Woodson County, Kansas Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Daniel Woodson, who served as secretary of Kansas Territory. The County has Yates Center as its seat and the County was created August 25, 1855. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Woodson County Courthouse 105 W. Rutledge Street Yates Center, Kansas 66783-1237 Phone: 316.625.8605 Woodson County Website County Clerk has birth records 1885-1911, marriage records from 1860, divorce and probate records from 1863, court records from 1934 and land records from 1861.

Populated Places
The following are locations in Woodson County, Kansas:

Cemeteries
Find A Grave Cemeteries in Woodson County

State and Territorial Census Records

 * 1855-1925 - Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925 at Ancestry — ($), Index and images; covers census years 1855-1859, 1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925
 * 1860 - at FamilySearch — Index and images
 * 1860 - 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Kansas Territory at Ancestry — ($), Index and images
 * 1865 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1875 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1885 - at FamilySearch — images
 * 1895 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1919-1961 - Kansas, City and County Census Records, 1919-1961 at Ancestry — Partial index (4 counties) and images

Federal Census Records
The 1870 Census was the first Federal Census taken for Kansas after it became a state in 1861. For links to Federal Census indexes, see Kansas Census.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records
 * Land records at Kansas Historical Society
 * 1904 Land Plat book for Woodson County - image of plat book

For more information see Kansas Land and Property
 * Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
 * 1796-1907 - U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1861-1936 - U.S. Homestead Records 1861-1936 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images

Local Histories

 * Drought Reports, Kansas Territory, 1860 - Includes a report from E. Condit of Woodson County
 * Lands in the New York Indian Reserve, Kansas Territory, 1860 - No names but good historical background.
 * The Story of a Kansas Pioneer, by Melissa Genett Anderson - Life story of a woman who moved to Neosho Falls, Woodson County, in 1860. Filled with details of what life was like.
 * The Illinois Picnic Association of Woodson County - was formed "for the benefit of the Ill. settlers." Includes names. 1881.
 * American Legion Auxiliary, Woodson County, 1921
 * History of Woodson County - by Mrs. S. E. Chase, 1877
 * History of the State of Kansas - Woodson County section - by William G. Cutler, 1883.

Maps and Gazetteers


Standard Atlas of Woodson County, Kansas, 1904 Maps of townships, plats of towns, and owners' names.

Military Records
Woodson County, KS 1883 List of Pensioners on the Roll

During the Civil War in 1861 men from Wilson, Woodson and Greenwood counties organized the 14th Regiment, Kansas Cavalry.

Newspapers
Kansas Newspapers Online Kansas Newspaper Catalogs
 * Kansas Newspapers at Newspapers.com - ($), free to Kansas residents through Kansas Historical Society
 * GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of Kansas newspapers
 * Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of Kansas newspapers
 * Chronicling America - contains images of some Kansas newspapers; searching tips
 * Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites
 * Kansas Online Historical Newspapers - contains a list of known Kansas newspapers online and the websites they are found on
 * U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper

Probate Records
'''Online Records


 * 1803 – 1987 Kansas Wills and Probate Records 1803-1987 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Vital Records

 * GenWeb Transcribed Births and Deaths

Birth

 * 1818 - 1936 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1885 - 1911 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1885 - 1911 Kansas, Births and Christenings Index, 1885-1911 at Ancestry.com — index $

Marriage

 * 1811 - 1911 at | FamilySearch — index
 * 1840 - 1935 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1855 - 1911 at | FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1855 - 1911 Kansas, County Marriages, 1855-1911 at Ancestry.com — images $

Death

 * 1885 - 1930 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1885 - 1930 Kansas, Deaths and Burials, Index, 1885-1930 at Ancestry.com — index $

Societies
Woodson County Kansas Genealogy Society 608 North Prairie Yates Center 66783

Woodson County Historical Society 208 W. Mary Yates Center, KS 66783 Telephone Number: 620-625-2626 Website Kansas Historical Society Online primary sources for Woodson County. Free; no registration required.

Websites

 * GenWeb for Woodson County
 * Woodson County Home Page
 * State Library of Kansas
 * 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
 * Woodson County, Kansas Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)