People Photos The Sauk County Historical Society has in its collection, over 1,500 images of people and families, most of whom resided in Sauk County. Some of these photos date back to before the turn of the 20th century. If you are interested in seeing if your ancestor's photo is archived here, check out the list of names with descriptions that were included with the images.
Probate Records Probate records consist of the documents that settle an estate after someone’s death, whether they died with a will (testate) or without one (intestate). Probate records are important to genealogists because they can provide detailed information about other family members and the estate of the deceased.
Obituaries An extensive compilation of over 700 obituaries from Sauk County newspapers.
County Church Records A list of churches in Sauk County and availability of their congregation records (births, marriages, confirmation, death).
Census Records
The federal census was taken every ten years and began in Sauk County in 1850. A state census was also taken every ten years although five years staggered from the federal census (1855, 1865 etc.) Census records can be invaluable in giving us clues about particular people, (i.e. age, occupation, nationality etc.) One of the most helpful records is the 1900 federal census which listed more personal information than previous censuses. It also important to note that the 1890 federal census was lost due to fire. Federal census records for Sauk County are contained on microfilm at the Baraboo Public Library, the Reedsburg Public Library and at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in Madison. Federal census records for the entire nation are also found on subscription websites like ancestry.com and genealogy.com. A free version of these sites is available through the Sauk County Library System for library visitors and cardholders. Many of the census records have been indexed at these sites making searching much easier.
Indices to Area Histories
The library at the Sauk County Historical Society is a resource that hasn’t been used to its fullest potential. The wealth of information in these locally produced histories is just now being indexed and we’re excited to share it with you.
The following list is just a portion of the local history books the Sauk County Historical Society has in its library. Each title listed below is a link to an index of that book. As we get more books indexed, we will add the title to this list. So check back occasionally to see what’s new.
If you’re interested in seeing the passages indicated on the indexes, go to the research request form on this website and fill it out with the title of the book, the name you are seeking and the page number it appears on. The standard research fee applies as we will search other finding aids currently not online and include other information featuring your research name.
These indexes were created by volunteers who gave their time and talents to this monumental task and we are grateful to them. Any errors found in these indexes will be checked and corrected if you bring them to our attention. The Sauk County Historical Society takes responsibility for these errors and apologizes in advance for any inconvenience they may cause.