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Smith County History and Information |
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Smith County was created on February 26, 1867 (Organized on 1872) from Unorganized Territory. The County Seat is Smith Center. The County was named for Maj. J. Nelson Smith, 2nd Colorado Cavalry, killed in action at the Battle of the Little Blue, 21 Oct 1864.
Counties adjacent to Smith County are Webster County, Nebraska (northeast), Jewell County (east), Osborne County (south), Rooks County (southwest), Phillips County (west), Franklin County, Nebraska (northwest). Cities and Towns Include Smith Center, Kensington, Lebanon, Gaylord, Athol, Cedar. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.
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See Also Kansas Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records
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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 218 South Grant Street, Smith Center, KS 66967-2798; Phone: (785) 282-6533. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.
Smith County Clerks Office has Birth Records from 1891-96, Marriage Records from 1872 and Death Records from 1891-96.
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.
Smith County Register of Deeds Office has Land Records from 1872.
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.
Smith County Clerk of District Court has Probate Records from 1875 and Court Records from 1872.
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 Smith County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Smith County Court Records by clicking the link below:
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See Also Research In Tax Records
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 Smith County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Smith County Tax Records by clicking the link below:
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See Also Vital Records in Kansas
Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Often in as few as three business days!
Office of Vital Statistics, 1000 S W Jackson, Suite 110, Topeka, KS 66612; (785) 296-1400 Info; (785) 296-3253.
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 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 Smith County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Smith County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
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See Also Research In Census Records
Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Smith County, Kansas are 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Smith County, Kansas are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1870 and 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.
See Also Statewide Records that exist for Kansas
Below is a list of online resources for Smith County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Smith 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.
- Kansas Territorial Census, 1855: Index to persons whose names appear in the Kansas Territorial Census of 1855
- Census Online - Kansas Census Records
- The USGenWeb Archives Kansas CENSUS IMAGES PROJECT
- Smith County, Kansas Census Books at Amazon.com
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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 Smith County Maps. Email us with websites containing Smith County Maps by clicking the link below:
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See Also Military Records in Kansas
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 Smith County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Smith 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.
- Kansas Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, 2601 Central Avenue, Dodge City, KS 67801; (620) 225-1951
- National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, 1776 D Street NW,
Washington, D.C. 20006; Phone: (202) 628-1776
- Kansas Society of Sons of the American Revolution
- National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
- Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Kansas (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
- 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.
- 1883 List of Pensioners on the Roll - Veterans or widows of veterans living in Kansas who have applied for a Pension
- Smith County, Kansas Military Books at Amazon.com
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See Also Other Kansasa 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 Smith County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Smith County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
- Smith County Historical Society,
P.O. Box 38,
Kensington 66951
- Local Kansas Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
- Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka KS 66615-1099
- Kansas State Genealogical Society, 2109 Twentieth Avenue, Monroe, WI 53566
- Kansas Genealogical Society, PO Box 103, 700 Avenue G and Vine Street, Dodge City, KS 67801; (620) 225-1951
- 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 Kansas.)
- 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.
- Kansas Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Kansas
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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. |
There are many churches and cemeteries in Smith County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Smith County Tombstone Transcription Project.
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 Smith County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Smith 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 Smith County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Smith County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
- Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
- Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
- Sites on USGenweb: [ Smith County ] [ Kansas ] [ Main Page ]
- Smith County USGenweb Archives
- [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
- Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
- Kansas Family Group Sheets
- Meet your ancestors. Learn their stories. Start your FREE family tree.
- 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.
- Genealogical Document Search and Retrieval Service
- Smith County, Kansas Family Books at Amazon.com
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Transcribed from Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912.
Smith County, one of the northern tier, is centrally located, east and west. It is bounded on the north by the State of Nebraska; on the east by Jewell county; on the south by Osborne and Rooks, and on the west by Phillips. It was named for Maj. J. Nelson Smith of the Second Colorado calvalry, who was killed at the Battle of the Blue.
The first settlers came in 1870. They were John Rhoades, J. K. Belk, Ambrose Oldaker, B. F. Myers, J. H. Johnson and J. C. Morrison. The next year Thomas Lane and Anthony Robertson came with their families. They were followed by H. H. Granholz, H. Menshoff, L. Binman, J. Rider, J. Eldridge, Thomas Decker, James H. Decker, T. J. Burrow, H. F. Alhright, Charles Stewart, T. J. Tompkins, W. M. George and Fred Wagner. The first woman settler was Mrs. Mary Peebles, who located in Lincoln township in the fall of 1870. The first marriage was between Miss R. L. Dunlap and T. J. Burrow, in Smith Center township, Oct. 16, 1872. The first birth was that of a son of Christopher Noggles, Aug. 25, 1871.
A grocery store was established in Houston township in the spring of 1871 by C. P. Newell, and a general merchandise store was started about the same time in Germantown by Fred Wagner, who was appointed postmaster at that place. The first postoffice was at Cedarville, established in July, 1871, with John Johnson as postmaster. The first school was taught at Gaylord by Mrs. W. M. Skinner in 1871. E. M. Burr, the first attorney, located in Smith Center in 1872. The first churches were built in the middle of the '70s. The first newspaper (the Smith County Pioneer) was started at Gaylord in Nov., 1872, by Dr. W. D. Jenkins. Sawmills and grist mills were built along the Solomon at Gaylord and other points before the year 1880.
The county was organized in 1872, with a population of 3,876, all gained in two years. Cedarville (Cedar) was named as the temporary county seat and the following officers were appointed: county clerk, James H. Johnson; commissioners, George Marshall and Fred W. Wagner. At a meeting held in April of the same year the commissioners divided the county into six townships, Pawnee, Higley, German, Cedar, Houston and Holland. At the first election held on June 25, 1872, the ballots of four townships were thrown out for illegalities, and only 154 votes were counted. The county seat question was not settled, but the following officers were chosen: county clerk, W. R. Allen; commissioners, W. S. Angell, W. D. Covington and L. R. Hibbard. The following were appointed: superintendent of public instruction, Edmund Hall; register of deeds, B. Higley. At the November election Smith Center was chosen as the county seat and a new set of officers were elected. T. J. Morrison was the first state representative. There has never been a licensed saloon in Smith county.
Ten years after the first settler came into the county there was a population of 13,904. Artificial forests had been planted; over 300,000 acres of land had been brought under cultivation; there were nearly 40,000 head of live stock, and about 90,000 fruit trees.
The county is divided into 23 townships, viz: Banner, Beaver, Blaine, Cedar, Center, Cora, Crystal Plains, Dor, Garfield, German, Harlan, Harvey, Houston, Lane, Lincoln, Logan, Martin, Oak, Pawnee, Pleasant, Swan, Valley, Washington, Webster and White Rock. The postoffices are Smith Center, Athol, Bellaire, Cedar, Claudell, Gaylord, Harlan, Kensington, Lebanon and Reamsville.
Smith county has two railroads. The Central Branch of the Missouri Pacific enters in the southeastern part and crosses northwest to Gaylord; thence west into Phillips county. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific enters in the east, a little north of the center, and crosses west and southwest to Smith Center, thence west into Phillips county.
The general surface is prairie with bluffs along the streams. The timber is in narrow strips and most of the varieties of wood common to Kansas are found here. Bottom lands average one mile in width and comprise 15 per cent. of the total area. The water system is formed by the north fork of the Solomon and its tributaries. The river enters from the west about 6 miles north of the southwest corner, flows east about 10 miles, thence southeast till it crosses the southern border. Its principal tributaries are Dry, Spring, Beaver, Cedar and Oak creeks. Magnesian limestone, gray granite and small beds of gypsum are found in different parts of the county.
Smith county is in an excellent agricultural section, and is one of the leaders in the acreage of alfalfa, and one of the two leading in swine. The farm produce in 1910 sold for $5,829,000, of which wheat brought $1,100,000; corn, $2,238,000; tame grass, $403,000; animals sold for slaughter, $1,420,000. Poultry, eggs, butter and milk are important products. The population of the county according to the census of 1910 was 15,365. The assessed valuation of property was $28,324,385.
County Courthouse
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