Burn Ban in Effect. All outdoor burning is prohibited in Franklin County.
Original publication provided by Jana Capps, Franklin County Genealogical Society.
The Franklin County Genealogical Society supports the preservation and discovery of family history by helping community members research their ancestry, access local records, and prepare documentation for county and state Heritage Certificate applications. Established in 1997 as the Genealogy Division of the Franklin County Historical Association and formally organized as the Franklin County Genealogical Society in 2000, FCGS has become a trusted resource for researchers, families, and community members. Since 2016, FCGS volunteers have helped applicants earn more than 105 Heritage Certificates recognizing direct descent from Texas pioneers or notable service to Texas.
County Heritage Certificates
Franklin County Genealogical Society offers the Franklin County First Family certificate to honor families with deep roots in the county. To qualify, applicants must document direct descent from an ancestor who settled in what is now Franklin County, Texas, by 1880.
Veterans of Franklin County
FCGS maintains two three-ring binders of veterans’ discharge documents for Franklin County. In 2007, with permission from the County Clerk’s office, Don Easterling began photographing these records; in 2020, Clyde Siddens began compiling the binders from those photographs and related documents. The collection is available for review in the Research Room, and family members of veterans may request copies of DD214 military discharge papers with proof of relationship.
Visitor Information
The FCGS library offers an extensive collection of family files, historical records, Mount Vernon school annuals dating to the early 1900s, old abstracts currently being digitized, deed books, poll tax books, donated family Bibles, photographs, and archival materials. Visitors may research ancestors from Franklin County or other areas across the United States, with volunteer assistance available to help them begin a family tree or locate additional information. Researchers also have access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, Fold3, and Newspapers.com. The library is located at 110 E. Main Street in Mount Vernon, Texas.
FCGS welcomes volunteers to help keep the library open Monday through Friday. Current staffing limits require the library to close on Wednesdays and Fridays; anyone interested in volunteering may contact Jana Capps at 903-537-3931.
Membership options are available at the following annual and lifetime rates:
