Iowa Military Records

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U.S. Military Records

Iowa

Military Records

Fort Atkinson

Online Resources

• See United States Military Online Genealogy Records for more resources.
• 1800-2000 Iowa, Adjutant General's Office, Grave Registration Service, Cemetery Records, 1800-2000 at FamilySearch; index & images — How to Use this Collection
• 1835-1998 Iowa, Armed Forces Grave Registrations, ca. 1835-1998 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection; also at Ancestry — index ($)
• 1861-1949 Iowa, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1861-1949 at Ancestry, index & images ($)
• 1862-1910 Iowa, Records of Persons Subject to Military Duty, 1862-1910 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection; also at Ancestry — index & images ($)
• 1862-1976 Iowa, Military Discharge Records, ca.1862-ca.1976 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
• 1885 Iowa Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, 1885 Includes War of 1812, Mexican War and Civil War; at Ancestry ($)
• 1917-1940 United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940 at FamilySearch; index — How to Use this Collection
• 1923-1927 Iowa, World War I Bonus Applications, 1923-1927 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
• 1947-1954 Iowa, World War II Bonus Case Files, 1947-1954 at Ancestry ($)
• Iowa Regiments in the Civil War, at Ancestry ($), index, images.
• World War II Iowa Press Clippings, images
• U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Korean War for Iowa
• The Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Iowa
• U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War for Iowa

Background

United States Military Records provides information on federal military records. Many federal records also include information about soldiers and sailors from Iowa and should be used with the records listed in this section.

Iowa military records began about 1808, when Fort Madison was established. Military service records, such as enlistments, muster rolls, and discharges, may include a person’s age, birth date, birthplace, physical description, previous residence, and occupation.

The following book contains an extensive list of books and articles on pages 36–38 about the early forts and military expeditions in Iowa:

• William John Petersen, comp. Iowa History Reference Guide. (Iowa City, Iowa : State Historical Society of Iowa, c1952). FS Catalog book 977.7 A3p At vatious libraries(WorldCat)

Forts

The following are or were major forts in Iowa. A number of other military posts existed for a short time and were of lesser importance.For a history of other Iowa forts Click Here.

• Fort Armstrong -- was established in 1816 on the northwest tip of Arsenal Island at Rock Island, Illinois, in the Mississippi River opposite Davenport, Iowa.
• Fort Atkinson -- was built in 1840 in what became Winneshiek County. It was only occupied by U.S. troops until 1846, when the troops assigned there went to fight in the Mexican War. It was officially abandoned in 1849 after the Winnebago Indians were removed from Iowa.
• Fort Clarke -- the original name for Fort Dodge.
• Fort Crawford -- was actually in Wisconsin, at Prairie du Chien, although one of its major purposes was the protection of Indians and settlers in Northeastern Iowa.
• Fort Dodge -- was established in May of 1850 and abandoned in 1853. The post sutler purchased the military site and laid out the town of Fort Dodge in 1854.
• Fort Madison -- was erected in 1804 on the bank of the Mississippi River at a point where the town of the same name now exist. It was the oldest American fort on the upper Mississippi River. The original fort was burned when the U.S. soldiers abandoned it. A replica was built in 1983 and now serves as a museum.

References

Encyclopedia of Indian Wars Western Battles and Skirmishes 1850-1890. By Gregory F. Michno. Mountain Press Publishing Co., Missoula, Montana C. 2003. ISBN 0-87842-468-7. At various libraries (WorldCat)

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

The following book contains information about Revolutionary War soldiers and their families:

• Revolutionary War Soldiers and Patriots Buried in Iowa. (Marceline, Missouri.: Walsworth, 1978). {{FSC|171076|item|disp=FS Catalog book 977.7 D3d}) At various libraries This book was compiled by the Abigail Adams Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Des Moines, Iowa. It contains birth, marriage, and death information about soldiers, their parents, children, and grandchildren. About 42 veterans are listed.

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

Old Fort Madison, built in 1808, Iowa

The War of 1812 between Britain and the United States confirmed the separate existence of the United States and the future Canada. Iowa was part of the Missouri Territory from 1812 to 1821.

There are helpful nationwide records for soldiers of the War of 1812. For more information, see United States in the War of 1812.

• Iowa. Adjutant General’s Office. List of Ex-Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, Living in Iowa. (Des Moines, Iowa: G. E. Roberts, State Printer, 1886). Film 982150 item1/DGS 7813158 At various libraries (WorldCat). This book lists men living in Iowa in 1886 who served in the War of 1812 and later wars. A listing of 31 veterans of the War of 1812 who lived in Iowa in 1886, is on pages 733–734. It gives each man’s name, rank, state from which he served, and sometimes, the company or regiment in which he served.
  

• Ruby Anderson Mertes. Men of Iowa who fought in the War of 1812 (filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah 1988). Includes biographies of veterans. FS Catalog Collection; At various libraries (WorldCat)

Explanation of the Major Record Types

• Thomas A. Pearson, comp. Genealogical Records of the War of 1812: an Introduction and Selected Bibliography of Materials in the Collection of St. Louis Public Library. (St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis Public Library, July 2004).

Indian Wars (1780s-1890s)

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

A roster of Iowa troops in the War with Mexico (including the Mormon Battalion), Indian campaigns, Civil War, Spanish-American War, and the Philippine War are found in:

• Volume 6 - Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in Miscellaneous Organizations of the Mexican War, Indian Campaigns, War of the Rebellion, and the Spanish American and Philippine Wars Together with Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organization; at Google Books

An index to the six volumes is found in:

• Index to Iowa Soldiers. 7 vols. N.p.: Idaho State Historical Society Genealogical Library, 1979. (FamilySearch Library book 977.7 M2i index; film 1033761 items 3–9; fiche 6051153) (Worldcat)

Black Hawk War (1832)

• Wisconsin soldiers who served in the Black Hawk War (Wisconsin Historical Society) - Transcription of Wisconsin Muster Rolls from the Black Hawk War. Lists soldiers in the 18 companies of "Iowa" militia (i.e., Iowa Co, Michigan Territory), plus the Menominee and Potawatomie warriors and one militia company raised at Green Bay.

Early Records Beginning with 1837

For the earliest Iowa military records, beginning about 1837 with muster rolls and military post records, see the Territorial Papers of Iowa, 1838–1852, which is mentioned in the Iowa History.

Mexican War (1846-1848)

The Mexican War was caused by the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. Most volunteer regiments were from southern states. Records of Mexican War veterans might exist in a state where the veteran later resided.

• 1846-1848 United States Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846-1848 at FamilySearch; index & images — How to Use this Collection

• Mexican War Index to Pension Files, 1887–1926. (NARA T317). FS Library films 0537000–13 Alphabetically arranged and includes the veteran’s name, rank, and unit; names of dependents; date of filing and application; certificate numbers; act filed under; and state from which application was made; also at FamilySearch — How to use this collection.

• Robarts, William Hugh. Mexican War Veterans : A Complete Roster of the Regular and Volunteer Troops in the War Between the United States and Mexico, from 1846-1848… Washington, D.C. : Brentano’s, 1887. FS Catalog book 973 M2rwh; also at Internet Archive.
• List of Ex-Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, Living in Iowa, (Des Moines, Iowa: G. E. Roberts, State Printer, 1886). FS Library film 982150; book 977.7 M22ig) WorldCat 2234034. Pages 734–751, lists 34 men from Iowa who served in the War with Mexico and who were living in Iowa in 1886. Hundreds of men from other states who served in the war are also listed by the state from which they served. In addition, each man’s name, rank, regiment, company, and post office address are listed.

A roster of Iowa troops in the War with Mexico (including the Mormon Battalion), Indian campaigns, Civil War, Spanish-American War, and the Philippine War are found in:

• Volume 6 Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in Miscellaneous Organizations of the Mexican War, Indian Campaigns, War of the Rebellion, and the Spanish American and Philippine Wars Together with Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organization; at Google Books

Mormon Battalion

• United States. Record and Pension Office. Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served during the Mexican War in Mormon Organizations. National Archives Microfilm Publications; M0351. (Washington, DC: National Archives, 1961). FS Library films 471465 and 471517–18 These records are alphabetical by the name of the soldier and contain abstracts from company muster rolls and returns.
• A Concise History of the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War, 1846–1847Daniel Tyler. A Concise History of the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War, 1846–1847. (Waynesboro, Virginia.: M R Books, 1964.) FS Library film 928153 item 5; book 973 M2td
• Carl V. Larson, comp. and ed. A Database of the Mormon Battalion: An Identification of the Original Members of the Mormon Battalion. (Providence, Utah: Keith W. Watkins and Sons, 1987). FS Library film 1592751 item 5; book 973 M2Lar A second edition was published in 1997 FS Catalog book 973 M2lar 1997. The soldiers are listed alphabetically, and the book provides birth date, birthplace, parents’ names, spouse’s name, marriage date, death date and place, place of burial, service records, pension records, and sometimes, physical description.
• United States. Bureau of Pensions. Selected Pension Applications Files for Members of the Morman [sic] Battalion, Mexican War, 1846–48. (Washington, DC: National Archives and Record Service, 1934). (FamilySearch LibraryFS Library films 480129–49) The files are generally in alphabetical order.

The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.

General Samuel Curtis, ca. 1862

Click on these links to learn more about the Mexican War and about Mexican War pension records.

Civil War, 1861–1865

See Iowa in the Civil War for information about Iowa Civil War records, web sites, etc. with links to articles about the Iowa regiments involved in the Civil War. The regimental pages often include lists of the companies with links to the counties where the companies started. Men in the companies often lived in the counties where the companies were raised. Knowing a county can help when researching more about the soldiers and their families.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System allows name searching for soldiers. The result set gives the regiments for the soldiers. Then you can check the Wiki regiment pages to determine counties. Often knowing the counties that had men in a regiment will help you determine if a soldier was your ancestor.

• Iowa Regiments in the Civil War at Ancestry ($)

A roster of Iowa troops in the War with Mexico (including the Mormon Battalion), Indian campaigns, Civil War, Spanish-American War, and the Philippine War are found in:

• Six Volumes of the "Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion: Together with Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organizations, 1861–1866".

Online

*Volume 1 - 1st through 8th Regiments, Infantry at Google Books

*Volume 2 - 9th through 16th Regiments, Infantry at Google Books

*Volume 3 - 17th through 31st Regiments, Infantry at Google Books

*Volume 4 - 1st through 9th Regiments, Cavalry and Two Independent Companies, Cavalry at Google Books

*Volume 5 - 32d through 48th Regiments, Infantry, 1st Regiment African Infantry, and 1st through 4th Batteries Light Artillery at Google Books

*Volume 6 - Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in Miscellaneous Organizations of the Mexican War, Indian Campaigns, War of the Rebellion, and the Spanish American and Philippine Wars Together with Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organization; at Google Books

An index to the six volumes is found in:

• Index to Iowa Soldiers. 7 vols. N.p.: Idaho State Historical Society Genealogical Library, 1979. (FamilySearch Library book 977.7 M2i index; film 1033761 items 3–9; fiche 6051153) (Worldcat)

Spanish-American War (1898)

The Spanish-American War was largely fought in Cuba and the Philippines. Spanish-American War records might exist in the state from which the soldier served or in a state where the veteran later resided.

Indexes

• United States, General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 (NARA T288). at FamilySearch; The index covers veterans of the Civil War, Spanish‑American War, Philippine Insurrection, Boxer Rebellion (1900 to 1901), and the regular Army, Navy, and Marine forces. How to use this collection.

• United States, Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898 at FamilySearch — How to use this collection.

For published rosters of those who served in the Spanish-American War, see pages 275-782 in:

• Volume 6 - Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in Miscellaneous Organizations of the Mexican War, Indian Campaigns, War of the Rebellion, and the Spanish American and Philippine Wars Together with Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organization; at Google Books

Click on the link to learn more about the Spanish American War.

Philippine Insurrection (1899–1902)

For published rosters of those who served in the Spanish-American War, see pages 275-782 in volume six of:

• Volume 6 - Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in Miscellaneous Organizations of the Mexican War, Indian Campaigns, War of the Rebellion, and the Spanish American and Philippine Wars Together with Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organization; at Google Books

• From Iowa to the Philippines : a history of company M, Fifty-First Iowa Infantry Volunteers

World War I (1917-1918)

World War I was a global war fought on multiple continents with several nations involved. Over four million men and women served from the United States.

• United States. Selective Service System. Iowa, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918. National Archives Microfilm Publications; M1509. Washington, DC: The National Archives, 1987–1988. FS Library film 1642846 (first of 96). Also available at:
  

• United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch; index & images — How to Use this Collection

• United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch; index — [United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919 - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]

See WWI Draft Records for more information.

• United States, YMCA World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch; index & images — How to Use this Collection

• U.S. Food Administration.Iowa State Food Administration. Card Index of Licensed Bakers,ca. 1918. NAID 5111276. "Search within this series" images

World War II (1941-1945)

On 16 September 1940, President Roosevelt signed into law the first peacetime Selective Service Act. During WWII, the Selective Service System conducted six draft registrations; these records are held collectively in two groupings at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO. The registrations are part of Record Group 147 Records of the Selective Service System. From December, 1942 to August, 1945 no enlistments were allowed. The Selective Service became the only way men entered the service for the remainder of the war.

• 1940-1945 Iowa, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

On April 27, 1942, the Selective Service conducted the fourth of six draft registrations related to WWII. The "World War II Selective Service Draft Cards: Fourth Registration, 1942" is often referred to as the “Old Man’s Registration” or the “Old Man’s Draft" because it included men with a date of birth from April 28, 1877 to February 16, 1897. Since there is overlap in the WWI and WWII Selective Service registration, men born in the years 1877 to 1900 may have registered twice and have both WWII and WWI draft records.

• 1942 United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch; index and images — How to Use this Collection also see: Ancestry ($); and Fold3 ($).

World War II United States Military Records provides additional information.

• Camp Algona where German POWs were interred during WWII.

Korean War (1950–1953)

The Korean War was a conflict between North Korea (and its communist allies) and South Korea (with support of the United Nations, primarily the United States). See the Korean War wiki article for information on records and their availability.

Vietnam War (1964–1972)

The Vietnam War was a conflict between North Vietnam (and its communist allies) and South Vietnam (with support of its anti-communist allies, including the United States). See the Vietnam War wiki article for information on records and their availability.

Military Discharge Records, 1860s–1950s

The FamilySearch Library has microfilms of county military discharge records for men and women who served in the Civil War and in later wars (to the 1950s). These records are filed by the county where the soldier took the discharge papers to be recorded. They usually give the soldier’s name, the town and state of birth, age or exact birth date, date and place of enlistment, occupation, extensive military service history and physical description.

• Iowa, Military Discharge Records, ca.1862 - ca.1976

Militia Records, 1860s–1900s

The Iowa Adjutant General’s Office kept lists of men between the ages of 18 and about 50 from each county, who were subject to military (militia) service. These lists began in the Civil War and continued into the early 1900s. The lists are available for each county and are often arranged by township. They contain names, ages, and sometimes occupations. The original lists are at the State Historical Society in Des Moines. Microfilm copies are at the FamilySearch Library:

• Iowa. Adjutant-General’s Office. Persons Subject to Military Duty, ca. 1862-1910. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1978). FS Library films 1024847(first of 94) The records are arranged by county and then by year.
• Iowa, Records of Persons Subject to Military Duty, 1862-1910 FamilySearch Historical Record Collection

For information on Iowa Veterans buried out of state, see the [[Iowa Cemeteries|Cemeteries" page.

National Guard Application Forms, 1870–1920

• Iowa Star Star Museum, Johnston

The Iowa Genealogical Society is preparing an index to National Guard application forms from 1872 to 1920. The forms contain the name of the National Guard member, birthplace, birth date or age, residence, and physical description. By the end of 1998 the index to names A–H had been completed. The society hopes to complete the index in 1999 or 2000. The original application forms are at the address below.

• See also Roster of the Iowa National Guard, April 1, 1908.Des Moines, Iowa : Emory H. English State Printer, 1908
• Guy E. Logan, Adjutant General. Biennial report of the adjutant general of Iowa for the biennial period ended November 30, 1916. Des Moines, Iowa : State of Iowa, 1916.

Location of Original Records

Records of Iowa soldiers who served in the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I or the Iowa National Guard are at:

Iowa National Guard Records Center
7700 N. W. Beaver Drive
Johnston, IA 50131
Telephone: 515-252-4329

Copies of the records are at the State Historical Society in Des Moines.

FamilySearch Library

Military records for Iowa are listed in the Locality Search of the The FamilySearch Catalog under:

*IOWA - MILITARY RECORDS

*IOWA, [COUNTY] - MILITARY RECORDS

FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

United States Mormon Battalion Pension Applications, 1846-1923 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.

FamilySearch Center (FSC); formerly called, Family History Center (FHC)

FamilySearch Catalog (FS Catalog); formerly called, Family History Library Catalog (FHLC)

National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.