USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > A history of Columbia County, Wisconsin : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
1850-Jeremiah Drake
1851-52-Joseph Kerr
1853-Jesse Van Ness
1854-F. C. Curtis
1855-MI. W. Patton
1867-Marcus Barden, W. W. Drake, Edward F. Lewis
1856-F. C. Curtis
1857-Peter Van Ness
1858-59-J. C. Carr
1860-61 -- W. N. Baker
# 1862-Levi W. Barden, Charles L. Brown, Marcus Barden
1870-Geo. M. Bartholomew, John Meredith, Ira H. Ford
1870-A. J. Turner TT
1871-W. M. Griswold
1872-76-A. J. Turner
1877-79-J. R. Decker
t In place of E. Corning resigned.
* Mr. Langdon failed to qualify.
# The board of supervisors was constituted from 1862 to 1870 of three members only.
"From June of that year.
1863-Levi W. Barden, Marcus Barden, Charles L. Brown 1864-W. W. Drake, Marcus Bar- den, Geo. M. Bartholomew
1865-W. W. Drake, Marcus Bar- den, Geo. M. Bartholomew 1866-W. W. Drake, Marcus Bar- den, Edward F. Lewis
1868-Edward F. Lewis, Marcus Barden, W. W. Drake
1869-W. W. Drake, G. M. Barth- olomew, John Meredith
111
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
CHAIRMEN OF COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-continued
1880-81-M. T. Alverson 1898-99-H. J. Fisk
1882-83-Addison Eaton
1900-02-John Scott
1884-85-J. R. Decker
1903-04-W. C. Leitsch
1886 -Lester Woodard
1905-06-B. L. Tifft
1887-89-J. H. Rogers
1907-08-W. R. Chipman
1890 -James B. Taylor
1909-10-J. T. Henton
1891-92-R. N. MeConochie
1911-12-R. E. York
1893-95-Mie Adams
1913 -G. S. Lashier
1896-97-Salmon Brown
COUNTY SEAT FIGHTS
Like every county recorded in history, Columbia had its exciting and indecisive county seat fights. At the April election of 1846, following its birth in February, the voters endeavored to select a county seat, but as six rivals were in the field none had a majority. Columbus received 97 votes, Winnebago Portage 49, and Duck Creek (Wyocena) 47, with the others trailing in this way: De Korra, 33; Dyer's (Otsego) 10, and Van Duer (Bendure's) 3. As there was no choice and Wyocena was the most convenient point of assemblage for the majority of the voters in the county, an act was passed at the 1847 session of the Legislature declaring the county seat temporarily located there, and providing for a vote on the question at each annual election until some place should receive a majority.
THE DECISIVE VOTE (1851)
Then, in 1848, an act was passed providing that the county seat of justice should be at Columbus for a term of five years. So that Wyocena and Columbus were temporary county seats until April, 1851, when the permanent location was decided by popular vote in favor of Fort Winne- bago. The legislative act under which the election was held provided that if the latter should not receive a majority of the votes cast the county seat should be permanently established at Wyocena. This move was therefore considered as settling the fight between the chief rivals forever ; and from present appearances it is not likely that the popular decision then made will be reversed.
The vote "for" or "against" Fort Winnebago was as follows :
112
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Yes.
No.
Portage Prairie
20
43
Springvale
1
82
Wyocena
1
182
De Korra
90
22
Otsego
2
79
Fountain Prairie
95
Columbus
119
50
Hampden
36
35
Kossuth
47
37
West Point
32
7
Lodi
41
6
Fort Winnebago
441
9
Port Hope
32
7
Marcellon
92
3
Scott
17
57
Randolph
69
32
Lowville
11
57
1,096
796
TEMPORARY COUNTY BUILDINGS
After it had been definitely decided that Portage was to be the per- manent seat of justice, a deed was made to the county by Webb & Bronson, owners of the village site, conveying Block 180 (now occupied by the county jail and sheriff's residence) for a courthouse and any other buildings which might be necessary in the transaction of official business and judicial procedures. But some years were to elapse before the county was to have its own official home.
The county records were moved from Columbus to Portage in 1851, and until 1856 the officials occupied the upper part of Lemuel Berry's store on the east side of the canal. It stood on the northeast corner of Cook and Pleasant streets and was afterward bought by the city to house its fire apparatus. From the Berry store the county officers moved their records to Vandercook's building, where all remained until the completion of the present courthouse in the fall of 1865.
FIRST STEPS TOWARD PERMANENT COURTHOUSE
In 1861 the Board of Supervisors officially brought up the court- honse matter by appointing a committee to report upon the general
113
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
subject of county buildings. The members consisted of Hugh Jamieson, G. H. Osborn and E. H. Wood, who made their report in November, showing that the county was paying a rental of $1,400 per annum for its official accommodations and recommending that a sum not to exceed $12,000 be expended in permanent buildings. The report was laid on the table, and the subject rested for two years.
In 1863, after the county board had been reduced to three members, the subject was resuscitated. At the historic meeting in which it came up, never to be again buried, two supervisors were present-L. W. Bar- den and Charles L. Brown-and the deputy clerk of the board, A. J. Turner, who tells the story of the birth of the present courthouse: "The business of the board having been about completed, the writer of this, who was acting as deputy clerk of the board, motioned Judge Barden aside and suggested to him that the question of county buildings ought to be presented to the board. He laughingly replied that he didn't think it would be of any use to do so, but it might be well enough to agitate it. Returning to the board, I drew the following resolution, which Mr. Bar- den submitted :
" 'Resolved, That the sum of eight thousand dollars be levied and raised in the same manner that other county taxes are raised, for the purpose of building a courthouse, and that the same be paid over to the county treasurer, and held by him, subject to the order of the Board of Supervisors, for the purpose aforesaid.'
"The question was put on its adoption and Supervisor Brown voted aye; Supervisor Barden remained silent and the chairman declared the resolution adopted, and it was so minuted in the journal.
"The next day, December 9th, the last act of the board before adjourn- ing, was the adoption of the following resolution, which was presented by Supervisor Brown :
" 'Resolved, That L. W. Barden, chairman of the Board of Super- visors, be and is hereby instructed to procure plans and specifications for a courthouse, and receive proposals for a site for the same, which shall be submitted to the board at its next meeting.'
"Such were the initial steps taken for the erection of the courthouse which Columbia County possesses, accomplished by a single vote."
THE COURTHOUSE COMPLETED
The initiatory steps toward building were taken soon afterward, and in February, 1864, a contract was let to Carnagie & Prescott for building a courthouse to cost $17,830. The site was presented by the citizens of Portage. Work was commenced in the spring of that year and the Vol. 1-8
114
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
building was completed in the fall of 1865, at the contract price. With the sidewalks, iron fence (since removed), grading, trees and other improvements, the county expended about $26,000 on the courthouse property. At the time of its erection the Columbia County Courthouse was considered a fine building for the purpose and, with steam heating, modern lighting and sanitary arrangements, as well as thorough interior reconstruction, it is still convenient but not fully adequate to the require- ments of the county. After Brown County, to which Columbia was attached so long, it was, in 1865, the only courthouse of any pretensions in the state. Surmounted by a well-proportioned dome and a large (colossal, it was then called) statue of Justice, this two-story building of cream colored brick was a commendable pride to the county seat.
COURTHOUSE, SHORTLY AFTER ITS ERECTION
In 1895 a small fireproof building was erected on the courthouse square for the protection of the invaluable papers and records in care of the register of deeds.
COUNTY JAIL AND SHERIFF'S RESIDENCE
The county jail and sheriff's residence are about half a mile from the courthouse, standing on the block donated by Webb & Bronson for county purposes. A jail was first erected in 1851 by H. McNeil. It was a two-story stone building with cells in the upper part and the sheriff's dwelling in the lower. The building was destroyed by fire in
115
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
1864, and in the following year Carnagie & Prescott, the courthouse con- tractors, completed a substantial stone jail, its "parade grounds" sur- rounded by a high brick wall, and a sheriff's residence fronting it, consisting of a well-arranged two-story brick structure. But even these quarters were outgrown, and in 1887 a new jail and sheriff's residence were erected at a cost of over seventeen thousand dollars. Both the buildings and surrounding grounds have been well maintained.
HOME FOR COUNTY INSANE AND POOR ١
The County Insane Asylum and Poor Home at Wyocena are housed in a substantial two-story brick structure, with wings, and a large sepa- rate wooden building. The buildings set well back from the street in the center of an 8-acre tract. A short distance north of the village is a 40-acre farm, so that the able-bodied inmates of the home are furnished healthful employment as well as contribute to the maintenance of the institution.
Prior to 1858 the care of the poor of Columbia County was vested in the towns, whose officers provided homes for all the unfortunates within their jurisdiction, the maintenance of the poverty-stricken being paid out of a town fund set aside for that purpose.
On November 3d of the year mentioned the County Board of Super- visors voted to abolish the town system, and measures were taken to establish a county institution. Daniel White. John Q. Adams and H. W. Roblier were appointed superintendents of the poor, and $1,500 was appropriated to aid them in their duties. The old Exchange Hotel, with one acre of land, was purchased, and on December 30, 1858, it was opened for the care of the county poor and insane. Brick additions were made in 1867 and 1878. In 1872 there were twenty-six inmates of the home, of whom eleven were insane, and the cost of caring for them was over four thousand dollars, including the $400 salary of Hugh Hill, the overseer, and $200 paid other help. The number of inmates in 1879 was ninety-eight, of whom sixteen were insane.
INSANE ASYLUM ERECTED
The proportion of insane patients had gradually increased so that by the early '80s it was evident that some special provision must be made for them. In 1882, therefore, the east wing of the present insane asylum was completed. This is now the male ward, but for ten years served as sleeping apartments for both men and women. In 1892 the
116
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
administration building and the west wing were completed, and the entire structure is solid and attractive.
On the 3rd of November, 1858, the County Board of Supervisors voted to abolish the town system of caring for its poor. At the same session Daniel White, John Quincy Adams and H. W. Roblier were ap- pointed superintendents. The Old Exchange Hotel, together with one acre of land in the village of Wyocena, was purchased and the home for Columbia county's poor was established. In 1878 a two-story brick structure was erected and used for quarters for the insane. In 1885 the present fine County Insane Asylum was erected and additional buildings have been erected and many valuable improvements made. The first
1
1
COUNTY ASYLUM AND POOR HOME, WYOCENA
superintendents were Daniel White, H. W. Roblier, John Quincy Adams. Mr. White was succeeded by Geo. Wall of Portage, he by W. W. Corn- ing and he by John Graham, he by H. L. Bellinghansen. Mr. Roblier was succeeded by Alan Bogue of Arlington, Mr. Adams was succeeded by E. E. Jones, he by J. A. Ehrhart and he by E. W. Richards. So that the present board is Alan Bogue, E. W. Richards and H. L. Belling- hansen.
The Board which was long in existence and to whom the county is greatly indebted in the care and management of its poor and insane was John Quincy Adams of Columbus, who served forty-five years; John Graham of Portage, who served thirty-one years, and Alan Bogue of Poynette, who is serving his 30th year. Under their management the
117
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
institution became one of the first in the state, and upon their recom- mendation many broad acres were added to the original one acre farm. The overseers and matrons who have been in charge of the institution are Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Muggleton, Mr. and Mrs. B. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Cushman.
The 124 inmates of the asylum and the 86 who are in the home are faithfully cared for by the superintendent, S. C. Cushman and his wife, the matron, with efficient and adequate help. The trustees are Alan Bogue, president of the board; E. W. Richards, vice president, and H. L. Bellinghausen, secretary. The attending physician is Dr. A. V. de Neveu. There is about three thousand dollars in the treas- ury, the farm having largely contributed to the good financial condition of the institution. The live stock includes fifty Holsteins and over ninety swine, with a fair assortment of chickens. Good crops of corn, oats, hay and cloverseed are raised, as well as all kinds of vegetables, and quite a neat sum is realized by the sale of eggs and dressed beef, pork, chickens and ducks, although the local consumption is considerable.
The state is generous in contributing to the maintenance of the asy- lum. The Legislature has lately increased its weekly allowance per inmate from $1.50 to $1.75 for those resident in the county, and from $3.00 to $3.50 for foreign patients. The increase of late years in the weekly cost per capita is more attributable to the better treatment of the insane than to the rise in the cost of living; in 1903 this weekly cost for the Columbia County asylum was $1.35, and in 1912, $2.46.
THE CIRCUIT COURT
Under the territorial form of government, from 1836 to 1848, Colum- bia County was at various periods in the First, Second and Third Judicial districts. But it made little difference, practically, whether it fell in one judicial jurisdiction or another until well along in the '40s, when the population of the county was about 2,000 and the three hundred or more mature males felt that they were entitled to a local "sitting."
It was after the organization of Columbia County that the first ses- sion of court was held within its limits. It was then in the Second Judicial District and sittings began August 30, 1847, with David Irvin on the bench. The court was held at Fort Winnebago, in a store attached to the Franklin House kept by Captain Low. The names of the first grand jury empaneled were Morell Stroud, Jerome B. Fargo, LaFayette Hill, Edward J. Smith, John Converse, Benjamin F. Stanton, Isaac B. Hancock, Jonathan E. Haight, Perry Griffith, Chauncey Spear, Samuel
118
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Gibson, Joseph Edwards, Albert Pease, Horace Dodge, Enos Grant, F. K. Haskins, Job W. Perry, W. B. Dyer and William W. Drake.
On the first day of the session Owen Powderly was naturalized. The first case on the docket was Lorenzo Bevans vs. Andrew Dunn, in assumpsit, which was continued, and the next was of a similar nature (Youngs Allen vs. Miami York), in which the plaintiff recovered, by default of the defendant, $64.73.
When Wisconsin became a state in 1848 it was divided into five judi- cial circuits, Columbia County being included in the Third. In 1855 it was attached to the Ninth, where it remained until 1906, since which it has been in the Eighteenth. The first term of the Circuit Court for Columbia County commenced May 21, 1849, Chief Justice Stow presid- ing. The first case tried was John Converse vs. Martin Hoffman, in error from a justice's court; judgment affirmed. The grand jury was as follows: John Hasey, Thomas D. Wallace, Cornwall Esmond, Isaac Requa, William G. Simons, Benjamin A. Hagamen, Sylvanus Langdon, Dearborn Taylor, Linus Blair, Martin Porter, Hugh McFarlane, John Q. Adams, Lucius Warner, Thomas Swarthout, Ascar F. Hamilton, Benjamin Sage, Cyrus Smith, Joseph Farrington, Edward J. Smith and Israel Sales.
Among the best known judges who presided over the old Ninth Cir- cuit were Alexander L. Collins, Luther S. Dixon, Harlow S. Orton, Alva Stewart, Robert G. Seibecker and E. Ray Stevens. Chester A. Fowler was elected the first judge of the Eighteenth Circuit and still occupies the bench.
PROBATE AND COUNTY COURT
Until January 1, 1850, the court having jurisdiction over the settle- ment of estates of deceased persons and of the appointment of guardians to minors, spendthrifts, idiots and insane persons, was called the Pro- bate Court. After that date it was called the County Court.
The probate and county judges who have served Columbia are as follows :
1847 -Silas Walsworth* 1865-80-Joshua J. Guppey
1847-48-James T. Lewis 1881-92-Levi W. Barden
1849 -Moses R. Cobbt 1893-98-J. B. Taylor #
1850-56-Joshua J. Guppey
1898-1910-W. S. Stroud
1857-60-Guy C. Prentiss
1910 -Alonzo F. Kellogg
1861-64-John T. Clark (Now six-year term)
* Refused to qualify and James T. Lewis appointed.
t Resigned and Joshua J. Guppey appointed September 29, 1849, to fill vacancy.
# Died September 25, 1898, and W. S. Stroud appointed to fill vacancy.
CHAPTER IX
MISCELLANEOUS COUNTY MATTERS
HOUSEHOLD POPULATION (1846)-POPULATION IN 1847-FIGURES BY DECADES (1850-1910)-REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY (1875) -AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS-CONDITIONS THIRTY YEARS AGO-CON- DITIONS OF THE PRESENT-A SPLENDID DAIRY COUNTY-CREAMERIES IN COLUMBIA COUNTY-CHEESE FACTORIES-LIVE STOCK-COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-FISH FAIR AND SECRETARY'S REPORT-CO- LUMBIA COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION-CURLING IN COLUMBIA COUNTY
There are some miscellaneous matters, chiefly statistical, which can- not be well grouped, but which are necessary to be presented in order to get a general view of the county before proceeding to develop classi- fied topics and the histories of the towns, cities and villages.
HOUSEHOLD POPULATION (1846)
The first census in the county was taken in June, 1846, by Hugh Mc- Farlane, assisted by William Donaghue. The names of the householders only were taken, with the number of inmates of each household. The county was diveded between the two so that McFarlane took as his terri- tory what are now the towns of Fountain Prairie, Otsego, Lowville, De Korra, Lodi, Arlington, Leeds, Hampden and Columbus, with the city of Columbus ; also the south half of Caledonia and one tier of sections off the east side of West Point. In this area he found 1,269 persons- 705 white males and 564 white females, the largest households being those headed by S. Brayton (12), Henry Botman (12), Nels Olson (12), Christopher Hughes (12), James Wilson (11), Nehemiah Alten (10), James McCloud (10), Benjamin Sage (9), S. W. Herring (9), William Randall (9), Thomas Robertson (9), Jacob Dickenson (9), and W. B. Dyer, Calvin Martin, Jacob Low, Tossen Parr, Tess Pearson, Sjur
119
120
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Sturken, George Bradley, Elisha Town and Asa Proctor, each with a family circle of (8).
Donaghue's territory included what are now the towns of Courtland, Springvale, Wyocena, Pacific, the north half of Caledonia and all of Lewiston except three tiers of sections off its west side, Fort Winnebago and the City of Portage, and Marcellon, Scott and Randolph. In this division were 700 persons-438 white males, 261 white females and 1 male negro. The largest households were those of Hugh McFarlane (30), H. Carpenter (24), William Jones (13), Job W. Perry (13), Benjamin Dodge (11), Ephraim Blood (11), Nathan Griffin (9), John Hagadore (8), Elbert Dickason (9), Samuel MeConochie (10), Aaron Powell (10), Gideon Low (9), M. W. Patton (8), Powell Stein (8), John Converse (8), and Richard F. Veeder (8).
The total population of the county in June, 1846, was therefore 1,969 -1,143 white males and 825 white females, one gentleman of black color, and several hundred Winnebagoes.
POPULATION IN 1847
The census of the county was taken the second time in June, 1847. James T. Lewis was the chief enumerator and had five assistants. The increase in population was quite surprising, assuming that the enumera- tions of both years were substantially correct. The count was taken by precincts and resulted as follows :
Precinct- -
White Males.
White Females.
Colored Males.
Total.
Columbus
514
435
949
De Korra
104
97
. .
. .
201
Wyocena
253
222
475
LeRoy
515
464
1
980
Dyersburg
238
228
466
Winnebago Portage
102
61
1
164
Pleasant Valley
110
93
.
203
Lowville
190
163
353
Total
2,026
1,763
2
3,791
....
FIGURES BY DECADES (1850-1910)
There was a gradual increase of population up to the period of the Civil war, and for more than thirty years thereafter it remained almost
121
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
stationary. It was 9,565 in 1850; 24,441 in 1860; 28,802 in 1870; 28,065 in 1880, and 28,810 in 1890.
The numerations made by the United States census takers for the years ending the last three decades indicate the following :
DIVISIONS-
1910
1900
1890
Arlington, town
816
794
828
Caledonia, town
1,087
1,188
1,336
Cambria, village
657
561
524
Columbus, city
2,523
2,349
1,977
Ward 1
1,020
Ward 2
712
. .
Ward 3
791
Columbus, town
760
744
800
Courtland, town
886
820
815
De Korra, town
842
908
869
Doylestown, village
259
Fall River, village
360
Fort Winnebago, town
626
665
646
Fountain Prairie, town
990
1,409
1,315
Hampden, town
800
887
816
Kilbourn City, village
1,170
1,134
961
Leeds, town
1,055
1,214
1,171
Lewiston, town
799
901
936
Lodi, town
716
750
639
Lodi, village
1,044
1,068
736
Lowville, town
758
784
733
Marcellon, town
853
882
845
Newport, town
534
585
487
Otsego, town
866
1,226
1,127
Pacific, town
281
289
255
Pardeeville, village
987
788
Portage, city
5,440
5,459
5,143
Ward 1
580
Ward 2
1,068
...
Ward 3
848
Ward 4
1,357
....
Ward 5
1,587
Poynette, village
656
633
517
Randolph, town
1,087
951
880
Randolph, village (west ward)
248
190
79
122
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Total for Randolph, village, in Co-
lumbia and Dodge Counties
937
738
405
Rio, village
704
479
339
Scott, town
796
811
824
Springvale, town
735
751
703
West Point, town
663
743
701
Wyocena, town
706
1,158
1,303
Wyocena, village
425
Totals
31,129
31,121
28,350
REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY (1875)
There has been a steady increase in the value of real estate and per- sonal property held by the citizens of Columbia County. In 1875, after they had had a decade to recover from the demoralizing effects of the Civil war the county board assessed both classes of property as follows:
Arlington
$ 527,607
Marcellon
$ 208,376
Caledonia
314,989
Newport
239,687
Columbus (town)
508,640
Otsego
396,696
Columbus (city)
758,974
Pacific
54,872
Courtland
499,226
Portage
886,555
De Korra
264,695
Randolph
472,565
Fort Winnebago
169,300
Scott
289,457
Fountain Prairie
414,934
Springvale
323,072
Hampden
508,699
West Point
332,247
Leeds
495,774
Wyocena
250,434
Lewiston
139,039
W. W. Vil. Randolph.
. . 24,380
Lodi
435,641
Lowville
350,325
Total
$8,866,184
THE FIGURES FOR 1913
In 1913, when the figures were compiled by the assessor of incomes of Columbia County, this total had increased to nearly $14,000,000. To understand the table, arranged alphabetically, first according to towns, and secondly according to cities and villages, it is necessary to quote the following explanatory words from the assessor's report :
"The figures on both real and personal property are based upon sale value ; meaning not a forced sale, but rather such sales as are made in the ordinary course of business transactions. The real estate valuations are
123
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
based entirely upon figures made by the Wisconsin Tax Commission from sales of real estate in this county.
"The valuation in each town is computed each year by comparing the assessed value of lands sold during that year with its sale value. Only such sales are used as represent the true value of the real estate, all sales in which a trade is involved, in which personal property is included, forced sales, and sales between relatives, are eliminated.
"The ratio between the assessed value and sales value is then applied to the'total real estate assessment for that year and the result is the 'annual true value.'
"The average of the last five 'annual true values' is the figures here used. It is believed that this method is nearer correct and nearer fair as between districts than any other method.
"Any variations which may arise from abnormally high or low sales in any year are largely eradicated by the five year average and I have not felt that I could vary or change these figures in any way without substi- tuting my own ideas for the facts. The personal property valuations were made by actual inspection of the personal property of a number of taxpayers in each assessment district; by then comparing what I con- sidered to be the true value of this personal property with its assessed value and then raising or lowering the assessed value of all property of the district by the same ratio as the true value of the inspected property bore to its assessed value."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.