Yellow Medicine 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 |
Yellow Medicine County Facts

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Yellow Medicine County was created on November 7, 1871 (Organized in 1874) from Redwood County. The County Seat is Granite Falls. The County was named for Yellow Medicine River. Yellow medicine is a translation of the Dakota name Pajutazee, in reference to yellow-rooted plants used for medicinal purposes found along river.

Counties adjacent to Yellow Medicine County are Lac qui Parle County (north), Chippewa County (northeast), Renville County (east), Redwood County (southeast), Lyon County (south), Lincoln County (southwest), Deuel County, South Dakota (west). Cities and Towns Include Canby, Clarkfield, Echo, Granite Falls, Hanley Falls, Hazel Run, Porter, St. Leo, Wood Lake. Townships Include Burton, Echo, Florida, Fortier, Friendship, Hammer, Hazel Run, Lisbon, Minnesota Falls, Norman, Normania, Omro, Oshkosh, Posen, Sandnes, Sioux Agency, Stony Run, Swede Prairie, Tyro, Wergeland, Wood Lake Townships. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

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Records at the Yellow Medicine 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 415 Ninth Avenue, Granite Falls , MN; (320) 564-3325. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Yellow Medicine County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1872, Marriage Records from 1872, Death Records from 1872 and Land Records from 1861.

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.

Yellow Medicine County Court Administrator's Office has Probate Records from 1874 and has Court Records from 1872.

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

  • Yellow Medicine 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.
  • Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Yellow Medicine 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 Yellow Medicine County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Yellow Medicine 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.
  • Yellow Medicine 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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Yellow Medicine 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 Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota are 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 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 Yellow Medicine County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Yellow Medicine 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
  • Yellow Medicine 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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Yellow Medicine 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 Yellow Medicine County Maps. Email us with websites containing Yellow Medicine County Maps by clicking the link below:

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

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

  • Yellow Medicine County Historical Society and Museum, PO Box 145, Granite Falls MN 56241-0145; Location: Junction T.H. 23 & 67, Granite Falls MN, Phone: 320 564-4479
  • Yellow Medicine County Historical Society, PO Box 145, Granite Falls, MN 56241-0145
    Location: Junction T.H. 67 & 23, Granite Falls MN, Phone: 320 564-4479
  • Southwest Minnesota Historical Center, Southwest State University–BA 509, Marshall, MN 56258
    Serves Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, and Yellow Medicine 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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Yellow Medicine 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 Yellow Medicine County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Yellow Medicine 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 Yellow Medicine County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Yellow Medicine 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 Yellow Medicine County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Yellow Medicine County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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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,

Yellow Medicine County was created by legislative act on March 6, 1871. This act was approved by the voters in November 1871. A board of three county commissioners met on January 1, 1872 in Yellow Medicine City, which was then the largest settlement and had been named the county seat. In 1874, Granite Falls was named and has continued to be the county seat.

Prior to 1850, Yellow Medicine, one of the historically important counties of Minnesota, was part of Redwood County and under federal jurisdiction as Indian territory. In 1852, Dr. Thomas Williamson, a medical missionary of the Presbyterian Church, established the Pejuhutazizi Mission. This Indian name means Yellow Medicine, the name of the bitter root of the Moon­seed plant used by the Indians for medicinal purposes. In 1854, Rev. Stephen R. Riggs, a Congregationalist, established the Hazel Creek Mission. These two missions were located about five miles south of Granite Falls in what is now Minnesota Falls Township. The government established the Upper Sioux Agency in 1854 in what is now Sioux Agency Township. According to the treaties of 1850, when tribes of the Sioux surrendered title to their lands in Minnesota, a tract of land ten miles wide on each side of the Minnesota River was reserved as Indian territory. During the Sioux uprising of 1862, the Agency, missions, and all white settlements were destroyed and as a result of the uprising the Indian lands were declared forfeit. White settlement began again in 1865.

The county has an area of 758 square miles. Hammer shaped, the county is 54 miles long from east to west and from 12 miles north and south at the west end to 21 miles at the eastern boundary. The mean elevation is 1,165 feet above sea level falling to 845 feet at the Minnesota River. The soil for the most part is good black prairie till. Underlying the glacial drift, which covers the entire county, is an irregular layer of rock which crops out along the Minnesota River in the east end. The average mean temperature is about 45 degrees; the average rainfall is 25.13 inches; the average snowfall 41.2 inches. The land is well watered and drained by the Minnesota River and its tributaries; the Lac Qui Parle and the Yellow Medicine River. The Minnesota River has two waterfalls, one at Granite Falls and the other at Minnesota Falls. From these, waterpower was developed early in the county's history. This power is now used by a municipal power plant at Granite Falls. A large plant established by Northern States Power in Chippewa County but within the city limits of Granite Falls uses coal and natural gas to produce electricity.

The early settlers were predominantly English, Scandinavian, and German with smaller settlements of Irish, Scotch, and Bohemian. The 2000 census lists the population of the county at 11,080. There are twenty-one townships and the cities of Granite Falls, Canby, Clarkfield, Wood Lake, Hanley Falls, Hazel Run, Echo, Porter, and St. Leo. An Indian settlement of about 150 people is located three miles south of Granite Falls.

County Courthouse

Disagreement over the location of the county seat delayed the building of any courthouse until Granite Falls won the county seat fight in 1874. The residents of Granite Falls contributed the land and a building for use as the first courthouse in 1876. In 1889, they donated part of the cost of the current building.

Completed in 1889, the courthouse is a light brick and stone Romanesque Revival building designed by Frederick E. Hoover. The $14,768 building has been remodeled, modernized and added to in 1942, 1956, 1967, and 1975 at a cost of $518,716.

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