Wexford County, Michigan Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for County Wexford in Ireland. The County is located in the Northern area of the state.

County Courthouse
County Clerk has birth records from 1868, marriage, death, divorce and court records from 1869.

Parent County
1840--Wexford County was created 1 April 1840 from Mackinac County. Formerly Kautawaubet County, until name was changed to Wexford 8 March 1843. It was attached to Mackinac, Manistee, and Grand Traverse Counties prior to organization 30 March 1869. County seat: Cadillac

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Michigan county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Michigan County Boundary Maps" (1790-1897) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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
Benzie •  Grand Traverse  •  Kalkaska  •  Lake County  •  Manistee  •  Missaukee  •  Osceola

Census
State Census
 * 1894 - at FamilySearch — index

Church

 * 1819-1991 - at FamilySearch — index

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1929 - 1966 at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps

 * Maps of Michigan (1790-1897)

Civil War
Civil War service men from Wexford County served in various regiments. Men often joined a regiment or a company (within a regiment)that originated in their county. Listed below are the military units that were formed in or had many men from Wexford County.

Online Records
 * at FamilySearch — index
 * Civil War Veterans Roster. MiGenWeb Project
 * 1876-1945 - at FamilySearch — index

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

World War II

 * Wexfird County World War II Army Enlistees. MiGenWeb Project
 * Wexford County World War II Reserve Corps. MiGenWeb Project
 * Wexford County World War II Army and Air Force Honor List of Dead and Missing. MiGenWeb Project

Korean War

 * Wexford County Korean War Casualties. MiGenWeb Project

Vietnam War

 * Wexford County Vietnam Wall of Honor. MiGenWeb Project

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1837-1993 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Obituaries

 * 1820-2006 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1784 – 1980 Michigan Wills and Probate Records 1784-1980 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1797 – 1973 at FamilySearch — images

Vital Records
How to order Michigan Vital Records

Birth

 * 1867-1917 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1902 - Michigan Birth Registrations, 1867-1902-- Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. Records include such information as name of child, birthdate and place, if still-born, illegitimate or twin, gender, race and record number.
 * Pre-1900 - Early Michigan Birth Records

Marriage

 * 1585-1945 - Michigan, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1820-1937 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1820-1940 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1868-1925 - Michigan Marriage Registrations, 1868-1925 -- Free name indexes at FamilySearch. Records include such information as names of bride and groom, date of license, ages, race, residences, birthplaces, occupations and names of the fathers of the bride and groom.

Death

 * 1850-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1867-1897 - Michigan Death Registrations, 1867-1897 - Free name indexes and images at FamilySearch. Records include such information as name of deceased, date and place of death, gender, color, marital status, age in years, months and days, disease or apparent cause of death, birthplace, names and occupations of parents, and the date the record was made.
 * Wexford County Death Index. MiGenWeb Project

Societies and Libraries
Wexford County Historical Society 127 Beech Street Cadillac, MI 49601 Telephone: 231-775-1717 Website

Wexford County Historical Society PO Box 124 Cadillac 49601

Cadillac Area Genealogical Society 8499 So. 27 1/2 Mile Rd. Cadillac 49601

Manton Area Historical Society PO Box 86 Manton 49663


 * List of Michigan Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Websites

 * Wexford County, MI History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Michigan Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
 * Wexford County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)
 * Wexford County MI Genealogy (Michigan Genealogy)