Lee County, Iowa Genealogy
Guide to Lee 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
Lee County may have been named for William Elliot Lee, a land dealer, who was the original owner of land that included what is now Lee County. It is located in southeastern Iowa, and both Fort Madison and Keokuk are county seats.[3]
County Courthouse
Lee County Courthouse North
931 Avenue H
Fort Madison, IA 52627
Phone: 319-372-3523
Fax: 319-372-7033
Lee County Website
Lee County Courthouse South
25 North 7th
Keokuk, IA 52632
Phone: 319-524-2433
The office of the Recorder is located in the Fort Madison courthouse and historical record books are housed in the Keokuk Courthouse.[4]
Lee 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 | 1873 | 1867 | 1898 | 1830 | 1838 | 1847 |
Record Loss
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1911 Courthouse was damaged by fire. For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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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 Lee County. To find more resources, go to the Iowa Bible Records page.
Biographies
- Biographical Review of Lee County, Iowa. Chicago, IL: Hobart Pub. Co., 1905. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
- Portrait and Biographical Album of Lee County, Iowa. Chicago, IL: Chapman Brothers, 1887. Online at: FamilySearch Catalog - images, Internet Archive, HathiTrust, Ancestry ($).
- Lee County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- Iowa, State Employees at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
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. | %± |
| 1850 | 18,861 | — |
| 1860 | 29,565 | 56.8% |
| 1870 | 37,210 | 25.9% |
| 1880 | 34,859 | −6.3% |
| 1890 | 37,715 | 8.2% |
| 1900 | 39,719 | 5.3% |
| 1910 | 36,702 | −7.6% |
| 1920 | 39,676 | 8.1% |
| 1930 | 41,268 | 4.0% |
| 1940 | 41,074 | −0.5% |
| 1950 | 43,102 | 4.9% |
| 1960 | 44,207 | 2.6% |
| 1970 | 42,996 | −2.7% |
| 1980 | 43,106 | 0.3% |
| 1990 | 38,687 | −10.3% |
| 2000 | 38,052 | −1.6% |
| 2010 | 35,862 | −5.8% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
State Census
- 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
Catholic
- Saint Peter's Parish, Keokuk, Iowa, 1832-1929 : a history at Ancestry ($)
- Saint Peter's Parish, Keokuk, Iowa, 1832-1929: a History at Ancestry ($)
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Ambrosia
- Zarahemla
Court Records
- 1837-1993 Lee County Court Records, 1837-1993; Indexes, 1848-1930(*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1840-1841 Court Records, 1840-1841(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1840-1856 County Commissioner's Reports, 1840-1856(*); County Commissioners at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1850-1930 Circuit Court Records, 1869-1886; Index, 1850-1930(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Directories
- 1868 Lee County Gazetteer : Containing Historical and Descriptive Sketch of the County and Sketches of the Several Townships Together With City Directories of Keokuk and Fort Madison(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1878 Keokuk (Iowa) City Directories(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1897 Plat Book of Lee County, Iowa(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 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
- Bar Memorial Chapel and Barr-Holtkamp Funeral Home in Fort Madison and West Point
- DeJong-Greaves-Printy Funeral Home in Keokuk
- Schmitz Funeral Homes in Donnellson and West Point
- Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk and Montrose
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
- 1830-1922, 1836-1961 Land records, 1836-1961; indexes, 1830-1922 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 Lee County, which may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see Iowa Local Histories.
- English Colony: the British Emigrant Mutual Aid Society's Colony in Lee County, Iowa. 1918. J. Berry Ware. Bonaparte, IA: J.B.Ware. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- The History of Lee County, Iowa. Chicago, IL: Western Historical, 1879. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust.
- Keokuk, a Progressive City. n.d. n.p.:n.p. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Story of Lee County, Iowa. By Nelson Commins Roberts and Dr. S.W. Moorhead. Chicago, IL: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914. Online at: Vol. I -FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust; Vol. II - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, Hathitrust.
- Yesterdays: Reminiscences of long Ago. Virginia Wilcox Ivins. Salt Lake City, UT: V.W. Ivins, 1974. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust.
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, Lee County at Ancestry ($) - index.
- 1874-2007 Lee County 1874-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
- 1884-1919 Fire Insurance Maps for Lee County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1884 and 1919.
- General Highway and Transportation Map, Lee County, Iowa at FamilySearch Digital Library.
- IAGenWeb - Lee County.
- Iowa Digital Library, Lee County at Iowa University Libraries.
- Lee County Hawkeye Farm Plat Book(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
- Lee County, Iowa, Township Plat Maps(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
- Lee County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
- Map of the Half Breed Sac & Fox Reservations(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
- Plat Book of Lee County, Iowa(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
- Standard Atlas of Lee County, Iowa(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
- The Atlas of Lee County, Iowa(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
- The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Lee County at State Library of Iowa.
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places.
Migration
Early migration routes to and from Lee County for European settlers included:
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- Mormon Trail 1846 from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah[9]
- Mississippi River at Wikipedia
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
- 1861-1949 Iowa, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Civil War service men in Lee County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed here:
- - 1st Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company A and C
- - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
- - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company B and C
- - 6th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
- - 7th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D and E
- - 14th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
- - 15th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E and I
- - 16th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company K
- - 17th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B, C, D, I, and K
- - 19th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A and E
- - 30th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A and I
- - 45th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C and E
- - 48th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company D
Naturalization and Citizenship
Please see the Iowa Naturalization and Citizenship page for state-wide information.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1854-1954 Naturalization Records, 1854-1954; Tax Records, 1848; Index to naturalization Records, 1852-1905(*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — 4 indexes, images
- 1856-1906 Naturalization and Marriage Record, 1856-1861; Index to Naturalization, 1856-1906(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index, images
- 1859-1990 United States, Iowa Naturalization Records, 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Iowa, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1952 Fort Madison Evening Democrat. 1952. Fort Madison, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)
Obituaries
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
In most counties in Iowa, probate records have been kept by the county judge. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. The records are available at the county courthouse.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1838-1974 Lee County, Iowa, Probate Records, 1838-1950; Indexes, 1850-1974(*); 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
- 1844-1930 Divorce Packets, 1844-1930(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Lee 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
- Burlington Iowa FamilySearch Center
- Fairfield Iowa FamilySearch Center
- Nauvoo Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Burlington Public Library - an affiliate library
- McDonough County Genealogical Society - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Lee County. For state-wide library facilities, see Iowa Archives and Libraries.
Keokuk Public Library
210 N. 5th Street
Keokuk, IA 52632
Phone: 319-524-1483
Email: reference@keokuk.lib.ia.us
Website
West Point Public Library
317 5th Street
West Point, IA 52656
Phone: 319-837-6315
Email: dsanders@westpoint.lib.ia.us
Website
Museums
North Lee County Historical Society Museum
814 10th Street
Fort Madison, IA 52627
Phone: 319-372-7661
Email: nichs@iowatelecom.net
Facebook
Societies
Listed below are societies in Lee County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Iowa Societies.
Lee County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 303
Keokuk, IA 52632
Email: mystique747@iowatelecom.net
Website
Lee County, Iowa Historical Society
318 North 5th Street
P.O. Box 125
Keokuk, IA 52632-5611
Email: lcihs@yahoo.com
Website
Old Fort Genealogical Society
PO Box 1
Fort Madison, IA 52627
Email: mystique747@iowatelecom.net
Website
Websites
- Lee County at Cyndi's List - a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
- Lee County at Genealogy Trails - volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
- Lee County at Iowa USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
- Lee 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
- ↑ Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed (July 23, 2021).
- ↑ Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed (July 23, 2021).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lee, Iowa," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_County,_Iowa."
- ↑ Lee County, Iowa Recorder Office, https://www.leecounty.org/pview.aspx?id=20852&catid=25, accessed 4 August 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.
- ↑ https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/IA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm#Individual_County_Chronologies
- ↑ 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, "Lee County, Iowa," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_County,_Iowa, accessed 1 October 2019.
- ↑ National Park Service, "Auto Tour Route Maps" in Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail at http://www.nps.gov/mopi/planyourvisit/maps.htm (accessed 18 July 2011).