Wapello County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Wapello County was named for Chief Wapello of the Musquakee tribe and is located in southeastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Wapello County Courthouse 101 West 4th Street Ottumwa, IA 52501 Phone: 641-683-0060 Wapello 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:

Biographies

 * A History of Wapello County, Iowa containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., including a biographical directory at books.google.com
 * Portrait and biographical album of Wapello County, Iowa containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Wapello 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

Lutheran
 * 1781-1969 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)

Court Records

 * 1844-1866 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1844-1934 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1856-1863 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1874-1887 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 *  1879-1897 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Local Histories

 * A History of Wapello County, Iowa containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., including a biographical directory at books.google.com
 * History of Wapello County, Iowa at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Portrait and biographical album of Wapello County, Iowa: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent at Ancestry.com ($)
 * History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens. 1901, By S. B. Evans. Chicago, IL: Chicago Biographical Publication. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive, HathiTrust.
 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures.
 * 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 Wapello 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:
 * - 2nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company K
 * - 7th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company F, I, and K
 * - 15th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D and K
 * - 17th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D and E
 * - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company F
 * - 22nd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
 * - 36th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company B, D, E, and H
 * - 47th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C and K
 * - 1st Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company I

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * 1903 — Ottumwa Daily Courier at Ancestry.com ($) — Ottumwa, IA, USA

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

 * 1906-1951 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Family History Centers

 * Ottumwa Iowa Family History Center

Libraries
Blakesburg Public Library 407 S Wilson Street PO Box 87 Blakesburg, IA 52536-0087 641-938-2834 OR 641-777-0048 E-mail: [mailto:library@blakesburg.lib.ia.us library@blakesburg.lib.ia.us] Website Facebook Eddyville Public Library 202 S 2nd Street PO Box 399 Eddyville, IA 52553-0399 641-969-4815 Website Facebook  Keck Memorial Library 119 N 2nd Street Wapello, IA 52653 319-523-5261 Email:[mailto:webmaster@wapello.lib.ia.us webmaster@wapello.lib.ia.us] Website Facebook Ottumwa Public Library 102 W 4th Street Ottumwa, IA 52501 641-682-7563 E-mail:[mailto:ref@ottumwapubliclibrary.org ref@ottumwapubliclibrary.org] Website

Museums
Iowa Heartland History Connection 700 Farm Credit Drive Ottumwa, IA 52501 641-682-8676 Email:[mailto:director@iaheartland.org director@iaheartland.org] Website

Societies
Wapello County Genealogical Society 102 East Main Street PO Box 163 Ottumwa, IA 52501-0163 E-mail: [mailto:info@wapellocountygs.com info@wapellocountygs.com] Website Wapello County Historical Society Iowa Heartland History Connection 700 Farm Credit Drive Ottumwa, IA 52501 641-682-8676 Email:[mailto:research@iaheartland.org research@iaheartland.org] Website

Websites

 * Wapello County, Iowa Genealogy and Family History Linkpendium
 * GenealogyTrails Wapello County
 * Wapello County IAGenWeb
 * Wapello County USGenWeb Archives
 * State Historical Society of Iowa — Select from research collection topics
 * State Library of Iowa
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collection
 * Wapello County at Cyndi's List.


 * – 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.