BAYFIELD COUNTY, WI HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Bayfield County, Wisconsin: A Genealogical Overview

Positioned at the northernmost tip of Wisconsin on the scenic shores of Lake Superior, Bayfield County is a land of dramatic natural beauty, encompassing the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Its history is a rich blend of deep Ojibwe heritage, a pivotal role in the Great Lakes fur trade, and waves of development driven by lumbering, fishing, and agriculture. For genealogists, researching Bayfield County means delving into the records of a diverse population of Native peoples, French-Canadian voyageurs, and European immigrants drawn to the opportunities of the northern frontier.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Bayfield County’s early history is marked by a significant name change and several shifts in its county seat, details that are crucial for locating the correct records.

  • 1845: County Formed: The county was first established as La Pointe County on February 19, 1845.
  • Parent County: It was created from the massive St. Croix County. Any records predating 1845 for the few non-tribal residents would be located in St. Croix County records.
  • Key Name and Boundary Changes:
    • 1854 & 1860: The original vast territory of La Pointe County was reduced when portions were detached to form Douglas County (1854) and Ashland County (1860).
    • 1866: On April 12, 1866, the name of La Pointe County was officially changed to Bayfield County. Records created before this date will be found under the name La Pointe County.
  • Name Origin: The county is named for Henry Wolsey Bayfield, a British Royal Navy officer who conducted the first detailed survey of Lake Superior in the 1820s. The original name, La Pointe, came from the historic settlement on Madeline Island.
  • County Seat History: The county seat has moved three times:
    • La Pointe (on Madeline Island): 1845-1857
    • Bayfield: 1857-1892
    • Washburn: 1892-Present. The move to Washburn was driven by the city’s booming lumber industry.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region is the ancestral and spiritual heartland of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa (Ojibwe). Madeline Island, known as Mooningwanekaaning, is central to Ojibwe history and culture. The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is located in the northern part of the county.
  • The Fur Trade: French traders and missionaries arrived in the 17th century, establishing a post at La Pointe. For two centuries, this was one of the most important centers of the fur trade in the upper Great Lakes, operated sequentially by the French, British, and John Jacob Astor’s American Fur Company.
  • Lumber, Quarrying, and Fishing: In the 1870s, the county’s vast pine forests began to be heavily logged. Sawmill towns like Washburn and Bayfield grew rapidly. The quarrying of brownstone and a robust commercial fishing industry also drove the economy.
  • The “Cutover” and Agriculture: After the pine forests were depleted, land companies promoted the cleared “cutover” land to new settlers for farming. This attracted waves of immigrants, particularly from Scandinavia (Norwegians and Swedes), Germany, Poland, and Bohemia (Czechs), who established dairy farms and fruit orchards.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

Records are found in Washburn, but early records may be filed under the name La Pointe County.

  • County Courthouse: The Bayfield County Courthouse, 117 E. 5th Street, Washburn, WI 54891, is the central repository for records.
    • Register of Deeds: This office holds land records (deeds, mortgages) and vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates).
    • Clerk of Circuit Court: In Wisconsin, this office holds probate records (wills and estates), as well as court records for civil and criminal cases, divorces, and naturalization proceedings.
  • Vital Records:
    • Statewide registration in Wisconsin began in 1907. The Register of Deeds holds county-level vital records from the time of its formation, though early records can be sparse. Remember to search under La Pointe County for records prior to April 1866.
  • Libraries and Archives:
    • Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center: Located near Ashland, this is a premier regional archive and a partnership with the Wisconsin Historical Society. It holds extensive collections for Bayfield, Ashland, Douglas, and Iron counties and should be a first stop for researchers in the area.
    • Wisconsin Historical Society: The main archives in Madison hold microfilm copies of Bayfield County records, newspapers, and extensive manuscript collections related to the fur trade, lumbering, and settlement of northern Wisconsin.
    • Bayfield Carnegie Library and Washburn Public Library have local history rooms with valuable materials.
  • Native American Research: For those researching Ojibwe ancestry, resources include the tribal enrollment office of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and early Catholic mission records from La Pointe.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Douglas County (west)
    • Sawyer County (south)
    • Ashland County (east)
    • Lake Superior (north)

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