Meeker County, Minnesota Genealogy
Guide to Meeker County, Minnesota ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
The County was named for Bradley B. Meeker, an associate justice of the Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court from 1849 to 1853. The County is located in the central area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse[edit | edit source]
Meeker County Courthouse
325 N Shibley Ave
Litchfield, MN 55355
Phone: 320-693-5230
Meeker County Website
Clerk District Court has birth, marriage, death, divorce and court records from 1870, probate records from 1858, school records, naturalization records from 1884.
Court Recorder has land record.[4]
Meeker County, Minnesota Record Dates[edit | edit source]
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
1870 | 1870 | 1870 | 1870 | 1856 | 1858 | 1836 |
Record Loss[edit | edit source]
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]
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Populated Places[edit | edit source]
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:[9]
Cities | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
Townships | ||
History Timeline[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
Bible Records[edit | edit source]
Biographies[edit | edit source]
Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]
Cemeteries[edit | edit source]
Census Records[edit | edit source]
For links to Federal, State, and Territorial censuses, see Minnesota Census.
Historical populations | ||
---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± |
1860 | 928 | — |
1870 | 6,090 | 556.3% |
1880 | 11,739 | 92.8% |
1890 | 15,456 | 31.7% |
1900 | 17,753 | 14.9% |
1910 | 17,022 | −4.1% |
1920 | 18,103 | 6.4% |
1930 | 17,914 | −1.0% |
1940 | 19,277 | 7.6% |
1950 | 18,966 | −1.6% |
1960 | 18,887 | −0.4% |
1970 | 18,387 | −2.6% |
1980 | 20,594 | 12.0% |
1990 | 20,846 | 1.2% |
2000 | 22,644 | 8.6% |
2010 | 23,300 | 2.9% |
Source: "Wikipedia.org". |
State Census
- 1835-1890 Minnesota, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1835-1890 at Ancestry ($)
- 1849-1905 Minnesota, U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 at Ancestry ($)
- 1865 Minnesota State Census, 1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- 1875 Minnesota State Census, 1875 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- 1885 Minnesota State Census, 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
- 1905 Minnesota State Census, 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
Church Records[edit | edit source]
Most church records are held by individual churches. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository. For more information, see Minnesota Church Records.
Lutheran
Court Records[edit | edit source]
Directories[edit | edit source]
Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]
- 1912-1956 Minnesota Passenger and Crew Lists, 1912-1956 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images.
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]
Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]
Genealogies[edit | edit source]
Guardianship[edit | edit source]
Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]
The county register of deeds keeps land records once the land was transferred to private ownership. Abstracts and indexes for these records are generally available at the county courthouse.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- Pre-1908 Minnesota, U.S., Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908 at Ancestry ($)
Local Histories[edit | edit source]
Local histories are available for Meeker County. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Minnesota Local Histories.
- Album of History and Biography of Meeker County, Minnesota (Chicago: Alden Ogle & Company, 1888) Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Internet Archive, Google Books.
- Lamson, Frank B.; Condensed History of Meeker County (Minn.) 1855-1939 (Litchfield, Minnesota: Brown Printing Company) Online at FamilySearch Digital Library; Indexed at Ancestry ($).
- Smith, A.C.; Smith, Henry L.; A Random Historical Sketch of Meeker County, Minnesota: from its first settlement, to July 4th, 1876 (Litchfield, Minn.: Belfoy & Joubert, Pulishers, 1877) At FamilySearch Catalog; Scroll down to Film/Digital Notes then select the camera icon to view images. Also available online at HathiTrust; Indexed at Ancestry ($).
Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]
for more resources
- Minnesota Maps at David Rumsey Map Collection
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- Minnesota Department of Transportation, Meeker County municipality and township maps
Migration[edit | edit source]
Military Records[edit | edit source]
Multiple Wars
- 1861-1917 United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Free index, images ($)
- 1898-1899 Minnesota Volunteers in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection at Ancestry ($)
Civil War
- 1861-1865 U.S., Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 at Ancestry; Free index
- 1861-1865 Minnesota, U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry; Free index
- 1861-1865 Minnesota Civil War Soldiers at Ancestry; Free index
- 1861-1934 U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at Ancestry; Free index
Civil War service men from Meeker County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Freeborn County.
- - 2nd Regiment, Minnesota Cavalry, Company D.
Spanish-American War
- 1898 U.S., Spanish American War Volunteers Index to Compiled Military Service Records, 1898 at Ancestry; Free index
- 1898-1899 Minnesota, U.S., Spanish American War Muster Rolls and Casualty Lists, 1898-1899 at Ancestry; Free index
World War I
- 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Civilian Draft Registrations, 1917-1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)
- 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry; Free index
- 1918-1941 Minnesota, World War I Records, 1918-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
World War II
- 1940-1947 Minnesota, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1940-1947 U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 at Ancestry; Free index
- 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at Ancestry; Free index
Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1849-1985 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Naturalization Index, 1849-1985 at Ancestry (Free collection)
- 1872-1962 Minnesota Naturalization Records and Indexes, 1872-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1880-1920 Minnesota, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1880-1920 at Ancestry ($)
- 1918 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Alien Registration Index, 1918 at Ancestry (Free collection)
Newspapers[edit | edit source]
- Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub at Minnesota Historical Society; narrow to county or city, search for surname, limit by date.
Obituaries[edit | edit source]
- 1865-2006 Minnesota, Obituaries 1865-2006 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1891-2003 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Obituary Index, 1891-2003 at Ancestry (Free collection)
Other Records[edit | edit source]
Periodicals[edit | edit source]
Probate Records[edit | edit source]
Probate records may include wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. They may include the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, etc. See Minnesota Probate Records for additional information.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1801-1925 Minnesota, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1801-1925 at Ancestry; index and images ($)
- 1849-1985 Minnesota Will Records, 1849-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Three Minnesota counties are not in this collection: Hennepin, Marshall, and St. Louis.
School Records[edit | edit source]
Social Security Records[edit | edit source]
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($); index, click here for more information.
Tax Records[edit | edit source]
Since Minnesota tax records include only persons who owned taxable property, many residents were not included. Still they complement land records and can be used in place of missing censuses or the years between censuses. There may also be gaps. For more information, see the wiki page Minnesota Taxation.
Vital Records[edit | edit source]
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents.
A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred. See also Minnesota Vital Records.
Birth[edit | edit source]
- 1840-1980 Minnesota, U.S., Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980 at Ancestry ($)
- 1900-1934 Minnesota People Records Search - Births at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)
- 1900-1934 Minnesota, Birth Index, 1900-1934 at MyHeritage; index ($)
- 1935-2000 Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1935-2000 at Ancestry ($)
Marriage[edit | edit source]
- 1850-2019 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2019 at Ancestry (Free collection)
- 1860-1949 Minnesota, County Marriages, 1860-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1885-present Minnesota Official Marriage System at MOMS.mn.gov; search by county, name or date, and request copy.
- 1970-2003 Minnesota Marriage Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)
- 1976-2003 Minnesota, Marriages, 1976-2003 at MyHeritage; index ($)
Death[edit | edit source]
- 1850-2001 Minnesota, County Deaths, 1850-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1887-2001 Minnesota Deaths, 1887-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
- 1904-2001 Minnesota People Records Search - Deaths at Minnesota Historical Society - free index, images ($)
- 1904-2001 Minnesota, Death Index, 1904-2001 at MyHeritage; index ($)
- 1908-2017 Minnesota, U.S., Death Index, 1908-2017 at Ancestry ($)
Divorce[edit | edit source]
- 1970-1995 Minnesota, U.S., Divorce Index, 1970-1995 at Ancestry ($)
- 1970-2003 Minnesota Divorce Records Index, 1970-2003 at Archives ($)
Research Facilities[edit | edit source]
Archives[edit | edit source]
Listed below are archives in Meeker County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Minnesota Archives and Libraries.
Family History Centers[edit | edit source]
Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local Family History Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Buffalo Minnesota Family History Center
- Hutchinson Minnesota Family History Center
- Great River Regional Library - multiple branches - an affiliate library.
- Willmar Public Library - an affiliate library.
Libraries[edit | edit source]
Listed below are libraries in Meeker County. For state-wide library facilities, see Minnesota Archives and Libraries.
Cosmos Public Library
230 Milky Way S
P.O. Box 595
Cosmos, MN 56228
Phone: 320-440-1012
Website
Dassel Public Library
460 3rd Street N
P.O. Box 385
Dassel, MN 55325
Phone: 320-275-3756
Website
Grove City Public Library
210 Atlantic Ave W
P.O. Box 248
Grove City, MN 56243
Phone: 320-857-2550
Website
Litchfield Public Library
216 N Marshall Ave
Litchfield MN 55355
Phone: 320-693-2483
Website
Museums[edit | edit source]
Meeker County Museum and G.A.R. Hall
308 Marshall Ave N
Litchfield, MN 55355
Phone: 320-693-8911
Email: director@meekercomuseum.org
Website
Dassel History Center & Ergot Museum
901 1st Street N
PO Box D
Dassel, MN 55325
Phone: 320-275-3077
Email: dahs@dassel.com
Website
Forest City Stockade
64974 309th Street
Litchfield, MN 55355
Phone: 320-693-6782 or 320-699-1167
Email: dave@forestcitystockade.org
Website
Societies[edit | edit source]
Listed below are societies in Meeker County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Minnesota Societies.
Meeker County Historical Society
308 N Marshall Ave
Litchfield, MN 55355-2112
Phone: 320-693-9811
Email: staff@meekercomuseum.org
Website
Dassel Area Historical Society
901 1st Street N
Dassel, MN
Phone: 320-275-3077
Email: dahs@dassel.com
Website
- Grove City Area Historical Society
P.O. Box 252
205 3rd Street S
Grove City, MN 56243
Phone: 320-857-9422
Websites[edit | edit source]
- Research at Minnesota Historical Society — links to Records and Indexes; See also MHS Wiki Page
- Iron Range Research Center
- Meeker County, USGenWeb Archives
- Meeker County MNGenWeb, a member of The MNGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
- Cyndi's List: Meeker County
- Minnesota Genealogy Trails
- FamilySearch Catalog – 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 Guides[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed 1 February 2021.
- ↑ Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed 1 February 2021.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Meeker County, Minnesota" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeker_County,_Minnesota accessed 1 February 2021
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Minnesota.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Minnesota.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed 1 February 2021.
- ↑ Minnesota Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed 1 February 2021.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Minnesota.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Meeker County, Minnesota," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeker_County,_Minnesota, accessed 1 February 2021.