Research
These are indexes to records held by the society, the courthouse and McMillan Library. They contain enough to identify your family member; we can help you get the original.
Vital recordsBirths, deaths and marriages from courthouse and newspaper sources.
- Early birthsTo 1914
Courthouse birth registers, including Social Security applicants’ requests for a birth record.
- Early deathsTo 1919
Indexed from courthouse records; most include parents’ names and birthplace.
- MarriagesTo early 1940
Indexed by groom and by bride, with date and courthouse volume and page.
- Newspaper vital index1965–2013
Birth, death and marriage abstracts from the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.
BurialsWhere your ancestors are buried.
- Cemeteries76 cemeteries
Names and dates from stone readings and cemetery, church and courthouse records.
CensusFederal and Wisconsin state census.
- Census records1850–1950
The society’s 1850 Wood County index and links to every federal and state census year.
MilitarySoldiers, sailors and veterans.
- Civil War1861–1865
Seven lists of Wood County soldiers, veterans and pensioners.
- Military newspaper index1965–2013
Military news abstracts from the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.
Immigration and landArrivals, citizenship and property.
- Declarations of intentNaturalization
The first step toward citizenship, and the record with the most personal detail.
- 1858 tax sale (PDF, opens in Google Drive)May 1859
Lands sold by the county treasurer for unpaid 1858 taxes.
Society projectsVolumes compiled by our members, held at McMillan Library.
- Church project1981–82 and 2016
What records each Wood County church holds, and where.
- School projectIncludes the 1956 histories
Indexes to the 1956 country school histories and the five-volume school project.
- Communities project17 volumes
Table of contents for the society’s community history binders.
- Early biographies (PDF, opens in Google Drive)1881 and later
Families from the History of Northern Wisconsin, Yellow River Pioneers and Saratoga Sands.
History and helpBackground for your research.
- County historyTownships and settlements
How Wood County formed, and a history of every township.
- Past queries (PDF, opens in Google Drive)From members
Research questions submitted to the society over the years.
- Research linksLocal and national
Libraries, historical societies and the big genealogy websites.
- Look-up service$20 donation
Let a volunteer pull an obituary, directory entry or record for you.