Dallas County, Iowa Genealogy

United States Iowa  Dallas County

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

County Courthouse
Dallas County Iowa Courthouse 801 Court Street Rm 203 P. O. Box 38 Adel, IA 50003 (515) 993-5804

History
Dallas County was named for George Mifflin Dallas, 11th Vice President of the United States of America, under President James K. Polk. The Early History of Dallas County article gives helpful informaton on the County's beginnings. Other statistical information can be found at Wikipedia.

Parent County
13 January 1846: Dallas County was created from unorganized territory. It was attached to Polk and Mahaska Counties prior to organization 1 March 1847.

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Iowa County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Iowa County Boundary Maps" (1816-1872) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

15 January 1851: Greene County was set off.

Record Loss
For a list of record loss in Iowa Counties see: Iowa Counties with Burned Courthouses

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog

Unincorporated community
Booneville

Neighboring Counties
Adair • Boone • Greene • Guthrie • Madison • Polk • Warren

Cemeteries

 * Dexter Cemetery, Dexter BillionGraves
 * Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Van Meter BillionGraves

Census
Iowa recorded not only the federal census but state census through out the years too. The state census contains very valuable genealogical information. Where the census information can be found, what years it was taken, mortality schedules, census substitutions and much more is discussed in the very informative Iowa Census article.

Church History and Records

 * Methodist


 * Methodist Episcopal


 * Presbyterian


 * Cumberland Presbyterian


 * United Brethren in Christ

Court Records

 * 1) Court Records
 * 2) Divorce Records
 * 3) Guardianship

Genealogy
Also see: Biography, History

Local Histories

 * Hastie, Eugene N. Hastie's history of Dallas County, Iowa. Des Moines, Iowa : Wallace- Homstead Co., 1938.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)
 * The History of Dallas County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities; biographical directory, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the Northwest, history of Iowa, map of Dallas County, constitution of the United States, constitution of the. Des Moines, Iowa : Union Historical Co., 1879.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free); and at Hathitrust (Free)
 * Cook, Darius B. History of Quaker Divide : struggles and accomplishments of settlers ; the story of their achievements forms interesting reminiscences in the history of early days, meetings, schools, farm and home life. Dexter, Iowa : Dexter Sentinel, 1914.
 * Online at FamilySeach (Free)
 * Wood, Robert F. Past and present of Dallas County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead. Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1907.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Iowa
 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures. This Collection features the cities of Altoona and Adel.

Civil War

 * - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
 * - 46th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C
 * - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A :- 46th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C

Newspapers

 * Altoona Public Library Archives, Polk County (1876-2000)
 * Johnston Historical Society Archive, Polk County (1970-2007)
 * NewspaperArchive.com ($) has historical newspapers online including Des Moines newspapers. This database is free at some libraries.

Societies and Libraries
See also a List of Iowa Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies