Delaware County History and Information

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Delaware County was created on July 16, 1907 from Cherokee County. The County was named for Delaware District of the old Cherokee Nation. Delaware District took its name from Delaware Town which was located in the Spavinaw Hills in the early part of the last century. It was occupied by a band of Delaware Indians who left the United States and settled in Louisiana Province, then Spanish territory, shortly after the close of the American Revolution. The County Seat is Jay. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Delaware County are Ottawa County (north), McDonald County, Missouri (northeast), Benton County, Arkansas (east), Adair County (south), Cherokee County (south), Mayes County (west), Craig County (northwest)

Delaware County Cities & Towns Include Bernice, Brush Creek, Bull Hollow, Cayuga, Cleora, Cloud Creek, Colcord, Copeland, Dennis, Dodge, Dripping Springs, Flint Creek, Grove, Jay, Kansas, Leach, New Eucha, Old Eucha, Rocky Ford, Sycamore, Tagg Flats, Twin Oaks, West Siloam Springs, Zena

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Records at the Delaware County Courthouse

See Also Oklahoma Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Search Oklahoma Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

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 at the Delaware County Courthouse at PO Box 550, Jay, OK 74346-0550; Phone: (918) 253-4432. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Delaware County Clerk's Office has Birth Records from 1908, Death Records from 1908 and , Land Records from 1905.

The County Clerk's office is responsible for preserving all the legal instruments filed by private citizens and public officials with the County Clerk's office. The office maintains files of all real estate records, plats, judgments, liens, patents, military discharges, school records, county personnel, insurance and retirement records for employees, meeting notices, commissioners' proceedings and other documents. Although county clerks record births and deaths and provide information on request, certificates are available only from the Vital Records Section, State Department of Health

Delaware County Court Clerk's Office has Probate Records from 1911, Marriage Records from 1911, and Court Records from 1911.

The Court Clerk has the primary responsibility to record, file, and maintain permanent records of the proceedings of the District Court. We collect fines, fees, and forfeitures, and distribute the collected monies as provided by law to the appropriate agencies. There are numerous types of cases filed with the Court Clerk's Office some of which include: Civil, Small Claims, Probate, Guardianship, Adoption, Felony, Misdemeanor, Search Warrants, Licenses and more...

Below is a list of online resources for Delaware County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Delaware County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Search District Court Public Records from Participating Oklahoma District Courts
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Delaware County, Oklahoma Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
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Delaware County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Oklahoma

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Vital Records Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 Northeast 10th, Oklahoma City, OK 73117;(405) 271-4040, They have the following records:

  • Birth & Death Certificates: Oklahoma began filing birth and death records in October of 1908. It was not mandatory, however, that these records be filed until 1917. Because birth and death records were not required in years past as they are today for identification or settlement of claims in matters of death, the filing process in many years prior to 1940 are sketchy. It is the responsibility of the hospital, attendant at birth or the funeral director in each matter of birth or death to properly obtain the information needed and file the certificate in a timely manner.
    • Cost: $10.00 per birth certificate & $10.00 per death certificate.
    • Processing Time: 12-14 weeks when ordered by mail (Application for Birth or Death Certificate) or 2-5 Days when you order online
  • Marriage and Divorce Certificates: Marriage and Divorce Records are maintained and issued in the County Courthouse of issuance. These records are available from the Clerk of Court in the county where the event occurred. Fees vary.
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Walk-In Service: Coming to the Vital Records Service, Room 117, Oklahoma State Department Of Health, 1000 Northeast 10th, Oklahoma City, OK, Monday - Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or the Tulsa Health Department, Central Regional Health Center, 315 S. Utica, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-2203, 918-594-4840

Below is a list of online resources for Delaware County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Delaware County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Oklahoma newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Delaware County, Oklahoma Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
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Delaware County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Oklahoma

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

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Delaware County, Oklahoma are 1910, 1920 and 1930. 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.

Below is a list of online resources for Delaware County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Delaware County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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Delaware County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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.

Below is a list of online resources for Delaware County Maps. Email us with websites containing Delaware County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Delaware County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Oklahoma

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.

Below is a list of online resources for Delaware County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Delaware County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Delaware County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Heavy spring rains with severe flooding in 1902 awakened Oklahoma's citizens to the need for better roads. Territorial laws placed responsibility with townships, and a road overseer was to be elected for each district. General property tax and some funds from liquor licenses collected by counties and townships were used to finance the building of public roads along section lines. A road tax was required, along with the requirement that all males between the ages of twenty-one and forty-five donate four eight-hour days a year to work on highways. Those who did not work or provide a substitute were fined $5 for each absence.

The county treasurer or assessor may have tax or assessment records. Some tax records are stored in museums, historical, and/or genealogical societies' repositories. Published tax records for Oklahoma are almost nonexistent. Some duplicated copies of county tax records are stored in the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, State Archives Division for security purposes, but are not available for research. Koplowitz, Guide to the Historical Records of Oklahoma, indicates location of county records, including those of tax and assessments.

Below is a list of online resources for Delaware County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Delaware County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Delaware County Tax Assesors Office, PO Box 550, Jay, OK 74346-0550; Phone: (918) 253-4432
    The county assessor has the responsibility to appraise and assess the real and personal property within the county for the purpose of ad-valorem taxation. Also, the county assessor is required to compute the ad-valorem taxes due on all the taxable property. By law, the county assessor appraises all the taxable real property according to its fair cash value for which the property is actually being used.
  • Delaware County, Oklahoma Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Delaware County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Oklahoma 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 more 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 Delaware County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Delaware County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Delaware County Genealogical Society, 206 South Elk Street, Grove 74344
  • Delaware County Historical Society, Rt. 1, Box 467, Grove 74344
  • The Federation of Oklahoma Genealogical Societies, P.O. Box 2531, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74602
  • Oklahoma Historical Society, 2100 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK 73105
  • Oklahoma Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 12986, Oklahoma City 73157-2986
  • Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Division of State Archives and Records, 200 N.E. 18th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 75105
  • National Archives; Southwest Region, 501 West Felix Street, Building 1, Fort Worth, Texas 76115-3405; E-mail: ftworth.archives@nara.gov. Mailing Address: P.O. 6216, Fort Worth, Texas 76115-0216
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • Oklahoma Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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Delaware County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Oklahoma

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 Delaware County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Delaware County Tombstone Transcription Project.

There are no centralized repositories dealing with church records in Oklahoma. Scattered records can be found in genealogical publications, the DAR compilations, and on microfilm. The Spanish missions have played a central role in Oklahoma's religious history.

Printed secondary sources of transcribed cemeteries exist for most Oklahoma counties. The Oklahoma State Society of the DAR has collected hundreds of such records. Transcripts are housed both at the national DAR and with some local chapters and libraries.

Below is a list of online resources for Delaware County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Delaware County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

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 Delaware County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Delaware County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

Delaware County is located in the northeastern part of the state adjoining Ottawa County on the south and the states of Missouri and Arkansas on the west. It contains about seven hundred-fifty square miles of land of variable quality ranging from fertile river bottom lands to rocky flint hills.

This section of the state, although important from a historical standpoint, is somewhat isolated by reason of the fact that its county seat and its largest town have no railroad connections with the other towns of Oklahoma. In olden times Delaware district wielded a great influence in Cherokee affairs and some of the most prominent Indians established their homes there soon after their arrival from Georgia, eighty years ago.

In 1838 a small military fort or garrison was established by the Federal Government in the eastern part of the present County of Delaware near the headquarters of Spavinaw Creek, and a son of Daniel Boone, the famous Kentucky scout, was detailed to take charge of it. It was called Fort Wayne in honor of General Anthony Wayne of Revolutionary war fame.

On account of the difficulty of reaching it with supplies, it was abandoned within a few years and its army accoutrements were transferred to Fort Gibson. General Stand Watie, one of the famous Cherokees who fought on the Confederate side during the Civil war, had a house within the present boundaries of this county and soon after the war he settled on his farm, near Grand River again and lived there until his death, which occurred in September, 1871.

John Ridge, the leader of the party which opposed Chief John Ross was attacked and killed by some Indian outlaws, supposed to be friends of Ross, in the vicinity of this historic old cemetery.

He was buried in the Ridge (now called Poison) cemetery in the eastern part of Delaware County, with Masonic honors. His widow died in 1883 and was buried in the western part of Delaware County, near the Village of Bernice.
Archaeologists and geologists have been specially interested in the study of Delaware County on account of the numerous gracefully sloping mounds which are so numerous throughout this section of the state. Some have declared them to be the products of nature, while others maintain that they were built by the inhabitants of some remote period of time. Quite a number of ancient relics have been unearthed at different times in the past, which lead some. scientists to believe that many hundreds of years ago, a race of people inhabited this section of the country that had made some considerable advancement in agriculture and civilization. The State Historical Society has made quite a collection of these relics and these mounds will doubtless be more thoroughly explored within the next few years.

The missionaries followed the Cherokees to their new homes in this section of the country during the early forties, the Moravians being the first to establish mission schools and churches for the Indians. As early as 1842 a little band of Moravians came from Bethlehem, Penn., and erected some buildings near the present site of the little town of Oaks in the southern part of Delaware County, some of which are still standing. This old mission was located near the headwaters of Spring Creek, a beautiful stream of clear water which rises near the Ozark uplift, flows west and empties its sparkling waters into Grand River, the stream which furnishes the City of Muskogee with an unlimited supply of pure water. Soon after the Civil war was over -the Lutherans ventured into this remote neighborhood and established a mission in the southern part of Delaware County, which they have continued to maintain. and where they have built up a good church composed largely of full-bloods.

Another historic reminder of the olden days which may still be seen in this county is the old Head Beck water mill, located on Flint Creek. It was built before the Civil war and the Indians for miles around carried their grists of corn to it, to be exchanged for corn meal. The old mill was a great blessing to the full-bloods of that community for many years, especially during the Civil war times when it was impossible for them to secure flour at any price. The old mill has outlived most of its former customers and on certain days of each month it continues its task of converting corn into meal.

The agriculturist or home-seeker can find in Delaware County, as in many other counties of Eastern Oklahoma, any kind of land which he may desire. Stretching across the northern part of the county is a fertile belt of land, about twelve miles wide and twenty miles long, known as the Cow Skin Prairie, famous in the old cow-boy days for its rich pastures, and equally famous now for its productive corn and wheat fields. Many well-improved farms are now found in this portion of the county and the owner of a Cow Skin Prairie farm is justly proud of his possessions.

The foothills of the Ozark mountains project across the border lines of Missouri and Arkansas into. the eastern part of Delaware County, making that section of the county rough, rocky and hilly. The little valleys furnish some fine tillable land and the rough, rocky tracts afford good pasture and excellent fruit land. Some beautiful scenery graces these hills and valleys which, as yet, is but slightly known-to the people of the state. One of the favorite resorts of the Indians is known as the Dripping Spring, located on the allotment of Jeff Carnes, a Cherokee, residing in the southern part of the county, where a stream of water falls down over the rocks for a distance of nearly sixty feet.

The beautiful Grand River wends its way across the county in a southwesterly direction, its valley, together with the valleys of its numerous tributaries, Spavinaw Creek, Spring Creek, Saline Creek and others-being dotted with numerous fertile farms and some excellent timber.

A railroad is now being constructed from the Town of Salina on the Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad into the southern part of this county, mainly for the purpose of marketing the virgin timber of that section.

The City of Tulsa, sixty miles away, is planning to connect with Spavinaw Creek by means of an immense water plant in order to furnish its residents with an ample supply of pure water. Grove, the largest town in Delaware County, is located in the northern part of the county and for many years bore the distinction of being the only railroad town, although its railroad did not reach any other section of the state. Many years ago a branch line was built from Southwest City, Mo., to Grove, a distance of about thirty miles and will doubtless be extended westward to either Afton or Vinita, sooner or later, in order to give Grove railroad connection with other parts of the state.

  • Capt. T. S. Remsen, perhaps the oldest resident of Grove, was the first postmaster and established the first store in the village, about fifty years ago. He died at his home in Grove on January 16, 1922, at the ripe age of seventy-eight years.
  • John H. Gibson, another pioneer, established the second store in Grove and founded the Weekly Sun, the only newspaper in Grove.
  • W. H. Dougherty, another old timer, built several of the first houses erected in the village and for many years has been one of the substantial citizens of the town.
  • W. P. Mayes, an old time Cherokee, brother of Ex-Chief Samuel H. Mayes, was for many years the proprietor of the only hotel in Grove.
  • Ed Casey, a prominent Cherokee, still resides on his farm adjoining Grove, and although ninety-four years of age, is still in the enjoyment of good health.
  • Ad V. Coppedge, a prominent attorney of Delaware County, has resided at Grove for many years.

At present, Grove has a population of about one thousand. It maintains a good public school, including a high school, ten teachers being regularly employed.

The Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists and Christians have good churches and Sunday schools.

The town has a National bank and a State bank, and both are in a flourishing condition.

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