Rusk County, Wisconsin Genealogy
Rusk County, Wisconsin genealogy and family history research page. Identify links to record collections, history, and genealogy information to aid you trace your personal Rusk Co., ancestors. Begin by creating a Free Family Tree.

Rusk County was founded on May 15, 1901 from Chippewa County (originally named Gates County until June 19, 1905). The county was named in honor of Jeremiah McLain Rusk (1830-1893), Governor of Wisconsin 1882-1889 .
The Rusk County Seat can be found in Ladysmith and the county government website is www.ruskcounty.org/
Bordering Counties in Rusk County include Sawyer County (north), Price County (east), Taylor County (southeast), Chippewa County (south), Barron County (west), Washburn County (northwest).
Populated Places in Rusk County are Cities which consist of Ladysmith; Towns consist of Atlanta, Big Bend, Big Falls, Cedar Rapids, Dewey, Flambeau, Grant, Grow, Hawkins, Hubbard, Lawrence, Marshall, Murry, Richland, Rusk, South Fork, Strickland, Stubbs, Thornapple, True, Washington, Wilkinson, Willard, Wilson; Villages consist of Bruce, Conrath, Glen Flora, Hawkins, Ingram, Sheldon, Tony, Weyerhaeuser.
Rusk County does have Federal Census Schedules to assist in finding out about your family tree. United states federal Population Schedules are available for 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940. One can find free down-loadable and also printable census forms to help you with your research.
Rusk County Societies and Family History Resources
A list of Rusk County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Wisconsin Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Wisconsin State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Area Research Center - University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire, Special Collections Department, William D. McIntyre Library, Eau Claire, WI 54702-5010; Phone: 715/836-2739
- Bruce Area Historical Society, PO Box 155, Bruce, WI 54819; Phone: 715-868-5475
- Rusk County Historical Society, N2754 Dicus Rd, Ladysmith, WI 54848; Phone: 715-532-3633
- Rusk County, Wisconsin Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Rusk County
- Rusk County, Wisconsin Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com) read and post messages with other genealogy researchers for Rusk County
- USGenWeb Archives for Rusk County (usgwarchives.net)
- Wisconsin Genealogy Index (wisconsinhistory.org) Search for pre-1907 Vital Records, as well as for 150,000 Wisconsin Name Index (WNI) records, including biographical sketches, obituaries, and newspaper articles published before 2000.
- See Also Wisconsin Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links
Rusk County Courthouse and Government Records
Researchers often fail to notice the importance of Rusk County court, probate, and land files as a source of family history and genealogy details. Buried away in Wisconsin courthouses and archives everywhere are often the dreams and frustrations of countless Wisconsin residents.
The chances are excellent that your forefathers have left a in-depth record of at least some elements of their lives in the Rusk County court records. Even if your ancestors is not discussed in a Court case, contemplate all of the other methods that could have lead to her or him to appear in court records.
Make sure you get in touch with the clerk's department to identify hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics in advance of visiting or asking for information because of in some cases changing contact information. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The files are readily available to interested parties, barring private issues. A good number of workers will assist persons in obtaining the materials, however it's up to the particular person to undertake the researching.
The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Rusk county. The date listed for each category of record is usually the earliest registration filed. The earliest date does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually registered.
It has been estimated that less than 50 percent of the vital records, for example, were prepared and submitted for permanent filing prior to 1907. Land deeds, probate, and court records generally begin in Wisconsin with the organization of the county. Prior to that date, check the County or Counties it was created from. Some counties formed from other counties transcribed their portion of property deeds to be kept with the new county deed records.
- Rusk County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 311 East Miner Avenue, Ladysmith, WI 54848; Phone: 715.532.2100
- Rusk County Register of Deeds purpose is to provide official record keeping for Records or files land record documents authorized by law, such as deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, certified survey maps, plats and Federal Tax liens. Files and indexes Birth, Death and Marriage records, Military Discharges, and issues certified copies upon request.
- Phone: 715-532-2139
- Birth Records: 1900
- Marriage Records: 1901
- Death Records: 1901
- Land Records: 1872
- Rusk County Register in Probate Office has the responsibility to maintain and update files regarding probate of estates, guardianships, protective placements, adoptions and mental commitments. This is a statutory office with the position of Register in Probate filled by judicial appointment.
- Phone: 715-532-2147
- Probate Records: 1901
- Rusk County Clerk of Court Office 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.
- Phone: (715) 532-2108
- Court Records: 1901
- Rusk County Treasurers Office collects all real estate taxes including postponed and delinquent, all county revenues in addition to the research and issue tax deed applications. Our department is the holder of tax records and assessed values.
- Wisconsin Office of Vital Records has copies of Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Records reported since 1907. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Wisconsin for current fees and application process.
Wisconsin 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....
Rusk County Genealogy Links
The following are web links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources associated to Rusk County. Many of these genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a cost. This is just a listing which has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to provide your own most liked Rusk County genealogy or family history related sites.
Rusk Co. WI Books, Newspapers & Publications
Rusk Co. WI Birth, Marriage & Death Records
Rusk Co. WI Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
Rusk Co. WI Census Records
Rusk Co. WI Cemeteries & Graveyards
Rusk Co. WI Church & Bible Records
Rusk Co. WI Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
Rusk Co. WI General and History Websites
Rusk Co. WI Immigration & Naturalization
Rusk Co. WI Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
Rusk Co. WI Military Records
Rusk Co. WI Schools & Directories