Benton County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Benton County was named for Thomas Hart Benton and is located in eastern Iowa.

County Courthouse
Benton County Courthouse 111 East 4th Street P.O. Box 719 Vinton, IA 52349-1771 Phone: 319-472-2766 Benton 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

 * Benton County Bible Records at USGenWeb Iowa Archives

Biographies

 * History of Benton County, Iowa: A History of the County, its Cities, Towns, &c. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1878. Online at: Internet Archive, HathiTrust, Benton GenWeb.
 * History of Benton County, Iowa: from Materials in the Public Archives. By Luther B. Hill. Chicago, IL: Lewis Pub., 1878. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive.
 * Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa. Chapman Brothers. Chicago, IL: Chapman Brothers, 1887. Online at: HathiTrust.
 * Benton 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
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

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

Court Records

 * 1864-1931 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images


 * 1934-1940 (*); Clerk of the District Court  at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Directories

 * (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Funeral Homes

 * Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service and Cremation Service in Belle Plaine
 * Phillips Funeral Homes in Blairstown, Keystone and Vinton
 * Teahen Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Vinton

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * 1847-1885   at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Local Histories

 * History of Benton County, Iowa: from Materials in the Public Archives. By Luther B. Hill. Chicago, IL: Lewis Pub., 1878. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive;.
 * History of Benton County, Iowa. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1878. Online at: Internet Archive, HathiTrust,  Benton County IAGenWeb;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Benton County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2007 Benton County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1883-1941 Fire Insurance Maps for Benton County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1883 and 1941.
 * Benton County at IAGenWeb.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * Benton County at Iowa Digital Library.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Benton County at State Library of Iowa.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - 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 Benton 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:
 * - 5th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G
 * - 8th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company D
 * - 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company G
 * - 16th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company I
 * - 18th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Company H
 * - 28th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Companies A and D
 * - 47th Regiment, Iowa Infantry (100 days, 1864), Company C

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1860-1929 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1891-1902 (*); Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Newspapers

 * 1866-1868 Belle Plaine Transcript at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
 * 1869-2008 The Belle Plaine Union at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
 * 1883-1886 Independent at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
 * 1895-1896 Lever at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
 * 1897-1906 Every Other Daily Union at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
 * 1919-1921 The Belle Plaine Union and Herald at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
 * 1972-1972 The Bedford Times Press at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
 * 1982-2008 South Benton Star Press at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
 * 1988-1988 Fontanelle Observer at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
 * 1993-1993 Preston Times at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
 * 2009-2016 Star Press Union at Digital Archives of The Belle Plaine Community Library
 * NewspaperArchive.com ($) has a large collection of digitized Iowa newspapers online. This database is sometimes free at libraries.

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1758-1997 Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997 at Ancestry — index & images, ($)
 * 1847-1925 (*) Clerk of the District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1856-1910 (*) District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * (*) District Court at FamilySearch Catalog - index & 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 ($)
 * 1838-1934 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1880-1951 Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 at Ancestry — index and images, ($)
 * 1941-1951 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & 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 & images, ($)

Divorce

 * 1906-1925 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Family History Centers

 * Belle Plaine Iowa Family History Center
 * Cedar Falls/Waterloo Iowa Family History Center
 * Cedar Rapids Iowa Family History Center
 * Iowa City Iowa Family History Center
 * Marshalltown Iowa Family History Center
 * African American Museum Of Iowa - an affiliate library

Libraries
Vinton Public Library 510 2nd Avenue Vinton, IA 52349 Phone: 319-472-4208 Email: [mailto:vintonpl@vintonlibrary.com vintonpl@vintonlibrary.com] Website Blairstown Public Library 305 Locust St NW PO Box 187 Blairstown, IA 52209 Phone: 319-454-6497 Website Norway Iowa Public Library 108 Railroad St Norway, IA 52318 Phone: 319-227-7487 Facebook

Museums
Belle Plaine Area Museum 901 Main St Belle Plaine, IA 52208 Phone: 319-434-6093 Website

Societies
Benton County Historical Society P.O. Box 22 Vinton, IA 52349 Phone: 319-472-4325 Email: [mailto:bentoncohistorical@gmail.com bentoncohistorical@gmail.com] Website

Websites

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