Goodhue 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 |
Goodhue County Facts

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Goodhue County was created on March 5, 1853 (Organized in 1854) from Dakota and Wabasha Counties. The County Seat is Red Wing. The County was named for James Madison Goodhue, first printer and editor in Minnesota. Printed first issue of the Minnesota Pioneer on April 28, 1849.

Counties adjacent to Goodhue County are Pierce County, Wisconsin (northeast), Pepin County, Wisconsin (northeast), Wabasha County (east,southeast), Olmsted County (southeast), Dodge County (southwest), Rice County (west), Dakota County (northwest). Cities and Towns Include Bellechester, Cannon Falls, Dennison‡, Goodhue, Kenyon, Lake City, Pine Island, Red Wing, Wanamingo, Zumbrota. Townships Include Belle Creek, Belvidere, Cannon Falls, Cherry Grove, Featherstone, Florence, Goodhue, Hay Creek, Holden, Kenyon, Leon, Minneola, Pine Island, Roscoe, Stanton, Vasa, Wacouta, Wanamingo, Warsaw, Welch, Zumbrota Townships. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

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Records at the Goodhue 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 Justice Center/Court Administration at 454 W. 6th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066-2540; Phone: (651) 385-3034. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Goodhue County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1870, Marriage Records from 1854, Death Records from 1870 and Land Records from 1853.

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.

Goodhue County Court Administrator's Office has Probate Records from 1854 and has Court Records from 1854.

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 Goodhue County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Goodhue 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.
  • Goodhue 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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Goodhue 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 Goodhue County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Goodhue County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Goodhue 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.
  • Goodhue County, Minnesota Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Goodhue 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 Goodhue County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Goodhue 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.
  • Goodhue 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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Goodhue 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 Goodhue 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 Goodhue 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 Goodhue County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Goodhue 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
  • Goodhue 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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Goodhue 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 Goodhue County Maps. Email us with websites containing Goodhue County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Goodhue 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 Goodhue County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Goodhue County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Goodhue 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 Goodhue County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Goodhue County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak St, Red Wing MN 55066-2447; Phone: 651 388-6024
  • Cannon Falls Area Historical Society, PO Box 111, Cannon Falls MN 55009-0111
    Location: 206 West Mill St, Cannon Falls MN; Phone: 507 263-4080
  • Friends of the Florence Town Hall, PO Box 96, Frontenac MN 55026-0096
    Location: 33923 Highway 61 Blvd., Frontenac, MN; Phone: 651 388-5683
  • Goodhue Area Historical Society, PO Box 141, Goodhue MN 55027-0141
    Location: 105 E. 4th Ave., Goodhue MN
  • Wanamingo Historical Society, 572 Second Ave., Wanamingo MN 55983; Phone: 507 824-2627
  • Minnesota Historical Society Research Center, 1500 Mississippi Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, (612) 296-6980
    Serves Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona 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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Goodhue 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 Goodhue County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Goodhue 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 Goodhue County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Goodhue 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 Goodhue County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Goodhue 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: [ Goodhue County ] [ Minnesota ] [ Main Page ]
  • Goodhue 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.
  • Goodhue 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,

Location and Area
Goodhue County is in the southeast triangle of Minnesota. There are several irregularities in its boundary lines, but, generally speaking, it has Dakota County on the north, Wisconsin on the northeast, Wabasha County on the east, Dodge and Olmsted Counties on the south, and Rice County on the west. The Mississippi River and its enlargement, Lake Pepin, form its northeastern border and separate it from the State of Wisconsin. Its Area is 764 square miles.

Physical Features
The surface of Goodhue County is mostly prairie, but it changes to a bluffy contour along the streams, especially towards the Mississippi, which has areas of bottom lands along the great stream. The surface drainage all reaches the Mississippi River and takes an easterly or northeasterly course along elevations varying from 1,250 feet at Kenyon to 665 feet at Lake Pepin. The chief tributary streams of the Mississippi River in this county are the Cannon River with its southern arm, the Little Cannon; Prairie Creek; the north and middle branches of the Zumbro; and Belle Creek, which is another branch of the Cannon. Spring, Hay, Bullard's, and Wells Creeks, although not large streams, are important features in forming the topography of the county. Besides these streams, the Vermillion River, after draining a large part of the county to the west, separates Prairie Island from the main land. The island thus formed contains the only lakes in the county.

A prominent feature of the landscape in this region is Barn Bluff which is close to the Mississippi River at Red Wing. The name is a translation of "La Grange:, a designation given by the French because of its appearance. The promontory is a lone, high, and nearly level-crested bluff which is quite separated from the side bluffs of the valley and conspicuously seen for many miles up and down the river.

Naming of Goodhue County
The County is named for James Madison Goodhue, the first newspaper editor in Minnesota. He was born on March 31, 1810, and died in St. Paul on August 27, 1852. He graduated from Amherst College in 1833 and was later admitted to the bar. After practicing law, he became editor of the Wisconsin Herald, published at Lancaster. He came to St. Paul in 1849, and on April 28 of that year, he issued the first edition of the Minnesota Pioneer.


Establishment of the County
Goodhue County was established by the Legislature on March 5, 1853, from an area which had previously been a part of Wabasha County. The boundaries were indefinite. After the government survey of the greater part of the county was completed, the boundaries were defined in 1854. The Half Breed Tract, however, had not been included in the survey, and it was later found that the starting point of the boundaries as described in the act was in Wisconsin, a few miles northeast of Frontenac. In general, the boundary was as at present, except that Central Point Township was excluded, and the line between Welch township in Goodhue County and Douglas Township in Dakota County was extended due north to the Mississippi River a few miles southeast of Hastings. The present boundaries were defined in 1855. A bill was introduced in the Legislature in 1858 to detach part of Goodhue, Olmsted, and Wabasha Counties and to form a new county to be called Zumbrota. A committee to which it was referred made an unfavorable report, and the bill was never brought to a vote. In 1861 the voters defeated a proposition to attach that part of Cannon Falls Township north of the Cannon River to Dakota County.

County Courthouse

A courthouse square was first set aside in 1854, when Goodhue County's commissioners held their first meeting "on a lumber pile." However, public and court business took place in the law office of Philander Sandford until 1859, when the courthouse was completed.

The first courthouse was built with red brick and stone at a cost of $26,666. It was criticized at the time as an extravagance. The building was still sound when it was torn down 72 years later to make room for the new courthouse.

The second courthouse was a monumental Moderne building, dating back to 1932. The authoritarian, bulky building had flattened, fluted pilasters at the entrance, an incised figure of Justice, and other decoration across the top. Windows were arranged formally and recessed between verticals that echoed classic columns rising to a heavy parapet. Buechner and Orth of Minneapolis, in association with E.D. Corwin, designed the building that was built by Standard Construction Co., Inc. of Minneapolis. The three-story granite building cost $275,000.

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