Louisa County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Louisa County was named for Louisa Massey and is located in southeastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Louisa County Courthouse P.O. Box 268 117 S Main St Wapello, IA 52653 Phone: 319-523-4541 Louisa 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

 * Louisa County Bible Records at USGenWeb Iowa Archives

Biographies

 * Louisa 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

 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records

 * 1837-1926 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1839-1855 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 *  1847-1892 (*); Louisa County Historical Society at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1852-1929 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1860-1870 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1869-1886 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1869-1887 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1887-1927 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1914-1924 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Directories

 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

Local Histories

 * History of Louisa County Iowa: From Its Earliest Settlement to 1912 Vol. 1. By Arthur Springer. Chicago, Illinois S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1911-1912. Online at: Google Books, Internet Archive
 * Reminiscences of pioneer life. By Robert R. Latta. Kansas City, Missouri Frankling Hudson, c1912. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Louisa County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1874-2007 Louisa County 1874-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1886-1935 Fire Insurance Maps for Louisa County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1886 and 1935.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * General Highway and Transportation Map, Louisa County, Iowa at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * IAGenWeb - Louisa County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Louisa County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * Louisa County Hawkeye Farm Plat Book at FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Louisa County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Louisa County at State Library of Iowa.
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- 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 Louisa 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 C
 * - 5th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 8th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company K
 * - 11th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 17th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
 * - 19th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company F and G
 * - 25th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company F
 * - 45th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company H

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1856-1944 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — indexes, images
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and 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 ($)
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index and images ($)

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 ($)

Divorce

 * 1860-1870 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1889-1997 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

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

Libraries
Keck Memorial Library 119 N 2nd Street Wapello, IA 52653 319-523-5261 E-Mail: [mailto:webmaster@wapello.lib.ia.us webmaster@wapello.lib.ia.us] Website Columbus Junction Public Library 232 Second Street Columbus Junction, IA 52738 319-728-7972 E-mail: [mailto:columbusjunctionlibrary@gmail.com columbusjunctionlibrary@gmail.com] Website Mellinger Memorial Library 11 E Division Street PO Box 8 Morning Sun, IA 52640 319-868-7505 Email: [mailto:mslib@louisacomm.net mslib@louisacomm.net] Website

Museums
Louisa County Historical Society Museum 609 US-61 #1158 Wapello, IA 52653 319-527-5247 Website

Societies
Louisa County Historical Society's Genealogy Committee 722 N Chestnut St Wapello, IA 52653-1006 E-mail: [mailto:ialouisa9@yahoo.com ialouisa9@yahoo.com] Website

Websites

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