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The History Junkie's Guide To Wisconsin Genealogy

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Are you tracking an ancestor through Wisconsin genealogy and need a guide?

Wisconsin Genealogy

Wisconsin became the 30th state on May 29, 1848, and was the last state to be formed from the territory given to the United States in the Treaty of Paris. Wisconsin's population surged in the 1830s and eventually brought its population to 150,000 residents by the time of statehood. The land was settled by various people groups, but mostly German immigrants. These German immigrants found the area that became Wisconsin to their liking since the climate was similar to that of their past homeland.

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Some key events to take note of while searching for your ancestor in the state of Wisconsin are the War of 1812, various Indian wars, the migrations of the 1840s, lead mining, beer brewing, the railroad, and obviously, the Civil War should all be considered. The California gold rush also impacted Wisconsin since many of their lead miners left the area to head west to seek out fortune. If you have an ancestor who lived in Wisconsin during this time and are unable to find them in Wisconsin in 1850, then keep the gold rush in mind.

CountyDate FormedParent CountyCounty Seat
Adams1848Portage CountyFriendship
Ashland1860La Pointe CountyAshland
Barron1859Polk CountyBarron
Bayfield1845St. Croix CountyWashburn
Brown1818unorganized territoryGreen Bay
Buffalo1853Jackson CountyAlma
Burnett1856Polk and Douglas CountiesSiren
Calumet1836Brown CountyChilton
Chippewa1845Crawford CountyChippewa Falls
Clark1853Jackson CountyNeillsville
Columbia1846Portage CountyPortage
Crawford1818unorganized territoryPrairie du Chien
Dane1836Crawford, Iowa, and Milwaukee countiesMadison
Dodge1836Brown and Milwaukee CountiesJuneau
Door1851Brown CountySturgeon Bay
Douglas1854La Pointe CountySuperior
Dunn1854Chippewa CountyMenomonie
Eau Claire1856Chippewa CountyEau Claire
Florence1882Marinette and Oconto CountiesFlorence
Fond du Lac1836Brown CountyFond du Lac
Forest1885Langlade CountyCrandon
Green Lake1858Marquette CountyGreen Lake
Grant1836Iowa CountyLancaster
Green1836Iowa CountyMonrow
Iowa1829Crawford CountyDodgeville
Iron1893Ashland CountyHurley
Jackson1853La Crosse CountyBlack River Falls
Jefferson1836Milwaukee CountyJefferson
Juneau1856Adams CountyMauston
Kenosha1850Racine CountyKenosha
Kewaunee1852Door CountyKewaunee
Lafayette1846Iowa CountyDarlington
Langlade1879Oconto CountyAntigo
La Crosse1851Crawford CountyLa Crosse
Lincoln1874Marathon CountyMerrill
Manitowoc1836Brown CountyManitowoc
Marathon1850Portage CountyWausau
Marinette1879Oconto CountyMarinette
Marquette1836Brown CountyMontello
Menominee1961Oconto and Shawano CountiesKeshana
Milwaukee1834Brown and Iowa CountiesMilwaukee
Monroe1854La Crosse CountySparta
Oconto1851Brown CountyOconto
Oneida1885Lincoln CountyRhinelander
Outagamie1851Brown and Winnebago CountiesAppleton
Ozaukee1853Washington CountyPort Washington
Pepin1858Dunn CountyDurand
Pierce1858St Croix CountyEllsworth
Polk1853St Croix CountyBalsam Lake
Portage1836Brown, Crawford, Iowa, and Milwaukee CountiesStevens Point
Price1879Chippewa and Lincoln CountiesPhillips
Racine1836Milwaukee CountyRacine
Richland1842Crawford and Sauk CountiesRichland Center
Rock1836Milwaukee CountiesJanesville
Rusk1901Chippewa CountyLadysmith
Sauk1840Crawford, Dane, and Portage CountiesBaraboo
Sawyer1883Ashland and Chippewa CountiesHayward
St Croix1840Crawford County and unorganized territoryHudson
Shawano1853Oconto, Waupaca, and Winnebago CountiesShawano
Sheboygan1836Brown CountySheboygan
Taylor1875Chippewa, Clark, Lincoln, and Marathon CountiesMedford
Trempealeau1854Buffalo, Chippewa, Jackson, and La CrosseWhitehall
Vernon1851Crawford CountyViroqua
Vilas1893Oneida CountyEagle River
Walworth1836Milwaukee CountyElkhorn
Washburn1883Burnett CountyShell Lake
Washington1836Brown and Milwaukee CountiesWest Bend
Waukesha1846Milwaukee CountyWaukesha
Waupaca1851Brown and Winnebago CountiesWaupaca
Waushara1851Marquette CountyWautoma
Winnebago1840Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, and Marquette CountiesOshkosh
Wood1856Portage CountyWisconsin Rapids

Wisconsin Genealogy: State and Local Records

When tracking an ancestor's life, it is important to locate vital records. Sometimes, it is as easy as searching an online database, and sometimes, it can be harder. If you have located an ancestor who lived in Wisconsin during its early statehood, it would be a good idea to contact the local historical and genealogical societies to see what type of information they may have. Locating records at the local level can be more precise and provide more information than those at the national level. Here are some places you may want to begin your search for local records:

  • County Clerk’s Office: Contacting the county clerk can help you find some land records, court documents, and other interesting documents that will give you a deeper look into your ancestor’s life.
  • Local Library: What were the newspapers during that time period? Most libraries have microfilm that will allow you to read what was going on during your ancestor’s life. Many libraries also have obituary collections.
  • Local Genealogical Societies: Most counties have their own historical society and genealogical societies. It is quite possible that someone has come before you and done much of the research and has wrote it down. If that is the case, then a local genealogical society would have that document.
  • Local Cemeteries: Finding the grave of your ancestor can also give additional clues.

Wisconsin Genealogy: Online Resources

Here is a list of free and paid resources to track your Wisconsin ancestor. Don’t forget to check out some of the national parks I have listed, as they have been preserved by the government and may have records that you would not think about.

Wisconsin Libraries and Museums