Wright County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Wright County was named for Silas Wright and is located in central Iowa.

County Courthouse
Wright County Courthouse 115 North Main Street Clarion, IA 50525 Phone: 515-532-3113 Wright County Website

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:

Bible Records

 * Wright County Bible Records at IAGenWeb Project
 * Wright County Iowa Bibles USGenWeb Iowa Archives

Biographies

 * Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Hamilton and Wright Counties, Iowa. Chicago: Lewis Biographical Publishing Co., 1889. Online at: HathiTrust — index & images.


 * IA GenWeb Biographies of the people in Wright County.
 * Wright County, Iowa Biographies Project at RootsWeb — links to biographies and local histories

Census Records
State Census
 * 1885 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1895 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1905 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images (individual cards, not family context)
 * 1915 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1925 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes Lutheran
 * FamilySearch Places
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Directories

 * 1870 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * Andrews Funeral Home in Belmond
 * Dugger Funeral Home in Dows
 * Ewing Funeral Home in Belmond, Clarion and Dows
 * Foust Funeral Homes in Eagle Grove and Goldfield

Local Histories

 * History of Wright County, Iowa: Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches .... By B.P. Birdsall. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bowen, 1915. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Wright County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2007 Wright County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1893-1941 Fire Insurance Maps for Wright County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1893 and 1941.
 * IAGenWeb - Wright County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Wright County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Wright County at State Library of Iowa.
 * Wright County Iowa Topographic Maps at Topozone: Choose Airport, Bridge, Building, Cemetery, Church, Civil, Hospital, Lake, Locale, Park, Populated Place, Post Office, School, Stream, Summit, Trail.
 * Wright County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places.

Military Records
Multiple Wars
 * 1835-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only
 * 1862-1910 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War
 * 1861-1949 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Civil War service men in Wright 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:
 * - 4th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company K

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1857-1929 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * Belmond Independent Belmond, Iowa
 * Eagle Grove Eagle Eagle Grove, Iowa
 * Wright County Monitor Clarion, Iowa
 * 1951-59 and 1961-68 Ancestry.com ($) Wright County Monitor

Obituaries

 * IAGenWeb Obits

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1855-1984 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 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 and images ($)

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1934-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Birth

 * 1850-1939 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1935 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1921-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

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 ($)
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1941-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Death

 * 1850-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and some images; Also at: MyHeritage($)
 * 1880-1992 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1900-1939 Iowa Death Index, 1900-1939 at MyHeritage — index ($)
 * 1904-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1920-1967 Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

Family History Centers

 * Cedar Falls/Waterloo Iowa Family History Center
 * Fort Dodge Iowa Family History Center
 * Mason City Iowa Family History Center

Libraries
Belmond Public Library 440 E Main Street Belmond, IA 50421 Phone: 641-444-4160 Email: [mailto:belmondpubliclibrary@gmail.com belmondpubliclibrary@gmail.com] Website Facebook

Museums
Belmond Historical Museum 223 E Main Street Belmond, IA Phone: 515-571-3264 Email: [mailto:belmondhistory@gmail.com belmondhistory@gmail.com] Website Facebook Heartland Museum 119 9th Street SW PO Box 652 Clarion, IA 50525-0652 Phone: 515-602-6000 Email: [mailto:heartlandclarion@gmail.com heartlandclarion@gmail.com] Website Facebook

Societies
Belmond Historical Society 223 E Main Street Belmond, IA 50421 Phone: 515-571-3264 Email: [mailto:BelmondHistory@gmail.com BelmondHistory@gmail.com] Website Wright County Genealogical Searchers, IAGenWeb Project 714 3rd Street NE Clarion, IA 50525-0225 Email: [mailto:genealogysearcher2013@gmail.com genealogysearcher2013@gmail.com] Website

Websites

 * 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
 * Wright County at Cyndi's List - a comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online
 * Wright County at Genealogy Trails - volunteer transcriptions of genealogical and historical data
 * Wright County at Iowa USGenWeb - free online resources for genealogical research
 * Wright County at Iowa USGenWeb Archives - free online data for genealogical research
 * Wright County at Linkpendium - genealogy and family history
 * – 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.