Fayette County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Fayette County was named for Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de LaFayette and is located in northeastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Fayette County Courthouse 114 N Vine St West Union, IA 52175 Phone: 563-422-5694 Fayette 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

 * Heritage of Fayette County, Iowa, 1996. Fayette County Historical Society & Fayette County Genealogical Society, West Union, IA., 1996. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * The history of Fayette County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers, history of the northwest, history of Iowa, map of Fayette County. Western Historical Company, Successors to H.F. Kett & Co., Chicago, IL., 1878. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Fitch, George W. Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa. B. F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, IN., 1910. Online at:  FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2.
 * Portrait and biographical album of Fayette County, Iowa : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States and governors of the state. Lake City Publishing Company, Chicago, IL., 1891. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Fayette 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

 * 1851-1884 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1858-1861 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1878-1887 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1907-1925 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images

Local Histories

 * Fitch, George W. Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa. B. F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, IN., 1910. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2, Ancestry.com ($)
 * Heritage of Fayette County, Iowa, 1996. Fayette County Historical Society & Fayette County Genealogical Society, West Union, IA., 1996. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * Peterman, Thomas Draper. Historical sketches of Fayette County, Iowa, in the 40's and 50's. Self Published, 1916. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
 * The history of Fayette County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers, history of the northwest, history of Iowa, map of Fayette County. Western Historical Company, Successors to H.F. Kett & Co., Chicago, IL., 1878. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internetarchive
 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Fayette County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2007 Fayette County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1885-1981 Fire Insurance Maps for Fayette County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1884 and 2009.
 * Fayette County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * IAGenWeb - Fayette County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Fayette County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Fayette 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 Fayette 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:
 * - 3rd Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company F
 * - 6th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company C
 * - 9th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company F
 * - 12th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company C
 * - 15th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company H
 * - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
 * - 46th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company D

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

Newspapers

 * 1941-1948 The Oelwein Daily Register. Oelwein, IA, USA. Online at Ancestry ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1851-1928 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images only
 * 1859-1978   at FamilySearch Catalog - index and images
 * 1862-1885   at FamilySearch Catalog - 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, ($)

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

Libraries
Fayette Community Library 104 W State Street PO Box 107 Fayette, IA 52142-0107 563-425-3344 E-mail: [mailto:fayettelib@iowatelecom.net fayettelib@iowatelecom.net] Website Facebook Oelwein Public Library 201 E Charles Street Oelwein, IA 50662 319-283-1515 Email: [mailto:oelwein@oelwein.lib.ia.us oelwein@oelwein.lib.ia.us] Website Facebook

Museums
Fayette County Historical Center 100 N Walnut St West Union, IA 52175 563-422-5797 Facebook

Societies
Fayette County Historical &amp; Genealogical Society 100 N Walnut St West Union, IA 52175 563-422-5797 E-mail: [mailto:fayettehistorical@gmail.com fayettehistorical@gmail.com] Facebook Oelwein Area Genealogical Society PO Box 389 Oelwein, IA 50662-0389 E-mail: [mailto:Oelwein_Area_Genealogical_Society@hotmail.com Oelwein_Area_Genealogical_Society@hotmail.com] Website

Websites

 * State Historical Society of Iowa — Select from research collection topics
 * IAGenWeb Project — Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
 * USGenWeb Archives — Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
 * – 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.