Linn County was created on August 25, 1855 as an Original County. The County Seat is Mound City. The County was named for Lewis F. Linn (1796-1843), a doctor and U.S. senator from Missouri.
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 P.O. Box 350, Mound City, KS 66056-0350; Phone: (913) 795-2668.NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.
Linn County Clerks Officehas Birth Records from 1885-1911, Marriage Records from 1855 and Death Records from 1885-1911.
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.
Linn County Register of Deeds Officehas Land Records from 1857.
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.
Linn County Clerk of District Court has Probate Records from 1855 and Court Records from 1859. 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 Linn County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Linn 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 Linn County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Linn County Tax Records by clicking the link below:
Linn 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 Linn County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Linn 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 Linn County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Linn 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
Below is a list of online resources for Linn County Maps. Email us with websites containing Linn County Maps by clicking the link below:
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 Linn County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Linn 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 Linn County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Linn 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 Linn County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Linn County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
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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 Linn County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Linn 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.
Linn County, situated in the eastern tier, next to the Missouri state line, and in the third tier south of the Kansas river, was one of the original 33 counties created by the first territorial legislature, with the following boundaries: "Beginning at the southeast corner of Lykins (now Miami) county; thence south 24 miles; thence west 24 miles; thence north 24 miles; thence east 24 miles to the place of beginning."
It was named Linn in honor of Lewis F. Linn, a United States senator from Missouri. In 1868 the boundaries were redefined as follows: "Commencing at the southeast corner of Miami county; thence south along the west boundary of the State of Missouri to the corner on said line to fractional sections 13 and 24, township 23 south, of range 25 east; thence west along the section lines to the corner of sections 14, 15, 22 and 23, township 23 south of range 21 east; thence north along the section lines between the second and third tiers of sections to the southwest corner of Miami county; thence east along the south boundary of said Miami county to the place of beginning."
By this act a strip, varying in width from a half mile at the northwest corner of the county to nearly a mile and a half at the southwest corner, was added to the west side of the county and the area increased to 637 square miles. It is bounded on the north by Miami county, on the east by the State of Missouri, on the south by Bourbon county, and on the west by Anderson county, and is divided into eleven townships: Blue Mound, Centerville, Liberty, Lincoln, Mound City, Paris, Potosi, Scott, Sheridan, Stanton and Valley.
The general surface of the county is undulating, rather broken in the eastern part, and about one-tenth is too rough for cultivation. One-fifth is rich bottom land, very fertile and productive. The upland or rolling prairie is generally from 50 to 80 feet above the valleys, the highest elevation being Silver Hill, near the Marias des Cygnes, which rises to a height of 300 feet above the river. The timber belts along the streams are usually nearly as wide as the valleys, the principal varieties being black walnut, oak, sycamore, hickory, cottonwood, ash, box-elder and elm. The most important water course is the Marias des Cygnes, which crosses the northern boundary a little east of the middle and flows in a southeasterly direction, crossing the eastern boundary a little north of the center.
The first white man to visit the country now embraced within the boundaries of Linn county was probably Dutisne (q. v.) in his expedition of 1719. The first white men to remain for any time in what is now Linn county were Girard and Chouteau, who in 1834 established a trading post on the north branch of the Marias des Cygnes in what is now Potosi township. In 1839 the Catholics established a mission among the Pottawatomie Indians near the site of the present town of Centerville. It was removed to St. Mary's in 1847. It is believed that the French came up from Louisiana and encouraged the Indians to mine lead on Mine creek, from which it derived its name, but the extent of this industry is conjectural and it was early abandoned by the French as unprofitable. It was the French who named the Marais des Cygnes from the many swans on the swamps along the river and so called it the "Marsh of swans."
As soon as it became apparent that the territory west of Missouri would be thrown open to white settlement many squatters located claims along the wooded streams of Linn county, mostly by pro-slavery men from Missouri, who cared little for progress and desired to preserve the institutions to which they were accustomed. Some of these early settlers were James Osborne and Adam Pore, who in Jan., 1854, took claims at the head of Sugar creek, near the present town of Mound City. D. W. Cannon, William Murray, John Brown, James Montgomery, James Osborne and William Park all came that year to what is now Linn county. Trouble soon arose between the free-state and pro-slavery parties, as it was impossible for men of such different political beliefs to live together in harmony. The first convention, and one of the first causes of trouble, was held at Sugar Mound Feb. 20, 1855. It was called for the purpose of nominating a candidate for the territorial legislature. It was called by James Fox, a pro-slavery leader, and few of the free-state settlers were notified of the convention. James Montgomery, who was secretary of the convention, succeeded in having it adjoined in order that more settlers might be present. A second convention was therefore held, but the free-state men were defeated at both the convention and at the election held on March 30.
Linn county sent three delegates to the Lecompton constitutional convention, J. H. Barlow, S. H. Hayze and George Overstreet. The free-state men generally failed to vote at the election for these candidates. At the election for officers under the Lecompton constitution, held at Sugar Mound, the free-state men of the county voted, not knowing that the convention which had assembled at Lawrence on Dec. 2, had adopted resolutions repudiating the constitution. James Montgomery learned of these resolutions on the day of election and going to the polls told the free-state voters that they had been misinformed as to the decision of the true convention, seized the ballot box, broke it to pieces and destroyed the ballots.
Mound City was started in the spring of 1855 by the opening of a store there by a man named Miller and it soon became a well known pro-slavery headquarters, although the town was not organized until 1857. Trading Post was one of the early settlements, both free-state and pro-slavery men locating in the vicinity, but in time it became a stronghold of the latter party. Paris, situated about 6 miles south of Mound City, was owned by pro-slavery men and in the early days became a rallying point from which to make raids upon the free-state settlers. Up to the middle of the summer of 1856 there was comparatively little trouble between the two political factions in the county. Difficulties arose over claims, and much of the trouble for years was laid at the door of G. W. Clark, who it was claimed burned a number of free-state settlers out of their homes. It is true that he did burn several cabins, but never the number reported.
In the summer of 1856 the Missourians were gathering armed forces along the border under the leadership of Atchison, Reid and Clark. Capt. John E. Davis was camped with a force of 150 men on Middle creek in the northwest corner of the county. On Aug. 24, Capts. Anderson, Shore and Cline, with a command of about 125 men, camped in the same locality. In the morning scouts of the free-state party brought in word that about 50 of Davis' men were absent from camp and an attack was immediately planned. When the free-state men came within range the Missourians opened fire, which was immediately returned. The firing lasted about ten minutes before the Southerners retired. In the action Lieutenant Cline was wounded and subsequently died. This affair is known as the battle of Middle Creek. In the fall the Missourians raided Linn county. They first went to Paris, where they were joined by some of the settlers, then moved on to Sugar Mound, where they burned some houses, robbed Ebenezer Barnes' house, the store and the postoffice. Many depredations were committed and the free-state settlers warned to leave the county. This and like raids influenced James Montgomery to gather a company of courargeous[sic] free-state men, which started out on raids of retaliation into Missouri. This brave band was so daring, and meted out vengeance[sic] in such a summary manner, that Montgomery became known as the Jayhawk leader and was greatly feared by men of the opposite party.
The leader of the pro-slavery party was Charles Hamelton, and Trading Post was his acknowledged headquarters. When the Missourians warned the free-state settlers to leave the county Montgomery raided Trading Post with the intention of breaking up the headquarters of Hamelton's gang. They did not kill or harm anyone, but poured out all the whisky found in the store and warned the pro-slavery settlers to leave, saying that there was not room enough for both in the county. As a result of this raid Hamelton led the party which committed the Marais des Cygnes massacre (q. v.). After this atrocious affair the persons who took part in it disappeared. Another free-state leader who arose at this time was C. R. Jennison, who became known as one of the greatest leaders during the border warfare.
In the Civil war Linn county was represented in the Second Kansas infantry, the Sixth cavalry, the Tenth infantry, the Seventh cavalry, the Twelfth infantry and Fifteenth cavalry; many men also enlisted in the regular army of the United States. During the war raids from Missouri were common, and raids from Linn county into Missouri were nearly as frequent. In Oct., 1861, a party of Missourians under Sheriff Clem of Bates county raided Linn county, killed several men and robbed a number of houses. In December a party of about 125 Missourians again raided Linn county, robbed and pillaged houses, killed one Union man, and others barely escaped with their lives by hiding. A Union force retaliated by marching into Missouri, but being met by a stronger force retired into Kansas. After this raid Camp Defiance was established on Mine creek in Linn county, near the Missouri line, and Col. Montgomery with the Third regiment was stationed there until the spring of 1862. The most important and exciting event of the Civil war which occurred in Linn county was the Price raid, in which battles occurred at Mound City on Oct. 25; at Round Mound, about 6 miles from the river; and at Mine creek, 4 miles south of Round Mound. (See Mine Creek.)
The first store in Linn county was at the Trading Post for trade with the Indians, though the first whites in the county also bought goods there. The first postoffice was opened at Mound City, at the store of a Mr. Miller, who was appointed postmaster in the spring of 1855. The first school in the county was held during the winter of 1858-59 in the town hall at Blue Mound, and the first marriage solemnized in the county was that of J. S. Atkins and Maria Mannington in 1858. The Methodist Episcopal church was the pioneer religious organization in the county. They were followed by the Baptists and United Brethren, both of whom erected churches in Mound City in the early '60s.
Linn county was organized in 1855. The first board of county commissioners—called a court—consisted of R. E. Elliott, president, L. M. Love and Brisco Davis. They appointed James F. Fox, treasurer; Joseph D. Wilmot, clerk; James Driskill, assessor; William Rogers, surveyor; Joseph E. Brown, sheriff; and Elisha Tucker, coroner. On the same day these officers were appointed the court divided the county into three municipal townships: Scott, Johnson and Richland. Subsequently changes were made in both the divisions and names until the present eleven townships were created.
By the act creating the county provision was made for the election of commissioners on the second Monday of Oct., 1855, and that the "commissioners so appointed for the county of Linn shall locate the county seat of said county within 3 miles of the geographical center." There is no record available to show that this board was ever elected, but on Jan. 18, 1856, the county commissioners appointed a commission to locate the county seat. On March 18 James P. Fox and a man named Osborne, the only commissioners who acted, made a report that they had decided on the northwest quarter of section 8, township 21, range 24. The town (named Paris) was laid out by William Rogers, the county surveyor. The board of county commissioners held their first meeting there on Aug. 7 in the house purchased from J. P. Fox, who owned the land. This location was not satisfactory to any of the residents and an election to relocate the county seat was held on Nov. 8, 1859, when Mound City was chosen, the first meeting of the county board being held there Dec. 15. On May 30, 1865, the county seat was changed to Linnville, a town just south of the site of Paris and a few miles north of Mound City. On Feb. 20, 1866, still another election was held to relocate the county seat, at which time Mound City was again chosen. An election was then held May 29 on the same question, the result being that Mound City retained the county seat. On Feb. 14, 1871, the seat of justice was changed to La Cygne by the vote of the people; on March 27, 1873, the seat of justice was changed to Farmers City, but as the location was a mere brush patch the county officers refused to go there, and La Cygne remained the county seat de facto until April 14, 1874, when an election was held at which Pleasanton received the majority of votes. The question of the permanent location was still undecided and in 1875 a decisive and last election was held, when Mound City was chosen as the seat of justice of Linn for the third time, where it has since remained.
The first railroad in Linn county was the Kansas & Neosho Valley. A proposition was made for the county to issue $150,000 worth of bonds with which to buy stock of the railroad, but as the county officials and the railroad officials could not agree this was never done. The road was built, however, but was located in the eastern part of the county. At the present time there are over 90 miles of main track railroad in the county. The St. Louis & San Francisco crosses from north to south along the eastern boundary through Pleasanton with a branch into Missouri. The Missouri Pacific crosses the southern part of the county east and west, branching at Blue Mound in the southwest, one branch running west into Anderson county and the other south in Bourbon county. The Missouri, Kansas & Texas enters in the northwest and crosses south into Anderson county. These lines provide excellent transportation and shipping facilities for all portions of the county except the center.
The chief agricultural products of Linn county are corn, flax, winter wheat, oats, Kafir corn and hay. Live stock is a profitable industry. There are more than 125,000 bearing fruit trees in the county, which bring in a considerable revenue. Common and magnesium limestone are plentiful and large quarries are operated near Pleasanton; salt springs exist in the southern portion; coal of a good quality underlies a considerable part of the county and has for many years been mined in commercial quantities for exportation; cement rock abounds and clay is plentiful in the southeast; oil and natural gas have been found near Pleasanton, and the latter is used for heating and lighting. Pleasanton is the largest town in the county. Mound City, the seat of justice, is 81 miles south of Kansas City and is a shipping point for a rich district. La Cygne is also an important town. The population of Linn county in 1910 was 14,735, and the value of her agricultural products, including live stock, was $2,219,376.
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