Becker County, Minnesota
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |
Becker County Facts

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Becker County was created on March 18, 1858 (Organized in 1871) from Cass and Pembina Counties. The County Seat is Detroit Lakes. The County was named for George Loomis Becker, mayor of St. Paul, 1856; state senator, 1868-71.

Counties adjacent to Becker County are Mahnomen County (north), Clearwater County (northeast), Hubbard County (northeast), Wadena County (southeast), Otter Tail County (south), Clay County (west), Norman County (northwest). Cities and Towns Include Audubon, Callaway, Detroit Lakes, Frazee, Lake Park, Ogema, Pine Point, Wolf Lake. Townships Include Atlanta, Audubon, Burlington, Callaway, Carsonville, Cormorant, Cuba, Detroit, Eagle View, Erie, Evergreen, Forest, Green Valley, Hamden, Height of Land, Holmesville, Lake Eunice, Lake Park, Lake View, Maple Grove, Osage, Pine Point, Riceville, Richwood, Round Lake, Runeberg, Savannah, Shell Lake, Silver Leaf, Spring Creek, Spruce Grove, Sugar Bush, Toad Lake, Two Inlets, Walworth, White Earth, Wolf Lake Townships. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

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Records at the Becker County Courthouse

See Also Minnesota Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link, by contacting the Phone number below for each department or contacting the County Courthouse at 913 Lake Avenue, PO Box 787, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-3403; Phone: (218) 846-7201. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. At some time Becker County was attached to Stearns, Crow Wing and Douglas Counties for county and or judicial purposes. Some early records may be found there.

Becker County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1871, Marriage Records from 1871, Death Records from 1871 and Land Records from 1872.

The Recorders Office is responsible for all the real estate records for properties located in the County. Permanent records of deeds, mortgages and other various real estate records are recorded/filed in this office. As Local Registrar, the office protects and issues certified copies of Birth and Death records, Marriage Certificates & Military Discharge Records.

Becker County Court Administrator's Office has Probate Records from 1872 and has Court Records from 1871.

The Court Administrator's Office maintains court files for Civil, Criminal, Traffic, Probate, Conciliation, Juvenile, Tax and Family Court matters.

Below is a list of online resources for Becker County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Becker County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • Minnesota Naturalization Records Index, 1854-1957: An index to the microfilmed Minnesota Naturalization Records
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Minnesota Land Records: This database contains information on Minnesota (U.S.A.) land records. The database comes from the Bureau of Land Management's Minnesota Pre-1908 Homestaed and Cash Entry Patent and Cadastral Survey Plat Index. Information recorded in the collection includes patentee name, land office, legal description, etc.
  • Becker County, Minnesota Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
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Becker County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

The Minnesota Historical Society holds large numbers of county property tax records, filed under the respective county. Some of the tax records are for specific municipalities. No determination has been made concerning tax record holdings in the county courthouse.

Below is a list of online resources for Becker County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Becker County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Becker County Treasurers Office - The treasurer is responsible for keeping a complete accounting of all monies collected and expended by all the county departments. This includes the investing of available funds and accurately distributing the interest received. The department is also responsible for the collection of taxes and distribution to the various taxing entities within the County.
  • Becker County, Minnesota Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Becker County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Minnesota

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Minnesota Department of Health, Attention: Office of the State Registrar, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164. It is no longer necessary to go to the registrar's office of the county where the birth or death took place. You may go to a registrar's office in any county in Minnesota for births that took place during of after 1900 and for deaths that took place during or after 1997. They have the following records:

  • Birth Certificates: Avalible since 1900 to 3 months ago.
    • Cost: $16.00 for Certified and $13.00 for Non-Certified Certificates. For births that took place before 1900, go to the local registrar office in the county where the birth took place.
    • Processing Time: Filled requests take 4-6 weeks when ordered by mail (Application for Certified and Non-certified) or 2-5 Days when you order online.
  • Death Certificates: Avalible since Jan 1908.
    • Cost: $13.00 for Certified and Non-Certified Certificates. For deaths that took place before 1900, go to the local registrar office in the county where the death took place.
    • Processing Time: Filled requests take 4-6 weeks when ordered by mail (Application for Certified and Non-certified) or 2-5 Days when you order online.
  • Marriage Certificates: Certified copies may be available from the Local Registrar in the county where the license was issued or you can order them online.
  • Divorces: Certified copies may be available from the Local Registrar in the county where the divorce was granted.
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Order In Person: The Dept of Health no longer accepts walk-in or phone orders because of a change in Minnesota law. However, you may complete your requests by mail or online.

Below is a list of online resources for Becker County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Becker County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Minnesota newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Minnesota Birth Index, 1935-2002: This database is an index created by the Minnesota Department of Health to approximately 5.2 million births occurring in the State of Minnesota, USA, between 1935 and 2002. Information contained in this index includes child's full name, father's full name, mother's maiden name, birth date, birth county, and state file number.
  • Minnesota Marriage Collection, 1958-2001: This database is an index to individuals who were married in the state of Minnesota (U.S.A.) from 1958-2001. Information that may be found in this database for each entry includes bride and groom's full names, their ages, birth dates, and marriage date and place.
  • Minnesota Divorce Index, 1970-1995: This database contains a statewide index of divorces filed in Minnesota between 1970 and 1995. Information that may be found in this database includes: husband's name and age, wife's name and age, divorce date, and divorce county.
  • Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002: This database is an index of deaths recorded by the State of Minnesota, USA, from 1908 to 2002. The index includes: name of the deceased, city and county of death, date of death, birth date, birthplace, mother's maiden name, and state file number.
  • Becker County, Minnesota Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
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Becker County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Minnesota

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Becker County, Minnesota are 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Becker County, Minnesota are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Becker County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Becker County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Minnesota Census, 1835-90: This database contains indexes to the Minnesota (U.S.A.) portions of the 1850-1880 U.S. Federal Censuses as well as indexes to the 1835-1839 Tax Lists, 1849 Territorial Census, and the 1890 Veteran's Schedule. Information contained in these indexes can include name, state, county, township, year of record, and name of record set.
  • Minnesota Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905: This database contains the Minnesota territorial and state censuses from 1849-1905. Information available for an individual will vary according to the census year and the information requested on the census form. Some of the information contained in this database though includes: name, enumeration place, age, gender, race, and birthplace.
  • Census Online - Minnesota Census Records
  • The USGenWeb Archives Minnesota CENSUS IMAGES PROJECT
  • Becker County, Minnesota Census Books at Amazon.com
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.
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Becker County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlases has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Minnesota showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Minnesota showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Becker County Maps. Email us with websites containing Becker County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Becker County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Minnesota

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Becker County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Becker County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Becker County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Minnesota Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Becker County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Becker County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

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  • Northwest Minnesota Historical Center, Livingston Lord Library, Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN 56560
    Serves Becker, Clay, Kittson, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, and Wilkin counties.
  • Minnesota State Archives, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102-1906 • 651-259-3260
  • Minnesota Historical Society, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102-1906 • 651-259-3000
  • Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 Concord St. N. Suite 218, South St. Paul, MN 55075-1187; (651) 455-9057
  • National Archives - Great Lakes Region (Chicago), 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 60629-5898; 773-948-9001; E-mail: chicago.archives@nara.gov (Maintains retired records from Federal agencies and courts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Minnesota.)
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • Minnesota Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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Becker County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Minnesota

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Becker County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Becker County Tombstone Transcription Project.

The Minnesota Historical Records Survey Project of Madison published the Directory of Churches and Religious Organizations in Minnesota in 1941 and Guide to Church Vital Statistics Records in Minnesota in 1942. There are also numerous publications by the project for specific denominations. Extensive microfilm collections of church records in Minnesota are available through the FHL. The State Historical Society of Minnesota and Area Research Centers have a variety of church records including microfilm and original records.

Numerous cemeteries have been read and transcribed by local genealogical societies in Minnesota. The transcriptions are frequently deposited with an Area Research Center, a local library, or the State Historical Society of Minnesota. A considerable number have been printed in the Minnesota State Genealogical Society Newsletter. Some have been privately published.

The Minnesota State Old Cemetery Society, 6100 West Mequon Road, Mequon, WI 53092, publishes a newsletter and maintains an archive of tombstone inscriptions from around the state. Contact the society for membership information

Below is a list of online resources for Becker County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Becker County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Becker County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Becker County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

  • Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
  • Search the Family Tree DNA Project - Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
  • Sites on USGenweb: [ Becker County ] [ Minnesota ] [ Main Page ]
  • Becker County USGenweb Archives
  • [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
  • Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
  • Minnesota Family Group Sheets
  • Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
  • Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
  • Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
  • Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
  • Becker County, Minnesota Family Books at Amazon.com
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Extended History

 

Minnesota County History Name Index: This database is a name index of eleven county histories and plat books for the area immediately south of the city of St. Paul in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Researchers will find the name of the county resident, the book in which the person's name appears, and the page number. Where information is available, town of residence is also given.
Minnesota Crew Lists, 1929-1952: For several decades in the early half of the twentieth century, Two Harbors, Minnesota was one of the busiest iron ore loading ports in the world. This database is an index to the crew lists (NOT passenger lists) of vessels that arrived at Two Harbors,

Becker County was established by an act of the Legislature, approved March 18th, 1858. That is to say, its exterior boundaries were designated and recorded; it was given a place on the map of Minnesota and named Becker County in honor of Gen. George L. Becker, of St. Paul. There were, however no white people living in the county for ten years afterwards.

The territory included within the boundaries of Becker County is as follows: All of Townships 138, 139, 140, 141 and 142 north, of Range 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 west of the Fifth Principal Meridian - forty townships in all. There had been no county or township lines established in or around Becker County at the time it was created.

In 1860 the Fifth Guide Meridian was established between Ranges 38 and 39 as far north as the south boundary of the White Earth Reservation and the Tenth Correction line, which is the line between Townships 140 and 141, and which is also the south line of the reservation, was also established. These lines were run by J. W. Myers, Deputy U. S. Surveyor. There were no more government lines run until 1870, when government surveying was begun in earnest, and by the close of the year 1872 the county was about all surveyed.

The base line from which these townships are numbered runs east and west across the middle of the state of Arkansas, intersecting the Mississippi River near the city of Helena in Phelps County. The Fifth Principal Meridian, from which these Ranges are numbered, intersects this base line about twenty-eight miles west of the Mississippi, near the little village of Marvell. This point of intersection is called the initial point.

This Meridian line runs both north and south from this point, and in running north intersects the Mississippi River north of St. Louis where it is discontinued, all land east of that river in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota being surveyed from the third and fourth Principal Meridians.

The surveys from the Fifth Principal Meridian cover all of the State of Louisiana west of the Mississippi, all the States of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, North and South Dakota and all of Minnesota west of Range 24 and the Mississippi River, except a little corner of St. Paul.

The famous Hot Springs in Arkansas are in Township No. 2, south, the south tier of townships in Missouri is Township No. 22, north, the north tier of townships in Iowa is Township No. 100, north, and the north tier of townships in Minnesota is Township No. 164, north.

Before Becker County was created, it was a part of Stearns County. After Douglas County was organized a change was made, and it was attached to that county.

The plat of the old townsite of Detroit, that was laid out in the spring of 1857, were the village of Frazee now stands, was recorded as St. Cloud on the 17th day of June 1857, and Dr. David Pyles' certificate of appointment as notary public was recorded at Alexandria on the 19th day of January, 1869.

These are the only Becker County documents I know of being recorded in either county, but there are probably others.

County Courthouse

While Becker County was established at the time of Minnesota statehood in 1858, the Sioux uprising and other events prevented the county from organizing itself for judicial purposes until 1871. At the time, Becker County needed a jail, but the 1872 county board resolution to build one in then Detroit sparked a 12-year battle.

Detroit settlers fought off elections until 1877. Still, county residents were dissatisfied with rental arrangements for the county offices and Detroit needed a courthouse to clinch its claim to the county seat. However, a proposal to build the courthouse lost decisively during a special county election in 1883.

E.G. Holmes, the next county board chairman, donated land for a courthouse square and found a state statute that allowed the county board to build a courthouse and jail without voter approval.

The first courthouse was completed in May, 1885 at a cost of $28,000. A.A. Whittemore was responsible for construction above a foundation prepared by T.J. Martin and Marcus Shaw. The red brick building was built in the Romanesque style.

In 1941, the courthouse was described as "a very serious fire hazard and menace to public safety."  The entire building sagged and the large watchtower on the northwest corner was judged a particular danger.

The current courthouse was built in 1942. Becker County voters approved a bond issue of $150,000 to supplement $100,000 provided by the federal government's Works Progress Administration. The walls of the three-story Bedford stone building are banded with black granite that frames the windows and main entrance. A 2.5 ton black stone eagle perches on a ledge as a reminder of the federal presence and as a symbol of authority. Foss and Company of Fargo, N.D. designed the building in association with Willard E. Randolph of Detroit Lakes.

After completion of the new courthouse, the old structure was sold to a St. Cloud firm for $531 for removal from the site.

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