Big Stone County, Minnesota Genealogy

Guide to Big Stone County, Minnesota ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The County was named for the Big Stone Lake. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Recorder has birth, marriage and land records from 1881, divorce and court records from 1885. Court Judge has probate records.

Parent County

 * 1862--Big Stone County was created 20 February 1862 from Pierce County; eliminated 20 Feb 1862. County seat: Ortonville

Record Loss
1885 Courthouse was destroyed by fire.

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

 * Grant County, South Dakota
 * Lac Qui Parle
 * Roberts County, South Dakota
 * Stevens
 * Swift
 * Traverse

Census
State Census
 * 1865 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1885 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1912 - 1956 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps
1874 Map of Big Stone, Grant, Stevens, and Traverse counties

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1872-1962 - at FamilySearch — index

==== Newspapers ====


 * The Ortonville Independent (May 1920-Current; Weekly)
 * The Northern Star (Jan 1966-Current; Weekly)
 * The Ortonville Journal (Jan 1927-Sep 1927; Weekly)
 * The Ortonville Star (Jan 1927-Sep 1927; Weekly)
 * Ortonville Journal Star (Oct 1927-Apr 1930; Weekly)
 * The Journal-Star (Sep 1926-Jan 1927; Weekly)
 * The Ortonville Journal (Jan 1913-Sep 1926; Weekly)
 * Ortonville Herald Star (Jan 1888-Dec 1912; Weekly)
 * Big Stone County Journal (1892 [?]-Dec 1912; Weekly)
 * The Beardsley News (Apr 1908-Jun 1959; Weekly)
 * The Odessa Tribune (Mar 1898-After Jan 1902 [?]; Weekly)
 * The Phenix (1894-Nov 1912; Weekly)
 * Graceville Transcript (Aug 1890-1894; Weekly)
 * Graceville Transcript and Democrat (Jul 1889-Aug 1890; Weekly)
 * The Graceville Democrat (May 1888-Jul 1889; Weekly)
 * The Ortonville Headlight (1884-After Mar 1887 [?]; Weekly)
 * The People's Vindicator (1884-Dec1884; Weekly)
 * Graceville Transcript (Oct 1883-Jul 1889; Weekly)
 * Big Stone County Herald (Aug 1879-Dec 1887; Weekly)
 * Ortonville North Star (Jun 1878-Dec1887; Weekly)
 * The Odessa Times (1940 [?]-Sep 1941; Weekly)
 * Graceville Enterprise (1894-Apr 1966; Weekly)
 * The Clinton Advocate (1894 [?]-Apr 1966; Weekly)
 * The Ortonville Star (1920 [?]-Sep 1926; Weekly)
 * The Beardsley News (1896 [?]-Sep 1907; Weekly)
 * The Clinton Advocate (Aug 1892-Jul 1895; Weekly)

Obituaries

 * 1865-2006 - at FamilySearch— index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records
 * 1801 - 1999 Minnesota Wills and Probate Records 1801-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Marriage

 * 1860 - 1949 at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

 * 1850-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1887-2001 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies and Libraries

 * Big Stone County Historical Society and Museum 985 US Highway 12 Ortonville, MN 56278 Phone: 320-839-3359 Website Facebook
 * Ortonville Public Library 412 NW 2nd Stret Ortonville, MN 56278 Phone: 320-8390-2494
 * Graceville Public Library 415 Studdart Avenure PO Box 457 Graceville, MN 56240 Phone: 320-748-7332

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * Big Stone County GenWeb
 * Cyndi's List: Big Stone County
 * Cyndi's List: Big Stone County