Stevens County, Washington Genealogy

United States &gt; Washington &gt; Stevens County

County Courthouse
Located in Colville (originally founded as Pinkney City) |Courthouse at 215 S. Oak, Colville, WA, 99114. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Information line 509-684-7512.

Auditor Office holds records including military discharges, County Commissioner's minutes, homesteads, land records, mining transactions, etc. (Note: some records were transferred to the |Washington State Regional Archives at Cheney.) Note: Many of the these records are over on the west side of Washington being digitized. Per staff, they will be back in July 2010.

Court Clerk Office holds records for divorce, naturalization, and court cases.

Land claimed by British and American governments.
With the signing of the Treaty of 1818, British and American jointly claimed the area which includes Stevens County. The Hudson's Bay Company controlled most of the land in what is now Stevens County. Their records are available through The Manitoba Archives and [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk The National Archives (UK). Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Colville existed from 1828 to 1856.

Parent County
The Oregon Treaty (Buchanan/Pakenham)was signed June 15, 1846 creating a border between the two countries along the 49th parallel. The US portion was organized as the Oregon Territory in August 14, 1848.

The Washington Territory was formed in February 8, 1853.*1863--Stevens County was created 20 January 1863 from Walla Walla County. County seat: Colville

Washington State was formed November 11, 1889.

Boundary Changes
The Territorial Legislature created Stevens County on January 20,1863. It comprised almost all of Eastern Washington including the area east of the Cascade Mountains, northern Idaho, and part of Montana. Stevens County was named for Isaac Ingalls Stevens, the first governor and delegate to Congress.

In 1864, the Territorial Legislature annexed Spokane county to Stevens county, this vast area included what is now Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens and Whitman counties, it encompassed over 25,000 square miles. The breakup of Stevens County began in 1871, with the creation of Whitman County, followed by the re-creation of Spokane County in 1879, Okanogan County in 1888, Ferry County in 1899, and Pend Oreille County in 1911. What remained was the Stevens County we have today.

Populated Places
Incorporated communities:
 * Chewelahpopulation 2,200.
 * Colvillepopulation 5,000.
 * Kettle Fallspopulation 1,500.
 * Marcuspopulation 117.
 * Northportpopulation 336.
 * Springdalepopulation 283.

Unincorporated communities:
 * Addy
 * Arden
 * Cedonia
 * Clayton
 * Deer Lake
 * Echo
 * Evans
 * Ford
 * Fruitland
 * Gifford
 * Hunters
 * Loon Lake
 * Lakeside
 * Onion Creek
 * Rice
 * Suncrest
 * Tumtum
 * Valley
 * Wellpinit

Indian Reservation
The Spokane Indian Reservation is located in southwestern Stevens County.

Neighboring Counties

 * Ferry (to the west)
 * Lincoln (to the southwest)
 * Pend Oreille (to the east)
 * Spokane (to the south)
 * British Columbia, Canada (to the north)

Cemeteries
Addy Cemetery, Addy at USGenWeb; at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Assembly of God Church Cemetery, West-End of the Spokane Indian Reservation, Wellpinit area at Internment.net

Blanche E. Fisher Cemetery, Marcus. Records of the individuals moved from the banks of the Columbia River when Lake Roosevelt was created at Internment.net

Bossberg Cemetery, Bossberg near Marcus on Hwy 25. at USGenWeband at Find A Grave

Boundary Burials at Internment.net and research submitted by Greg Nesteroff.

Highland/Calvary Cemetery, Colville at Internment.net and Calvary Cemetery at Find A Grave and Highland Cemetery at Find A Grave

Cedonia Community Church Cemetery Cedonia on Hwy 25 at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Chewelah City (Pioneer) Cemetery, Flowery Trail Road east of Chewelah at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Chewelah Memorial Park, Highway 395 south of Chewelah at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Chief Lot Cemetery, aka Wellpinit Presbyterian Cemetery, Wellpinit, at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Cully Memorial Cemetery, Rice at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Enterprise Cemetery, Enterprise (Fruitland area) at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Etue Cemetery, Fruitland at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Evergreen Cemetery at Colville at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Fairview Cemetery, Daisy Mine Road, near Gifford at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Forest Center Cemetery, Valley at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Forest Home Cemetery, Northport at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Fruitland Seventh Day Adventist Cemetery, Fruitland (aka Steele Family Cemetery) at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Grandview Cemetery, Marcus at USGenWeb, at Internment.net, and at Find A Grave

Greenwood Cemetery, Hunters at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Hubert Cemetery, Ford (aka Walker's Prairie or Indian Cemetery) at USGenWeb, at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Hughes Cemetery, Fruitland at Internment.net

Indian Cemetery, Chewelah at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

I.O.O.F Cemetery, Rice at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Julia Brown Cemetery, Enterprise/Fruitland at Internment.net

Kelly Hill Cemetery, Barstow at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Lady of the Valley Cemetery, Ward/Kettle Falls at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

LaFleur Cemetery, Fruitland at Internment.net

Little Rock Church Cemetery (aka Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery)Fruitland at Internment.net

Loon Lake Cemetery, Loon Lake at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Meyers Falls Cemetery, Kettle Falls at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Moses Cemetery, Ford at Internment.net

Mount Zion Cemetery, near Clayton (in Spokane County) at USGenWeb

Mountain View Cemetery, Colville at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Napoleon Cemetery (aka Green Mountain Cemetery) Napoleon at USGenWeb

Old Catholic Cemetery, Colville at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Old Kettle Falls I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Kettle Falls at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Old Northport Cemetery (aka Riverview Cemetery), Northport at USGenWeband at Find A Grave

Old Scott's Valley Cemetery, Tum Tum at Internment.net

Old Valley Indian Cemetery (aka Abrahamson Graves), Valley at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Pascal Cemetery, Spokane Indian Reservation at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Pia Mission Cemetery, Barstow on Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Pine Grove Mennonite Church Cemetery, Valley (information not available)

Pleasant View Cemetery, Ford at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Wellpinit at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Scott's Valley Cemetery, Tum Tum at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Soccumtitchun Cemetery (aka Sutton-Lynn Cemetery) Fruitland at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Spokane River Presbyterian Cemetery, Wellpinit at Internment.net

Springdale Cemetery, Springdale at Internment.net and at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

St. Francis Regis Mission Cemetery,(aka Ward Cemetery) Ward at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

St. Joseph's Cemetery, Valley and at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

St. Mary's of the Rosary Cemetery, Chewelah at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Stranger Creek Cemetery, (aka Maud Cemetery) Maud at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Summit Valley Cemetery, Summit Valley at USGenWeb and at Find A Grave

Stanger-Skeels Cemetery, Marble Valley Basin (Addy) at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Toothaker Stevens Family Cemetery at Find A Grave

Valley Cemetery, Valley and at Find A Grave

Wellpinit Presbyterian Cemetery, Wellpinit at Internment.net

West End Assembly of God Cemetery, Willpinit at USGenWeb

Williams Valley Hillside Cemetery, Clayton/Deer Park at Internment.net and at Find A Grave

Additionally query cemeteries in neighboring the counties of Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Spokane, if you cannot find the burial location.

Census
The 1850 Population Census is at Family Search Pilot and Ancestry.com$ Search under Washington County, Oregon Territory.

The 1860 US Federal Population Schedule and Mortality Census covering what will be Stevens County is available at USGenWeb extraction. The 1860 Population Census is at Family Search Pilot and Ancestry.com$ Look for the "Colville Valley". U.S. Non-population schedules (Agricultural and Industry) for 1860 are available at Ancestry.com$ look for "Colville Valley" or "Coleville Valley" under Spokane County.

U.S. Non-population schedules (Agricultural and Industry) for 1870 are available at Ancestry.com$ look under Stevens County.

U.S. Population Mortality Census is available for 1870 at Ancestry.com$ look under Stevens County.

U.S. Population Mortality Census is available for 1880 at Ancestry.com$ look under Stevens County.

U.S. Non-population schedules (Agricultural and Manufacturing) for 1880 are available at Ancestry.com$ look under Stevens County.

The Washington State Digital Archives has Washington Territorial Censuses for 1871, 1878, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1892. Using Detailed Search choose Stevens County and the specific census will target your search. Ancestry.com$ has the 1871, 1878, 1885, 1887, and 1892 territorial censuses.

Family Search Pilot has US Census records for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 with more to follow.

Ancestry.com$ has the 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 population censuses.

Heritage Quest (available through various libraries, including the Libraries of Stevens County) has the 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses.

The 1890 Veterans Census covering Washington State is available at Ancestry.com$

The US Indian Censuses covering the Colville and Spokane Tribes of Indians for 1917-1939 are available at Ancestry.com$. If using this database, neither the Colvilles nor the Spokanes are listed as a choice for tribe. Query for the year 1917 and Washington State, click on the first Colville or Spokane tribal member listed, call up the image, and then click on the hyperlink for "Colville and Spokane Reservations" to limit your search to those tribes. Microfilms of these censuses are also available at the Colville Family History Center.

Church
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Colville 260 E. Juniper, Colville, WA 99114.

Directories
The Pacific Coast Directory, 1867 is available at Ancestry.com$.

Land
Original homestead records are available at the Bureau of Land Management |Official Federal Land Records Website. The first general land office patent was granted May 1884.

Local Histories
Colville Collection Book One by Patrick J. Graham A collection of nine stories dealing with early history of the Colville Valley ….120 pages plus index. Book is available at NeWGS

Colville Collection Book Three: Steamboats on the Upper Columbia and Graham Omnibus by Patrick J. Graham Includes stories of the Graham family, Colville & Northport, and the border communities of Boundary, Waneta, Fort Shepard, Leadpoint, Cedar Creek & Deep Creek …....202 pgs plus index. Book is available at NeWGS

Colville Collection Book Four: Old Dominion Mine...the mine that saved Colville and Jimmie Durkin...A man of his word by Patrick J. Graham The story of one of the richest silver/lead ore mines in Washington state and one of the most colorful characters of the era .... 103 pages plus index. Book is available at NeWGS

Forgotten Corner by Craig E. Holstine A history of the Colville National Forest, Washington….125 pages plus end notes & bibliography. Available at at NeWGS and the Libraries of Stevens County

Heart of Hulda….a biography by Nina Miller The story of the Hanson family who settled on Old Dominion Mountain, 16 miles northeast of Colville ….131 pages. Available at at NeWGS and the Libraries of Stevens County

Kettle River Country by Ruth Lakin Early days along the Kettle River ….274 pages plus an all-name index. Available at at NeWGS and the Libraries of Stevens County

Little Journeys Around The Town, Colville, WA An historical (and sometimes humorous) account of the buildings, businesses, and people who were involved in the evolution of Main Street, written in the 1920s by the then-publisher and editor of the Colville Examiner, J.C. Harrigan…320 pages, 166 photographs, plus an all-name index. Book is available at NeWGS

Northport Pioneers compiled by Northport Over Forty Club (reprinted 2009 by NeWGS) - Stories recounting the history of the Northport community…293 pgs plus all-name index. Book is available at NeWGS

People's History of Stevens County (reprinted 2006 by NeWGS) A history of Stevens County based on 96 oral history interviews done in the early 1980s.....127 pages, plus index. Available at at NeWGS and the Libraries of Stevens County

The People ….Who Will Live in Colville Area History A 1989 centennial celebration book by the Statesman-Examiner, Colville 100 families & people who influenced the area’s history ….159 pages. Book is available at NeWGS

Wets & Drys of Springdale by Rose Brown A history of the little town of Springdale ……130 pgs including index. Available at at NeWGS and the Libraries of Stevens County

The Second 100 Best Main Stems 1959-1964 – Editorials from the Statesman-Examiner relating to events and happenings around Stevens County ..…31 pages. Book is available at NeWGS

The collector : David Douglas and the natural history of the Northwest / Jack Nisbet. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

The mapmaker's eye : David Thompson on the Columbia Plateau / Jack Nisbet. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Purple Flat Top : in pursuit of a place / Jack Nisbet. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Sources of the river : tracking David Thompson across western North America / Jack Nisbet ; maps and illustrations by Jack McMaster. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Visible bones : journeys across time in the Columbia River country / Jack Nisbet. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Carl Oman Remembers/ Carl Oman. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Early Birds in the Northwest / Rowland Bond. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

History of North Washington / Western Historical Publishing Company. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

History of the Immaculate Conception Parish in the Colville Valley. / Joseph J. Pash. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Old Bossburg and Her Ferries / Goldie Putnam. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Pioneers of Happy Hill : an historical documentary / Jim McMillan. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Pioneers of the Columbia / Greenwood Park Grange. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Spokane and the Inland Northwest; historical images Washington counties: Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane; Idaho counties: Boundary, Bonner / Tony Bamonte. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Elkanah and Mary Walker / Clifford Merrill Drury. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

The First White Women Over the Rockies Vol 1 The First White Women Over the Rockies Vol 2 The First White Women Over the Rockies Vol 3 All by Clifford Merrill Drury. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Mary Richardson Walker / Ruth Karr McKee. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

On to Oregon : the diaries of Mary Walker and Myra Eells / introductions and editorial notes by Clifford Merrill Drury. Available at the Libraries of Stevens County

Maps
An 1880 map of Oregon & Washington Territory, issued by the Oregon Railway and Navigation Co.is available at Ancestry.com$

An 1890 map of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company including Eastern Washington is available at Ancestry.com$

1910 Map of the Spokane Indian Reservation is available at Ancestry.com$

Military
Fort Colville, located three miles northeast of the current City of Colville, was established June 20, 1859. Initial troops were from the Company A and Company E of the Ninth Infantry under command of Capt. Pinkney Lugenbeel.

November 1861 to July 1862, Companies C and D of the California Volunteers of the 2nd Voluntary Infantry.

July 1862 - May 1865, two companies of the Washington Territory Volunteers

May 1865 - November 1865, one company of Oregon Volunteers

November 1865 - May 1867, one company of the Fourteenth U.S. Infantry

May 1867 -June 1872, various companies of the 23rd Infantry

June 1872 - June 1875, Company E, 21st U.S. Infantry.

May 1875 - Additional reinforcements by Company M, 1st Calvary in May 1875 and Company L, 1st Calvary in June 1875. The Calvary departed October 1877.

October 1877 - 2nd Infantry returned.

November 1879 - A company of the 1st Calvary reinforced the 2nd Infantry.

U.S. Fort Colville was ordered closed September 20, 1882.

More information about the U.S. troops and members of the American Border Commission is available in Colville Collection Book Two: Military Fort Colville by Patrick J. Graham A history of Military Fort Colville (1859-1882) including its officers, and historical manuscripts of events of that period in Colville and northeastern Washington. ....169 pages plus index. Book is available at NeWGS

Civil War Veterans Buried in Stevens County by Roger W. May Information on almost 300 veterans who are buried in or have lived in Stevens County ….219 pages with 217 photos. Book is available at NeWGS

"World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from Washington" at the National Archives. Query for the exact title; go to the Digital Copies tab, and page through to Stevens County to view those service members who died during WWII.

Stevens County Vietnam War Casualties at USGenWeb.

Naturalization
Washington State Digital Archives has digitized various types of naturalization-related records, including declarations of intentions, delayed birth files, naturalization affidavits, notifications of application for admission to US citizenship, orders fixing naturalization terms, petitions and records, petitions, receipts for certificates of citizenship, record of final decrees of citizenship and record of petitions dockets. Depending on the county, records range from 1854-1988.

Newspapers
Colville Examiner 1907-1920 is available online thanks to the Washington State Library, Library of Congress, and the U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities.

| The Statesman-Examiner is published weekly in Colville.

The Chewelah Independent has been published weekly since 1903. Information about the newspaper is available from the Chewelah Chamber of Commerce website.

An extensive collection of local newspapers on microfilm is available at the Kettle Falls Public Library and some others at the Colville Public Library and Stevens County Historical Society. The Northeast Washington Genealogical Society maintains a listing of these papers.

The Spokane Public Library Downtown Branch has a large microfilm collection of Spokane papers, which has some coverage of Stevens County.

Schools
All schools in Stevens County are under the Northeast Washington Educational Service District 101 located at Regal Center 4202 S. Regal Street, Spokane, WA 99223-7738, phone number (p.) 509-789-3800

Current School Districts are:

Chewelah SD #36 Chewelah p. 509-685-6800

Columbia SD #206 Hunters p. 509-722-3311

Colville SD #115Colville p. 509-684-7857

Deer Park SD #414 Deer Park p. 509-464-5507

Evergreen SD #205 Gifford p. 509-722-6084

Kettle Falls SD #212 Kettle Falls p. 509-738-6625

Loon Lake SD #183 Loon Lake p. 509-233-2212

Mary Walker SD #207 Springdale p. 509-258-4534

Nine Mile Falls SD #325	Nine Mile Falls	p. 509-340-4300

Northport SD #211 Northport p. 509-732-4441 Ext. 189

Onion Creek SD #30 Onion Creek p. 509-732-4240

| Orient SD #65 Orient p. 509-684-6873

| Summit Valley SD #202 Addy p. 509-935-6362

ESD 101 records at the | Washington State Archives at Cheney include item EA801-36-14 Pioneer Interviews (Stevens County)for 1933-47; item EA801-36-1 School Census (Stevens County)school census records for 1915-32, and other early school records. The Digital Archives also has a 1927 Spokane County School District map.

The Last Bell by Alpha Naff (reprinted 2005 by NeWGS) A history of the rural schools in Stevens County ….152 pages, indexed. Available at at NeWGS and the Libraries of Stevens County

Vital Records

 * Marriages from 3 Jun 1859 to 15 Feb 1891 are available at the Western States Marriage Index website.
 * Washington Death Certificates 1907-1960 A free internet index to the 1907-1960 death certificates can be found at FamilySearch Record Search, no images are available. A transcribed death certificate may contain such information as name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, gender, birth date and birth place, mother’s maiden name and name of spouse, place of residence, occupation and certificate numbers.

Societies and Libraries
The Northeast Washington Genealogical Society assists those researching in Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens County. Classes and meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month. Mailing address is Northeast Washington Genealogical Society, c/o Colville Public Library, 195 S Oak, Colville, WA 99114.

The Libraries of Stevens County (formerly the Stevens County Rural Library District) has branches in Chewelah, Colville, Hunters, Kettle Falls, Lakeside, Loon Lake, Northport, Springdale, and a station at Onion Creek.

The | Stevens County Historical Society at 700 N Wynne St. P.O. Box 25, Colville, WA 99114 maintains the Keller House and Stevens County Museum.

Web Sites

 * Family History Library Catalog


 * Northeast Washington Genealogical Society


 * Eastern Washington Genealogical Society


 * Washington State Genealogical Society


 * Stevens County Historical Society


 * US GenWeb Stevens County Washington


 * Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory


 * The Libraries of Stevens County