Hardin County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for John Jay Hardin. The County has Eldora as its seat and the County was created 1851. The County is located in the centre area of the state.

Parent County
1851--Hardin County was created 15 January 1851 from unorganized territory. It was attached to Marshall County prior to organization 2 March 1853. County seat:  Eldora

Record Loss
1856 Courthouse was destroyed.

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog

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:

Neighboring Counties
Butler • Franklin •  Grundy •  Hamilton •  Marshall •  Story •  Wright

Census
State Census
 * 1895 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1905 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1915 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1925 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Church
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


 * Coonville
 * Union

Local Histories

 * Moir, William J. Past and present of Hardin County, Iowa. Indianapolis : B. F. Bowen, 1911.
 * Online at FamilySearch (Free)

Maps
Choose Airport, Bridge, Building, Cemetery, Church, Civil, Hospital, Lake, Locale, Park, Populated Place, Post Office, School, Stream, Summit, Trail http://www.topozone.com/states/Iowa.asp?county=Hardin
 * Iowa USGS Topographic

Military

 * 1835-1998 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1949 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1862-1910 - at FamilySearch — index

Civil War

 * - 6th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 11th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B
 * - 12th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A
 * - 1st Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company G

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1859-1990 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
NewspaperArchive.com ($) has a large collection of digitized Iowa newspapers online. This database is sometimes free at libraries.


 * Eldora Herald Ledger (Eldora, Iowa) at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Hardin County Index. 1949-50, 1953, and 1959. Eldora, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * The Eldora Herald Ledger.1950. Eldora, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)
 * Iowa Falls Citizen Hardin County Times.1955. Iowa Falls, IA, USA. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Probate
Online Probate Records


 * 1758 - 1997 Iowa Wills and Probate Records 1758-1997 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Taxation

 * 1934-1958 - at FamilySearch — index

Births

 * 1850-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1921-1942 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriages

 * 1518-1996 - Iowa, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1838-1934 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Deaths

 * 1850-1990 - at FamilySearch - index
 * 1880-1992 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1904-1951 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies and Libraries
Hardin County Historical Society 1603 Washington Street Eldora, IA 50627 Lea Babcock, President Telephone:641-939-5137 E-mail: [mailto:dlbabcock@heartofiowa.net dlbabcock@heartofiowa.net] Website

Iowa Lakes Genealogical Society 600 West 11th Street Spencer IA 51301-3235 Website