Vital records document births, marriages and deaths. They are maintained by governmental agencies and are used as primary sources in genealogical research. Although Wisconsin law required counties to register these events since 1852, only a limited number were actually recorded by the counties before September 30, 1907.

Birth, death, and marriage certificates for events that occurred prior to 1907 are available for viewing at the Wisconsin Genealogy Index (the volume and page number are not used at the county level). You can purchase certified and uncertified copies of Bayfield County birth, death, and marriage certificates at the Bayfield County Register of Deeds office.

As is the case with most records, spelling and transcription errors were made when recording the information on the indexes. It is best to use all alternate spellings of surnames when searching the indexes and to view the actual records when there is a question.

The following were extracted from the Pre-1907 Wisconsin Indexes on microfiche:

Pre-1907 Index

Births

Marriages

Deaths

Surnames A - B	Surnames C - E	Surnames F - G
Surnames H - J	Surnames K - M	Surnames N - P
Surnames Q - S	Surnames T - Z