Cherokee County, Alabama Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Records burned in 1882 Probate Judge has marriage, probate, land and military discharge records from 1882

Description
The County was named for the Cherokee tribe of American Indians. The County has Centre as its seat and the County was created January 9, 1836. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.

Parent County
1836--Cherokee County was created 9 January 1836 from the Cherokee Cession of 1835. County seat: Centre

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Alabama county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Alabama County Boundary Maps" (1799-1980) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
Cherokee County had destructive courthouse fires in 1882 and 1895. See Research in Alabama: A Genealogical Guide  page 25 for suggested alternative sources to overcome this loss.

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:

Neighboring Counties

 * Calhoun
 * Chattooga County, Georgia
 * Cleburne
 * DeKalb
 * Etowah
 * Floyd County, Georgia
 * Polk County, Georgia

Biography

 * Cherokee County Biographies at The USGenWeb Archives Project - free.

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


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.


 * Cemetery Records: Barbour County with Cherokee &amp; Lawrence Counties Alabama, Vol. 3. 1966. Includes Pleasant Hill Methodist Church Cemetery (Leesburg, Ala.).


 * may have additional Cherokee County cemeteries.


 * Cemetery Inscriptions Cherokee County, Alabama. 1964.

Census
State Census


 * 1866 - at FamilySearch — index

Land and Property
To place a grant or deed on a map within context of see:


 * Boyd, Gregory A. Family Maps of Cherokee County, Alabama: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and More. Norman, Okla.: Arphax Pub. Co., 2007. This is a definitive work and can be used as an index to land grants. Digital version at HistoryGeo.com ($). Website includes free surname index..

Maps

 * Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)
 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

Civil War
Civil War service men from Cherokee County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Cherokee County.


 * - 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Russell's), Company B
 * - 7th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company C
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D (Jake Curry Guards)
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E (Cherokee Guards)
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company F (Davis Guards)
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company G (Cherokee Mountaineers)
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H (Cherokees)
 * - 19th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company I (Cherokee Rangers)
 * - 22nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company D
 * - 31st Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A and C
 * - 47th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E
 * - 48th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company H

Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1871-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1880-1930 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1907, 1921, 1927 - at FamilySearch — images

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1753 – 1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1809 – 1985 at FamilySearch — images (Cherokee county images are restricted to microfilm only)
 * 1882 — 1902 Apprentice Bonds. Southeastern Genealogy ($)

Taxation

 * 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Cherokee County is in District 3.

Vital Records
See also How to order Alabama Vital Records

Birth

 * 1881-1930 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free


 * 1881–1930 - at FamilySearch.org — index


 * 1881-1930 - at FamilySearch — index

Marriage

 * 1733-2013 - Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry– ($); Index. contains over 12,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.


 * 1821–1824, 1826–1837, 1841–1846, 1849, 1861, 1865–1872, 1874–1891, 1895–1898, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry– ($); Index. This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.


 * 1836–1896 "Alabama Marriages, 1809–1920"at Ancestry– ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage records from the state. Researchers will find the names of both bride and groom along with the marriage date. The county where the ceremony was performed is also provided. Containing about 150,000 records and the names of nearly 300,000 men and women.


 * 1882-1930 - Cherokee County Marriage Books A and C thru G Index 1882-1930 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.


 * 1809 – 1950 at FamilySearch.org — index/images


 * 1816 – 1957 at FamilySearch.org — index


 * 1800 – 1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry.com — index $


 * 1809 – 1920 Alabama Marriages, 1809-1920 (Selected Counties) at Ancestry.com — index $

Death

 * 1881-1952 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free


 * 1881–1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry– ($); Index. Volunteers extracted the details in this index from microfilmed copies of church, civil, family, and other records of Alabama deaths and burials. details vary depending on the original record. Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.


 * 1908–1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry– ($); Index. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).


 * 1908-1974 - FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free


 * 1881 – 1952 at FamilySearch.org — index


 * 1908 – 1974 at FamilySearch.org — index


 * 1881 – 1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry.com — index $


 * 1908 – 1959 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5188 Alabama Deaths,


 * 1908-59] at Ancestry.com — index $

Voting Registers
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Cherokee County has one book.

Societies and Libraries
Cherokee County Historical Society 101 East Main St. Centre, AL  35960 Website Northeast Alabama Genealogical Society P. O. Box 8268 Gadsden, AL 35902 Publication Northeast Alabama Settlers Website Website

Cherokee County Historical Museum 101 East Main St Centre, AL 35960 Website

Cherokee Cherokee County Public Library 256-972-5838 Website


 * List of Alabama Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies


 * CHEROKEE COUNTY TABLE OF CONTENTS


 * CHEROKEE COUNTYCENSUS RECORDS


 * Cherokee Co. AL


 * United States Resources: Alabama


 * Al Gen Web

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Family History Centre Locator

Websites

 * Cherokee County, AL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * USGenWeb Archives Project ~ contains record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
 * Cherokee County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
 * Cherokee County, Alabama Bible Records
 * Cherokee County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Cherokee County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)