Adams County, Wisconsin Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for John Adams or John Quincy Adams. The County is located in the centre area of the state.

County Courthouse
Adams County Courthouse 400 Main Street Friendship, WI 53934 Phone: 608-339-4200 Adams County Website Register of Deeds has birth records from 1860, marriage records from 1859, deaths from 1873 and land records from 1853. County Clerk has divorce and court records. Register in Probate has probate records.

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:

Census Records
State Census
 * 1855 This census includes name of head of family; other individuals in the household are identified by sex and race, number of deaf and dumb, blind, insane and foreign born. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1865 Name index and images of the 1865 State Census which names the head of household. Most records have been destroyed but schedules exist for the following counties: Dunn, Green, Jackson, Kewaunee, Ozaukee, and Sheboygan. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1875 Identifies head of household by name. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1885 — index and images. Search indexed census.Identifies by name of head of household.  Other information is statistical and identifies the rest of the household by race, gender and country of birth. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1895 — index and images. Identifies head of household by name. Other information is statistical. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1905 — Name index and images of population. Enumerates by name all inhabitants. - How to Use this Collection

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories
Local histories are valuable sources for family history research. Published histories of towns, counties, and states usually contain accounts of families and describe the settlement of the area and the founding of churches, schools, and businesses. You can also find lists of pioneers, soldiers, and civil officials. Even if your ancestor is not listed, information on other relatives may be included that will provide important clues for locating your ancestor. A local history may also suggest other records to search. Local histories are extensively collected by the FamilySearch Library, public and university libraries, and state and local historical societies. The United States Research "History" page cites nationwide bibliographies of local histories which include histories of Wisconsin.


 * Wisconsin WIGenWeb
 * The Wisconsin Historical Society has a site for Wisconsin Local History &amp; Biography Articles. This is a search-able site where you'll find thousands of historical newspaper articles on Wisconsin people and communities.
 * American History and Genealogy Project has information on individual counties.
 * Recollection Wisconsin includes digitized county and city histories from communities across the state, including Appleton, Blanchardville, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Janesville, Kaukauna, La Crosse, Menasha, Mt. Horeb, New Glarus, Oshkosh, Slinger, Sheboygan, Waterford, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Wisconsin

Civil War

 * - 2nd Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry, Company A
 * - 10th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company D
 * - 12th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company E

World War I

 * Men Who Died in the Army during WWI from Adams County, WI USGenWeb Archives

World War II

 * Army Enlistees from Adams County USGenWeb Archives

Newspapers
 Wisconsin Newspapers Online
 * Wisconsin Digital Newspaper at Wisconsin State Historical Society

Obituaries

 * Adams County Obituaries at USGenWeb Archives

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1800 – 1987 Wisconsin Wills and Probate Records 1800-1987 at Ancestry.com — images and index $
 * 1848 – 1948 at FamilySearch — images - How to Use this Collection
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

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 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Vital Records

 * Register of Deeds has birth records from 1860, marriage records from 1859, death records from 1873 and land records from 1853; Clerk Court has divorce and court records; Registrar in Probate has probate records.

Birth

 * 1826 - 1926 at FamilySearch.org — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1820 - 1907 at FamilySearch.org — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1820-1920: Wisconsin, Birth Index, 1808-1920 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1826 - 1908 Wisconsin, Births and Christenings Index, 1826-1908 at Ancestry — index $
 * Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)

Marriage

 * 1836 - 1930 at FamilySearch.org — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1836 - 1911 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)
 * 1973 - 1997 at FamilySearch.org — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1973 - 1997 Wisconsin Marriages, 1973-1997 at Ancestry — index/images $

Death

 * 1820-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1835-1968 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1867-1907 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * Pre-1907 Pre-1907 Wisconsin Vital Records Index at Wisconsin Historical Society - free index, images ($)
 * 1959-1997 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Divorce

 * 1965 - 1984 at FamilySearch.org — index - How to Use this Collection

Archives

 * Neils R. Kampenga Archives and Area Research Center University of Wisconsin Library 900 Reserve Street, Room 520 Stevens Point, WI 54481-1962 Phone: 715-346-2586 Website Email: [mailto:archives@uwsp.edu archives@uwsp.edu] Facebook

Libraries

 * University of Wisconsin Library Nelis R. Kampenga Archives and Area Research Center 900 Reserve Street, Room 520 Stevens Point, WI 54481-1962 Phone: 715-346-2586 Website Email: [mailto:archives@uwsp.edu archives@uwsp.edu] Facebook

Societies

 * Adams County Historical Society and Historic McGowan House / Archives PO Box 264 507 Main Street Friendship, WI, 53934 Telephone: 608-339-7732 E-mail:adams.co.wi.hist@gmail.com Website

Websites

 * Adams County, WI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Wisconsin Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * - 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