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Guide to Big Stone County, Minnesota 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 Big Stone Lake. The County is located in the west central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Big Stone County Courthouse 20 SE 2nd Street Ortonville, MN 56278-1544 Phone: 320-839-2308 Big Stone County Website County Recorder has birth, marriage and land records from 1881, divorce and court records from 1885. Court Judge has probate records.

Populated Places
 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
 * 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images or scroll to Browse images by counties.
 * 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images or scroll to Browse images by counties.
 * 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images or scroll to Browse images by counties.
 * 1835-1890 Minnesota, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1849-1905 Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 at Ancestry ($)

Church Records

 * FamilySearch Places

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1912-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images or scroll to Browse images by film numbers.

Land and Property Records

 * Pre-1908 Minnesota, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)

Local Histories

 * Minnesota County History Name Index at Ancestry ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places
 * 1874 Map of Big Stone, Grant, Stevens, and Traverse counties at David Rumsey Map Collections
 * Recommended Websites for Minnesota Maps from Michael Fox Map Collection at Minnesota Historical Society
 * Minnesota Maps at David Rumsey Map Collections

Military Records
World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images or scroll to Browse images by film numbers.
 * 1861-1865 U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1861-1865 Minnesota, Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry
 * 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry
 * 1861-1917 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection
 * 1861-1934 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at Ancestry
 * 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry ($)
 * 1898-1899 Minnesota, Spanish American War Muster Rolls and Casualty Lists, 1898-1899 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry
 * 1940-1947 U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 at Ancestry
 * 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1872-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * 1849-1985 Web: Minnesota, Naturalization Index, 1849-1985 at Ancestry (Free)
 * 1880-1920 Minnesota, Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1918 Web: Minnesota, Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry (Free)

Newspapers

 * Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub at Minnesota Historical Society — narrow to county (55 listed) or city (106 listed), search for surname, limit by date.

Obituaries

 * 1865-2006 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images or scroll to Browse images by film numbers.
 * 1891-2003 Web: Minnesota, Obituary Index, 1891-2003 at Ancestry (Free)

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1801-1925 Minnesota, Wills and Probate Records, 1801-1925 at Ancestry ($)

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.

Birth

 * 1900-1934 Minnesota, Birth Index, 1900-1934 at MyHeritage($) — index
 * 1840-1980 Minnesota, Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1900-1934 Minnesota People Records Search select Birth Records (1900-1934, at Minnesota Historical Society — Index only, search by name, date, a related surname, or county.
 * 1935-2000 Minnesota, Birth Index, 1935-2000 at Ancestry ($)

Marriage

 * 1850-2019 WEB: Minnesota, Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019 at Ancestry (Free)
 * 1860 1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images or scroll to Browse images by film numbers.
 * 1976-2003 Minnesota, Marriages, 1976-2003 at MyHeritage($) — index
 * 1885-present Minnesota Official Marriage System at mn.gov — search by county, name or date, and request copy.
 * 1970-2003 Minnesota Marriage Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives.com ($)

Death

 * 1850-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images or scroll to Browse images by counties.
 * 1887-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
 * 1904-2001 Minnesota, Death Index, 1904-2001 at MyHeritage($) — index
 * 1904-2001 Minnesota People Records Search, select Death Records (1904-2001), at Minnesota Historical Society — Index only, search by name, date, a related surname, or county.
 * 1908-2017 Minnesota, Death Index, 1908-2017 at Ancestry ($)

Divorce

 * 1970-1995 Minnesota, Divorce Index, 1970-1995 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1970-2003 Minnesota Divorce Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives.com ($)

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

Websites

 * Big Stone County, Minnesota at MNGenWeb
 * Big Stone County listings at Cyndi's List
 * – 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.
 * Research at Minnesota Historical Society — links to Records and Indexes; See also MHS Wiki Page

Libraries
St. Louis, Brown Sleepy Eye Area Historical Society 100 Oak Street PO Box 544 Sleepy Eye, MN 56085 Phone: 507-794-50* 1870-1899 WEB: Minnesota, St. Louis County, Death Index, 1870-1899 at Ancestry (Free)
 * Brown County Historical Society 2 N Broadway St New Ulm, MN 56073-1714 Phone: 507-233-2616 Website
 * Browns Valley Historical Society PO Box 165 Browns Valley, MN 56219
 * Comfrey Area Historical Society PO Box 218 Comfrey, MN 56019-0218
 * Springfield Area Historical Society Box 113 Springfield, MN 56087-0113

Websites

 * Brown County MNGenWeb
 * Cyndi's List: Brown County
 * – 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.
 * Research at Minnesota Historical Society — links to Records and Indexes; See also MHS Wiki Page