funeral Homes

 * 1925-1986 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Local Histories
A brief history of county is available online at the Nez Perce County Historical Society's website. The digitized book An illustrated history of north Idaho embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho is available online at archive.org.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * An 1895 map of Nez Perce and surrounding counties is available online.
 * A digital Nez Perce County Idaho map is available online.
 * Map of Nez Perce County, Idaho is available online.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
World War I
 * 1917-1918 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1917-1918World War I draft registration cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com, ($)

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Newspapers

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

 Current
 * Lewiston Morning Tribune

Historical Copies of issues of many Idaho newspapers are in the collections of the Idaho State Archives.

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * Obituary Index at Twin Rivers Genealogy Society

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 Nez Perce County. The originals are held in the Nez Perce County courthouse in Lewiston, 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. Nez Perce County Mothers' Pensions are included in that index which is available online.

These records have been microfilmed by the in Salt Lake City, Utah and can be viewed in Salt Lake City or in any of the Library's Family History Centers. They are also available at the Nez Perce county courthouse in Lewiston, Idaho.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com $
 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1864-1927 Court Records 1864-1927
 * 1887-1929 Various Inventory accounts 1887-1929
 * 1901-1905 Judgment records 1901-1905
 * 1891-1917 Orders and Decrees 1891-1917
 * 1887-1931 Will 1887-1931 (with index)

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

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1907-1913 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog

Birth

 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1880-1911 The in Salt Lake City has Nez Perce birth records 1880-1911.  These can be viewed at any of the Library's Family History Centers.
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Marriage

 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 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
 * 1911-1954 Copies of death certificates from 1911-1954 are on microfilm and can be used at the Idaho State Archives in Boise, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, BYU-Idaho University Library in Rexburg and several other locations.
 * 1911-1956 A state-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956.
 * 2004 Death records for Nez Perce County found online in Idaho Deaths and Burials.
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; 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

 * Dayton Washington Family History Center
 * Grangeville Idaho Family History Center
 * Kamiah Idaho Family History Center
 * Lewiston Idaho Family History Center
 * Moscow Idaho Family History Center
 * Orofino Idaho Family History Center

Libraries

 * Lewiston City Public Library 411 D Street Lewiston, ID 83501 Phone: 208-743-6519 Website
 * Prairie-River District Library- Nez Perce Community 602 4th Avenue Nez Perce, ID 83543 Phone: 208-937-2458 Website

Societies

 * Nez Perce County Historical Society, Inc. and Museum 0306 Third Street Lewiston, ID 83501 Phone: 208-743-2535 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

 * Nez Perce County ID 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.