Shoshone County, Idaho Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for the Native American Shoshone Tribe. The County has Wallace as its seat and the County was created February 4, 1864. The County is located in the north area of the state.

County Courthouse
Shoshone County Courthouse 700 High Bank Street Wallace, ID 83873 Phone: 208-752-1264 County Website

County Clerk has birth and death records from 1907-1911, marriage records from 1875, divorce records from 1887, probate records from 1885, court records from 1884, and land records records from 1871.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Home Town Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Census Records
The 1890 federal census for Idaho was destroyed. However, the Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library is creating a list of 1890 Idaho residents by indexing a variety of records, 1885-1894. This reconstructed list will substitute for the destroyed 1890 federal census. For a summary of census records for the state of Idaho, see Idaho Census Records.

Church Records
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) In 1930, Shoshone County was part of Northwestern States Mission. There were no stake organized in the area at the time.
 * The following are local congregations (wards) which existed in Shoshone County, Idaho prior to 1950.
 * For original or later records, check with the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.
 * Many of the records to about 1948 are available at the FamilySearch Libraryin Salt Lake City and at its FamilySearch Centers.


 * 1864--Shoshone County was created 4 February 1864 as an original county.
 * Kellogg-Wallace

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Online Court Indexes and Records
 * (*) at the FamilySearch Catalog - Court journal, 1868-1934 Idaho; Power of attorney, 1884-1929 Idaho.
 * Shoshone County Court Records at Idaho State Archives - civil suits, divorce papers, judgment dockets, etc.

Judgment Books
 * Judgments, 1866-1931 Idaho. District Court (Shoshone County)
 * Judgments, 1893-1927 Idaho. Circuit Court (Shoshone County)

Directories
The Idaho State Archives has in its collections copies of many city, county, state and regional directories.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1871-1904; 1871-1900 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1896-1908 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1888-1896; 1896-1905 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Shoshone County Land records at Idaho State Archives
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Local Histories
The digitized book An illustrated history of north Idaho embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho is available online at archive.org.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1895 1895 map of Shoshone and surrounding counties.
 * A digital Shoshone County Idaho map.
 * Map of Shoshone County, Idaho.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
World War I
 * 1917-1918 World War I registration cards 1917-1918 for Oneida County at FamilySearch
 * 1917-1918 World War I registration cards 1917-1918 for Oneida County available online at Ancestry ($)
 * The original cards are maintained in the Southeast Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in East Point, Georgia and have been microfilmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M1509.

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records
 * 1892-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

 Current Shoshone News - Press 401 Main Street Kellogg, ID 83837 Ph. 208-783-1107 email - ddrewry@hagadone.com Weekly

Historical Copies of many Idaho Newspapers are in the collections of the Idaho State Archives.

Obituaries

 * 1943-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images

County Commissioners' Records
The minute books of the County Commissioners contain interesting tidbits of history about the county as well as the names of individuals appealing to the County Commissioners for action on issues of concern to them. Minutes of those meetings were recorded from the formation of the county, for most counties. Some counties now post the minutes of current meetings online.

Most of these records have been preserved in the county courthouses of the State of Idaho. Few have been microfilmed. Contact the county clerk for information about years covered and availability.

Miscellaneous Series
Often overlooked by the genealogist, this group of volumes may contain affidavits for citizenship, final disposition of estates, divorce decrees, and many other types of valuable documents. The content varies from county to county, year to year and from clerk to clerk. When the estate case files, civil or criminal files are not available or have been destroyed, you may find key documents recorded here. Most counties will have an index to this series and it is a must search if the information you are seeking is not found elsewhere.

Both the Idaho State Archives in Boise, Idaho, and the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah have copies of the miscellaneous record of Shoshone County. The originals are held in the Shoshone County courthouse in Wallace, Idaho and can be accessed by visiting there. Copies in the Idaho State Archivesare available for viewing in Boise. Those held by the can be viewed either at the Library in Salt Lake City or at any of its FamilySearch Centers.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1989 Idaho Wills and Probate Records 1857-1989 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1871-1885 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * 1885-1928 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog
 * Shoshone County Probate Records at Idaho State Archives
 * 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
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1889 (*) at Familysearch Catalog
 * 1888-1896; 1896-1905 (*) at Familysearch Catalog

Birth

 * 1861-1911 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * Idaho Births and Christenings

Marriage

 * 1800-1987 Idaho, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1864-1976 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Privacy law can't publish
 * 1864-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1878-1898;1903-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1947-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * Idaho Marriages

Death

 * 1883-1929 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index/Images
 * 1938-1961 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
 * 1907-1911 State-wide index to Idaho Deaths, 1911-1956.
 * Idaho Deaths and Burials

Divorce

 * 1947-1963 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index

Archives

 * Idaho State Archives Digital Collections - Enter County in Search Bar
 * Idaho State Archives

FamilySearch Centers

 * Hayden Lake Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Kellogg Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Plains Montana FamilySearch Center
 * Priest River Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Sandpoint Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * St Maries Idaho FamilySearch Center
 * Thompson Falls Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries

 * Clarkia District Library 377 Poplar St Clarkia, ID 83812 Phone: (208) 245-2908
 * Mullan Public Library 117 Hunter Ave Mullan, ID 83846 Phone: (208) 744-1220
 * Osburn Public Library 921 Mullan Ave Osburn, ID 83849 Phone: (208) 752-9711 Website
 * Wallace Public Library 415 River St Wallace, ID 83873 Phone: (208) 752-4571 Website
 * Kellogg Public Library 16 W Market Ave Kellogg, ID 83837 Phone: (208) 786-7231 Website

Societies

 * Hughes House Historical Society‎ 538 Main Avenue Saint Maries, ID 83861-2061 (208) 245-1501 Website
 * State Historical Society 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd Boise, Idaho 208-334-2774 Website
 * National Society Daughters of the American Revolution-Idaho Chapter
 * The Idaho Welsh Society -- excellent cultural and historical site

Websites

 * Shoshone County IDGenWeb - regularly updated online resources for genealogical research.
 * Shoshone County at Idaho USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research.
 * USGenWeb May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Shoshone County, Idaho at Linkpendium - genealogy and family history
 * – 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.