Douglas County was created on August 25, 1855 (Organized on September 24, 1855) from Original County. The County Seat is Lawrence. The County was named for Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861), United States senator from Illinois.
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 1100 Massachusetts Street, Suite 200, Lawrence, KS 66044-3064; Phone: (785) 841-7700.NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. Records destroyed 21 August 1863 in Quantrill's raid. Some marriage records reconstructed.
Douglas County Clerks Officehas Birth Records from 1885-1907, Marriage Records from 1863 and Death Records from 1885-97.
The Register of Deeds shall have custody of and safely keep and preserve all the books, records, deeds, maps, papers and microphotographs deposited or kept in the office of the Register of Deeds. The Register of Deeds shall also record or cause to be recorded all deeds, mortgages, maps, instruments and writings authorized by law to be recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds and shall perform all other duties as are required by law.
Douglas County Register of Deeds Officehas Land Records from 1856.
The Register of Deeds shall have custody of and safely keep and preserve all the books, records, deeds, maps, papers and microphotographs deposited or kept in the office of the Register of Deeds. The Register of Deeds shall also record or cause to be recorded all deeds, mortgages, maps, instruments and writings authorized by law to be recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds and shall perform all other duties as are required by law.
Douglas County Clerk of District Court has Probate Records from 1856 and Court Records from 1863. The Clerk of Court is part of the Judicial Branch of local government and as such is required to maintain a record of all documents filed with the courts, keep a record of all court proceedings, and collect various fines and forfeitures ordered by the court and specified by statute.
Below is a list of online resources for Douglas County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Douglas County Court Records by clicking the link below:
Kansas Election List, 1854: Listing of voters from Kansas in 1854 taken from Congressional report in 1856
For the most part, tax records remain at the local level. Assessment and tax rolls are kept, permanently, by the County Treasurer's office.
Below is a list of online resources for Douglas County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Douglas County Tax Records by clicking the link below:
Douglas County Treasurers Office
The County Treasurer's Office by Kansas State law is responsible for the tax billing, collection and distribution of tax money for the State, County, Cities and all other taxing entities that levy Ad Valorem and/or special assessment taxes.
Click Here to Search Kansas Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.
Office of Vital Statistics, 1000 S W Jackson, Suite 110, Topeka, KS 66612; (785) 296-1400 Info; (785) 296-3253.
All Fees below cover a five-year record search – one certified copy is issued if the record is found and if not found, the fee is retained. You will receive either the certified copy or a letter explaining the search conducted and that no record was located. All Request Filled requests take 2-4 weeks when ordered by mail (Application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death) or 2-5 Days when you order ONLINE.
They have the following records:
Birth Certificates: In Kansas, Birth certificates began being filed with the Office July 1, 1911. The Kansas Historical Society and/or the County Clerk holds birth records before July 1, 1911.
Cost: $12.00 fee for a certified birth certificate copy is $7 for each additional copy of same record ordered at same time.
Delayed Certificates of Birth: are on file with dates of birth dating back to the 1860's. In 1940, statutory authority was received by the Office which allowed individuals still alive in 1940 and later with no prior birth record filed to submit certain documentation to file a Delayed Certificate of Birth. A request for a Delayed Certificate of Birth is made in the same manner as one for a regular birth certificate – just specify the date of birth. If the date specified is between the late 1860's and July 1, 1911, a Delayed Certificate of Birth search will be conducted.
Death Certificates: In Kansas, Death certificates began being filed with the Office July 1, 1911. The Kansas Historical Society and/or the County Clerk holds death records before July 1, 1911.
Cost: $13.00 fee for a certified birth certificate copy is $8 for each additional copy of same record ordered at same time.
Marriage Certificates: In Kansas, Death certificates began being filed with the Office May 1, 1913. The Kansas Historical Society and/or the County Clerk holds marriage records before May 1, 1913.
Cost: $12.00 fee for a certified birth certificate copy is $7 for each additional copy of same record ordered at same time.
Divorces: Divorce Certificates began being filed with this office July 1, 1951. The divorce decree is not filed with this office. The decree is the court document detailing the settlement of the divorce. The divorce certificate is completed by the plaintiff's attorney and contains only basic information – names of husband and wife, date of marriage, date of divorce, etc. Certified copies of divorce decrees are obtained from the Clerk of the District Court in the county where the divorce was filed.
Cost: $12.00 is the cost for the search, which includes one copy of the divorce certificate, if found. Additional copies of the same record, requested at the same time as the first, are $7.00 each.
Order On-Line: To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by on-line purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek.
Order In Person: Go to Curtis State Office Bldg., 1000 SW Jackson, Ste. 120, Topeka, KS 66612. Open 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekdays.Payment made by cash, check, money order, or credit card.
Below is a list of online resources for Douglas County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Douglas County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
Click Here to Search Kansas Voter Lists & Census Records! - 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.
Below is a list of online resources for Douglas County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Douglas County Census Records by clicking the link below:
Kansas Census, 1850-90: This database contains indexes to the Kansas (U.S.A.) portions of the 1850-18700 U.S. Federal Censuses as well as to the 1855-1859 state and territorial census, and the 1890 Veterans Schedules. Information contained in these indexes can include name, state, county, township, year of record, and name of record set.
Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1915: This database contains state censuses for Kansas from 1855-1915. Information available in this database includes: name, age, gender, race, relationship to head of household, birthplace, marital status, and place of enumeration. Additional information about an individual may be listed on the original record.
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 Kansas 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 Kansas 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 Kansas Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here
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Click Here to Search Kansas Military Records! - 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. A list of Wars fought on American.
Below is a list of online resources for Douglas County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Douglas County Military Records by clicking the link below:
Kansas Civil War Soldiers: Listing of over 20,000 men who served in the Union Army from Kansas, 1861-1865
Leavenworth, Kansas Veterans, 1915-16: One of the oldest and most important communities in Kansas, Leavenworth has been home to thousands of military veterans. This database is a listing of residents of the Western Branch of the Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers between 1915 and 1916.
Southern Claims Commission from the State of Kansas (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
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 Douglas County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Douglas County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
Kansas Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
Click Here to Search Kansas Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. 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.
The earliest churches were established among the native tribes settled in Kansas long before it was organized as a territory. The Methodist, Baptist, Society of Friends, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and Congregational churches all had early missions which grew as the white settlers immigrated.
There is no central registry of cemetery locations in Kansas. The Woman's Kansas Day Club has identified and located many Kansas cemeteries. The project's results are at the Kansas State Historical Society which has additional collections of published cemetery inscriptions, though not comprehensive, listed in their card catalog.
The Register of Deeds in each county is often able to assist in locating cemeteries. Certain maps distributed by the Kansas Department of Transportation show the location of known cemeteries in relation to county roads.
Below is a list of online resources for Douglas County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Douglas County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
Click Here to Search Kansas Family Tree Records! - 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 Douglas County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Douglas County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
Kansas Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
Transcribed from Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912.
Douglas County, located in the second tier of counties west of Missouri and in the fourth tier south of Nebraska, is bounded on the north by Jefferson and Leavenworth counties, from which it is separated by the Kansas river; on the east by Johnson county; on the south by Franklin county, and on the west by Osage and Shawnee counties. It is one of the original 33 counties created by the first territorial legislature with the following boundaries: "Beginning at the main channel of the Kansas river, at the northwest corner of Johnson county; thence south to the southwest corner of Johnson county; thence west 24 miles to a point equidistant between the limits (embraced in the original plots) of the towns of Lecompton and Tecumseh."
It was named in honor of Stephen A. Douglas, United States senator from Douglas at the time of the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill.
It has an area of 469 square miles and is divided into the following townships: Clinton, Eudora, Grant, Kanwaka, Lecompton, Marion, Palmyra, Wakarusa and Willow Springs. The general surface of the country is undulating, breaking into high bluffs along the Kansas and Wakarusa rivers. The bottom lands or valleys, which comprise about a quarter of the area, are from 2 to 4 miles in width. Timber belts are generally found along the streams, and average about a mile in width. The principal varieties of native timber are ash, elm, cottonwood, oak, walnut and hackberry. The main water course is the Kansas river, which flows in a general southeasterly direction and forms the northern boundary. The Wakarusa river, also an important stream, flows nearly across the county from the west and empties into the Kansas river. The main tributaries of the Wakarusa are Deer, Rock, Washington and Coal creeks, while Plumb creek flows across the extreme northeast corner. In the south are Eight Mile and Ottawa creeks, and along the eastern boundary Captain's creek. Springs are abundant and good well water is usually found at a depth of 25 feet. The soil is extremely fertile, and all grains grow well. The principal crops are winter wheat, Kafir-corn and hay, but the county ranks high in the production of Irish potatoes. Limestone is extensively quarried in Wakarusa and Lecompton townships. Potter's clay is found along the Kansas river, and coal has been mined in limited quantities south of Lawrence. The county also ranks high in live stock and there are over 200,000 bearing fruit trees in the county, more than half of which are apple.
The first white men to visit the present Douglas county, so far as is known, were French traders, who passed up the Kansas river in the first quarter of the eighteenth century and carried on an extensive trade with the native Indian tribes. Following them, but nearly a century later, were the white explorers who generally followed the waterways toward the west. Thomas Say's route lay along the south bank of the Kansas river through what is now Douglas county, when he passed up the stream in 1819. Fremont followed this route in 1842 and again in 1843, when he went west to explore the Rocky mountains. In 1842, the expedition camped within the limits of Douglas county near the present site of Lawrence, and in his journal of the expedition, Fremont wrote, "We encamped in a remarkably beautiful situation on the Kansas bluffs, which commanded a fine view of the river." The Santa Fe Trail (q. v.), traversed the southern part of the country from east to west, and the route to the gold fields, which began at Westport, Mo., crossed the Wakarusa near what was once the town of Franklin, a little southwest of the present town of Eudora, passed near Lawrence, and left the county beyond the present town of Big Springs. Thousands passed westward over these famous highways after gold was discovered in California, but there were none who stopped to settle as it was Indian territory and the only habitations were the stations kept by whites for the accommodation of the travelers.
The first permanent white settlement in what is now Douglas county was made by Frederick Chouteau in 1827, when he established a trading post, on the south bank of the Kansas river, a little above the present hamlet of Lake View. It remained but a short time, as he removed to Shawnee county in 1830. In 1848 the Methodist Episcopal church established a mission among the Shawnees on the south bank of the Kansas river, near the mouth of the Wakarusa, but in 1857 it was abandoned.
Prior to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, much of the best land in the valley of the Kansas river had been marked for preëmption by Missourians. The undue haste of the pseudo settlers, made against the protests of the Indians, and the great influx into the territory was probably stimulated by the knowledge that organizations were being formed in the north to send emigrants to Kansas with the avowed purpose of working to, make it a free-state. Hence, by staking out claims, the Missourians hoped to hold the land against these undesirable settlers.
Some of the first men who came to Kansas in the summer of 1854 and settled along the California road were F. W. Lunkins, A. R. Hopper, Clark Stearns, H. R. Lykins, the Wade brothers, J. A. Wakefield, S. N. Wood, William Lyon, Josiah Hutchinson, and a number of others. South of the California road were Joel K. Goodin and William Breyman. A. W. and A. G. Glenn, William Shirley, and M. S. Winter settled at Lecompton; Jacob Branson, Charles Dow and Franklin Coleman located near the present site of Vinland in 1854. A little farther south, near the present city of Baldwin, claims were taken by Robert and Richard Pierson, Jacob Cantrell and L. F. Green. Douglas, a pro-slavery town, was laid out 2 miles southeast of Lecompton on the claim of Paris Ellison, and later in the year William Harper and John Chamberlain settled in the extreme northwestern part of the county where Big Springs was afterward laid out. In May, 1855, Napoleon Blanton settled on the Wakarusa 4 miles south of Lawrence, where a bridge was soon built, known as Blanton's.
Most of the claims taken by the Missourians were merely staked out, or a few logs cut and piled up crosswise to show occupation, sometimes only a notice was posted. These non-resident squatters nearly all returned to Missouri, but they had organized and agreed to have no interference with the "paper" claims, threatening to shoot any man who attempted to take possession. But the most systematic movement toward colonization was made by the New England Emigrant Aid company (q. v.) which directed a party of men from Massachusetts and Vermont to start for Kansas with a view of establishing permanent settlements and working to make Kansas a free-state. Other companies followed and together they founded the city of Lawrence.
When claims were taken by squatters, it was assumed that they had secured the land for a permanent home and intended to improve them, but as many did not do this the early settlers formed associations to protect themselves against such encroachment upon the land. Before the New England emigrants came to the territory two such organizations had been formed in what afterward became Douglas county. A call was issued for a meeting to be held on July 8, 1854, at Blue Jacket's store on the Wakarusa. The free-state men who had already located in the vicinity believed that the meeting was to be of men friendly to making Kansas a free-state and attended in considerable numbers, but upon their arrival discovered that it was a meeting of squatters to make rules and regulations with regard to claims. A number of those present were pro-slavery in sentiment and wished to introduce resolutions barring emigrants opposed to that institution of slavery. There were too many free-state men present to carry out that plan, and a compromise was effected by which any person had a right to bring property into the state and the question of slavery was to be settled when the territory had a sufficient population to be admitted to statehood. Some of the more bitter pro-slavery men were not satisfied with the turn affairs had taken and openly declared that they intended to fight the settling of the territory by free-state men, especially the New England company. This first organization was known as the Wakarusa Association.
A meeting of the settlers was called for Aug. 12 at the house of Brice W. Miller, at Miller's Spring, or Millersburg, the object of which was the adoption of some regulations that would afford protection to the actual settlers, not unlike those adopted by the pro-slavery men farther east. By that time northern men had come into the Wakarusa valley in considerable numbers, and the meeting was of great importance. It was generally understood that only actual settlers were expected to attend, but the members of the Wakarusa Association and many pro-slavery men were present. Settlers and claimants came from a radius of 40 miles, but the question was of burning interest and not confined to any locality. John A. Wakefield called the meeting to order and stated the object to be a conference of actual settlers in the territory. A Mr. Dunham from Missouri caused some disturbance, as the spokesman of the Missourians present, who were practically in the majority. This led to a quarrel and the meeting came near breaking up, but a compromise was affected. John A. Wakefield was chosen president of the Actual Settlers' Association and S. N. Wood register. After considerable argument and deliberation a committee was chosen from each of the associations to agree upon some plan by which they could work together, for the benefit of both. This joint committee submitted a report, which was adopted and proved effective in settling many of the claim difficulties and disputes that arose thereafter, until title could he gained from the government. As new settlers came into the territory they joined either association as they preferred.
The first election in what is now Douglas county was held on Nov. 26, 1854, for a delegate to Congress. The free-state men did not take much interest in it, but from the great number of Missourians who voted at that time the residents should have had some hint of what would follow at the local elections. Douglas county, with only 50 legal voters, cast 283 votes. (See Reeder's Administration.)
The election for members of the first territorial legislature was set for March 30, 1855. The district in which Lawrence was located had 369 voters. For weeks before the election the residents in the border counties of Missouri were active and the Blue Lodges perfected a plan of campaign by which their members were to march into Kansas on election day, take possessions of the polls and by a heavy vote gain control of the legislature. Companies were sent into every council district in the territory, and into every representative district but one, in such numbers that they could control the election. They came openly, with the avowed purpose of voting, heavily armed and provided with provisions. About 1,000 of these men came into what is now Douglas county on the evening preceding the election, and the morning of election day. Richard Cordley in his history of Lawrence says, "On the morning of the election the Missourians came over to the place of voting from their camp, in companies, or bodies, of 100 at a time. Mr. Planton, one of the judges, not appearing, Col. Young claimed that as the people of the territory had two judges, it was nothing more than right that the Missourians should have the other one to look after their interests. Robert Cummins was elected in Blanton's stead because he considered that every man had a right to vote if he had not been in the territory an hour. The Missourians brought their tickets with them. Not having enough they had 300 more printed in Lawrence the evening before and the day of the election."
The polls were crowded all day and the Missourians forced the free-state men to pass through two lines before reaching the polls. During the day some free-state voters were driven away and prevented from voting. Although the district had but 369 voters, according to the census, 1,034 votes were cast and a careful examination showed that only 232 were legal. (See Border War.)
Samuel J. Jones was appointed sheriff of Douglas county by the first territorial legislature, and the county was organized on Sept. 24, 1855, when the county commissioners assembled at Lecompton in response to a proclamation of the sheriff. The first commissioners were Dr. John Wood, chairman and ex-officio probate judge; John M. Banks and George W. Johnston. James Christian was appointed clerk; Hugh Cameron, treasurer; Peter Crockett, coroner; A. C. W. Stafford, attorney; and O. H. Browne, assessor. The commissioners divided the county into the municipal townships of Lecompton, Lawrence, Franklin, Washington and Louisiana. The county seat, by the first act organizing the county, was designated as Lecompton, which by the same legislature was made the capital of the territory, and it remained the county seat and territorial capital as long as the pro-slavery party was in power. In 1858 an act was passed by the legislature removing the county seat to Lawrence, where it has since remained. For a number of years the county offices were located in different business blocks but when the city hall was built in 1869, offices for the use of the county were rented there. In 1903 a fine new courthouse was erected on the corner of Massachusetts and Quincy streets at a cost of $85,000. The county jail and sheriff's house are located just back of the court-house on Hancock street. This building was erected at the same time as the court-house at a cost of $22,000. The money for the county buildings was raised by direct tax levy.
That the people of the county were interested in agriculture is demonstrated by the fact that a fair association was started in Douglas county as early as 1868. The race track was laid out where Woodland Park is now located, and the present track is the old one repaired. After a few years this pioneer organization died out and was succeeded by the Western National Fair Association, which had grounds a mile and a half northeast of Lawrence laid out in 1879. It ran for several years and was followed by several organizations winch tried to form a Douglas County Fair Association but no great success was achieved until the present fair association was formed in 1905. The race track at Woodland is used and it is expected that within a few years permanent buildings will be erected.
The first railroad in Douglas county was the Union Pacific, constructed in 1864. In 1869 the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston was built south from Lawrence into Franklin county, and subsequently the road along the south bank of the Kansas river was constructed. Both of these roads now belong to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe system. The Union Pacific runs along the northern border of the county on the north bank of the Kansas river; the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe traverses the entire county east and west along the south bank of the river a branch of the same system runs south from Lawrence, so that the eastern and northern portion of the county have excellent transportation facilities. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific operates its trains over the Union Pacific tracks from Kansas City to Topeka. There are over 55 miles of main track railroad in the county.
Lawrence, the seat of justice, is located on the south bank of the Kansas river, in the north central portion, 40 miles west of Kansas City. The state university is located there and has property valued at over $1,500,000. Haskell Institute, an industrial school maintained by the government of the United States for the Indians, is situated just south of Lawrence. Baldwin, Eudora and Lecompton are incorporated towns of more or less importance.
According to the U. S. census for 1910 the population of Douglas county was 24,724. The assessed value of the property for taxation in the same year was $33,800,845, and the value of all farm products was $3,039,086—of field crops alone, $2,032,119. The five leading crops were as follows: Corn, $1,218,068; hay, $295,228; wheat, $182,355; oats, $142,236; Irish potatoes, $120,232.
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