Story County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Parent County
1846--Story County was created 13 January 1846 from unorganized territory. It was attached to Boone, Polk, and Linn Counties prior to organization 1June 1853. County seat: Nevada

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.

Record Loss
1864 Fire burned the courthouse on January 1.

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog



Neighboring Counties
Boone • Hamilton •  Hardin •  Jasper •  Marshall •  Polk

Cemeteries

 * Palestine Cemetery, Huxley BillionGraves

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

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


 * Ames

Lutheran
Ames


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Ames, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Bethania


 * Records of the Bethania (Bethany) Lutheran Church, Kelley, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Gilbert


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Gilbert, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Roland


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Roland, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Slater


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Slater, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Story City


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Story City, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Story County


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Story County, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Local Histories

 * A history of Story County, Iowa : carefully compiled from the earliest settlement to the present. By William G. Allen. Reprint. Originally published: Des Moines : Iowa Print. Co., 1887. Online at:, Story Co..


 * A history of the town of Ames, Story County, Iowa : together with a brief description of the surrounding country, and the Iowa State Agricultural College, located at Ames. By Cyrus E. Turner. Ames, Iowa : Ames Intelligencer, 1871. Online at:, ISU Library.


 * Resources and wealth of Story County, Iowa : a pamphlet containing a description of Story County. By W. C. B. Allen. Nevada, Iowa : Representative Power Press Print, 1880. Online at:.

Maps

 * Old Antique Atlases &amp; Maps of Iowa

Military

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

Civil War

 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
 * - 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company E
 * - 23rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company A

Newspapers

 * Roland Historical Society Archives, Story County (1895-1975)


 * 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.


 * 1944-45, 1948-51, and 1953-56 — Ames Daily Tribune at Ancestry.com ($) — Ames, IA, USA
 * 1928-29 — Ames Daily Tribune and Evening Times at Ancestry.com ($) — Ames, Iowa, United States Of America
 * 1955 — Story City Herald at Ancestry.com ($) — Story City, IA, USA

Probate
Online Probate Records


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

Births

 * 1850-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Marriages

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

Death

 * 1850-1990 - at FamilySearch
 * 1880-1992 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1921-1940 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies and Libraries
Story County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 692 Ames, Iowa 50010 E-mail: [mailto:storygenes@gmail.com storygenes@gmail.com] Website

Family History Centers



 * Ames Iowa Family History Center 2524 Hoover Ave., Ames, IA 50010 United States Location Map

Websites

 * Story County, IA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Iowa Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Iowa Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Story County, Iowa Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Story County, Iowa Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)