Hamilton County, Iowa Genealogy

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

Description
Hamilton County was named for William W. Hamilton and is located in central Iowa.

County Courthouse
Hamilton County Courthouse 2300 Superior Street Webster City, IA 50595 Phone: 	515-832-9600 Hamilton 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 Biographical record of Hamilton County, Iowa. S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, IL, 1902. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry.com ($)
 * Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Hamilton and Wright Counties, Iowa. Lewis Biographical Publishing, Chicago, IL., 1889. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Lee, Jesse W. History of Hamilton County, Iowa. S. J. Publishing Company, Chicago, IL., 1912. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2.
 * Bonebright, Sarah Brewer. Reminiscences of Newcastle, Iowa, 1848; a history of the founding of Webster City, Iowa.  Historical Department of Iowa, Des Moines, IA., 1921. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Hamilton 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, ($)

Directories

 * 1886 (*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Land and Property Records
Online Land and Property Records


 * 1854-1871   at FamilySearch Catalog - images
 * 1855-1945   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
 * 1856-1936   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
 * 1857-1932   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes
 * 1857-1984   at FamilySearch Catalog - images

Local Histories

 * A Biographical record of Hamilton County, Iowa. S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, IL 1902. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry.com ($)
 * Lee, Jesse W. History of Hamilton County, Iowa. S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, IL., 1912. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1, FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 2.
 * Biographical record and portrait album of Hamilton and Wright Counties, Iowa, containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States.. Lewis Publishing, Chicago, IL, 1889. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Ancestry.com ($)
 * Holt, Albert, Mrs., History of Randall, Iowa and adjoining area, 1673-1976. n.p. 1976. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * Iowa Indexes at EveryNameIndex.com — Select the county.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1851-1897 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * 1860-1918 U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918, Hamilton County at Ancestry ($) - index.
 * 1875-2007 Hamilton County 1875-2007 at Historic Map Works - may include names of land-owners.
 * 1885-1950 Fire Insurance Maps for Hamilton County, Iowa at Library of Congress - various years between 1885 and 1950.
 * Hamilton County Maps at FamilySearch Catalog.
 * IAGenWeb - Hamilton County.
 * Iowa Digital Library, Hamilton County at Iowa University Libraries.
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * The Iowa Heritage Digital Collections, Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Cavalry, Company F

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
 * 1859-1990 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1871-1930 (*); District Court at FamilySearch Catalog — 1 index, images

Newspapers

 * 1957 Daily Freeman Journal. Webster City, 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, ($)
 * 1865-1934   at FamilySearch Catalog - images and indexes

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

 * Ames Iowa Family History Center
 * Fort Dodge Iowa Family History Center


 * Ames Public Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Ellsworth Public Library 1549 Dewitt PO Box 338 Ellsworth, IA 50075-0338 515-836-4852 E-mail: [mailto:director@ellsworth.lib.ia.us director@ellsworth.lib.ia.us] Website Kendall Young Library 1201 Willson Avenue Webster City, IA 50595 515-832-9100 E-mail: [mailto:info@kylib.org info@kylib.org] Website Facebook

Societies
Hamilton Heritage Hunters Genealogical Society 2209 350th Street Stanhope, IA 50246-7518 E-mail: [mailto:patiowagenie@gmail.com patiowagenie@gmail.com] Website Jewell Historical Society PO Box 2 Jewell, IA 50130-0002 Director: Dick Steffen 515-310-0413 E-mail: [mailto:bm.johnson@globalccs.net bm.johnson@globalccs.net] Website

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