MENIFEE COUNTY, KY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History

*None Listed

Menifee County, Kentucky: A Genealogical Overview

Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Eastern Kentucky, Menifee County is a region of rugged beauty, characterized by its dense forests, steep hills, and narrow valleys. A significant portion of the county lies within the Daniel Boone National Forest, reflecting its deep history of pioneer settlement and reliance on natural resources. Its past is rooted in the lives of hardy settlers, the timber industry, and small-scale farming in a challenging but scenic landscape.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Menifee County’s creation from five parent counties is the single most important fact for locating records of ancestors who lived in the area before 1869.

  • 1869: County Formed: Menifee County was established on March 10, 1869, by an act of the Kentucky General Assembly.
  • Parent Counties: It was created from portions of Bath, Montgomery, Morgan, Powell, and Wolfe counties. Researchers must search the records of these five parent counties for any information (deeds, wills, marriages, court cases) prior to the 1869 formation date.
  • Subsequent County Formations: The boundaries of Menifee County have remained largely unchanged since its creation. It has not served as a parent county for any new counties.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Richard Hickman Menefee, a brilliant Kentucky lawyer, U.S. Congressman, and orator of the era.
  • County Seat History: Frenchburg was established as the county seat upon the county’s formation and has remained so throughout its history.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: Prior to European settlement, the mountainous terrain was a hunting ground for Native American tribes, primarily the Shawnee and Cherokee. Permanent settlements were not common, but the area was well-traveled and utilized for its abundant wild game.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first significant settlement by European-Americans began in the early 19th century. Attracted by land grants, settlers of primarily Scots-Irish, English, and German descent migrated into the region. They established small, often isolated, subsistence farms in the narrow creek valleys or “hollers.” The economy was overwhelmingly based on the area’s natural resources, with logging and timber serving as the primary industry for over a century, supplemented by small-scale farming, coal mining, and gas exploration.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Menifee County.

  • Courthouse: Menifee County Clerk’s Office: Located at 12 Main St, Frenchburg, KY 40322. This office is the central repository for county records created since 1869. This includes land records (deeds), marriage records, probate records (wills and estates), and various court records.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Kentucky began in 1911. Records from 1911 to the present are held by the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. For births and deaths prior to this date, researchers must rely on alternative sources such as church records, family Bibles, cemetery inscriptions, and mentions in deeds or probate files.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage bonds and licenses from 1869 to the present are held by the Menifee County Clerk. For marriages prior to 1869, researchers must consult the records of the five parent counties.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Menifee County Public Library: Located in Frenchburg, this library offers local history resources, newspapers on microfilm, and published family histories.
    • Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA): Located in Frankfort, KY. This is a primary resource, holding microfilm copies of county courthouse records, state-level records, and military files.
    • Kentucky Historical Society: Also located in Frankfort, this society maintains an extensive collection of published genealogies, manuscripts, maps, and historical records from across the state.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Bath County, KY
    • Rowan County, KY
    • Morgan County, KY
    • Wolfe County, KY
    • Powell County, KY
    • Montgomery County, KY

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks