Monroe County, Iowa Genealogy: Difference between revisions

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{{IA Biographies Intro|Monroe}}
{{IA Biographies Intro|Monroe}}


*''Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa''. 1903 By S. Thompson Lewis. New York, NY: Lewis Pub. Co. Online at: [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/82643-biographical-and-genealogical-history-of-appanoose-and-monroe-counties-iowa?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=25753 Ancestry] ($).
*''Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa''. 1903 By S. Thompson Lewis. New York, NY: Lewis Pub. Co. '''Online at:''' [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/82643-biographical-and-genealogical-history-of-appanoose-and-monroe-counties-iowa?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=25753 Ancestry] ($).
*''The history of Monroe County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, town, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics ...''. 1878. Chicago, IL: Western Historical. Online at: [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/223814-the-history-of-monroe-county-iowa-containing-a-history-of-the-county-its-cities-towns-c-a-biographical-directory-of-citizens-war-record-of-its-volunteers-in-the-late-rebellion?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library].
*''The history of Monroe County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, town, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics ...''. 1878. Chicago, IL: Western Historical. '''Online at:''' [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/223814-the-history-of-monroe-county-iowa-containing-a-history-of-the-county-its-cities-towns-c-a-biographical-directory-of-citizens-war-record-of-its-volunteers-in-the-late-rebellion?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library].
* [http://sites.rootsweb.com/~iabiog/monroe/monroe.html Monroe County, Iowa Biographies Project] at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories<br>
* [http://sites.rootsweb.com/~iabiog/monroe/monroe.html Monroe County, Iowa Biographies Project] at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories<br>


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'''''African American'''''<br>
'''''African American'''''<br>


*Gradwohl, David M. & Nancy M. Osborn  ''Exploring Buried Buxton: archaeology of an abandoned Iowa coal mining town with a large Black population''.  Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa Press, 1984. Online at: [https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/Xq22r3wSPy0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PP1 Google Books]
*Gradwohl, David M. & Nancy M. Osborn  ''Exploring Buried Buxton: archaeology of an abandoned Iowa coal mining town with a large Black population''.  Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa Press, 1984. '''Online at:''' [https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/Xq22r3wSPy0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PP1 Google Books]


=== Funeral Homes  ===
=== Funeral Homes  ===
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{{IA Histories Intro|Monroe}}
{{IA Histories Intro|Monroe}}


* ''An illustrated history of Monroe County, Iowa: a complete civil, political, and military history of the county, from its earliest period of organization down to 1896..'' 1896. By Frank Hickenlooper. Albia, IA. Online at: [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/330156-an-illustrated-history-of-monroe-county-iowa-a-complete-civil-political-and-military-history-of-the-county-from-its-earliest-period-of-organization-down-to-1896?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library], [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007854933 HathiTrust], [http://books.google.com/books/about/An_Illustrated_History_of_Monroe_County.html?id=3UwQAAAAYAAJ Google Books], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=19983 Ancestry] ($)
* ''An illustrated history of Monroe County, Iowa: a complete civil, political, and military history of the county, from its earliest period of organization down to 1896..'' 1896. By Frank Hickenlooper. Albia, IA. '''Online at:''' [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/330156-an-illustrated-history-of-monroe-county-iowa-a-complete-civil-political-and-military-history-of-the-county-from-its-earliest-period-of-organization-down-to-1896?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library], [http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007854933 HathiTrust], [http://books.google.com/books/about/An_Illustrated_History_of_Monroe_County.html?id=3UwQAAAAYAAJ Google Books], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=19983 Ancestry] ($)
*''The history of Monroe County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, town, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics ...''  1878, Chicago, IL: Western Historical. Online at: [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/223814-the-history-of-monroe-county-iowa-containing-a-history-of-the-county-its-cities-towns-c-a-biographical-directory-of-citizens-war-record-of-its-volunteers-in-the-late-rebellion?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library].
*''The history of Monroe County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, town, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics ...''  1878, Chicago, IL: Western Historical. '''Online at:''' [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/223814-the-history-of-monroe-county-iowa-containing-a-history-of-the-county-its-cities-towns-c-a-biographical-directory-of-citizens-war-record-of-its-volunteers-in-the-late-rebellion?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library].
*''Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa''. 1903 By S. Thompson Lewis. New York, NY: Lewis Pub. Co. Online at: [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/82643-biographical-and-genealogical-history-of-appanoose-and-monroe-counties-iowa?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=25753 Ancestry] ($).
*''Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa''. 1903 By S. Thompson Lewis. New York, NY: Lewis Pub. Co. '''Online at:''' [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/82643-biographical-and-genealogical-history-of-appanoose-and-monroe-counties-iowa?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library], [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=25753 Ancestry] ($).
*''History of Monroe, Iowa, 1843-1976''. 1976. By Al Chamberlin. Online at: [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/27636-history-of-monroe-iowa-1843-1976?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library].
*''History of Monroe, Iowa, 1843-1976''. 1976. By Al Chamberlin. '''Online at:''' [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/27636-history-of-monroe-iowa-1843-1976?offset=1 FamilySearch Digital Library].
*''Monroe County history, Iowa''. Online at: [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=19987 Ancestry] ($)
*''Monroe County history, Iowa''. '''Online at:''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=19987 Ancestry] ($)


=== Maps and Gazetteers ===
=== Maps and Gazetteers ===

Revision as of 15:55, 2 December 2021

Guide to Monroe County, Iowa ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Facts
County seat: Albia
Organized: July 1, 1845[1]
Parent County(s): Non-County Area 4[2]
Neighboring Counties
AppanooseDavisLucasMahaskaMarionWapelloWayne
See County Maps
Courthouse
Iowa, Monroe County Courthouse.png
Location Map
Iowa Monroe Map.png

County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

Monroe County was named for James Monroe and is located in southeastern Iowa.[3]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]


Monroe County Courthouse
10 Benton Avenue East
Albia, IA 52531
Phone: 641-932-5212
Monroe County Website

Monroe County, Iowa Record Dates[edit | edit source]

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.

Known Beginning Dates for Major County Records[4]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1880 1845 1880 1845 1847 1845 1847
* Statewide registration started for births in July 1880 and for deaths January 1891. General compliance by 1924.

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

Populated Places[edit | edit source]

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
Townships
Ghost towns


History Timeline[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

Listed below are resources for Bible records specific to Monroe County. To find more resources, go to the Iowa Bible Records page.


Biographies[edit | edit source]

  • Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa. 1903 By S. Thompson Lewis. New York, NY: Lewis Pub. Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).
  • The history of Monroe County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, town, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics .... 1878. Chicago, IL: Western Historical. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
  • Monroe County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories

Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Monroe County, Iowa online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Iowa Cemeteries for more information.

 

Census Records[edit | edit source]

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 2,884
1860 8,612 198.6%
1870 12,724 47.7%
1880 13,719 7.8%
1890 13,666 −0.4%
1900 17,985 31.6%
1910 25,429 41.4%
1920 23,467 −7.7%
1930 15,010 −36.0%
1940 14,553 −3.0%
1950 11,814 −18.8%
1960 10,463 −11.4%
1970 9,357 −10.6%
1980 9,209 −1.6%
1990 8,114 −11.9%
2000 8,016 −1.2%
2010 7,970 −0.6%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State Census

Church Records[edit | edit source]

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.

Court Records[edit | edit source]

Directories[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

African American

  • Gradwohl, David M. & Nancy M. Osborn Exploring Buried Buxton: archaeology of an abandoned Iowa coal mining town with a large Black population. Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa Press, 1984. Online at: Google Books

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

Guardianship[edit | edit source]

Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]

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 and Property Records

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Local histories are available for Monroe County, which may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see Iowa Local Histories.

  • An illustrated history of Monroe County, Iowa: a complete civil, political, and military history of the county, from its earliest period of organization down to 1896.. 1896. By Frank Hickenlooper. Albia, IA. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Google Books, Ancestry ($)
  • The history of Monroe County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, town, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics ... 1878, Chicago, IL: Western Historical. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
  • Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe counties, Iowa. 1903 By S. Thompson Lewis. New York, NY: Lewis Pub. Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry ($).
  • History of Monroe, Iowa, 1843-1976. 1976. By Al Chamberlin. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
  • Monroe County history, Iowa. Online at: Ancestry ($)

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

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.

Marion CountyMahaska CountyLucas CountyWapello CountyWayne CountyAppanoose CountyDavis CountyIA MONROE.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration[edit | edit source]

Military Records[edit | edit source]

Multiple Wars

Civil War

Civil War service men in Monroe 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 H
- 6th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
- 8th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
- 17th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
- 22nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
- 46th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company G

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

Please see the Iowa Naturalization and Citizenship page for state-wide information.

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Other Records[edit | edit source]

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

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

School Records[edit | edit source]

Social Security Records[edit | edit source]

Tax Records[edit | edit source]

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

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Marriage[edit | edit source]

Death[edit | edit source]

Divorce[edit | edit source]

Research Facilities[edit | edit source]

Archives[edit | edit source]

Listed below are archives in Monroe County. For state-wide library facilities, see Iowa Archives and Libraries.

Family History Centers[edit | edit source]

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

To locate the closest family history center or affiliate library, use the link listed above.

Libraries[edit | edit source]

Listed below are libraries in Monroe County. For state-wide library facilities, see Iowa Archives and Libraries.

Eddyville Public Library
202 South 2nd Street
PO Box 399
Eddyville, IA 52553-0399
641-969-4815
E-mail: elibrary@pcsia.net
Website

Albia Public Library
203 East Benton
Albia, IA 52531
641-932-2469
E-mail: albialibrary@netscape.net
Website

Museums[edit | edit source]

Monroe County Historical Society & Museum
114 A. Avenue East
Albia, IA 52531
641-932-7046
Facebook

Societies[edit | edit source]

Listed below are societies in Monroe County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Iowa Societies.

Monroe County Genealogical Society
C/O Albia Public Library
203 Benton Ave E
Albia, IA 52531-2036
Website

Websites[edit | edit source]

Research Guides[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Iowa Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
  2. Iowa Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
  3. Wikipedia contributors, "Monroe, Iowa," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_County,_Iowa."
  4. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. Iowa Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
  6. Iowa Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library; accessed on 11 April 2021.
  7. Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Iowa.At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  8. Wikipedia contributors, "Monroe County, Iowa," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_County,_Iowa#Communities, accessed 17 October 2019.