Births
Transcribed from the vital statistics film, roll number S000130.
Selected surnames, 1861–1910.
County Formation
Wolfe County was formally created in July 1860. These resources document the legal steps that brought the county into being.
- County Formation Documents the birth of the county.
- An Act to Establish the County of Wolfe Laws of Kentucky, Chapter 1326, July 1860.
County Seat Campton, Kentucky
The town of Campton was first settled in the late 1810s. Most historians regard Nim Wills as the founder of Campton. Wills established the new town on the waters of Swift Camp Creek on the site of a camp believed to have been first used by John Swift and his party of silver prospectors 100 years earlier, for whom the creek was named.
At first the town was known as Camp Town after the camp site. The first permanent structure was erected by Fielding Hanks in 1818, who chose the area as his new home after moving from nearby Montgomery County. The town was named the county seat of the new county of Wolfe in 1860 and was formally incorporated ten years later.
The first courthouse, constructed of logs, burned in 1886. A second building was destroyed by fire in 1913. The third and present courthouse, constructed in 1917, is one of the most interesting courthouses in Kentucky. A traditional colonial building, it features a relief of a wolf on the gable above the columns on the front.
The first post office was established as Campton on 16 January 1867, with Frances M. Vaughn as postmaster.
Wolfe County is named for Nathaniel Wolfe (1810–1865), representative of Jefferson County in the Kentucky legislature.
Wolfe County Information
Books for Sale
Suggested Wolfe County reference books. Click here if you have a book you would like to add to the list.
Cemeteries
Wolfe County cemetery transcriptions.
Not a complete list, but we are working on it.
1920 Census
Transcribed by Carole Bays.
Death Certificates
This is a new section and needs your submissions to help it grow.
Deeds
Selected extractions from early deed books.
Deed Book 1
7 June 1875 – A. J. and Sarah Hollon to J. M. Cockerham:
Page 334,
Page 335.
Deed Book 3
1877 – A. J. and Sarah Hollon to James Tyler:
Page 84.
Marriages
Transcribed from the vital statistics film, roll number S000130.
Selected surnames, 1861–1909.
Newspapers
Items from the Hazel Green Herald and the Wolfe County News.
Obituaries
Over 1,200 Wolfe County obituaries and growing.
Pictures
More than 300 pages of photographs.
Click here if you can help identify some of the people in these pictures.
Records Availability
Listing of existing Wolfe County records and where to find them.
Reunions
Having a family reunion? Post it here so others can join you.
Wolfe County Archives
Materials in the KYGenWeb Archives for Wolfe County.
Wolfe County Schools
Local Historical Information
Early Families
Listing of early Wolfe County families from The Early and Modern History of Wolfe County.
Early Industries
The attractions that drew the first settlers to this part of Kentucky.
Civil War
The Civil War and Wolfe County.
Courthouse Disasters
Fires and other disasters that have affected county records.
Gallery of Honor
Dedicated to the veterans of Wolfe County.
Hazel Green, Kentucky
Website dedicated to the history of Hazel Green.
Murder in 1859
Murder during the vote for county formation.
Postcard
The last piece of mail processed prior to the closing of the Gosneyville Post Office, 15 August 1941.
Courtesy of Pat Cannady.
Railroads
Trains that once roared through the hills of Wolfe County.
Spencer Association Primitive Baptists
Minutes of the 21st annual session.
John Swift's Silver Mines
Dedicated to the late Micheal Paul Henson, a native of Breathitt County.
John Swift's Lost Silver Mine
Written by Jerry McDonald.
Odd Fellows 86th Anniversary – 1905
Torrent
Pictures of Torrent Falls.
Wolfe County Midwives
In Loving Memory of Wolfe County's Midwife
Wolfe County Midwife Number Two
There was more than one Black midwife in Wolfe County in the 1920s and 1930s. One had the surname Perkins and may have been named Lizzie. She delivered Gene Cisco in Stamper Branch in 1936, next to Lee City. Submitted by Lenzy Cisco, West Virginia.
Please email here if you can contribute more information on this midwife.
Family Histories
Jesse and Nancy E. Dotson Adams Family Home
Bush Family
�My Ancestors� by C. W. Bush.
Bush Family of England, Virginia, Kentucky
Family lines from 1568 to 1997 and beyond.
Casper Cable Story
Written by Gary Barker.
Daniel Boone Childers
Born in Wolfe County on Holly Creek on 11 July 1873. Read his story.
Elizabeth Combs
Death certificate courtesy of Debbie Rose.
Hanks Family
Written by Scott E. Sallee.
Hollon, Holland, Hollan and Faulkner Index
Compiled by Sandra Lake (Newton) Lassen.
Bowen David Rose
Courtesy of Troy Rose.
Nelson Rose
Courtesy of Troy Rose.
Shackelford Family Bible
Courtesy of Pat Hobson.
Taulbee Family
Includes links to several obituaries.
Indenture – Tolson to Hanks
Indenture from Thomas and Rebecca Tolson to C. C. Hanks, 22 September 1869.
Courtesy of Jim and Rita Tolson Roenic.
Tyler Bible Pages
Pages from two Bibles: Reverend William T. Tyler and Deborah A. Johnson, and William's father, James S. Tyler.
Van Cleve, Van Cleef, Van Cleave
Surname article first written about 1944.
Kentucky Links
East Kentucky Cemeteries
Kentucky Census Links
Kentucky Footsteps Project
Surname Registry
A place for researchers to connect with one another. Register your surnames and browse the surnames that have already been submitted.
Kentucky Swap Shop
Genealogy material for sale, swap, or trade.
Kentucky Tidbits
Short items of Kentucky history.
Items of Interest
Wolfe County Genealogical Databases
If you have a question about this county or would like to adopt it, contact a state coordinator.
Copyright 2025, KYGenWeb Team