Hancock County, Iowa Genealogy
Guide to Hancock County, Iowa ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Hancock county was named for John Hancock and is located in north-central Iowa.[3]
County Courthouse
Hancock County Courthouse
855 State Street
Garner, IA 50438
Phone: 641-923-3122
Hancock County Website
Hancock County, Iowa Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1880 | 1880 | 1880 | 1856 | 1857 | 1856 | 1847 |
Record Loss
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[8]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Listed below are resources for Bible records specific to Hancock County. To find more resources, go to the Iowa Bible Records page.
Biographies
- History of Kossuth, Hancock and Winnebago Counties, Iowa Together With ... Biographies of Representative Citizens. Springfield, IL: Union Publishing Co., 1884. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Hathitrust.
- History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement. Chicago, IL: Pioneer Publishing, 1917. 2 volumes. Online at: Vol. I - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Hathitrust; Vol. II - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Hathitrust. Vol. I contains history, Vol. II contains biography.
- Hancock County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- Iowa, State Employees at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
Cemeteries
Census Records
Iowa recorded not only federal, but state censuses for several in-between years as well. For more information, see the very informative Iowa Census article.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 179 | — |
| 1870 | 999 | 458.1% |
| 1880 | 3,453 | 245.6% |
| 1890 | 7,621 | 120.7% |
| 1900 | 13,752 | 80.4% |
| 1910 | 12,731 | −7.4% |
| 1920 | 14,723 | 15.6% |
| 1930 | 14,802 | 0.5% |
| 1940 | 15,402 | 4.1% |
| 1950 | 15,077 | −2.1% |
| 1960 | 14,604 | −3.1% |
| 1970 | 13,506 | −7.5% |
| 1980 | 13,833 | 2.4% |
| 1990 | 12,638 | −8.6% |
| 2000 | 12,100 | −4.3% |
| 2010 | 11,341 | −6.3% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
State Census
- 1856 1856 state census of Iowa at FamilySearch — images
- 1885 Iowa State Census, 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1895 Iowa State Census, 1895 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1905 Iowa State Census, 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images (individual cards, not family context)
- 1915 Iowa State Census, 1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1925 Iowa State Census, 1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Church Records
Most church records are held by individual churches. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository. For more information about these major repositories, see Iowa Church Records.
- 1845-1987 Iowa, Church and Civil Deaths, 1845-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
- FamilySearch Places
Lutheran
- 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Court Records
- 1858-1959 Circuit and District Court index, 1869-1959 ; Circuit and District Court Court records, 1858-1933(*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
- Cataldo Funeral Home in Britt, Garner and Woden
- Ewing Funeral Home and Monument Company in Britt and Kanawha
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. They include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Iowa Land and Property for information about early Iowa land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, transactions were usually recorded and housed at the county courthouse.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1857-1938 General index of deeds, 1857-1900 ; deeds, 1857-1938 at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
- 1861-1884 General index of town lots, 1861-1884 ; deeds, 1859-1932 at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
- 1880-1949 Miscellaneous records and index, 1880-1949 ; affidavits index and records, 1907-1937 at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
- 1888-1965 Record of land patents, 1888-1965 at FamilySearch Catalog - images
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Hancock County, which may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see Iowa Local Histories.
- History of Kossuth, Hancock and Winnebago Counties, Iowa Together With ... Biographies of Representative Citizens. Springfield, IL: Union Publishing Co., 1884. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Hathitrust.
- History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement. Chicago, IL: Pioneer Publishing, 1917. 2 volumes. Online at: Vol. I - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Hathitrust; Vol. II - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Hathitrust. Vol. I contains history, Vol. II contains biography.
Maps and Gazetteers
County and state maps, historical and more current, are valuable research tools. For online maps and collections in libraries and societies, see Iowa Maps. Historical maps may be especially useful.
for more resources
- 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Hancock County at Ancestry ($) - index.
- 1900-1914 Fire Insurance Maps for Hancock County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1900 and 1914.
- 1904-2007 Hancock County 1904-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
- Atlas of Hancock County, Iowa(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
- Atlas of Hancock County, Iowa. 1905. Marshalltown, IA: The Times Republican. Internet Archive.
- Hancock County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
- IAGenWeb - Hancock County.
- Iowa Digital Library, Hancock County at Iowa University Libraries.
- Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Iowa
- The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Hancock County at State Library of Iowa.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places.
Migration
Military Records
Multiple Wars
- 1835-1998 Iowa, Armed Forces Grave Registrations, ca. 1835-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only
- 1862-1910 Iowa, Records of Persons Subject to Military Duty, 1862-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Civil War
Civil War Online Records
- 1861-1949 Iowa, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Naturalization and Citizenship
Please see the Iowa Naturalization and Citizenship page for state-wide information.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1859-1990 United States, Iowa Naturalization Records, 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1875-1944 Naturalization Index, 1875-1944(*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index, images
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Iowa, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1951-1955 The Britt News Tribune. 1951-55. Britt, IA, USA at Ancestry ($)
- 1955 Forest City Summit. 1955. Forest City, IA, USA at Ancestry ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
In most counties in Iowa, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1859-1986 Probate Index, 1880-1986 ; Probate Records, 1859-1946(*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
- 1863-1951 Naturalization Index, 1870-1906 ; Naturalization Records, 1863-1951(*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Iowa tax records complement land records and can supplement the years between censuses. Iowa's unique Old Age Assistance tax gives names, addresses and birth years. There may be gaps of several years. For more information, see the wiki page Iowa Taxation.
Online Tax Indexes and Records
- 1934-1958 Iowa, Old Age Tax Assistance Records, 1934-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded by civil officials on registers, certificates, and other documents. Copies or extracts may be purchased from the Iowa Department of Public Health or the County Clerk's office. See also Iowa Vital Records.
Birth
- 1850-1939 Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1880-1935 Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1921-1942 Iowa, Birth Records, 1921-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1921-1947 Iowa, Birth and Stillbirth Records, 1921-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images, coverage may vary
Marriage
- 1518-1996 Iowa, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1809-1992 Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992 at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1836-1926 Iowa, Marriages, 1836 - 1926 at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1838-1934 Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1941-1951 Iowa, Marriage Records, 1941-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Death
- 1845-1987 Iowa, Church and Civil Deaths, 1845-1987 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
- 1850-1990 Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and some images; Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1880-1992 Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1888-1904 Iowa, Death Records, 1888-1904 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images, coverage may vary
- 1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1904-1951 Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1920-1967 Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Hancock County. For state-wide library facilities, see Iowa Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Fort Dodge Iowa FamilySearch Center
- Mason City Iowa FamilySearch Center
- African American Museum Of Iowa - an affiliate library
- Genealogical Society of Linn County Iowa dba Cedar Rapids Area Genealogy Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Hancock County. For state-wide library facilities, see Iowa Archives and Libraries.
Garner Public Library
416 State Street
P.O. Box 406
Garner, IA 50438-0406
Phone: 641-923-2850
Website
Facebook
Museums
Klemme Homestead Museum
112 South Second Street
Klemme, IA 50449
Phone: 641-587-2514
Email: contact@klemmehomesteadmuseum.com
Website
Facebook
Societies
Listed below are societies in Hancock County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Iowa Societies.
Hancock County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 81
Klemme, IA 50449-0081
Email: hancoiagensoc@comm1net.net
Website
Hancock County Historical Society
266 2nd Street SE
Britt, IA 50423
Phone: 641-843-4086
Facebook
Websites
- Hancock County at Cyndi's List - a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
- Hancock County at Genealogy Trails - volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
- Hancock County at Iowa USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
- Hancock County at Iowa USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
- State Historical Society of Iowa — select from research collection topics
- State Library of Iowa — electronic depository of documents intended for the general public produced by Iowa agencies
- The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection — digital images from a variety of Iowa cultural institutions
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Iowa Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
- ↑ Iowa Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Hancock, Iowa," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock_County,_Iowa."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Iowa Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
- ↑ Iowa Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Hancock County, Iowa," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock_County%2C_Iowa, accessed 9 September 2019.