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Iowa, Mortality Schedules - FamilySearch Historical Records

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Iowa, Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880
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This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Iowa, 
United States
Flag of the United States of America
Flag of the United States of America
US Flag 1848-1851 (30 stars)
US Flag 1848-1851 (30 stars)
National Archives and Records Administration Logo
National Archives and Records Administration Logo
Location of the United States of America
Location of the United States of America
Record Description
Record Type Mortality Schedules
Record Group RG 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790–2007
Collection years 1850-1880
Microfilm Publication T1156. Nonpopulation Census Records: Iowa. 54–62 rolls
Arrangement Chronologically
National Archives Identifier 358
FamilySearch Resources
Content Resources
Related Websites
Archive
National Archives and Records Administration


What is in This Collection?

The Iowa Mortality Schedules collection consists of an index & images of mortality schedules in Iowa from 1850–1880. Mortality schedules include individuals who died in the year preceding the federal census. Mortality schedules exist for the census year 1850, 1860, and 1880. Census enumerators requested information from the head of household about deaths that had occurred from June 1st to May 31st of the previous year. In 1918 to 1919, the Bureau of the Census distributed the original schedules to states or to the National Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution when states were not interested.

Mortality schedules list a small percentage of the total population. At the time of the 1870 census, it was surmised that as many as one-third of all deaths were not reported. For instance, when a family was scattered by the death of the head of household, there was no one left to report it. In 1880, a supplemental report from attending physicians added 60,000 additional names to the schedules.

In the absence of vital registration in many states, mortality schedules provided nationwide death statistics for one year of each decade, 1850–1880. According to the official statistical report for 1870, this was done to assess the death rate for age-groups, sex, race, nationality, and occupation and to "deduc[e] the effect of the various conditions of life upon the duration of life."

Census mortality schedules are usually accurate, but this accuracy depended on the knowledge of the informant and the care of the census enumerator.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Index and Image Visibility

FamilySearch provides images and indexes subject to contractual limitations and changes. Access to images and indexes may vary. Some collections may only have partial indexes without images. See Restrictions for Viewing Images for details.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

  • Name, age, gender, and color of deceased
  • Free person or slave
  • Whether married or widowed
  • Birthplace (state, territory, or country)
  • Month in which death occurred
  • Occupation (profession or trade)
  • Cause of death
  • If parents were foreign born (1870 Census only)
  • Length of residence in the United States (1880 Census only)
  • Father’s and mother’s birthplace (1880 Census only)

Collection Content

Sample Images

  • 1850

    1850

  • 1860

    1860

  • 1870

    1870

  • 1880

    1880

Sample Forms National Archives

Inventory

An inventory of the contents of each film and digital folder in this collection can be found at Iowa Mortality Schedules - Inventory.

Digital Folder Number List

This collection contains a digital browse. Only the DGS numbers are displayed.

DGS Number Date From Date To First County Last County Roll
7311070 2 June 1849 1 June 1850 Appanoose Washington 54
7311071 2 June 1859 1 June 1860 Wright Adair 55
7311072 2 June 1869 1 June 1870 Adair Hancock 56
7311073 2 June 1869 1 June 1870 Hardin Shelby 57
7311074 2 June 1869 1 June 1870 Sioux Wright 58
7311075 1 June 1879 31 May 1880 Adair Des Moines 59
7311076 1 June 1879 31 May 1880 Dickinson Linn 60
7311077 1 June 1879 31 May 1880 Louisa Van Buren 61
7311078 1 June 1879 31 May 1880 Wapello Wright 62

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

  • The name of the individual
  • The place of residence

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Enter the information in the fields in the Search Collection section or click More Options to see additional fields
  2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

To view images in this collection:

  1. Look at the Digital Folder Number List section to determine the folder/film number for the images you want to see
  2. Go to the Collection Browse Page
  3. Click the Film number to view the images
Tip: More images are available in the FamilySearch Catalog at Iowa Mortality Schedules, 1880. Click on camera icon to see images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

  • Add any new information to your records
  • Mortality schedules are a national level file of state-by-state death registers. Using the death information, you can search for:
    • Obituaries
    • Mortuary records
    • Cemeteries
    • Probate records, all of which may provide additional genealogical information
  • Mortality schedules also list ages and birthplaces for a time when births were not reported
  • Use this information to look for other records that may provide information about the individual, parents, and siblings
  • Search for a death register in the county where the person died
  • Search for an obituary in local newspapers

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

  • Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
  • Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names
  • If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
  • If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
  • There is also the possibility that the individual was missed in the mortality schedule

Research Helps

The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Iowa.

Other FamilySearch Collections

These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

FamilySearch Historical Records

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection.
Record Citation:
When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.
Image Citation:
When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.
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