Garfield County, Washington Genealogy

United States Washington  Garfield County    Guide to  genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records, since 1881, when the county was formed.

County Formation
Garfield County, Washington was created 29 November 1881 from Columbia County.

County Seat: Pomeroy For Courthouse, see Archives, libraries, etc.

Boundary Changes

 * Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library

Neighboring Counties
is surrounded by: Asotin | Columbia | Whitman | Wallowa County, Oregon

Courthouse
Garfield County Courthouse PO Box 915; Pomeroy, Washington 99347 Phone: 509.843.3731 County Auditor has birth and death records 1891-1907 marriage and land records from 1891 and burial records 1891-1918. County Clerk has divorce, probate and court records from 1882.

See also Archives, libraries, etc. in.

Census

 * Census indexes at Washington State Digital Archives: (Free)
 * Federal: 1910
 * Territorial: 1883 • 1885 •  1887 •  1889 •  1898
 * These were indexed by local societies and individuals.

Church Records

 * Church records (microfilmed originals or published transcripts) for are listed in the . (Press space bar to select town.)

Court Records

 * Civil Case Files 1882-1889. Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.


 * Garfield Frontier Justice.Part of "Frontier Justice’’: Guide to the Court Records of Washington Territory, 1853-1889 at Washington State Digital Archives. (Free Index, no images)
 * The court procedures of Frontier Justice touch nearly all pioneers of the Washington Territory. The index has many abstracts that provide names and what is happening in disputes, settlements in civil and criminal cases as well as probate, equity and admiralty cases.
 * Civil case files 1882-1889 Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.

Japanese
World War II Files, 1942-1946

Public Welfare/Social Security Department, (Japanese Internment) Assistance Cases, Evacuee Referrals for Resettlement and Assistance, 1945-1946 from the Washington State Archives – Digital Archives

Genealogy

 * " Genealogy &amp; Family History" online
 * "Family History &amp; Genealogy" online
 * "Garfield County Cemetery Records" online

Guardianship
Guardianship of orphans or adults unable to manage their own affairs were handled by the probate and the Federal District courts. See Washington Court Records.

History

 * Historic sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and Garfield Counties, Washington Territory, and Umatilla County, Oregon (If the link does not work, go to ancestry.com ($), click Search, select Card Catalog, paste Title into search box, click Search)


 * "1898 Garfield County " online
 * "Garfield County, Alabama(Washington) Facts" online
 * "Garfield County Heritage" online

History Timeline
Historical County Boundaries from Newberry Library Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were gleaned from Wilma, David. Garfield County -- Thumbnail History, History Link.org Essay 7728.


 * Native Americans followed the Nez Perce Trail through Garfield County for many years.
 * 1806 - Lewis and Clark's first arrival in what is now Garfield County.
 * 1834 - Captain B. L. E. Bonneville passed through Garfield County, surveying the region on behalf of the United States government.
 * 1860 - One of the earliest permanent white settlers in what would become Garfield County.
 * 1870s - Settlers coming into the area began to establish farms and raise grain.
 * 1881-November 29, Garfield County was formed from the eastern portion of Columbia County.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * Naturalization and Citizenship 1882-1945 Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.
 * Includes Declarations and petitions 1892-1945; Declarations of intention 1896-1906; Naturalization records 1886-1945; Petitions for Naturalization 1908-1928; Record of Petitions 1882-1945; Naturalization Journal 1905-1906.


 * Naturalization Records, 1892-1952 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Newspapers

 * Newspapers (Sortable by towns, years, and titles)

Obituaries
Also check:


 * Newspapers of
 * Local Funeral Homes, Libraries, or family records.
 * Obituaries of neighboring counties

Probate Records

 * Probate Records 1860-1962 Part of: Washington County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.
 * Includes Estate Case files 1860-1897 and Record of wills 1882-1962.

Public Records

 * Garfield Postmaster Index, Part of Washington, Postmaster Indexes, Prior to 1965 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.
 * Includes (no "A" surnames) • Index B (this is a few cards filmed out of sequence) • Index B-H • Index H-Y.

Birth

 * Birth Records 1891-1907 Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.


 * Birth Records, 1891-1935 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Marriage

 * Marriages from 16 Feb 1882 to 12 May 1889 are available on the Western States Marriage Index website.


 * Marriage Records, 1882-1979 at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Divorce
Divorce records give the names of the parties and may give the date and place of their marriage. See Washington Vital Records for excellent information.

Death

 * Death Certificates, 1907-1960 Washington, Death Certificates, 1907-1960 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.


 * Death Records 1891-1907 Part of Washington, County Records, 1856-2009 at FamilySearch Historical Collections. (Free, browse images)
 * See what genealogical information may be in these records.


 * Death Records at Washington State Digital Archives Collection. (Free)

Websites
Sites with online indexes or images of records:


 * Web Sites at RootsWeb - Garfield WA (Free)
 * The Garfield County WAGenWeb Project (free), a member of The WAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project (free) for Garfield County. (Mirror site)
 * Current Collections at Washington State Digital Archives (Free) Type county name, click Search, then select a collection. Collections were posted to the appropriate headings for this Wiki page in November, 2013.
 * Historical Collections at FamilySearch.org. (Free) Click "Last Updated." Collections through October 2013 have been posted to the appropriate headings for this Wiki page.

Sites that search the Internet for records online:


 * Linkpendium (free)
 * CyndisList (free)

Major catalogs to offline genealogical records: Catalogs refer to books, microfilm, manuscripts, and/or Internet images and indexes for various topics.


 * for (Select topics. Add comma to select towns.)
 * WorldCat To find libraries near you that have items of interest, see WorldCat Online Catalog.
 * Allen County Public Library (Indiana)
 * See also local libraries and Washington Archives and Libraries

Archives, Libraries, etc.
Resources for are available in libraries, archives, and other repositories at all levels: the town, the county, the state (including universities), and the nation.


 * Check websites and catalogs, such as items in (Utah) or Allen County Public Library (Indiana) for.

Libraries

 * Pomeroy (Denny Ashby) Library, 856 Arlington St, Pomeroy 99347 Phone: (509) 843-3710


 * Online Resources:


 * Unique Collections:

Towns and Communities
See a list of towns and communities in Garfield County per Wikipedia.