Marathon County, Wisconsin Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for the battlefield at Marathon, Greece. The County has Wausau as its seat and the County was created 1850. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Marathon County Courthouse 500 Forest Street Wausau, WI 54403 Phone: 715-261-1500 Marathon County Website Register of Deeds has birth, marriage, death records from 1900, and land records from 1850. Clerk of Courts has divorce and court records from 1900. Probate County Court has probate records from 1900.

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:


 * See Wisconsin Historical Society. Dictionary of Wisconsin History

Biographies

 * Biographical Index to History of Marathon County, Wis & Representative Citizens USGenWeb Archives

Census Records

 * 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
 * 1905 1905 Marathon County Census-- Index of handwritten cards from the 1905 county census. Search results include  surname, first name, age, location, and a link to the detailed record. A copy of the original census information can be ordered. Note that each record in the original census contains surname, location, first name, relationship, sex, race, age, marital status, birthplace, parent's birthplace, occupation and notes.
 * Census substitute - Early Wausau City Directories.  1883, 1886, 1888, 1893, 1910, 1912, 1914 city directories are included in this index. The Marathon County Historical Society will provide a copy of the original city directory record for a fee. The FamilySearch Library has additional early  on film.

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * Marathon County Clerk of Courts

Directories

 * Early Wausau City Directories. 1883, 1886, 1888, 1893, 1910, 1912, 1914 city directories are included in this index. The Marathon County Historical Society will provide a copy of the original city directory record for a fee. The FamilySearch Library has additional early  on film.

Funeral Homes

 * Funeral Homes History and list of funeral homes in Marathon County (mostly Wausau), along with addresses and whether records can be read there.

Genealogies
Wimarath Stories

Land and Property Records

 * General Land Office Records, Bureau of Land Management
 * Marathon County Online Land Records
 * Marathon County Register of Deeds on line Records

Local Histories
Local histories are available from the Marathon County Historical Society. This collection of histories indexed and is searchable by surname or business name.

Wimarath Stories has links to many various stories, interviews, histories of towns, etc.

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
 * Marathon County Wisconsin Department of Transportation
 * Marathon County (1878) David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
 * Wausau (1878) David Rumsey Historical Map Collection

Civil War

 * - 5th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry Reorganized, Companies D and F
 * - 12th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company G


 * Marathon County Veterans Service Office
 * Wimarath Military shows all the various wars' records available for Marathon County and links to their sites

Newspapers
 Wisconsin Newspapers Online
 * Record Review - covers Athens, Edgar, Marathon and Stratford.
 * Tribune-Phonograph Covers Abbotsford, Colby, Curtiss, Dorchester, Milan and Unity.
 * Wausau Daily Herald
 * Wisconsin Digital Newspaper at Wisconsin State Historical Society

Obituaries

 * Marathon County Obituaries

Other Records
Information about the history of the Asylum and Poor Farm comes from copies of materials at the Marathon County Historical Library, 410 McIndoe, Wausau,WI Wimarath Insane covering years 1893 - 1971

Probate Records
Online Records


 * 1800–1987 Wisconsin Wills and Probate Records 1800-1987 at Ancestry — images and index $
 * 1848–1948 at FamilySearch — images - How to Use this Collection

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

 * Wisconsin Government Vital Records General Request lists earliest registration dates by county.

Birth

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

Marriage

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

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 — 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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Marshfield Wisconsin FamilySearch Center
 * Wausau Wisconsin FamilySearch Center

Libraries

 * Marathon County Public Library
 * 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

 * Marathon County Genealogical Society PO Box 1512 Wausau, WI 54402-1512 Website under construction
 * Marathon County Historical Society 410 McIndoe Street Wausau, WI 54403 Office: 715-842-5750 Website
 * Pommerscher Verein Central Wisconsin c/o Berlin Center 11248 Berlin Lane Athens, WI 54411 Website

Websites

 * Marathon County, WI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Wisconsin Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Marathon County, WIGenWeb Project
 * Marathon County, 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